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A review by verumsolum
The AM Show by T.B. Markinson, Miranda MacLeod
hopeful
fast-paced
5.0
Wow! I will admit that I came into this one with low expectation: neither age-gap nor celebrity are my preferred romance subgenres. But when it was a book club selection, I read it (especially because I've enjoyed books from both co-authors previously). And am I ever glad I read it!
I'll start with a bit of what's <i>not</i> in this book, especially around those two areas I mentioned. While there is a difference between Amanda's and Dakota's ages, Dakota is written old enough that it never feels creepy, and the way the relationship develops doesn't give off fears of exploitation. And when it comes to celebrity, as a news anchor, Amanda is tied to one city, and is written with an emotional depth that makes it easier (when she's not at work) to see her as a woman and not just her job or her celebrity. (Though Amanda does have enough "out of touch" moments to make her celebrity believable.)
But now to what I loved about this book: it gives Amanda and Dakota enough space to be people, and gives them realistic obstacles for their situation. But because we feel we know them, we as readers are rooting for them the entire way. I like that the relationship changes Amanda, that she wants to be better for Dakota, and that has little effects in the workplace, which culminate in the climax where, behaving in a way she wouldn't have previously, Amanda finds help to solve a major problem. (I think that's vague enough to avoid spoiler tags!)
I'll start with a bit of what's <i>not</i> in this book, especially around those two areas I mentioned. While there is a difference between Amanda's and Dakota's ages, Dakota is written old enough that it never feels creepy, and the way the relationship develops doesn't give off fears of exploitation. And when it comes to celebrity, as a news anchor, Amanda is tied to one city, and is written with an emotional depth that makes it easier (when she's not at work) to see her as a woman and not just her job or her celebrity. (Though Amanda does have enough "out of touch" moments to make her celebrity believable.)
But now to what I loved about this book: it gives Amanda and Dakota enough space to be people, and gives them realistic obstacles for their situation. But because we feel we know them, we as readers are rooting for them the entire way. I like that the relationship changes Amanda, that she wants to be better for Dakota, and that has little effects in the workplace, which culminate in the climax where, behaving in a way she wouldn't have previously, Amanda finds help to solve a major problem. (I think that's vague enough to avoid spoiler tags!)