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books_withcats's review against another edition
3.0
I struggled to decide whether I should give 3 or 4 stars, so maybe 3.5 ⭐
But here is my issue with many of books in the genre. The protagonists shouldn't be 17 and 18 years old, 2 boys at that age, don't have the maturity this books and this story needs. Make them 20, 22 but not 17... At least make them a legal age to have sex!
I liked the story beginning, the building of the plot and then it just deflates...
But here is my issue with many of books in the genre. The protagonists shouldn't be 17 and 18 years old, 2 boys at that age, don't have the maturity this books and this story needs. Make them 20, 22 but not 17... At least make them a legal age to have sex!
I liked the story beginning, the building of the plot and then it just deflates...
emeestans's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely LOVE this book. Seriously a core memory of mine is reading this book as a youth.
torturedmidwestbrat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? No
3.75
adaminmelrose's review against another edition
3.0
So imagine if in 1967, after Capitol Records killed Smile, Brian Wilson jumped off a roof, leaving behind his nine year-old kid. Fast-forward about ten years, and Brian Wilson's kid—let's call him William Bryson—is just as good as music as ol' Bri was, but lives in a lower-middle class house with his stepmom and works at the Dairy Queen.
Imagine also if the guy in charge of Capitol Records was still in charge ten years later, and his own kid is a Richie Rich type who's famous for being famous. He can really sing well, though, and doesn't know how to make Daddy at Capitol happy.
Now Richie Rich and William Bryson meet. And fight for a hot second cause William's mad that Richie's dad was a part of Brian's death. But they get over it cause it turns out they both work really well together as songwriting partners and also they totally wanna smooch all the time.
That's the book. That's the whole book right there. It's a what-if scenario around a Brian Wilson-esque musical talent whose schizophrenia pushed him to take his life and the people who were left behind. Only it's not even that complex cause nobody has more than one and a half dimensions. Characters who serve only as caricatures for 90% of the book suddenly gain a heart when asked a question more than twice. There's no real conflict between the two main characters, only fake conflict that could—wait for it—be resolved by talking.
Also, and I read the audiobook edition of this, one of the narrators did an excellent job...but not at portraying the character he was depicting. I'm sorry, but I don't buy that someone described as wearing suspenders with shorts over a t-shirt with Sharpied Chucks sounding like an 80s rock star off stage.
What I will say for this book, as I've said on other queer YA novels I've read, is that I would have adored this book if I'd been the right age when I read it. I could have really benefitted from a book like this when I was the characters' age, something that normalized queer relationships. That didn't exist at the time, or at least I didn't know to go look for it. So I give credit for this book's very existence, even as I criticize it on flaws that my mid-30s mind finds easily.
Imagine also if the guy in charge of Capitol Records was still in charge ten years later, and his own kid is a Richie Rich type who's famous for being famous. He can really sing well, though, and doesn't know how to make Daddy at Capitol happy.
Now Richie Rich and William Bryson meet. And fight for a hot second cause William's mad that Richie's dad was a part of Brian's death. But they get over it cause it turns out they both work really well together as songwriting partners and also they totally wanna smooch all the time.
That's the book. That's the whole book right there. It's a what-if scenario around a Brian Wilson-esque musical talent whose schizophrenia pushed him to take his life and the people who were left behind. Only it's not even that complex cause nobody has more than one and a half dimensions. Characters who serve only as caricatures for 90% of the book suddenly gain a heart when asked a question more than twice. There's no real conflict between the two main characters, only fake conflict that could—wait for it—be resolved by talking.
Also, and I read the audiobook edition of this, one of the narrators did an excellent job...but not at portraying the character he was depicting. I'm sorry, but I don't buy that someone described as wearing suspenders with shorts over a t-shirt with Sharpied Chucks sounding like an 80s rock star off stage.
