Sixteen-year-old Geri Randall's life is turned upside down when her late sister's fiance, Dez Deacon, a washed-up rock star, is named her guardian. Whisked away from the only life she knew and taken on a rock and roll tour, Geri is initially desperate to win Dez's approval. That desire hits a sour note when Dez's treatment of her becomes too much to bear. What ensues is a battle of wills between her and her temperamental guardian, a collision course that will push Geri to do the unthinkable to get what she wants.
"This is a very entertaining novel, with effortless writing, naturalistic dialogue, and a good dose of humor. On the surface, it's a tale set in the glittering, frantic world of a touring musical act. Dig deeper, however, and you'll find a story about flawed, damaged characters searching for the light that will lead them out of the darkness that has been created for, or by, themselves." - Wendy Lee, author of The Art of Confidence, Across a Green Ocean, and Happy Family (Booklist Top Ten First Novels of 2008).
Sixteen-year-old Geri Randall's life is turned upside down when her late sister's fiance, Dez Deacon, a washed-up rock star, is named her guardian. Whisked away from the only life she knew and taken on a rock and roll tour, Geri is initially desperate to win Dez's approval. That desire hits a sour note when Dez's treatment of her becomes too much to bear. What ensues is a battle of wills between her and her temperamental guardian, a collision course that will push Geri to do the unthinkable to get what she wants.
"This is a very entertaining novel, with effortless writing, naturalistic dialogue, and a good dose of humor. On the surface, it's a tale set in the glittering, frantic world of a touring musical act. Dig deeper, however, and you'll find a story about flawed, damaged characters searching for the light that will lead them out of the darkness that has been created for, or by, themselves." - Wendy Lee, author of The Art of Confidence, Across a Green Ocean, and Happy Family (Booklist Top Ten First Novels of 2008).
Her skinny fingers rippled across the strings. She played a G chord, one of the few chords heād taught her in between gigs. She plucked it again, the twangy sound vibrating in her ears.
It was part of her nightly backstage ritual. Most important was polishing and cleaning his guitar. He was persnickety in the way he liked it. Lately, she had gotten the hang of it, but it had been rough going there for a while, as he was never satisfied with anything he asked her to do. Whether it was this task or another, she could never please him. Not until recently.
Sheād thought being on the road would be a lot more fun. She didnāt hate it, but she didnāt relish it either. Time was a blur; it was as if school and her other life never existed, with every day seeming to stretch into an eternity.
She scanned the musty room, and when she was sure no one was lurking, Geri picked up the Gibson again and pretended to play the guitar like a rock god. Tossing her head back, she rolled her right arm like a windmill and closed her eyes, faking the strumming and picking motions.
It was dumb, childish as all hell. But, screw it. She needed to let loose.
Of course, if he saw her doing this, sheād never hear the end of it.
āGerrrrriiiiii!ā
Fear gripped her.
Oh shit. Immediately, she put the guitar down.
āDez!ā she yelled back, her lower lip trembling slightly. āIām in here. Iām in the dressing room.ā
The door barged wide open as he blustered in. He sighed loudly.
āWhat the fuck is wrong with you?ā He snatched the guitar away from her and started strumming.
āIām sorry,ā she said sheepishly, her hazel eyes bugging out. āI was just doing what you wanted me to do, what you told meāā
āShut up!ā
Dezās gaze meandered toward the ceiling as he played the instrument, testing it before the sound check. His expression fluctuated between pensive and poker-faced.
āNot bad,ā he said, as he continued to strum. āNot bad at all. Maybe you can actually do something.ā
āReally?ā She beamed, her smile radiating the heat of a million suns. She had been wary of him early on; now his approval was all that mattered to her.
āYeah.ā He cocked his head, fixing his sapphire eyes on her.
āReally.ā His lips curled into a reluctant grin.
Her luminous smile engulfed her oval face, giving her peaches and cream complexion an almost Madonna-like glow.
