Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: They Lived They Were At Brighton Beach

Author: Ivan Brave

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: music fans, fiction, romance

Publication Date: June 16, 2020

Genre: Adult Fiction

Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, relapse, drug usage/mention TW)

Publisher: Indie Published

Pages: 325

Synopsis: Loyal fans know him as a rising internet star and the resident DJ at one of Brooklyn’s sauciest nightclubs. But one blistering summer day, after relapsing, getting dumped, and winding up at the hospital, Ilya Gagarin awakes in a nightmare. The only way out, he figures, is to finally debut his EP, meaning, to realize a deeper dream.

The process of producing, together with the power of music and an urge to accept his past, is passionately described in his journal—while the larger story follows the weeks leading to his EP launch, his struggle to quit drugs, and his falling in love again to a guardian angel. It is she who teaches him, “Do you know how Russians say Once Upon a Time? Жили были. It translates to They Lived They Were.” Suggesting Ilya might just get his fairy tale ending. Or at least move on

Review: I really liked the writing. It flowed well like a melody and it worked well with this book. The book also had great character development and was wonderfully paced.

However, I do think that the book didn't have enough world building in my opinion. The book also wouldn't be one I would normally pick up, but it was good nonetheless. Overall though, this was an interesting book.

Verdict: Definitely read with music.