A review by jennareadsbooks
Perfect Tunes by Emily Gould

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.