The Accidentals by Sarina Bowen Published by Tuxbury Publishing LLC on 10 July 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 320
Format: Kindle
Source: Kindle Purchase
Never ask a question unless you’re sure you want the truth.
I’ve been listening to my father sing for my whole life. I carry him in my pocket on my mp3 player. It’s just that we’ve never met face to face.
My mother would never tell me how I came to be, or why my rock star father and I have never met. I thought it was her only secret. I was wrong.
When she dies, he finally appears. Suddenly I have a first class ticket into my father’s exclusive world. A world I don’t want any part of – not at this cost.
Only three things keep me going: my a cappella singing group, a swoony blue-eyed boy named Jake, and the burning questions in my soul.
There’s a secret shame that comes from being an unwanted child. It drags me down, and puts distance between me and the boy I love.
My father is the only one alive who knows my history. I need the truth, even if it scares me.
The Accidentals had everything I love in a romance. There was heartache, there was happiness, there were awkward reunions, and sharp humor. Plus, there was a whole lot of music!
Story:
The Accidentals is a masterpiece of feelings. It was also a different kind of romance, because the main story wasn’t about the romance – it was about family and loss. And it was also about finding what had seemed lost forever. Plus, the music made me swoon… Because music was a very important part of The Accidentals, and it added more layers to both the characters and the story itself.
Rachel had been to hell and back, and living in a group home was not her idea of being OK. However, after her mother’s death, and even if she was almost 18, she wasn’t allowed to live alone. For the first time in her life, she got to meet her famous father. And nothing was what it seemed. The difficulty of navigating a new relationship with a father who didn’t act like one made her grief take the back-burner for a while. And moving first from her home-town to LA, then across the country to go to college made her uprooting complete.
The Accidentals also touched on other subjects, most specifically consent. I found that part of the story very well done, too. Even if I would have liked more of a consequence for someone. I loved everything about this story. The characters were so realistic, and I loved how they developed through their experiences. Recommended to everyone!
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
Squeee! I love Bowen and was really excited to hear you liked this. I need to work this into the rotation, because you had me at “masterpiece of feelings”. Great review!
I have yet to read this one because I’m a little wary since I don’t normally enjoy books that are music-themed, but it’s Sarina Bowen. So, I’m going to have to pick it up. I’m really glad you enjoyed this and it was emotional and heartfelt for you! Great review! 🙂
Music is important in this story, but it isn’t everything! And I think it’ll hit the right spot for you, Nick 😉
Wonderful review. I love listening to music, and I really like to see a theme like that in books. I’m so glad this was such a great read for you too. By the way I love your little worms that you have for stars 🙂
Twitter: Mollykatie112
I have this one and came close to starting it yesterday but went with Man Card instead. I love this author so much. 5 stars! I need to get to it!
Great review, Lexxie! I love contemporary romance that includes music. One of my favorite things to read about!
I loved this one also. My review is posting in early November since it was a library book rather than an ARC but I really thought it was great. Anne – Books of My Heart
I’m glad you loved it, too, Anne. I bought mine, but I still wanted my review to be up early so other people could see how much I enjoyed it 🙂
Great review Lexxie. It sounds like there was a lot to think about with this book.
There really was, Carla. I loved everything so much 🙂 Which is probably why the review is short – I wanted to keep everything vague for other people who haven’t read it yet 😀
I love her books but haven’t gotten to this one yet.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
It was so good, Karen! I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.