Since I read two music books recently, I thought I might nestle them together for a double review!
Now you know I love music books (heY I WROTE ONE called A Thousand Perfect Notes) so I’m always on the look out for more. Although I confess I prefer classical music by, um, like a lot. And these two are more about boybands and famous country singers and involve a lot more fandoms, crowds, and general cheery screaming.
I also listen to music while I plot (but not while I write) so before we dive in, here’s what I’ve been listening to lately:
Violin Concerto no 1 in G minor by Max Bruch
Natural by Imagine Dragons
I Miss You by Clean Bandit
Friday Night by Vigiland
Now We Are Free by Hans Zimmer
Survivor by 2WEI
Amaya by Madshow
Eclectic combinations? Me? Ah hahahha HAHA yes.
Anyway, onto the reviews! And I will demand you share your recent playlists with me in the comments.
OPEN ROAD SUMMER BY EMERY LORD
Thank you to Bloomsbury for the review-copy!
published June 2018
Goodreads Booktopia Bloomsbury
After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts.
But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence.
This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.
This story is equal parts bitter and sweet, and I adored that contrast!
It also has some super great friendships and romance that was full of bickery-loving-snark, so hold onto my ice tea, mate, I very much enjoyed that. Although if we’re going to be honest, I don’t really understand ice tea or the USA south or country music at all. Which was a little problem for me reading a book that is centered around…um, country music. But anyway.
It’s basically a roadtrip story (sURPRISE the title says so) about a girl and her best friend, who’s also a famous musician. Reagan is like a bitter espresso. She is an actual disaster in high heels, all snark and cutting edges. She makes bad decisions. She’s been arrested. She had a Very Bad Boyfriend who she’s just ditched and is trying to move past. And I still really liked her! She wasn’t ashamed of dressing sexy or being confident with her looks. She had SO MUCH GREAT BANTER and so SO much love for her best friend, Dee. She is the actual person who will bITE you if you hurt her friends. She also did have a really great character arc! Which is a relief because there was a lot of very unnecessary girl-on-girl hate and slut-shaming from Reagan. Grrr.
Obviously there’s lots of music and song-writing in here.
The tour + the country music aspect WERE big parts of the book, but I still enjoyed it regardless of not really liking, um, country music. But I did feel it was a “oops this isn’t for me” when Dee is all out there being wholesome and modest/good to her crying tween audience and singing about broken guitars and sheds or whatever country music is about.
OTHER THINGS
☆ you can’t help but root for Reagan and Matt!! their chemistry is AMAZING
☆ Reagan could devour you which is amazing
☆ her best friend, Dee, is absolutely adorable and I love how their friendship never failed them!
☆ funny moments as well as heart-eyes moments!
I WAS BORN FOR THIS BY ALICE OSEMAN
Woo I actually bought this one myself!
published May 2018
Goodreads Book Depository Booktopia
For Angel Rahimi, life is only about one thing: The Ark – a pop-rock trio of teenage boys who are currently taking the world by storm. Being part of The Ark’s fandom has given her everything – her friendships, her dreams, her place in the world.
Jimmy Kaga-Ricci owes everything to The Ark too. He’s their frontman – and playing in a band is all he’s ever dreamed of doing. It’s just a shame that recently everything in his life seems to have turned into a bit of a nightmare.
Because that’s the problem with dreaming – eventually, inevitably, real life arrives with a wake-up call. And when Angel and Jimmy are unexpectedly thrust together, they will discover just how strange and surprising facing up to reality can be.
This is honestly just one long mental breakdown and wow if that isn’t the most relatable thing.
I seriously love Alice Oseman’s style of writing! I adore how her books are so focused deep, consuming, complex love that isn’t necessarily romantic. This one didn’t quite live up to Radio Silence for me (like that is a FAV) because I’ve never ever been obsessed with a boyband or actually a really intense fan. Of, um, anything. Like I literally have no desire to even go meet my favourite authors looool SORRY. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ANYWAY. I still enjoyed how it discussed fandom culture, how it can be awful but also can be full of healing and friendship. Hey fandoms DO bring people together (I met all my closest friends through book blogging!) and that’s the bessst.
