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crufts's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
4.5
This must be the most exciting week of Angel Rahimi's life. She's meeting her best friend from the internet for the first time, and together they're going to see the boy band they love, the band which gives Angel a reason to wake up every day: The Ark.
Jimmy is the frontman of The Ark, struggling to keeping up the fantasy facade of perfection the band portrays. After all, he knows all too well that the "love" of fans is not real love...
The novel explores themes such as love, devotion, worship, religion, and more through the lens of fandom (a topic which the author understands back to front). I loved that the author made both protagonists religious, as their respective faiths acted as a springboard into comparing the Ark fandom to a religion.
The novel showcases the sheer power of fandom to rouse spirits as well as any religion, as Angel makes clear:
> Please, God, please, I want to believe. I want it to be real more than I want to be alive.
> Please, God, please, I want to believe. I want it to be real more than I want to be alive.
I really liked the entwined protagonists, with their entwined character development. The switching first-person point of view was clear and easy to follow, with each chapter clearly marked with the POV character's name.
Both protagonists are also very likeable, and the opening chapters had me immediately invested in them and wanting them to succeed.
Another thing which the author knocks out of the park is the interpersonal conflict. A few believable and compelling good-vs-good conflicts arise, such as Angel only caring about the band, vs Juliet actually wanting to get to know Angel and Mac as people. Or Angel's selfless love for Jimmy, only wanting him to be happy, vs Jimmy's cynical belief that no fan could truly love him because they don't know him .
I also liked the redemption arc for Mac. Mac is symbolic of Juliet choosing to love something else, not just the Ark. Ultimately, Angel comes to see that this is actually a healthy and reasonable choice, so it felt appropriate and even necessary that Mac ends up in Angel's good graces .
Now, let's talk about the representation! Firstly, a wide range of ethnicities are represented amongst the cast. There are also a number of LGBT+ characters, such as Jimmy (trans and gay); Angel (heavily implied to be asexual); as well as Bliss (bisexual); and Lister (bisexual) .
Now, heaven knows I'm a harsh critic of trans representation in media. But when it comes to Jimmy I have no complaints. Medical details are accurate, minor details are relatable, and it all seems well-researched. Well done! It was also rather cool to see a trans man character who transitioned at a young age (12).
One thing which the novel could have developed further was that Lister and Rowan treating Jimmy as a fragile and immature "baby" would probably hit Jimmy much harder than they realized, as trans men are often infantilized. This could have led to an interesting conflict with Jimmy saying something like "You think you're being protective of me, but you're really just othering me - I know you wouldn't treat me this way if I was cis" .
However, this is a minor suggestion and I thought it was fine as is.
Regarding the realism of life in a band: I don't know if this was truly an accurate depiction or not, but it definitely came off as convincing and maintained my suspension of disbelief that this could be real.
About the ending... I don't love it. I tried rereading the novel in case I'd missed something the first time, but that didn't help. It seemed like some of the final character development comes out of nowhere, specifically the changes of attitude from Rowan and Lister, who are suddenly not treating Jimmy like a "baby", taking his concerns about the contract seriously, changing their mind and deciding that they don't need to go to America, etc .
I also disliked the author's postscript about what happens after the story, i.e. Jimmy and Lister end up dating eachother?? After everything Lister did??? Also, isn't Lister still an alcoholic???? .
Even so, I enjoyed the book overall and would definitely recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, and Cursing
Minor: Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Transphobia, Death, Medical content, and Suicidal thoughts
Mental illness - Depression: Although not explicitly stated, it is implied that Angel is depressed as she clings to the Ark, the only thing that brings her any happiness.Mental illness - Anxiety; Disassociation: Suffered by Jimmy.
Alcohol, Alcoholism: Lister gets drunk... frequently.
Blood: A few characters are injured and bleeding.
Cursing: A number of F- and S-bombs are dropped.
Adult/minor relationship: Brief mention of one between a 16-year-old and a 32-year-old. It is immediately condemned.
Death: A few of Jimmy's family members have passed away. He also fears the death of a living relative.
Drug abuse: Mentioned in the context of the rockstar lifestyle.
Transphobia: A journalist makes a veiled transphobic remark to Jimmy.
Medical content: There is a brief mention of Jimmy taking his hormone replacement therapy medication via injection.
Suicidal thoughts: Angel and Jimmy suffer from suicidal thoughts during their darkest moments.
Suicide: It is heavily implied that Jimmy's great-grandfather passed away by suicide, following a struggle with severe anxiety.
There is no Islamophobia towards the Muslim protagonist, Angel.
There is no deadnaming of the trans man protagonist, Jimmy, nor any mention of him suffering gender dysphoria.
bumblemee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Transphobia and Blood
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Outing
chaoticbyrddemon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
It's overall a really good book.
I enjoyed both of the character perspectives, both from Angel and Jimmy.
Angel's character was a bit nice. At first, it reminded me of the book "Kill the Boy Band" which has a similar concept, but it was executed rather poorly and to an extreme level. Angel's character was really well written, and I enjoyed the research that Alice Oseman put into making sure that her character was accurate. Angel having a safe space and really only bonding in fandom culture definitely hit close to home and I really enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the story.
Jimmy's character was definitely a lot, and I really enjoyed it. Seeing how he and the rest of the band had to deal with everything and such was really interesting. Each of the members has their own ways of coping with things, and I think learning and reading about that were really nice.
