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lilamaee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Totally fine but was excited and expected more. Overall just felt like the book never quite came together in the way I hoped
mjpayton24's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
spatterson12's review
3.0
This was sold as a Daisy Jones type read, and it just wasn't. It's similar-ish and good, but don't go in with those expectations.
We do have my favorite -- alternating timelines. Plus, there are excerpts from a stolen diary and a few blog posts.
This made me think of all the Disney and Nickelodeon shows I used to watch and some of the memoirs and articles that have come out with those stars sharing their inside stories in recent years.
To that point, the story did wrap up as nice as one of those shows would. It fit its own genre, if that makes sense.
Katherine is a lawyer in DC who is in a committed relationship and working toward making partner at her firm. She has a plan in motion and is focused on her goals, well, until a Hollywood star's interview goes viral. Katherine's phone lights up because her former costar suggests that he's open for a reunion with of the 2004 wildly popular, but short-lived, show -- The Daydreams.
The Daydreams was promised a successful future until another costar's (Summer) diary was leaked to the press, tainting her perfect "good girl" image. Then, their live finale went off the rails, ending any hope for a box office movie and continued series.
Katherine is hesitant to return to this world until she gets a visit from Summer and realizes how she could save her former best friend's career. She'll just have to figure out how to tell Summer that she's the reason for The Daydreams's nightmare.
Bonus points to this one for randomly including a character named Todd at a karaoke bar who is told to f off. (Our pup is named Todd and that line made me lol.)
We do have my favorite -- alternating timelines. Plus, there are excerpts from a stolen diary and a few blog posts.
This made me think of all the Disney and Nickelodeon shows I used to watch and some of the memoirs and articles that have come out with those stars sharing their inside stories in recent years.
To that point, the story did wrap up as nice as one of those shows would. It fit its own genre, if that makes sense.
Katherine is a lawyer in DC who is in a committed relationship and working toward making partner at her firm. She has a plan in motion and is focused on her goals, well, until a Hollywood star's interview goes viral. Katherine's phone lights up because her former costar suggests that he's open for a reunion with of the 2004 wildly popular, but short-lived, show -- The Daydreams.
The Daydreams was promised a successful future until another costar's (Summer) diary was leaked to the press, tainting her perfect "good girl" image. Then, their live finale went off the rails, ending any hope for a box office movie and continued series.
Katherine is hesitant to return to this world until she gets a visit from Summer and realizes how she could save her former best friend's career. She'll just have to figure out how to tell Summer that she's the reason for The Daydreams's nightmare.
Bonus points to this one for randomly including a character named Todd at a karaoke bar who is told to f off. (Our pup is named Todd and that line made me lol.)
reaganmer's review against another edition
3.0
Might have liked better not on audio. Least favorite book of this author so far.
kellyreadingbooks's review against another edition
DNF 4% on audio. I think I may be burnt out on reading this due to all the media on the Nickelodeon documentary. It sounded like it could be an interesting premise, but I'm generally not the biggest fan of books centering around actors/actresses, with some exceptions for incredible storytelling like Evelyn Hugo. I could tell where this was already heading and I just don't feel like the drama lol. If these people had all moved on from this show and had bad experiences why even dredge it all up no matter the consequences lol.
mpoydock's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
elaineh7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thephdivabooks's review
4.0
The fallout of teen stardom is explored through the former cast of a teen television series reuniting for the first time.
Characters
Katherine (Kat) was the villain of the series, often playing the snarky counterpoint trying to sabotage the beloved lead. In real life, Kat has left the show behind and worked hard to become a successful attorney in Washington D. C. She is dating a fellow attorney named Miheer.
Liana was the best friend and token black character on the show. Often overlooked, Liana never got full solo numbers despite being the most talented singer on the show. In real life, Liana has become the trophy wife to a famous football player named Javier, earning the wealth and status that eluded her on the show.
Summer and Noah were the central couple and teen heartthrobs on the series. Summer was the golden girl—pure, virginal, and sweet. But off the show, Summer’s life has spiraled out of control, leading to a series of tabloid headlines over the years documenting her behaviors while intoxicated, stints in rehab, and relapses. Meanwhile Noah is the only former cast member to continue acting, slowly cementing himself as a household name with all the success that the others didn’t achieve.
Plot
In The Daydreams, four teen actors and singers were members of a fictional band by the same name as the book on a tv show. The line between reality and fiction was blurred, with the characters being named after the actors. But their personas weren’t necessarily the same as on the shows. And the pressure of the spotlight, manipulative industry leaders, and the stress of growing up in the spotlight led to a dramatic and chaotic live show in 2005 that ultimately was the last time the four would appear together.
