You Spin Me

A Nostalgic Romantic Comedy (Boston Classics, Book 3)

By: Karen Grey

Narrated by: Vanessa Edwin, Eric Michael Summerer

Some scars go further than skin deep....

1988 doesn’t end well for Jessica Abraham. In just one week, she turns 30, loses her day job, and loses the role of Ophelia to a younger actress. Rallying, she goes after a part at a theater outside of the city, but the director’s plan to hide her beauty behind hair, makeup, and wardrobe from Cosmo’s “Don't'' column shakes her confidence to the core.

For the first time in her acting career, she won’t be able to rely on her carefully managed physical charms. Only her craft will count.

On a snowy night early in January 1989, a woman calls into DJ Callihan Alonso’s alt-rock radio show at the end of her commute. He asks her to call back the next night, and the next, just so he'll know she’s home safe. There's something about her voice that has him wanting more, but the longer they talk, the closer she gets. Compromising each and every wall he's built around his heart.

If two lonely people fall in love over late-night phone calls, will meeting face-to-face make them, or break them?

In this heartfelt, slow burn retro romcom, it may be the end of a decade, but it’s the beginning of a love story.

©2021 Karen Grey (P)2021 Jasper Productions LLC

Compelling, Fun and Emotional Romance!

This retro slow-burn romcom captured my heart and never let go. Jessica is an actress who is feeling her age when a younger actress wins the role she wanted. When she is cast in another play as a character who is frumpy and unattractive, it goes against all her hard work to be noticed in this industry. One night on her drive home, she calls into a radio show contest. Cal, the DJ, feels an instant connection to her voice, and asks her to call again. They really enjoy their talks and begin to have feelings for each other. Jessica wants to meet Cal to see if he is as alluring and sexy as her image of him from his voice, but is afraid of what he will see. Cal also has his own reasons for wanting to hide behind his microphone. They are falling hard for each other thru their calls, but will they be able to live up to their expectations in person? What happens when their hearts are so invested, but they aren't brave enough to show their true self? I love Cal and Jessica together. They are smart, and funny, and their strength to overcome their past trauma was extraordinary. This is a beautiful, emotional, and compelling story about two people who are both scarred and broken, but working hard to be whole, happy, and loved. Grey touched on some very sensitive topics with honesty and empathy, helping us to understand and care deeply for these characters.
Vanessa Edwin, and Eric Michael Summerer were so perfectly cast to narrate this fun and emotional romance. They completely captured these complex characters and made me feel all the hope, heartbreak, vulnerability, love, and passion they possessed. I was completely mesmerized by their storytelling making this romance even more captivating.

So many feelings

Wow. This book had all the feelings.
First I love that it’s set in the 80’s and we take a step back in time through the music.
So many books have these perfect beings, almost unattainable bodies. These are two characters that are physically not perfect, but perfect for each other. Their love sees beyond all that to the people they are. Cals journey is near heartbreaking and beautiful.
I just sat and felt this one long after I finished. Not many books move me that way. I loved that these characters were so real. Even if their issues aren't your issues they were very relatable and any angst in the book wasn't trivial, or made up. It was so real life.
The music! Cal is a DJ, so there is definitely some fun nostalgia with the music he'd spin. I can't recommend this enough it's a love story, but so much more.
The audiobook added so much to this story, Vanessa Edwin and Eric Michael Summerer were excellent.

Sleeping Beauty and The Beast

You Spin Me starts with a fairytale-ish prologue about a very beautiful little princess that has learned to get by by relying on her looks and a sad little prince that gets into an accident that leaves him heavily scarred. It’s a little Sleeping Beauty and The Beast, so to speak.he epilogue is also done in the same way, which is really cute and sweet.

The story is set in 1988/89 and it’s part of the Boston Classic series of books but that can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone.

