Book Review – How to Kill a Rock Star by Tiffanie DeBartolo

How to Kill a Rock Star
Quick note – before we get started, I just wanted to say that I LOVED THIS BOOK. 5 star for me. You’ll see why I needed to make this clear…

Once upon a time (yesterday) I read a book. It enticed me from the very start. I was drawn in from the first few moments. I thought to myself…

“Self, isn’t this exactly what we’ve been looking for? An intelligent, thought provoking view into the lives of two people, seemingly fated for each other. Aren’t we having fun? Look at that silly smile on your face, Self. You’re so smug with your brand new shiny find. You know your readers are gonna love this, don’t you?”

It’s true. It hugged me and kissed me and made me laugh, swoon, worry and reflect. It provided me with all the delicious angst and love drama that I love so much in this genre… but just a little differently. An almost artsy, beautifully articulate brilliant little piece, and yet still modern and down to earth. Even a little gritty.

And then… it slapped me in the face! HARD!

I was so taken aback, so utterly surprised. Actually terrified that my heart was tearing in two. I avoid spoilers like the plague so I can enjoy the surprises, and feel the emotion in it’s truest form. I don’t want to know what to expect. This one had me frantic. I had to know. I searched for spoilers. And with all the positive reviews (and there are many), there was nobody out there willing to spill.

I chastised myself…

“Well, Self, I guess that’s just what you deserved for enjoying the angsty stuff so much. Loving the turmoil that these characters have to suffer, thriving in their agony. You were bound to hit one like this, sooner or later. It was only a matter of time before the character’s distress would actually turn you into a sobbing mess.”

It’s true. All day, all I could think about was finishing work so that I could get back to reading. All day… “the book. the book”.  I spent my entire evening NOT eating, just reading, loving every moment…and then, that’s when the slap came. I lost my appetite and felt sick to my stomach.

I preceded to email my best book bud, even though I knew it was so late in the night that she’d probably not be there to comfort me. I was willing to take my chances. She’s a night owl, and my sleeping husband might not be as understanding about my sob story. I even said a few bad words in my email to her. Please forgive 😉

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 12:30 AM

This book makes me so MAD – I hate it. God, and I loved the book the entire way through, too… finally getting to the “relief” part and LOOK what that stupid author does to me. I hate it!!

I considered quitting it, but instead, cried my eyes out and forged ahead.

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 1:01 AM

“I was crying my eyes out… like a mad lunatic and the author *spoiler* ! THE B*&CH!!!!!

Thank you lord if this is going where I think it is… I can stop crying.

Please don’t tell the author I called her a b*&ch.”

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 1:34 AM

“Tee hee… sorry ’bout that 😉

What’s a little lunacy between friends right? At least we know the book was effective. Awesome book, by the way. Damn. Glad it’s over and just a bit embarrassed.

Lucky I didn’t have a serious public freak out on my blog. Now… how to review this sucker?”

*blush* My bad. I lost my cool. And yes. I allowed you all into my little personal night delirium, right now. I know. That was my official freak-out. It’s the only way I know how to make you understand.

Annnnnd…apparently, there were some office laughs at my expense the following morning (when she finally read my emails). That’s okay, we all show our true colors eventually, and while I’m slightly embarrassed, the awesomeness of the book helps me get over my personal misgivings. 😉

So what’s the book about? Everything. *sigh* Best book ever. Almost.

Twenty-something year old Eliza moves from Ohio to New York to work for a music magazine. Her brother Michael already lives there, and is in a band on the cusp of being signed.

She moves in with her brother’s singer (Paul) and of course they all warn her – DO NOT SLEEP WITH HIM!!

All I knew about Paul was what Vera had already told me: “He’s talented as hell. But he can be pretty… um… erratic.”

“Is he cute?” I asked her.

“Cute? If you like the dysfunctional lunatic, male-slut vibe, sure.”

He is the typical rock-star (even though he’s not yet famous). Cute, a little self-indulgent, and “out there”, but he’s the real deal. Amazing voice, amazing song writing. A true artist.  And the girls just can’t get enough of him (and that’s where his stereo typical rock star shines through). Wam bam thank you ma’am.

We live with them through weeks of connecting, bonding over music, getting to know each other as friends.

In my mind, this elevated Paul to the status of a friend, although I was first to admit I didn’t have a lot of friends who made me dizzy and whose chests I longed to touch.

Despite her serious attraction, she resists. He persists. He sees something in her that calls to him.

I think we were having a moment but I’m not sure. By then I’d sort of lost myself in her face. No kidding, if you put me in a room with Eliza and a hundred beautiful girls, Eliza would be the one I’d walk over to.

He even believes that meeting her brother was fate, so that they could find each other. It’s inescapable. They fall in absolute love with each other, and he’s bound and determined to become a better person for her (and him).

Sometimes I would open my eyes when we were kissing, I would watch him and I could see it. I could actually see LOVE – not words, not an emotion, not an abstract concept or a subjective state of mind, but a living, breathing thing.

The love thing between her and the singer. It’s there, it’s intense, it’s private but it’s not the only thing.

With her connections, and his talent, they are discovered, and a huge dilemma ensues. Sign with the indie label and be artistically free (what he wants), or sign with the huge record label (which is what the rest of the band and entourage are encouraging him to do) and possibly be forced to sell out.

“I guess I need to find a happy medium, someplace between giving them what they want and ending up face-down in a pool of my own goddamn integrity.”

Sooooo… against his better judgement, the major label wins. They are thrown into a years worth of recording, touring and all of the drama that ensues when a music label now, contractually owns you.

But that’s not all. Not even close. Paul quickly realizes he will have to leave the love of his life behind. The one that helps completes him, his art, his being. She won’t follow. First, she has a job. Second and most importantly, she will not ever get on a plane (parents died in a plane crash). When he realizes she’ll never fly out with him while he’s on tour, he second guesses everything the band has just committed themselves too.

He LOVES her and doesn’t want to do this without her. Deep down, he doesn’t care for that kind of fame, hes happy to keep playing his music locally if it means he can be in love, and remain true to his art. His agent is appalled and confronts Eliza, tries to recruit her to help Paul see the light. If he doesn’t do this tour, hes throwing it all away, including her brother’s future! Her guilt is deep, and she’s determined not to have Paul’s “lovestruck” decisions ruin everyone’s chances.

She devises a plan. A sure fire way to entice him to go on tour without her – it’s just a year, after all. They can fix this when he gets back. She will not be the reason he threw away the perfect opportunity, the dream he’s been working for.

And the decision she makes to convince him to leave, is one that begins an absolute downward spiral in the lives of all concerned.

Curious aren’t you? Make sure to read this when you have plenty of time to devote to this book. Get all of your stuff done. Warn all who depend on you. Stock up on Kleenex. Keep an emergency phone number nearby.

And please. Don’t hate me.

Spill? Nope. You know I hate spoilers. I’m not about to change that now. I didn’t get any. And I won’t give any.

Just remember. I lived it. I loved it.

5 stars!!

➔➔➔  Love this author? Browse more Tiffanie DeBartolo features and reviews on my blog. 😀

➔➔➔  Looking for more of my must-read recommendations? Browse my 5 star and 4.5 star and 4 starreviews. 😀