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A review by currant7
You Spin Me by Karen Grey
5.0
Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
This review can also be found in Currant7 Recommends.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
The story is about two very creative and full-of-potential protagonists finding their way into life during the mid-80s/90s.
Jessica Abraham is a struggling actress, dancer. She recently got go from working as a school dance instructor, so she can be seen scampering auditions and looking for work options at the start of the book.
Cal Alonso is a music station disk jockey (DJ), driven to give his listeners the best music mix for his time slot with his steady listenership. On the other side, he is a kind and good man trying to rescue "others" in how he can, even in the "shadows" of anonymity.
This book may be my first time to read the author's work, but it is a highly anticipated one since the Boston Classics started. I was fortunate to be granted access to this book, which piqued my interest based on the author and her storylines. Mind you that I will be backreading the rest of the series soon, but for now, readers can start anywhere in the series because it's a standalone book. It focuses on the main characters' situations but has past series' characters help these two lovebirds out.
I love too many things in this book but let me sum it up...
1) Relatable era with witty writing.
Written in the first-person duality - Cal and Jess' POV, the story is very relatable and pulls in many of the elements that make the 90s a unique time. The book cover gives an excellent start with its back to 80s/90s vibe with its song choices, LP/vinyl records, leg warmers, and retro wall-phones (not mobile phones) with limited cord lengths that only on eBay would have now. I found the introduction paragraph to each of the chapters as a wonderful segway that set up the chapter well.
2) Rivetting and profound characters.
The author made sure that her characters have different yet similar flaws. Cal and Jess have inner demons within them that hindered them from finding their full potential. Both characters refuse to be vulnerable and try their best to hide their respective sides from the other.
Cal's past is a sad one. The author gave us a hint in the prologue, but how was much trauma Cal went through discussed only halfway through the book. Cal was very young when things went badly for him. I cried buckets because no one could foresee the grueling long, and heartbreaking road to recovery. Although some mistakes placed Cal in the situation, no one deserves what he went through. At a young age, the pain and prejudices made him build a "wall" between him and the rest of the world - to protect his heart. He accepted his limitations as truths that he lived in the shadows and away from the world.
In Jess' case, readers may think they know Jess' back-story but be prepared for a truckload of issues that no one will see it coming. There side suggestions, but it was wrong. Jess' façade was perfectly placed for everyone that no one saw it festered into a colossal mess in Jess' head and health until it was too late. Readers will witness Jess see herself far different from what the real world saw. It is not her fault but how society projected what is "supposedly right" in her head. I appreciate the author pulling in topics that go beyond time and an era. Mental health and a particular disorder (and disease), rarely discussed in romance books, are brought to light in a brutally honest and scientific way that is thought-provoking enough to make you think and reassess your own lives. The author did enough research (see author's acknowledgments) on the disorder's issues and disclosed possible symptoms as a takeaway for readers.
3) Social and political situation of the era discusses.
Although the author brings in the era's fun and unique times, she also brings in the socio-economic, racial, and sexual disparities and discrimination climate plaguing it. The plot weaves the duality of living in the era of love, family, and immense options ("American Dream") with uncertainty, abandonment, and human cruelty are front and center. Fear of retaliation is at the forefront of the other characters in the book. Many relevant topics are hinted, explored, and taken up will have readers rethink, reassess and re-examine these issues based on our current time. Things may change, but there are, to an extent, new spin-off versions of these injustices.
NOTE: The author's character representation - heritage, socio-economic status, etc. all add to the impact of the situation and story.
4.) Plot build-up and twists were reminiscent of the times
The plot centers on connections in the traditional sense like the "meeting of the minds" or finding common ground versus two people's physical attraction.
Readers will be giddy at Jess' and Cal's conversations, wherein a lot of things were go through their heads, but the opposite comes out of their mouths. This type of "connecting" makes deeper connections. Who knew that a simple serendipitous phone call could turn into true love and forever?
That one phone call sparked something "more" for the main characters - talks that turned into "mini confessions" and possible self-improvements. All this reminded will remind us of our past (i.e., late-night chats, heating our home phone lines with random topics and "getting-to-know" our crushes, etc.) as Jess and Cal were doing the same thing! It's adorable and brings back many happy memories.
The story is not all are rainbows and butterflies between Jess and Cal. Joni Mitchell's song, Big Yellow Taxi - " Don't it always seem to go. That you don't know what you've got. Till it's gone." went through my head. After a few self-realizations and discoveries, things became more complicated! It was heartbreaking to read through that part but but but -> interestingly enough, it does a lot of wonders to Jess and Cal. Their "breaks" made them realize how much they need to work on themselves first before being there for the other. Their love pushes them to grow and be the best versions of themselves for their relationship.
In conclusion, I super, highly, and absolutely love and recommend this series! Readers who love the 80s/90s nostalgic era and maturing "broken" characters will be captivated with the characters, the plot, and the unforgettable era of the 80s/90s - the good, the bad, and even the ugly side of things.
Jess and Cal's story is an indelible ink that seeped into my subconsciousness. I felt every cheer in their triumphs and shed every tear in their disappointments. I hope the author's message will make readers remember that we are only limited to how they see themselves and that life is about "possibilities," we need to seek the change we want!
