#loveozya :: The Long Distance Playlist :: Tara Eglington

February 17, 2020

One of the cool things about the book community on Instagram is that you can get to peek inside the processes of some of your favourite authors, and watch as their book babies grow from an idea to an actual book. Over the past little while, I've loved getting to know #loveozYA author Tara Eglington and it has been such a pleasure to follow along as she worked on her latest novel The Long Distance Playlist. I was so excited on release day that I went out and bought it right away, and started reading the same day. If I'm completely honest, I was a little bit nervous - Tara's so lovely and what if I was disappointed by the book now that I was finally reading it?!
Of course, I needn't have worried at all - I fell head over heels for Taylor and Isolde, and their love story!


Taylor and Isolde used to be best friends - before THAT FIGHT, 18 months ago. It's been radio silence ever since - until Taylor contacts Isolde to sympathise with her breakup: the breakup that she never saw coming; the breakup that destroyed her confidence and ended her dreams of joining the National Ballet School.

Taylor's had his own share of challenges, including a life-altering accident that has brought his hopes of competing at the Winter Olympics to a halt.

Isolde responds to Taylor, to be polite. But what starts out as heartbreak-themed Spotify playlists and shared stories of exes quickly becomes something more.

And as Taylor and Isolde start to lean on each other, the distance between them begins to feel not so distant after all ...


This book is largely written in the form of emails and text messages - and, of course, playlists! - sent between Taylor and Isolde, with bits and pieces of their thoughts in there too. I thought this was such a clever way to tell their story, and I loved the way that the things they thought but didn't say to each other were just as important as the words they did share.

One of my absolute favourite things about The Long Distance Playlist was the authenticity - it all feels very real! I thought their conversations felt true to the characters and the worries and insecurities of each character also felt super authentic and relatable.The development of Taylor and Isolde's relationship, was lovely - it was so nice to see them fall back into friendship and then each try to figure out what they were feeling for the other.

I think that one of the best things about YA novels can be how they approach the issue of finding one's place in the world - I honestly think that this is something we can all relate to an any age (I'm sure it's not just me?! haha) and this is done so well for both Taylor and Isolde in this book. As noted in the blurb both have had challenges to deal with and have some big decisions to make about where they are now, and how they want their futures to look. I loved seeing them work through these issues, and I thought the way their families supported them through these - whilst also going through their own stuff - was lovely too.

This is a must read for fans of contemporary #loveozya, and anyone looking for a sweet, fun, but also thoughtful, read about friendship, love, and dreams.

xo Bron

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The Long Distance Playlist by Tara Eglington
Release: Out now from Harper Collins
Source: I was so excited about this one that I bought it the day it came out.
Category: Contemporary #loveozya romance
Format: Paperback
On Goodreads
  
Find Tara Eglington online here

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1 comments

  1. Okay, your glowing review has definitely made me bump this up my TBR!
    I adore books with fum formats like emails, texts, etc, and I am really looking forward to reading this one.
    💜

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