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Peyton’s Playlist
Nineteen-year-old Peyton Katz has a plan. After working at Deckerd's Drugs for a year, and attending Genesee Valley Community College, Peyton knows exactly what she needs to do: become a nurse, and get a pharmacy technician certificate while she's in school. Only, it's not Deckerd's Drugs anymore...
As the newly owned and named Kingston's Pharmacy makes its transition, Peyton soon discovers she has a transition of her own to make and must face a past she wants to keep buried.
But when the new owner, Lex Kingston, walks into the pharmacy, her whole world turns upside down. When she meets his blue-gray eyes, they make Peyton want things she thought had been stolen from her... but at the same time remind her of what happened a year ago at her senior ball - an event that changed her life forever.
If Peyton reveals the truth, will she be accepted? Or will her scars only run deeper?
As the newly owned and named Kingston's Pharmacy makes its transition, Peyton soon discovers she has a transition of her own to make and must face a past she wants to keep buried.
But when the new owner, Lex Kingston, walks into the pharmacy, her whole world turns upside down. When she meets his blue-gray eyes, they make Peyton want things she thought had been stolen from her... but at the same time remind her of what happened a year ago at her senior ball - an event that changed her life forever.
If Peyton reveals the truth, will she be accepted? Or will her scars only run deeper?
371 pages, Paperback
Published June 8, 2021
8 people are currently reading
1145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 26, 2021
I loved this book! I am not usually one to read romance. I occasionally dabble in it but I don't read it all of the time. I loved this one though. Jess's writing style reminds me of Sally Thorne's I have no clue why but that is the vibe I get.
The writing is excellent especially for a debut novel and I am excited to read any other books that Jess writes in the future!
The writing is excellent especially for a debut novel and I am excited to read any other books that Jess writes in the future!
August 8, 2021
wow! this book was great. I had never read an adult romance before but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I went through an entire rollercoaster of emotions with this book, the ending was bittersweet and it really hit me hard flipping back to the prologue after i finished it.
I loved Lex's and Peyton's relationship and seeing how they overcame a lot of struggles with each other, along with Sammy and Peyton who are really funny together.
I went through an entire rollercoaster of emotions with this book, the ending was bittersweet and it really hit me hard flipping back to the prologue after i finished it.
I loved Lex's and Peyton's relationship and seeing how they overcame a lot of struggles with each other, along with Sammy and Peyton who are really funny together.
August 31, 2021
I loved this book from start to finish, a really easy romance read. Honestly Rex is the perfect love interest as he helps Peyton through her life and loving herself. I also loved how all the chapters had songs at the start so you had a specific playlist to listen to while reading! Really recomend 11/10
January 30, 2025
It gave me all the feels, it had some beautiful happy moments and some terribly sad ones, and I cried for most of the last part of the book. It was very bittersweet at the end. I loved how beautifully written it was and seeing the growth in Peyton.
September 6, 2022
Trust me on romances when I rate them 5 stars. It's a rare case.
In one word, this book is beautiful. I've always wondered how SA survivors or rape victims get around dating, relationships and life in total. This book was an answer for the relationship department. It's hard but it's not impossible. It's a struggle but it gets better.
Peyton is a very very well written character. Peyton felt real, alive. She does have a struggling life with an alcoholic father and dwindling family economy but the character doesn't feel like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders and the one with the saddest life, like usual NA women in literature. Rather she felt natural, like how actual people in her situation would treat their lives.
About Lex Kingston, where to start and where to end, that is the question. The most patient guy I have ever read about. So many times during their intimate scenes I felt bad for how he was all worked up and nothing happened. But that guy did not give up. He continued being patient with her. He listened to her, he understood her and eventually he became one of her biggest support systems.
About the romance of the book, it was a rich boy poor girl trope. Nah, don't get your eyes rolling at the name of the trope. It's more than that. Way more than that. The chemistry Peyton and Lex share is very beautiful. It had tons of speed breakers, but that didn't stop them. Also guys, Lex read a few bits of Chapter 55 of ACOMAF😂
And lastly, the writing. The writing was simple. You don't get too much of anything. It's not too descriptive about unnecessary details. Everything has a balance and I love that about this.
I am glad that I read this after listening to Ugly Love audiobook. A good one indeed.
In one word, this book is beautiful. I've always wondered how SA survivors or rape victims get around dating, relationships and life in total. This book was an answer for the relationship department. It's hard but it's not impossible. It's a struggle but it gets better.
Peyton is a very very well written character. Peyton felt real, alive. She does have a struggling life with an alcoholic father and dwindling family economy but the character doesn't feel like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders and the one with the saddest life, like usual NA women in literature. Rather she felt natural, like how actual people in her situation would treat their lives.
About Lex Kingston, where to start and where to end, that is the question. The most patient guy I have ever read about. So many times during their intimate scenes I felt bad for how he was all worked up and nothing happened. But that guy did not give up. He continued being patient with her. He listened to her, he understood her and eventually he became one of her biggest support systems.
About the romance of the book, it was a rich boy poor girl trope. Nah, don't get your eyes rolling at the name of the trope. It's more than that. Way more than that. The chemistry Peyton and Lex share is very beautiful. It had tons of speed breakers, but that didn't stop them. Also guys, Lex read a few bits of Chapter 55 of ACOMAF😂
And lastly, the writing. The writing was simple. You don't get too much of anything. It's not too descriptive about unnecessary details. Everything has a balance and I love that about this.
