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phaneem's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this one up because I was in the mood for something light, girly and a little romance-y and I have to say it didn't disappoint! Rockoholic tells the story of Jody, a hardcore fan of the singer of The Regulators, Jackson Gatlin. She goes to the concert, only to find herself kidnapping him and taking him back to her home town of Nuffing-on-the-Wold. (The first time I saw the name, I actually thought it was a joke. But no, it's the actual name the author gave Jody's home town.) So, she hides him in her grandfather's garage
This book is funny, but it's also true. The whole point of the book (in my opinion) was to capture the hysteria you see quite often with teenagers (though it's not limited only to them) where they end up worshipping a certain idol (either from the music or film industry). They become blind-sided and try to imitate their idols, to the point of doing completely stupid things. This book does a great job of showing us exactly what happens when people are famous (which kind-of explains why so many musicians and actors are frequently admitted to rehab clinics to deal with all the palavah (is that the right spelling??) that comes with fame) and how it's completely different to what the fans think it is.
I thought that all the characters were rather well developed. You knew enough about them to understand why they acted in the way they did. I especially liked Mac (though his name is really bad - Mackenzie Lawless??). Jody was ok from the beginning of the book and Jackson grew on me after a while. Cree was an absolute pleasure and if you read the book, you'll know why! I could just imagine a little child like her in front of me! I have to say though, I had guessed a part of the story when I was only a few pages in, but it didn't spoil the book for me! I wanted to see how things went, so I had to finish it!
A fun read that tries to make rather meaningful point at the end of the story.
Originally published on my blog (http://funny-wool.blogspot.com/2011/05/rockoholic.html)
This book is funny, but it's also true. The whole point of the book (in my opinion) was to capture the hysteria you see quite often with teenagers (though it's not limited only to them) where they end up worshipping a certain idol (either from the music or film industry). They become blind-sided and try to imitate their idols, to the point of doing completely stupid things. This book does a great job of showing us exactly what happens when people are famous (which kind-of explains why so many musicians and actors are frequently admitted to rehab clinics to deal with all the palavah (is that the right spelling??) that comes with fame) and how it's completely different to what the fans think it is.
I thought that all the characters were rather well developed. You knew enough about them to understand why they acted in the way they did. I especially liked Mac (though his name is really bad - Mackenzie Lawless??). Jody was ok from the beginning of the book and Jackson grew on me after a while. Cree was an absolute pleasure and if you read the book, you'll know why! I could just imagine a little child like her in front of me! I have to say though, I had guessed a part of the story when I was only a few pages in, but it didn't spoil the book for me! I wanted to see how things went, so I had to finish it!
A fun read that tries to make rather meaningful point at the end of the story.
Originally published on my blog (http://funny-wool.blogspot.com/2011/05/rockoholic.html)
_bookishbella's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a great example of how book blogging has changed me. Never in a million years had I not started blogging would I ever have read something like Rockoholic. I wasn't interested if it wasn't paranormal. But, since I've started blogging, I'm a lot more open to other genres, especially realistic and contemporary fiction, so I decided to give this one a go, see if I liked it.
I'd heard this book was funny. In reality? I found it hilarious! The plot is just so imaginative and silly, yet it felt perfectly believable even though I doubt a rock star could ever just walk out of a concert venue against his will... ;) Then things got even more strange once Jody got Jackson back to her house - the plot just got weirder and weirder and funnier and funnier. I loved it!
I really enjoyed reading about Jody, and I feel that CJ Skuse managed very well to create a real and authentic teenage voice. Some of the slang she uses to create Jody's voice is really effective, and I really like Jody, even though she annoyed me when she made stupid decisions. But, everyone makes stupid decisions, and in the end they got resolved, so it wasn't so bad.
