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spaghettireads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Biphobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
jenny_librarian's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I admit I was worried when I first heard about this book. I'm a Directioner and I still have flashbacks from a certain subfandom that was just as destructive as management. Reading this kind of pitch always makes me worries it will give whoever still believes in those conspiracies some validation. Thankfully - as you can probably tell from my rating -- this wasn't it.
It's a coming-out story as well as a call out to the industry. Western standards for pop artists are so high that management will sometimes do anything to attain them, even if it destroys the very artists they represent. Boybands are the most notorious example of this. Angel's drug and alcohol consumption, Jon's struggle to keep his modesty, Ruben and Zach's sexuality are all things that are very much problematic in the music industry. The authors did a good job on that front, even if there were some mishaps here and there.
Queer boys pinning for each other seem to be my kryptonite, so this was a sure win. I'm a sucker for those kinds of stories where sexuality isn't a big deal, but the boys can't seem to ever just *be* together until the very end. Gets me every single time.
As a fangirl, I did have some trouble with a few details, but it wasn't anything major. More like I feel there wasn't enough editing on some aspects as there should have been. Examples include Ruben fearing for his life on the moving platform in the middle of the concert (artists are ALWAYS strapped to a harness or attached to a pole while on a moving platform since it's a security risk), the Amsterdam hotel elevator opening directly on the gravel rooftop without a door in-between (?!?!), and the mention of "queer male fans" but "straight and bi girls" in their fandom when Zach is thinking about coming out (weirdest wording ever and erases a huge chunk of fangirls who are neither). Also, replacing Good Morning America with "Good Afternoon United States" is just... unnecessary...? Call it GMA or make up a whole other show, but don't change the name if you're going to be that obvious about it...
That's just me being nitpicky, though. I really liked the book and Ruben and Zach's relationship.
I admit I was worried when I first heard about this book. I'm a Directioner and I still have flashbacks from a certain subfandom that was just as destructive as management. Reading this kind of pitch always makes me worries it will give whoever still believes in those conspiracies some validation. Thankfully - as you can probably tell from my rating -- this wasn't it.
It's a coming-out story as well as a call out to the industry. Western standards for pop artists are so high that management will sometimes do anything to attain them, even if it destroys the very artists they represent. Boybands are the most notorious example of this. Angel's drug and alcohol consumption, Jon's struggle to keep his modesty, Ruben and Zach's sexuality are all things that are very much problematic in the music industry. The authors did a good job on that front, even if there were some mishaps here and there.
Queer boys pinning for each other seem to be my kryptonite, so this was a sure win. I'm a sucker for those kinds of stories where sexuality isn't a big deal, but the boys can't seem to ever just *be* together until the very end. Gets me every single time.
As a fangirl, I did have some trouble with a few details, but it wasn't anything major. More like I feel there wasn't enough editing on some aspects as there should have been. Examples include Ruben fearing for his life on the moving platform in the middle of the concert (artists are ALWAYS strapped to a harness or attached to a pole while on a moving platform since it's a security risk), the Amsterdam hotel elevator opening directly on the gravel rooftop without a door in-between (?!?!), and the mention of "queer male fans" but "straight and bi girls" in their fandom when Zach is thinking about coming out (weirdest wording ever and erases a huge chunk of fangirls who are neither). Also, replacing Good Morning America with "Good Afternoon United States" is just... unnecessary...? Call it GMA or make up a whole other show, but don't change the name if you're going to be that obvious about it...
That's just me being nitpicky, though. I really liked the book and Ruben and Zach's relationship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Stalking
xoodlebooks's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Biphobia, Vomit, Sexual content, Racism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Fatphobia, Confinement, Car accident, Body shaming, and Blood
_booktails_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
ramunepocky's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5* — I really, thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were all well-rounded and complicated, they had their flaws, they had their vices, they have their good qualities and their bad. My favourite, particularly, was Zach. I think he really grew into his own confidence and worked on being more assertive and less with the people pleasing as the story progressed, and I was really happy for him when he was able to stand up for himself and say what he wanted. I also well and truly adored Angel; his struggle was very realistic, and something many people in the spotlight go through as a way to feel something and cope with their heavy schedules and expectations. His frustration, his want to be himself and live the way he wanted was very relatable, and I wish he hadn’t had to get to the point he did for management to actually take action and get him some help.
I also think this book does an incredible job on criticising and commenting on the narrative of how destructive and toxic the music industry, or any industry within the spotlight, can be. How much fame can be like a cage, especially when you’re forced into narrow little boxes and don’t get to be yourself, or tell the world the things about you, that you want to share, to simply be yourself. It’s heartbreaking to think about how many really bands, and people in the spotlight, go through something of that ilk; being forced to be someone else so they can be likeable, to pretend to be who they’re not. It is why so many people turn to alcohol and drugs to cope, to feel some freedom from the pressure and expectations. I certainly think we as a society need to change the way that we think about celebrities, and I think the industries need to stop forcing their artists to be people they’re not. It shouldn’t just be about the money, it should be about the people involved, about their lives too, and the freedom to live them as they choose. The romance was also super sweet, the way that one of them went from being super sure he was straight, to questioning, to coming to terms with his bisexuality and realising all the times he did very queer things without realising was very realistic and relatable.
I really went through a whole rollercoaster of emotions with this book; I laughed, I cried, I got so incredibly stressed!! It really put me through it!!
Also, I really loved the way that it ended on an open and hopeful note, it was perfect for the story and left it to the reader to imagine how it continued.
I’m excited for this is actually released in December, and so happy I got the chance to read an ARC as it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it lived up to it!! Thank you Netgalley, and y’all should go preorder this book!!
ps stories with bands can exist w/o being compared to fanfiction y’all thanks
I really went through a whole rollercoaster of emotions with this book; I laughed, I cried, I got so incredibly stressed!! It really put me through it!!
Also, I really loved the way that it ended on an open and hopeful note, it was perfect for the story and left it to the reader to imagine how it continued.
I’m excited for this is actually released in December, and so happy I got the chance to read an ARC as it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it lived up to it!! Thank you Netgalley, and y’all should go preorder this book!!
ps stories with bands can exist w/o being compared to fanfiction y’all thanks
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia
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