This Is Not a Love Song: A Novel

by Sarahbeth Purcell

Overview

From the author of Love Is the Drug, the wickedly funny, pull-no-punches story of Julia, a hip, young writer whose life is thrown completely out of whack when her free-spirited soul mate decides to free himself from her, leaving her reeling.

Brilliant young writer Sarahbeth Purcell combines witty melodramatics with her own brand of hard-edged, tough-girl cadences in This Is Not a Love Song, a fantastic new novel filled with characters who are idealistic enough for readers to relate to and just cynical enough to respect.

When Julia first met Chase one February day two years ago, she knew something was different. An intelligent, free-spirited artist, Chase was not like the other guys Julia had dated. He was her soul mate. At least for two blissful years. And then, with nothing more than a single note left on a bedside table, he was gone — following his lifelong search for peace and inspiration on another spontaneous road trip across the country. But this time, he wasn't coming back. Devastated and depressed, Julia turns to her friend Delia, a gorgeous and tortured alcoholic who approaches life with the spirit of a warrior. Through terse phone calls and late-night crying jags, Delia helps Julia navigate her heartbreaking loss.

Hilarious and heart wrenching, This Is Not a Love Song is a story about hope, healing, and that endless search for the truest form of affection — loving yourself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780743476171
Publisher:	Atria Books
Publication date:	04/11/2006
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Sarahbeth Purcell is also the author of Love Is the Drug. She was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, where she still resides. She is currently at work on her third effort, Somewhere Between Here and There, as well as other multimedia projects. For more info and exclusive pictures, visit her official website at www.sarahbethpurcell.com.

Read an Excerpt

This Is Not a Love Song

A Novel

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By Sarahbeth Purcell

Washington Square Press

Copyright © 2006 Sarahbeth Purcell
All right reserved.
ISBN: 0743476174

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Chapter 1

Pictures of You

May 12, 2004

"Delia?"

"Yeah?"

"He's gone."

"Chase?"

"Uh-huh."

"Are you crying?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"He left a note. Said he had to find something."

"He's done this a million times before, Julia. I wouldn't get too worried."

"No, I don't think he's coming back this time."

"Why?"

"Because he usually tells me when he's leaving. He left a note. Like a Dear John letter."

"A what?"

"Dear John letter."

"Wasn't that some awful sitcom in the late eighties?"

"What?"

"Dear John. You know, with that guy from Taxi in it."

"Delia, he's gone."

"Okay, he's gone. What are you going to do? Find him?"

"Idon't know where to look."

"Well, let's see, you still have a million postcards and letters from the million other times he has done this. Look through those. Think about it. I'm sure you can figure it out."

"What if he doesn't want me to find him?"

"Have you ever looked for him?"

"No."

"Then how would you know?"

"Because if he had wanted me to come, he would have invited me."

"If I followed that line of reasoning, Julia, I wouldn't have been to half of the parties I've been to."

"Well, I'm not crashing Chase's mid-twenties crisis."

"Why not?"

"It seems . . . rude."

"Oh my God. Chase just left you a note and may never come back with no real explanation and you are worried about being rude?"

"What will I do if I do find him, Delia? Beg him to come home?"

"Yeah, I guess you don't really want to pull a Not Without My Daughter move."

"So what then?"

"So lie around and be miserable for a while. Get a bottle of wine. Remember the good times, Julia."

"Are you being sarcastic, D?"

"Jesus, Julia, I just got off work and I don't know what to tell you. I'm sorry. I really am."

"He's gone. All I've got are those stupid letters and memories."

"Exactly. And just like every time he leaves, I know you, and I know that you will scavenge through them for some new hidden meaning. So go get them out and do it. Get it over with."

"I don't like my life, Delia."

"I don't like mine, either."

"Is it because of this?"

"I don't think so. It's a lot more than guy troubles. I know mine is, anyway, and I have a sneaking suspicion yours is about more than that, too."

"Oh. That makes it worse, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, or better. Look on the bright side. Chase isn't totally responsible for your misery."

"Not exactly a ray of hope, there."

"I gotta go. Go buy some ice cream. Rent some girly movie. I think that's what you're supposed to do. It's the rule."

"Thanks, D."

"Uh-huh. 'Bye."

Copyright ©2006 by Sarahbeth Purcell

Continues...

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Excerpted from This Is Not a Love Song by Sarahbeth Purcell Copyright © 2006 by Sarahbeth Purcell. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

"This Is Not a Love Song is an electrifying novel, reading like it could be sung and strummed from an intimate stage in your favorite bar. Always raw, rhythmic, and true, and unmistakably original." — Jennifer Paddock, author of A Secret Word

"A wonderfully vivid, fast-paced novel about alcoholism, self-destruction, and music. And, of course, love. Think Chuck Palahniuk's cadence matched with the keen observations of a music-obsessed poet." — Zoe Trope, author of Please Don't Kill the Freshman

From the Publisher