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Ana Leamaro – :
Free ARC Copy
This is a slow paced and emotional book, which I enjoyed very much. First I thought It was a story about a suffering Pop star looking for happiness, but than the focus started to change to the Asexual theme, for lack of better word ( or English). It’s a very interesting read and I love it.
However not everybody will like the academic side of the story. If you haven’t connected with Leo and Holly and their emotional relationship than it might become a little boring. It didn’t happened with me and I was very curious in understanding what is asexual orientation. I even made my own research.
I have to be honest and say that all this labels confuse me. I i like them because they’re very limitative of someone’s personality. By categorizing people in smaller groups it only increases loneliness and the feeling of not fitting in. You either like chocolate or you don’t. If you like chocolate than you might prefer dark, white, milk, simple or with other stuff inside. You can eat your chocolate everyday, once a week, or once in a while. That’s part of your personality. When you love someone you love all of it, including how many times the chocolate is eaten. You compromise and work things around. When you put people in categories its like shelving them and create barriers. This shelving is very clear in Holly’s mind. She believes it’s only possible to be happy with someone like her, which is very far from the truth. The bad experiences Holly had in her life made her believe in that shelf, what she failed to understand was that those people didn’t really love her. She closed her heart because in the end she saw her orientation has a defect and not a special treat of her personality.
Just a final note: Content Warning about sex! Really? It’s like cold water in your head. It breaks the story. Put the warning somewhere else, if you must have it, not in the middle of the story. We are not dealing with children! There is plenty of warning before the real deal. You have to be very thick if you don’t understand the signs!
pat iserman – :
I knew nothing about the theme of this book before reading it.Still not sure I get it but the journey was fascinating .Leo and Holly’s story is evidently not unique but it has so many nuances that I was left in the dust trying to understand it all.
As usual Jae has provided a thought provoking look at a seldom mentioned topic that involves 2 intelligent,heartwarming ,independent women.
karola.meyer – :
***free ARC
Another ‘Perfect Rhythm’ with words by Jae. So far I haven’t read a book of her which I don’t like. The main theme in this book is Holly beeing asexual. Feeling this way, is for sure not an easy way. Not in this world where almost everything is sex related. Her growing friendship with Leo, their growing feelings for each other and the bad experiences of Holly with former partners doesn’t make it easier to believe, Holly and Leo can really build a relationship. Too many what ifs are in their way. But life sometimes has its own thinking of what if. With a lot of explaining, what asexuality means, and I’m not sure I really understood the complete range of it, Holly and Leo are willing to try to build a life together. The way Jae has written this book about people who don’t feel the same way like the most of us about intimity and sex is not just really good, it’s also mind opening.
Karen Mcintosh – :
I was seriously impressed by ‘Perfect Rhythm’ by Jae as it deals with a relationship scenario that I hadn’t read about before. Pop star Leontyne returns to her home town to see her ill father. Things are strained between father and daughter but it is made more bearable by the presence of home health nurse Holly. An attraction is evident but can a relationship ever work between a hot pop star and an asexual woman? The story is romantic and emotional and I will admit to a few tears being shed. I liked how Jae made me think and try to understand what being asexual meant at the same time as Leo was dealing with it. She showed tenderness and beauty and a different outlook. An excellent read that I highly recommend.
Sandra – :
What a fantastic book. Thank you Jae, you’re awesome.
This isn’t the average romance, as this one has a special topic, asexuality. Yes, I heard of asexuality before, but I’ve never thought much about it. This book brings this theme up in a perfect way. And I learned a lot during reading.
This is the wonderful love story of Leontyne and Holly.
There is the famous pop singer Jenna (Leontyne) Blake, who travels the world for her concerts, her success and her fame. Thousands of crazy fans permanently on her heels, and everybody wants something from Jenna, especially her influence or her money. When Jenna reluctantly returns to her small hometown, because of her father’s illness, she has the chance to rediscover herself and to just be Leo again. It was the right moment for her, she was on a point in her life, where she had to ask herself, what she want’s to do next. The current lifestyle is exhausting, and she’s on the brink of a burnout. But is her hometown the right place for this to found out? And what about her parents, who didn’t approve her sexuality or her music?
