take a chance

by Sarah Webb

AbbaFab, the hugely popular Abba tribute band, are in trouble. Gemma Redden, aka Agnetha, has just broken her ankle and finding a new singer to fill her white platform boots at such late notice isnt going to be easy. Desperate times call for desperate measures and the youngest Redden sister, Mia, reluctantly agrees to don the blonde wig and sky-blue hot pants. For Mia, a shy piano teacher who has felt third best all her life, this is her big chance to prove herself to her two big sisters, Wendy and Gemma. Meanwhile, Mias oldest friend, Alva Ryan, is having a life crisis of her own. Her previously devoted boyfriend, Sean, has just walked out, and this time hes not coming back. Things come to a head when Wendy has a terrible accident. Because Wendy has been keeping a secret; a secret that could blow the band apart and devastate the close-knit Redden sisters. But secrets have a way of coming out when you least expect them to. And sometimes even the best of sisters gets it horribly wrong.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Family Drama, Fiction

Paperback

First published August 5, 2005

About the author

Sarah Webb is an award-winning children’s writer. Her books include Blazing a Trail: Irish Women who Changed the World (illustrated by Lauren O’Neill) and A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea: Favourite Rhymes from an Irish Childhood (illustrated by Steve McCarthy), both winners of Irish Book Awards.

Sarah also runs creative writing clubs for children and teens, reviews children’s books for the Irish Independent, and programmes children’s and family events for book festivals and MoLI (Museum of Literature Ireland). She also works part-time in a children’s bookshop.

Sarah is passionate about bringing children and books together and was awarded the Children’s Books Ireland Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Books in Ireland.
Her latest book, The Little Beekeeper of Henrietta Street (illustrated by Rachel Corcoran) was published in 2021.

www.sarahwebb.ie
Twitter: @sarahwebbishere
Instagram: @sarahwebbwriter

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

gave up.on this really bored me and way too many good books around . shame as I've liked some of her other books

[Olive · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow : what a let down! Wendy feels so immature for a 38 years old. Gemma too for 30 something. Then Mia is meh. She feels more like a 16 years old than a 24 years of age woman.

Then for the men: Ronan and Luke are also acting superficial, Ronan never seems much involved in the upbringing of his two kids.

I can't quite believe this is a book from 2005.

All the characters and storyline feels medieval, out dated, from 1980 storyline both in the way men and women behave and think ...in a very conservative way ..rather than from 2005.

This story hasnt aged well.

Then the end was very rushed. And strong drama appears at the end of the story which i wish wasnt there.

[Rina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

I finally finished this book! I had tried to pick this up 3-4x between 2015 and 2020 but kept putting it down, because I was just not into storytelling.

The plot itself was quite good - I could immerse myself in the drama and the events, but I think I didn't really quite enjoy the dialogues (I personally thought some were a bit cliche), and the characters' thought processes could come across a bit 'immature'/under-developed. On the other side, I could see the simplicity which would make it an easy-read for some readers.

At the end of the day, I think it was just not my cup of coffee. I'm sure there are a lot of other readers who enjoy this book.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much better than I thought it was going to be. ABBA isn't really my thing and I thought a book based on a tribute act would be a bit naff but it turned out really good. A lot of likeable characters and interesting storylines including a big family secret revealed towards the end.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure what to think, for this one. A lot of the book seemed to be one drawn out build-up, then a rush in the last few chapters. I would have liked there to be more of a story, about Wendy and Mia, hoping to see how their relationship progressed.

[Norma · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. I've read better books by this author.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy going read with lots of references to Abba songs ... What's not to like ?!

[Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read.

[Joann]

A fun read.
Incorporating ABBA song names and what is happening in the lives of ABBA tribute band members.

[Kitty McManus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light and good read with many twists

[Fluffychick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay, but didn't live up to expectations. Maybe I was expecting too much of the Abba connection and expected a light, frothy and humourous romance but instead got rather a slow, story with pretty dull characters.
The "twist" was so predictable and was obvious from the first chapter and what was the point of the third sister, Gemma other than a plot devise to get the youngest sister in the group? I quite enjoyed another book by the same author, but doubt I'll try any more.

[nala ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the series where I review books I read a long time ago

This was a contemporary, if I remember it correctly. Honestly, this book is so forgettable that I'm quite surprised that I remember some plot elements now without skimming the book again. We have a a band in which a member has an injury so her sister has to take over her role temporarily. There's lots of family drama, but not all were enjoyable. Some felt quite bland.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was actually quite surprised I liked this book as much as I did considering the last Sarah Webb book I read I wasn't as keen on. I wonder if it was the familiarity of the Abba songs and information but overall I just enjoyed the simple story line. A little predictable but sometimes I don't really mind that. A nice simple read.

[Abegail · Rating 5 out of 5]

what i've from learned from this book is that, hearing the truth is what the most painful to hear, it more hurts when that truth is said by your loved ones that lied to you your past. knowing the truth is hard to accept.

[Eva · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book. Wendy irritated me, the dialogues were very fake (there were, for example, to many apologies thrown around) and it was very predictable. The only character who felt normal to me was Luke. When I read I see the images in my head like a movie... this was a really bad one.

[Michelle Hurst · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor.

The ending seemed extremely rushed to me and it wasn't me rushing to get to the end.

The story just didn't seem to go anywhere and then it just stopped.

Oh well. On to the next one.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent chick lit, especially good as a sunbed read. Recommended for easy reading.

[Saily · Rating 3 out of 5]

An absolute feel good novel! And a entertaining read for ABBA fans. :)

[Dopey Dixbritneyalice · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was amazing...!

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I've read by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. Loved the story line & the characters. Didn't find it predictable at all. Was a easy simple lighthearted read.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing light read

[Flor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is tribute to a hugely popular band, Abba.