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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
2.5 rounded down, maybe just two "I'm gay AND in a boy band??" books within 1 week was a recipe for comparing, but this one was not as fun as Kiss and Tell. The two narrators were hard to tell apart and none of the characters really clicked for me. The lead up to the climax was both long and felt like nothing happened, and the ending felt rushed.
A fine enough read, but I'm very glad I didn't spend any money on it.
A fine enough read, but I'm very glad I didn't spend any money on it.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Read in a day and adored it!! Loved all the characters in the band so much and really enjoyed the story!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
What I liked: It dealt with the real issue that even in 2021, it can be very difficult for celebrities to live their authentic lives and that often money is more important than their happiness. Also loved the representation and that PREP got a shoutout!
Where it missed: I didn’t actually find myself rooting for the romance that much, which defeats the point of a romance I think.
I’ve seen a few people talking about how this loosely correlates to a fanfic that I know nothing about, so perhaps I’m not the target audience or people who are knowledgeable about that would enjoy this book more.
This was almost a solid three stars for me, which is where many romance-types books fall for me. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it, I’ll never reread it. I think it’s worth a shot for people who think the synopsis speaks to them.
What I liked: It dealt with the real issue that even in 2021, it can be very difficult for celebrities to live their authentic lives and that often money is more important than their happiness. Also loved the representation and that PREP got a shoutout!
Where it missed: I didn’t actually find myself rooting for the romance that much, which defeats the point of a romance I think.
I’ve seen a few people talking about how this loosely correlates to a fanfic that I know nothing about, so perhaps I’m not the target audience or people who are knowledgeable about that would enjoy this book more.
This was almost a solid three stars for me, which is where many romance-types books fall for me. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it, I’ll never reread it. I think it’s worth a shot for people who think the synopsis speaks to them.
"I don't care that anyone could see us, because I know with everything I have it'd be worth it. Screw the world. Screw everyone but Ruben."
This book is for you if... You are looking for a cute romance.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning: homophobia, forced closeting, parental abuse/neglect, drug abuse
This took me back to the years when I loved boy bands, like One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer and definitely more. I remember being so invested in them, and it was so easy to fall into Saturday just like it was so easy to fall into One Direction. So in terms of only my emotions while reading this it's absolutely 5 stars, but it went beyond that and blew me away just as a book, even if I was never a fan of boy bands I think I would've been just as invested in Ruben and Zach's relationship as well as the relationship of all 4 boys in the band.
The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of while reading was the initial first pick up of the book, I was definitely surprised with the writing style right away, it reads kinda like fan fiction. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, I've read a lot of amazing fan fiction in my life, I just wasn't expecting it, but once my brain kinda like calibrated to the style I was fine and actually grew to really like the writing style once I was used to it. On the writing though I loved that both character's voices felt so different, Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich did a fantastic job with that.
Character wise, perfection. All 4 boys felt very real, Jon, and Angel were beautifully written characters, and I'm very happy that they were more than just surface level characters they had depth and it was amazing to see their journey though the story as well. Now onto Ruben, I genuinely love him, I felt for him the whole book, wanting him to be able to be himself and to be able to come out. I enjoyed his perceptive chapters a lot, and really enjoyed knowing what was going on in his head during certain moments. Last but certainly not least, Zach, I was to wrap this boy in bubble wrap and protect him from the world. I felt like I could relate to Zach, that I knew what he was going though discovering his sexuality, and just I love him. His chapters made me excited I couldn't wait to get to his perspective no mater what was going on in the book.
Overall I throughly loved this book. The characters, and the topics of how the music industry treats artist, I couldn't get enough.
CAWPILE Rating: 9/10
Stars: 5/5 Stars
I really loved this.
This book is for you if... You are looking for a cute romance.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning: homophobia, forced closeting, parental abuse/neglect, drug abuse
This took me back to the years when I loved boy bands, like One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer and definitely more. I remember being so invested in them, and it was so easy to fall into Saturday just like it was so easy to fall into One Direction. So in terms of only my emotions while reading this it's absolutely 5 stars, but it went beyond that and blew me away just as a book, even if I was never a fan of boy bands I think I would've been just as invested in Ruben and Zach's relationship as well as the relationship of all 4 boys in the band.
The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of while reading was the initial first pick up of the book, I was definitely surprised with the writing style right away, it reads kinda like fan fiction. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, I've read a lot of amazing fan fiction in my life, I just wasn't expecting it, but once my brain kinda like calibrated to the style I was fine and actually grew to really like the writing style once I was used to it. On the writing though I loved that both character's voices felt so different, Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich did a fantastic job with that.
Character wise, perfection. All 4 boys felt very real, Jon, and Angel were beautifully written characters, and I'm very happy that they were more than just surface level characters they had depth and it was amazing to see their journey though the story as well. Now onto Ruben, I genuinely love him, I felt for him the whole book, wanting him to be able to be himself and to be able to come out. I enjoyed his perceptive chapters a lot, and really enjoyed knowing what was going on in his head during certain moments. Last but certainly not least, Zach, I was to wrap this boy in bubble wrap and protect him from the world. I felt like I could relate to Zach, that I knew what he was going though discovering his sexuality, and just I love him. His chapters made me excited I couldn't wait to get to his perspective no mater what was going on in the book.
