Reads and Thoughts

Stay With Me gives us the story of Caleb and Hailey; The former a regular college jock while the latter was a "famous" musician. It fits the exact model of the conventional New Adult story that I'm beginning to get tired of (but still continues to read); I like the story and it has its own plot line but it was less than what I was really expecting it to be.

Hailey is the "famous" musician whose life has been manufactured, controlled and has been lived as to what other people wants it to be lived and now she's done with it. She decided it was time for her to live her own life doing things she really wanted. Since she was pretty much used by everyone on her life, I understand where her trust issues originated.

However, Hailey’s whole character and personality seemed to falter for me. Though I don’t really hate her I don’t think she's also that interesting and she's supposed to be a "famous" musician right? But why can't I feel and see any star quality on her? And she walked away from the business without any repercussions? That easily? Where are the paparazzi? Her character was really not easy to understand and get into because there is little that is given to us from her past. I don’t know if the author has done that intentionally but giving us an eye view how Hailey’s past has been could make her "famous" life be much more understandable for us, readers.

With the influx of musician/rock star books, the partners of the hero /heroine most of the time comes as brooding and snobbish and of course attractive, but here we get to meet a fresh and genuinely nice guy with the name of Caleb Fox. Well, he was a nice guy and all but I also get this unsettling feeling with him thru the story coz just like Hailey I'm not easily swayed with his saying that “He just wanted to get to know her”, but fortunately his nice guy persona continued until the end.

The thing that keeps me from going into reading this is that I want to know Hailey’s issue/secret, but when it was out in the open I was honestly a bit disappointed. It was shocking okay and what she went through at such a young age was horrible but when it was put into the whole picture of the story it seemed to be out of place because when that issue was out on the open, no follow-ups were made. No elaboration. No talks on how she did get through it or whatsoever, so it makes me feel that that certain issue was dumped forcefully to the story.

Overall, it was an okay story. More depth and justification with the characters especially Hailey's and making the whole "famous" thing be more realistic would add more greatness to this book. I like the fact that the drama level was relatively low. There is drama here and there but it was fitted perfectly for the story. Will keep an eye to the succeeding books from this series.

*Copy kindly provided by the author thru Netgalley*