Arizona Wakefield was a beat without a melody. Living a half-breathing life in a half-finished neighborhood with parents who always wore half-hearted smiles, the high school senior only had one thing that let her color outside her family’s perfectly drawn lines—her drums. Jesse Barringer was a song without a chorus. The son of a washed-up rock star who’s also one hell of a deadbeat dad, he was … dad, he was given two things from his father—musical genius and a genetic link to the bipolar disorder that drives him mad.
One night in a garage at the end of a cul-de-sac in the middle of a bankrupt California neighborhood, Jesse’s melody found Arizona’s rhythm. An angry boy with storm-colored eyes found a blonde angel in Doc Martens with missing lines in her own story. Where her rhythm stopped, his words took over, and together, they wrote one hell of a story.
** Drummer Girl is a mature YA/New Adult romance that touches on mental health, drug abuse and includes mature sexual situations.
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“—a boy I find dizzyingly perfect despite all of his crazy. He doesn’t pretend to be something he isn’t. He’s a genius, he’s a wreck—”
I was so intrigued, dying to read this story. I’m very drawn to music-themed stories and especially to the author’s talent with touching on touchy subjects in a beautiful way. Drummer Girl was all that and more.
Arizona is not the most outgoing, but for some reason, Jesse brought out her sass. She found herself pushing her comfort levels and standing up to him, speaking with truth and conviction. How could he not notice her? She’s used to standing in the shadow of her beautiful best friend, letting her do the talking. But, he sees her…
Jesse is a troubled teen with more talent than he knows what to do with. His music is how he copes with his overactive mind. It helps him channel his thoughts and feelings…most of the time. Though sometimes the anger gets the best of him. He’s trying to put together a garage band when his new neighbor shows up and catches his attention. She feels his music and understands more than he’s comfortable with. She sees him…
I can’t express to you how much I love this story. These characters touched my heart so deeply with their pain and promise. They have so much talent and I yearned for them to get past the problems holding them back and to get a break, a chance to fulfill their dreams. Mostly, I wanted them to heal each other and provide the kind of support that only another person in their situation would understand.
I might have also committed a mental felony or two during the reading of this tale. It’s a good thing my Kindle is wearing a pretty red rubber case to protect it from my wrath. I must also give a shout out to the awesome support characters. I don’t know if this story will lead into a series or not, but I sure hope it does. The line forms here…
When Words Escape a Reader, that means the Author’s job is done! Words have left me, with this Story Ginger Scott.
The moment a story silences you, is the the moment that you MUST let the world know these are words that need to be read…. A story to be heard…. a feeling needing to be shared.
Thank you for continuing to share your SOUL with us Mrs Scott. To say a job well done, doesn’t seem to be enough. If I could give it more the 5 stars, that couldn’t make this more perfect. So I will give it a PROUD
Literally gave me goosebumps !
I just have to say the first held of the book was a solid 4 stars for me , it gripped me and I enjoyed getting to know the characters . The second half just kept getting better . There was drama and angst and the characters grew together and also within themselves.
And then that last chapter … literal goosebumps all over my body – which took this book to new levels for me and became a Solid 5 Star read . I have never had that kind of reaction for so long to a book before . I felt that chapter and scene right through to my bones ! But it wound not have meant anything without the rest of the book (so don’t skip ahead haha ) and then the epilogue has me all teary and mushy .. *sigh* a perfect ending !!!!
Jesse and Ari are for most of the book 17 year old kids. Jesse moves into ari’s quiet street and changes her life !
Ari is a super talented drummer and Jesse is a talented musician and son of a washed up one hit wonder rock star who is a pain in jesses side .
Jesse wears his heart on his sleeve and suffers from mental health and ari has her own pain and secrets
That she slowly works through throughout their story.
Jesse and ari are gorgeous together and their chemistry is evident and strong .
I really loved this story and highly recommend it
As always, Ginger Scott delivers with well-rounded, sympathetic and unique characters.
Family Is The Center Point Of Life – Very Interesting Read!!
Eye openers on a few issues contained under the bonnet of mental health; bi-polar disorder is a lifelong illness but can be treated with daily medications; trauma occurs and the brain protects us from an overload and sometimes rewrites the actual scripts – one event – multiple responses and ways of coping to re-balance yourself after a traumatic event. Parents in these cases have a huge responsibility – teach everything, keep safe but not smother, always re-establish or establish lines of communication; not just the visible but the internal as well. One scene depicted in the story – the line of drummers, so impressive, synchronization that was unbelievable. Family is the center point of life is what I take away from reading this novel, as well as all the above.
Very interesting read!
