Perfectly Broken by Robert Burke Warren (2016) – A rock star whose headliner days are behind him moves to the country to raise his four year old son with his PR expert wife. They will face their past and future, their expectations and mistakes, and all the challenges of friendship. In the end it will re-make their world.
Published by The Story Plant
This is a debut novel, from musician and writer Robert Burke Warren. And it’s a stunner. The first thing you need to know is that you will not a find a more self centered group of 30/40 somethings this side of, well, “thirtysomething“, the late ’80s hit TV series about whiny, successful people entering into middle age badly. (For the record, I loved the show). As someone who has come and gone through all the angst they face, I just wanted to shake these characters. They’ve reached that point in life where they are afraid that all their best is behind them. Having never really grown up, they have no idea how to behave as “grown ups”. The character that has “it” together the most is the four year old.
At the same time, the author creates excruciatingly real people in real life situations. Excellent story telling continues to carry you along until there are about 100 pages left. At that point Warren takes a 2×4 to the story and your expectations. Up to that point, “Perfectly Broken” has been a good book and a creditable first novel. From there to the end, he shows the chops of a really outstanding writer and story teller. The book roars away from good, headed directly toward greatness. Given that the entire story is told in about 260 pages, it is a remarkable achievement.
Why I Liked It: Great storytelling. The kind that makes you gasp when the moment strikes.
Why You Will Like It: Great characters, great story, solid writing. The kind of book you will happily recommend to your friends.
“Perfectly Broken” hits the book shelves March 8.
Rating – **** Recommended
Stories Are My Life 
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