Reviews with content warning for Dementia - Sounds Like Love

Reviews tagging 'Dementia'

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston

157 reviews

guardianofthebookshelf's review against another edition

4.5

emotional hopeful

Content Warnings

chemistryreads's review against another edition

4.75

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This is the first book I’ve read by Ashely Poston and I absolutely adored it! I love books themed around musicians and this perfectly ties together the songwriter and musician hoping to make a comeback, along with a bar that has seen many famous musicians play. However, one does not need to love music to fall for this book. The audiobook makes this more delightful by the narrator actually singing some songs, and even finishing the book with the song that was in the characters’ heads all along. So while I thought I was getting a book about musicians, it was about so much more. Most obviously, there is a little magic I wasn’t expecting at all! I won’t spoil it, but a special connection forms between Joni and “Sasha.” Secondly, the depth these characters hit is so freaking deep! There is an overarching theme of grief derived from death of a parent and another parent being on their journey with dementia and the grief of losing future time and past memories with that person. The way the author captures these emotions is so powerful - I had tears slipping out my eyes at certain parts! But the entire journey is so beautiful and very real and relatable. My only real criticism is how the hurricane was handled with Joni’s sudden change of heart. It didn’t feel right for her character and what the book had been building to. It felt a bit like a gimmicky plot point so I was relieved when it quickly resolved. And that ending… it just came together perfectly. All the pieces fit together in a way I didn’t fully foresee (one part was obvious) but was really wonderfully planned by the author. Ashley Poston has such a lovely way of making this story come alive and keeping it lighthearted overall while still keeping depth to the characters and they deal with grief and love and their families. Absolutely worth reading and the audiobook makes it even more special! I already want to go back and read a copy of this book just to highlight so many of the excellent quotes throughout the story (and reread that nickname bird a dozen more times *sigh*). 4.75⭐️, 2🌶

Content Warnings

ninebookishlives's review against another edition

3.75

emotional lighthearted

Content Warnings

lisibee815's review against another edition

4.25

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Interesting premise, although sometimes I wondered if the ESP they had was a shortcut to intimacy. And I guess it was, and maybe that's okay? I did love their relationship, and there's a lot here to enjoy. The Dead Romantics is still my favorite Ashley Poston book but this one ranks right up there. :)

Content Warnings

judieghost's review against another edition

2.75

a disappointing read - the main characters, romance, and magical realism of this book fell flat for me, though I did think the handling of dementia and grief was well done and really resonated with me.

Content Warnings

itsjust_jennifer_'s review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny inspiring sad 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

Her best book yet. It was heartbreaking and romantic and I didn’t want it to end. Poston summed up the pain of having a loved one with dementia so well that it can heal a part of the soul. The main relationship was so sweet and pure it reminded me of what I want for myself. Loss and love and allowing yourself to lean on others. This book was so emotionally raw that it is hands down my favorite she has written. Perhaps one of my favorite books, period. And the last words of the acknowledgment, “This book is my long goodbye—and the real one I never got to say.” broke my heart a thousand times over. It felt like Poston poured herself into this book and you can feel it throughout.

Content Warnings

dramakingbooks13's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Coming home is what it feels like to be enveloped by Ashley’s words as the float around you, twirling their way into your heart. As tears stain my cheeks I can’t help but be in awe of how Sounds Like Love echoes through my mind, encapsulating romantic love a that feels like lighting in a bottle, showcasing grief as love in reverse but just as powerful. This story wraps around what it means to find yourself, fall in love, and wrestle with grief even has it all happens before your very eyes. Ashley knows how to make you fall so deeply for her characters and their stories. I also love how she weaves together a beautiful romance with the heart-aching realities of losing a parent right before your eyes. She’s spun such a luscious, musical tale that sings so loudly one that is about not running away from what scared you - in doing so being able to find love, find yourself, and be able to face the storms of life that brew ahead. I sobbed finishing this book as it made my heart soar and ache, as it made me unfold my own life as an artist just as Joni did, as it made me feel so so deeply about family. Sounds Like Love is a stunning portrait of music and love and family all spun into one reverberating story that pierces your soul.

Taylor Swift Songs: You Are In Love, marjorie, Soon You’ll Get Better, Holy Ground, Lover, Sparks Fly, Electric Touch, You’re On Your Own Kid, The Bolter, Say Don’t Go, The Manuscript, Out of the Woods, New Year’s Day, cowboy like me, Message in a Bottle

Content Warnings

anasxbooks's review against another edition

4.75

Honestly loved this book so much. I was lucky enough to meet Ashley last night and hearing how she puts some of herself in each book is so touching. I love the contemporary realism in all of her books and especially with this one. I can not get over the little small town vibes and the heartache that is in this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves romance but would definitely say proceed with caution to anyone who’s loved one is dealing with dementia.

Content Warnings

morybaby's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

No one is doing magical realism in romance like she does. Seven year slip is still my favourite.

Lowkey why it’s not rounded up is for the below reason

- this man’s thoughts were in her head for a long time an the moment that connection snaps she starts having doubts which is fair but like you knew his innermost thoughts for a good while, does that not count for something?!

I wish the friendship between her and Gigi was done differently. It gave very much token black best friend. I think I wanted something more from their friendship dynamic instead of oh you left and I stayed so your life is great, oh I left and you stayed so your life is great. Like let’s get a grip.

This is also the third romance book this year that I’ve read which deals with mothers of the FMC having dementia or Alzheimer’s. The former two books are say you’ll remember me by Abby Jimenez and can’t get enough by Kennedy Ryan.

I love that we are getting to see this in fiction. I cannot say I know how it feels like to be a caretaker, but I’m grateful to be able to glimpse via the lenses of the daughters of how they manage from day to day.

Content Warnings

pagewanderer_'s review against another edition

3.25

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

This was typical Ashley Poston: a strong mix of romance and heavier life themes. I didn't connect with the characters as much as I wanted (maybe because there were so many sub plots) but it was still enjoyable. The family and music were my favorite parts.

Content Warnings

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