I hated Jackson. He was arrogant and annoying, and he had completely let fame get to his head. I felt so sorry for Jody to have thought the world of him before she met him, and idolised him, only to have her dreams cruelly broken when she finally met him properly, and he turned out to be a huge jerk with some serious attitude problems. Everything he did annoyed me, and I really didn't like him. Even at the end when he gets a little bit better, I still didn't like him. The only times I like him a little bit was when he was with Cree, who is SO adorable :)
My favourite character though, has to be Mac. He was awesome, and he was so sweet to Jody, putting up with her obsession with Jackson, even though it's so obvious that he's in love with her... Oh my word, I loved him so much! That's all I shall say :)
Overall, Rockoholic was so much better than I expected it to be. I thought it was going to be a so-so book, but it was so much better! I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a light-hearted, funny read, as I'm sure you'll enjoy Rockoholic. After all, who doesn't like to get lost in a good, funny, completely unbelievable yet seemingly real story? :)
*Thank you to Chicken House for sending me this book for free in exchange for an honest review. :)
I'd heard this book was funny. In reality? I found it hilarious! The plot is just so imaginative and silly, yet it felt perfectly believable even though I doubt a rock star could ever just walk out of a concert venue against his will... ;) Then things got even more strange once Jody got Jackson back to her house - the plot just got weirder and weirder and funnier and funnier. I loved it!
I really enjoyed reading about Jody, and I feel that CJ Skuse managed very well to create a real and authentic teenage voice. Some of the slang she uses to create Jody's voice is really effective, and I really like Jody, even though she annoyed me when she made stupid decisions. But, everyone makes stupid decisions, and in the end they got resolved, so it wasn't so bad.
I hated Jackson. He was arrogant and annoying, and he had completely let fame get to his head. I felt so sorry for Jody to have thought the world of him before she met him, and idolised him, only to have her dreams cruelly broken when she finally met him properly, and he turned out to be a huge jerk with some serious attitude problems. Everything he did annoyed me, and I really didn't like him. Even at the end when he gets a little bit better, I still didn't like him. The only times I like him a little bit was when he was with Cree, who is SO adorable :)
My favourite character though, has to be Mac. He was awesome, and he was so sweet to Jody, putting up with her obsession with Jackson, even though it's so obvious that he's in love with her... Oh my word, I loved him so much! That's all I shall say :)
Overall, Rockoholic was so much better than I expected it to be. I thought it was going to be a so-so book, but it was so much better! I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a light-hearted, funny read, as I'm sure you'll enjoy Rockoholic. After all, who doesn't like to get lost in a good, funny, completely unbelievable yet seemingly real story? :)
*Thank you to Chicken House for sending me this book for free in exchange for an honest review. :)
booksofamber's review against another edition
3.0
Jody, Rockoholic’s main character, is Jackson’s biggest fan. When her best friend Mac gives Jody a ticket to The Regulator’s gig she jumps at the chance to go. After queuing up outside all day Jody gets to see just three songs before she hits her head and is taken to the nurse’s room.
Mac drives her home, plus one – Jackson , who is so high on drugs at the time he thinks that Jody's Curly Wurly is a knife. Yes, you read that right!
Honestly, I found the concept of this novel to be very bizarre. I mean, a fan kidnapping her idol and stashing him away in her sound proof garage is a little strange, right? But I loved it.
Rockoholic is filled with humour and various references which had me laughing out loud. Skuse has an original and unique writing style which drew me in straight away. She also deserves bonus points for the Harry Potter references!
Mac was a fantastic character. I loved it when Mac was looking after his younger sister. I also loved the fact that he stars as Frankenfurter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show in a play.
Now, the parts of the book that I didn’t like were Jody and Jackson. Both characters were immature and got on my nerves – Jackson more so than Jody.
Jody kidnaps a rockstar and thought it was completely okay to keep him for a few days, and Jackson was a 27 year old drug addict living in a 16 year old’s garage.
I don’t know if Jody’s behaviour was realistic – as realistic as it could be, anyway – or not, but I would have never acted like she does at sixteen. Then again, my stepmum does say I’m abnormal, haha. I admit that Jody did grow on me after a while, and there was a hell of a lot of character growth there.
That said, the book does send out a good message towards the end and I feel that this is important amongst the teen hysteria.
