Let me start by saying, if you have any hopes at all, this is not Rosie 3. The characters have different backgrounds and motivations, the plot is darker, the narrative links less simple. Whereas the Rosie books were lightness and humour with the odd foray into a darker side, TBoAS is a dark book where the odd bit of humour comes without warning and even cause snorts and laugh out loud moments, surprised out of you by their unexpectedness.

The characters are well written and easy to follow, there are really only two main characters and two supporting characters so there is no need to keep track of complex sub plot lines or interactions. However this made TBoAS for me an almost un-put-downable book as the action and tension built from the first chapter and there were no obvious breaks for sleep or food - indeed I read it through in two sittings in one day. This twists scattered throughout the second half guaranteed a late night as I tried to figure out where it was going to end up.

My one negative was that the music themes and references throughout the book limit its audience slightly to a certain generation of a certain taste. Even though there is a playlist included with the book I found myself at times frustrated that I didn't get a musical reference, and smug at times where I did (the first time my love of the Monkees has ever been useful for something besides the answer to "what was your first concert" on RockWiz). Where there were several references in a row that I didn't get I found myself annoyed and distracted - I suggest you consider listening to the playlist before reading the book, or at least having the tunes and lyrics for those you don't know lined up and ready.

I didn't see either of the two major plot twists coming and wasn't sure how it was going to end almost up to the last page. If I'm honest I found the ending a slight let down as the level of drama leading up to it was so very high - I think I expected an emotional explosion instead of the ending that flowed quickly and naturally from the preceding chapters.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It's a well crafted, romantic, emotional drama that almost everyone who's wondered "what if" or gazed longingly at the green grass on the other side of the fence will relate to. In fact I found myself squirming a couple of times as I recognised thoughts in some of the darker areas, and giggling along with recognition of some of the more awkward bits.

This is not Rosie 3 but don't let that stop you, it's a really great book of a different type, worth your time, and will give you musical earworms for days after you put the book down.

Graeme Simsion graces us again with another bout of fantastically witty writing on the subject of human relationships. While Adam Sharp may not be as chaotically obtuse as his romantic predecessor, Don Tilman, his heart is unwavering in his mouth and his brain in the stratosphere for duration of this romping book.

The novel fantasizes on the concept of chasing what the heart wants long after it should have been too late. It’s exciting to read characters that are ripened with age throwing themselves into non-self-conscious passion. And blossoming in the second act of the story is intelligently woven moral conundrum – how does one willingly intrude on the marriage of another? How can Adam sacrifice everything for an unsustainable relationship with a person he hasn’t spoken to since before we last had the Olympics?

It’s terrific to have Simsion back at it and this time he’s educating readers on all things musical with an accompanying playlist to boot. Very clever stuff.