A to Z

Coda, Book 2

By: Marie Sexton

Narrated by: John Solo

Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Zach Mitchell is stuck in a rut. His college boyfriend left him 10 years ago, but Zach still lives in the same apartment, drives the same car, and feeds his ex-boyfriend’s ungrateful cat. His Denver business, A to Z Video Rental, is struggling. He has annoying customers, eccentric neighbors, and an unfulfilling romance with his landlord, Tom.

A combat boot-wearing punk with an attitude, Angelo Green was raised in foster homes and has been on his own since he was 16; he has never learned to trust or to love. He doesn’t do relationships, so when Angelo takes a job at A to Z Video, he decides Zach is strictly off-limits.

Despite their differences, Zach and Angelo quickly become friends, and when Zach’s break-up with Tom puts his business on the line, it’s Angelo who comes up with a solution. Together with Jared and Matt, their friends from Coda, Colorado, Zach and Angelo will find a way to save A to Z, but will they be able to save each other too?

©2010, 2023 Marie Sexton (P)2023 Marie Sexton

Cute quirky love story

I nabbed this audio when it first came out but have been a little slow to write the review. I loved this book. It’s very much of its time – around 2010. But that era worked and I enjoyed the sense of nostalgia I had – remember Blockbuster? Man, I used to haunt that place.

Zach lives in that world – he owns a video rental store. He got it off an ex who left him. Who also left him a diffident cat whom I might’ve fallen a little in love with as well. He’s living in a rut until two things happen – he gets a new landlord and he sort of hires a regular.

The landlord thing proved interesting – Zach gets to keep his deal if he keeps the landlord happy. That’s all kinds of exploitative, but Zach’s too…whatever…to get it. He just sort of moves on a different plain of existence from everyone else. He doesn’t see too deeply into people. Which is why he misses the signs entirely.

Then there’s his new employee – Angelo. Zach doesn’t really get Angelo but, slowly, they become friends. Angelo teaches Zach about, you know, movies. And Zach gets to know about Angelo’s past. The two men just…get along. Until Zach’s landlord throws a wrench in things. With Angelo’s encouragement, Zach takes a risk and moves to Coda, joining Matt and Jared – a couple they met at a festival.

Zach wants more from Angelo, but Angelo’s been burned before and doesn’t trust anyone – even the man he’s falling in love with. Then Zach’s old landlord comes for a visit and all hell breaks loose. In the end, though, Angelo and Zach find a way to make their relationship work. They build the business together and settle into Coda.

Now, this is book 2 in the series. I admit I haven’t read Jared and Matt’s story, but I don’t feel like I’ve missed out. In fact, I plan to go back to read it. This book, though? Loved it. Can’t wait for more from this wacky couple.

I like John Solo’s narration of the story. Of the hapless Zach and the fighter Angelo. He brought another layer to the story and I appreciated that. Can’t wait for more…