annetteb713's review against another edition
5.0
When i spotted this at my local library it was purely the title alone " i love the 80's " what attracted me to pick it up '
Being a complete Life on mars and Ashes to Ashes nut when i read the back and realised not only was it about the 80's but time travel also i was delighted .I was'nt disappointed either
I don't normally go in for "chick lit" but i found this book throughly enjoyable from start to finish.If like me you grew up being a teenager during the 80's im sure you'll like it also .Although having said that this is set in NY and the 80'scene in London was a little different from our friends over the pond.For a start of course we had big hair and shoulder pads too we also had Gary numan and OMD as well as Depeche mode .So if your a musical snob and only remember the alternative scene and not the cheesey poptastic 80's then maybe give this a miss ..lol
It was so easy to read and i was into it right from the first page .Jenna Jenkins ...heartbroken and newly single (main character) comes back through time and meets her hero Tommy Seer who of course is a 80's rock god lead singer in "the Wild Boys" ..Things aren't quite how Jenna remembers. 1987 is alot different, and now shes older for a start .
Times running out for Tommy and Jenna has to figure out a way of saving Tommy life in the meantime she has to stop herself from jumping on him the moment she sees him ...ill say no more ..
Its not a story thats going to win the booker prize its just a bit of fun, light reading thats great for a few days worth of escapism ..read it and enjoy i certainly did
Being a complete Life on mars and Ashes to Ashes nut when i read the back and realised not only was it about the 80's but time travel also i was delighted .I was'nt disappointed either
I don't normally go in for "chick lit" but i found this book throughly enjoyable from start to finish.If like me you grew up being a teenager during the 80's im sure you'll like it also .Although having said that this is set in NY and the 80'scene in London was a little different from our friends over the pond.For a start of course we had big hair and shoulder pads too we also had Gary numan and OMD as well as Depeche mode .So if your a musical snob and only remember the alternative scene and not the cheesey poptastic 80's then maybe give this a miss ..lol
It was so easy to read and i was into it right from the first page .Jenna Jenkins ...heartbroken and newly single (main character) comes back through time and meets her hero Tommy Seer who of course is a 80's rock god lead singer in "the Wild Boys" ..Things aren't quite how Jenna remembers. 1987 is alot different, and now shes older for a start .
Times running out for Tommy and Jenna has to figure out a way of saving Tommy life in the meantime she has to stop herself from jumping on him the moment she sees him ...ill say no more ..
Its not a story thats going to win the booker prize its just a bit of fun, light reading thats great for a few days worth of escapism ..read it and enjoy i certainly did
bookdrgn's review
5.0
This was an interesting take on the time travel trope. Jenna’s a character many can relate to. Broken-hearted, plodding along in life and harboring a long-time crush on an untouchable celebrity. Who hasn’t been there?
She needs zest, drive, and ambition, maybe a little organization wouldn’t hurt either. She has a crystal-clear memory of all things Tommy Seer and a lot of eighties knowledge which help her navigate the decade when she finds herself thrust back there in the body of her favorite Aunt.
I enjoyed the body swap element, though it would have been great to also read Aunt Jen’s experience in Jenna’s time.
The references to the eighties were sparse but more realistic than the bubble-gum version many books take. Grittier and relevant to the plot.
It took a couple of chapters to become immersed in Jenna’s world but once I did, I found it hard to put down.
Tommy was a typical rock star at the beginning, arrogant and cruel, taking advantage of Jenna’s crush. As she gets to know him, his hidden depths begin to show, and Jenna realizes her childhood crush was superficial.
Their relationship progresses and Jenna is living many a fan’s fantasies.
But the shadow of Tommy’s death lingers. There are clues and it’s not too difficult to figure out what’s going to happen, but it’s still fun to read.
She needs zest, drive, and ambition, maybe a little organization wouldn’t hurt either. She has a crystal-clear memory of all things Tommy Seer and a lot of eighties knowledge which help her navigate the decade when she finds herself thrust back there in the body of her favorite Aunt.
I enjoyed the body swap element, though it would have been great to also read Aunt Jen’s experience in Jenna’s time.
The references to the eighties were sparse but more realistic than the bubble-gum version many books take. Grittier and relevant to the plot.
It took a couple of chapters to become immersed in Jenna’s world but once I did, I found it hard to put down.
Tommy was a typical rock star at the beginning, arrogant and cruel, taking advantage of Jenna’s crush. As she gets to know him, his hidden depths begin to show, and Jenna realizes her childhood crush was superficial.
Their relationship progresses and Jenna is living many a fan’s fantasies.
But the shadow of Tommy’s death lingers. There are clues and it’s not too difficult to figure out what’s going to happen, but it’s still fun to read.
jules1278's review
4.0
I didn't stay up all night to read this book, but I downloaded the free ebook when I took my mom to the dentist today (because of course I forgot the physical books I'm in the middle of reading) and devoured the story. It's crazy cute and even though I had to suspend belief several times (not because of the time travel aspect, but because the characters seemed to be oblivious to what was really going on, more often than not), but dude, I read this in a sitting, and the '80s nostalgia was perfection. Quick, light read and I really loved the main characters despite wanting to yell at them. :)
whosevita's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If this book had a theme song it would be "hungry eyes" by Eric Carmen.
