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A review by trish_beautifulchaosreviews
Not the Marrying Kind by Kathryn Nolan
5.0
I do not even know where to begin with my love for this book. A bit of background; I am the aging punk from the '80s--I discovered the Clash, Devo, Blondie, and The Ramones in 1979. I had my own Red Room-type bars that I saw bands like REM, Gang of Four, Mission of Burma, and Black Flag in. I actually crowd surfed at a Dead Kennedys show--purely by accident. But it was fun (DM me if you want details). This book was my 20s, and I loved every darn word of it. It was a big hug for me from page 1, and I cannot thank Kathryn Nolan enough for writing this true to what punk was like book.
Fiona and Max are so much what could have been the offspring of so many people I know. I enjoyed the reverse "odd child" of this story. Fiona being the hyper-driven, focused, organized achiever while her parents are the more free spirits believing in never giving in to the status quo and "working for the clampdown." Max, filled with wanderlust he thinks he inherited from his free-spirited mother, believes he never wants to be tied down. Thus we have these opposites meeting and falling and having to reset on all the notions they had about themselves.
The book's side characters, some we know, some we are just meeting, fill this story with love, wisdom, and humor. Mateo is that friend we all wish we had who will tell you the hard truths and love on you at the same time. Roxy is the best sister ever! Max and Fiona's feelings were so scary to them, and the slow burn build-up to their first passionate encounter was adorable to watch but so hot at the same time. I loved all the records. Records everywhere, and I am sure Fiona's copy of London Calling was the double LP vinyl. Thank you, Kathryn Nolan; I have had the entire London Calling album playing in my head for days. Back in the vinyl days, you couldn't just pick a song and play it; the art of listening to an LP was getting the ART behind the music. You listened to the entire album side one and side two (and three and four as in the case of London Calling). Train in Vain was not supposed to be on the album, so the first pressing of the album did not have it listed in the liner notes. It was in what was known as the reject groove. Train in Vain is still my favorite song by the Clash, and when I found that song, I played it repeatedly. So when Max and Fiona were saying this was their favorite, I thought of the lines of the song:
You say you stand
By your man
Tell me something
I don't understand
You said you loved me
And that's a fact
And then you left me
Said you felt trapped
Well some things you can't explain away
But the heart aches in me 'til this day (By The Clash, London Calling, CBS Records)
I can tell you when you read the Not the Marrying Kind; these lyrics will resonate with you. But Max and Fiona had to learn how to stop pigeonholing themselves. We all do this, being what we believe we are supposed to be instead of taking chances and trusting. I simply adored watching these two come to their senses. This book is a beauty; Max Devlin is everything. I want to be Fiona (or Roxy) when I grow up. And I really really need more Max and Fiona in my life.
Fiona and Max are so much what could have been the offspring of so many people I know. I enjoyed the reverse "odd child" of this story. Fiona being the hyper-driven, focused, organized achiever while her parents are the more free spirits believing in never giving in to the status quo and "working for the clampdown." Max, filled with wanderlust he thinks he inherited from his free-spirited mother, believes he never wants to be tied down. Thus we have these opposites meeting and falling and having to reset on all the notions they had about themselves.
The book's side characters, some we know, some we are just meeting, fill this story with love, wisdom, and humor. Mateo is that friend we all wish we had who will tell you the hard truths and love on you at the same time. Roxy is the best sister ever! Max and Fiona's feelings were so scary to them, and the slow burn build-up to their first passionate encounter was adorable to watch but so hot at the same time. I loved all the records. Records everywhere, and I am sure Fiona's copy of London Calling was the double LP vinyl. Thank you, Kathryn Nolan; I have had the entire London Calling album playing in my head for days. Back in the vinyl days, you couldn't just pick a song and play it; the art of listening to an LP was getting the ART behind the music. You listened to the entire album side one and side two (and three and four as in the case of London Calling). Train in Vain was not supposed to be on the album, so the first pressing of the album did not have it listed in the liner notes. It was in what was known as the reject groove. Train in Vain is still my favorite song by the Clash, and when I found that song, I played it repeatedly. So when Max and Fiona were saying this was their favorite, I thought of the lines of the song:
You say you stand
By your man
Tell me something
I don't understand
You said you loved me
And that's a fact
And then you left me
Said you felt trapped
Well some things you can't explain away
But the heart aches in me 'til this day (By The Clash, London Calling, CBS Records)
I can tell you when you read the Not the Marrying Kind; these lyrics will resonate with you. But Max and Fiona had to learn how to stop pigeonholing themselves. We all do this, being what we believe we are supposed to be instead of taking chances and trusting. I simply adored watching these two come to their senses. This book is a beauty; Max Devlin is everything. I want to be Fiona (or Roxy) when I grow up. And I really really need more Max and Fiona in my life.