Shuffle, Repeat
By: Jen Klein
Rating: 5 of 5
“Shuffle, Repeat” is the second book by Jen Klein that I have read. I enjoy her funny and more than slightly sarcastic lead characters who are also quite intelligent and well-read.
In this book, June is just starting her senior year of high school. She is part of the nerdy, smart group and is marking time until she goes to college. For reasons explained later in the book, June can’t drive and, because she and her mother have moved outside of town, her fellow senior Oliver is giving her a ride to school each morning to save her at least an hour of driving time. Oliver is on the football team and is a well-loved jock who is kind to everyone.
June hasn’t had much to do with Oliver since their playground wedding in kindergarten and has built up a bias against his “type”. Oliver, on the other hand, is everything kind to June without any thought to her social status. They are each in a relationship so that tension is out the window and they learn (mostly through Oliver’s efforts) to become friends and find something in common. Turns out to be music though their tastes are wildly diverse and each can’t stand the others playlists.
The story grows from that point. We learn more in depth about both characters, though of course, we see the world through June’s eyes. We know her inner thoughts and feelings whereas we have to rely on Oliver’s words, actions, and June’s thoughts about him.
The story is the growth of their relationship as well as the progression of the year and moving on to college. I really enjoyed the book. The only thing that amused me a bit was it almost had a checkoff of types in supporting characters. It wasn’t out of place in the book but is something that I have come to expect in modern novels.
Turns out I have a lot in common with both characters taste in music. Reading the book reminded me of some older songs which I had to purchase, download and enjoy while reading the remainder of the book.
I was provided a free copy of this book for review purposes.
