Playlist for a Broken Heart

by Cathy Hopkins

[Kelly]

3.5 Stars
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2014/06/playlist-for-broken-heart-by-cathy.html
I absolutely adore lighthearted, fluffy adventure reads, and Playlist for a Broken Heart was just what I needed for a cold and dull weekend. The premise reminded me of Dash and Lily, where an inanimate object has the characters on an adventure to uncover who the person behind it is, but it was more about Paige and a coming of age story where she learns to let go and live a new life. Paige is a sweet character, he world had just been turned upside down, and although her parents refuse to provide her with what exactly happened, it's not long until she accepts that her life needs to change. I really felt for her, she's at the tender age of fifteen and finally shares a moment with the boy she believes could be The One, and leaves everything that makes her who she is behind. New house where she has no space, new school and trying to keep her chin up, it's no wonder the Songs For Sarah soon became an obsession. The CD represented all the feelings she needs to reign in for the sake of her parents, and feels alone in a house full of chaos.

Through Paige's story, we see glimpses of the boy who was in love with Sarah and how the CD came about. Known only as Mystery Boy, the mix was created to show Sarah how he felt, but now Paige see's the thrift store find as a soundtrack to her feelings. I loved when she began searching for the Mystery Boy, but sadly the storyline seemed to lose it's way when her cousin and friend Tamsin and Clover became involved. Suddenly there were makeovers and busking in the street as the magic of the search started to dwindle. I was really enjoying it up until that point, but it felt like needless fill.

But as the search finally comes to a head, Paige has narrowed it down through the music on the CD and Facebook searches, but Mystery Boy isn't the only one claiming the CD is his work. Paige had already decided who she wanted, so I was more than happy to see that she didn't settle for the romantic premise that Mystery Boy provided, all too aware throughout the book that she had fallen for an idea, not an actual person.

I really enjoyed it, it was a fun, quick read that early teens will love and young adult lovers will cherish. Junior Chick Lit at it's funnest.