I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert

Title: I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone

Author: Stephanie Kuehnert

Rating: 5/5

Summary:
Punk rock is in Emily Black's blood. Her mother, Louisa, hit the road to follow the incendiary music scene when Emily was four months old and never came back. Now Emily's all grown up with a punk band of her own, determined to find the tune that will bring her mother home. Because if Louisa really is following the music, shouldn't it lead her right back to Emily?

Review:
Wow. Just wow. I was blown away by this novel, these characters, this writing. It was amazing. Stephanie wrote a story of hope, sorrow, crush, and burns. But hope, mainly hope. Emily Black was a girl, growing up in the late 80's and 90's. Wishing and hoping for her mother to come back to her. This book was 340 pages long, but really, it was 23 years long. From the day when Louisa left Emily and her dad's life, to the end of the book was a very long and strong story I have never once read and I doubt I will ever read again.

Emily's coming-of-age story is raw, real, and completely honest. Her story is irresistible, addictive and entertaining. The intensity and gritty emotions from the characters will keep you glued to the pages of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone from the beginning to the very last word and will keep you begging for more even with a satisfying ending. I, who knows very little about punk music, rock n' roll, and the 80's and 90's, loved the book so much that I almost reread it after finishing it. So much happens in this book. It was so unpredictable, I couldn't figure out what would happen, until it did.

There is not a bad flaw in this perfectly flawed book. I didn't want it too end. Anybody who loves music, coming-of-age, powerful novel will no doubt devour this up. Even people who aren't into the rock music, and the hard, edgy books, well, I have complete confidence with them loving it.

Read this now.