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rmarcin's review against another edition
3.0
Bridget and Will have been friends since Juilliard, but that is it, they are strictly friends. They form 2 of the Forsyth Trio - the third being Gavin, their classmate. However, Gavin left them, and has become a star, while their trio is floundering.
One night, Bridget wants to have a child, and has sex with a very handsome man. The next day, she goes to the doctor to be artificially inseminated. She has twins (Isabelle and Oscar), but doesn't know who the dad is.
Now, years later Bridget is at her home in CT, and her dad, wealthy Edward, is getting married. A series of mishaps and family crises follow.
Comical, romantic, and a nice story of friendship.
One night, Bridget wants to have a child, and has sex with a very handsome man. The next day, she goes to the doctor to be artificially inseminated. She has twins (Isabelle and Oscar), but doesn't know who the dad is.
Now, years later Bridget is at her home in CT, and her dad, wealthy Edward, is getting married. A series of mishaps and family crises follow.
Comical, romantic, and a nice story of friendship.
allybaba's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lizziepagereads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I liked reading this book. I enjoyed it. I wouldn’t go out and tell my friends it‘s a must read, but if they were interested in it based on the synopsis, I’d say go for it.
The book revolves around Bridget Stratton, daughter of famed musician Edward Stratton, and her friends and family as they prepare for her father’s wedding over the course of one summer. Bridget is the hub of the wheel and the rest of the ensemble cast are the spokes. Each of the ‘spoke’ characters experience drama and conflict over the summer, and for most of them, the struggle feels authentic. In the case of Bridget, her “conflict” is typical of the musician trope - should she get a steady job or continue on as a gig worker. Except for her, she’s loaded with family money so the decision, and the fact that she “has to” make a decision at all, feels like opposite of genuine conflict. I think this is why I felt like nothing really happened in the story (though of course things do happen).
Despite this perceived lack of conflict (or maybe because of it), I’m finding myself thinking about Bridget and her circle well after finishing the book. I’m left wanting more than the author gave me amount their journeys and what happens next. For this reason, I’m bumping my rating from 3 to 3.5 stars.
Random aside, I think synchronicity would make a better title than Musical Chairs, which was mentioned in passing but didn’t play a massive role in the story... maybe I missed a metaphor or something though!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I liked reading this book. I enjoyed it. I wouldn’t go out and tell my friends it‘s a must read, but if they were interested in it based on the synopsis, I’d say go for it.
The book revolves around Bridget Stratton, daughter of famed musician Edward Stratton, and her friends and family as they prepare for her father’s wedding over the course of one summer. Bridget is the hub of the wheel and the rest of the ensemble cast are the spokes. Each of the ‘spoke’ characters experience drama and conflict over the summer, and for most of them, the struggle feels authentic. In the case of Bridget, her “conflict” is typical of the musician trope - should she get a steady job or continue on as a gig worker. Except for her, she’s loaded with family money so the decision, and the fact that she “has to” make a decision at all, feels like opposite of genuine conflict. I think this is why I felt like nothing really happened in the story (though of course things do happen).
Despite this perceived lack of conflict (or maybe because of it), I’m finding myself thinking about Bridget and her circle well after finishing the book. I’m left wanting more than the author gave me amount their journeys and what happens next. For this reason, I’m bumping my rating from 3 to 3.5 stars.
Random aside, I think synchronicity would make a better title than Musical Chairs, which was mentioned in passing but didn’t play a massive role in the story... maybe I missed a metaphor or something though!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
katie_chandler's review against another edition
3.0
There was so many musical references this book, the majority of which I would say, I didn’t know anything about which is a bit embarrassing. Though, the emphasis was more on classical music composers, songs, and musicians, so not my forte. At least I could appreciate the impregnating Yo-Yo comment. I wanted to look up and listen to the songs that were included in the storytelling, but I did not. Maybe another time.
An interesting cast of characters, all of which were infuriating but real at one point or another. I really loved that there could be a close, but only platonic male/female relationship.
Language warning. Closed door, not at all steamy in my opinion.
An interesting cast of characters, all of which were infuriating but real at one point or another. I really loved that there could be a close, but only platonic male/female relationship.
Language warning. Closed door, not at all steamy in my opinion.
lauren_soderberg's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Amy Poeppel's Musical Chairs is a story focused on friendships, family, and love in all its forms. It's filled with many entertaining and complex characters whose threads all manage to tangle with each other (and oft times knit themselves together) in interesting and unpredictable ways.
The showpiece of this book is definitely the friendship between protagonists Bridget and Will, who are literally just best friends, and the exploration of their friendship dynamic is a delight to read. There's no element of the "they've secretly been in love with each other for years" idea, though there's definitely a place for that in other novels. Just not this one. Poeppel provides us with many richly sketched characters, all with their own frenetic energies and unique quirks. The dialogue is rich with humor and wit. And the sweet way that everything kind of comes together in the end makes this a delightful and witty summer read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for generously providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Amy Poeppel's Musical Chairs is a story focused on friendships, family, and love in all its forms. It's filled with many entertaining and complex characters whose threads all manage to tangle with each other (and oft times knit themselves together) in interesting and unpredictable ways.
The showpiece of this book is definitely the friendship between protagonists Bridget and Will, who are literally just best friends, and the exploration of their friendship dynamic is a delight to read. There's no element of the "they've secretly been in love with each other for years" idea, though there's definitely a place for that in other novels. Just not this one. Poeppel provides us with many richly sketched characters, all with their own frenetic energies and unique quirks. The dialogue is rich with humor and wit. And the sweet way that everything kind of comes together in the end makes this a delightful and witty summer read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for generously providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
sydneylaw3's review against another edition
5.0
Such a lovely story about holding on to those closest to you while also allowing life to shift and transition. Beautiful and surprisingly funny writing.
maze1234's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
nothing was wrong with it but i just didn’t like it