Finding Flynn (Marlowe)

The first time I saw the cover I knew immediately I needed to read this book. I will admit to being a cover snob and this cover drew me in. This is a debut novel by Alexandria and I was a little skeptical going in as I was in a major book slump. From the first chapter I was hooked! I instantly connected with Ashtyn and could just feel her despair as the summer vacation she thought her family had planned was turned upside down by her mother. Ashtyn was a 17 year old teenage girl who really needed this summer with her family. Ashtyn never expected to meet Flynn, the older tattooed and pierced bartender who was in a band, and feel a connection to him.

" Something was always missing in my life but I never knew what it was. Something felt off, incomplete, until the day Ashtyn walked into my life"

This story takes off from here with a story of two people who are deeply hurt by family members and find healing together. Not only did I fall in love with the story, but their are several Abbi Glines references that I loved! I am so excited to read this series on the whole band. One click this book, you will not regret it!!! I

Finding Flynn was amazing, such an emotional rollercoaster that will have you laughing and crying. The chemistry between Ashtyn and Flynn is hot! An amazing debut from Alexandria Bishop, cannot wait for more from the Marlowe series.

The beginning of the story started off very slow, which made it difficult to continue on. However, the story itself seemed to reveal several issues that teenagers and young adults seem to face including; communication, parental divorce, and living up to expectations. I felt the character development needs some work to make you really have any real feelings for both Flynn and Ashtyn. I feel this book has potential with a bit of rewriting.

This is a debut novel from Alexandria Bishop, slated to be first in a series. I would say the content is YA bordering on NA. The sexual content is definitely not explicit, but I tend to base my standards for YA books on my middle school aged daughter, and I think the sex and drinking are a bit much for that standard. That said, it definitely does not contain the graphic heat that most NA books include. Just kind of a heads up on where this book is at before we go deeper into the review.

Ashtyn is an 18 year old girl in the summer before her senior year in high school, and not particularly thrilled to be spending a summer in Oregon. Her mother is a record label executive, and is setting up a new studio there. She is even less thrilled to find out the night they get there, that her parents are separating. On the heels of a big fight with her mother over this, she storms out of the house and eventually finds herself at a pub in town. Her mood changes when she walks in and a hot guy with a guitar is playing a song by her favorite band. When the song ends, the musician becomes the bartender. She realizes she is starving and orders a burger and an alcoholic beverage, and he serves her a Shirley Temple. She thinks better of using her fake ID, but eventually panics realizing in her haste to get away from her mother she left her purse at home, and has no way to pay for her meal. She goes to try to explain her dilemma to the hot bartender, who tells her he will take care of it if she waits until he gets off and spends some time with him. And thus, we have met Flynn.

There is a lot of chemistry between Ashtyn and Flynn, but the secrets they each hide keep them yo-yo-ing back and forth between each other. As a woman in her early 40's these secrets seem a bit silly to me, but I can remember the way the drama of the teen years makes everything seem much more important than it may actually be. I don't hold my jaded views against this book.

Ashtyn is a bookworm, and gets lost in her world of favorite authors and book boyfriends. Although I was personally not familiar with these authors, a quick Wikipedia search shows me that most readers probably will be, and I've added a couple of books mentioned to my to be read list. As a lifelong voracious reader, I can definitely relate to this, and I love to think that some teens still read as much as I did.

Ashtyn's best friend Chloe is facing a summer in *shudder* Kansas (Lol - being a Kansas girl myself, I find it quite amusing) with her grandmother, so Ashtyn figures her mom will let Chloe stay with them instead to help make things right between mother and daughter. As a mother of teenagers, as much as it irritates me, I can see it as a typical teen manipulation. Chloe is a party girl, more outgoing than Ashtyn, but drags her friend out of her own head and into real life.

It's hard to tell much more about the story without getting into spoiler territory. As the author's debut novel, I see a lot of potential for her future works, and I will definitely be looking forward to more of the Marlowe series. This is a fun, sweet read, with several twists that I did not see coming, mixed in with some that weren't huge surprises. Honestly I think I may be most interested in Chloe's story, and in Jude's (one of the band members.) Obviously I would also like to see where life will take Ashtyn and Flynn after the drama dies down as well. I think the target audience (teens) will be quite pleased with this one, but it has appeal beyond as well. As a huge fan of the rockstar romance, it has definite appeal to other connoisseurs of the lighter side of the genre. I debated between 3.5 and 4 stars, but I will give it the full 4. Looking forward to more from Ms. Bishop.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Finding Flynn! From the moment I began reading, I couldn't put it down!! At the end of the book I was left wanting more. Fortunately, Finding Flynn is the first in a series. Can't wait to read the next book!!!

Finding Flynn is a brisk introduction to debut author, Alexandria Bishop's, Marlowe series. I rarely read young adult these days, but I've been anticipating this book for awhile. Some of the pop culture references were unfamiliar, entirely my fault. Other than, the overdramatized 'secret' I enjoyed the story; I felt let down by the BIG reveal. Not sure what the author has planned for the rest of the band, but I am looking forward to finding out.

A teenage girl's worst nightmare? Having to move the summer before her senior year. What is the solution? Finding a hot guy who happens to be a rock star....for Ashtyn that is Flynn. Flynn is the front man for the band Marlowe. Ashtyn isn't hung up on the fact that he is in a band even though she loves music. She is just plainly hung up on Flynn.

Alexandria Bishop's Finding Flynn is a young adult romance. I really enjoyed reading about Ashtyn's teenage dilemmas as she settles into her new town. As Ashtyn meets Flynn, the true story begins. The ups & downs of life are felt in this story. A beautiful story of youth and romance. A story of Ashtyn and Flynn's summer. A summer filled with romance and rock and roll.

"It’s one thing to have a dream but it’s different for your dreams to start coming true and unfold in front of you."

The secondary characters are also interesting and intriguing. I can't wait to read more about the band members of Marlowe. Thank you, Alexandria Bishop. Finding Flynn is a great YA read.

I received an ARC for an honest review.