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A review by lizziepagereads
Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel
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.