Jimmy and Angel dual-narrate. Jimmy’s chapters (he’s in this famous boyband) were my favourite, he is basically anxiety on legs and I really felt for him through all the pressure on tour and his breakdown. Angel (she’s a huge fan) was SO tall and talkative and ends up being everybody’s designated bodyguard because they can hide behind her. Get you a tol friend, ok. They come in handy for shade, bodyguards, and seeing through crowds. (However I just DON’T understand being so involved in some celebrities’ life that you freak out/lose hope of life/etc just by what they do??? Wow.)
☆ epic female friendships
☆ actual beautiful and respectful diversity rep (Jimmy is POC, gay and trans; Angel is POC and Muslim and possibly queer-questioning) and how diversity WAS a huge part of their identity, but the book wasn’t also solely about it…if that makes sense. I loved it so so much.
☆ BEAUTIFUL WRITING
☆ secondary characters you totally fall in love with (Rowan is the MUM FRIEND and Lister is the golden retriever excitable puppy)
☆ it totally unpacks anxiety disorders and I really really loved the rep of that
☆ the ending had me sO STRESSED I can’t even.
☆ so raw and sweet as well as a bit dark…just the kind of contemporary I like
I’ve read both of these! and I’m probably gonna review Open Road Summer on my blog tomorrow so look out for that haha. I love that music plays a role in Sabriel (sorry you know I had to). I’m currently reading Bel Canto which is about opera so that’s fascinating too and I’m really looking forward to Rachel Lynn Solomon and Jenn Marie Thorne’s next books which are about music. As for road trip books…I recently read America for Beginners by Leah Franqui, which is an adult book, but if you’re ever feeling like branching out in that direction (which I am a lot of the time these days) then I think it’s super diverse and a really fun roadtrip and easy to read even if you don’t usually read books with grown ups haha. also thanks for all the music reccs! I’m currently listening to a lot of this singer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxCy0vr3-Rg) and struggling through practising bach on viola ugh (at least it’s not beethoven! haha)
Shanti recently posted…Review: I contain Multitudes
Oh I can’t wait for your review! I did find it a little too wholesome for me.😂But the banter was super good!! And Oh I NEED to read You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone. I bought it like in January or whenever it was released and still haven’t read it?! Shame.😂
(Also I actually read 2 adult books this week!! I am proud of me!😂)
(Good luck with the viola practise!!)
I can’t remember the last time I read a music book…maybe Phantom of the Opera? That had a lot of music in it. But I love music books and I wish there were more!
The only really famous person Ivory met is that Australian prime minister no one ever liked (whoa, that’s a vague statement…).
And I love classical music as well. I don’t really listen to much in the way of pop music.
Classical is AMAZING (ahhh says me who wrote a book about it.😂) and I definitely think musical books are really important! I should do a post list for them, right?! I’ve read a few! And omg meeting a prime minister! Although does anyone like any of them?😂
Absolutely love this!! I loved ‘I was born for this’ but agree that it wasn’t as excellent as ‘Radio Silence’. ‘Open Road Summer’ sounds very enjoyable and a perfect Spring read! (Even though it says Summer in the title 🙈). My recent playlist is as follows:
Harrison Storm — ‘Feeling
Jon Bryant — ‘At Home’
Dustin Tebbutt — ‘Love is Blind’
Hollow Coves – ‘Ran Away’
Johnnyswim / Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors — ‘Just Your’
Beta Radio — ‘Our Remains’
INDOLORE — ‘Let Me Find Out’
All Faces — ‘The Oaks’
KIN — ‘Margins’
Baswod — ‘Sundays’
Andrew & Veda — ‘Alive’
Dhruv Visvanath — ‘Wild’
Connor McCoy — ‘Follow Through’
Firewoodisland — ‘Knot’
Ethansroom — ‘Talk To You’
Frances Luke Accord — ‘Maria’
Martin Baltser — ‘Hypothermia’
Jon Middleton — ‘I See You’
Cypress — ‘Oh Canada’
Leathan Milne — ‘Now I Say Goodnight’
Andrew James & The Steady Tiger — ‘Under The Umbrella’
Daniel Daniel — ‘Waves’
Hendricksen — ‘If She’s Gone’
Ade Mai — ‘Miles’
Super long I know! I like to call it Wanderlust because I’m currently feeling I’m trapped in my little Australian home and am longing to explore the world. Don’t know if you can relate but I known your a fellow Aussie so you might… 🤷🏼♀️ Anyway love this post!!