He rolled his eyes, then placed the guitar back into the case before slamming it shut.
āCome here,ā he commanded, in a tone not as harsh as before. Unfolding his arms, he enveloped her so tightly neither of them could breathe. āYou stupid kid,ā Dez mumbled as he stroked her hair, inhaling the balsamic fragrance of the shampoo sheād used that morning. āI never know whatās up with you.ā
Then he did something he never did: he kissed the top of her strawberry blond hair, which she always clipped up in a messy bun, making her look like a cross between a jailbait librarian and an unkempt ballerina.
His lips on her head touched her like volts of electricity. It felt like ages since anyone had kissed her. The sweetness of that sensation encircled her in a ring of warmth that dissipated as soon as he let go.
āYou see how easy it is when you listen to me, Geri,ā he said, the sternness returning.
Ā
āI do, but sometimes,ā she shook her head, āI get confused.ā
āBecause you donāt listen,ā he shot back, a haughty smirk shading his finely sculpted features.
Ā
She scratched her mouth. āCan I go back to the hotel?ā
Ā
āNo,ā he snapped back, indignant. āYou need to stay here.ā
āBut Dezāā
Ā
āWhat did I say? Iām not going to repeat myself.ā
Ā
Maintaining his resolve, Dez crossed his arms. The sleeveless jean vest he wore nicely accentuated his muscles. Those sinewy biceps always distracted Geri, especially the tattoo that sported her sisterās name on his upper left arm.
MICHELLE, 7/15/92ā12/1/2018
Underneath her name and lifeline was a simple red rose. Michelle had been Dezās fiancĆ©e. If she hadnāt been killed in a car crash in Milan, where she was modeling the latest Dior fashions, she and Dez would have married last New Yearās Eve. Michelle had been in a car with another model, Selene, on their way to the airport, when their driver had been sideswiped by a drunken, middle-aged, off-duty police officer. Theyād all died instantly on impact.
Ā
Geri was going to be her maid of honor. Last summer, while she was on her school break, Michelle had flown her to Paris for a special fitting with Henri, the finest wedding couturier in the business. Or so Michelle told her. She had modeled his designs in an issue of French Vogue a year before and was so smitten with his work, his name was the first that had popped into her head after Dez proposed.
The wedding was going to be held in a private Swiss chalet, a very small affair with a guest list that consisted of Dezās manager, Larry, acting as best man; Lanie, a model-turned-makeup-artist who was a close friend of Michelleās since their early go-see days; and Geri.
She couldnāt believe it when Michelle had announced she wanted her, not Lanie, as maid of honor.
āMe? You want me?ā sheād cried.
āOf course! Youāre my baby sister. Who else would I pick? All we have is each other.ā
Their bond, forged in DNA and loneliness, had been an underlying theme in both of their lives. Their father, Jack, had died of cancer when Michelle was fifteen and Geri was five. Their mom, Lisa, had died four years later of a stroke, although Michelle always insisted sheād died of a broken heart, being that she and Jack had been as much in love when he died as they had been when theyād first met at the University of Colorado thirty years earlier.
Ā
Geri had been in the fourth grade at Grant Elementary School in Boulder when she found out that Mom was never coming back from the hospital. Michelle had flown to Boulder from New York City a week before when Lisaās health took a turn for the worse. She had been waiting for her sister in the principalās office.
Ā
āItās just you and me now, kiddo,ā Michelle told her. She hadnāt been wrong about that. Their mom was an only child. Both sets of grandparents had been dead for a long time. Jack did have a younger brother, who, last anyone had heard, lived in Florida. They hadnāt been in touch with him in so long, he might as well have been dead.
Because Lisa had died in February and school wasnāt over yet, Michelle had temporarily relocated from her Manhattan digs where sheād been a rising, in-demand model to tend to her sister. Her agency had almost dropped her until sheād reassured them she would return to New York City once her sister was done with the school year. Then Geri would move in with her and Michelle would enroll her in a school conducive to her needs.
