Play It by Ear

Just like book 1, I think this book has really good "bones". The characters are interesting, they've got interesting lives and agendas... but there are writing issues that got in the way of me fully enjoying the book. The way that the author portrays Lando and Dawson's communication for one - I don't know how many people she communicates with who lip read, but it isn't as easy as it 'reads' on the page. It would also be interesting to have had a little insight into what type of hearing loss occurred - we just take it for granted from the get-go that he's got zero hearing as the result of some incurred injury that left him with no other lasting signs. There's scope there for research, and for connecting with Dawson a bit more. (My main problem with the first book was the stilted dialogue. So I kind of chuckled when I realised that much of the communication between our two MCs would be text based, as that allows for a little more wiggle room in terms of organic flow of conversation... but then we get an over-reliance on Dawson lip-reading, and we have whole other problems.) The rest of the plot was good, but ultimately didn't go far enough for me. It seemed (again) there was so much potential for a good build of tension, a conflict that might draw out more of the unique relationship between the two, and a resolution that might help justify their quick commitment to each other. But it didn't really happen. And I was disappointed. All in all, good bones - but I wanted more. More plot work, more about Dawson, and better research and portrayal of hearing loss / HOH communication.