Overall I throughly loved this book. The characters, and the topics of how the music industry treats artist, I couldn't get enough.
CAWPILE Rating: 9/10
Stars: 5/5 Stars
I really loved this.
it's a nice story that shows some insight into the music industry, especially how some boybands *cough**cough* have been treated by it. it was cute and the characters have a great development, but once I finished it I felt like there wasn't really much to it. some important plot points were left without much development. still, it's sassy, entertaining and easy to read
while reading this book, I couldn't picture other thing that wasn't one direction. It's obviously fiction, but there were some parts that reminded me so much of the band that I just have to proceed to list them, so here goes nothing.
****SPOLERS BELOW, OBVIOUSLY****
They illuminate us and the audience in crisscrossing lines of fluorescent green and blue
I just- do I need to explain?
As for Angel, I’d bet anything I own he’s eye-fucking the audience, adding in little pelvic-pop movements and half-kicks at the end of his steps, even though he’s not allowed to.
(...) has him growing his hair out for this tour, and it’s the kind of length that’s made to scream sex when it’s slick with sweat
"Why wouldn’t he be okay?” Angel asks, forcing his way between us and throwing his arms around each of our shoulders
While Jon’s standing topless, Angel shakes his water bottle to spray icy cold water on him. Jon gasps and yelps, jumping on the spot while Zach cackles. “Angel! You suck, why?”
“Bored.”
“Are you kidding me?”
Zach, still laughing, tosses Jon a hand towel, which he rubs over his brown skin to mop up some of the water, muttering to himself.
(and I KNOW there's a video somewhere of Harry handing over a towel but I just can't find it :( )
I wave down at them, and Zach squeezes in beside me, and the screams somehow get even louder.
"For goodness' sake, Ruben, not everything's a conspiracy against you(...)"
Ruben is dressed in a football jersey that shows off his arms, black workout pants, and squeaky-clean Nikes. The world stops.
not quite football, but...
and there's so many more...
while reading this book, I couldn't picture other thing that wasn't one direction. It's obviously fiction, but there were some parts that reminded me so much of the band that I just have to proceed to list them, so here goes nothing.
****SPOLERS BELOW, OBVIOUSLY****
They illuminate us and the audience in crisscrossing lines of fluorescent green and blue
I just- do I need to explain?
As for Angel, I’d bet anything I own he’s eye-fucking the audience, adding in little pelvic-pop movements and half-kicks at the end of his steps, even though he’s not allowed to.
(...) has him growing his hair out for this tour, and it’s the kind of length that’s made to scream sex when it’s slick with sweat
"Why wouldn’t he be okay?” Angel asks, forcing his way between us and throwing his arms around each of our shoulders
While Jon’s standing topless, Angel shakes his water bottle to spray icy cold water on him. Jon gasps and yelps, jumping on the spot while Zach cackles. “Angel! You suck, why?”
“Bored.”
“Are you kidding me?”
Zach, still laughing, tosses Jon a hand towel, which he rubs over his brown skin to mop up some of the water, muttering to himself.
(and I KNOW there's a video somewhere of Harry handing over a towel but I just can't find it :( )
I wave down at them, and Zach squeezes in beside me, and the screams somehow get even louder.
"For goodness' sake, Ruben, not everything's a conspiracy against you(...)"
Ruben is dressed in a football jersey that shows off his arms, black workout pants, and squeaky-clean Nikes. The world stops.
not quite football, but...
and there's so many more...
Leider konnte mich das Buch so überhaupt nicht überzeugen. Die Protagonisten Ruben und Zach waren farblos, blass und langweilig. Die Beiden hatten überhaupt keine eigene Meinung, vor allem Zach stach diesbezüglich extrem hervor. Das Management war einfach nur unterirdisch und kein Musiker Und keine Band würde sich das gefallen hat. Zudem war es alles sehr öde geschrieben, viel zu viel umschrieben . Ich versteh auch nicht, wieso ausgerechnet Ruben und Zach? Da fand ich Angel und Jo so viel interessanter als Persönlichkeit. Zudem war die Story auch völlig blass und dramalos. Eher hatte ich das Gefühl das man mit Angels Unfall und Drogenproblem irgendwie zwanghaft versucht hat was Interessantes rein zu pressen. Jo hingegen gefiel mir gegen Ende ganz gut, dass er sich gegen seinen Vater gestellt hat. Kurz gesagt, ich musste mich wirklich durch quälen. Auch die Problematik sich zu outen, wurde immer wieder angesprochen und immer wieder mit dem gleichen argumentiert. Insgesamt ist das Buch selbst für einen Teenieroman sehr blass und langweilig.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
