Dedication

by Emma McLaughlin

Other authorsNicola Kraus, Ashley West (Reader)

Cassette Audiobook , 2007

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Genres

Collections

TYPE: Audiobook, SOURCE: Recorded Books Rental [dormant]

Publication

Brilliance Audio (2007), Edition: Unabridged Audiobook, 6 Cassette Tapes, 9 hrs 20 mins

Description

Kate Hollis's ex-boyfriend's face plasters newsstands and TV, the Internet, and the multiplex. Jake Sharpe is one of the biggest recording stars on the planet, and every song he's famous for is about Kate. For over a decade his soundtrack has chased her--from the gym to the supermarket, from the dentist's office to the bars. Now thirty-year-old Kate gets the call that Jake has finally landed back in their Vermont hometown for an MTV special. The moment she has been waiting for has arrived. On the eve of their prom, Jake Sharpe vanished, resurfacing when his song "Losing"--about his and Kate's first sexual experience--shot to the top of the Billboard charts. And the hits kept coming, each more personal than the one before. Now Kate gets her chance to confront Jake and reclaim her past. But after eleven years of enduring protracted and far-from-private heartbreak, everyone in Kate's life has a stake in how this plays out. Kate must risk betraying the friends Jake abandoned, the band-mates whose songs he plundered, and her own parents, who fear this will dredge up a shared past more painful than any of them want to acknowledge. But after getting the call in the dead of night and jumping on a plane, can she turn back now? Newsweek dubbed The Nanny Diaries "a national phenomenon" and the New Republic proclaimed, "Thank God for Citizen Girl." Now McLaughlin and Kraus have written a poignant, humorous tale about modern celebrity obsession and coming of age during the divorce boom. With flawless depictions of the 1980s, a charismatic heroine, and their signature biting wit, the authors offer up another lively and hilarious tale of a smart young woman looking for satisfaction in the chaos of contemporary culture.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member morsell

Although I couldn't put the book down during the first half, I finished it feeling very disappointed and cheapened. The slow revelation of relationships and the past was interesting and clever, but I just got sick of reading about graphic sexual encounters between teenagers. I ended up not caring

about what happened to ANY of the characters as the plot marched to a predictable ending. I wanted to feel invested in the outcome, but I just felt they all deserved the misery and pain they put each other through. Not nearly as engaging as The Nanny Diaries.

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LibraryThing member iamagirldork

Once I got past the ridiculousness of Kate's high-school grudge towards Jake, I truly enjoyed this book. I don't care who you are, I think everyone can relate to SOMETHING in this book on a personal level. Everyone has known hurt in one way or another and how we deal with it...well, sometimes the

results are quite comical. I found myself yelling at Kate, laughing at her, feeling sorry for her, and sometimes even crying with her. I enjoyed DEDICATION because it took me on a ride of emotions. I wanted to hate the book because the premise of hunting down a high school love to prove him wrong years later was, I thought, completely absurd. Instead, I found myself loving it and not wanting to admit it.

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LibraryThing member paghababian

A story about a Kate, who used to date this guy who went on to become one of the biggest pop stars in the world. The book alternates between "present," where Kate is ready and willing to show him what he's missing out on, and the past, where we see their relationship grow through middle and high

school. The back and forth through time was interesting, and little bits of the story would come out little by little. The writing style, however, didn't do it for me - actions and thoughts weren't always clear, making it hard to understand, but I kept reading for the story. I can't say the ending was what I was hoping for, but it was probably more fitting.

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LibraryThing member Camethyste

Well-written, but sad. Thirteen wasted years....a good story, and realistic in that life never works out the way people expect. There was no way it could have a happy ending. I'm glad I read it, but I wouldn't want to read it again.

LibraryThing member titterington

This was a quick read - lots of fluff, but lots of fun - by the writer of the Nanny Diaries. I liked it a lot, but I think that could be because the main character is in high school the same time as I was - and I was amused by all the details (albums, clothes, sayings, etc.) of that time. It goes

back and forth between 2005 and the main character's school years (starting way back in 1st grade) and is about a woman who was left suddenly by her high school love before graduation. He went on to become a famous rock star who writes all his songs about his experiences with her (taking her virginity, consoling her after her mother cheats, ...).

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LibraryThing member DF6B_HannahK

Kate has been in love with Jake Sharpe ever since their senior year of high school. Now, Jake is a famous musician and Kate decides that she wants to win his heart back. Kate must overcome the pain that came from Jake abruptly leaving.

LibraryThing member kimbee

My favourite parts were the flashbacks. The parts about her parents could have been left out. Those dragged it on for a bit. I also think it could have ended sooner. The end was kind of slow.

LibraryThing member mmcquaid01

Great chick book---so much fun! A look back at the 80s and middleschool days.

LibraryThing member efoltz

A girl falls in love with her soulmate in 6th grade. The story takes the reader through her attempts to get the boy in middle school and high school. Eventually, the boy becomes famous and she becomes angry about being left and having her relationship publicly sung about.