“We all have lakes we dive into sometimes.”
Drummer Girl encompasses everything that fans of Ginger Scott love! It is filled with love, angst, drama, joy, coping and struggles. Mental illness is a strong part of this story and Ginger tackles it in a comprehensive and meaningful way. I was also pleasantly surprised at the more mature YA storyline.
Arizona (Ari) Wakefield lives an organized and predictable life. Her outlet is playing drums in the high school drumline. It is her release. But life changes when her new neighbor Jesse Barringer arrives. As I read Drummer Girl I thought that the story would focus primarily on Jesse but Ginger knocked me on the side of the head with Ari’s story. I just loved Ari. She is sweet and pure with a kind heart.
“I have like two skills in life. Parallel parking and drums.”
And Jesse, oh Jesse! “The son of a washed-up rock star who’s also one hell of a deadbeat dad, he was given two things from his father—musical genius and a genetic link to the bipolar disorder that drives him mad.” Jesse has his own set of demons to battle. His life is complicated and his coping can be a challenge. He has so much to deal with (no spoilers). But he won me over!!!
“Jesse is the complicated package that I’m afraid to unpack.”
Watching Jesse and Ari’s story unfold left me feeling emotional and sometimes anxious for them and their journey. They have so many beautiful and tender moments that surround the chaos in their lives. Their honesty with each other with fill your heart until it bursts! Drummer Girl is so well written. Once again, Ginger Scott tells a unique story that will stay with you for days. The agony, the victory, the ending! I loved it all. Such a great surprise!
“You should have loved me first.”
“What if I love you after?”
5 stars
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I just finished reading “Drummer Girl” by Ginger Scott. This is the first time I’ve read one of this author’s books and I really enjoyed it. It was an unputdownable story and a sweet YA romance with heat. Happy reading!
“I feel like I’ve been kissed-the kind of kiss that leaves someone swallowing hard and confused. I do, and I am.”
The first book I’ve read by this Author has blown me away!! I couldn’t and didn’t want to put this down at any point. I cried, I laughed, I SWOONED, and my heart just exploded for these two. Delving into deeper issues, crushing pasts, demons rearing their ugly heads and a swirl of events that had me gripping the kindle and pouring through these words well into the night, it’s a story to experience!!! Jesse and Arizona’s fall is mesmerizing and captivating, and at times soul crushing. Their intense relationship, snarky banter, and inner dialogue set the stage for a really vivid and exciting read! So much against them, yet their pure, yet magnetic romance was intoxicating as much as it was sweet. I’ll be reading much more from this Author guaranteed!! A massively entertaining YA/NA Rocker Romance that I won’t soon forget!!
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
One of my top reads of 2019! Ginger Scott knows how to write YA. I loved every page of this book.
In Ginger Scott’s newest release, Drummer Girl, she crafts a story about first/young love, about finding a medium that helps individuals’ cope with the pain and heartache of growing up in dysfunction, mistreatment, and neglect, about choosing to live life for themselves in order to secure a future worth having.
From the beginning of the story, Jesse Barringer appears to be a troublemaker bad boy who doesn’t have anything to offer a shy girl like Ari, but as their story continues and it becomes clear that he is a product of his environment, what also becomes quite obvious is that with the right person pushing through his walls and helping him to see his worth and all that he has to offer, not only to her, but to the world as a whole, the Jesse who has always been there beneath his hardened exterior finds his way to the light, allowing readers to understand what Ari always saw in Jesse despite their rough beginning.
I absolutely adored Arizona Wakefield and how she chose to live her life despite the difficulties she faced. It’s clear what she’s had to endure so far in her young life and as much as it works to be her only defining qualities, she refuses to be pulled completely down and she does so with a musical outlet that allows her to be her true self, to express her true feelings, and it’s that medium that gives her hope and Jesse.
The music analogy strung and blended throughout the pages of Drummer Girl illustrate how essential music is to both Arizona and Jesse and the fact that they figure out how to meld together a melody and rhythm that not only expresses their individuality but also demonstrates how well they harmonize together allows them to continue to push forward even when the trauma and pain from their pasts threaten to tear them down.
Ginger Scott is quickly becoming one of my favorite mature YA/New Adult romance authors; her stories are easily relatable to her readers and the topics explored as well as the messages expressed in her books highlight contemporary society’s concerns in an open and honest way.
4.5 Poison Apples
I’m a huge fan of Ginger Scott,I love her writing and her ability to write good and realistic young adult stories and characters.
I loved Ari,she is an amazing drummer and I was so glad she went out of her comfort zone in order to audition for her new neighbour’s band.Jesse is the face and the tortured talent of his band,his character reminded me of one of my favourite artist and I was so invested reading about him and his life and my heart broke a few times when he felt pretty messed up.
