Scan barcode
marieintheraw's review
4.0
So, funny story I accidentally read this in one sitting. I feel as though Jen Wilde has improved since Queens of Geek (even if I gave both books 4 stars). The story was fun, extremely diverse, and dealt with celebrity issues as well as regular life issues respectfully.
I received an ecopy of this through netgalley; however all opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this through netgalley; however all opinions are my own.
mehsi's review
Dropped at 42%. Don't get me wrong, this was a pretty OK book up to around 40%. But sorry, I am just not happy with how our MC just falls for her bandmate right after a very big break-up, right after her ex was being so jealous about that person. Way to show her she was actually right all along. I wouldn't have minded the romance between these characters IF it took them a bit longer to develop, maybe give our MC some time to think about the whole break-up, her feelings, etc.. Now it just felt weird and awkward. Plus I would have loved to see more of the band as a band. Concerts, lives, tours, all that stuff. I couldn't really get the feeling that this band was so famous. It just felt like a tiny relatively unknown band.
Great cast of characters though. Lots of diversity.
Great cast of characters though. Lots of diversity.
papertraildiary's review
3.0
This was cute! Normally I'm not so into books about musicians or celebrities but I quite liked this - Jen's writing is really good, and she found a way to even interest me in the topic. I felt so hard for Emmy as she tries to break out of a breakdown and figure herself out. I also was shipping Emmy and Alfie so hard ;) This book is like a queer anthem for teens and it's real lovely!
samrushingbooks's review
5.0
Yay, another awesome and adorable and sometimes geeky contemporary romance by Jen Wilde! She has definitely earned a spot on my list of authors whose books I will continue buying. Also, I love all the diversity within these pages. There are gay, lesbian, bisexual, genderqueer, pansexual, nonbinary, and more characters in the story, and it all feels natural. Honestly it does not matter to me how a character identifies or who the character's love interest is; I just want good characters and a good story, and this book definitely delivers that.
whatsmacksaid's review
5.0
This was fabulous. It wasn't perfect--some of the scenes dragged a bit--but I loved it. A bunch of queer rockers finding their way in the world together.
haliensarereal's review
2.0
2.5ish
This book wasn’t awful, it was just so chronically young and online. I was surprised it came out in 2018, because it feels very 2014.
It’s not badly written or anything, it just feels..childish? It gives very much “and then everyone clapped” in a lot of scenes. The diversity is great but it’s a lot. It’s just such a teenager book.
The characters don’t have much depth and the “songs” are extremely cringeworthy.
Ex 1:
“I’m here and I’m queer and I won’t slow down
We’re here and we’re queer, white black and brown”
Ex 2:
“Look at you with your hot pink hair
Look at you with your sultry stare
Look at you with my t-shirt on
Look at you singing my song”
Like?
This book wasn’t awful, it was just so chronically young and online. I was surprised it came out in 2018, because it feels very 2014.
It’s not badly written or anything, it just feels..childish? It gives very much “and then everyone clapped” in a lot of scenes. The diversity is great but it’s a lot. It’s just such a teenager book.
The characters don’t have much depth and the “songs” are extremely cringeworthy.
Ex 1:
“I’m here and I’m queer and I won’t slow down
We’re here and we’re queer, white black and brown”
Ex 2:
“Look at you with your hot pink hair
Look at you with your sultry stare
Look at you with my t-shirt on
Look at you singing my song”
Like?
dogeared88's review
5.0
what an incredible book!! oh my gooooosh <3 I will DEFINITELY need to read this one again. The LGBTQIA+ Rep! The Racial Diversity! The heavy problems!!
G O D WHAT A BOOK <3 UGH
G O D WHAT A BOOK <3 UGH
claresbookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
3.0
3 out of 5 stars.
"The Brightsiders" is a really fun novel in certain ways. The fast pace and interactions between the characters mean there was never a moment where the story felt like it was dragging. It was bright and colourful and queer as all get out, which was a real breath of fresh air.
Certain elements of the story made me feel uncomfortable, which is part of the reason why my rating is lower. I also cannot bring myself to go any higher than three stars because of the multitude of HP references littered throughout the story. It really took me out of the story. This book was published just at the start of the issues with You-Know-Who, before anything really massive happened. Pre-lockdown stuff when it was a lot less extreme. So I can give it a slight pass. But my feelings still stand.
"The Brightsiders" is a really fun novel in certain ways. The fast pace and interactions between the characters mean there was never a moment where the story felt like it was dragging. It was bright and colourful and queer as all get out, which was a real breath of fresh air.
Certain elements of the story made me feel uncomfortable, which is part of the reason why my rating is lower. I also cannot bring myself to go any higher than three stars because of the multitude of HP references littered throughout the story. It really took me out of the story. This book was published just at the start of the issues with You-Know-Who, before anything really massive happened. Pre-lockdown stuff when it was a lot less extreme. So I can give it a slight pass. But my feelings still stand.
whitreadslit's review against another edition
4.0
This was certainly an entertaining and intriguing read. I really loved seeing fame from a teenage perspective and coming back from the excess that I see so many child/teen stars fall into. A great coming of age story, as well as great LGBT representation. (4 stars)