Okay, I am not rating it as high as I did with other Alice Oseman books because they were more relatable and perfect. However, this was a unique and interesting read.

TW: Attempted suicide, self-hate, violence, invasion of privacy

The story alternates between Angel (Farishthe) Rahimi, a fangirl who dedicated her life to worship a boyband, The Ark, and Jimmy Kaga-Ricci, the frontman of the Ark. In very different ways, both of them have a lot of gratitude to the Ark.

I related with Angel a lot. There was a time in my life when being a fan of Little Mix not only helped me fight my demons but also helped me find some amazing people who helped me cope with so much.

A weird chain of events follows Angel as she gears up to meet the members of The Arc and watch them perform live. She is suddenly acquainted with the girlfriend of one of the members and somehow finds herself with Jimmy. As their lives meet, they make a few hasty decisions that eventually help them figure out their issues and be better versions of themselves.

It was a fast-paced read with a unique premise and it was perplexing to see how fame can be deleterious to one's mental health. It was also nice to see a teenager navigate through her insecurities and work on her relationships with her parents, friends, and herself.

It was just not one of Alice Oseman's best works for me. This would not be a book I would recommend if someone wants to get into her publications.
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I didn't enjoy this as much as this author's other novels. I thought it was well written, but I didn't really relate to the characters or the issues that much. I also found this book really intense, like emotionally, a lot of the book was concerned with negative emotions and it was very emotive, which I'm not really used to, I don't normally read that much contemporary or young adult and I think the characters constantly feeling overwhelmed and anxious and depressed all the time is one reason I don't enjoy it as much, although this is a bit different. It discusses some quite serious stuff and I think it's done in a sort of heavier way than Alice Oseman's other books, even though they can be quite dark too I found this one the most intense and there were sort of less light bits or something. ( )

Rock band and fan stories are common. What sets this apart are several unique and interesting elements. The three band members are straight, Bi, and transgender. Two of them have been friends since fourth grade. One has a secret girlfriend, one has a drinking problem, and one suffers from severe anxiety attacks. Then we get to the fans. Angel has been one since she discovered the band on Youtube early on. She's Muslim, but struggles to keep up with parental expectations, unlike her older brother who's studying to be a doctor. Angel isn't sure what she wants for a future and right now, getting to meet and greet the band is the only thing on her radar.
Told in rotating chapters among the band members and Angel, readers are carried toward the night of the big concert that's to be preceded by a meet and greet. The closer the date becomes, the greater the tension, and the more readers learn about the backstory of each character. Add in a chance meeting between Angel and another important character, a complete freakout leading to a near tragedy in a downpour and you have a classic 'compulsively readable story.' ( )

I love Alice Oseman and will continue reading all her books but this wasn't my favourite. I read the first third months ago and totally forgot about it. I love the fandom exploration and the concept of having a greater identity, and I love all the rep, but I just wasn't as sucked in here. ( )

CW: Anxiety, suicidal thoughts, alcoholism

This was a book of two halves for me. I wasn't connecting with either Angel or Jimmy so it felt like I was just going through the motions of plodding through the book. But then! Then they met and everything changed for me. The short interaction in the bathroom was utterly compelling reading and from then it was unputdownable.

On a side note I would love to know when the word unputdownable came in to existence. It's specific to readers and reading and feels like quite a recent creation. I love it because it sums up the feeling one has when they are bleary eyed in the wee small hours of the morning desperate to see how everything turns out. Anyhoo, I digress.

Angel's discovery that these famous musicians are just people trying to navigate this thing called life in their own muddled way, much like the rest of us, was lovely. Her awakening meant she realised how important it is to also invest energy in things that are real and right in front of us, and to value making connections with our friends and loved ones. I also loved the dynamics between the boys and the unashamed love they have for each other. A lovely book. ( )