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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
When You Get the Chance, written by Emma Lord and flawlessly narrated by Jesse Vilinsky is a captivating, poignant, and delightful YA novel about searching for something you longed for desperately and realizing that you had it all along. The novel’s charming protagonist, diverse cast of characters, and intriguing story drew me in immediately, and I found myself listening to the book every chance I got until I finished it with a huge smile on my face. Lord’s description is vivid, writing style active, dialogue excellent, and her characters are well-drawn, evolving authentically over the course of the novel. I loved how she deftly balances humor, angst, anxiety, fear, and the full spectrum of emotions experienced by her characters in their humorous, chemistry-filled, and emotional interactions.
Millie Price’s big dreams about becoming a Broadway star have been the driving force in her life from an early age, and she’s not going to let anything stop her from achieving that dream. She’s all personality, drive, emotion, and drama, none of which she believes can thank her introverted father for, as far as she knows. As a young college student, he raised her from a baby with the help of his sister Heather. At the end of her junior year, Millie finds herself on the precipice of her plans for her future falling apart. When she finds a link to his live journal from his college days, she is set on a journey of self-discovery and growth that will change her life and world in ways she cannot even imagine.
I loved Millie’s relationships and interactions with her father, aunt, best friend, and classmate Oliver, as well as other people she comes to know during the novel. The novel shines in these moments the most. Millie’s interactions with Oliver are fiery, sweet, so funny, electric, butterfly-inducing, and frustrating—all at the same time. Lord brilliantly explores the characters’ inner lives and emotions directly via Millie’s POV and expressively through the characters’ dialogue, personalities, and behavior.
Vilinsky’s narration effortlessly brings Lord’s memorable characters to life, capturing their personalities and quirks and giving them each a distinctive voice. The narrator’s lively narration wonderfully voices the characters' inner lives as portrayed by Lord. Emotion flows through her voice, as she captures the highs and lows of Millie’s emotions, Millie Moods, and her bigger-than-life dramatic personality. On the other end of the spectrum, Vilinsky does an excellent job of voicing Oliver’s low-key, long-suffering patience with Millie’s antics that allows traces of his confusing feelings for her to sneak through. I loved the narrator’s voice for Oliver.
I love musicals, however, my familiarity with musical theater and Broadway musicals as a genre is limited. Yet, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the novel at all. On that note, I cannot imagine musical theater and Broadway musical aficionados not loving every second of When You Get the Chance. It’s filled with tidbits of musical theatre experiences/moments, song lyrics, titles, etc. Millie’s (and Oliver’s) love for musical theatre flows through the novel, and it’s infectious. I have been a huge ABBA fan since childhood, thanks to my mom, and I think ABBA fans should get a kick out of it as well.
A funny, insightful, emotional, sweet, and romantic YA novel about self-discovery, family, following your dreams, and the importance of connection and being grounded, When You Get the Chance is an unforgettable story about love of all kinds.
Advanced review copy provided by Macmillan Young Listeners via Netgalley for review.
Millie Price’s big dreams about becoming a Broadway star have been the driving force in her life from an early age, and she’s not going to let anything stop her from achieving that dream. She’s all personality, drive, emotion, and drama, none of which she believes can thank her introverted father for, as far as she knows. As a young college student, he raised her from a baby with the help of his sister Heather. At the end of her junior year, Millie finds herself on the precipice of her plans for her future falling apart. When she finds a link to his live journal from his college days, she is set on a journey of self-discovery and growth that will change her life and world in ways she cannot even imagine.
I loved Millie’s relationships and interactions with her father, aunt, best friend, and classmate Oliver, as well as other people she comes to know during the novel. The novel shines in these moments the most. Millie’s interactions with Oliver are fiery, sweet, so funny, electric, butterfly-inducing, and frustrating—all at the same time. Lord brilliantly explores the characters’ inner lives and emotions directly via Millie’s POV and expressively through the characters’ dialogue, personalities, and behavior.
Vilinsky’s narration effortlessly brings Lord’s memorable characters to life, capturing their personalities and quirks and giving them each a distinctive voice. The narrator’s lively narration wonderfully voices the characters' inner lives as portrayed by Lord. Emotion flows through her voice, as she captures the highs and lows of Millie’s emotions, Millie Moods, and her bigger-than-life dramatic personality. On the other end of the spectrum, Vilinsky does an excellent job of voicing Oliver’s low-key, long-suffering patience with Millie’s antics that allows traces of his confusing feelings for her to sneak through. I loved the narrator’s voice for Oliver.
