The Big Rewind

So, this book….it was something. I picked this book up at a book exchange for no other reason than the cover looked fun. That’s it. Well, after I read the back and I had to laugh because my first thought was, what did I grab? I don’t even really know how to classify the book, other than it’s a work of fiction. So, let me tell you about the strangest book I read this year – The Big Rewind. Warning, I did slip in some minor spoilers. I’m sorry. It was really hard to convey my thoughts without them. They are minor….to me anyway.

The Big Rewind Summary

Ha! How to summarise this book. The Big Rewind is written by Libby Cudmore. The main plot of the book is a murder mystery. We follow Jett, an aspiring music journalist, living in a New York apartment, who gets a mixed tape in the mail addressed to one of her neighbours – KitKat. She goes down to her apartment to give it to her and only hears the cat. Panicking because she thought she forgot that she was cat sitting, she uses the spare key to get into the apartment. Once she enters the kitchen she is shocked to find Kitkat, dead, weed brownies burning in the oven. The police think Bronco, her boyfriend did it. Jett isn’t sure. She also loves police shows.

The Remainder

Using the knowledge she gained from watching police shows like Law and Order, Kitkat starts investigating her friend’s murder. Music means A LOT in this book, as it’s constantly mentioned. The main focus is how people used to make mix tapes that they made to tell someone how they made them feel. Throughout her investigation, Jett continues to go to her boyfriend box, a box containing mementos of past boyfriends. She reconnects with some, but there is one she can’t get over. And she’s falling for her friend who thinks he’s in love with a stripper. So, you have a girl navigating trying support herself in New York, investigating a murder, and trying to figure out relationships, love, and it’s a crazy ride.

The Big Rewind – What I Liked

Trying to figure out who had committed the murder, was quite fun. And it was interesting to see how Jett would listen to music that a “suspect” shared with KitKat through mix tapes and deem them innocent. Jett took in the cat that had belonged to KitKat, because it knew her best and everyone agreed she should have him. I liked the cat. The book was easy and quick to read, and it did take a while for me to figure out the guilty party. In fact, I only figured it out a few sentences before Jett did. And I appreciated that Jett learned an important lesson during the investigation.

What I Disliked

Okay, how to put this gently. Nah. Almost every single relationship was toxic in this book in some way. The view on marriage was that you sucked it up and regretted everything. It seemed like every single guy she reconnected with, with the exception of one of them, regretted that they weren’t still with her. The exception, the guy had learned he was gay and was engaged to another man. However, he was still incredibly close with Jett. There was one guy, the one that she couldn’t get over, Catch. She receives a call saying he’s getting married. She is forming a romantic relationship with her friend who has realised that the Stripper never loved him. And what does she do? Runs to Catch to try and convince him to end the engagement and take her back.

Jett Drove me Crazy

I literally wanted to throw the book across the room when I read that part. Like come on girl. Get over it. You’re starting a new relationship, one you have been DYING to start. And you run after a guy who is getting married because you can’t get over him? And instead of sending her packing, he tells her he still loves her. But he won’t leave his fiance for her. It was, infuriating, how much of the book focused on relationships like this. I came for a murder mystery, not a teenage drama being played out in adults.

The Big Rewind Final Thoughts

This one was hard to rate, if I’m being honest. Like, even though it drove me crazy, I wanted to keep reading it. So, I gave this book a 3 star rating. There were parts that made this a really good book, but then there were parts that made me want to hurl the book into the nearest volcano. So, it sits in the middle. It is a very random book in some ways, but it was a good book. Not great, but good. So, I think I have said all I need to say on this book without giving more spoilers.

After The Big Rewind

I’m making my way through another mystery book. After that I have a fantasy book that I’ve started. And, because apparently I can’t just read 1 or 2 books at a time, I have started an audiobook that is a thriller. I suppose we will see which I finish first. Honestly, it’s between the mystery and the thriller. The mystery book I want to return to the library on its due date, which is on June 24th, instead of renewing it for a third time. After that, I will have to figure out my library reading. I do have a lot of unread books now, due to the book exchanges I go to each month. But, I want to continue the mystery series that I’m reading from the library. It will be a fine balancing act.

Why?

Why, you ask? Well, in order to keep going to the book exchange, I need books to exchange. So, books that I read that I don’t care to keep around, go to the book exchange. And I keep leaving the exchange with around 5 books, even if I only bring 2 or 3. So, I need to read my books quickly so that I know which ones I am returning to the exchange. Steph, why not take a break from the library? Excellent question. The mystery series that I’m reading is really enjoyable, and I don’t want to forget the story in between each book. So, I’m reading them back to back, as much as possible. Plus, and I know it’s just my brain, but it honestly feels weird to go to the library and not come back with another book. Just saying.

Book Challenge Update

So, I kept my challenge at 50 books this year. As you can tell, I am NOWHERE near that number and we are past the halfway point of June. So, I have to get my butt in gear. My current count, in case you lost track of how many reviews I’ve done this year, is 6. Woohoo. So sad. Well, I’m the only one that can do anything about it, so here I go. Let’s see how quickly it takes me to get out another book review. And I will try to remember to do other blogs in between as well. Anything can happen, but I have to try.