I Think You’ll Love, ‘I Think I Love You’

by Darby Whitehair ‘12

David Cassidy, the man who dominated the stage in the 70’s as a singer and actor, was the object of affection for thousands of teenage girls. Even now in his sixties, he still makes his fans’ hearts skip a beat. Allison Pearson, a devoted fan of Cassidy, channels her old obsession into her novel “I Think I Love You.” Inspired by a 2004 interview she had with Cassidy, when she worked with a British newspaper, Pearson details Cassidy’s own life in the 70’s and depicts the life of a true fan.

Pearson’s intricately structured novel details the life of two very different fictional characters, Petra and Bill. Petra is a 13-year old Welsh girl infatuated with Cassidy, while Bill is the opposite, a man whose life, to his dismay, is dependent on Cassidy’s. Pearson switches off between these two character’s perspectives until part two of the book, where she interlaces their lives.

Initially, Petra is featured with her best friend Sharon. Pearson focuses on their shared obsession with Cassidy; the pair is constantly glued to the magazine, The Essentials of David Cassidy, waiting for the letter written by David in each issue. They know everything about him, his favorite color, his hobbies and his every lyric. Most importantly though, they wait for the day when they can finally meet Cassidy and beat out thousands of other fans to win over his love.

In contrast to Petra and her friends, Bill does not spend his days worshipping Cassidy; in fact he does everything in his power to hide his ties to the pop sensation. As a writer for The Essentials of David Cassidy, Bill secretly holds the job of writing Cassidy’s letters. Ashamed of his position, he hides this truth from everyone but his coworkers and boss Zelda.

Pearson ends part one of the book with a Cassidy concert. Cassidy’s performance at White City brings thousands, including Petra and Bill. This one event becomes the turning point in not only Petra’s and Bill’s lives but in Cassidy’s as well. Tragedy and chaos at this concert make the artist quit the touring business, an action that Cassidy actually took in real life. The seamless incorporation of historical events such as this concert help make Pearson’s story so compelling. By including historic events, such as press conferences and concerts, her story takes hold of the true essence of Cassidy’s life at that time and how the world was in the 70’s. She brings in truths that make the reader feel part of or at least a witness to the David Cassidy craze; it gives this fictional story a feeling of complete truth and reality.

After the tragedies that occur at the White City concert, the book turns the pages of life and tells of the changes that occurred in all its character’s lives. Petra becomes a middle-aged woman who is both a wife and mother. Bill is no longer a writer, though he still works in the magazine business. Cassidy, no longer the man who plays tours or stars on television shows, has become an act in Vegas. As adults, they find that the life they had when they were younger was not nearly as complex as they had once thought. Sure, when they were younger, they had to make certain not to upset friends, girlfriends or fans; they had to make sure they looked the part as teenage girl, music journalist, or pop star sensation. However, none of these trials compare to what the characters face later in life, which truly test their strength.

This is truly a story that highlights that the emotions we feel as a teenager will carry with us through our lives and settle down with us in adulthood. Whether these emotions are positive or negative, they stick with us and Pearson displays this knowledge as she channels Petra’s story between adolescence and adulthood and Bill’s story of disgust to acceptance. This story is timeless because even though girls today may have no interest in David Cassidy, obsession has remained, just with a changed face. Justin Bieber and Taylor Lautner have become the heartthrobs of today. Let’s face it, they are the David Cassidy’s of our time. They may not be singing “I Think I Love You” but they certainly are objects of extreme affection. Pearson crafts this story into the perfect essence of not only David Cassidy but of life itself, a truth that will never falter, and a love that will never shatter.