Review: My Life as a Country Album by LJ Evans
Note: This ARC was provided by the author via Enticing Journey Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
I tip my hat to new authors who have a story to tell and choose to tell it in a completely novel manner. LJ Evans is one such author. My Life as a Country Album is her debut release and it's a story about a friendship that evolves into first love and the ups and downs that go with it. If other authors have a playlist that's inspired by the book they've just written, Evans uses an entire Taylor Swift playlist as the inspiration for her story, with the titles serving as chapter titles. I'm not as big of a fan of Swift's as I used to be--my affection for her has seriously waned post-Bad Blood and the whole Katy Perry fiasco, which appeared to have gotten as a second wind a few weeks back--but I am familiar with her songs and how they tell a story. Whatever my personal feelings may be towards the singer/songwriter, I was able to appreciate this fictional journey of life, love, loss, and everything else in between.
As a lot of songs are wont to be, what they meant to the songwriter may not necessarily mean the same to the listener, and I love how the author employed the Swift songs she chose to tell this coming-of-age story of Camdyn Swayne and her love for a boy named Jake Phillips. There's a lyricism to Evans's writing, and yes, I know how that sounds since music plays such a huge part in her storytelling, but I'm not being glib here. There's at least one part of Cam's story that readers may be able to not just empathize with but to actually recognize as having happened to them as well. Cam is the kind of main character that you either see yourself in or she's someone that reminds you of someone you know. She starts off as innocent and trying to find her place in not just her world but Jake's world as well, and her transition into someone who experiences and endures life's triumphs and tragedies was inspiring.
I don't want to give away the story line, but what I will tell you is that this is a novel worth checking out. It's fairly long, but the time you put into it will be worth the effort. Is it perfect? Of course not. I highly doubt there is such a thing as a perfect novel, although I think that also depends on what qualifies as "perfect" for each individual reader. In the case of My Life as a Country Album, there are a number of things that could have done with a bit more fine-tooth combing through in terms of editing. Still, I can't help but applaud LJ Evans because this novel of hers left quite an impression on me, and I doubt I'm the only who's read it and reacted this way. This love story brought me to tears but ultimately left me with a satisfied smile on my face. If you're in the market for a new author that could turn out to be a future go-to one, give LJ Evans a shot. Five stars for My Life as a Country Album. ♥
As a lot of songs are wont to be, what they meant to the songwriter may not necessarily mean the same to the listener, and I love how the author employed the Swift songs she chose to tell this coming-of-age story of Camdyn Swayne and her love for a boy named Jake Phillips. There's a lyricism to Evans's writing, and yes, I know how that sounds since music plays such a huge part in her storytelling, but I'm not being glib here. There's at least one part of Cam's story that readers may be able to not just empathize with but to actually recognize as having happened to them as well. Cam is the kind of main character that you either see yourself in or she's someone that reminds you of someone you know. She starts off as innocent and trying to find her place in not just her world but Jake's world as well, and her transition into someone who experiences and endures life's triumphs and tragedies was inspiring.
I don't want to give away the story line, but what I will tell you is that this is a novel worth checking out. It's fairly long, but the time you put into it will be worth the effort. Is it perfect? Of course not. I highly doubt there is such a thing as a perfect novel, although I think that also depends on what qualifies as "perfect" for each individual reader. In the case of My Life as a Country Album, there are a number of things that could have done with a bit more fine-tooth combing through in terms of editing. Still, I can't help but applaud LJ Evans because this novel of hers left quite an impression on me, and I doubt I'm the only who's read it and reacted this way. This love story brought me to tears but ultimately left me with a satisfied smile on my face. If you're in the market for a new author that could turn out to be a future go-to one, give LJ Evans a shot. Five stars for My Life as a Country Album. ♥
Date Read: 22 June 2017
Learn more about LJ Evans.
Purchase My Life as a Country Album on Amazon.
You really made me emotional. Thank you for this honest and kind review.
ReplyDelete