They have this strange connection and a lot of chemistry that page after page becomes even deeper.
Set against a musical backdrop, author Ginger Scott steps outside the box to deliver a YA romance that’s both socially relevant and beautifully poignant.
I hardly read YA stories these days.
But with Ginger Scott, I ALWAYS make an exception.
Her stories are just too good.
Once again, she creates unperfect and broken characters, with very complex backgrounds, and writes a beautiful love story.
This one is really special because of a its topics, and like everything she does, Ginger Scott did an amazing job with Arizona and Jesse.
I totally recommend this book; it is raw sometimes, but it is a beautiful lesson for so many people.
“We all have lakes we dive into sometimes.”
Yes, we do…
***ARC Provided by the Author for an Honest Review***
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Loved it! Another masterpiece of storytelling and characters that destroyed my heart in the best way! There’s no other author that gives us the authenticity and realism in this genre that Ginger Scott does. She’s a go-to for me and I’m a few years past the age market for YA/NA but her writing is just spectacular. There’s so much emotion and, of course, angst because what’s teenage love without some angst, but it’s wonderfully subtle and not overdone. This story is a beautiful tale of first love between two teens bombarded with tragedy at a young age and dealing with the fallout and the ongoing battle with mental illness. The author’s treatment of mental illness is spot on and she does a terrific job of showing the heartbreak and daily struggle that accompanies the disease. But the best part for me is the music in the story. So good! Love the Cowboy Junkies! Arizona and Jesse had my heart thumping hard and I was easily drawn into their connection built on music. I really love the bad boys and add the rockstar element…outstanding! And later when the heartbreak of mental illness and family dysfunction was introduced to their relationship it went to another level. Ari was wonderful with Jesse and his problems, while coming to terms with her own past trauma. Ari’s growth from shy band geek to “Bruiser” and badass drummer was exceptional. I really like how teen sex is portrayed in the story as a natural progression of a normal teen relationship. A few swoon-worthy moments but nothing too graphic. The secondary characters from the parents to the friends and family were all fabulous. Dad was the bomb! And when the evil Dad got his comeuppance I was cheering. I love the way this author wraps up her stories and the ending is terrific. Great epilogue! You don’t have to be a fan of YA/NA to love this story. You just have to love fantastic storytelling that tugs on your heartstrings with gut-wrenching emotion, family drama and a teen romance that is to good to pass up. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
I have racked my brain thinking of all the correct words to describe my feeling for this book and I’m going do my best.
“It feels fragile, this budding friendship that’s definitely more. People don’t swat at butterflies, they tread lightly.”
This book discusses the, sometimes really hard to talk about, subject of mental illness. It’s not an easy subject, but one that needs to be talked about more. One that needs to be more normalized in conversation. This book comes at a time where people are becoming more open about talking about it, but we’re all not quite there yet. This book is very important in time right now and just in general.
Ginger Scott brings up the subject so well in this book. Never once does she downgrade the characters feelings in this book or make jokes and make it seem less than it is.
Arizona Wakefield has her own issues in her family, and within herself, when Jesse Barringer the son of a washed-up rock star moves in down the road from her.
Both of them find something special in the other. They find a connection to each other through music.
I absolutely love the way this was done and how it was described. The way that both of them bond to each other and feel through the music was something magical to read.
“Beautiful reckage. We all have our own lakes.”
Like I said both of them have their own issues that they have to work through on their own, but they also make each other stronger.
I don’t want to go too into detail because this story is really one you need to read for yourself.
Arizona and Jessies story is one of importance. A story of pain, hopelessness, struggle, love, and truly one of strength.
“This is a slow, careful gift from a boy I find dizzyingly perfect despite all of his crazy. He doesn’t pretend to be something he isn’t. He’s a genius, he’s a wreck- he’s my first.”
The things and the lessons that you take away from this story are amazing.
To this to date, this is my favorite story of Ginger Scott’s and I feel like it should be read by everyone.
3.5 stars
“He’s literally making the sounds that live in my heart and head,…”
Drummer Girl was my second book by Ginger Scott and while thinking on how to write this review, I realized I had the same issues with this one like I had with Bred. I couldn’t connect with the characters on a deeper level. I didn’t feel the energy and while reading I had no idea where this journey would lead me.
“We all have lakes we dive into sometimes.”
The creation of the characters was very thoughtful. The topics this book touches are very sensitive and Ginger Scott played them out nicely. I think she did a great job with Ari but I had a hard time picturing Jesse. Also the connection they shared wasn’t palpable to me.