Overall, I liked the book. I loved Mac and Cree and Skuse’s writing, but I just couldn’t connect with Jody. Although, there are probably lots of teenage girls out there who can
Mac drives her home, plus one – Jackson , who is so high on drugs at the time he thinks that Jody's Curly Wurly is a knife. Yes, you read that right!
Honestly, I found the concept of this novel to be very bizarre. I mean, a fan kidnapping her idol and stashing him away in her sound proof garage is a little strange, right? But I loved it.
Rockoholic is filled with humour and various references which had me laughing out loud. Skuse has an original and unique writing style which drew me in straight away. She also deserves bonus points for the Harry Potter references!
Mac was a fantastic character. I loved it when Mac was looking after his younger sister. I also loved the fact that he stars as Frankenfurter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show in a play.
Now, the parts of the book that I didn’t like were Jody and Jackson. Both characters were immature and got on my nerves – Jackson more so than Jody.
Jody kidnaps a rockstar and thought it was completely okay to keep him for a few days, and Jackson was a 27 year old drug addict living in a 16 year old’s garage.
I don’t know if Jody’s behaviour was realistic – as realistic as it could be, anyway – or not, but I would have never acted like she does at sixteen. Then again, my stepmum does say I’m abnormal, haha. I admit that Jody did grow on me after a while, and there was a hell of a lot of character growth there.
That said, the book does send out a good message towards the end and I feel that this is important amongst the teen hysteria.
Overall, I liked the book. I loved Mac and Cree and Skuse’s writing, but I just couldn’t connect with Jody. Although, there are probably lots of teenage girls out there who can
sammeehicks's review against another edition
5.0
Oh Man - I loved this book! I really liked the look of it when I first heard about it but I wasn't expecting it to be that good!
The story follows Jody and Mac. Jody is completely obsessed with a band called The Regulators and their lead singer Jackson Gatlin. Mac is her best friend and when Jody goes to see The Regulators preform she manages to accidentally kidnap Jackson, making Mac an accomplice in the process. But will Jackson be everything Jody thinks he will be?
Jody really is an awesome character. She so funny and gets herself into so many ridiculous situations but at the same time she can say and do just the right thing - what you wish you had the guts to do if you were in her situation. Mac is absolutely adorable and I liked him from the get-go. I loved the relationship between the two - they obviously care for each other - and they have such great banter. And of course I have to mention Mac's sister Cree who is too cute for words! Utterly adorable!
Jackson was presented really well. At the beginning he is the famous rock star and everything you pretty much expect that to be - but underneath that you start to see him as a human being. With faults, but also a good heart. I came to really like him and there are a couple of really great scenes between him and Jody. I also found the whole 'dealing with fame' really interesting - both from Jody and Mac's perspective and from Jackson's as well.
The book is definitely quirky, but in a really relatable way. It had me laughing out loud and I really didn't want it to end. I really can't think of anything negative to say - I just loved it! I have already purchased a copy of C J Skuse's other book Pretty Bad Things and I can't wait to read it. Superb!
The story follows Jody and Mac. Jody is completely obsessed with a band called The Regulators and their lead singer Jackson Gatlin. Mac is her best friend and when Jody goes to see The Regulators preform she manages to accidentally kidnap Jackson, making Mac an accomplice in the process. But will Jackson be everything Jody thinks he will be?
Jody really is an awesome character. She so funny and gets herself into so many ridiculous situations but at the same time she can say and do just the right thing - what you wish you had the guts to do if you were in her situation. Mac is absolutely adorable and I liked him from the get-go. I loved the relationship between the two - they obviously care for each other - and they have such great banter. And of course I have to mention Mac's sister Cree who is too cute for words! Utterly adorable!
Jackson was presented really well. At the beginning he is the famous rock star and everything you pretty much expect that to be - but underneath that you start to see him as a human being. With faults, but also a good heart. I came to really like him and there are a couple of really great scenes between him and Jody. I also found the whole 'dealing with fame' really interesting - both from Jody and Mac's perspective and from Jackson's as well.
