Book Review

“Don’t Sleep With Your Drummer” by Jen Sincero is the sarcastically hilarious journey of Jenny Troanni, a twenty-eight year old music lover who decides to up and leave her full time job to pursue her dreams of being in a rock band.

Items on Jenny’s to-do list include:
1) Quit going-somewhere copywriting job and get going-to-band-practice job.
2) Break up with Hootie and the Blowfish-lovin’ boyfriend.
3) Hang out in skanky bars. Meet musicians.
4) Cash in pension and buy kickass guitar amp.
5) Team up with sex-crazed guitar genius/best friend Lucy Stover Hanover II.

After interviewing every music-crazed freak in Los Angeles, her rock band, 60-Foot Queenie finally comes together. Much to her dismay, the band becomes a huge success and finally lands a record deal, which gives Jenny a rude awakening of what being a rock star is really all about. When a flirtatious romance starts to emerge between Jenny and her drummer, she has to fight off every ounce of temptation in order to keep her band together and make her dreams come true.

The story is told through Jenny’s journal, which takes you through the step-by-step process of starting a band and making your musical dream a reality. Sections labeled “Rock and Roll Truth” (i.e. Rock and Roll Truth #14: Being in a band is just like being married. The children are the songs and the sex is playing live onstage); “Brilliant Observation” (i.e. Brilliant Observation #20: No matter how sleazy something is, if it involves money and fame, everyone wants to be a part of it); and “Note to Self” (i.e. Note to Self: It is better to have rocked and lost than never to have rocked at all) put a clever, witty spin on the book, along with the many numbered lists that Troanni puts together.

Sincero delivers the truth behind the music scene in such a wisecracking nature that it’s virtually impossible not to burst into laughter on almost every page. From the antics of her glitter-wearing guitar teacher, Flowers, to her miserable, pessimistic product manager Katie, to her man-eating vulture guitarist Lucy, this book will have you in tears, and all the while still teach you about the everyday life of a musical success story.

I think everyone reaches a point in life where they feel like the characters in the movie “Office Space” and start to reassess every aspect of their life, including their current relationship and career. This book is a comical reminder that you’re not alone.

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