Dedication

Although I couldn't put the book down during the first half, I finished it feeling very disappointed and cheapened. The slow revelation of relationships and the past was interesting and clever, but I just got sick of reading about graphic sexual encounters between teenagers. I ended up not caring about what happened to ANY of the characters as the plot marched to a predictable ending. I wanted to feel invested in the outcome, but I just felt they all deserved the misery and pain they put each other through. Not nearly as engaging as The Nanny Diaries.

Once I got past the ridiculousness of Kate's high-school grudge towards Jake, I truly enjoyed this book. I don't care who you are, I think everyone can relate to SOMETHING in this book on a personal level. Everyone has known hurt in one way or another and how we deal with it...well, sometimes the results are quite comical. I found myself yelling at Kate, laughing at her, feeling sorry for her, and sometimes even crying with her. I enjoyed DEDICATION because it took me on a ride of emotions. I wanted to hate the book because the premise of hunting down a high school love to prove him wrong years later was, I thought, completely absurd. Instead, I found myself loving it and not wanting to admit it.

Revenge, Forgiveness, or Closure?: If someone you loved had wronged you so intensely that it changed the course of your life, would you seek revenge? Or forgiveness? Or just closure? This is the central theme of writing duo Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus's excellent new novel, Dedication. The pair spin an entirely believable tale about spurned love and anger that burns unabated for thirteen years, and they bring it full circle with an excellent ending.

Katie Hollis first falls "in love" with Jake Sharpe in sixth grade, and their relationship is a series of ups and downs over the course of their school years. Told in chapters that alternate between 2005 and those growing up years, we follow the development of the characters as Jake begins to realize his love of music and Katie's family life falls apart. Then the unthinkable happens: Jake hits the big time, and he leaves Katie and his friends behind, not even recognizing his fellow band mates' contributions on his first hit single and thus denying them any of the significant royalties. When Jake finally returns to his hometown 13 years on, Katie is alerted and, in true hell hath no fury form, she finds herself ready to confront him and "make him regret his entire existence"...or does she? Can she actually let the past go in order to form a future?

This is a page-turner of a novel, with lots of little 80s details thrown in and an enduring love story as the backbone. It will make you question what you would do if facing show more the same obsession; would you be the bigger person or would you fight back for the life taken from you? And is it all worth it? Definitely a good summer read, and a heart-wrenching one at that. Recommended. show less

A bittersweet story of first love, growing up and coming to appreciate the poignancy in the way we remember our adolescence, frequently idealizing things now by remembering them as we felt them at the time. It made me cry, but in a good way. Perhaps it is time to reexamine my adolescence to see it for what it was. Or perhaps, not having to carry it with me into adulthood as this character did, I can contentedly continue to remember it through the rose-colored glasses of my memories.

This was a quick read - lots of fluff, but lots of fun - by the writer of the Nanny Diaries. I liked it a lot, but I think that could be because the main character is in high school the same time as I was - and I was amused by all the details (albums, clothes, sayings, etc.) of that time. It goes back and forth between 2005 and the main character's school years (starting way back in 1st grade) and is about a woman who was left suddenly by her high school love before graduation. He went on to become a famous rock star who writes all his songs about his experiences with her (taking her virginity, consoling her after her mother cheats, ...).

I liked the authors' other books, but this situation just seemed too contrived. Kate's high school boyfriend (and longtime crush) runs off to become a big rock star and conveniently forgets his old friends (and the fact that they deserve songwriting credit for his big hit). Even though much of his music is about Kate, they haven't actually seen each other in years until she hears he's back in the old hometown, flies back there, and ... BOOM. Sorry, I just didn't buy it.

I saw the book in the bookstore...and of course I had to read the jacket cover, and now am counting down the days until I get it and bring it to its new home :) I'm such a bookjacket whore, I get sucked in by a well written synopsis. Imagine my delight when the little teaser lives up to its name. I'm hoping this will be one of those times.Currently loving this book. The characters, the story...I've become invested in the ending, and am really hoping it doesn't disappoint. I started reading this last night, and I'm 3/4 of the way through it...Okay. done, and I'm not left feeling disappointed, so really keyed up about that. In the first couple pages, I had a tough time getting into the authors stride, but I got it in short order, and loved the book. The plot about ex girlfriend getting vengeance on the guy who leaves to make it big in the rock scene..it was pretty good. I really loved the characters, and how the author humanized them in a way that was at once recognizable and painful...

This is a nicely-written, funny novel that makes you care quite a bit about Kate Hollis, whose ex-boyfriend is now a world-famous recording star, and is now returning to their hometown for an MTV special. Potential payback time for an ex who abandoned his girl, friends and bandmates for the high life. But it just doesn't hold up to the poignancy that resonates in the authors' earlier "The Nanny Diaries", or even that book's sequel.