Ooh this is an epic playlist there!😂 I will need to look up some of these because I don’t even know any of the artists.😂I have very weird taste in music though. And actually I have no desire to travel! I know that’s really odd of me, but I could very happily live in one place/one house that I loved for the rest of my life.
It is definitely an epic playlist! 😂 I’m the complete opposite of you in that sense! I can homebound after about a year of living in a house. It may just be because I moved HEAPS as a kid and that may have stayed with me. I wish I was someone who loved living in one place, but alas I am definitely not!
I also moved so so much as a kid. 😂 Actually I STILL am forced to move around a lot by my family lmao. But I think that’s why I DO like staying in one place?!
Open Road Summer sounds like a really good read!!! Road trip + friendship + country music = YES!! Also it has a beautiful cover so that’s fabulous 😍😍
Thanks for the fantastic reviews, Cait!!
I’m glad you enjoyed them!! I hope you enjoy Open Road Summer if you do read it! It’s very wholesome though. haha.😂
I WAS BORN FOR THIS ARGHHH!! okay so you know how you said that it’s hard for you to see how boybands and celebrities can make people loose hope in life–it IS true tho. When I was a Directioner, 1D meant SO much to me, and it’s easy for me to see how that can happen for someone who doesn’t have other stuff in their life that they care about alot. I could easily have been Angel, breaking down like that, if I hadn’t had my writing or my family or friends. I legit cried so many times reading this book just because of how I could relate to the characters’ pains. so. much.
ALSO OMG I REMEMBER NOW I READ THIS BOOK LITERALLY BECAUSE OF YOUR GOODREADS REVIEW! ALSO YESS THE WAY SHE RIGHTS ABOUT NON-ROMANTIC LOVE IS <3 AND WE NEED MORE OF THAT.
ALSO RADIO SILENCE WAS JUST. !!!
Now I want to read this book about country singers too–though romance is NOT something I like reading much of.
Question: Have you read Solitaire?
*WRITES
Aww I’m so glad it was such a relatable book for you!! I LOVE IT WHEN BOOKS ARE RELATABLE. Like for me, I can’t actually imagine caring so much for strangers or for musicians/celebrities.😂But I do appreciate it’s a thing that happens and gives lots of people like joy and a home, almost. And omg isn’t Alice Oseman a pure gift?! I LOVE HER WORK SO MUCH. Radio Silence is utterly glorious. I stil have to read Solitaire but it’s on my TBR!
(And lmao I can’t stand country music.😂)
Author of a musical book reviewing musical books, wow not even surprised. When I think of musical books I’ve read I think ATPN and not much else. I mean Summer Bird Blue which I’m reading right now has music so I guess it counts? I mean the main character is a song writer.
I don’t have either of these books on my tbr because I’m not a fan of country (btw country music is mainly about pickup trucks, some country girl, beer, and drinking beer in a pickup truck with a country girl) and I haven’t read anything by Alice Oseman yet. I should maybe fix that but which book I start with?
Also my writing playlist is a diverse list of songs from musicals, Disney movies, pop, and Irish singers (I don’t even live in Ireland) and I use certain songs for certain scenes depending on which emotion I’m trying to invoke.
