Title: Songs of Our Breakup (Playlist #1)
Author: Jay E. Tria
Genre: New Adult
Pages: 183
Year: 2015
Publisher: Self Published
Source: Purchased
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Synopsis:
Every breakup has its playlist.
How do you get over a seven-year relationship? 21-year-old Jill is trying to find out. But moving on is a harder job when Kim, her ex-boyfriend, is the lead guitarist of the band, and Jill is the vocalist. Every song they play together feels like slicing open a barely healed tattoo.
Jill’s best friend Miki says she will be out of this gloom soon. Breakups have a probation period, he says. Jill is on the last month of hers and Miki is patiently keeping her company.
But the real silver lining is Shinta. Having a hot Japanese actor friend in times like these is a welcome distraction. This gorgeous celebrity has been defying time zones and distance through the years to be there for Jill. Now he is here, physically present, and together he and Jill go through old lyrics, vivid memories, walks in the rain, and bottles of beer. Together they try to answer the question: what do you do when forever ends?
Reviewer’s Thoughts:
You can listen to my Songs of Our Breakup playlist on Spotify. You can see the tracklist in Tumblr.
Do you like an understated romance between a celebrity and a musician? Do you like an ensemble of cast? Do you like music? Sun and moon metaphors? Then you should give Playlist series a chance.
Songs of Our Break Up is my first book by Jay E. Tria. The story introduces Jill, the lead singer of indie band Trainmain. She’s currently icing the end of her seven-year relationship. Though moving on is quite difficult when your ex-boyfriend is also the front-runner of your band. As her best friend, Miki assures her, it will heal down soon. Distraction at last will come in the form of an international Japanese actor named Shinta. He’s been friends with Jill’s band for years.
Jill still knew the face, but no longer the boy behind it.
Songs of Our Break Up is told from Jill’s perspective. It switches back and forth between the present times and the past where her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Kim was being narrated. I love how the author chose to include this facet of Jill’s life. It was built by young love, trust, but even teenagers grow. It was up to them if they could weather growing up together and their shifting environment. That’s why some relationship tends to pan out badly. It’s not always because love isn’t there anymore, it just develops into something else. Perhaps, resentment? You’ve been together for so long, you don’t know how to be yourself, or you don’t know how to be something else without feeling the shackles of your partner. That’s how Kim and Jill’s relationship ended. Though, props to Tria because I love the aftermath of their break up. It’s nostalgic, but sweet.
I will go all the way
Search the stars for a stray
Take the yellow brick road
And come back to you
I will go all the way
All the way for you
The romance is cute! I love the inviting ambiance, lyrical writing, and metaphors. This book is a refreshing break from New Adult genre. The US only highlights western-centric romance which is a shame. There are so many uncharted cultures we should be exploring. Songs of Our Break Up is a prime example of that.
The only legit criticism I have is–this is a very male dominant series. The lack of female characters and camaraderie is dismaying. I hope the author rectifies that in her following books.
Review also posted at Goodreads.
