Songwriting partners Lawson Harper and Jessa Warlow’s musical ambitions are derailed when their so-called relationship ends disastrously. However, neither Lawson nor Jessa are willing to give up on the album’s worth of soul-searing songs they wrote together—songs they’re sure are good enough to change both their lives. Will the chemistry that fuels their creativity drive them to make the record … the record of a lifetime, or only to absolute madness?
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Love, Music, Madness by Tabitha Rhys was a crazy twisty emotional ride. I can’t say I was completely in love with everything, but I thought Rhys penned an achingly well-written and riveting story.
There was something magnetic and magical about this book that kept me captivated. The emotional honestly and realness in the writing style, storyline, and characters made this such a compelling and intriguing read. I liked the pacing, the imagery, the settings, and the overall feel of the story. I thought Rhys created interesting characters that were realistic and relatable. They weren’t always likable, but their personalities, actions, and flaws were amazingly believable that they felt like real people to me. I also liked exploring Los Angeles and Hollywood through Lawson’s experiences and the musical aspects of the story. Although it seemed a bit rushed, I thought Rhys wrote a fantastic conclusion… one I did not see coming and in the end, I was incredibly delighted to have read this book.
I do have to say that I wasn’t completely sure about the romance for most of the story. Based on the cutesy cover and the synopsis, I was expecting this to be lovey dovey. Well, it surprisingly was not. I felt no chemistry, no swoons, nothing. It was frustrating and I honestly could care less about the love interests. I was into reading more about Lawson’s self-discovery and personal growth. But, after I finished the book and stopped to really think about everything that happened, I found myself appreciating the way Rhys portrayed love and romantic relationships. Sometimes love can be messy, confusing, complicated, unpredictable and even ugly. Life can be that way too. And that’s okay. You wouldn’t be really living life if you didn’t experience all the good and the bad that comes with it.
This book was quite messy… a beautiful mess that had me turning the pages. Love, Music, Madness was a wonderfully affecting story about falling in and out of love, making mistakes and learning from them, chasing your dreams and doing what truly makes you happy, and ultimately finding yourself in the midst of every unexpected twists and turns and all the madness. It was an interestingly emotional read and a great debut novel that surprised me quite a few times.
Would I recommned this book? Yes. Absolutely. I think there are so many amazing things about this story that many readers will enjoy.
I received a copy of this book for the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts, feelings, and opinions are my own.
Lawson Harper leaves a disastrous relationship and troubled childhood to pursue his dream of a musical career in Los Angeles. He quickly finds his niche in the music industry as well as what he considers love. But life doesn’t flow smoothly, rather it becomes a dramatic emotional rollercoaster. It’s hard to tell too much of this coming-of-age story of dreams and love without spoilers, but the title Love, Music, and Madness fits perfectly.
New Adult Book Contemporary
Love, Music, and Madness
Wow…just finished it and can’t stop thinking about it. It’s definitely a roller coaster from the perspective of the main character. It’s raw and emotional, filled with regrets, highs and lows. The talented MC, Lawson, hits rock bottom. I found myself pulling for him through the whole story. What I liked most about Lawson is that he is innately good and ultimately that goodness comes through.