songs for other people’s weddings

Songs for Other People’s Wedding by David Levithan with songs by Jens Lekman

The main character of this novel by one of my favorite writers (read Every Day!) is a special kind of wedding singer, one who interviews his clients before he writes a song he will sing at their wedding. A song just for you, the bride and groom, that fits only you as a couple. How lovely.

But there wouldn’t be a novel without a conflict, right? So here’s the rub—J, the singer, is in a relationship with V, who early on moves away from Sweden where they reside, to New York, to head up a start-up. She has a chance to make it on her own as someone of importance and she takes the opportunity. What’s more, she doesn’t want J interfering in her busy life by calling or texting or even visiting. She wants all her focus to be on her development as a new person with her own autonomy, something she’s never had. 

That seems understandable to me, a female reader who doesn’t much like capitulating to the other or being seen as an extra appendage of the other or having my talents dismissed. However, J really, really loves and needs V and while his brain understands what V is explaining to him, his emotions don’t. He encroaches and encroaches and encroaches. His heart is aching for what was, at least in his own mind. He needs her companionship to bounce things off of.

In the midst of this angst, he’s obliged to be writing love songs for other couples and it’s not easy for him to do.

The couples in this novel who engage J are odd, bizarre, needy…and mostly in love, even the ones he does a fake wedding with. They were fun to read about. The interplay between J and V was fun to read about and commiserate with, having once been young and in love myself. The songs, meh. Maybe they sound better with music. There is a way for readers to go to a website and listen to the songs which have been recorded. I just didn’t feel compelled.

This was an easy read that covers familiar territory, something maybe for a restful beach or camping vacation.