I know, shocker right?!😂 And aww, I’m just still flailing that you’ve read ATPN! And Summer Bird Blue was definitely musical! Even though she was blocked most of the book, wasn’t she? I mean I should remember…I only just read it. BUT YET HERE I AM. *watches memories run away*
And omg I hate country music so much.😂
Also definitely try Radio Silence by Alice Oseman. It is a gIFT to this world.
I appreciated I was born for this but…1 star from me, it just was NOT my thing at all haha. I loved Radio Silence so I had such high expectations but it just didn’t live up them. And plus, I’ve been an intense fan of something but i still couldn’t relate?! I’m glad you enjoyed it! Let’s be real, Radio Silence is hard to live up to.
Aw sadness for the 1 star.😭 I mean not everything suits everyone of course! And I did love Radio Silence better but haha, yeah, I still enjoyed this new one! I didn’t really relate to the boyband things either though. 😂I am SO boring but I’m never seriously obsessed with anything?!
AHHH I AM SO happy you enjoyed I Was Born For This, I loved this book so, so, so, sooo very much. I love Alice Oseman’s writing just as well and love how realistic everything feels, too. Her characters are amazing, too, I loved everyone in TWBFT and I loved the diversity, too and, like you said, how it’s a part of them, but the story isn’t about that.
I need to read Open Road Summer, it sounds like such a sweet read and road trips and I am living for these kind of books ahhh. Thank you for sharing! Wonderful reviews 😀
IT WAS SO AMAZING. Alice Oseman’s books are incredible. I still have to read Solitaire, but it’s on my TBR and I’m definitely going to get to it this year!
And Open Road Summer WAS so wholesome. 😂I mean I probably shouldn’t say that as a negative haha, but I do prefer darker books.😂
BICKERING AND SNARK! Hello, yes, please sign me up. Also ice tea in my opinion is only good in the super hot and humid summer days (but we all know it won’t work on me because I’m burning in hell (aka my body). Otherwise I’m all for regular tea. With sugar. And I’m not exactly a huge fan of the deep south of US. 😅
ALSO YOU DON’T HAVE THE DESIRE TO MEET MAGGIE STIEFVATER??!?!?!
Wait a second. 🤔 (Though it’s okay. I never got the point of being so invested in a fandom to the point of obsession. I don’t understand why anyone would ship Harry and Snape? That’s just creepy? Just why???)
Sophia @ Bookwyrming Thoughts recently posted…Perfect Harmony by Emily Albright | Musical and Cute
I don’t like tea OR sugary drinks so like I’m doomed for ice tea.😂I think I would die in the deep South of the USA because none of their food appeals at all omg.
(And no, like I don’t have a desire to meet Maggie Stiefvater! I will love her work from afair.😂)
Um…I have never heard of people shipping Harry and Snape, that’s literally peodophilia and disgusting.😳😳
I love Emery Lord! I enjoyed Open Road Summer but it wasn’t my favourite of hers – The Names They Gave Us and The Start of Me and You are better IMO.
I seem to read a surprising amount of books where music is a strong theme, which is funny as music isn’t a big part of my life, really. But one of my favourites is You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone!
The most famous person I’ve ever met is Warwick Davis (Flitwick from the HP movies) I entered a radio competition when book 6 first came out, and because I won I got to go to the studio and had my copy of Half-Blood Prince signed by him.
Fiona recently posted…A Review of The Exact Opposite of Okay
I’ve read three of her books now and I always am a bit iffy with them.😂I think I liked this one better than her other two I read though? It was just a bit wholesome and I like my books a bit darker/sharper.😂 BUT YAY FOR MUSIC! And I’m glad you often read musical books! I need to read You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone still omg.
And omg that’s awesome you got to meet a HP character!