This review can also be found in Currant7 Recommends.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
The story is about two very creative and full-of-potential protagonists finding their way into life during the mid-80s/90s.
Jessica Abraham is a struggling actress, dancer. She recently got go from working as a school dance instructor, so she can be seen scampering auditions and looking for work options at the start of the book.
Cal Alonso is a music station disk jockey (DJ), driven to give his listeners the best music mix for his time slot with his steady listenership. On the other side, he is a kind and good man trying to rescue "others" in how he can, even in the "shadows" of anonymity.
This book may be my first time to read the author's work, but it is a highly anticipated one since the Boston Classics started. I was fortunate to be granted access to this book, which piqued my interest based on the author and her storylines. Mind you that I will be backreading the rest of the series soon, but for now, readers can start anywhere in the series because it's a standalone book. It focuses on the main characters' situations but has past series' characters help these two lovebirds out.
I love too many things in this book but let me sum it up...
1) Relatable era with witty writing.
Written in the first-person duality - Cal and Jess' POV, the story is very relatable and pulls in many of the elements that make the 90s a unique time. The book cover gives an excellent start with its back to 80s/90s vibe with its song choices, LP/vinyl records, leg warmers, and retro wall-phones (not mobile phones) with limited cord lengths that only on eBay would have now. I found the introduction paragraph to each of the chapters as a wonderful segway that set up the chapter well.
2) Rivetting and profound characters.
The author made sure that her characters have different yet similar flaws. Cal and Jess have inner demons within them that hindered them from finding their full potential. Both characters refuse to be vulnerable and try their best to hide their respective sides from the other.
Cal's past is a sad one. The author gave us a hint in the prologue, but how was much trauma Cal went through discussed only halfway through the book. Cal was very young when things went badly for him. I cried buckets because no one could foresee the grueling long, and heartbreaking road to recovery. Although some mistakes placed Cal in the situation, no one deserves what he went through. At a young age, the pain and prejudices made him build a "wall" between him and the rest of the world - to protect his heart. He accepted his limitations as truths that he lived in the shadows and away from the world.
In Jess' case, readers may think they know Jess' back-story but be prepared for a truckload of issues that no one will see it coming. There side suggestions, but it was wrong. Jess' façade was perfectly placed for everyone that no one saw it festered into a colossal mess in Jess' head and health until it was too late. Readers will witness Jess see herself far different from what the real world saw. It is not her fault but how society projected what is "supposedly right" in her head. I appreciate the author pulling in topics that go beyond time and an era. Mental health and a particular disorder (and disease), rarely discussed in romance books, are brought to light in a brutally honest and scientific way that is thought-provoking enough to make you think and reassess your own lives. The author did enough research (see author's acknowledgments) on the disorder's issues and disclosed possible symptoms as a takeaway for readers.
3) Social and political situation of the era discusses.
Although the author brings in the era's fun and unique times, she also brings in the socio-economic, racial, and sexual disparities and discrimination climate plaguing it. The plot weaves the duality of living in the era of love, family, and immense options ("American Dream") with uncertainty, abandonment, and human cruelty are front and center. Fear of retaliation is at the forefront of the other characters in the book. Many relevant topics are hinted, explored, and taken up will have readers rethink, reassess and re-examine these issues based on our current time. Things may change, but there are, to an extent, new spin-off versions of these injustices.
NOTE: The author's character representation - heritage, socio-economic status, etc. all add to the impact of the situation and story.
4.) Plot build-up and twists were reminiscent of the times
The plot centers on connections in the traditional sense like the "meeting of the minds" or finding common ground versus two people's physical attraction.
Readers will be giddy at Jess' and Cal's conversations, wherein a lot of things were go through their heads, but the opposite comes out of their mouths. This type of "connecting" makes deeper connections. Who knew that a simple serendipitous phone call could turn into true love and forever?
That one phone call sparked something "more" for the main characters - talks that turned into "mini confessions" and possible self-improvements. All this reminded will remind us of our past (i.e., late-night chats, heating our home phone lines with random topics and "getting-to-know" our crushes, etc.) as Jess and Cal were doing the same thing! It's adorable and brings back many happy memories.
The story is not all are rainbows and butterflies between Jess and Cal. Joni Mitchell's song, Big Yellow Taxi - " Don't it always seem to go. That you don't know what you've got. Till it's gone." went through my head. After a few self-realizations and discoveries, things became more complicated! It was heartbreaking to read through that part but but but -> interestingly enough, it does a lot of wonders to Jess and Cal. Their "breaks" made them realize how much they need to work on themselves first before being there for the other. Their love pushes them to grow and be the best versions of themselves for their relationship.
In conclusion, I super, highly, and absolutely love and recommend this series! Readers who love the 80s/90s nostalgic era and maturing "broken" characters will be captivated with the characters, the plot, and the unforgettable era of the 80s/90s - the good, the bad, and even the ugly side of things.
Jess and Cal's story is an indelible ink that seeped into my subconsciousness. I felt every cheer in their triumphs and shed every tear in their disappointments. I hope the author's message will make readers remember that we are only limited to how they see themselves and that life is about "possibilities," we need to seek the change we want!
"My letter thanks you. For breaking through the armor I'd built up. For waking me up. Shaking things up. Rocking my world and spinning it round. You spin me. In all the good ways."
-- You Spin Me, Karen Grey