Dedication is a fun, breezy, quick read written by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, whose previous works includes The Nanny Diaries and Citizen Girl. Dedication is the story of a woman, Katie Hollis, whose ex-boyfriend is a famous musician. Not only does she have to face the humiliation of having a rock star ex, but all of his hits are based on her life. Every time one of his songs comes on the radio she gets to relive an intensely personal experience, along with the rest of the country. For the past thirteen years Katie has been waiting to confront her ex, Jake, and make him regret his entire existence. Instead, the confrontation leads to a rekindling of their romance and she begins to get swept up into his crazy, rock star life.

The book is an entertaining work of ‘chick-lit.’ It was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it. It’s certainly not a book I will reread over and over again, or one which I won’t be able to stop thinking about, but it kept me entertained for a few hours. I must admit, I was invested enough to want a happy ending, but I won’t spoil the end for you by revealing whether or not I got my wish.

Dedication is a very quick and entertaining read. Kate Hollis is trying to live her own life, but is held back by the fact that her ex boyfriend (now a super famous rock star) keeps the hits coming that happen to display her own personal life. Imagine the embarrassment she feels every time she's on a date and a song about her very first intimate experience comes on the radio! For 13 years, she has waited for this rockstar to come back to his hometown so she can make him 'regret his entire existence.'

Every other chapter, McLaughlin's style is to switch to the past so the reader can catch up on Kate's life and see why she is so hell bent and determined to make her ex regret his existence. This is most definitely a chick book, but as far as entertaining novels go, I highly recommend this one.

The dynamic duo of Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have done it again by creating a funny and entertaining book for for chick lit lovers everywhere. The book is told from the main character's perspective in two time periods. Her high school years, and her life as an accomplished 30 year old with a score to settle.

Kate Hollis is out for revenge, on her ex-boyfriend Jake. Who has made his whole music career out of revealing what went on in their high school relationship, including her secrets and her personal family problems. Kate was a fun character. She seems so fearless. This could be her only chance at confronting her ex about basically exploiting their relationship in order to build his career, an she is ready to make the most out of it.

In the beginning I really didn't get what was going on in this book at all. It was just confusing to me, but after a while things started to make sense and I got a lot more into the book. The plot was interesting to say the least and it kept my nose in the book. I enjoyed the high school years part of the book more than the present day telling of the book. The high school sections were a lot more believable, and they seemed like real actions and emotions a high schooler would feel going through what Kate went through. Though when it came to the present day sections, I found it hard to believe that it was a thirty year old telling the story. I had to flip back to the beginning of the chapters many times to see if it was high school Kate show more talking or 30 year old Kate. Besides that, the book was enjoyable.

There were many ups and downs in the book, that throw you off whatever idea you will have about how the book will end. Jake and Kate went through a lot of roller coasters in their relationship that I think a lot of girls can relate to. Through the high school and middle school years, Jake was a wonderful character. But as he showed up in Kate's adult life, I started to question his compassion, and how he viewed women as a whole. You'll understand what I mean if you read the book.

In the end, I did enjoy this book. I loved how the book ended and I felt Kate finally womened up and became the strong 30 year old she should have been all along.

I Recommend: this book to all Chick-lit fans!

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Well-written, but sad. Thirteen wasted years....a good story, and realistic in that life never works out the way people expect. There was no way it could have a happy ending. I'm glad I read it, but I wouldn't want to read it again.

Kate Hollis is a 30 yr. old with a good job that keeps her happily busy, yet tired alot. She has made a good life for herself in Charleston, NC and is determined not to let her past overshadow or influence her future, but how can she when all she hears and sees is Jake Sharpe, the one person she has vowed revenge upon.
The call comes just before Christmas 2005, he has come back to their hometown, Cronton Falls, Vermont. He has become a huge rock star. The person that at one time was her world, her middle school crush and finally high school sweetheart. The person who also broke her heart and never seemed to look back. Kate is on a mission to make him feel as broken as she was 13 yrs. ago and to make him right the wrongs he made.
The journey we are taken on is one of first love, heartbreak, anger, revenge, disappointment culminating in resolution. Learning the hard way that you can not go back, but you can also not move forward until you fully confront the past.

Let me end by saying that this book seemed a bit "young" for this thirty-something. The language and sexual content went a bit further than needed. This book needs an R rating or maybe even an X. I am glad I got the chance to read it even though I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be.

