EPISODE SUMMARY:

In this installment of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, Brieanna Wilkoff shares how ‘80s music, especially Bon Jovi, influenced her novel, ‘I’ll Be There For You’ and reads an excerpt.

‘I’ll Be There For You’ follows high school student Rae Ballester, who loves movie musicals and—thanks to her dad—’80s rock. Since he died a year ago, his favorite music helps keep his memory alive. Struggling to move on, Rae keeps her head down and earbuds in, but shunning the world has cost her even her closest friendships, leaving her the “Owner of a Lonely Heart.”

When Rae meets Mac, a boy with a charming smile who thinks any problem can be solved with a show tune, she cautiously welcomes their easy banter. With his humor, enthusiasm, and well-curated Broadway playlists, Mac slowly edges his way into her heart, but when he proves “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” Rae thinks about withdrawing to the comfort of hair metal and the silver screen.

Should Rae retreat from the world to protect her already broken heart, or will her involvement in the school’s theater program and the random acts of kindness she and others have started performing give her “Something to Believe In?” ‘I’ll Be There for You’ delves into the personal journey of healing old wounds, making new friends, and how to build a future with pieces of the past and present.

Brieanna Wilkoff believes wholeheartedly in the power of kindness, the importance of theatre, and the awesomeness of '80s rock. She married her husband onstage at the oldest surviving theatre in central Ohio, and their first dance was to Bon Jovi's "Thank You for Loving Me." ‘I'll Be There for You’ is Brieanna's debut young adult novel. It was inspired by her family's commitment to kindness, including performing 100 kind acts in a single day. Brieanna lives in Westerville, Ohio, with her husband, daughter, and dog.

MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:

LINKS:

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Brieanna Wilkoff’s website: https://brieannawilkoff.com/

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Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislit

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Rock is Lit on Instagram: @rockislitpodcast

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