Jessica Abraham is an actress that is getting to the end of 1988 in a hard place. She turning 30, she loses the part of Ophelia in the company, and the director of the play she got a part in (contemporary theater in a town near Boston, where she lives) wants to de-beautify her. She now will have to go about this part having to rely only on her craft, which has her shaking in her boots.

One night after the long commute home, she calls the radio station she always listens to on her drive and ends up talking to Calliham Alonso, the DJ of the alt-rock program. She thanks him for helping get home safe every night and he asks her to call back the next day to let her know she got home. They do that every night and the longer they talk the closer they get.

But Cal has a secret… and Jess has her own demons. These two have broken souls… and bodies. Will find their way to each other?

This audiobook is a gem. The 1988 setting is a gem to the people who lived through those years and to the younger generation to get a taste of what they were like. Every chapter starts with a little soundbites that introduce the shows or the ads in radio stations and its spot on! It’s fun walk down memory lane! The narration is done dual style. Vanessa Edwin is not a new narrator to me. She always does a great job. Eric Michael Summer is a great surprise for me! He gives Cal all the depth the character needs. It's a slow burn romance and the story takes its time, but it's a great listen!


Possible triggers (provided by author and by me):
mental illness (anxiety, depression, Body Dysmorphic Disorder), description of past trauma (eating disorder, treatment of severe burns, house fire), suicidal ideation (past), bullying (past), drinking (recreational), drug use (mentioned, recreational), smoking, suicidal thoughts (past), vomit, homophobia (against a secondary character)

Best of Series

This book was my favorite our of the series. Cal may have have had his scars mostly on the outside but Jess had a bunch on the inside. They perfectly matched. So I was listening to this book and before I knew it, it was at the end. This book I wished would go on a lot longer. I wanna know what happens now, do they get married, break up, move in together. I need more

Sweet, emotional, and funny!

This is the third book in the Boston Classics Series. I love the cover. What an amazing and refreshing story! Cal and Jess are wonderful characters. Their slow burn romance is beautifully written, sweet, emotional, and funny. The story has drama, angst, and romance. Hard to stop listening! Vanessa Edwin, and Eric Michael Summerer did a fantastic job with the narration! They are perfect as Jess and Cal, and their voices are very pleasant to listen to. This is a great team author/narrators. The quality audio is great, and the sound effects well done! This is a beautiful and entertaining story, and I enjoyed it! I need more! This series is amazing!

Another great addition to the series!

Karen Grey continues to deliver my favorite aspects of romance in You Spin Me. Authentic and fully developed characters, laughs, tears, sexy scenes, and a wonderful HEA. While the story stands on it’s own – there’s references to events and characters from previous books, the Boston Classics series is best enjoyed in order.

I loved the contrast of Cal & Jess both being concerned about how people react to their looks versus the person inside but for opposite reasons. Much of Cal’s body was burned in a fire when he was a young child and he’s come to expect strangers horrified or pitying reactions. Jess was “blessed” with amazing genetics which gives her a body many admire but then make assumptions about her based on that.

By calling in to the radio station where Cal is a DJ, they get to know each other and build an amazing friendship that is developing into something more. But both are afraid of what happens next. With the story taking place over several months, I love that Grey gives us a lot of time to get to know them as individuals and as a couple. While it is a difficult road for this couple and there are a few misunderstandings – I appreciated that nothing drags out too long.

I like the way that Grey had Cal & Jess understand, accept, and deal with the challenges that each of them brings to the relationship. Overall a fabulous and enjoyable listen.

Narration:
I loved the book, but the narration is amazing. Vanessa Edwin and Eric Michael Summerer are absolutely perfect as Jess & Cal. They both do a fantastic job with voices, emotions, and accents. Summerer’s DJ voices are particularly spot on and the impersonation of Bobcat Goldthwaite had me rolling. I was completely immersed in the world Grey has created and I want her to write another book for Cal & Jess just so I can hear more of them by Edwin & Summerer.

