e-Audio, 11:01:58
Narrated by: Charlie Thurston
Release Date: April 30, 2024
Published by: Hachette Audio
Read from: July 1-3, 2024
Stand-alone (Companion???)
Source: Library’s Libby
Content Warning: Alcoholism, Grief, Gun Violence, Addiction, Infidelity, Bullying, Animal Cruelty, Homophobia, Pregnancy
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Realistic Fiction, Music, Coming of Age, Adult, Companion“A story of love, healing, and second chances ” (Emily Henry) following a down on his luck country musician who, in the throes of grief after a shocking loss, moves back home and rekindles a relationship with his high school sweetheart, from award-winning author Jeff Zentner.
Colton Gentry is riding high. His first hit in nearly a decade has caught fire, he’s opening for country megastar Brant Lucas, and he’s married to one of the hottest acts in the country. But he’s hurting. Only a few weeks earlier, his best friend, Duane, was murdered onstage by a mass shooter at a country music festival. One night, with his trauma festering and Jim Beam flowing through his veins, Colton stands before a sold-out arena crowd of country music fans and offers his unfiltered opinion on guns. It goes over poorly.
Immediately, his career and marriage implode. Left with few choices or funds, he retreats to his rural Kentucky hometown. He’s resigned himself to has-been-dom, until a chance encounter at his town’s new farm-to-table restaurant gives him a second shot at a job working in the kitchen with Luann, his first love, who has undergone her own reinvention. Told through perspectives alternating between his senior year of high school, his time coming up with Duane as hungry musicians in Nashville, and the present, COLTON GENTRY’S THIRD ACT is a story of coming home, undoing past heartbreaks, and navigating grief, and is a reminder that there are next acts in life, no matter how unlikely they may seem.
*MY THOUGHTS*
I knew as soon as I saw he had an adult book coming out I needed to get it in my hands. We always talk about Abby Jimenez making people cry, but they clearly haven’t read Jeff’s works. This one got me too. I wasn’t a mascara dripping mess like with The Serpent King but I was still crying.
Ok so even though this one featured addiction, it was alcoholism so it didn’t really affect me. And it was more so about him getting help and continuing down the straight and narrow. He did have a moment, but he held on to it. I don’t think it would have been realistic without these scenes. But if you’re like me and weary, just know that there’s no relapse.
This second chance romance was so sweet tho! I knew they were going to find each other as soon as we met her. I was shouting at him as I saw what happened in the past. But I was glad that they were able to find each other again. But the ending had me shook, not gonna lie. I was a bit mad at him lol But I was glad she didn’t make it easy on him. Because he didn’t deserve it.
I had some conflicting feelings about Colton tho. I was very proud of him for continuing to be who he was, for standing his ground on his stance. (See what I did there?) But I didn’t like the way he was only so adamant because something had happened to him. Not saying that he deserved all the bad things that happened to him (losing his livelihood and all that) but still. I hate when people don’t actually believe in things until it happens to them. Like why didn’t you say anything when we first told you? It just seems isogenous to me. And yes I know he’s a fictional character, but I hold real people to these same standards soooooooooo And that annoyed me about the protestors too. He had to give them a good side as well, and like, idk those kind of people aren’t changed by talks. They’re rude and ignorant and they had the nerve to complain about someone not hearing them, but they didn’t hear him tho. It was annoying.
I liked this book so much. And like man, as you know I’m a foodie. I feel like this was written for me lmao Because let me tell you how I was trying to write down all the freaking food items that they talked about because Lordt. Like, Jeff, do you cook like this in real life? And like the toothpicks? Even those sounded good? Idk what you put in this book, but I couldn’t stop reading it. (Also, I have a really strong craving for some Nashville’s Hot Chicken now.) And like the restaurant parts were hilarious because they were so realistic. The kitchen feels like a family and there’s always some kind of gossip. I loved this little town and the restaurant.
This isn’t The Serpent King, but it was still so good. I would most definitely say this was a solid move into adult for Zentner. I can’t wait to read the book he co-authored with someone else. I hope that one doesn’t break me like this one and his others lol
Overall, I give this
