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Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell
There Are No Cheat Codes for Showmance
Seventeen-year-old gaymer Noah Mitchell only has one friend: the wonderful, funny, strictly online-only MagePants69. After years playing RPGs together, they know everything about each other, except anything that would give away their real life identities. And Noah is certain that if they could just meet in person, they would be soulmates. Noah would do anything to make this happen ―including finally leaving his gaming chair to join a community theater show that he’s only mostly sure MagePants69 is performing in. Noah has never done anything like theater ―he can’t sing, he can’t dance, and he’s never willingly watched a musical― but he’ll have to go all in to have a chance at love.
With Noah’s mum performing in the lead role, and former friends waiting in the wings to sabotage his reputation, his plan to make MagePants69 fall in love with him might be a little more difficult than originally anticipated.
And the longer Noah waits to come clean, the more tangled his web of lies becomes. By opening night, he will have to decide if telling the truth is worth closing the curtain on his one shot at true love.
Seventeen-year-old gaymer Noah Mitchell only has one friend: the wonderful, funny, strictly online-only MagePants69. After years playing RPGs together, they know everything about each other, except anything that would give away their real life identities. And Noah is certain that if they could just meet in person, they would be soulmates. Noah would do anything to make this happen ―including finally leaving his gaming chair to join a community theater show that he’s only mostly sure MagePants69 is performing in. Noah has never done anything like theater ―he can’t sing, he can’t dance, and he’s never willingly watched a musical― but he’ll have to go all in to have a chance at love.
With Noah’s mum performing in the lead role, and former friends waiting in the wings to sabotage his reputation, his plan to make MagePants69 fall in love with him might be a little more difficult than originally anticipated.
And the longer Noah waits to come clean, the more tangled his web of lies becomes. By opening night, he will have to decide if telling the truth is worth closing the curtain on his one shot at true love.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published August 30, 2022
31 people are currently reading
6997 people want to read
About the author
Tobias Madden
6 books348 followersTobias is an author and editor from Sydney, Australia. Originally from Ballarat, Tobias worked for ten years as a performer, touring Australia and New Zealand with musicals such as Mary Poppins, CATS, Singin' in the Rain, and Guys and Dolls. In 2019, he edited and published UNDERDOG, the first #LoveOzYA short story anthology for previously unpublished Aussie young adult fiction writers. Also in 2019, he wrote the cabaret show Siblingship, which played to sold out audiences in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. Tobias is a passionate member of the #LoveOzYA and LGBTQ+ communities, and currently works in publishing as a Digital Marketing Executive and YA Publicist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
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February 16, 2023dnf @49%
November 8, 2022
Awww, I liked this one. Once in a while, I just need a breezy and charming story, and Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell was exactly what I needed.
Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is such an easy-to-read YA book, and I even like it a bit more than I liked Anything but Fine. Again, Tobias Madden chose to write a book featuring a boy who does questionable things but hey, I love when teens are just being teens. Meaning not thinking things through, being egotistical at times, and doing cringy things. Noah is such a teen, a nerdy one, without friends because of what happened three years ago and crushing on the boy, he plays video games with.
So, I read, and I cringed, and I swooned, and I shook my head, and I smiled, and I read on again. What I less was the bullying. I could have done without it. But overall, this story is for everyone who needs a distraction, a book to read in one or a couple of sittings, and after reading, a content feeling inside your chest—highly recommended!
Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is such an easy-to-read YA book, and I even like it a bit more than I liked Anything but Fine. Again, Tobias Madden chose to write a book featuring a boy who does questionable things but hey, I love when teens are just being teens. Meaning not thinking things through, being egotistical at times, and doing cringy things. Noah is such a teen, a nerdy one, without friends because of what happened three years ago and crushing on the boy, he plays video games with.
So, I read, and I cringed, and I swooned, and I shook my head, and I smiled, and I read on again. What I less was the bullying. I could have done without it. But overall, this story is for everyone who needs a distraction, a book to read in one or a couple of sittings, and after reading, a content feeling inside your chest—highly recommended!
June 14, 2025
cuteeee!! might be one of my faves from Tobias. didn’t hit me the same as some of his others did, but I liked that this one was a lil less young and a lil more adult. I’m used to Tobias giving us fade to black but there was a whole SENTENCE OR TWO OF LOWKEY SMUT!!!
anyways cute lil YA read. loves it.
anyways cute lil YA read. loves it.
August 1, 2022
3.5 stars :)
I don't like the lying trope which is essentially the entire premise of this book! But that said, it was a romp, I did laugh, there were some excellent moments of divided family and support. The overall lie was handled really well too and I quite enjoyed myself in all honesty. It was fun and I'd recommend it. :)
I don't like the lying trope which is essentially the entire premise of this book! But that said, it was a romp, I did laugh, there were some excellent moments of divided family and support. The overall lie was handled really well too and I quite enjoyed myself in all honesty. It was fun and I'd recommend it. :)
August 7, 2022
That ending was somehow simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming...I cry
May 4, 2023
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
“But still, despite all of this . . . I’m in love. It’s irrational. It’s irresponsible. But it’s irrevocable.”
Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell was a humorous and interesting YA story about a young seventeen year-old boy, Noah Mitchell, who is so very much eager to finally have the chance to meet his online crush that he's been gaming with for quite some time. What makes it even worse is when he's able to narrow down and figure out the true identity behind the username he's been interacting with! What follows is a series of catastrophic and action-packed sequence of events, in which Noah desperately tries in vain to keep his feelings afloat and still keeping his oblivious crush within arms reach, while still juggling the pangs of sharing the stage with his mother for an upcoming play at their local Australian theater.
