I'll Be There for You

I'll Be There for You
Age Range
12+
Release Date
October 04, 2022
ISBN
Paperback: 979-8-9850815-5-8; E-book: 979-8-9850815-6-5
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Rae Ballester loves movie musicals and—thanks to her dad—’80s rock. Since he died a year ago, his favorite music helps keep his memory alive. Struggling to move on, Rae keeps her head down and earbuds in, but shunning the world has cost her even her closest friendships, leaving her the “Owner of a Lonely Heart.”
 
When Rae meets Mac, a boy with a charming smile who thinks any problem can be solved with a show tune, she cautiously welcomes their easy banter. With his humor, enthusiasm, and well-curated Broadway playlists, Mac slowly edges his way into her heart, but when he proves “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” Rae thinks about withdrawing to the comfort of hair metal and the silver screen. 
 
Should Rae retreat from the world to protect her already broken heart, or will her involvement in the school’s theatre program and the random acts of kindness she and others have started performing give her “Something to Believe In”? I’ll Be There for You delves into the personal journey of healing old wounds, making new friends, and learning how to build a future with pieces of the past and present.

Editor review

1 review
Beautiful read for any age
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
I'll Be There For You was a beautiful story about love and loss, grief and acceptance. The journey with Rae as she felt all of this, and more, was a whirlwind. The story flows seamlessly from one aspect to another.
The characters are all very realistic and likeable, well written personalities, even if I did find some of Rae's behavior appalling. The friendly banter was top notch, and the touching moments brought a tear to my eye.
I loved all the 80's music and theater production references - it's not very often you find that type of stuff (music) in books, let alone a "young adult" book, so it was a major bonus for me. It was even better that the author clearly knows what she is writing about, that she didn't just pick some random songs that were "popular" and the way she tied it into the flow of the novel was amazing.
The kindness project was beautiful. It really hits on how the little things matter; a smile or a simple note can turn someone's whole day around.
I look forward to reading more from author Brieanna Wilkoff!
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