[Review] Love Songs for Skeptics - Christina Pishiris

Summary: Zoë Frixos is a successful music magazine editor, intent on restoring her paper to its former glory...despite those pesky closure rumors flitting about. Zoë decides to land the coup of the century, securing an interview with her notoriously elusive rock idol. But when faced with the arrogant publicist Nick Jones, a man who seems determined to ruin her career, Zoë wonders how she's ever going to save the paper she loves.

That's when she hears the news that upends everything: Simon has come back to town. Simon, her best friend and boy next door, the one who Zoë fell in love with at thirteen, who she's never quite moved on from. And now, she's finally determined to tell him how she feels.

As Zoë barters for a career-saving interview, she must decide who is worth fighting for, changing everything Zoë thought she knew about love, music, and the power of second chances. (Pub Date: Jan 05, 2021)

Zoë all-time idol might be the key to save her job and the others' who work for the magazine she edits. But to get that golden interview, she needs to deal with Nick Jones, the publicist. To make her life more complicated, Zoë's first love is back in town and suddenly single. 

 

3+.

 

This was a fun romantic comedy that had made me think of The Diary of Bridget Jones even before I read the reference. You can even see the actors playing these characters, though I would have Hugh Grant play Nick Jones, who I'd sometimes see as Tom Cruise's Jerry Maguire too. In any case, that's the book's vibe although the story has nothing to do with Bridget Jones's. 

I think there was room for improvement, but mostly because I can't call it memorable. It was surely enjoyable, but I feel that in two weeks it's possible I won't remember the plot. not related but I'm not a fan of love triangles, but this one worked. I really believed any of the two could have been her endgame (which becomes clear before the first half), and that allowed me to enjoy the two male characters and seriously wonder which would be the best fit for Zoë (again, this also becomes clear soon enough). 

The improvement I mentioned would be to work on the second half, up the game. I like Zoë's personal journey, but the story lacked oomph, real excitement, once we reach its half. 

Still, the book is well written, the characters are lovely, and even the bad ones get a good enough redemption, I also liked the ending. I'm definitely keeping an eye out for this author's next release.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Rating: 3 out of 5.