“I place my hands in his, my stupid heart skipping a beat when our palms
make contact.
‘You good?’ he asks.
I bite my lip to keep from grinning like a fool. ‘Yep.’”
Ah, young love 💕💕 - that fresh feeling of instant connection and deep pulsating desire of reaching out for more - and as much as it was difficult for me to stomach some of Noah's questionable actions in order to keep his identity a secret from his co-actor and crush, Elijah Callaghan, I won't deny that it was nice to see how much effort he was putting into being there for him - someone he could open up to.
“Right now, I want us to be Noah Mitchell and Elijah Callaghan and nothing more. Just two real-life boys, a couple of Frozen Cokes, and a first kiss still waiting to happen.”
There were still some unfair and unkind decisions that he made, which I didn't agree with and made Noah a bit of an unlikable protagonist, but when we learn more about his family - when he, himself, is given such a rude awakening - I really did feel sorry for him. That was --- a lot to unpack at that given point of his life - and that feeling of absolute horror and uncomfortable humiliation transcended beyond the page - so major props to the author for that catastrophic turn of events that left me reeling! 😩😩
The relationship with his family, especially his mother, was very much relatable. I really felt for him as he tried to make a stand for himself on stage - when he would feel insecure about belonging, especially with how talented an actress his own mother was. I liked how he slowly let go of hiding behind a computer game and was able to interact with more people - even if it was difficult for him at times.
I loved how the theater actors slowly but surely embraced him - got to see his own potential and charm - genuinely caring for him and not making him feel all the more awkward as to when he first joined their trope. Noah has a powerful and captivating presence - it's just awkward for him to express himself. Still, Tobias Madden showed his growth in such an organic way that you couldn't help but empathize with his many embarrassing and unfortunate plights.
“Because my curiosity is killing me? Because I’m reckless and ridiculous? Because I’m suddenly one step closer to meeting the love of my life?”
Noah and Elijah had such a sweet and adorable relationship - I liked how they became first friends and then Elijah expressed an interest with him. Seeing their different interactions behind the computer screen and on-stage, while being off-stage was kinda chaotic, because I knew at some point in time, the truth was going to come out. 😞😞 And with the way Eli was being so honest with him, showing his vulnerable side, sharing his secrets with him - it hurt even more so, seeing how Noah was so hesitant - so afraid to finally reveal the truth to him - because in the process, he only ended up hurting both of them.
“A desperate urge to tell Eli the truth blooms in my chest. We can’t have our first kiss under false pretences, can we? We can’t build the foundations of an actual relationship on a lie. Can we?”
The truth had to come out at some point - that Noah couldn't continue to deceive and hide his identity from him, under the pretense that he just wanted to enjoy a little more time with him as someone else. Even if the truth isn't always what we want and the constant argument of reasoning Noah had inwardly about his decisions became a bit unnerving, I still feel that the eventual fall-out was captured perfectly. 👌🏼
While exhausting and painful to read, Mr.Madden expertly captured that hurt and anger and pain from both sides. It was hard to pick any one side in favor, but how they were able to work around it - find a common ground and still be there for each other was nice to see. And as bittersweet as the ending was, it was rightfully so and with a hopeful feeling that Noah and Eli can still find a way back to each other. ❤️🩹 ❤️🩹
“But still, despite all of this . . . I’m in love. It’s irrational. It’s irresponsible. But it’s irrevocable.”
Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell was a humorous and interesting YA story about a young seventeen year-old boy, Noah Mitchell, who is so very much eager to finally have the chance to meet his online crush that he's been gaming with for quite some time. What makes it even worse is when he's able to narrow down and figure out the true identity behind the username he's been interacting with! What follows is a series of catastrophic and action-packed sequence of events, in which Noah desperately tries in vain to keep his feelings afloat and still keeping his oblivious crush within arms reach, while still juggling the pangs of sharing the stage with his mother for an upcoming play at their local Australian theater.
“I place my hands in his, my stupid heart skipping a beat when our palms
make contact.
‘You good?’ he asks.
I bite my lip to keep from grinning like a fool. ‘Yep.’”
Ah, young love 💕💕 - that fresh feeling of instant connection and deep pulsating desire of reaching out for more - and as much as it was difficult for me to stomach some of Noah's questionable actions in order to keep his identity a secret from his co-actor and crush, Elijah Callaghan, I won't deny that it was nice to see how much effort he was putting into being there for him - someone he could open up to.
“Right now, I want us to be Noah Mitchell and Elijah Callaghan and nothing more. Just two real-life boys, a couple of Frozen Cokes, and a first kiss still waiting to happen.”
There were still some unfair and unkind decisions that he made, which I didn't agree with and made Noah a bit of an unlikable protagonist, but when we learn more about his family - when he, himself, is given such a rude awakening - I really did feel sorry for him. That was --- a lot to unpack at that given point of his life - and that feeling of absolute horror and uncomfortable humiliation transcended beyond the page - so major props to the author for that catastrophic turn of events that left me reeling! 😩😩
The relationship with his family, especially his mother, was very much relatable. I really felt for him as he tried to make a stand for himself on stage - when he would feel insecure about belonging, especially with how talented an actress his own mother was. I liked how he slowly let go of hiding behind a computer game and was able to interact with more people - even if it was difficult for him at times.
