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A review by nicola949
Catch My Breath by M.J. O'Shea
5.0
This book is definitely worth reading, a modern take on love between two musicians who are part of a boy band.
I'm sure this plot has been done before, band members falling for each other but having to keep both their sexuality and their relationship under wraps for fear of jeapardising their career success, but this story is done really well and with a slightly different spin.
This book is definitely up with the times and presents a very modern scenario that I think we all recogonise! It starts with a music executive offering a group of solo artists the chance of a lifetime, to be part of a boy band. This is followed by the 'discovery' of the final member at a local talent show. The group then take part in a reality TV show. They have to live in a house with a couple of other music groups and solo artists. They are filmed constantly, need to participate in challenges, spend time in the diary room and be interviewed regularly. Social media also features strongly with short parts of the story being told in tweets which gives a unique view of the fans view of the band and its members.
It is against this backdrop that Elliot and Danny start spending time together. They are under continual pressure due to the unique situation. They are getting to know their fellow band members, adjusting to their living arrangements, dealing with new feelings for each, trying to manage other personal relationships, dealing with the music execs....
Danny is "funny and adorable" and Elliot "might look like an angel but has a voice like sin." They are immediately attracted but Danny isn't in a position to act on his feelings. But the more time he spends with Elliot, he realises he needs to make some changes. "It was like everything else was boring shades of gray, and Elliot was a solar flare, bright and burning." While Danny is struggling with his new feelings, Elliot is equally struggling "It was hard to remember that they were just good friends......Whenever Danny was in the room, Elliot had to keep reminding himself that anything else existed at all."
Danny and Elliot finally get together but then enter a complex world involving stress, lies, hiding who they are, fake publicity and lack of support from the record company. The story is not superficial, rather delving deeply into the emotional turmoil of each man. Of course there is a happy ending and in true romance fashion, a heart-felt song written to celebrate their love.
4.5 stars
I'm sure this plot has been done before, band members falling for each other but having to keep both their sexuality and their relationship under wraps for fear of jeapardising their career success, but this story is done really well and with a slightly different spin.
This book is definitely up with the times and presents a very modern scenario that I think we all recogonise! It starts with a music executive offering a group of solo artists the chance of a lifetime, to be part of a boy band. This is followed by the 'discovery' of the final member at a local talent show. The group then take part in a reality TV show. They have to live in a house with a couple of other music groups and solo artists. They are filmed constantly, need to participate in challenges, spend time in the diary room and be interviewed regularly. Social media also features strongly with short parts of the story being told in tweets which gives a unique view of the fans view of the band and its members.
It is against this backdrop that Elliot and Danny start spending time together. They are under continual pressure due to the unique situation. They are getting to know their fellow band members, adjusting to their living arrangements, dealing with new feelings for each, trying to manage other personal relationships, dealing with the music execs....
Danny is "funny and adorable" and Elliot "might look like an angel but has a voice like sin." They are immediately attracted but Danny isn't in a position to act on his feelings. But the more time he spends with Elliot, he realises he needs to make some changes. "It was like everything else was boring shades of gray, and Elliot was a solar flare, bright and burning." While Danny is struggling with his new feelings, Elliot is equally struggling "It was hard to remember that they were just good friends......Whenever Danny was in the room, Elliot had to keep reminding himself that anything else existed at all."
Danny and Elliot finally get together but then enter a complex world involving stress, lies, hiding who they are, fake publicity and lack of support from the record company. The story is not superficial, rather delving deeply into the emotional turmoil of each man. Of course there is a happy ending and in true romance fashion, a heart-felt song written to celebrate their love.
4.5 stars