And there’s Holly, the caring nurse of Leo’s father. She has left her hometown only for four years and she loves the life in this small town. And she can’t understand that her patient’s daughter wasn’t coming home earlier, not until after he suffered the second stroke. But maybe that is like this, when you are a famous pop singer and you didn’t have the time for your parents. For that she wasn’t looking forward to meet the daughter of the house. But bit by bit she learns that not always everything is black and white.
During their forced time together, they get to know each other better and better. And they develop feelings for each other. But there is one big secret Holly is hiding. She is an asexual person. So is there any chance of building a relationship between the two of them. Holly doubt, that Leo is the person who can’t be without sex, or is she?
It is just great to accompany the two women on their way. Jae has a wonderful lively way to describe everything, the feelings, the doubt, the anger. I nearly couldn’t put down the book. It isn’t a fast paced story, but it’s flowing steadily.
I highly recommend this book to everybody, who want’s to read a extraordinary romance.
My rating 5 stars
Thanks to Ylva Publishing for receiving an ARC for a honest review
Betty Harmon – :
For me, this is an a-typical romance. In a sense, this was a learning book for me, I learned a lot about the complexities of an asexual oriented individual. On one hand, I had a bit of a hard time seeing how the two main characters would get together and create a lasting relationship. But Jae handled the relationship and story line in her typical talented way. By the end of the book, I believed in the characters and their chances together. If you consider yourself an asexual person, you’ll love this book. You may even find yourself in its pages. If you consider yourself an average fan of the romance genre, you’ll enjoy this book as well. Jae makes the characters as real as your next door neighbor and you’ll find yourself immersed in every page.
rebeccakbarrus2 – :
*Note: I was provided with a free copy of the book by Ylva Publishing in exchange for a fair review
I love that Perfect Rhythm is based on the concept of “what if there was a famous lady popstar who was openly gay and she fell in love with her dad’s asexual lesbian nurse?” There are so many things I love about that and this book. I really enjoyed Leo’s growth, especially concerning her rocky relationship with her dad and semi-rocky relationship with her mom. I loved the explanation of Holly’s sexuality and the explanation that not all ace people experience asexuality in the same way. It’s an important topic that doesn’t get covered in LGBT+ media enough. And, of course, the overall feel of the book is lovely and warm and sweet. I’d definitely recommend it and read it again.
Jane Shambler – :
Jae is one of my favorite authors and yet again she has not failed to deliver. I will admit I got a little glassy eyed reading this book. You know the one. There is no one home but the lights are on look. I feel a little shamed to be honest, but their are just so many different sexuality now that I have to google most of them. Hey, I remember when you used words like gay and lesbian or even internet people got “the look” in their eyes. I guess I will have to do some searching and check them out. Jae does a good job explaining but that appears to be the tip of the iceberg.
I like Jae’s ability to connect you too her characters. The way she gets you involved with the story. She also takes you on an emotional roller coaster which I admit made my eyes water a few times. But saying that I thought it was a really excellent feel good story. It is about family, friendship, understanding and support.
I hope this book brings people hope. I know my first book was by Harper Bliss, my second by Radcliffe and seriously it gave me so much hope and joy that I have never looked back. I did not know it was there until my sister bought me my first kindle and a whole new world opened up to me. So I hope this book is the pioneer of the future.
*ARC provided by publisher via Ylva Publishing*
Ameliah Faith – :
Astounding
This book is a must read!!! This is the story of Leo, a rock n roll star who meets and falls in love with a lesbian, of a different sort, Holly. Holly returns Leo’s feelings but can a sexual lesbian find happiness with an asexual one?
I have never read or even heard of a book like this one before. I thought asexual was just celibate, no need or desire to touch or be touched in any way. I was so wrong!! There is so much to learn and Jae is up to the challenge. She entertains and educates at the same time in a beautifully written, heartwarming way that will make you not only understand Leo and Holly’s love but make you fall in love with them as well. This groundbreaking tale is as important as it I different and well worth devouring every word!
pharridge – :
I loved this story which is not hard for me to believe as Jae is one of my top five authors! Once again Jae has delivered a story that is strong, believable, funny, sad and was able to draw me into the lives of all the characters.
Leo and Holly have a chemistry that is intriguing in what is an evolving relationship for them throughout the story. One of many reasons I enjoyed reading this book was learning about asexuality in all its variations. It’s different and confronting in the way you look at relationships and what defines not only sexuality but sex itself. It gave me a new perspective to look at.
When I finished reading ‘Perfect Rhythm’ I would have been quite happy to go back and read it again.
I received an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
stephasselin – :
One second, Jenna Blake is on stage of the Madisson Square Garden, ending her tour with the same song she had grown sick of signing over and over again, in the next, Leontyne Blake is in her rental car in the middle of nowhere, going home to her family she hasn’t seen in years.
Holly Drummond, her father’s nurse, is far from happy of seeing the famous Jenna Blake back in town, as she feels she should’ve come home years ago. Can their tense interaction warm up with time? Will they be able to be civil towards each others?
This story is about finding friendship in a world filled with phony people, only attracted by money and fame. It’s about going back to where it all started, to be able to find back the voice within you that helped you get started in the music industry. It’s about finding love in the most unexpected way and giving people the chance to love you for who you are.
It was the first time I’ve read a novel with an asexual character in it and it was what made me buy it at first. I was curious to see how the character would be portrayed and how deep the researches have been put in making Holly’s character as authentic as possible. Needless to say that with her incredible baggage as a writer, Jae once again proved that there is always more to a character than what is shown on the surface. She digs deep into understanding all the versatilities of any Ace person and all the struggles and misperceptions that comes with it. This story is once again going on the top of my list.
Perfect Rhythm is another book I’ve read so fast that I am still impressed. I’ve had in on my shelves for a little over 3 months now and I’ve just reread it for the sixth time. It is THAT good. The story is keeping you focused and you just have to keep on reading. It is perfectly well written. The asexual explaining done by Holly are so nicely described it makes it even more credible, top it with Leo’s fear of thrusting people in her life, their relationship is heartwarming and heart shattering at times but still; this is the best book I’ve bought in a while, worth it every single chapter.
*I do have to put a disclaimer though after I suggested the book. If you are not safe reading about a father being sick, I would suggest you read it carefully. It hadn’t occurred to me before I suggested it and it hit my friend hard. *
charles_barsaga – :
I bought this book on Amazon at the beginning of my Kindle Book Marathon this year and am so glad I did buy it in the end.
I’m not kidding that this book impacted me more than the dozens of books I’ve read this year.
I pretty much cried at some points in the story, subplots were resolved (except maybe for one? sorry closeted one) Totally identified with Holly and that was a first for me. In romance novels or at least lesbian romance novels (I don’t really read romance novels normally) that I’ve read, I always find myself relating on some level to one of the protagonists. If I don’t the novel doesn’t work for me and it either ends up as a skim read or a DNF (did not finish) book.
Holly is the first character that I almost totally identify with and rooted for. The initial clash between her and Leo was a little painful for me at first, but I totally bought the building of their romance. Got upset at the doubts that plagued Holly but totally understood. I could relate to Leo being a musician and as well as her relationship with her parents (at least as far as being close to them that is).
Perfect Rhythm introduced me to asexuality as a sexual orientation and my subsequent research then lead me to identifying myself at least under the asexuality umbrella. That made the central conflict really hit home for me and made me giddy inside when the resolution finally came around.
Some of the song titles made me chuckle and the final review of Leo’s album made me smile so much I thought my cheeks would hurt.
I’m blathering on and on, but without this book I think I’d still be thinking there was something wrong with me. But bringing awareness to asexuality is now always a plus in my book and doing it right? That’s a double plus from me 🙂
If you’re a fan of romance novels, a slow-ish burn and strong female leads then this is the book for you.
I’m gushing by this point and should really edit my response but I cannot stress how much I loved reading this book 🙂 It moved me in ways the 70 or so novels I’ve read throughout the year haven’t so, thank you Jae! 😀 😀 😀 🙂 🙂 🙂 (Ooh, shout out for Something in the Wine and Just for Show , basically go out and buy every Jae novel xD )