BOOK REVIEW⠀
[Peach] A young songwriter finds his way with an older mentor.⠀
#gifted for an honest review⠀
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WHAT I LIKED⠀
Wayne Barton truly immerses you in his introspection. The first sentence is beautifully simple and mind-boggling. His later description of Freddie Ward’s epiphany was one of my favorite sentences. How he dealt with grey area themes like the wish for a blank start and the pull between what society expects versus someone’s personal obstacles was unique. I can’t quite put my finger on how his characters feel on all levels, and I’m not sure his characters know either. It’s a shared uncertainty I love. There is one pretty good twist (though I felt it was a little too easily resolved) and a few flashbacks I thoroughly enjoyed.⠀
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WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⠀
The main character was my main problem. Freddie Ward is a shy, talented guy who worries about causing others pain. It sounds like a surefire great character! In fact, I LOVE imperfect characters! But he isn’t allowed to totally fail. His falling is cushioned by attempts to make you love him no matter what. Let me hate him, and then make me fall back in love with him. ⠀
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The book takes awhile to pick up. For me, I think Ward’s characterization is the reason why. Besides the small jewels like the one I mentioned earlier, there's some fluff in the beginning chapters. I started to skim at times because I felt I read the line “grab a beer” so often. Freddie and Hal’s relationship is definitely awkward at first, but I think it could have fleshed much of this out and the story left standing would have a greater impact. The hidden gems which had me questioning my own life experience made the fluff worth it!⠀
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Recommended if you like: The Notebook, The Fault in Our Stars⠀
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Peach (by Wayne Barton) ⚡️⚡️⚡️✨3.5/5⠀
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#peach #waynebarton @FOWbooks @peachthebook @waynebarton⠀
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