Customer Reviews

Play Me a Love Song (Sweet Dreams Series #188)

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Failing to offer even a glimmer of originality, "Play Me a Love Song" is a bit like an old song you've heard so many times before that it's become a bit tiresome.

Overused characterizations and plot points abound. Main character Liberty Layton is the "new kid in town," homesick in San Diego after moving there from Indiana with her widowed workaholic mom and feisty grandma. (I count about four or five clichés just in that one description of Liberty.)

Of course it would naturally follow that the sulky and friendless (well, friendless other than chunky Maribeth, who doesn't exactly seem like the hottest girl in school) Liberty would attract the attention of gorgeous and popular senior Brent Miller, who has recently broken up with his snooty, blond girlfriend Margo Thompson. (The cliché tally continues to rise.)

Not much really happens in the middle 75% of the novel or so, with Liberty volunteering at a homeless shelter and fretting about why Brent isn't more interested in her. Then the plot suddenly comes to a rushed end, culminating in Liberty's classical guitar performance in the school talent show.

A bit boring and more than a bit trite, the novel feels rather sappy and tries to do too much. For all of its attempts to be a social commentary, a romance, a coming-of-age story, and a how-to guide on family relationships, "Play Me a Love Song" doesn't really do much at all.