Review: Paradise by Jill S. Alexander

Paradise by Jill S. Alexander

Paisley Tillery is the drummer for a country rock band. If they can make it to the stage at the Texapalooza music fest, then Paisley will be closer to her dream of a career in music and a ticket out of her small Texas town.

Drumming and music are what Paisley has always wanted. Until the band gets a new lead singer, the boy from Paradise, Texas. With Paradise in her life, what Paisley wants, and what she needs, complicate her dreams coming true.

Review:

I was completely taken by Jill S. Alexander's sophomore novel. With likable characters, a charming setting, and an inspiring plot I was soon caught up in Paisley's story. All Paisley has ever wanted to do was live her dream- play the drums. And by being the drummer of the Waylon Slider Band, which is well on its way to being in the Texapalooza, she will be that much closer to escaping her little town. Until Paradise shows up, with his sexy hat, sweet singing voice, and charming smile, Paisley suddenly isn’t sure drumming is the only thing she wants. Paradise was a novel filled with so much heart. It will inspire readers to want to live their dream and have them rooting for Paisley and the rest until the last page.

Paisley was a feisty main character, but she had heart. I didn’t really know anything about drumming and this is the first novel I’ve read that focused on the drummer (and female, at that!) of a small rock band. I enjoyed getting to know the different members of the band- they each had something unique about them. Levi, Cal, and Waylon were a great group of guys and together with Paisley and Paradise they were going to get to Austin to play on the big stage at the Texapalooza. Their ride wasn’t all smooth sailing though and the band faced a lot of ups and downs as a group and separately as well.

Family is such an important aspect often overlooked in YA novels and I loved getting to know Paisley’s parents and her sister, Lacey. Over the course of the story Paisley hid a lot from her mother, but learned that sometimes honesty is the best course to take. Her family members were each very developed and I was rooting for the Anderson’s from the start.

After almost every chapter was a song written by Cal and it expanded on his character so much, since he didn’t say much during the actual story. The lyrics were beautiful and heartbreaking and inspiring all at once. The setting of this story was a character in itself and I liked getting to see the different sights through Paisley’s eyes. Paradise- wow, what a guy. He was cool and collected and knew where he was headed, but at the same time had so much more to him than met the eye. I really liked the scenes with him and Paisley and watching their relationship develop.

The ending was definitely surprising and tugged my heartstrings. I may have even shed a few tears! Jill S. Alexander completely emerged me in the story of everyone in Paradise and by the end I felt like I knew them all personally. This was a fantastic, contemporary read that I hope won’t be overlooked. Definitely check this out! I can’t wait to read Jill’s debut, The Sweetheart of Prosper County, and to see what other sweet, Texas tales she writes next.

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

July 5, 2011/Feiwel & Friends/256 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Author (ARC)

Other books by this author: The Sweetheart of Prosper County