I HAVE TO READ BOTH OF THESE!!! You must know I’m a romance junkie, and you sold me on the banter-y romance for Open Road Summer. And I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about I Was Born For This! I’m so excited that it focuses on the popular-sensation and the just-a-fan perspectives! PLUS DUH DIVERSITY! And I’ve seen Alice Oseman come up on everyone’s favorites list this past year, so that makes it more exciting????
Aimee (Aimee, Always) recently posted…Books and Series I Own and Love For Fabulous Reasons!? (What’s On My Bookshelf? Book Tag)
Omg Alice Oseman books are MARVELLOUS. I enjoyed hers so so much! More than Open Road Summer just because the latter was a bit too wholesome for me.😂Lmao. I should not admit that.
Both these books are on my TBR too. Hope to read them soon 🙂
I can’t remember the last book I read about music.
I haven’t met anyone famous but certainly I would like to meet someone my favourite 🙂
Ahh I hope you enjoy them!! 🎉I don’t really have much of a drive to want to meet someone famous haha. 😂I’m so unexciting.
I’ve read this one musical book, and I’m not sure if you’ve heard of it, but it’s beautiful and it’s called A Thousand Perfect Notes. I don’t know, maybe you should check it out.
Anyways, can I just say I live for your reviews? I love both of these and now I really want to read Open Road Summer. You’ve added to my TBR. Again. Honestly, I’m not even surprised anymore. We all love it tbh,
I HAVE heard of it oddly enough. I’ve heard it’s mildly ok. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(😂I’M SORRY I AM SO SO ANNOYING. AHEM.)
Awww thank you! I’m glad you enjoy my reviews. I have a ton of fun writing them.😂
I actually don’t listen to a lot of music, but when I do it’s movie soundtracks or classical. Sometimes Imagine Dragons. Most recently Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. I think the only music book I’ve read recently was yours! 🙂
Omg I LOVE Imagine Dragons. Plus their music this year has been incredible. And also I really like Pirates of the Caribbean too.😍I have a few of those pieces always on my playlist.
Haha omg, I ALSO read/bought these two exact books within like, a week of each other!! They’re on my WWW Posts for this week & last week, if you’re interested! (It has gifs! Because… gifs!)
Reading your reviews makes me feel kiiiiiiiiind of bad that I didn’t feel better about Open Road Summer, but omg the girl-on-girl hate just RUINED this fucking book for me. Dee was a goddamn delight, though – did your copy of the book have the bonus chapter at the end from her perspective??
I was Born For This was my first Alice Oseman book and Oh My Godddd. I read it in like, four hours, start to finish, IT WAS SO ABSORBING!! Also ‘this is basically a long mental breakdown’ is the #mostaccurate. I’m also like whaaaaaat that you say Solitaire is even better because this one was SOOO GOOD.
Oh I totally get it with the girl-on-girl hate with Open Summer Road. I didn’t GET it because Reagan was so happy to be herself, but so despicably scathing of any other female?! (And no I don’t think I had a Dee chapter at the end?)
I haven’t read Solitaire yet, actually but I LOVED Radio Silence!!
Yeah, that made me kind of ??? too. Like, why are her and Dee and the tattooist girl whose name escapes me okay but EVERY OTHER GIRL IN HER AGE RANGE an idiot/slut/muppet?? I was just so freaking disappointed 🙁
Oh, boo. It was SO good, it was like, about that bit when they ride off into the car to see Jimmy, and what really happened there!! Would you like for me to take some pictures and email them or something? Because it’s seriously SO GOOD AND SO SWEET, but also I don’t know if that is like, mean to the author, since I assume extra snippets are reasons you’re meant to buy the books, but you already have the book so… yes, let me know?
Oh duh of course you did, IDK why my brain thought you’d said Solitaire. CLEARLY ALL WORDS THAT START WITH AN S ARE THE SAME in my head… Oh okay, yeah, this looks like it’d be really awesome, too. I want to read all her books now. So many books to read O_O