Maybe I’m the wrong audience for this book, but I’m pretty sure for younger readers it’s perfect and they will learn a lot from it.
“He’s my lake, and I dove in head fucking first.”
Drummer Girl is a lovely YA novel with mature content that will lead you into the deep lakes of a young and troubled mind.
One of my favorite lines from a movie is “Just keep swimming”. Swim through all your problems and over come them. That is what Ginger Scott brings to us in her new book Drummer Girl. The story of two teenagers battling through the secrets and darkness that has always been such a big part of their lives.
Arizona is a band nerd in high school. Her drumming skills have made her lead in the marching band but now they have caught the attention of someone else. The new kid on the street who happens to have a band and some real talent. Plus, he is very easy on the eyes.
Jessie just moved into a new house on a quiet street. He’s trying to dodge life and a waste of a father, a has been musician, by living his own life. Unfortunately, that life has caught up to him and now wants to exploit him. He lives for his own music and is surprised by the girl up the street when she bangs out a beat on the drums. He has a new drummer and eventually, a new girlfriend.
Ginger Scott brings a story of two people who have suffered tragedy in their young lives that has blurred over the years. This is not a teenage angsty story. It’s a beautiful story of two people who find each other and with that, the ability to heal their hearts and move forward together. A story of first loves and the ties that bind Ari and Jesse together. A story of following your dreams no matter what gets in your way. A story that reminds you to just keep swimming until you find the one you want to tread water with. Ginger Scott, thank you for bringing us this amazing book.
Drummer Girl was a mature YA romance that held my interest from beginning to end. There is something about the stories that Ginger Scott write that pull you in and this novel was no exception, I was so engrossed in this story I could not put it down. It deals with the topic of mental illness and addiction with the backdrop off a YA rockstar romance. It a story about first love, about the good girl falling for the bad boy, but its more than just a romance. Its about love, acceptance and courage.
Its about falling in love with that special someone,its about accepting that we all have our own issues to deal with but that we accept each other as is, and its about having the courage to face you issues head on and getting help as needed.
These characters were complex yet well-developed and they were supported by a range of secondary characters who provided support and balance.
The story was well-written and heart-felt. It will take you on an emotional roller-coaster ride. There were some twists I did not see coming and an epilogue I absolutely loved.
Drummer Girl was a phenomenal page-turner and I would highly recommend it to all lovers of YA romance.
Drummer Girl was an experience. Ginger Scott has touched my heart deeply with her honest, heartwrecking and gifted writing. The intense emotions were overflowing the pages. The amazing characters with a strong and sensitive story line has won my heart.
Ari and Jesse both are very unique characters. It is YA/NA trope but the characters were really mature. The striking point for me in this story was the excellent realistic handling of mental health issues in the characters. Ginger Scott tackled this subject with empathy and honesty. She did not suger coat or avoid the dark struggles of Ari and Jesse. She also managed to emphasize and incorporate two very important factors in healing and acceptance of mental health issues. One: understanding and supportive family and friends. Second: art and music. I felt the struggle and fight of Ari and Jesse in the deepest fibres of my soul.
Jesse is the perfect hero for this emotional story. He is the brooding, intense, broken and volatile guy who uses music as an escape from all the painful and bitter reality. Ari may look well adjusted with her apparently normal family but her past was a traumatic one. Her mind hides the noise behind the beats of her drums. But she has lots of issues, just like Jesse. And it was a mesmerizing and intoxicating experience to read how these two misfit and broken puzzle pieces try to find peace and happiness through a storm of anger, guilt, shame and hurt. The chemistry is soul deep, bone deep and out of the world amazing.
Drummer Girl by Ginger Scott was an inspiring tale of struggling and surviving and becoming better everyday! It was heartbreaking, tearing-me-up kind of angsty and extremely touching. Jesse and Ari are not simply two fictional characters. They are beacons for hope and love. I admire their pain, their tears and their fight. I felt every single word deep in my bones!
Received ARC for Honest Review
Wow! This book was something else. I’m not quite sure where to start. Drummer Girl is a mature YA romance set against the backdrop of music. The two leads really bring this book to life, causing you to feel every ounce of hurt, bitterness, hope and love that they experience. It was like being a teenager again and going through the wide spectrum of feelings and mixed up thoughts.
The plot of this story will put your heart through the ringer. It is emotional and raw as it gently touches on the serious matter of mental health combined with drug abuse and sex. This beautiful tale of healing and love will make your heart hurt, yet heal you at the same time. It is wonderfully written, eye-opening, thought-provoking, and should be a must read for every lover of romance.