What I will say for this book, as I've said on other queer YA novels I've read, is that I would have adored this book if I'd been the right age when I read it. I could have really benefitted from a book like this when I was the characters' age, something that normalized queer relationships. That didn't exist at the time, or at least I didn't know to go look for it. So I give credit for this book's very existence, even as I criticize it on flaws that my mid-30s mind finds easily.
jjcraftsandbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a cute, easy read. It's a queer modern cinderella retelling where two guys meet at a gig but the rich guy only manages to snap a picture of the other's sharpie decorated converse before he runs away. It gets put on social media and things explode. It's all about music, guitars, singing, the record industry and the good and bad that comes with it. Also something to note is this is NOT a coming out book. Both main characters are already out and it's fully accepted by both friends and family so it's never used as part of the drama which is also really nice to read. If you like your YA fluffy and light then I'd definitely recommend this book. It was such a quick but engrossing read and all of the characters are loveable.
Trigger warning for mentions of a parents suicide
Trigger warning for mentions of a parents suicide
lavendermarch's review against another edition
5.0
This book needs to be a movie! It was adorable, heartfelt, wonderful... I could talk about it for hours.
It was a rom-com, gay, music industry Cinderella retelling. The cover is very fitting. I honestly want it to be a movie just for the music. It sounds amazing, and some of my favorite parts were when Nate and Cameron were songwriting and recording together.
The characters were some of the best parts of the story: both Nate and Cameron were fleshed out, and relatable. I would read any sort of spinoff about Tess, Cameron's twin sister, and/or Victor, Nate's best friend. I want to be in their heads, too. Oh, or one about Liquid's guitarist, Travis, because he's very intriguing and sexy. But anyway, both Nate and Cameron won me over - they both had raw emotion, and were relatable and adorable and fabulous. Sigh.
The actual story was really, really good too. It was interesting - there was the undercurrent of tension and mystery surrounding Nate's dad and his death, not to mention the actual relationship between Cameron and Nate (which was magical and adorable, because they literally made music together, and it was beautiful). I enjoyed how Tonya and Cameron and Nate's dad (even though he was dead) also had a fair amount of redemption/fleshing out into actual people, unlike many adults in young adult stories. It was well done, and added something to the story.
The romance aspect of Nate and Cameron's relationship was great. I loved how they had an instant connection that was strengthened by their musical abilities/interests. It was also, of course, deepened by them getting to know each other. It was pretty cute, and I have to say (if they were straight) I'd date either of them in a heartbeat. Again, I need a movie. That would be so cute!
5 stars of amazingness!
It was a rom-com, gay, music industry Cinderella retelling. The cover is very fitting. I honestly want it to be a movie just for the music. It sounds amazing, and some of my favorite parts were when Nate and Cameron were songwriting and recording together.
The characters were some of the best parts of the story: both Nate and Cameron were fleshed out, and relatable. I would read any sort of spinoff about Tess, Cameron's twin sister, and/or Victor, Nate's best friend. I want to be in their heads, too. Oh, or one about Liquid's guitarist, Travis, because he's very intriguing and sexy. But anyway, both Nate and Cameron won me over - they both had raw emotion, and were relatable and adorable and fabulous. Sigh.
The actual story was really, really good too. It was interesting - there was the undercurrent of tension and mystery surrounding Nate's dad and his death, not to mention the actual relationship between Cameron and Nate (which was magical and adorable, because they literally made music together, and it was beautiful). I enjoyed how Tonya and Cameron and Nate's dad (even though he was dead) also had a fair amount of redemption/fleshing out into actual people, unlike many adults in young adult stories. It was well done, and added something to the story.
The romance aspect of Nate and Cameron's relationship was great. I loved how they had an instant connection that was strengthened by their musical abilities/interests. It was also, of course, deepened by them getting to know each other. It was pretty cute, and I have to say (if they were straight) I'd date either of them in a heartbeat. Again, I need a movie. That would be so cute!
5 stars of amazingness!
eowmeow's review against another edition
To me it became boring somewhere in the middle.
I don’t know. I just wasn’t really hooked on it.
I don’t know. I just wasn’t really hooked on it.