I loved how the theater actors slowly but surely embraced him - got to see his own potential and charm - genuinely caring for him and not making him feel all the more awkward as to when he first joined their trope. Noah has a powerful and captivating presence - it's just awkward for him to express himself. Still, Tobias Madden showed his growth in such an organic way that you couldn't help but empathize with his many embarrassing and unfortunate plights.
“Because my curiosity is killing me? Because I’m reckless and ridiculous? Because I’m suddenly one step closer to meeting the love of my life?”
Noah and Elijah had such a sweet and adorable relationship - I liked how they became first friends and then Elijah expressed an interest with him. Seeing their different interactions behind the computer screen and on-stage, while being off-stage was kinda chaotic, because I knew at some point in time, the truth was going to come out. 😞😞 And with the way Eli was being so honest with him, showing his vulnerable side, sharing his secrets with him - it hurt even more so, seeing how Noah was so hesitant - so afraid to finally reveal the truth to him - because in the process, he only ended up hurting both of them.
“A desperate urge to tell Eli the truth blooms in my chest. We can’t have our first kiss under false pretences, can we? We can’t build the foundations of an actual relationship on a lie. Can we?”
The truth had to come out at some point - that Noah couldn't continue to deceive and hide his identity from him, under the pretense that he just wanted to enjoy a little more time with him as someone else. Even if the truth isn't always what we want and the constant argument of reasoning Noah had inwardly about his decisions became a bit unnerving, I still feel that the eventual fall-out was captured perfectly. 👌🏼
While exhausting and painful to read, Mr.Madden expertly captured that hurt and anger and pain from both sides. It was hard to pick any one side in favor, but how they were able to work around it - find a common ground and still be there for each other was nice to see. And as bittersweet as the ending was, it was rightfully so and with a hopeful feeling that Noah and Eli can still find a way back to each other. ❤️🩹 ❤️🩹
November 22, 2023
This was so much fun! Charming, cute, meaningful, touching, and unique. I read it in less than 48 hours because I could not put it down. I loved the concept, the story, the strong characters, the writing style, and the balance between all the plotlines.
The book juggled so much. So many different conflicts. Obviously, the main plot point of Noah keeping his online identity a secret from Eli. But we also got other layers to his life that highlighted why he felt so lonely. The constant torment from his ex-friends at school. The mystery of what happened between him and Tan. His feuding with Prisha (who was a total BITCH, and un rightfully so). His relationship with his mother and *spoiler, redacted* – which I was not expecting. And his mental battles.
I truly loved Noah. I think the book provided great commentary in the way of adolescent mental health – anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia & loneliness – and the effects they have. You couldn’t help but to root for him and feel for the guy.
Noah’s loneliness was heartbreaking. And while he made so many questionable choices, we understood that he did so because of how isolated he was from others and how desperate he was for companionship. I appreciated the focus on his body image issues, because it’s a topic that is so important to discuss but is often not. The way he was essentially ignored by his parents was so crushing. All these internal struggles made him complex a character, and I loved seeing him overcome those mental roadblocks.
Eli? Perfect. An incredible character who was so loveable that you were constantly frustrated by what Noah was doing / not doing because he deserved the truth. Scenes with him in them were often highlights of the book.
For the duration of the book, we’re left wondering what took place that cost Noah his friendships. Also for the duration of the book, I had the feeling that it was really something that wasn’t something malicious or deceitful. When all was revealed, a whole lot of his decisions made sense. And it made me feel even worse for Noah, because the guilt he put himself through was unfair.
I also enjoyed Noah’s friendship with Alex, his relationship with his sister, the scenes at the roller rink & in Eli’s secret space, and the fact that the musical was Chicago -- one of my favorites.
This book was everything a YA book should be. It was witty, adorable, romantic, funny, emotional, AND it tackled some very important issues.
And while I wanted a bit more detail to the ending and its aftermath ( I’m all for more open-ended endings, but my curious ass also loves blatant closure !! ), I have a good feeling that Noah and Eli eventually get back to where they were.
Tobias is a talented writer. I haven’t yet read his debut novel, but I am most certainly going to after how much I loved this one!
“Can this be a real thing, can it? Are we falling like snow at the beach? ... weird, but fucking beautiful. / Flying in a dream, stars by the pocketful. You wanting me tonight feels impossible … but it’s coming down, no sound, it’s all around – like snow on the beach.
- Snow on the Beach // Taylor Swift
The book juggled so much. So many different conflicts. Obviously, the main plot point of Noah keeping his online identity a secret from Eli. But we also got other layers to his life that highlighted why he felt so lonely. The constant torment from his ex-friends at school. The mystery of what happened between him and Tan. His feuding with Prisha (who was a total BITCH, and un rightfully so). His relationship with his mother and *spoiler, redacted* – which I was not expecting. And his mental battles.
I truly loved Noah. I think the book provided great commentary in the way of adolescent mental health – anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia & loneliness – and the effects they have. You couldn’t help but to root for him and feel for the guy.
Noah’s loneliness was heartbreaking. And while he made so many questionable choices, we understood that he did so because of how isolated he was from others and how desperate he was for companionship. I appreciated the focus on his body image issues, because it’s a topic that is so important to discuss but is often not. The way he was essentially ignored by his parents was so crushing. All these internal struggles made him complex a character, and I loved seeing him overcome those mental roadblocks.
Eli? Perfect. An incredible character who was so loveable that you were constantly frustrated by what Noah was doing / not doing because he deserved the truth. Scenes with him in them were often highlights of the book.
