My work in progress, Hannah’s Song, is filled with music (as the name would imply!). Singer-songwriter masterpieces with some R&B thrown in for sexy measure.

When Ivy Met Adam, on the other hand, contains very little music. Well, except for a mention of Ivy’s and her college girlfriend’s obsession with The Beastie Boys.

“I remember we cried like babies when MCA died,” I say. We lay side-by-side on my dorm room bed and played Paul’s Boutique on repeat for days.

Adam Yauch, better known under the stage name MCA, was an American rapper, bass player, filmmaker and a founding member of the hip hop group Beastie Boys. He died of cancer of salivary parotid gland on May 4, 2012. I remember exactly where I was when I heard.

Ali and Ivy were in (fictional!) college, and I was living in a courtyard apartment complex in North Hollywood. My neighbor opened all his windows and played the Beastie Boys’ entire discography loud enough for all 14 units to hear. I sat in my living room, listening, and cried like a baby all day.

To make up for the dearth of music in the book, I made us a playlist on Spotify. I hope you’ll enjoy these songs while you read my second novel.