Blowin' My Mind Like a Summer Breeze

By: Benjamin Roesch

Narrated by: Nicola Fordwood

Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Fifteen-year-old Rainey Cobb never thought meeting someone could actually change her life. But, then again, she’s never met anyone like Juliet.

It’s 1995, and The Cobb Family Band, led by Rainey’s rock star parents, has arrived for a week-long gig at the Midwestern resort owned by Juliet’s family. Dazzled by Juliet’s carpe diem attitude, DIY tattoos, and passion for grunge, Rainey falls hard. And when Juliet gives Rainey a mixtape that unlocks her heart’s secret yearnings, Rainey starts seeing herself—and her vagabond show-biz life—through new eyes.

If Rainey quits the band, her parents’ fading career might never recover. But if she doesn’t leap now, she might be stuck forever in a life she didn’t choose…and always wonder who she could have been.

©2022 Benjamin Roesch (P)2022 Benjamin Roesch

A+

Great story with reference to 90’s high school dynamics and music but relatability to current teens…

Coming of Age Story - Well Done

Imagine being the talented daughter of a once popular rock group featuring your parents! Although her parents are still performing and they live a carefree lifestyle, their family is beginning to show cracks. Fifteen-year-old Rainey is set on a path of self-discovery. Her parents must decide if they will allow her the freedom to find herself and the adventure begins.

Benjamin Roesch weaves an interesting coming-of-age tale around music and the discovery of one’s true being. Each character is well developed as needed to move the story forward and support the growth of the main characters. The plot twists and issues Rainey faces are realistic and emotional.

The narrator, Nicola Fordwood gives a smooth and soothing performance. She projects the appropriate tone of the moment from pouty to angry to confused to teenage stubbornness. Her cadence was steady. I enjoyed hearing Nicola Fordwood’s performance.

This is an interesting book with some colorful characters and situations. Roesch hit on several key components that teenage girls face and did it well. There were a few places where I feel a bit more should have been added but I do recommend this book.

There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook.

Highly Recommend!

This beautifully written book is about Rainey Cobb and her experiences navigating life as a fifteen year old. Everything feels so big and raw and confusing at that age, as one tries to figure out who they are and what they want. The story resonated with me in many ways—it feels like yesterday that I was fifteen, and although the author is a man, he captured the feelings perfectly.

Set in the mid ‘90s, it’s also about a musical family’s ups and downs on the road, Rainey’s parents being has-been rock stars.

Rainey experiences a lot of firsts, from falling in love with confident, edgy Juliet, to discovering her famous parents are human, to realizing she wants to be independent and lead a different life than her family had in mind for her.

Being a music enthusiast myself, I enjoyed all the references to great acts who still boast cult followings, from Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana to Bjork and Tori Amos. I’ve made plenty of mixed tapes of my own— it’s truly a lost art. Rainey’s list making quirk is another commonality we share—I’ve always made them in excess.

This book touches on important topics like LGBTQ+ and mental health. Roesch is a master at noting and capturing the smallest sensory details, making the reader feel they are there right alongside Rainey. It was a pleasure to listen to, the writer is truly gifted!

Wonderful story!

This is such a great audiobook surrounding 15 year old Rainey Cobb. I love how this story touches on a lot of relatable issues such as sexual orientation, family dynamics, anxiety, love for music, your first love, trying to fit in, building confidence (especially as a teen) and finding yourself in the midsts of it all.
This was such a beautiful story to listen to. The narrator did such an amazing job bringing all of these characters to life for me. I completely fell in love with Rainey and pulled for her throughout this story. I really hope the author writes a follow up to this story so I can catch up with Rainey Cobb.
I am 36 years old and enjoyed this audiobook. I can also see how this would be perfect for teens as well. I think that says a lot about the authors ability to build such relatable characters that you can connect with on more than one level.
PS: kudos to all the music, songs, & bands mentioned in this book!

UNKNOWN LGBT STORY

THIS IS A LGBT STORY THAT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. IT IS NOT A CLEAN STORY.