LibraryThing member TheScrappyCat

This book barely held my interest; the writing was sloppy and the back-and-forth style distracting.

This is the story of a woman whose teen boyfriend grows up to be a rock star, but appears to be using her own life as inspiration. She in turn has never really gotten over him, though it's been years

since they've seen each other...and really, this is pretty much a big waste of time.

Don't bother!

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LibraryThing member adelle

This book is SO good that I read it in 1 day!!! And well, that’s not me…

LibraryThing member kpasternack02

Good. Reminds me of my relationship with BR. Gotta love closure. And I love how she goes off on him at the end. A step above chick lit.

LibraryThing member GabbyReElle

Witty, comical, and quite a page-turner. Significantly better than The Nanny Diaries. Its a great light read, but don't expect more than that. It was original but somewhat disappointing as the characters' changes weren't believable.

LibraryThing member Kace

I saw the book in the bookstore...and of course I had to read the jacket cover, and now am counting down the days until I get it and bring it to its new home :) I'm such a bookjacket whore, I get sucked in by a well written synopsis. Imagine my delight when the little teaser lives up to its name.

I'm hoping this will be one of those times.Currently loving this book. The characters, the story...I've become invested in the ending, and am really hoping it doesn't disappoint. I started reading this last night, and I'm 3/4 of the way through it...Okay. done, and I'm not left feeling disappointed, so really keyed up about that. In the first couple pages, I had a tough time getting into the authors stride, but I got it in short order, and loved the book. The plot about ex girlfriend getting vengeance on the guy who leaves to make it big in the rock scene..it was pretty good. I really loved the characters, and how the author humanized them in a way that was at once recognizable and painful...

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LibraryThing member WillowOne

Kate Hollis is a 30 yr. old with a good job that keeps her happily busy, yet tired alot. She has made a good life for herself in Charleston, NC and is determined not to let her past overshadow or influence her future, but how can she when all she hears and sees is Jake Sharpe, the one person she

has vowed revenge upon.
The call comes just before Christmas 2005, he has come back to their hometown, Cronton Falls, Vermont. He has become a huge rock star. The person that at one time was her world, her middle school crush and finally high school sweetheart. The person who also broke her heart and never seemed to look back. Kate is on a mission to make him feel as broken as she was 13 yrs. ago and to make him right the wrongs he made.
The journey we are taken on is one of first love, heartbreak, anger, revenge, disappointment culminating in resolution. Learning the hard way that you can not go back, but you can also not move forward until you fully confront the past.

Let me end by saying that this book seemed a bit "young" for this thirty-something. The language and sexual content went a bit further than needed. This book needs an R rating or maybe even an X. I am glad I got the chance to read it even though I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be.

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LibraryThing member burnit99

This is a nicely-written, funny novel that makes you care quite a bit about Kate Hollis, whose ex-boyfriend is now a world-famous recording star, and is now returning to their hometown for an MTV special. Potential payback time for an ex who abandoned his girl, friends and bandmates for the high

life. But it just doesn't hold up to the poignancy that resonates in the authors' earlier "The Nanny Diaries", or even that book's sequel.

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LibraryThing member amhamilt

Dedication is a fun, breezy, quick read written by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, whose previous works includes The Nanny Diaries and Citizen Girl. Dedication is the story of a woman, Katie Hollis, whose ex-boyfriend is a famous musician. Not only does she have to face the humiliation of having

a rock star ex, but all of his hits are based on her life. Every time one of his songs comes on the radio she gets to relive an intensely personal experience, along with the rest of the country. For the past thirteen years Katie has been waiting to confront her ex, Jake, and make him regret his entire existence. Instead, the confrontation leads to a rekindling of their romance and she begins to get swept up into his crazy, rock star life.

The book is an entertaining work of ‘chick-lit.’ It was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it. It’s certainly not a book I will reread over and over again, or one which I won’t be able to stop thinking about, but it kept me entertained for a few hours. I must admit, I was invested enough to want a happy ending, but I won’t spoil the end for you by revealing whether or not I got my wish.

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LibraryThing member rainbowdarling

Uncompelling and even tiresome at times. Most of the characters were shallow and very little was explained to satisfaction other than the main character's neurosis and anxiety. Easy read for an airplane trip, though.

LibraryThing member justacatandabook

Not a classic by any means, but a quick fun read nonetheless.

LibraryThing member cubsfan3410

It was a cute story. Easy, quick chic read

LibraryThing member ennie

I liked the authors' other books, but this situation just seemed too contrived. Kate's high school boyfriend (and longtime crush) runs off to become a big rock star and conveniently forgets his old friends (and the fact that they deserve songwriting credit for his big hit). Even though much of his

music is about Kate, they haven't actually seen each other in years until she hears he's back in the old hometown, flies back there, and ... BOOM. Sorry, I just didn't buy it.

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LibraryThing member amandanan

I really enjoyed the every other chapter flashback between specific high school years and the present. The last few pages really struck a cord deep in my soul.

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