Atomic Love

A Heavy Metal Memoir

De: Jessie Rose

Narrado por: Tina Smith

Dark. Terrifying. Compelling. Los Angeles, 1986.

Jenny Stone, a blossoming art student, is lured into the LA underground by a blue-haired, goth street artist with a purse full of drugs and a not-so-lucky rabbit’s foot. Lost, she lands at the feet of a charismatic rock star, Evan Reed.

Not a Sunset glam rocker, Evan is the lead singer of rock 'n’ roll’s loudest, angriest band, embodying the dark side of “The Strip”. Handsome, charming, and enthralled with the young artist, he wants her paintings—then he wants her. A dangerous cocktail of narcissistic love bombing and manipulation keeps her in his orbit. His demons and need for control threaten every aspect of their lives together.

There were warnings, one red flag after another. Yet, Jenny is pulled into money, fame, and excess. Will she survive or succumb to the violence that surrounds her? Atomic Love is sharp objects meets heavy metal memoir and will appeal to fans of Gone Girl and Caroline Kepnes' You.

Content note: Atomic Love deals with issues that may be triggering for some listeners, including: domestic violence, sexual assault, drug use/abuse, mental illness, suicide ideation, dissociation, PTSD, abortion, miscarriage, and the death of a child.

©2019 Jessie Rose (P)2023 Jessie Rose

Very engaging

It’s traumatizing to listen to in parts, but the narrator really helped get me through this intense story.

Dark and Disturbing

I was given the chance to listen to this book through the Books of Horror Facebook group. So, I was expecting it to be Horror. However, as I listened, I kept thinking, "This isn't horror". Then, once I had finished the book, I realized that it was a lot like a true crime book and those are definitely horrific!

This is a well-written and deeply disturbing book about a young woman who becomes involved with a famous rock star. But, instead of the fairytale life Jenny thought she would have, she finds herself in a years long nightmare. Both of the characters are deeply flawed (and not very likeable most of the time), but the story drew me in like a bad wreck on the highway. You know you aren't going to like what you see, but you can't look away.

If you have triggers, please pay attention to the author's warnings a the beginning of the book. I found myself having to take a break at times because the book was so intense. And, it is also full of fairly descriptive bedroom activities as well, so be warned.

All in all, even though it wasn't what I was expecting, it was a great book and I'm glad that I read it. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author. The narrator was perfect for this book and her voice and pacing added a lot to my listening enjoyment.

Beware-You will be pulled in 😁

looking for an awesome read or listen, check it out. The author did a fantastic job reeling me in. I was so mad and yelling at the narrator so many times! 😂 Great book, amazing author, good narration.

This book scared me

My sister had read this book 2x and listen to it once so of course I had to add it my TBR. The first thing I noticed about this book, was the little number of reviews. I was hesitant to start it as I knew it had all the triggers so tread carefully. I have never read a book so dark, so scary, so riveting. So much that I had to put it down for almost a month before finishing it. The words in the title kept me going: memoir!
A story about a heavy metal rock legend in the 80’s and his love for Jenny, drugs, alcohol, groupies, and all the gas lighting!
This book needs more reads and more reviews!

Rock & Roll Horror Show

4/5 I had the privilege of meeting Jessie Rose at a local book fair. I saw a few other people carrying copies of Atomic Love and the dayglow neon pink skull immediately caught my attention. My wife and I spoke with Jessie for a few moments and I decided I’d like to give Atomic Love a shot. I’m glad I did.

Atomic Love is a horror novel because it is filled with horror and atrocity but it’s definitely hard to define for me as one particular genre. Part thriller and part coming of age tale Atomic Love feels like a horrible amalgamation of A Child Called It and a Nicholas Sparks novel. A faux memoir of an abused wife of a psychopath rockstar. Its atrocities feel all too real. Particularly with its lead Jennifer. She makes terrible decisions at every turn and makes you want to scream. Sadly it seems nowadays like everyone knows an abuse victim whom people feel constantly made the wrong decisions and kept themselves in situations they should have long escaped from. It’s easy to think this of Jennifer too not knowing the psychology of it all.

Not a fun novel but a gripping one if you can stomach the trauma. Not overly graphic in its descriptive violence but very easy to imagine and empathize.

I look forward to checking out more of Jessie Rose’s work in the future.

I liked the narrator but she read incredibly slow. I’ve never I increased the speed to 1.2x which is something I never do and I didn’t even notice changes with cadence.

Incredible Listen and Epic story

I enjoyed this book listen. The story was flawless and very enjoyable. The Narration was incredible as well. This book is a must have for sure. Definitely worth the time.

This book owned me

Update 11/21/23

Audio book narrated by Tina Smith
I now own 3 versions of this book
Kindle
Paperback
Audio

But truly this book owned me!

After listening to the audio book it is still a 5⭐️ read.
Why do I want more of their story? Jessie Rose when are you publishing more?

Jessie Rose says it all here
“I don’t want to trigger folks, but stories of domestic violence should make you uncomfortable.”

Heed the warning check your trigger warnings. This book goes in depth detail of the cycle of domestic violence (like truly brutal violence from the main characters on the page) It deals with loss of a child multiple times and rape, drug use, cheating and a love the burns so hot they can’t live without each other.

“Reed’s gaze made me want to be the woman grown men write kick-ass songs about.”

“I hope I learn to love him more than I need to hurt you.”

It’s like watching a tragic car crash and you turn away. This book had me in a choke hold, from 20% in I knew this was a 5 star read.

I simply loved the 1980s rock vibe that Jessie gave to this book. It felt almost real because I grew up in that era.
All the toxicity that spews from the main male narcissistic sociopath has been the worst I have read EVER!!! Reed is a damaged piece of fruit that will rot and make everything around him rot.

Jenny is caught up in the whirl wind of being a rockstars girlfriend

“You don’t stop to ask for directions when you’re whisked into a fairy tale.”

5/⭐️ blazing and toxic
2/🌶️

Wanted so much more

I am DNFing with over 5 hours to go. I just can't get into it. I have read so many positive reviews, but I am bored... The narrator isn't bad but is also very one noted.