While I borrowed the ebook through Kindle Unlimited, I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

LOVED THIS STORY!!

This book was so much fun! I loved that it was so REAL as if you were really there with Cal and Jess in the year 1989.

Yet there was a touch of fantasy about them falling head over heels also.

I loved how the heat level was like a flickering candle that was lit and distinguished as the characters found their rhythm with each other.

They each had their own mental challenges that they had to overcome and yet they didn’t let it break them up it allowed them to step away to heal themselves while still desperately wanting to be together.

This was a BEAUTIFUL story of love joining two souls together who needed each other to break the brick wall down to the path of healing but they didn’t “magically heal” each other they just opened each other’s eyes to what they hadn’t been able to put a finger on for quite some time.

The disabled animals were a nice touch also.

Swoon to the narrators too! They were so perfect for this story. Eric Michael Summerer has a nice strong flow but can be so soft in his delivery.

Vanessa Edwin has this soft breathy voice that goes from strong and confident to superbly quiet when needed.

Highly recommend!

Fantastic, Heartfelt Story!!

Eric Michael Summerer and Vanessa Edwin narrate this audio. I loved this narrator pairing! Eric was the perfect Cal, performing that rich, deep, exaggerated DJ voice. He also did a fantastic job of showing how Cal overcame all his insecurities. Vanessa Edwin’s voice is always a decadent delight. Her performance of Jess was amazing showcasing her own challenges and misperceptions she conquered to become comfortable in her own skin. The added sound effects to give off the whole 80s radio vibe was the perfect nostalgic touch!

Overall, You Spin Me was fantastic, heartfelt, and moving! I could not put this book down once I started. I'm looking forward to even more from this author! Karen is an amazing storyteller!

Beautiful romance with heartfelt performances.

You Spin Me is the latest book in the Boston Classics series by Karen Grey. As she did in the previous books in the series, Ms. Grey does an amazing job evoking the 1980s era. Set in the late ‘80s the story centers around the budding relationship between Cal, a radio DJ and Jess, a struggling actress.

The 80s nostalgia is everywhere in this story. From the records Cal spins as a DJ, to the mention of Tower Records, and the struggles of talking on the phone with a stretched phone cord, this book transports you back to that era. Shakespeare is once again present as well. Relevant quotes from his work appear throughout the story which, along with various 80s songs, help draw out the emotional elements of the story.

This is a beautiful and touching story about the the scars we carry, some more visible than others. Both of Cal and Jess have spent years hiding from their pain. As their relationships builds, they realize they need to confront their struggles head on so they can truly heal. The hope of a future together and their growing love for each other will make it worth the effort.

As much as I loved the ebook, the audiobook takes the story to another level! Eric Michael Summerer gives a heartfelt performance as Cal. You feel his pain and his insecurities with ever word he speaks. Vanessa Edwin gives an equally compelling performance as Jess. In addition to the outstanding narration, the radio promos that serve to mark the change in chapters are as hilarious as they are nostalgic. I can’t recommend this story enough!

Sweet and fun!

I was so excited to go back to the 80s with this one. I’m all about this semi historical genre. The music the radio the phones with cords. Every bit of it.

Eric Michael Summerer and Vanessa Edwin killed it in this book. Their narrations were so incredible. Especially doing their radio deejay parts. I love the intro to the chapters where you get like you were in the radio station. Just truly loved it.

This was a sweet story about two people who have a lot of deep rooted insecurities who find love over the phone and eventually together. They both came out of their shells more and got more personal strength from their bond. It was so well done telling their stories. The part near the end where the hero goes to the burn ward and talks to the nurses about how they do what they do, was so truly powerful. As nurse we take an oath to save lives, but also to do no harm. There is a thin line sometimes in keeping both those paths intact.

I gave this 4 because some stories I don’t miss the sex. I did miss the sex. I wanted to feel more of that yearning and sexual tension between them. I just missed that. But I really did enjoy this story.