For the duration of the book, we’re left wondering what took place that cost Noah his friendships. Also for the duration of the book, I had the feeling that it was really something that wasn’t something malicious or deceitful. When all was revealed, a whole lot of his decisions made sense. And it made me feel even worse for Noah, because the guilt he put himself through was unfair.
I also enjoyed Noah’s friendship with Alex, his relationship with his sister, the scenes at the roller rink & in Eli’s secret space, and the fact that the musical was Chicago -- one of my favorites.
This book was everything a YA book should be. It was witty, adorable, romantic, funny, emotional, AND it tackled some very important issues.
And while I wanted a bit more detail to the ending and its aftermath ( I’m all for more open-ended endings, but my curious ass also loves blatant closure !! ), I have a good feeling that Noah and Eli eventually get back to where they were.
Tobias is a talented writer. I haven’t yet read his debut novel, but I am most certainly going to after how much I loved this one!
“Can this be a real thing, can it? Are we falling like snow at the beach? ... weird, but fucking beautiful. / Flying in a dream, stars by the pocketful. You wanting me tonight feels impossible … but it’s coming down, no sound, it’s all around – like snow on the beach.
- Snow on the Beach // Taylor Swift
December 17, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Okay sooooo I seem to be in the minority on this book, because so many people have written great reviews for it, but for me... it was a hard miss. I understand that as a book about musical theatre, it's going to be dramatic, but for me, it was just wayyyy too over-the-top dramatic and I really did not like the main character. He was whiney and self-centred and just got on every single one of my nerves. I was also expecting there to be some sort of big plot twist - maybe Noah had got his online friend's identity wrong - but that never happened, so I was left feeling pretty underwhelmed, but also with my back up.
But as I said, lots of people seem to love this book so it might just be a me thing!
Okay sooooo I seem to be in the minority on this book, because so many people have written great reviews for it, but for me... it was a hard miss. I understand that as a book about musical theatre, it's going to be dramatic, but for me, it was just wayyyy too over-the-top dramatic and I really did not like the main character. He was whiney and self-centred and just got on every single one of my nerves. I was also expecting there to be some sort of big plot twist - maybe Noah had got his online friend's identity wrong - but that never happened, so I was left feeling pretty underwhelmed, but also with my back up.
But as I said, lots of people seem to love this book so it might just be a me thing!
January 3, 2023
A delight to read! While the hero, Noah, makes some horrible decisions, his love interest is his own version of misguided, which balances out their dynamic. I love how the story combines two niche interests, and I love the well-developed supporting characters.
April 4, 2022
Y’all are not ready for this book. THE SQUEE FACTOR IS OFF THE CHARTS!!!! The way Tobias can weave a story is second to none. Beyond excited to see what he writes next, but my god. Take a Bow Noah Mitchell is brilliant. Chookas!
January 16, 2023
Noah is a seventeen-year-old gaymer that has absolutely no friends, save for the person he plays video games with online. In fact, though Noah would never admit this to anyone, he's kinda in love with his video game partner. It's the best friend he's ever had. When Noah's mom asks him to help star in the local troupe's production of Chicago he refuses, but when the boy he plays video games with slips up and lets on that he's in the play, Noah is eager to join. Except, he can't tell his online friend that Noah is the online friend, so he'll hide that until they are madly in love and the truth won't hurt...right?
Thank you to Page Street Kids and Pride Book Tours (@pridebooktours) for an advanced copy in exchange for a review!
I never would have thought a book with both gaming and theater themes in it would work, but, Tobias Madden, I stand corrected. I'm not a gamer at all, and only a theater kid by association, but I liked both aspects in this book. Overall, I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I was going to. It gave me some series Dear Evan Hansen vibes with the secrets (take that as you will), which was both interesting and a bit jarring. While I think Noah is a little bit toxic and should not have done what he did, I also understand (to some degree) why he did what he did. I do wish the past storyline that Madden incorporates would have been revealed earlier, but it made sense for Noah's character to have it wait to be revealed until the end. Overall, I really enjoyed this one, though I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea.
Thank you to Page Street Kids and Pride Book Tours (@pridebooktours) for an advanced copy in exchange for a review!
I never would have thought a book with both gaming and theater themes in it would work, but, Tobias Madden, I stand corrected. I'm not a gamer at all, and only a theater kid by association, but I liked both aspects in this book. Overall, I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I was going to. It gave me some series Dear Evan Hansen vibes with the secrets (take that as you will), which was both interesting and a bit jarring. While I think Noah is a little bit toxic and should not have done what he did, I also understand (to some degree) why he did what he did. I do wish the past storyline that Madden incorporates would have been revealed earlier, but it made sense for Noah's character to have it wait to be revealed until the end. Overall, I really enjoyed this one, though I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea.
December 14, 2022
Enjoyable, relevant and contemporary.
A modern story encompassing online gaming, a love (and hate) of musical theatre, relationships (parental/friendship/same-sex)and all set in Ballarat, Australia! The protagonists Noah and Eli are so accurate of 17 something-year olds it made me laugh out loud at times. The musical theatre references so enjoyable and the teenage drama so true!
I’m not a fan of a novel centred on a lie but it was handled well and the ending was believable. A great recommendation for mature YA readers. Highly recommend reading Madden’s first novel ‘Anything But Fine’ as well.
A modern story encompassing online gaming, a love (and hate) of musical theatre, relationships (parental/friendship/same-sex)and all set in Ballarat, Australia! The protagonists Noah and Eli are so accurate of 17 something-year olds it made me laugh out loud at times. The musical theatre references so enjoyable and the teenage drama so true!
I’m not a fan of a novel centred on a lie but it was handled well and the ending was believable. A great recommendation for mature YA readers. Highly recommend reading Madden’s first novel ‘Anything But Fine’ as well.
August 17, 2022
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Thank you Penguin Australia for this book in exchange for an honest review
Tobias is one of Australia’s up and coming authors that will more than likely, take over the book world overnight. Tobias has a way of ensuring that his books based around topics you aren’t familiar with, are explained in a way that flows with the story and isn’t information dumped in your lap. With charismatic and relatable characters, you are sure to fall in love with them as well as the story! Noah, who is a bit of a social outcast, has cringe worthy embarrassing moments throughout the book that you can’t help but sit there and feel empathy and relate to him. Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is a feel good, funny and enjoyable book that needs to be on your TBR asap! Can’t wait to see what Tobias writes next!
Bookstagram
Website
Thank you Penguin Australia for this book in exchange for an honest review
Tobias is one of Australia’s up and coming authors that will more than likely, take over the book world overnight. Tobias has a way of ensuring that his books based around topics you aren’t familiar with, are explained in a way that flows with the story and isn’t information dumped in your lap. With charismatic and relatable characters, you are sure to fall in love with them as well as the story! Noah, who is a bit of a social outcast, has cringe worthy embarrassing moments throughout the book that you can’t help but sit there and feel empathy and relate to him. Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is a feel good, funny and enjoyable book that needs to be on your TBR asap! Can’t wait to see what Tobias writes next!
December 20, 2022
Audiobook Review
I saw this audio on Netgalley and it sounded great, I am a gamer and I love romance so I thought I would take a chance on a new to me narrator.
First of all, this is not a genre romance book. There is no HEA/HFN at the end of it. Is there hope for one? Yep, but that does not make it a romance.
Second of all, man this would have been so much better with dual POV as I did not like the main mc that much for most of the book. To be honest, it was not til the end that he became likable.
So in here we have Noah, a friendless teen who plays a videogame constantly so he can talk to the guy he has a major crush on. He has never met this guy in real life but has spent hours and hours with him in the game.
Side note, the game parts were awesome. I would have loved more of that. Also the emotions that was able to be felt and shown, such as crying, is a great thing to have in here.
Anyways, he decides to try to find this guy in real life and starts this long caper that ends up being him lying repeatedly to the one he supposedly loves. Eventually the charade falls apart and Eli? (I am not sure how to spell the name as I read this in audio) basically kicks him to the curb even after the heartfelt 90% apology/list of reasons why he did it.
Noah then decides to go confront/talk to one of the guys who was supposedly his friends but really, these guys were bullies, and takes control of his life. He gets at least spoken to in school now.
At the end, he is still playing his game and going on with life, hoping that the mage will talk to him again. Which he does, but not the "we are going to be together way", more like "I am willing to talk to you while playing this game". Which to be honest, was a good way to go about this and was a good ending.
Which brings me to this, don't say it is a romance if they are not both happy at the end. Whatever happens during the book, the ending should be a HFN/HEA.
The narration was awesome and it was done flawlessly. Will be reading with them again.
My only other niggle was that the last bit of the book were about the writer. While I can understand the thanking everybody part, I did not understand the interview parts and skipped all that.
I saw this audio on Netgalley and it sounded great, I am a gamer and I love romance so I thought I would take a chance on a new to me narrator.
First of all, this is not a genre romance book. There is no HEA/HFN at the end of it. Is there hope for one? Yep, but that does not make it a romance.
Second of all, man this would have been so much better with dual POV as I did not like the main mc that much for most of the book. To be honest, it was not til the end that he became likable.
So in here we have Noah, a friendless teen who plays a videogame constantly so he can talk to the guy he has a major crush on. He has never met this guy in real life but has spent hours and hours with him in the game.
Side note, the game parts were awesome. I would have loved more of that. Also the emotions that was able to be felt and shown, such as crying, is a great thing to have in here.
Anyways, he decides to try to find this guy in real life and starts this long caper that ends up being him lying repeatedly to the one he supposedly loves. Eventually the charade falls apart and Eli? (I am not sure how to spell the name as I read this in audio) basically kicks him to the curb even after the heartfelt 90% apology/list of reasons why he did it.
Noah then decides to go confront/talk to one of the guys who was supposedly his friends but really, these guys were bullies, and takes control of his life. He gets at least spoken to in school now.
At the end, he is still playing his game and going on with life, hoping that the mage will talk to him again. Which he does, but not the "we are going to be together way", more like "I am willing to talk to you while playing this game". Which to be honest, was a good way to go about this and was a good ending.
Which brings me to this, don't say it is a romance if they are not both happy at the end. Whatever happens during the book, the ending should be a HFN/HEA.
The narration was awesome and it was done flawlessly. Will be reading with them again.
My only other niggle was that the last bit of the book were about the writer. While I can understand the thanking everybody part, I did not understand the interview parts and skipped all that.
January 8, 2023
[I received a physical copy from PrideBookTours for an honest review]
Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is a Queer YA Contemporary from author Tobias Madden.
I'll be honest, I was a bit hesitant going into this because I felt lukewarm about Madden's book Everything But Fine yet I couldn't resist the synopsis. Online gamer in love with his online friend and when he gets the chance to come face to face with him in real life decides to live a double life instead of being up front and honest. Yes ! Sign me up for that adorable train wreck.
