Mia Kaplan lives an unassuming life tending bar at a local music dive in downtown Chicago. When an up-and-coming band takes up residency, not only does she have to play nice to every fangirl that walks in the place, she also has to deal with the cocky, yet irresistibly handsome lead singer. With her brother's growing juvenile record, her father's drunken tantrums, and the unwanted (albeit entertaining) attention of this singer who has set his sights on her, Mia has to decide if she's ready to break down her carefully built walls.
Mia Kaplan lives an unassuming life tending bar at a local music dive in downtown Chicago. When an up-and-coming band takes up residency, not only does she have to play nice to every fangirl that walks in the place, she also has to deal with the cocky, yet irresistibly handsome lead singer. With her brother's growing juvenile record, her father's drunken tantrums, and the unwanted (albeit entertaining) attention of this singer who has set his sights on her, Mia has to decide if she's ready to break down her carefully built walls.
âSarah, baby, stay with me! Stay with me, Sarah!â Daddy was yelling in her face. He took her shoulders and shook her roughly. I wanted him to stop. He was hurting her. âWake up, Sarah! Somebody help!â he screamed again. The look on his face was scary. I had never seen it before. Why wasnât he happy? I was a big sister now. They said it was a good thing. The doctor said Mommy would sleep and then she would wake up and we would go home, one big family.
âMommy is just sleeping,â I tried to tell him. I tugged on his sleeve, but he shrugged me off.
Suddenly, the room was full of doctors and nurses. One of the nurses, the one who had given me a green lollipop, grabbed me and pulled me out of the room. I could see through the window that Daddy was crying. Mommy was still asleep. Why were they taking me away? I wanted to see my baby brother. The nurse was holding me, rocking me back and forth, and shushing me as if I was making a lot of noise. But I wasnât making any noise.
I heard a crash and Daddy came storming out, hands in his hair. I wanted to go with him, but the nurse wouldnât let me. He stormed down the hall and I looked back through the window into Mommyâs room just as a doctor lifted the white sheet on her body, covering her completely.
Trigger warnings: Domestic abuse.
When the bar Mia works at decides to host a popular band in an attempt to save itself from bankruptcy, the bar's popularity is not the only thing to see change.
Mia had found comfort in her normal and safe routine working at Pete's bar. But her routine is abruptly disrupted by the arrival of Amber Stitch, a band full of talented and beautiful - and arrogant - members. The band's decision to record an album in Chicago brings them to perform live shows at Pete's bar. And when Mia fatefully gets trapped in an elevator with the gorgeous and arrogant lead singer Nick Hudson, it sets them on a journey of friendship and love, betrayal and longing, that will change their futures.
This book was a joy to read. There were many swoon-worthy moments that captured my heart, as well as humor to lighten the tone. The love triangle was tastefully done and never forced to be something it wasn't. Of course, a good enemies-to-lovers story will capture the reader's attention, but the difference with this story is the layers of the characters that are revealed and delved into. Both Nick and Mia's characters transcended their tropes. Mia's backstory was perfectly withheld till the right moment for a heartbreaking surprise and twist. The betrayal between Nick and Mia was incredibly nuanced and believable. It was a true misunderstanding, instead of a forced miscommunication. It made the angst all the better!
With lots of praise comes some critiques and wishes. The flashbacks were sometimes difficult to pinpoint and follow. Oftentimes, there was no indication a flashback had started or ended and it caused a slight confusion in the timeline of the story. Personally, more of a distinction between the flashbacks and the current story would be helpful, because the flashbacks added great detail to Mia's character and created a chance for the audience to further empathize with Mia and her story. I would have also loved to seen more of Mia's brother, though he was woven in nicely to the story.
This is a cutesy yet deep love story that is witty and charming and so, so easy to devour in one sitting. The story will sweep you away in the banter between Mia and Julia, and Mia and Nick as well. I would recommend this book for readers thirteen and up!