This book was so much fun. I really love time travel stories but this time our protagonist didn't get send back to medieval Scotland or 19th century engeland, but 80s America. This book was full of tacky 80s clothing and pop culture references.
I really didn't care for the "falling in lust" element but that's just personal taste. Even though I really don't like the trope I can say with confidence that it was written really well.
This was honestly a perfect book for the fan girl in me. The main character was so relatable it actually hurt.
"So maybe it wasn’t so surprising that when her real-life love had turned out to be fake, she’d reverted back to the fantasy love that had never done her wrong and never, ever would. Maybe that was the point."
The author brings a lot of inside on the world of celebrities and fandom.
"After all, when idols lived, they tended to topple off their pedestals, change dramatically."
Our main character really had some astronomical character development.
Her seeing the flaws in herself and the reason why her previous relatioships failed.
And the angst 80% in was SO delicious. I wanted more grovelling though. Never really seen the "love interest is wrongfuly accused of being crazy" but It was so deliciously angsty.
I didn't really care that much for Tommy. Her was just the bad-boy "thats kind of an asshole but its ok cuz he has a tragic backstory archetype". But he was alright. I like my men mean and emotionally unavailable.
The mystery aspect was really not strong, but this book wasn't a mystery thriller but a rom-com so I won't hold it accountable.
This book was so much fun. I really love time travel stories but this time our protagonist didn't get send back to medieval Scotland or 19th century engeland, but 80s America. This book was full of tacky 80s clothing and pop culture references.
I really didn't care for the "falling in lust" element but that's just personal taste. Even though I really don't like the trope I can say with confidence that it was written really well.
This was honestly a perfect book for the fan girl in me. The main character was so relatable it actually hurt.
"So maybe it wasn’t so surprising that when her real-life love had turned out to be fake, she’d reverted back to the fantasy love that had never done her wrong and never, ever would. Maybe that was the point."
The author brings a lot of inside on the world of celebrities and fandom.
"After all, when idols lived, they tended to topple off their pedestals, change dramatically."
Our main character really had some astronomical character development.
Her seeing the flaws in herself and the reason why her previous relatioships failed.
And the angst 80% in was SO delicious. I wanted more grovelling though. Never really seen the "love interest is wrongfuly accused of being crazy" but It was so deliciously angsty.
I didn't really care that much for Tommy. Her was just the bad-boy "thats kind of an asshole but its ok cuz he has a tragic backstory archetype". But he was alright. I like my men mean and emotionally unavailable.
The mystery aspect was really not strong, but this book wasn't a mystery thriller but a rom-com so I won't hold it accountable.
cocktailsandbooks1's review against another edition
5.0
Boy, did this one bring back some memories!! Celebrating my 40th birthday in December, the 80's have been on my mind a lot...80's themed rocker b'day party, listening to the 80's station on XM, and being subjected to really bad 80's movies with their equally bad actors (thank you Marc Singer for parading around town and the mother ship with your shirt half buttoned). So when I started reading this book...I was in heaven.
We find Jenna Jenkins who, at 35, is working at a low end job at an all 80's tv show and still obsessed with anything Tommy Seer...lead singer for the 80's band Wild Child, who died tragically. While rummaging through the supply closet one night, she ends up getting transported back to the fall of 1987.
Reliving some of Jenna's 80's moments were hysterical (the receptionist with the Princess Diana pompador, the high waisted jeans). I know I remember all of those and was glad to know that my Wham dayglo gloves are long gone!
When Jenna steps out of the closet and into 1987, she suddenly finds herself involved with Wild Child at one of their best TV moments. From there, she's suddenly made Tommy's "assistant" and discovers he's not at all the man she had built him up to be in her mind. As a matter of fact he turns out to be quite the ass.
We find out why Tommy's the way he is. We see the relationship change between Jenna and Tommy and figure out what happened that tragic night when Tommy died back in the fall of 1987. But more importantly, we get to witness Jenna growing up and understanding why things went south when she was 20 years in the future. Who knew a trip back to our early teen years could do that???
Excellent story, awesome characters!
We find Jenna Jenkins who, at 35, is working at a low end job at an all 80's tv show and still obsessed with anything Tommy Seer...lead singer for the 80's band Wild Child, who died tragically. While rummaging through the supply closet one night, she ends up getting transported back to the fall of 1987.
Reliving some of Jenna's 80's moments were hysterical (the receptionist with the Princess Diana pompador, the high waisted jeans). I know I remember all of those and was glad to know that my Wham dayglo gloves are long gone!
When Jenna steps out of the closet and into 1987, she suddenly finds herself involved with Wild Child at one of their best TV moments. From there, she's suddenly made Tommy's "assistant" and discovers he's not at all the man she had built him up to be in her mind. As a matter of fact he turns out to be quite the ass.
We find out why Tommy's the way he is. We see the relationship change between Jenna and Tommy and figure out what happened that tragic night when Tommy died back in the fall of 1987. But more importantly, we get to witness Jenna growing up and understanding why things went south when she was 20 years in the future. Who knew a trip back to our early teen years could do that???
Excellent story, awesome characters!
nicolevde's review
4.0
Recommendable for everyone who still love their favorite teenage band or artist. This novel shows that this love can stretch across decades. Enjoyable read, especially if you've grown up in the eighties or just love the decade.
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