Review - Thank You For Flying Air Zoe by Erik Atwell

REVIEWED BY CESCA MARTIN

Zoe Tisdale is on a flight.  Suddenly the plane is in free fall and Zoe’s life flashes before her eyes.  The trouble is not much of it thrills her and, as the plane evens out, she is left contemplating just what has happened to the last few year’s of her life.  A butter saleswoman she sits and thinks back to the last time she was really happy.  When she dreamed big.  When she was on the path to becoming a rock star with her band - The Flip-Flops.

So Zoe tracks down the band, the women who made up the group.  Trouble is they are no longer the trendy guitarist, the wild lead singer, the rhythmic bass player: they are dog trainers, socialites and environmentalists.  And they have put the past in the past.  Just what is Zoe planning to dredge up and can The Flip-Flops really have a second chance?  Will they make it to The Whiskey A-Go-Go?

Everyone has dreams and this book strikes a chord with all of us who imagine there might be one last fling at getting that music deal/job as an actress/presenter/writer etc.  Erik Atwell (a man writing the part of a woman – and well!) writes fluidly.  The novel moves along and I particularly enjoyed the moments when small-town girl lived the highlife (although I still have NO IDEA what a Gran Platinum Patron Margarita involves) and was gunning for Zoe and her band on their wobbly march to success.  The musical background provided a real atmosphere (hello songs from my youth!) to the book and the urge to ensure the girl’s are successful this second time round has you turning the pages.  The last scenes are amusing (I love books that include a policeman with a sense of humour) and you close the pages with a satisfied sigh.  Erik Atwell has written a book with a simple plot and sentimental types will be satisfied.  This book isn’t ground-breaking and for those of you who want something entirely different this isn’t it (but then perhaps I have got pickier with such a plethora of books to read on my shelves).  It is however well-written, warm and fans of the genre won’t be disappointed.

7/10

You can find out more about the author on his website or follow him on Facebook.