"The Secret Pianist" by Andie Newton

This book is difficult to review because of two different voices in my head.

1. I probably would have loved this story between ages 11-14 because:

   1. The writing is straightforward

   2. The characters are easy to understand

   3. Nothing happens that is too hard to grasp

   4. The story is relatively predictable

   5. The romance would have been my bread and butter

   6. Plus the strong heroine who don’t need no man (butstillendsupwiththeloveinterestbecausesecretlyshereallydoeswanttobeloved)

Conclusion – Younger me would have eaten it up.

BUT.

2. I really cannot stand:

   1. Painfully simple writing styles

   2. Uncomplicated characters making for overly predictable stories

   3. Overly simple storytelling where I don’t need to figure anything out and it’s all handed to me

   4. AND the romance is ANNOYING

   5. AND the strong independent leading lady is annoying about it

   6. AND the idea of being a musician is written a little cringey for me

Conclusion – Older me sailed through this book to be done with it sooner rather than later.

Further Conclusion – It is interesting the way our tastes change as we get older.

Longer Further Conclusion – It’s good to read books your younger self would have loved because there are young people who are like you were and it’s a good way to make connections with them.

Final Longer Further Conclusion – Don’t lose touch with who you are and judge others by what you have grown into just because they stand in a place you no longer like to linger. Let them enjoy the sappy love stories and the simple storytelling and the far to easy characters. Reading leads to empathy leads to better human interactions.