The Latecomers Fan Club

By: Diane V. Mulligan

Narrated by: Becket Royce

What is it about guys with guitars in their hands that makes them so irresistible, even when they are obviously self-centered jerks? If Abby and Maggie could answer that question, maybe they could finally get over Nathaniel. There's just something about him when he picks up his guitar and gets behind the microphone, something that makes sensible women act like teenyboppers instead of rational, self-respecting adults.

Abby was first sucked in by Nathaniel's rock 'n' roll swagger four years ago when a drunken fling turned into a series of drunken hook-ups that became something like a relationship. Now, as New Year's Eve promises a fresh start, she wants to believe he's finally going to grow up and take their relationship seriously.

What does Nathaniel hope the New Year will bring? An escape from the disappointing realities of his life. He's 34 years old and he's barely making ends meet as an adjunct philosophy professor, which was always only a backup plan anyway. Nathaniel's real goal was always to make his living as a musician, but his band, The Latecomers, broke up a couple of years ago, and he hasn't picked up his guitar in months.

When he decides to spend the holiday with some high school friends instead of hanging out at the bar where Abby works, he gets the happy surprise of reuniting with his long-lost friend Maggie. Newly divorced, Maggie has just moved back to her mother's house to regroup. Nathaniel and Maggie were supposed to be the ones who left Worcester forever to conquer the world. He was going to be a rock star. She was going to take the world of art by storm. He's never gotten farther than Boston, and her best efforts only left her broke and heartbroken. As they ring in the New Year together, Nathaniel decides it's time to take control of his life and to start making his dreams come true. He thinks the first step will be easy. All he needs to do is break up with Abby and finally admit his feelings for Maggie.

©2013 Diane V. Mulligan (P)2014 Diane V. Mulligan

A pleasant, character-driven surprise

What did you love best about The Latecomers Fan Club?

Abby is a put-upon girlfriend, stuck in a job and a relationship she struggles to see as anything but dead ends. Nathaniel is her arrogant, cynical boyfriend, a washed-up college philosophy professor who drank his dreams away long ago. Maggie is Nathaniel's high-school sweetheart, newly divorced and living in her parents' house while she tries to rebuild her life.

The book gives voice to each of these characters, allowing life's everyday challenges to percolate through three very different, skillfully nuanced perspectives.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

These folks live in and near Boston--let's hear some fun accents!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

::SPOILER ALERT:: I punched the air in triumph when Maggie finally looked Nathaniel in the eye and realized that he loved his high-school dreams of her more than he loved her as a real, breathing adult. And then, at last, she walked away.

Any additional comments?

This book surprised me. Nathaniel's arrogance, narcissism, and general douchebaggery nearly drove me away twice. But I'm glad I stuck with the book. The character development in the third act was deeply satisfying, and I was relieved to find that not every loose end got tidily tied up.

Not What I Expected

For whatever reason, I guess I expected this to be a YA story, maybe because of the description. Rock band hunk, misunderstood and long suffering and the women who pine away for him blah, blah, blah ( I am a sucker for those ). It wasn't like that at all.
The characters in this story are in their 30's and all three are coming to the grim realization that the life they dreamed of and were sure they would have has not happened. The sand in the hourglass has more than begun its' second half descent.

Abby and Maggie both love Nathaniel (in this case the rockstar hunk who is not so hunky anymore), Maggie since high school and Abby since she met him four years ago when his band was playing at the bar where she works. What unfolds over the course of the book is what happens when we are forced to open our eyes and really take inventory of where are lives are now, decide where we are headed and make the hard choices about what we want, what we wish we had, and what is actually attainable.

I did love the story. Becket Royce did a fantastic job as the narrator. She came across as down to earth and told the story. What I mean by that is, she really made me feel what the author had intended without being over the top. I think her style of narration was perfect for this book.

This audiobook was gifted to me through Audibook Blast for an honest review.

Love triangle gone right

Too many times the stories get it wrong, life I mean. But Diane Mulligan got it just right with The Latecomer's Fan club.
It's your tragic love triangle where everyone is in the wrong and can't see their own blindness until their world comes crashing down, but in this story it's how they recover and re-discover life again that makes this a worthwhile read.
Becket Royce does a superb job narrating this novel. Her tone is crisp and easy to listen to and her characters are realistic and captivating.
I would recommend this short read to all.
This audiobook was given to me in return for an honest review.

What if ?????

Any additional comments?

I received this Audiobook for free in exchange for a full and honest review.

Abby works as a bartender, she has worked in the same bar for a few years now, this is where she met Nathaniel (NEVER Nate!!) 4 years ago and has a one night stand with him, this then turns into more than one night and Abby turns into a booty call for Nathaniel, and much more for Abby.

Nathaniel is the guitarist in The Latecomers, he is convinced that one day they will make it to the big time, and even though this doesn’t happen Abby supports Nathaniel because she is in love with him.

As Nathaniel has to get himself a job at a few colleges to pay for his bills he realises that he will not be a superstar one day and starts drinking, again Abby puts up with this because she loves him, Nathaniel isn’t bothered either way to be honest, Abby is convenient but Nathaniel can’t be bothered to let her go.

Maggie used to be best friends with Nathaniel, there was always a slight spark between them but nothing really ever happened, she moved away and got marries to a rich guy, she is now recently divorced and back in town, as she has moved in with her mother to help with her bills.

On New Year’s Eve the story really starts to take a turn as all of the stories start to entwine together, Abby works that night at the bar, Maggie goes to a house party, Nathaniel is there……….

I liked this story, it kind of like “The grass isn’t always greener” book or “my life wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

Narration was really easy to understand, the voices were never rushed and I was easily able to distinguish them all.

This was weird

Maggie and Abby in love with the same rock star. Nat was just weird. He was way past being a teenager yet he was still acting like one. Then both women were old enough to know what they needed in life. I was given this book via audiobook boom. I am not sure of what to think about any of these three people.