Until 2018 when a reunion show is proposed. All four had different reasons to return to the stage for one final performance. Told in flashbacks between the days on the show in the early 2000s and present day leading up the live reunion, The Daydreams tells the story of four people who experienced the rise and fall of stardom. Well, three, since Noah never really took the hit the girls did.
Thoughts
Kat is our primary narrator and I loved her perspective as someone who went on to have closest to a normal life off the show. But that doesn’t mean Kat has escaped the trauma of what happened. Every character had secrets they were holding onto from the collapse of the show. Some that could save them and others that could bury them. The question on the reader’s mind is whether they will spill everything and what the fallout will be.
I initially wanted to hear more balance in POVs from all four main characters, but by the second half I understood why we stuck mostly with Kat and I grew to appreciate why she was the narrator of the story. The characters were all redeemable and even likable, which made me want them to make it through the reunion winning what they felt they’d lost many years before.
A story of trauma, healing, redemption, and accepting our past, present, and futures selves as worthy people. I was satisfied with how it ended, but I also wanted more which is a hallmark of a great book.
Starting as a salacious ripped-from-the-headlines story and delivering a heartfelt group of characters who are still living their stories in real life one day at a time.
Characters
Katherine (Kat) was the villain of the series, often playing the snarky counterpoint trying to sabotage the beloved lead. In real life, Kat has left the show behind and worked hard to become a successful attorney in Washington D. C. She is dating a fellow attorney named Miheer.
Liana was the best friend and token black character on the show. Often overlooked, Liana never got full solo numbers despite being the most talented singer on the show. In real life, Liana has become the trophy wife to a famous football player named Javier, earning the wealth and status that eluded her on the show.
Summer and Noah were the central couple and teen heartthrobs on the series. Summer was the golden girl—pure, virginal, and sweet. But off the show, Summer’s life has spiraled out of control, leading to a series of tabloid headlines over the years documenting her behaviors while intoxicated, stints in rehab, and relapses. Meanwhile Noah is the only former cast member to continue acting, slowly cementing himself as a household name with all the success that the others didn’t achieve.
Plot
In The Daydreams, four teen actors and singers were members of a fictional band by the same name as the book on a tv show. The line between reality and fiction was blurred, with the characters being named after the actors. But their personas weren’t necessarily the same as on the shows. And the pressure of the spotlight, manipulative industry leaders, and the stress of growing up in the spotlight led to a dramatic and chaotic live show in 2005 that ultimately was the last time the four would appear together.
Until 2018 when a reunion show is proposed. All four had different reasons to return to the stage for one final performance. Told in flashbacks between the days on the show in the early 2000s and present day leading up the live reunion, The Daydreams tells the story of four people who experienced the rise and fall of stardom. Well, three, since Noah never really took the hit the girls did.
Thoughts
Kat is our primary narrator and I loved her perspective as someone who went on to have closest to a normal life off the show. But that doesn’t mean Kat has escaped the trauma of what happened. Every character had secrets they were holding onto from the collapse of the show. Some that could save them and others that could bury them. The question on the reader’s mind is whether they will spill everything and what the fallout will be.
I initially wanted to hear more balance in POVs from all four main characters, but by the second half I understood why we stuck mostly with Kat and I grew to appreciate why she was the narrator of the story. The characters were all redeemable and even likable, which made me want them to make it through the reunion winning what they felt they’d lost many years before.
A story of trauma, healing, redemption, and accepting our past, present, and futures selves as worthy people. I was satisfied with how it ended, but I also wanted more which is a hallmark of a great book.
Starting as a salacious ripped-from-the-headlines story and delivering a heartfelt group of characters who are still living their stories in real life one day at a time.
coralinejones's review against another edition
1.5
The cast of "Saved By The Bell", Britney Spears, Leonardo Dicaprio, and Miley Cyrus: Is this fucking play about us???
This book is stupid. There's ingredients for a really fun novel about fictional famous people but this was so trite and ridiculous. I hated all these characters except Summer. I wish the book was told through her point of view only.
This was no "Daisy Jones & The Six" (One of my favorite books), and I think any marketing relating the two does a disservice to this novel.
This book is stupid. There's ingredients for a really fun novel about fictional famous people but this was so trite and ridiculous. I hated all these characters except Summer. I wish the book was told through her point of view only.
This was no "Daisy Jones & The Six" (One of my favorite books), and I think any marketing relating the two does a disservice to this novel.
gia0203's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
this was like watching a train wreck but I couldn’t stop myself from reading! though it’s a contemporary novel and it deals with adult issues it came across as childish and shallow to me. very outlandish but engaging in its drama, nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Death of parent
Minor: Pedophilia