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megancrusante's review against another edition
3.0
3.5- I was loving this but the ending was not satisfying for me.
aubsbooks's review against another edition
1.0
If the book I read was actually like the description I read, I probably would have enjoyed it.
lblattttt's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Avid Reader Press and NetGalley for the ARC! I was not a huge Emily Gould fan but wanted to give this a try. I highly recommend going into this book blind because the publisher’s synopsis gives away a lot! I have just become a new mom and this book was an interesting exploration of motherhood and how to balance life, kids and your passions. Plus any story set in NYC I will read especially right now when I am missing being in my city. Highly recommend and props to Emily Gould!
andintothetrees's review against another edition
3.0
I really struggled to get into this book as the main character was pretty lacking in personality and the narrative so detached and unemotional. But the second third of the book had some interesting musings on motherhood (especially becoming a mother in your mid-20s, when most of your peers are out doing other things) and the main character developed more and I started to enjoy it. The last third wasn't as good as the middle, but it was interesting to see how things turned out and by the end I think the main character was starting to take control of her life instead of just drifting through it.
jennareadsbooks's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Thanks to @avidreaderpress for my copy of Perfect Tunes by Emily Gould. This book follows Laura, a songwriter, after she moves to the East Village. She waits tables at a bar, lives with her magnetic best friend Callie, and dreams of writing and performing music full time. After she meets and falls for a more famous but troubled musician, she gets pregnant, and soon becomes a single mother with changed priorities. We jump forward in time, and Laura’s life looks nothing like she imagined. Meanwhile, her daughter’s mental health struggles resemble those of her father.
This book felt unpolished. The characters and relationships didn’t seem fully formed. Particularly the romance - there isn’t much dialogue so there isn’t much opportunity to feel chemistry between the characters. The story doesn’t offer character growth or even a deep understanding of Laura. Instead it feels like we just watch her going through the motions, with her choices determined more by her responsibilities and less by her own motivations. Despite jumping forward in time a few times, this book was slow. I liked the idea of it from the description, but the execution left me wanting more. I did finish it, but it was a chore to get through.
purrfectpages's review
2.0
Have you ever started a story expecting it to be something totally different than what it actually was? That’s the feeling I got while reading Perfect Tunes. In fact, to be fair, even after reading it I’m still not completely sure what it’s about. At first we made a young girl, believed to be undiscovered talent. In actuality this isn’t really the focus of the book at all. Suddenly it morphs into a slice of life character study that spans over a decade. The music is still there- though oddly enough, it only seems to be playing in the background.
laurahood's review
3.0
I felt like I just read the CliffNotes for what could have been an incredible story. The fast paced storytelling left me with many questions. Certain chapters stopped with no explanation. Wanted to love this but it was mediocre for me.
brittahughes's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
michellekmartin's review against another edition
2.0
Perfect Tunes had all the elements that made me feel like I was going to love it: New York City setting, coming of age, music. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me.
While I did enjoy this one, I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would. The novel spans a few decades of Laura's life and I found that I wanted more depth from her character. I found it hard to connect to her character and become invested in her life. I also think that the book tried to cover too much time. The beginning and the end feel like two completely different stories and I didn't get enough from either of them.
While I did enjoy this one, I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would. The novel spans a few decades of Laura's life and I found that I wanted more depth from her character. I found it hard to connect to her character and become invested in her life. I also think that the book tried to cover too much time. The beginning and the end feel like two completely different stories and I didn't get enough from either of them.