One Song Away

One Song Away- Molli Moran - 2.5 STARS

Synopsis

She needs a fill-in boyfriend. He needs a favor. It’s the perfect, no-strings arrangement until they both realize it’s too real…

Sophie-Claire Wright’s life is like a bad country song on repeat. She keeps running into her cheating ex, her songwriting career isn't taking off, and her roommate just kicked her out of their apartment. With nothing to lose, she decides to do the one thing she said she’d never do: she moves back home. She left her small Southern town with big dreams, but now she’s going home with empty pockets.
Life moves at a slower pace in Sophie’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it hometown, but her well-meaning, matchmaking mama doesn't have a slow gear. Sophie invents a boyfriend to hold off her mother’s efforts, but she’s out of luck when her mom wants to meet him. Sophie panics until she runs into Jake Cooper. Her high school crush (and former best friend) is back in town, too, and when he asks her for a favor, she agrees...on one condition. He says he’ll be her fill-in boyfriend, so it should be simple: re-introduce him to her family and then “break up” with him after a few weeks.
Sophie is sure she’ll be able to resist Jake this time. Sure, she was in love with him years ago, but that was then. This is now, no matter how great he looks, or how she feels around him. But she didn't bargain for moments that feel all too genuine. Dates that don’t seem fake. Kisses that leave her shaken and wanting more. Sweet moments where she forgets they aren't really dating. And she didn't count on old feelings resurfacing and complicating their arrangement—which is starting to feel less like acting and more like the real deal.
Soon, Sophie can’t tell which kisses are real or fake, but she knows she’s in deep...and she thinks Jake is, too. When she gets a chance to go back to Nashville and chase her dreams again, she has a choice to make: stay or go? Continue hoping that the life she wants is one song away, or finally write her own song?
*received a copy from net galley in exchange for an honest review 

Overview 
Do you ever like a book, but not really? Thats how I felt about this one. This was a short, easy and fun read. It isnt too emotionally deep, or ridiculous. The plot line is fine, its cute. I enjoyed the book as I read it. But I didnt have any strong desire to keep reading either. I wasn't invested in the characters. Or their story. I liked Jake a lot, and I liked Sophie Claire but, they seemed so one note. And so obvious. There was no mystery to me, Jake was plain as day.

Plot- I was really drawn into reading this based on the synopsis, it sounded just up my alley. But I was a little disappointed. The plot summary seemed to be far more intense and complicated than the book itself. The biggest problem with this book is the lack of intrigue or mystery. There are no problems for the couple to face. No obstacles to overcome. Not really. The ones that are there are extremely superficial. While there was no problem with the Authors writing, the book was just too simplistic for me. 

The book started really well, I was gripped immediately. But it was short lived. I felt like we were in Sophie's head non stop, with less true interaction, which is necessary but felt overwhelming at times.  I really liked the idea between Sophie and Jake but felt there was something lacking. It was a lack of chemistry and seemed underwhelming. 

Characters- 
Sophie Claire- Sophie Claire was interesting and charismatic. I liked her personality and her internal thought process a lot. As a character, I was fond of her generally. Her POV was great. It was interesting to go through the motions from her perspective, because at that age, I would have gone through the same gambit of emotions she did. And I think thats what saved this book at all. I actually liked the characters. I also enjoyed the side characters that Sophie interacted with. I felt that her relationships with people were solid, strong and built to last. Every one she was close with, didnt necessarily serve a purpose but did show a level of depth for Sophie Claire. I liked the reminiscent part of the story too, where she would relive a memory or a moment with Jake, showing the reader a glimpse of who these two people once were compared to now. Towards the end of the book, I grew frustrated. I felt there was a lack of connection to the reader. Things seemed too easy and obvious, and Sophie started to annoy me. In the end, it was a HEA, but It was never really a question...

Jake - I liked Jake, he was charming and handsome and quite the gentleman! I felt that Jake was almost too perfect though. There were no family problems or girl issues or even money or job issues, there was NOTHING wrong with him (more than personality) it was almost like his existence was too perfect. It was a little annoying/bothersome.  Its not that Sophie had problems (other than internally over analyzing life).  I was less than intrigued by their romance or story. It was frustrating because it felt like everything for Jake really just fell into place so easily. Without any issues. And Jake being perfection, made the story that much less relatable. 

In the end...I would give the author another chance, on another book, but don't recommend this one. Not because it was bad. But simply because there was not much purpose reading through this. For me at least.