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Barricade Girl
“Do you know this feeling when your biggest dreams are right in front of you?
That moment when they learn to walk and then fly?
Everything else, your whole life, seems to shift.” Kari's been an on and off fan of the band Paper Rings and Promises for 8 years. When the band is looking for a social media intern on their comeback tour, Kari applies.
Soon, she finds herself working for her favorite band and sleeping on the same bus as her gay awakening.
Marina, said gay awakening, is so much more gorgeous in person, and she's nice to Kari. Really nice.
On tour, Kari gets way closer to Marina than she could've ever dreamed of, and the rumors about Marina’s queerness don’t seem so far-fetched anymore.
“Suddenly, the only real thing is that dream.
I was experiencing dreams that I hadn’t even dreamed yet.
Dreams I didn’t know that I had.”
That moment when they learn to walk and then fly?
Everything else, your whole life, seems to shift.” Kari's been an on and off fan of the band Paper Rings and Promises for 8 years. When the band is looking for a social media intern on their comeback tour, Kari applies.
Soon, she finds herself working for her favorite band and sleeping on the same bus as her gay awakening.
Marina, said gay awakening, is so much more gorgeous in person, and she's nice to Kari. Really nice.
On tour, Kari gets way closer to Marina than she could've ever dreamed of, and the rumors about Marina’s queerness don’t seem so far-fetched anymore.
“Suddenly, the only real thing is that dream.
I was experiencing dreams that I hadn’t even dreamed yet.
Dreams I didn’t know that I had.”
397 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2024
13 people are currently reading
821 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 19, 2024
This book was amazing!! The story, topics... everything was good and i loved it. Sometimes it reminded me of heartstopper ngl. I liked the way it was written and the thoughts, she put in the story were amazing.
Tbh i can't wait to have my hands on her other books✨. And this story became my new roman empire💜.
Tbh i can't wait to have my hands on her other books✨. And this story became my new roman empire💜.
May 30, 2025
To be honest I think this is such an amazing book. I rate it 5 stars because I can relate to this book way too much. The artist in this book looks like my favourite artist so I could just feel Kari her excitement and everything so much. She’s literally me about my favourite artist.
Furthermore I really like the story, I love how kari & marina are bonding so much throughout the book. You can see the struggles they both live with but it all comes together and that’s what I really love♥️
I would recommend this book a hundred procent to people who have a favourite artist and are just as much of a fan girl from their artist as Kari is for Marina. I really got pulled into the story which makes it even better.
I finished this book in like a week and I never read so that’s like a fast read for me. the text is good written and it’s easy to read.🥰
Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!!🎉
Furthermore I really like the story, I love how kari & marina are bonding so much throughout the book. You can see the struggles they both live with but it all comes together and that’s what I really love♥️
I would recommend this book a hundred procent to people who have a favourite artist and are just as much of a fan girl from their artist as Kari is for Marina. I really got pulled into the story which makes it even better.
I finished this book in like a week and I never read so that’s like a fast read for me. the text is good written and it’s easy to read.🥰
Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!!🎉
January 17, 2025
What a great book. If I'd had the time, I would probably have read it in one go. I think everyone who has ever been a (queer) fan of a band/singer can relate very well to the protagonist. Loved the queer representation, the writing & the spice!
December 3, 2024
I’m not a huge romance reader but I love Queer books so I wanted to give this one a shot. This book is extremely spicy and the sex scenes were plentiful and very sexy. I didn’t love the power imbalance between some of the characters though. I feel like this book would be perfect for someone who has dreamed about being with their celebrity crush or gay awakening and I think younger me would have loved it. I enjoyed a lot of the dialogue but found some of the story a little unrealistic. Overall, there are some people I’d recommend this book to and others I wouldn’t. I think if this is the type of book you like then it is an excellent next read. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC copy!
December 3, 2024
Read this book in two days and, if it weren't for work, I would've read it on one.
This is the author's second book that I read and I love how it always gets me out of a reading slump. Having been a queer fan girl myself makes everything even better.
This book made me travel back to the time I was in high school simping over my favourite artists (in the best way possible)
It's an easy, fun read but at the same time talks about important topics such as fans speculating too much about artists, discovering oneself at a later age, abuse etc.
Being a lover of slow burn I cannot give the 5 stars but, nonetheless, it was a book that I enjoyed reading and probably will pick up later on, in case of a new reading slump.
This is the author's second book that I read and I love how it always gets me out of a reading slump. Having been a queer fan girl myself makes everything even better.
This book made me travel back to the time I was in high school simping over my favourite artists (in the best way possible)
It's an easy, fun read but at the same time talks about important topics such as fans speculating too much about artists, discovering oneself at a later age, abuse etc.
Being a lover of slow burn I cannot give the 5 stars but, nonetheless, it was a book that I enjoyed reading and probably will pick up later on, in case of a new reading slump.
May 16, 2025
This book made me feel like I was back in my teenage bedroom, headphones on, dreaming about what it would be like to be seen by the people I admired most. Kari is such a vivid, relatable character equal parts hopeful, nervous, and deeply sincere. Watching her chase her dreams, and fall unexpectedly into something that might just be love, was both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The connection with Marina is slow and uncertain in a way that feels so real. This reminded me of Barricade Girl not just in its queerness, but in its emotional honesty. It’s a quiet kind of magic that sneaks up on you. I didn’t want it to end.
October 23, 2024
This was the first book of Emely's that I've read and I CANNOT WAIT to get my hands on her other novel and poetry book. Her passion for the story just seeps through the words and I she covers such important topics.
It was so fun following Marina as she built up her confidence and seeing Kari able to let go of some control was really beautiful. Emely is very good at writing character arcs!
It was so fun following Marina as she built up her confidence and seeing Kari able to let go of some control was really beautiful. Emely is very good at writing character arcs!
December 5, 2024
Emely sent me her newest book and my fangirl heart and I are so grateful for that. The book describes perfectly what it is like to be a fangirl, going on tour, queueing all day, and having the time of your life while doing so. It describes what it means to have a community that’s build around your favorite music.
From beginning to end (except from the actual being in love), I related so hard to the plot with the countless unrealistic fake scenarios I made up in my head about my favorite artists at some point.
The writing style was exactly like I would want it to be, which made it very easy and fun to read. The story also has little details referring to the other book Emely wrote. AND she links every chapter to a specific song, just as she did with her first book.
I loved it
From beginning to end (except from the actual being in love), I related so hard to the plot with the countless unrealistic fake scenarios I made up in my head about my favorite artists at some point.
The writing style was exactly like I would want it to be, which made it very easy and fun to read. The story also has little details referring to the other book Emely wrote. AND she links every chapter to a specific song, just as she did with her first book.
I loved it
January 2, 2025
First read of the year 2025!
I liked this. Personally i have never fangirled over anybody, but i really loved the relationship between Kari and Marina and i could feel the excitement of fangirling and belongin to a fandom through words <3
Was easy to read for a person whose native language isn't english.
I liked this. Personally i have never fangirled over anybody, but i really loved the relationship between Kari and Marina and i could feel the excitement of fangirling and belongin to a fandom through words <3
Was easy to read for a person whose native language isn't english.
January 29, 2025
It’s good but it’s rushed. I feel like there is no closure. No explanations.
April 29, 2025
my first wlw book i've ever read and as a fangirl it has now acquired itself a special place in my heart 🫶🏻
November 27, 2025
I managed to get invested eventually - but this was a Wattpad fanfiction if I’ve ever seen one
June 24, 2025
sehr viel spice, sehr wenig story
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews