Julie's Review: What You Do to Me

Author: Rochelle B. Weinstein
Series: None
Publication Date:  October 17, 2023
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Pages: 363
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction; Historical Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Music and love always go together
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Summary: Journalist Cecilia James is a sucker for a love song. So when she stumbles across a clue to the identity of the muse for one of rock’s greatest, she devotes herself to uncovering the truth, even as her own relationship is falling apart. While writing an article for Rolling Stone, Cecilia works to reveal the mystery that has intrigued fans and discovers a classic tale of two soulmates separated by fate and circumstance. Rock star Eddie Vee once sang with his soul, dedicating love songs to Sara Friedman, his inspiration and first love. Now, Eddie takes refuge in anonymity, closed off to the past. Sara, too, has distanced herself from their love, moving thousands of miles away to live the life she once railed against. As Eddie and Sara tentatively open up to Cecilia about broken dreams, she struggles to give them a happy ending. In the process, she learns that broken hearts can be healed―even her own. What You Do To Me is the story of a love song and of the triumph of the heart over the greatest of odds. Even for those who have written off love forever. ~amazon.com

Review: A song can transport you to a moment or a person or even a time period in your life. Sometimes it'll spark a memory you have forgotten or it just helps your mood. We all have a song or probably many that can do this for us. Not only that but there are song where you wonder who or what the inspiration was and that is what Ms. Weinstein explores in What You Do to Me? 

Cecilia James is an up & coming journalist at Rolling Stone but she needs that big break to get her own byline but at what expense. She's in Miami for another meeting when she happens upon a lady sitting on a bench upset about the tragedy marker. She also leaves a piece of paper behind, which is what sets Cecilia on a path to find out the truth behind one of the most famous songs and who is behind it. 

The story is told by Cecilia in the 90s and Sara in the 70s/80. I loved Sara's voice and reading about her struggles with falling in love with someone where she knew it was impossible but trying to find a way to make it happen. Sara is trying to live her life while honoring the traditions of her faith but her mom has much stricter rules. I loved the closeness of Sara's family but I could also see how suffocating it would be for a young women who wants to experience life outside her bubble. She's trying to define her own life while still trying to live into her family expectations. 

CeCe is dealing with some unresolved baggage from her parents marriage and divorce. She's never forgiven her father for walking out on them and has her deceased mom on a pedastal. When things go south for her in her relationship, she has no one else to turn to but her dad and his wife, Tori. It is here where Cece begins to heal and let her walls fall down. It is also the story of Sara and Eddie that helps her heal as well and figure out what she really wants. 

This is a pretty emotional book; well at least it was for me. I loved both women's journey to figuring out their lives. Both of them were dealing with things that were holding them back from the lives they wanted and yes they were different but obstacles are obstacles. 

I will read anything Ms. Weinstein writes but this is definitely her best novel so far! If you haven't read her, you really should.