My favorite character was Lister, who seems to fall into a trope that I enjoy. Star who is oversexualized and relying on addiction. Definitely not a super common one. But the way he was written was really interesting. Upon first glance when you first meet him, he seems like a completely different character. However as the story goes on, not only his problems but the problems of the band are revealed and we learn more about them and how they deal with things.
It's definitely a book I'd read again, having lots of surprising twists and such, some of which make me super happy and others worried. It's a book that I think I'd want to annotate in the future and I'd highly recommend it.
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CW: mentions of religion, drug use, blackmail, stalking, antisemitic stereotypes (in mention), blood, violence, addiction, eating disorders (mentioned), suicidal thoughts, family struggles, break ups, near death, hospitals, biphobia (mentioned), transphobia (mentioned),
I enjoyed both of the character perspectives, both from Angel and Jimmy.
Angel's character was a bit nice. At first, it reminded me of the book "Kill the Boy Band" which has a similar concept, but it was executed rather poorly and to an extreme level. Angel's character was really well written, and I enjoyed the research that Alice Oseman put into making sure that her character was accurate.
Jimmy's character was definitely a lot, and I really enjoyed it. Seeing how he and the rest of the band had to deal with everything and such was really interesting. Each of the members has their own ways of coping with things, and I think learning and reading about that were really nice.
My favorite character was Lister, who seems to fall into a trope that I enjoy.
It's definitely a book I'd read again, having lots of surprising twists and such, some of which make me super happy and others worried. It's a book that I think I'd want to annotate in the future and I'd highly recommend it.
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CW: mentions of religion, drug use, blackmail, stalking, antisemitic stereotypes (in mention), blood, violence, addiction, eating disorders (mentioned), suicidal thoughts, family struggles, break ups, near death, hospitals, biphobia (mentioned), transphobia (mentioned),
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Addiction, Alcohol, Biphobia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Medical content
Minor: Dysphoria, Transphobia, and Biphobia
teaskate's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I found this book really interesting ,and somewhere also a bit eyes opening.Because I think many people struggle with this topic of having this idea of someone ,and being so stuck in this idea and forgetting that this idea is a real person. Even though I do think there are some topics that could have been a more resolved in the end.As an example Listers drug abuse or just in general the near future. The whole book has some good topics ,and is good to reflect on fan culture.Thank you :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Stalking
Moderate: Transphobia and Injury/Injury detail
hannahrogers's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Addiction, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Mental illness
Moderate: Medical content, Outing, Eating disorder, and Abandonment
Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Outing, Transphobia, Death of parent, Excrement, Grief, Bullying, and Drug use
rain08's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-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
the ending felt a bit unresolved but otherwise great
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Medical content, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Blood and Outing
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
melissatttttt's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Outing, Mental illness, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Biphobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
miaaaahh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Transphobia and Homophobia
Minor: Toxic relationship
schwambibambi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I LOVE THIS!!!! I read this in two days and would've in one, if i didn't have to go to work the next day and needed sleep for that. This book is no nice to read, it flows very easily adn without noticing, you're already half way through. The characters are actually realistic and don't feel like 'a grown adult tried to write funny teeangers'-cringey.
The depction of fandom culture was so accurate. I wouldn't be surprised if Alice Oseman actually took a look at Kpop fandoms, since The Ark's fandom felt very much like that. I saw myself and all of my friends that like Kpop in this book. I love the way Fereshteh's love for The Ark is described, or rather not explained. I found myself in that, I felt what she said about it being a different kind of love so deeply in my soul. Though I loved how Juliet challenged that!
I also loved that in the end, there were no couples/new romance. I think it adds to the story, because more often than not, (esp. female characters) are reduced to the role of love interest and I don't like that very much.
Another point: I don't myself have anxiety, but from what I know from friends and ye old internet, I think the depiction of it was realistic. I recommended this book to my friend that suffers from social anxiety and this might help her to not feel so alone in that :)
My favourite scene was definitly when Jimmy just decides to leave, like it started as a joke between him and Lister, but then he just does it and I can't. Perfect. I laughed so hard when he did it.
I also loved the way Angel's and Juliet's friendship played out. I think it was important for her to realise how much she hurt Juliet and that friendship can be more. Like, that feeling that nobody understands you is so real and more common than I would've thought and this book made me realise once again, that there are people that can understand me, but I have to talk to them for that. I can have friends with deep connections, who simultaneously don't have to be my soulmate/romantic partner and that aspect is also super important and the book included that so well! It was such a happy and fullfilling ending.
Definitly in my top 5 favourite books of all time. I felt so understood and welcomed. Thank you for writing this.
I also loved that in the end, there were no couples/new romance. I think it adds to the story, because more often than not, (esp. female characters) are reduced to the role of love interest and I don't like that very much.
Another point: I don't myself have anxiety, but from what I know from friends and ye old internet, I think the depiction of it was realistic. I recommended this book to my friend that suffers from social anxiety and this might help her to not feel so alone in that :)
My favourite scene was definitly when Jimmy just decides to leave, like it started as a joke between him and Lister, but then he just does it and I can't. Perfect. I laughed so hard when he did it.
I also loved the way Angel's and Juliet's friendship played out. I think it was important for her to realise how much she hurt Juliet and that friendship can be more. Like, that feeling that nobody understands you is so real and more common than I would've thought and this book made me realise once again, that there are people that can understand me, but I have to talk to them for that. I can have friends with deep connections, who simultaneously don't have to be my soulmate/romantic partner and that aspect is also super important and the book included that so well! It was such a happy and fullfilling ending.
Definitly in my top 5 favourite books of all time. I felt so understood and welcomed. Thank you for writing this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Adult/minor relationship
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