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A review by bananatricky
Modern Love by Beau North
4.0
This is a NA/YA opposites attract romance set to the background of David Bowie's greatest hits.
Alice Aberdeen has just come off a messy break-up with her girlfriend of two years. Her long-suffering sister Emma invites her to a David Bowie tribute show sponsored by the Humane Society. They dress up and Emma (a make-up artist) does their make-up. Unbeknownst to Alice, Emma and her boyfriend Gabe have invited Gabe's best friend Will Murphy along, trying to match-make.
Will looks rather older than he is, with grey flecks in his hair and beard. From an exotically mixed Irish/ Indian parentage, he looks like a hot model. He owns his own successful business, is a vegetarian and drives a Tesla (very expensive, electric sports SUV with phenomenal speed - like a Porsche for the eco-warrior).
Alice looks young for her age, she's a student studying for her Masters in Fine Art at the University of Minnesota and living hand-to-mouth in her sister's apartment.
Their first meeting is not auspicious, Alice is dancing like a loon to David Bowie when she turns and spills her drink all over Will. Will reacts badly and the two of them are fighting (verbally). Both react with horror when they realise that they have been set up with each other. Nevertheless, undeterred, Emma and Gabe continue to bring Alice and Will together in hopes of them becoming a couple. I couldn't decide whether this was sheer stupidity (I want my sister and your BFF to be a couple too) or a recognition that despite their differences Will and Alice are kindred spirits.
Thus begins our modern romance where, just like in an old-fashioned dance, Will and Alice come together for a brief moment and then part only to repeat, with David Bowie a ghostly presence that witnesses each of the occasions. Even the title is a reference to one of David's songs.
I liked both Will and Alice, I found Alice's feelings about her mother slightly difficult to understand (especially some of the earlier cryptic references to doing bad things) although I totally understand why she would be traumatised.
My only criticism would be that I thought this was going to be a bit more edgy, a bit less mainstream NA/YA, and would have MORE David Bowie. At the end I really had to think before I realised that David Bowie had, in one way or another, been a presence throughout their romance.
But that aside, I really enjoyed this book. I mean, what's not to like, a quirky NA/YA romance with a sexy guy and a fun girl, all set to the soundtrack of my youth, the incomparable David Bowie.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Alice Aberdeen has just come off a messy break-up with her girlfriend of two years. Her long-suffering sister Emma invites her to a David Bowie tribute show sponsored by the Humane Society. They dress up and Emma (a make-up artist) does their make-up. Unbeknownst to Alice, Emma and her boyfriend Gabe have invited Gabe's best friend Will Murphy along, trying to match-make.
Will looks rather older than he is, with grey flecks in his hair and beard. From an exotically mixed Irish/ Indian parentage, he looks like a hot model. He owns his own successful business, is a vegetarian and drives a Tesla (very expensive, electric sports SUV with phenomenal speed - like a Porsche for the eco-warrior).
Alice looks young for her age, she's a student studying for her Masters in Fine Art at the University of Minnesota and living hand-to-mouth in her sister's apartment.
Their first meeting is not auspicious, Alice is dancing like a loon to David Bowie when she turns and spills her drink all over Will. Will reacts badly and the two of them are fighting (verbally). Both react with horror when they realise that they have been set up with each other. Nevertheless, undeterred, Emma and Gabe continue to bring Alice and Will together in hopes of them becoming a couple. I couldn't decide whether this was sheer stupidity (I want my sister and your BFF to be a couple too) or a recognition that despite their differences Will and Alice are kindred spirits.
Thus begins our modern romance where, just like in an old-fashioned dance, Will and Alice come together for a brief moment and then part only to repeat, with David Bowie a ghostly presence that witnesses each of the occasions. Even the title is a reference to one of David's songs.
I liked both Will and Alice, I found Alice's feelings about her mother slightly difficult to understand (especially some of the earlier cryptic references to doing bad things) although I totally understand why she would be traumatised.
My only criticism would be that I thought this was going to be a bit more edgy, a bit less mainstream NA/YA, and would have MORE David Bowie. At the end I really had to think before I realised that David Bowie had, in one way or another, been a presence throughout their romance.
But that aside, I really enjoyed this book. I mean, what's not to like, a quirky NA/YA romance with a sexy guy and a fun girl, all set to the soundtrack of my youth, the incomparable David Bowie.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.