PLEASE LIVE FOR ME

Book Three in the Brotherhood Series

A summer tour takes the indie-rock band, Brotherhood, from the States back to the UK, giving Rob a few weeks to convince Emily, the girl he’s been in love with since they were fourteen, that he deserves a second chance. And he’s not the only one asking for another chance. As Rob and his dad share the stage, Rob wonders if they can finally put the past behind them, but a shocking discovery about his mum threatens to ruin their relationship for good this time.

Emily stayed in Oxford when her multiple sclerosis took a turn for the worse last year instead of following her boyfriend and his band to New York City. She decided Rob was better off without her, especially as Brotherhood quickly stepped into the spotlight. Now that Rob’s back, she has some tough decisions to make about him and her future.

And when Brotherhood is offered an opportunity that seems too brilliant to refuse, will everyone be on board, or will someone walk away?

Please Live for Me features a sweet M/F love story between a California native who loves horses and a British guitarist who steals band T-shirts from his mates. Rob and Emily’s story is told through a dual timeline from when they met as teenagers to now. This is the third and final book in the Brotherhood Series.

2024 HOLT Medallion Awards YA Finalist

AMAZON

Book Three: About

"Please Live for Me. Yes, and I want all the characters to continue to live with me in their rich, sloppy, sweet, creative lives. This is the third in McKinley’s Brotherhood series where we are introduced and grow to love the young members of the band. They are smart, independent, kind, quirky and not without a little baggage. As usual, McKinley weaves a serious narrative; this time about living with MS into the “will she or won’t she” tension between Rob and Emily. Rob’s ‘missing in action father’ also appears as an important character and we get the painful and relatable struggle of learning to forgive in order to maintain a relationship. The book is narrated through the perspectives of Rob and Emily, dipping back in time to when they met as pen pals. The voice of each character is distinct and loaded with all things young people feel—joy, sincerity, insecurity and confusion as they find their way supported by friends and bandmates during an important tour in the UK. McKinley is a beautiful writer who manages to spin a story around a group of friends brought to life in an expertly organized novel of love, fear, hope and reconciliation." (Amazon Reviewer)

"This is the third standalone story in the Brotherhood Series. The common thread between the books in the series is the band: Brotherhood. I love reading more about the world the author has built and we finally get Rob's story - told as both present and past narrative. There is also the dueling POVs between Emily and Rob in both the past and present. The dance between the two voices and the two timelines is delicate and handled well. The pacing continues throughout the time and POV switches seamlessly and it's difficult to put the book down because of the richness in voice and emotion. The characters, their reactions, and their dialogue feel grounded and truthful. Each scene is carefully crafted using all the senses so much so that I felt fully immersed as I read. The details about music, musicianship, and MS felt so real to me. I empathized and rallied behind both Rob and Emily. As someone who used to play music but hasn’t for years the excitement, fervor, and longing in all the descriptions of playing brings me back and makes me nostalgic." (Rachel Barnard, Reedsy Discovery)

"As with Felix's addiction in Please Fall For Me, M.W. has given us a warts and all picture of M.S., made all the more poignant by the age of Emily when she is first diagnosed. It is impossible to imagine just how debilitating it must be, especially as everyone affected experiences it differently, but this book paints a picture of how it affects Emily and her family and everyone who loves her. It is not just about the bad though, but shows her strength and determination to live the best life she can . . . Seeing Rob, Liam, Lei and Felix riding high on stage was the icing on the cake. M.W. says she may return to them, and part of me wants that, but I really think she's left them all at a place where we know they'll be happy in their lives, their loves, and their music, and I couldn't ask for anything more than that." (Amazon Reviewer)

"So many wonderful and nuanced characters, but especially Rob and Emily, both of whom have endured so much. Their love was really sweet and the numerous flashbacks showed how it grew steadily over the years. Emily was so determined to push Rob away for what she perceived to be his own good, while he was even more steadfastly set in not being pushed away. His support of her (sometimes against her will) was beautiful. In some ways this was an emotionally challenging read for me because, not only did I work as a child protection social worker, I also have MS. While the disease is indeed different for everyone and my age at diagnosis, disease progression, and personal circumstances have been very different from Emily’s, I related so much to many of her thoughts, fears, emotions, and decisions. I felt the author really addressed it all very well. There was no mention in the author’s notes of her MS research or if there is some personal connection to the disease, but she offered up good surface explanations and details, keeping it from being too overwhelming for readers with no background knowledge." (Amazon Reviewer)

"Like the other two books, I love that the story is more than a romance. M.W. McKinley has a unique gift in being able to tackle challenging topics (like MS) in a relatable manor for her audience. I am also one of those readers who likes to know everything so I love that this book moves seamlessly through past and present, so you get to know Rob and Emily’s whole story. I’m so sad to see this series end because I have fallen in love with brotherhood and their people but I am excited to see what M.W. McKinley comes out with next!" (Amazon Reviewer)

"This was such a fun and entertaining read. At times very serious and deep and then laugh out loud funny, esp with the banter of the bandmates. It is written with such thoughtfulness and compassion in a way that makes you root for the love story and hurt for the characters when they are going through struggles! I enjoyed it and highly recommend. It explores serious life struggles for the characters and adds levity and funny moments at the exact same right time to make for a perfect balance of comedy and drama. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend!" (Amazon Reviewer)

Book Three: List

Book Three: Pro Gallery