Second Guessing

Jill Griffin is a songwriter and widow of rock legend Jamie Sheridan.  Her personal life begins to explode when the Simon Sez Insider News & Views reports on her blossoming relationship with pop star Ben Fein who recently went solo from his group Five2ndRulez.  Jill is planning a tribute concert to her late husband to help fund a foundation in his name dedicated to providing music education for children, and she wants Ben to headline it.  She fears having their relationship splashed across the tabloids will defeat her late husband’s legacy.  Jill and Ben’s 14-year age gap doesn’t help.  She’s 42 and he’s 28.

Ben Fein broke away from his group Five2ndRulez to continue as a solo artist.  His success earns him a headliner spot in Jill’s tribute.  Now that their relationship is public, the challenges associated with keeping the focus on the tribute, dealing with family, and his own past threaten the relationship with the woman he’s falling in love with.

Readers will enjoy what feels like an inside view into the New York music industry in this story about second chances.  Characterization, motivation, plot, and conflict are strong, although some behaviors and actions do not seem plausible.  An overabundance of backstory and internalized narrative in places slows the pace where dialogue may have been more enjoyable.  One can’t help but think One Direction may be the inspiration behind Five2ndRulez and being a part of an afterparty with Adam Levine, Sting, R.E.M., and Bruce Springsteen is icing on the cake.

Becca Windsor