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am_reading's review against another edition
I stopped reading when Nate was lured to the empty warehouse by Cameron who just couldn't leave Nate alone. Seemed more like a creepy obsession than instalove.
theaudioauditor's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
mlwl's review against another edition
5.0
This was darling. I loved the music discussions, whether about great existing bands or the way playing makes you feel, and the characters are so darn loveable! Completely enjoyed this one.
under_the_covers's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Very cute but also extremely sad topics discussed here. I enjoy the main characters connection and what they struggle with together feels real. It’s hard to discuss such topics with grace but I feel it is handled well in this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide
christiana's review against another edition
2.0
The idea is good (albeit more Romeo and Juliet than Cinderella), it’s decently
plotted, but the characterization always felt off for me. The actions that bring these characters together are so creepy (a famous person asking their followers to find someone who doesn’t want to be found, doing an anonymous gig callback when the person clearly doesn’t want to have anything to do with you) that I just couldn’t buy the way they do come together. Even though the characters acknowledge this, it’s done in this “I know this was kind of creepy of me, but that’s showbiz” kind of way that ultimately ruined the book for me.
plotted, but the characterization always felt off for me. The actions that bring these characters together are so creepy (a famous person asking their followers to find someone who doesn’t want to be found, doing an anonymous gig callback when the person clearly doesn’t want to have anything to do with you) that I just couldn’t buy the way they do come together. Even though the characters acknowledge this, it’s done in this “I know this was kind of creepy of me, but that’s showbiz” kind of way that ultimately ruined the book for me.
jayqueuetee's review against another edition
4.0
I’ll almost always round up a solid 3.5’er - and this is the epitome of a three-and-a-halfer. Cute, but not necessary. The whole shoe-picture-leads-to-missed-connection-tweet is wrapped up pretty quickly. I have a hard time believing that TMZ would be this invested in the son of a record exec. But it’s cute, and it’s sweet even when it’s raw, and it’s a solid addition to the queer YA canon - if only because we don’t get ANY “oh god I’m gay oh god my son/brother/friend is gay” moments, which is kind of refreshing.
21stcenturyvole's review against another edition
2.0
Realistically probably a 2.5 or so - it’s essentially a competently written Disney Channel Original Movie with a little more rl serious aspects. I think my problem is that it didn’t actually feel like a book about music although that was ostensibly what it’s largely about - musician names are dropped like buzzwords but nothing ever gets delved into deeply. In general it felt very pretty but not deep at all, with pretty much all of the characters being extremely one dimensional, including the protagonists. I had much more interest in some of the side characters. Honestly i think the book maybe didn’t commit hard enough to the Cinderella pastiche - when it decided to delve into more serious territory it lost some of the charm and it wasn’t written at a level equal to its eventual themes.
I am serious about it being a DCOM, though, I’d absolutely watch a movie of this.
I am serious about it being a DCOM, though, I’d absolutely watch a movie of this.
elentari7's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute, deeply music-loving book. I appreciate how none of the parents and step-parents in this Cinderella-type tale are wicked, or ill-intentioned at all, even when they're not great. And I like how there aren't fairy godmothers who show up to fix things and disappear, but consistently supportive friends and siblings around the main characters. Really, the Cinderella part of the story is only the inciting incident, and it's very self-aware. The story after that, when the characters have gotten over the ridiculousness of being thrown into a modern fairytale, is mostly about trying to make the resulting partnership--as much musical as it is romantic--work. Unpacking the baggage Nate and Cam each have, in relation to each other, their families, their families' shared past, their talents, the industry, the tabloids/privacy. The music and the romance both come easy to them, but there's a lot that could get in the way if they don't deal with it.
Not sure how I feel about the handling of mental illness in this (none depicted, but described and discussed a lot by other characters), but at least it's very positive about any person's worth and getting help.
No sex on the page, but Nate and Cam unambiguously have sex between chapters and it's not a big deal.
Writing-wise, this book sometimes does that thing where the dialogue feels too on the nose and contains things a character would never say aloud (or at least not to their current interlocutor) for the sake of explaining to the audience. Otherwise I enjoyed it fine.
Not sure how I feel about the handling of mental illness in this (none depicted, but described and discussed a lot by other characters), but at least it's very positive about any person's worth and getting help.
No sex on the page, but Nate and Cam unambiguously have sex between chapters and it's not a big deal.
Writing-wise, this book sometimes does that thing where the dialogue feels too on the nose and contains things a character would never say aloud (or at least not to their current interlocutor) for the sake of explaining to the audience. Otherwise I enjoyed it fine.
emilygem's review against another edition
5.0
I don't... even know...
It was so fucking good (sorry for the language). I've been excited for this book to come out for several months and I just read the whole thing in a single sitting. Books with music can frustrate me sometimes because I just want to know how it sounds but I feel like knowing how the music in this book sounded might have just ruined the atmosphere that surrounded the characters song writing. I feel like if t were ever made into a film or something it would be extremely hard to make sure that the atmosphere created in the film would live up to (or even close to) what I felt reading it.
Even just imaging Nates fathers music (you'll get what I mean when you've read it) kinda set up this magical atmosphere of utter crazy genius.
Honestly I just loved it so much.
It was so fucking good (sorry for the language). I've been excited for this book to come out for several months and I just read the whole thing in a single sitting. Books with music can frustrate me sometimes because I just want to know how it sounds but I feel like knowing how the music in this book sounded might have just ruined the atmosphere that surrounded the characters song writing. I feel like if t were ever made into a film or something it would be extremely hard to make sure that the atmosphere created in the film would live up to (or even close to) what I felt reading it.
Even just imaging Nates fathers music (you'll get what I mean when you've read it) kinda set up this magical atmosphere of utter crazy genius.
Honestly I just loved it so much.