Fans of boy bands will be on this like tattoos on Harry Styles' chest.
It's been hard for Stella to concentrate on her life since her sister Cara was diagnosed with leukemia.
Cara is gaga for the Heartbreakers, a hot four-boy band, but Stella thinks they are all fluff and no talent. Nonetheless, to surprise Cara for her birthday, Stella and their brother Drew (they’re triplets) decide to drive overnight to attend the band's autograph signing. Upon arriving, bleary-eyed Stella hits a Starbucks, where a cute and sweetly flirty, blue-eyed boy strikes up a conversation. When Stella struggles to find money to pay, he plunks down $20 and leaves. Stella and Drew wait hours in line for Cara's autographs, but the band packs up right before they reach them—but not before Stella realizes that lead singer Oliver Perry is the boy from the coffee shop. One hotheaded encounter later, a relationship is born. Stella becomes conflicted about her feelings for Oliver; how can she justify thinking about him while her sister suffers? Novak creates a titillating tension between her leads; one moment, they're simpatico, the next, they're one cog tooth off. The predictable but pleasant romance offers touching moments as well as band high jinks featuring Jell-O and Silly String.
Fans of boy bands will be on this like tattoos on Harry Styles' chest. (Fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4926-1256-8
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart.
After praying to a Fate for help, Evangeline discovers the dangerous world of magic.
When her father passes away, Evangeline is left with her cold stepmother and kind but distant stepsister, Marisol. Despite inheriting a steady trust in magic, belief in her late mother’s homeland of the mystical North (where fantastical creatures live), and philosophy of hope for the future, her dreams are dashed when Luc, her love, pledges to marry Marisol instead. Evangeline desperately prays to the Prince of Hearts, a dangerous and fickle Fate famed for his heart that is waiting to be revived by his one true love—and his potentially lethal kisses. The bargain they strike sends her on a dark and magical journey throughout the land. The writing style fluctuates from clever and original to overly verbose and often confusing in its jumble of senses. While the pervasive magic and concept of the Fates as a religious system add interest, other fantasy elements are haphazardly incorporated without enough time devoted to building a cohesive world. However, the themes of love, the power of story, family influence, and holding onto belief are well rounded and add depth. The plot contains welcome surprises, and the large cast piques curiosity; readers will wish more time was spent getting to know them. Evangeline has rose-gold hair and, like other main characters, reads as White; there is diversity among the fantasy races in this world.
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart. (map) (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-26839-6
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
Despite the well-meaning warmth, a wearying plod.
Can a 17-year-old with her first girlfriend prevent real-life folks from discovering her online fandoms?
Cass is proudly queer, happily fat, and extremely secretive about being a fan who role-plays on Discord. Back in middle school, she had what she calls a gaming addiction, playing “The Sims” so much her parents had to take the game away. Now, turning to her role-play friends to cope with her fighting parents, she worries that people will judge her for her fannishness and online life. To be fair, her grades are suffering. And sure, maybe she’s missed a college application deadline. Also, her mom has suddenly left Minneapolis and moved to Maine to be with a man she met online. But on the other hand, Cass is finally dating her amazingly cute longtime crush, Taylor. Pansexual Taylor is a gamer, a little bit punk, White like Cass, and so, so great—but she still can’t help comparing her to Rowan, Cass’ online best friend and role-playing ship partner. But Rowan doesn’t want to be a dirty little secret and doesn’t see why Cass can’t be honest about this part of her life. The inevitable train wreck of her lies looms on the horizon for months in an overlong morality play building to the climax that includes tidy resolutions to all the character arcs that are quite heartwarming but, in the case of Cass’ estranged mother, narratively unearned.
Despite the well-meaning warmth, a wearying plod. (Fiction. 13-16)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-06-324332-3
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2022
© Copyright 2023 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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