I finished this book because I wanted to remember how awful it was. With a thin plot and flat characters, this novel was as superficial as the characters it portrays. The Nanny Diaries is one of my favorite chick lit novels, but this book is nowhere near as good. I hope I don't automatically buy the next one. Given I hated Citizen Girl, the second novel, and still bought book three, it's not looking good.

I really enjoyed the every other chapter flashback between specific high school years and the present. The last few pages really struck a cord deep in my soul.

Witty, comical, and quite a page-turner. Significantly better than The Nanny Diaries. Its a great light read, but don't expect more than that. It was original but somewhat disappointing as the characters' changes weren't believable.

A story about a Kate, who used to date this guy who went on to become one of the biggest pop stars in the world. The book alternates between "present," where Kate is ready and willing to show him what he's missing out on, and the past, where we see their relationship grow through middle and high school. The back and forth through time was interesting, and little bits of the story would come out little by little. The writing style, however, didn't do it for me - actions and thoughts weren't always clear, making it hard to understand, but I kept reading for the story. I can't say the ending was what I was hoping for, but it was probably more fitting.

Nothing so good as the Nanny Diaries. Off-times tedious high school popularity contest drama. They do write well though, this team.

Uncompelling and even tiresome at times. Most of the characters were shallow and very little was explained to satisfaction other than the main character's neurosis and anxiety. Easy read for an airplane trip, though.

Good. Reminds me of my relationship with BR. Gotta love closure. And I love how she goes off on him at the end. A step above chick lit.

I’m happy to tell you that I really enjoy reading this book, and even managed to read it in one sitting. Dedication is a fun read, and I believe that it is a better book that The Nanny Diaries and Nanny Returns. Don’t forget people loved The Nanny Returns so much they made a movie out of it. Dedication tells the story of Katie, now Kate, who is a successful and single women in her early thirties with a wonderful job, but no man in her life. Her high school boyfriend Jake pulled a real number on Katie, as he broke her heart, became a major rock star, and wrote a ton of songs, all of which became major hits, and all of them had something to do about her. He sang about every intimate detail of their high school relationship, and exposed her family troubles, to the horror of many people. Kate can’t escape Jake’s music, nor get him off of her mind. How can she when every time she goes on a date, or tries to have a romantic moment with another man, Jake’s music about her always seems to be on the radio, playing in the background. When Jake finally returns back home to Vermont after years of absence, Kate decides to confront Jake face to face.

When Katie gets a call in the middle of the night from her best friend that Jake’s arrived back in town, she drives straight to the airport just days before Christmas and flies back home to confront him. Dedication manages to tell their back story from the beginning, going back in time to their sixth grade year when they met show more for the first time. Their relationship grows through the years, and ends during their senior year, and the book goes back and forth between the past, the present, and the years when they did not speak in their twenties. Any lover of romance, music, the teen or adult years will love this book. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I hope you enter to win a copy for yourself, because I know you will love it, too.

I'm also giving away 3 copies of this book - enter to win by April 1st.

To read the rest of my review:

http://thegirlfromtheghetto.wordpress.com/2010/04/01/book-review-dedication/ show less

This book barely held my interest; the writing was sloppy and the back-and-forth style distracting.

This is the story of a woman whose teen boyfriend grows up to be a rock star, but appears to be using her own life as inspiration. She in turn has never really gotten over him, though it's been years since they've seen each other...and really, this is pretty much a big waste of time.

Don't bother!

Kate has been in love with Jake Sharpe ever since their senior year of high school. Now, Jake is a famous musician and Kate decides that she wants to win his heart back. Kate must overcome the pain that came from Jake abruptly leaving.

A girl falls in love with her soulmate in 6th grade. The story takes the reader through her attempts to get the boy in middle school and high school. Eventually, the boy becomes famous and she becomes angry about being left and having her relationship publicly sung about.

Great chick book---so much fun! A look back at the 80s and middleschool days.

Not a classic by any means, but a quick fun read nonetheless.

This book was very confusing for me to read. Mostly because of the flashbacks. Plus nothing was explained in detail and the book makes you figure things out for yourself.

My favourite parts were the flashbacks. The parts about her parents could have been left out. Those dragged it on for a bit. I also think it could have ended sooner. The end was kind of slow.

Story very difficult to get into. The plot is slow and the characters are boring. I wouldn't recommend this one! Citizen Girl and The Nanny Diaries were better.

Book went from teen to adult, to teen, to adult, to teen, to adult, etc. She was in love with a jerk and couldn't see it until the very end. Sad she wasted all that time and would listen to nobody.

It was a cute story. Easy, quick chic read

This book is SO good that I read it in 1 day!!! And well, that’s not me���