OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Every Song Tells a Story" by Edward Nugent.]

Bruised and covered in blood, Melody turned herself in to the police. She promised herself that she would never come back, but there she was again. Author Edward Nugent tells a young woman’s story of hope and triumph in Every Song Tells a Story.

Melody is definitely trying. She is determined to never return to prison. She is clean and sober. She is doing her best to follow the terms of her probation, but the cards seem to be stacked against her. The only good thing that came out of her relationship with a drug dealer was Brianna. Regaining custody of her daughter is Melody’s number one goal. It is certainly not easy with Brianna’s foster mother doing her best to turn her against Melody.

Melody’s life changed forever the day that she decided to buy a bicycle. The bike shop owner, Eric, and his employee, Randy, become two of Melody’s closest friends, and they provide her with more than she ever expected. However, it is her friendship with a resident of a retirement home that sets Melody’s life on a path that could finally free her from her hurtful past.

I love the premise of this story. Young people, especially women, are frequently misjudged when they have a criminal past. The protagonist, Melody, is a very well-developed character. She is just flawed enough to be relatable, and her family life makes her bad behavior somewhat understandable. This is a story about growth. Each new experience is a valuable lesson for Melody. As a reader, I was fully invested in Melody’s story, and I was hoping for her to find stability.

This is a well-written and well-organized novel. There were a few misplaced and misspelled words in the book, but these errors did not cause distractions. The story is told with understandable language and flowed seamlessly from scene to scene creating a pleasant reading experience. I recommend this book to fiction readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. There were a few grammar errors, and I cannot make a connection between the title of the book and the story. Perhaps there is a connection between the name Melody and the word song. Nevertheless, I was entertained by Melody’s story from start to finish, and I found her perseverance to be quite admirable. Every Song Tells a Story is a story that proves that your first choice is not always the best choice.

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Every Song Tells a Story
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Like JessNWheeler's review? Post a comment saying so!

Thanks for the nice review. The plot sounds interesting and nice to know that Melody's perseverance paid off in the end.

I'm attracted to this book because of the title alone, the plot makes it more interesting to me. Hopefully I'm given the chance to read this book. Thank you for your review.

I think I'll enjoy this redemptive coming-of-age story. I am also puzzled by the title, and like you, wonder if it is a reference to the character's name. Thanks for the recommendation!

Indeed the book has a message of hope. Majority not only women are being misjudged based on their criminal record. And yes it's possible to break free from a hurtful past. I find the book appealing.

I've always liked redemption stories. Nice review. You really made the book seem interesting.