I love musicals, however, my familiarity with musical theater and Broadway musicals as a genre is limited. Yet, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the novel at all. On that note, I cannot imagine musical theater and Broadway musical aficionados not loving every second of When You Get the Chance. It’s filled with tidbits of musical theatre experiences/moments, song lyrics, titles, etc. Millie’s (and Oliver’s) love for musical theatre flows through the novel, and it’s infectious. I have been a huge ABBA fan since childhood, thanks to my mom, and I think ABBA fans should get a kick out of it as well.
A funny, insightful, emotional, sweet, and romantic YA novel about self-discovery, family, following your dreams, and the importance of connection and being grounded, When You Get the Chance is an unforgettable story about love of all kinds.
Advanced review copy provided by Macmillan Young Listeners via Netgalley for review.
When You Get the Chance, beautifully written by Emma Lord, is a captivating, poignant, and delightful YA novel about searching for something you longed for desperately and realizing that you had it all along. The novel’s charming protagonist, diverse cast of characters, and intriguing story drew me in at once, and I found myself reading the book every chance I got until I finished it with a huge smile on my face. Lord’s vivid description, active writing style, excellent dialogue, and sharply drawn characters that soar from the pages into your imagination evolve authentically over the course of the novel. I love how she deftly balances the full spectrum of emotions—i.e., humor, angst, anxiety, fear—experienced by her characters in cleverly written humorous, chemistry-filled, and emotional interactions.
As a young college student, Millie's father raised her from a baby with the help of his sister Heather when Millie’s mother abandoned Millie. Millie Price’s big dreams about becoming a Broadway star have been the driving force in her life from an early age, and she’s not going to let anything stop her from achieving that dream, even family. She’s all personality, drive, emotion, and drama, none of which she believes can thank her introverted father for, as far as she knows. At the end of her junior year, Millie finds herself on the precipice of her plans for the future falling apart. When she finds a link to her father’s live journal from his college days, her attempts to find her mom takes her on a journey of self-discovery and growth that will change her life and world in ways she cannot even imagine.
I loved Millie’s relationships and interactions with her father, aunt, best friend, and classmate Oliver, as well as other people who come into her life. It’s in these moments the novel sparkles most. Millie’s interactions with Oliver are fiery, sweet, hilarious, electric, butterfly-inducing, and frustrating—simultaneously. Lord brilliantly explores her characters’ inner lives and emotions via Millie’s POV and expressively through the characters’ dialogue, personalities, and behavior. Oliver’s low-key, long-suffering patience with Millie’s antics is the perfect balance to the highs and lows of Millie’s emotions and her bigger-than-life dramatic personality. I love how the more time Oliver and Millie spend together, their confusing feelings for each other begin to sneak through subtly in the midst of their charged exchanges.
I love musicals and couldn’t resist the chance to read When You Get the Chance. Fame is still one of my all-time favorite shows and musical programs. While I watch and love musicals, my familiarity with musical theatre and recent Broadway musicals is limited. Yet, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the novel at all. On that note, I cannot imagine musical theater and Broadway musical aficionados not loving every second of When You Get the Chance. It’s filled with tidbits of musical theatre experiences/moments, song lyrics, titles, etc. Millie’s (and Oliver’s) love for musical theatre flows through the novel, and it’s infectious. Thanks to my mom, I have been a huge ABBA fan since childhood, and I think ABBA fans should also get a kick out of it.
A humorous, insightful, emotional, sweet, and romantic YA novel about self-discovery, family, following your dreams, and the importance of connection and being grounded, When You Get the Chance is an unforgettable story about love—of all kinds.
Advanced review copy provided by Wednesday Books via Netgalley for review.
As a young college student, Millie's father raised her from a baby with the help of his sister Heather when Millie’s mother abandoned Millie. Millie Price’s big dreams about becoming a Broadway star have been the driving force in her life from an early age, and she’s not going to let anything stop her from achieving that dream, even family. She’s all personality, drive, emotion, and drama, none of which she believes can thank her introverted father for, as far as she knows. At the end of her junior year, Millie finds herself on the precipice of her plans for the future falling apart. When she finds a link to her father’s live journal from his college days, her attempts to find her mom takes her on a journey of self-discovery and growth that will change her life and world in ways she cannot even imagine.
