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brooke_city's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It started out with catty promise, reminiscent of the 00's tabloid spirals of child stars. (a la Paris, Lindsay, Britney) But, Summer turned out to actually be the Mary Sue everyone projected onto her, with everyone around her having a hand in ruining her career and life.
The plot develops much like the Disney shows it parodies, including the cliche ending of the romantic leads running away together.
Lionna could've been a more interesting character, bringing more light to how Black actors are treated in comparison to their white peers. But she still ended up being the token with no growth, and gets the solo by default.
Despite drugs and alcohol use, and casual mentions about sex, this could've been a YA novel. The only thing adult about the characters are their ages.
The plot develops much like the Disney shows it parodies, including the cliche ending of the romantic leads running away together.
Lionna could've been a more interesting character, bringing more light to how Black actors are treated in comparison to their white peers. But she still ended up being the token with no growth, and gets the solo by default.
Despite drugs and alcohol use, and casual mentions about sex, this could've been a YA novel. The only thing adult about the characters are their ages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual harassment
literaryintersections's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I was completely taken in by this book. It grabbed me from the first few pages and didn't let go until the end. I needed to know what happened to Summer, what happened the night of the Daydreams live show. But as I kept reading, I felt equal parts nostalgic and disgusted. Remembering the ways the early 2000s for myself: not fitting in, feeling inadequate compared to the beautiful thin superstars. And then realizing that those young women were just as vulnerable and confused as I was, but doing it in front of millions of people. And one "mistake" could, and did, change their entire lives. This book is fiction for sure, but it could be ripped from the headlines.
"But as it was, we were just two girls sent out into the world without any armor, and the only enemy we could see was each other."
A unique mix of the nostalgia of High School Musical, paired with the real life "downfall" of Britney Spears and her entire experience of the early 2000s. Interview past and present timelining of Daisy Jones and the Six. It is a complete cautionary tale of the impacts of the hollywood and entertainment industry's impact on young women and girls.
The sexual exploitation of Summer, the experiences she had as a child with her Dad and Mom (don't want to spoil), and ultimately the exploitation of Atlas and the industry was so hard to read. You love and hate Summer and Liana and Kat and Noah - all of them are complex. No person unscathed. All of them impacted.
"You ever wish we'd gotten famous just, like, seven years later? The world was kinder to girls seven years later."
I've been thinking about this line in particular - wondering if it is true. Is the world kinder to women now? Was it kinder to women in 2012? Kinder to girls who were trying to become or were famous? I don't know. I think about the hatred Selena Gomez experienced. Or Zendaya. All of the young Black girls who are forced to play stereotypes. The experience Chloe Bailey (and Halle for that matter) are having now. I don't think the world is any kinder to girls. I think it is just as horrible, exhausting, exploitative.
"But as it was, we were just two girls sent out into the world without any armor, and the only enemy we could see was each other."
A unique mix of the nostalgia of High School Musical, paired with the real life "downfall" of Britney Spears and her entire experience of the early 2000s. Interview past and present timelining of Daisy Jones and the Six. It is a complete cautionary tale of the impacts of the hollywood and entertainment industry's impact on young women and girls.
The sexual exploitation of Summer, the experiences she had as a child with her Dad and Mom (don't want to spoil), and ultimately the exploitation of Atlas and the industry was so hard to read. You love and hate Summer and Liana and Kat and Noah - all of them are complex. No person unscathed. All of them impacted.
"You ever wish we'd gotten famous just, like, seven years later? The world was kinder to girls seven years later."
I've been thinking about this line in particular - wondering if it is true. Is the world kinder to women now? Was it kinder to women in 2012? Kinder to girls who were trying to become or were famous? I don't know. I think about the hatred Selena Gomez experienced. Or Zendaya. All of the young Black girls who are forced to play stereotypes. The experience Chloe Bailey (and Halle for that matter) are having now. I don't think the world is any kinder to girls. I think it is just as horrible, exhausting, exploitative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment
daphnemarie's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
If you were expecting Daisy Jones and the Six, adjust your expectations. This is more along the lines of Daisy Jones’ little sister novel. Expect: drama and scandals from the 2010s Nickelodeon or Disney Channel stars. Y’all remember how Zoey 101 was cancelled? Like that. It reminds me viciously of Victorious and I don’t believe I ever watched it.
Through the whole narrative, the main character Kat, the bitchy mean girl supporting character-type, turned real life lawyer, is harbouring a deep dark secret about how she is the reason for her tv show The Daydreams downfall. It looked like a promising reveal, but it didn’t pan out. It sets her up to be the villain behind the curtain, the reason why the star and main attraction, Summer, had a breakdown during the live season two finale. The big reveal is that she in a round about way had some responsibility. Not really. Only partially.
The entire time, I kept thinking, why is this the person telling me the story? It really feels like Summer’s story. I would read Summer’s story, but Kat (who is kind of boring by contrast) is the narrator because she’s the one with the big secret. And then it turns out it’s not really even her secret, it’s someone else’s. So I circle back to… Why is Kat narrating?
I liked Kat when I thought she was really leaning into her Archtype and I found myself wishing that she had done something truly evil. I found myself disappointed.
I would have liked to see more details about the show they worked on together, and why it had such an impact on pop culture. Because I’m reading this imagining people shoving each other for tickets to an iCarley reunion and I simply cannot fathom it.
If you were expecting Daisy Jones and the Six, adjust your expectations. This is more along the lines of Daisy Jones’ little sister novel. Expect: drama and scandals from the 2010s Nickelodeon or Disney Channel stars. Y’all remember how Zoey 101 was cancelled? Like that. It reminds me viciously of Victorious and I don’t believe I ever watched it.
Through the whole narrative, the main character Kat, the bitchy mean girl supporting character-type, turned real life lawyer, is harbouring a deep dark secret about how she is the reason for her tv show The Daydreams downfall. It looked like a promising reveal, but it didn’t pan out. It sets her up to be the villain behind the curtain, the reason why the star and main attraction, Summer, had a breakdown during the live season two finale. The big reveal is that she in a round about way had some responsibility. Not really. Only partially.
The entire time, I kept thinking, why is this the person telling me the story? It really feels like Summer’s story. I would read Summer’s story, but Kat (who is kind of boring by contrast) is the narrator because she’s the one with the big secret. And then it turns out it’s not really even her secret, it’s someone else’s. So I circle back to… Why is Kat narrating?
I liked Kat when I thought she was really leaning into her Archtype and I found myself wishing that she had done something truly evil. I found myself disappointed.
I would have liked to see more details about the show they worked on together, and why it had such an impact on pop culture. Because I’m reading this imagining people shoving each other for tickets to an iCarley reunion and I simply cannot fathom it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Sexual content
goldenbeebookshop's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed Hankin’s previous two books so I was thrilled to get a DRC of her latest.
I didn’t watch the kind of Disney channel shows and movies that inspired the fictional show in this novel, but since I also didn’t live under a rock (just a very pro-PBSs house without cable) I’m aware of the cultural phenomenon and fan base around them. Moreover, I’m aware of what being asked to maintain the patriarchal standards imposed by the network and its viewers does to many of the young female stars. This novel has a little bit of everything- teenage drama, a dash of mystery, reclaiming personal narratives, social commentary, and an unexpectedly hopeful ending.
I was in a reading slump before I decided to jump into this book and it just whisked me along.
I didn’t watch the kind of Disney channel shows and movies that inspired the fictional show in this novel, but since I also didn’t live under a rock (just a very pro-PBSs house without cable) I’m aware of the cultural phenomenon and fan base around them. Moreover, I’m aware of what being asked to maintain the patriarchal standards imposed by the network and its viewers does to many of the young female stars. This novel has a little bit of everything- teenage drama, a dash of mystery, reclaiming personal narratives, social commentary, and an unexpectedly hopeful ending.
I was in a reading slump before I decided to jump into this book and it just whisked me along.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Addiction, Body shaming, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Fatphobia, and Toxic friendship
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