As Geri was dyslexic, she had attended a special school for children with a myriad of learning and social disorders. It was considered one of the best in Colorado, and in the country. That it was close to the Boulder homestead made it even better.
Yet, as Michelle would tell Geri repeatedly, her sister had made a promise to her dying mom that she would take care of Geri and never abandon her.
āWeāre in this together, you and me,ā Michelle reassured Geri on the flight that would whisk her away from Boulder permanently to a new life in New York City.
Life had plodded along at a pleasant albeit unsurprising pace until Michelle met Dez. Then Geriās life had imploded as the whirlwind courtship to end all courtships began, only to end in tragedy months later.
Sex, drugs and rock and rollāthat is the lifestyle of Dez Deacon, the banished lead singer of the once successful Prophets, a hit American rock band. Then, in sweeps the responsible, kind Michelle, a gorgeous and successful model, whom Dez is immediately smitten withāso much so that they are soon engaged. Geri, Michelleās sixteen-year-old sister (and also Michelleās ward), is forced to adapt to a new person keeping Michelleās attention. When a car accident kills Michelle, Geri is left orphaned, and Dez is appointed her legal guardian. It doesnāt take long for Geri to realize Dez is going to be everything but a good guardian. While Dez has always been infamous for his bad attitude and hot temper, the loss of Michelle only seems to exacerbate his unhealthy lifestyle. Not wanting to give up music to look after Geri, he convinces her to drop out of school and go on tour with him to launch his solo career. What could possibly go wrong?
Next Stop, Boston was super enjoyable and well-written. Itās an addictive read that, despite being a relatively quiet novel, has a narrative flow that propels the story forward. The honesty and passion in the writing is what truly makes this story shineāno sugar coating to be found here. This is complimented with Dorbianās meticulous research: referencing famous musicians, models, photographers and real hotels along the tour locations. Dorbian even includes a mini-tutorial on how to properly clean a guitar. Itās great!
The characters are well done. Each person stands out clearly on their own, their flaws, wants and redeeming qualities clear to the reader.
The main character, Geri, is a quiet and naĆÆve teenager who has trouble navigating social cues. She also has severe dyslexia, which the other characters in the book misunderstand to mean that she is slow (Page 193). In Geriās words: āHe (Dez) says Iām a moron who can barely read.ā (Page 124). Through the opinions of other characters in Next Stop, Boston, Dorbian successfully uses Geriās character to highlight some of the stereotypes and misunderstandings of dyslexia, creating a wonderful space to educate readers. Other than her dyslexia and social awkwardness, Geri is a typical moody and broody teen trying to navigate a world she has no control over. She has big dreams, but is being cheated of reaching those dreams due to the inconsiderate behavior of those around her. It is easy to empathize with Geri and cheer her on, because most women will have at least once found themselves in a situation where they need to put aside the opinions of others in order to thrive.
Dez, Geriās āguardianā, is a horrible person, mostly caring about himself and his music. He was an interesting insight into how too much power and fame can corrupt the human psyche. He made a very good āreal-lifeā villain.
Val Monroe, in turn, was a likable character with many good qualities. Being six years Geriās elder, he acted as the protector and mentor that Geri so dearly needed, giving her a space to confide and grow aware of her mistreatment. There was a point when it seemed as though he and Geri might become romantically involved, but thankfully the story did not take this turn. Sadly, Valās story felt incomplete by the novelās ending. This was due to the events occurring in Chapter 26. This chapter threw a curveball into the book. While the perspective explored here added an interesting, extra real-life spin to the story, it might have been more successful if Dorbian had eased into it a bit more.
Next stop, Boston is a worthwhile read that those who love rock and roll and coming-of-age stories will enjoy. Just as a warning to sensitive readers: this book contains mentions and minor scenes of sexual- and drug abuse. If you find these topics triggering, then I would not recommend this book. Readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories can also check out Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolverāone of my favorite 2023 reads!