Review by Gabrielle
Play it Again is a second-chance queer romance that had this former theatre kid rejoicing.
Favourite Quote:
“A memory slid into place, the way a long-lost key finds its lock. The two of them, starry-eyed and moonstruck, kissing under a blanket on an evening just like this. Back when they were both foals, gangly and inexperienced. Back when life was a blank page, waiting for them both to make their mark.”
Book Synopsis:
As teens, Annie, Lola, Vicky, and Dylan stole the show in a legendary gender-swapped version of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Two couples, one unforgettable summer—until the closing-night party tore them apart, and not all of them knew why.
Now, with lives that look nothing like they imagined, the foursome is called home by their beloved director for a one-night-only revival to save the theater, and the town. Returning to Rhodes means facing everything they left long-buried secrets, undeniable chemistry, and the chance to write a brand-new ending—together.
Review:
Georgia Clark has been one of my favourite authors for years. She has such a knack for writing romance that is clever, humorous, and has a big heart. I love her books so much, and this is another great one.
As a former theatre kid myself, I was so excited about the premise of this book. A bunch of people reuniting to do theatre again. I practically lived at my community theatre as a teenager, and Georgia perfectly captures everything about that experience. It’s pretty much a love letter to community theatre. How the cast comes together like a little found family, and of course, the show romances that inevitably occur.
Especially poignant for me were the look-back scenes where the characters remember things that happened in their teenage years. For many theatre kids (myself included), the theatre is a safe space, something many of us didn’t have in other places. In this particular story, we have four queer kids trying to figure things out. Participating in community theatre is such an integral experience for each one of them.
One of my favourite things about Georgia’s books is that they are ensembles. We generally get more than one love story – in this case, two. I don’t know many romance writers doing that currently. I love that the story is told from the perspectives of four different characters because there are more amazing characters to learn about and follow.
I loved all the characters in this book. Annie, Lola, Vicky, and Dylan are each unique and well-crafted. Each is facing tough challenges, and we see a lot of growth in all four characters.
Play It Again is another wonderful read from Georgia Clark.
Thank you, The Dial Press, an imprint of Random House, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