I am glad that I read this after listening to Ugly Love audiobook. A good one indeed.
August 11, 2021
Before reading this book I would recommend checking out the trigger warnings!! Well let me just start by saying, this book hit home in the most brutal of ways, and I was not expecting it! This is a story that I know I will not forget anytime soon.
The way this book depicted the anxiety around alcoholism and how it affects everyone around you was written so well and it gives you a lot of perspective on how people cope with these things. I also thought the trauma that Peyton experienced and how she copes with it, really showed how strong her character was. I thought the way the story went in the end was heart wrenching but true and it give a better understanding on the consequences behind these problems.
I also liked how realistic and different these characters are. Lex was such a sweet guy and the way he treated Peyton as well as her family was heartwarming and easily had me rooting for him from the beginning! For me Peyton was a character that I related to on some personal levels. The way she lives her life taking care of others and the anxiety she has over her fathers alcoholism hit home for me, and by the end of the book I was holding back tears for her. The personal growth these two experienced was so well done and I could go on and on about it.
Altogether, I thought this was such a great yet heartbreaking debut novel, and I would highly, highly recommend giving this a try if you haven’t. 💙💙
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars
The way this book depicted the anxiety around alcoholism and how it affects everyone around you was written so well and it gives you a lot of perspective on how people cope with these things. I also thought the trauma that Peyton experienced and how she copes with it, really showed how strong her character was. I thought the way the story went in the end was heart wrenching but true and it give a better understanding on the consequences behind these problems.
I also liked how realistic and different these characters are. Lex was such a sweet guy and the way he treated Peyton as well as her family was heartwarming and easily had me rooting for him from the beginning! For me Peyton was a character that I related to on some personal levels. The way she lives her life taking care of others and the anxiety she has over her fathers alcoholism hit home for me, and by the end of the book I was holding back tears for her. The personal growth these two experienced was so well done and I could go on and on about it.
Altogether, I thought this was such a great yet heartbreaking debut novel, and I would highly, highly recommend giving this a try if you haven’t. 💙💙
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars
August 17, 2021
An absolute Must read!
This book touched my heart beyond measures! The love I have for this book is tremendous! There are trigger warnings at the beginning of the book so please read them before you just jump into the book. After you’ve read them and decided this book was for you, you’ll fall in love the minute you begin reading it. The growth and healing in this book is amazing. Jessica doesn’t sugar coat anything and doesn’t act like everything can be fixed right away we see the events unfold and how we can go about trying to heal from certain things in our lives. Peyton goes through a lot but comes out on the better side of things at the end. Lex my oh my I want me a lex lol! The loving and caring person he is to Peyton is beautiful! He is also extremely understanding with her as well. He never pushes her past her limits and that made me respect him 10 times more as a man! I don’t want to include spoilers but can I just ask, Jess when can we get another book?? I need it now lol 😂
This book touched my heart beyond measures! The love I have for this book is tremendous! There are trigger warnings at the beginning of the book so please read them before you just jump into the book. After you’ve read them and decided this book was for you, you’ll fall in love the minute you begin reading it. The growth and healing in this book is amazing. Jessica doesn’t sugar coat anything and doesn’t act like everything can be fixed right away we see the events unfold and how we can go about trying to heal from certain things in our lives. Peyton goes through a lot but comes out on the better side of things at the end. Lex my oh my I want me a lex lol! The loving and caring person he is to Peyton is beautiful! He is also extremely understanding with her as well. He never pushes her past her limits and that made me respect him 10 times more as a man! I don’t want to include spoilers but can I just ask, Jess when can we get another book?? I need it now lol 😂
December 26, 2021
I really enjoyed this debut book by Jessica Russell. Peyton and Lex were great mains and the chemistry between them was wonderfully done. I also quite appreciated that Lex is not portrayed as a stereotypical Alpha. He's strong and dominant, but not pushy and I really enjoyed reading how respectful he was with Peyton, particularly after learning about her past. Secondary characters were memorable and I adored Sammy. We should all have a friend like Sammy.
What I liked the most, though, is how the author dealt with serious subjects like alcoholism, assault and anxiety. These can be tricky subjects to write about and can easily come off as dismissive or uninformed. I thought Russell did an excellent job not only addressing these topics, but also the impact they can have on others. A wonderful story about love, grief, and healing.
Thank you Voracious Readers and Jessica Russell for my copy!
What I liked the most, though, is how the author dealt with serious subjects like alcoholism, assault and anxiety. These can be tricky subjects to write about and can easily come off as dismissive or uninformed. I thought Russell did an excellent job not only addressing these topics, but also the impact they can have on others. A wonderful story about love, grief, and healing.
Thank you Voracious Readers and Jessica Russell for my copy!
September 2, 2021
I read this book quickly because it really kept me engaged. I enjoyed following Peyton's story of overcoming many challenges throughout her life. It was also interesting to me because the story takes place in my area. I look forward to reading more books from Jessica!
June 15, 2021
This is a must read!!!
February 18, 2022
Very Good
That was a lovely story. Sweet but also a bit sad. Humorous but also deep. And the author managed to pack in some trauma without overloading the angst.
That was a lovely story. Sweet but also a bit sad. Humorous but also deep. And the author managed to pack in some trauma without overloading the angst.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews