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Reviewed by Danelle Petersen for Readers' Favorite
A Song I Used to Know by Genalea Barker is the story of Stevie Rae Parker, a 21-year-old college student trying to piece her life together after her uncle and guardian, Gene, dies. Having lost her parents in a car crash at the tender age of five, he was the only parent she knew, even though he was depressed and made her feel like a burden. Living below the poverty line, Stevie always struggled with making friends, as her access to what other teenagers could easily obtain was severely limited. But things change when she meets Merrin, her best friend, and the mysterious guy she babysits for, Mason. A bit older than Stevie, he seems put together and self-assured; everything she is not. Before she knows it, Stevie is falling hard. However, she can’t help but notice that he’s holding back, like there’s an impenetrable wall he keeps securely guarded. The more Stevie’s feelings for him grow, the more confused she becomes. Does he have feelings for her, too, or is he just pretending? And what is he hiding? More so, what happened to Daniel’s mother?
Compelling and sweet, A Song I Used to Know is remarkably endearing and emotionally charged; to navigate through a world without any form of maternal love is difficult, and it was hard not to weep for Stevie and the hardships she endured throughout her young life. As a result, she never experienced the most carefree part of her life— childhood. I loved Merrin’s influence and her obvious affection for Stevie; she created a safe space for Stevie and showed her the true meaning of friendship. Thrown into adulthood, Stevie was mature beyond her years, and I think that is what drew Mason to her initially. Genalea Barker brought Stevie to life with an engaging narrative style and humorous tone; I often laughed out loud. This is a story everyone could resonate with, a story of perfection within imperfection. I grew so attached to the characters and didn’t want to let go. A Song I Used to Know has a beautiful message of hope, love, and the brave discovery that there is a light at the end of every tunnel.
