Heather’s Bookshelf: Girl with a Broken String
Author: Therese Villarante
Released: 09/30/23
Genre: YA Coming-of-Age/Romance
“Falling in love is an adventure. It is. And maybe adventure, excitement, and the best things in life—maybe they fade sometimes. But for the moment that they were mine, I held on to it like a melody unraveling in a crowded mall. I know in my heart it was magic.”
“Girl with a Broken String” is a multimedia tale that includes illustrations, animation, and songs built-in to the book. It introduces Sam, a young woman dealing with the heartbreak of a broken relationship.
The story begins after the relationship has ended and Sam is left shattered. Trying to make sense of what happened, she looks back at the relationship. In an attempt to reach out and remember, she starts a blog where she writes letters to her lost love, J. The blog writing isn’t her only creative outlet. As a singer-songwriter, Sam also turns to music to express her feelings and emotional state.
Looking back on the relationship, she remembers the good times and also the not-so-good times. She also realizes that maybe her rose-colored glasses covered a bit too much of what she thought their relationship was. Will Sam be able to push her way through the past in order to find herself in the present and work toward a happier future? Will she overcome her fear of singing in public? Or will her past and her fears keep her from moving forward?
Overall, I thought this was a creative and different approach to a well-written and angsty tale of heartbreak. This is the first book I’ve ever read in the adult realm that incorporated any kind of music or animation. The application was a little different as it required reading where I couldn’t disturb others or with headphones in (neither of which I typically do). Process aside, I enjoyed the experience. The voices of the singers are lovely- with an indie quality that is both soothing and fitting with the mood of the book. The songs broke up the overall tone of the story and really pushed along the pacing while providing a deeper connection to the protagonist, Sam. And now to the actual story… the tale is told through Sam’s eyes. It’s her memories, emotions, and POV writing in her blog. She’s heartbroken and you feel it in the way she writes. The memories are poignant, specific, and relatable. I loved the references to current pop culture and many of the details of their lives felt personal and real. Sam was a truly relatable and likable protagonist. The pacing was a little hit or miss, but the songs did help (as mentioned before). The ending wrapped everything up in a way that felt complete and satisfying. I’d love to see more multimedia tales and applaud the author for their creativity and lovely writing.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A multimedia tale of heartbreak and a young woman finding herself through the pain. A likable and relatable protagonist highlight this story.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Therese Villarante
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here
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