Saturday Read: Dedication by Emma McLaughin and Nicola Krauss

I am not a huge reader of chick-lit, but I admit, sometimes I just get the urge and have to indulge! It’s like the 99 times I pass by Mrs. Fields at the mall until that on time I can’t take the fresh cookie smell anymore…. and I get three.

By Alex

I first noticed “Dedication” at the bookstore where I work. I read the back – it sounded cute and light and had a musical aspect to it, so I thought I would enjoy it.

I visited my library and checked it out? What? I don’t need the other people at work knowing about my vice!

Basically, the story involves a girl, Kate, and her highschool sweetheart, Jake Sharpe. The book chronicles their romance, right from their meeting, flashing back to the eighties while keeping up with the present story. The turning point is when Jake becomes a rock-star while Kate goes off to university. Unfortunately he uses their relationship and Kate’s personal life as obvious inspiration for his songs and sends her life on a downward spiral. They eventually come back together after many years, and this is where the story really gets good.

Don’t worry – I won’t spoil anything. But it is just. so. good.

Unlike most chick-lit, Dedication is realistic. It’s not about a white knight riding in on his steed to save the damsel in distress. Besides the whole famous-rock-star thing, the book reads like a story from a friend. Kate’s emotions are real and raw and, sometimes, wrong. I find chick-lit is usually so safe; the protagonist does everything right, everytime. McLaughlin and Krauss take chances with their novel and allow the character to become more believable by doing so.

This book was a quick read, but differed from all the other chick-lit I’ve read in that it actually pulled at my heart a bit. I wasn’t terribly impressed by The Nanny Diaries (also by this pair), but with Dedication they’ve really stepped it up!

If you are looking for something quick, fun and totally chick-y, this is definitely the book.