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robinsnow's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
tarareads517's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
medium-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
4.5
Such a lovely read with some more difficult topics than I expected.
sara7991's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad, very behind closed doors intimacy. Definitely gave me like 2012 one direction band vibes, which honestly, I didn't hate lol
zzwmm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
5.0
eva2619's review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
tyshaw001's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
A little to long and needed more spice.
inescalica's review against another edition
3.0
Felt like I was back to my fanfiction reading days which is not a bad thing as that is what i expected.
I thought this would take me longer to read but it was actually a very fast process. However, for 400 pages of not very much plot there were definitively too many unresolved storylines. The writing was a bit cringy at times and I found that the characters reactions and dialogue were often too dramatic which made it feel VERY YA and was not my favourite.
It was an overall enjoyable read and a cute one at times, just felt a little flat.
I thought this would take me longer to read but it was actually a very fast process. However, for 400 pages of not very much plot there were definitively too many unresolved storylines. The writing was a bit cringy at times and I found that the characters reactions and dialogue were often too dramatic which made it feel VERY YA and was not my favourite.
It was an overall enjoyable read and a cute one at times, just felt a little flat.
siobhancollierauthor's review against another edition
3.0
I normally love Sophie Gonzales, she’s great at approaching LGBTQIAAPP plots with humour and panache. But this one was a bit of a slog to get through, and hard to rate because of that.
Normal base summary: Ruben has been closeted by his management since the band’s inception. He’s also been in love with his best mate and band mate, Zach. Zach has always identified as straight, and never second guesses the record company. One fateful night in Paris, they share a kiss, and the rest of the novel follows the highs and lows of their relationship and keeping it quiet for their management company.
Other reviews have said the voices were interchangeable between the two main characters, and I agree. They both felt passive, even though Ruben frequently accuses Zach of that. The real spirit in this story is Reece/Angel. The lines that showed Sophie’s wit the most came from him. I could have read Angel’s story with so much more enthusiasm!
The plot is to be expected, the two deciding to out themselves, but there are parts of the plot that feel synthetic, in a way? The record company and management team (which seem to be interchangeable) are the Big Bad, and only get painted as doing things to actively harm the band, when I think it’s a lot more nuanced than that. It gets stickier when their manager/record company owner is one of the band’s fathers, but the insidious nature of that is only ever glazed over. Again, Jon’s story is so intricate and compelling I could have read his story happily. I suppose my biggest upset is that the main plot in this is about the least interesting members, because Zach just has “this isn’t my music genre” going for him, and Ruben’s situation with a controlling mother is mentioned frequently but not resolved in a satisfying way. It’s like both their roles are to be the LGBT one (Ruben gay, Zach bisexual) and that’s pretty much it.
And that’s really unsatisfying when Sophie is so much more capable of an interesting storyline with vibrant characters than this book gives. So one star for Jon, two for Angel/Reece.
Normal base summary: Ruben has been closeted by his management since the band’s inception. He’s also been in love with his best mate and band mate, Zach. Zach has always identified as straight, and never second guesses the record company. One fateful night in Paris, they share a kiss, and the rest of the novel follows the highs and lows of their relationship and keeping it quiet for their management company.
Other reviews have said the voices were interchangeable between the two main characters, and I agree. They both felt passive, even though Ruben frequently accuses Zach of that. The real spirit in this story is Reece/Angel. The lines that showed Sophie’s wit the most came from him. I could have read Angel’s story with so much more enthusiasm!
The plot is to be expected, the two deciding to out themselves, but there are parts of the plot that feel synthetic, in a way? The record company and management team (which seem to be interchangeable) are the Big Bad, and only get painted as doing things to actively harm the band, when I think it’s a lot more nuanced than that. It gets stickier when their manager/record company owner is one of the band’s fathers, but the insidious nature of that is only ever glazed over. Again, Jon’s story is so intricate and compelling I could have read his story happily. I suppose my biggest upset is that the main plot in this is about the least interesting members, because Zach just has “this isn’t my music genre” going for him, and Ruben’s situation with a controlling mother is mentioned frequently but not resolved in a satisfying way. It’s like both their roles are to be the LGBT one (Ruben gay, Zach bisexual) and that’s pretty much it.
And that’s really unsatisfying when Sophie is so much more capable of an interesting storyline with vibrant characters than this book gives. So one star for Jon, two for Angel/Reece.
ally91's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
katelovesromance's review against another edition
3.0
I was really bummed about not loving this one. I loved one of her other ones so much that I may have just had my hopes up too much. I love boybands and then you have two of them dating. I was like sign me up as soon as I saw it.
The book wasn't bad, I just didn't love it as much as I was hoping too. I think I just had a hard time connecting and caring about the characters. I will continue to read other work that Sophie Gonzales puts out though.
The book wasn't bad, I just didn't love it as much as I was hoping too. I think I just had a hard time connecting and caring about the characters. I will continue to read other work that Sophie Gonzales puts out though.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol