Shotgun Lovesongs Book Review

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I’ve not read anything by Nickolas Butler before, but I was intrigued by this plot as it sounded like something I would enjoy. Henry, Lee, Kip, and Ronny are childhood friends who grew up together in Wisconsin. As they grew older, they grew apart as their lives took different turns, and each became their own person. A farmer, rodeo star, city high-flyer, and famous musician, those who didn’t stay are eventually drawn back to their hometown of Little Wing and question why nowhere else could ever be called home. When the four of them are back for a wedding, each has the opportunity to reminisce and compare their lives against their friends’, but for each of them there are regrets, heartbreaks, mistakes, and betrayals – Shotgun Lovesongs tries to address whether childhood friendships can stand the test of time and the strains that the trials and tribulations of life present.

The characters are really the heart of this book, and as much as there are moments of hurt and heartbreak, the love presented between all the characters ebbs reassuringly through just about every page. These friends have a lot of history behind them and while you can see how it weathered them, you can also see how it made their bonds stronger too.

Lee and Ronny were my favourite characters in this novel because they are the most tormented, but also their loyalty is the most unwavering. Lee has to deal with being very famous, and on the flip side, Ronny must deal with the reality that his life will not turn out in the way he thought. Both have their moments of insecurity, but both will put the other’s needs first as well – it’s a paragon of what friendship should be.

What I found most interesting about this book is how explores the small decisions we make and how that can ricochet throughout the rest of our lives. These four men all had more or less the same start in life, but they turn out four very different people. And what makes it all the more interesting is that all four of them are jealous of each other in one way or another – almost as if they are envious of a life they might have had if they’d made different choices.

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Shotgun Lovesongs reminds its readers that we are all far from perfect, but that to love other people and the love they give you in return is something you should cherish, and something which will ultimately protect you and keep you sane. This book will resonate with anyone from a small town who dreamed big, or was just happy to get by and find their place in the world. It’s a small-time premise with a big-time message and I urge everyone to read it!