lashawnb 's review for:

When the Music Hits by Amber Oliver

3.0

hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The synopsis for this book really drew me in, as I’m a self-proclaimed “music head”. It is a common tale of a young, talented woman who has BIG career aspirations, but she needs to prove herself to make it and get the big fish (job, deal, etc). She struggles along the way, frustrates her family in some way, questions herself (confidence/worth/ability), gets hyped by her bestie or partner, and has an epiphany that changes the game. The author took us through that story arc, with some great articulation of the music industry and the NYC landscape. It fell slightly flat with shallow character development of several characters, missing details, and a marked shift from medium to fast pace toward the end. There are some predictable notes, but not enough for me to trash the book. It was an enjoyable read that I truly hope we might get a sequel to tell a more cohesive story about Billie, Lucas, and even Nina and Alicia. 

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.