The book is definitely quirky, but in a really relatable way. It had me laughing out loud and I really didn't want it to end. I really can't think of anything negative to say - I just loved it! I have already purchased a copy of C J Skuse's other book Pretty Bad Things and I can't wait to read it. Superb!
carosbcher's review against another edition
3.0
Jodys Leben wurde gerade ziemlich über den Haufen geworfen: Ihr Opa ist gestorben und auf einem Konzert ihrer Lieblingsband entführt sie den Star (aus Versehen). Und dieser entpuppt sich dann als gar nicht so liebenswert wie Jody sich es vorher ausgemalt hatte. Ganz im Gegenteil, er ist arrogant, gemein, auf Drogenentzug und dazu noch selbstmordgefährdet. Und dann will er auch nicht wieder zurückgehen! Jody hat sich also nur noch mehr Probleme aufgehalst...nicht nur, weil auch ihre Familie und eigentlich die ganze Welt nicht erfahren darf, dass jetzt in einer Garage in einer englischen Kleinstadt ein Rockstar haust...
Schwärmereien sind ja gerade bei Teenies geradezu ein Muss. So können sich sicher viele Mädchen mit Jody identifizieren. Mir hat auch gut gefallen, dass die Geschichte mit sehr viel Humor erzählt wird. Gestört haben mich nur die manchmal zu konstruiert wirkenden Zufälle. Ein schönes, kurzweiliges Buch für Teenies und Musikfans, das jedoch ein wenig Potenzial verschenkt hat.
Schwärmereien sind ja gerade bei Teenies geradezu ein Muss. So können sich sicher viele Mädchen mit Jody identifizieren. Mir hat auch gut gefallen, dass die Geschichte mit sehr viel Humor erzählt wird. Gestört haben mich nur die manchmal zu konstruiert wirkenden Zufälle. Ein schönes, kurzweiliges Buch für Teenies und Musikfans, das jedoch ein wenig Potenzial verschenkt hat.
daylafm's review against another edition
4.0
Not what I was expecting, but definitely a cute (and funny) read!
upsidedown10's review against another edition
3.0
This book was not at all what I was expecting. I wanted a fun, funny story that was full of music. I wasn't expecting a story about celebrity and the effects if the spotlight. I was expecting Jackson to be younger and not in need of constant babysitting. Mac was the best part of the story other than Cree.
The story was ok, but it needed a little something more.
The story was ok, but it needed a little something more.
thereadingshelf's review against another edition
DNF @ 13 pages
I picked this up at a library sale ages ago because it sounded interesting, but I didn't gel with the voice at all - it's very over-the-top, and includes an obsession with a singer that I'll never understand (I've just never been the type of person who obsesses over real people, just fictional ones), a best friend who's mentioned to be gay but then maybe isn't (so that just seemed like some bad rep that could end up with the "best friend in love with the protagonist" trope, which could make for some really bad rep), and the fact that the protagonist is apparently obsessed with getting thin because her obsession dates a lot of models, even though she's apparently thin already. It was the last bit that finally made me say "nope, not for me."
I picked this up at a library sale ages ago because it sounded interesting, but I didn't gel with the voice at all - it's very over-the-top, and includes an obsession with a singer that I'll never understand (I've just never been the type of person who obsesses over real people, just fictional ones), a best friend who's mentioned to be gay but then maybe isn't (so that just seemed like some bad rep that could end up with the "best friend in love with the protagonist" trope, which could make for some really bad rep), and the fact that the protagonist is apparently obsessed with getting thin because her obsession dates a lot of models, even though she's apparently thin already. It was the last bit that finally made me say "nope, not for me."
kreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
this was a good one. picked it up cause i liked the cover and it was a different story to one's i've read before. such a bittersweet ending, i loved it. author did a pretty good job. it was funny, sad, and just great all around. gahhhhhh.
shrereads's review against another edition
2.0
blaaahh...i started it the moment i got it because i was bored...but then...i didn't end up liking it a whole lot. oh well, review PROBABLY to come.