I loved Millie’s relationships and interactions with her father, aunt, best friend, and classmate Oliver, as well as other people who come into her life. It’s in these moments the novel sparkles most. Millie’s interactions with Oliver are fiery, sweet, hilarious, electric, butterfly-inducing, and frustrating—simultaneously. Lord brilliantly explores her characters’ inner lives and emotions via Millie’s POV and expressively through the characters’ dialogue, personalities, and behavior. Oliver’s low-key, long-suffering patience with Millie’s antics is the perfect balance to the highs and lows of Millie’s emotions and her bigger-than-life dramatic personality. I love how the more time Oliver and Millie spend together, their confusing feelings for each other begin to sneak through subtly in the midst of their charged exchanges.
I love musicals and couldn’t resist the chance to read When You Get the Chance. Fame is still one of my all-time favorite shows and musical programs. While I watch and love musicals, my familiarity with musical theatre and recent Broadway musicals is limited. Yet, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the novel at all. On that note, I cannot imagine musical theater and Broadway musical aficionados not loving every second of When You Get the Chance. It’s filled with tidbits of musical theatre experiences/moments, song lyrics, titles, etc. Millie’s (and Oliver’s) love for musical theatre flows through the novel, and it’s infectious. Thanks to my mom, I have been a huge ABBA fan since childhood, and I think ABBA fans should also get a kick out of it.
A humorous, insightful, emotional, sweet, and romantic YA novel about self-discovery, family, following your dreams, and the importance of connection and being grounded, When You Get the Chance is an unforgettable story about love—of all kinds.
Advanced review copy provided by Wednesday Books via Netgalley for review.
It’s like Mama Mia, Never Have I Ever, and High School Musical had a cute YA book baby.
Millie lands the dream precollege offer to train and study her theater passions in LA, except, she didn’t ask her single father first whether she could even apply. He’s focused on her staying in NY to finish her high school education while Millie is focused on her future. She’s also unexpectedly trying to discover who her birth mother is after conspiring with her best friend to identify three potential candidates.
Millie is confident and determined in her abilities, aside from dancing, so her commitment to her craft is admirable. It also makes for an entertaining dynamic with her enemy, Oliver, who she’s expected to intern with throughout the summer.
I really enjoyed all the characters in this one and found something lovable about each relationship, whether it was Millie with her dad, Millie and Oliver, or Millie and Chloe (a potential stepsister depending on how Mama Mia plays out).
I also like how Lord ties social media platforms into her writing. She uses the platforms with purpose and how teenagers would use them to explore their identities. It doesn’t feel like she’s mentioning them to check a box or prove relevancy.
This quote stuck out: It’s less about what we know and more about what we understand.
Millie lands the dream precollege offer to train and study her theater passions in LA, except, she didn’t ask her single father first whether she could even apply. He’s focused on her staying in NY to finish her high school education while Millie is focused on her future. She’s also unexpectedly trying to discover who her birth mother is after conspiring with her best friend to identify three potential candidates.
Millie is confident and determined in her abilities, aside from dancing, so her commitment to her craft is admirable. It also makes for an entertaining dynamic with her enemy, Oliver, who she’s expected to intern with throughout the summer.
I really enjoyed all the characters in this one and found something lovable about each relationship, whether it was Millie with her dad, Millie and Oliver, or Millie and Chloe (a potential stepsister depending on how Mama Mia plays out).
I also like how Lord ties social media platforms into her writing. She uses the platforms with purpose and how teenagers would use them to explore their identities. It doesn’t feel like she’s mentioning them to check a box or prove relevancy.
This quote stuck out: It’s less about what we know and more about what we understand.
4.5 stars
Some language, but otherwise a clean fun drama nerd Mamma Mia adaptation which I really enjoyed. The audio was well done.
Some language, but otherwise a clean fun drama nerd Mamma Mia adaptation which I really enjoyed. The audio was well done.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Loved this book! It was a quick read and a fun twist on Mama Mia! Having a 16 yr old daughter who loves theatre while reading this book definitely put it in a sweet spot for me as she has so many similarities to the main character! Plus I loved all of the theatre references!
The full cast of characters is absolutely adorable and they are all loveable! It’s the kind of book where I would read books about the supporting characters in a heartbeat!
Sweet enemies to lovers teen romance!
The full cast of characters is absolutely adorable and they are all loveable! It’s the kind of book where I would read books about the supporting characters in a heartbeat!
Sweet enemies to lovers teen romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
idk why i just didnt like this book im so sorry emma lord
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes