By Elena Pollack
Contributing Writer
artsent.asp@gmail.com
Feb. 24, 2015
Finley Sinclair is a gifted musician and American heiress, with dreams and opportunities at the Manhattan music conservatory. That is, if she can finish her composition in honor of her brother in time. When her brother is killed in a terrorist bombing while reporting for a news broadcast, creativity doesn’t come as easily as it used to. Partying around and destroying reputations seems like a much better idea. Deciding to both clean up her act and follow in her brother’s footsteps, Finley travels to her family’s ancestral home of Ireland to see if she can obtain the same passion and inspiration that her brother did, find God. However, throw in an arrogant teen-heartthrob, a grouchy old woman, depression, and an eating disorder, and finding God might be easier said than done.
While Jenny B. Jones has been known to write more chick-lit books, she proves that’s not all she can do with her novel “There You’ll Find Me.” This book is an emotional rollercoaster of a journey, for Finley and her readers, with a healthy dollop of humor and wit packed in for good measure. From the first page the characters latch on and won’t let go, developing over the course of the book to such an extent that they feel like old friends. Finley is clever, tough, and stubborn, but so is heartthrob Beckett Rush. However his arrogance wanes as the story continues, providing an unlikely support for Finley. The older woman Finley befriends, as well as her music teacher and her host family all support her, some knowingly and some not, as she battles depression and looks for the reasons her brother was taken from her. What she finds for herself is so much more.
While Christianity is heavily present in this story, it is not the overwhelming plot line. Rather, it’s the idea that one must find passion in their life and live their own lives for themselves which predominantly takes over the book. Each character, from Finley and Beckett, to the old woman and Finley’s host sister, must learn to make themselves happy and look on the brighter side of life. This is not as easy as it seems and Finley constantly battles alongside the edges of grief and depression, all the while trying to find inspiration and a connection to her brother. Alongside this, it is later revealed in the story that Finley suffers from an eating disorder, which at first may seem out of place for such a wealthy and talented girl. Insecurities, whether tame or of the extreme variety, are equal opportunists. To combat such a heavy and serious topic, the author draws a vividly beautiful picture of the Irish landscape and culture, with a snarky Finley as narrator.
This book while directed at teens can be read and enjoyed by people of all ages. After all, you don’t have to be in high school to relate to the emotional turmoil and stress, not to mention grief and self-loathing. Everyone and anyone can learn from this book, just turn the pages.
