Review: Paradise By: Jill S. Alexander

Title: Paradise
Author: Jill S. Alexander
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends, 56 Pages (July 5th 2011)
From: the Publisher, Thank You!

Synopsis: Paisley Tillery is the drummer for a country rock band. If they can make it to the stage at the Texapalooza music fest, then Paisley will be closer to her dream of a career in music and a ticket out of her small Texas town.

Drumming and music are what Paisley has always wanted. Until the band gets a new lead singer, the boy from Paradise, Texas. With Paradise in her life, what Paisley wants, and what she needs, complicate her dreams coming true.

Review: 4 Stars - Paradise by Jill S. Alexander is a coming of age story set to the tone of a country rock band. It was easy to fall in love with such a group of characters. They each gave something to the story, rounding it out, making it fuller and more complete.

Paisley wants nothing more than to be a drummer in her band. She believes that if she can make it to a music fest her dreams will come true. She’s got a huge uphill battle ahead of her as she sneaks across the field to her uncle’s barn to practice with the boys. Keeping her drumming and the band a secret is rough, yet she manages and stumbles along the way. She is such a fantastic character, has so much to offer and knows just what she wants and what she needs to do to get it, but at a price.

However, what she doesn’t know is that when Paradise comes to practice to audition for the role of singer things are about to change.

Now Paradise, he’s one of those characters who drives the others around him. He’s stubborn and thinks he has much to prove to his family… but who doesn’t when it comes to the band? He’s a bit selfish and it’s through his choices that we see the characters change, including himself. Yes, he’s one of those swoon-able characters that’ll leave his mark. I mean, just looking at the cover and you know you’ll be a goner too!

Each of the other band members and Paisleys family flow in and out of the pages with ease, I mean seriously, with Alexanders great writing and well rounded characters, what’s not to love?

The extra added touch of the lyrics smattered throughout gave me a better idea to a character that was more so in the background – Cal – but by the end of the story, I felt he had left his mark on me just as the other more vocal voices did.

Its shock once you get to the ending of this one… and not to worry, I’ll never spill what happens. I did a double take and reread a few pages to make sure I understood exactly what just happened. I didn’t see it coming at all! It really hit you hard and trust me; you feel the emotions the characters feel. I’m telling you Alexander has a way with words and characters that give you such an understanding of what everyone was going through.

All in all, this might have been the first book I’ve read from Alexander, but it won’t be my last. With writing and characters such as this, what’s not to love? I know everyone’s a fan of strong characters within YA, so this title shouldn’t be passed by. So, what are you waiting for, hmmm? Enjoy!

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.