Noah Noah Noah that poor boy. He was traumatized from telling the truth so he feared to ever speak up again. It was painful to watch him dig himself further and further into a hole with his lies to Eli. Ya'll know I usually complain when there's not dual POV, but 17-year-old Noah was a strong character on his own. He was endearing even though he was being dishonest. I felt like he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and he was just trying to keep going. Between the bullying in school and the fact that telling the truth cost him his friends , I don't blame him fully for his decisions. I probably would have made the same ones in his position.
While I enjoyed the love interest Eli, He did not impress me. I didn't appreciate the way he seemed to be pushy when it came to intimacy with Noah, there's a bit too much jealousy and an instance of peer pressure that was not appreciated. The two eventually do have sex, it's off page and any other intimacy is very low steam but in all honesty I wouldn't have missed it if it hadn't ever moved passed kisses.
I was nervous with how the story was going to all wrap up in the end, thankfully I liked how it was realistic and heartwarming. Not necessarily a happily ever after, but growth and healing for Noah and with hope of repairing his friendships.
All in all, I am really glad I decided to give Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell by Tobias Madden a chance. A Queer YA contemporary filled with online gaming, musicals, humor, family dynamics, online relationships, lies, roller rinks dates, first times, and a satisfying ending.
Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is a Queer YA Contemporary from author Tobias Madden.
I'll be honest, I was a bit hesitant going into this because I felt lukewarm about Madden's book Everything But Fine yet I couldn't resist the synopsis. Online gamer in love with his online friend and when he gets the chance to come face to face with him in real life decides to live a double life instead of being up front and honest. Yes ! Sign me up for that adorable train wreck.
Noah Noah Noah that poor boy. He was traumatized from telling the truth so he feared to ever speak up again. It was painful to watch him dig himself further and further into a hole with his lies to Eli. Ya'll know I usually complain when there's not dual POV, but 17-year-old Noah was a strong character on his own. He was endearing even though he was being dishonest. I felt like he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and he was just trying to keep going. Between the bullying in school and the fact that telling the truth cost him his friends , I don't blame him fully for his decisions. I probably would have made the same ones in his position.
While I enjoyed the love interest Eli, He did not impress me. I didn't appreciate the way he seemed to be pushy when it came to intimacy with Noah, there's a bit too much jealousy and an instance of peer pressure that was not appreciated. The two eventually do have sex, it's off page and any other intimacy is very low steam but in all honesty I wouldn't have missed it if it hadn't ever moved passed kisses.
I was nervous with how the story was going to all wrap up in the end, thankfully I liked how it was realistic and heartwarming. Not necessarily a happily ever after, but growth and healing for Noah and with hope of repairing his friendships.
All in all, I am really glad I decided to give Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell by Tobias Madden a chance. A Queer YA contemporary filled with online gaming, musicals, humor, family dynamics, online relationships, lies, roller rinks dates, first times, and a satisfying ending.
June 15, 2023
Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell follows 17-year-old Noah, who enjoys nothing better than playing games with his online friend he only knows by his username, MagePants69. Noah is so certain they could actually be more if they only met in person, so when he gets a crumb of real-life information, he joins a community theater show that he assumes his friend is a part of. This becomes extra complicated as he was never into theater, his mom is a part of this production, his ex-friend is trying to ruin him, and the more he lies, the more difficult it becomes to come clean.
This novel is really what you would expect from the synopsis, and I had expected quite a bit of teen drama and being over-the-top. However, I feel like the execution of the plot really made this not as enjoyable as it could've been. In my opinion, the fun and the draw of books with such a plot is the excitement of the chase and not really knowing the identity of the person the protagonist is trying to find. Otherwise, it really just is one person lying to the other for no good reason. And unfortunately, Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is just Noah lying to his friend because he doesn't want to come clean.
What I mean by this is, that Noah immediately figures out the identity of his friend, there is no mystery, there is no uncertainty, he's just right on his first guess, and that's it. Knowing that, it felt extremely strange that he would continue pretending, as he really has no reason to keep lying. I understand it makes him nervous, as he figured out his identity and became a part of the show pretty much against their agreement to keep their friendship online, but if he didn't want to come clean at any point, what was his plan? Anyways, all this to say, I didn't really enjoy just reading about Noah just lying for the sake of lying.
All that said, teens will be teens, and I give Noah some leeway here, I can sort of understand where he was coming from in the beginning. The novel did have some really sweet moments, and I found Noah’s relationship with his mom interesting to read about. They were both way too dramatic, but family is complicated, and I appreciated that part of the book.
Obviously, the book is not all bad, it makes for a fun, fast read, I simply expected more from the execution, given what the premise was. I enjoyed the ending, the kind of open, we’ll see what happens conclusion to Noah’s story, and I find it fitting - you can’t mastermind relationships into a desired outcome, you have to see where it goes naturally. As always, this is just my opinion, and if you’re interested in the book, definitely give it a go! :)
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
This novel is really what you would expect from the synopsis, and I had expected quite a bit of teen drama and being over-the-top. However, I feel like the execution of the plot really made this not as enjoyable as it could've been. In my opinion, the fun and the draw of books with such a plot is the excitement of the chase and not really knowing the identity of the person the protagonist is trying to find. Otherwise, it really just is one person lying to the other for no good reason. And unfortunately, Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is just Noah lying to his friend because he doesn't want to come clean.
What I mean by this is, that Noah immediately figures out the identity of his friend, there is no mystery, there is no uncertainty, he's just right on his first guess, and that's it. Knowing that, it felt extremely strange that he would continue pretending, as he really has no reason to keep lying. I understand it makes him nervous, as he figured out his identity and became a part of the show pretty much against their agreement to keep their friendship online, but if he didn't want to come clean at any point, what was his plan? Anyways, all this to say, I didn't really enjoy just reading about Noah just lying for the sake of lying.
All that said, teens will be teens, and I give Noah some leeway here, I can sort of understand where he was coming from in the beginning. The novel did have some really sweet moments, and I found Noah’s relationship with his mom interesting to read about. They were both way too dramatic, but family is complicated, and I appreciated that part of the book.
Obviously, the book is not all bad, it makes for a fun, fast read, I simply expected more from the execution, given what the premise was. I enjoyed the ending, the kind of open, we’ll see what happens conclusion to Noah’s story, and I find it fitting - you can’t mastermind relationships into a desired outcome, you have to see where it goes naturally. As always, this is just my opinion, and if you’re interested in the book, definitely give it a go! :)
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
January 13, 2023
ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
TW: Bullying, body image, low-self esteem, catfishing, drug use, peer pressure, cheating, lying, manipulation, underage drinking
My first book of the year and I'm so glad it's #LoveOzYA.
There's something so beautiful and nice about seeing your own country in a book. Even cooler than that, to see the small towns you've visited come to life on a page. I loved how Ballarat, its people and communities were portrayed and I got a sense of the small town spirit typically prominent among many Australian towns.
Take A Bow, Noah Mitchell is set in Ballarat and follows Noah Mitchell who joins a small theatre production of Chicago with his mum to get closer to his online crush. Noah, aware of the strict rules his crush's mum puts in place to protect her son online, hatches a plan to make him fall in love with him before telling him the truth about his identity. Things get complicated as Noah navigates communicating with his crush in person and online, the lines blurring as Noah struggles to not get caught up in his own web of lies.
The theme throughout this book is truth and lies and how sometimes the lines get a little bit blurry. Noah, to me, isn't written as a malicious character per say, rather I think the book portrays him as someone who made a big mistake based on poor judgement. I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him because it reminded me of when I was a teenager, acting on pure emotion without thinking things through first. It's a lesson that every person has to go through in life and this book was a perfect example of actions having sometimes severe consequences.
The book shows how a desire, to get closer to Noah's crush, spiralled out of control just because Noah wasn't honest with him from the start. As Noah keeps the truth to himself and prolongs telling his crush the truth, the more Noah starts feeling frustrated and the relationships around him really start to fracture. The book, rather than telling the reader how unethical and wrong Noah's actions were, showcases the snowball effect of his dishonesty. The ending, as such, made sense to me and I was satisfied how things turned out for the main character. I'm glad he learned from his errors and I liked how the ending was opened up for interpretation.
Another big theme was Noah's insecurities, particularly with his body. I'm glad that this was brought up in the book because I know so many teenagers dealing with it and I know that it's not talked about nearly enough. I liked how it was handled and written and you could see how past events lead to Noah taking the actions he was taking. Another big theme was bullying and you could see the consequences of it, especially towards the end where we get a better glimpse at Noah's feelings towards it and why he was bullied so much in the first place.
The reason why this wasn't a 5 star read for me was with the chemistry between Noah and his crush. I kind of expected more romantic tension or chemistry but I felt like there was little of it? I'm also blaming myself here because I thought this was a romance instead of a contemporary, thinking the romance would be the main, central focus of the novel rather than its other themes.
All in all, this was a book that tackled a lot of big themes well. The romance aspect fell a little flat but it was made up for with good characterisation and for showing how actions no matter how big or small, can have severe consequences. It's a good reminder that when in doubt, it's always best to be honest.
ACTUAL RATING: 4.1 STARS
TW: Bullying, body image, low-self esteem, catfishing, drug use, peer pressure, cheating, lying, manipulation, underage drinking
My first book of the year and I'm so glad it's #LoveOzYA.
There's something so beautiful and nice about seeing your own country in a book. Even cooler than that, to see the small towns you've visited come to life on a page. I loved how Ballarat, its people and communities were portrayed and I got a sense of the small town spirit typically prominent among many Australian towns.
Take A Bow, Noah Mitchell is set in Ballarat and follows Noah Mitchell who joins a small theatre production of Chicago with his mum to get closer to his online crush. Noah, aware of the strict rules his crush's mum puts in place to protect her son online, hatches a plan to make him fall in love with him before telling him the truth about his identity. Things get complicated as Noah navigates communicating with his crush in person and online, the lines blurring as Noah struggles to not get caught up in his own web of lies.
The theme throughout this book is truth and lies and how sometimes the lines get a little bit blurry. Noah, to me, isn't written as a malicious character per say, rather I think the book portrays him as someone who made a big mistake based on poor judgement. I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him because it reminded me of when I was a teenager, acting on pure emotion without thinking things through first. It's a lesson that every person has to go through in life and this book was a perfect example of actions having sometimes severe consequences.
The book shows how a desire, to get closer to Noah's crush, spiralled out of control just because Noah wasn't honest with him from the start. As Noah keeps the truth to himself and prolongs telling his crush the truth, the more Noah starts feeling frustrated and the relationships around him really start to fracture. The book, rather than telling the reader how unethical and wrong Noah's actions were, showcases the snowball effect of his dishonesty. The ending, as such, made sense to me and I was satisfied how things turned out for the main character. I'm glad he learned from his errors and I liked how the ending was opened up for interpretation.
Another big theme was Noah's insecurities, particularly with his body. I'm glad that this was brought up in the book because I know so many teenagers dealing with it and I know that it's not talked about nearly enough. I liked how it was handled and written and you could see how past events lead to Noah taking the actions he was taking. Another big theme was bullying and you could see the consequences of it, especially towards the end where we get a better glimpse at Noah's feelings towards it and why he was bullied so much in the first place.
The reason why this wasn't a 5 star read for me was with the chemistry between Noah and his crush. I kind of expected more romantic tension or chemistry but I felt like there was little of it? I'm also blaming myself here because I thought this was a romance instead of a contemporary, thinking the romance would be the main, central focus of the novel rather than its other themes.
All in all, this was a book that tackled a lot of big themes well. The romance aspect fell a little flat but it was made up for with good characterisation and for showing how actions no matter how big or small, can have severe consequences. It's a good reminder that when in doubt, it's always best to be honest.
ACTUAL RATING: 4.1 STARS
January 5, 2023
Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of this book. I chose to review it and this in no way impacts my opinion of it.
When I was approved for the audiobook ARC of this novel, I really had no idea how thankful for it I would become. When I decided to start listening to it, I was just about to lie down on my tattoo artists table and spend the next 5.5 hours being stabbed repeatedly. This tattoo was a lot more painful than all my others and the only thing that was helping me get through it was this novel.
This was such a fun, cute read that even if I wasn't stuck in one position with nothing to do but listen to music or audiobooks, I would still want to spend hours listening. In fact, even after my appointment was over I spent the next 2 hours driving home while still listening. I came home and walked my dog with headphones in so I could keep going. I was becoming so invested in Noah and Eli's story that I HAD TO KNOW how it was going to end.
While I found Noah's mother and his inability to stand up for himself infuriating, I wasn't bothered to the point where I had to stop listening. The storyline is cute and I loved the gamer aspect to it. As someone who has made some amazing friends online, it is so awesome to see that translated into a book.
If you enjoy video games and love, you'll love this cute, quick read.
When I was approved for the audiobook ARC of this novel, I really had no idea how thankful for it I would become. When I decided to start listening to it, I was just about to lie down on my tattoo artists table and spend the next 5.5 hours being stabbed repeatedly. This tattoo was a lot more painful than all my others and the only thing that was helping me get through it was this novel.
This was such a fun, cute read that even if I wasn't stuck in one position with nothing to do but listen to music or audiobooks, I would still want to spend hours listening. In fact, even after my appointment was over I spent the next 2 hours driving home while still listening. I came home and walked my dog with headphones in so I could keep going. I was becoming so invested in Noah and Eli's story that I HAD TO KNOW how it was going to end.
While I found Noah's mother and his inability to stand up for himself infuriating, I wasn't bothered to the point where I had to stop listening. The storyline is cute and I loved the gamer aspect to it. As someone who has made some amazing friends online, it is so awesome to see that translated into a book.
If you enjoy video games and love, you'll love this cute, quick read.
April 24, 2023
*An audio ARC was provided by NetGalley and RB Media in exchange for an honest review*
Well, that was the hilarious romp into community theater culture I needed to heal my Florida-induced seasonal depression (since Florida only has one season... yes. It might just be regular, garden-variety "the sun is killing me like a grocery store rotisserie" depression).
Firstly, I highly recommend the audiobook. Not only is the narrator immensely talented in bringing Noah and company to life, but the audio edition features an interview with the author at the end and I am a sucker for interviews with authors.
While the overall tone of this is lighthearted, funny, and fabulous, there are some heavier themes and I appreciated the deft skill Madden handled them with. Divorce. Body image. Relationships, platonic and otherwise. Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell handles a lot of the usual YA themes but the skill with which they're handled is above average.
Highly recommend, especially for anyone feeling nostalgic about theater in a small town. This book was brilliant.
Well, that was the hilarious romp into community theater culture I needed to heal my Florida-induced seasonal depression (since Florida only has one season... yes. It might just be regular, garden-variety "the sun is killing me like a grocery store rotisserie" depression).
Firstly, I highly recommend the audiobook. Not only is the narrator immensely talented in bringing Noah and company to life, but the audio edition features an interview with the author at the end and I am a sucker for interviews with authors.
While the overall tone of this is lighthearted, funny, and fabulous, there are some heavier themes and I appreciated the deft skill Madden handled them with. Divorce. Body image. Relationships, platonic and otherwise. Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell handles a lot of the usual YA themes but the skill with which they're handled is above average.
Highly recommend, especially for anyone feeling nostalgic about theater in a small town. This book was brilliant.
April 14, 2024
What a wonderful read!
As someone who’s had made a career in the theatre, I saw so many of my friends and experiences in this book. This was the perfect book for a sunny weekend read!
I so desperately wanted an epilogue at the end to give a bit more closure!
As someone who’s had made a career in the theatre, I saw so many of my friends and experiences in this book. This was the perfect book for a sunny weekend read!
I so desperately wanted an epilogue at the end to give a bit more closure!
April 23, 2023
I haven't been having a great track record with YA books recently, and this one unfortunately didn't break that streak.
This was a quick and easy read. Only took me 5 days, when I had time to sit and read between work and other commitments, and the majority of that reading was done on the weekend.
The musical theatre setting was fun, but nothing mind-blowing. As an ex-high school choir/band kid myself, it was nice to re-immerse myself in aspects of that world for a bit. Although I never did musical theatre, some parts are still similar for choir or band, mainly the hours and hours of rehearsals before a big performance.
Noah is a deeply flawed character, and because of some of those flaws, I didn't relate to him. The biggest was the lying to MagePants69, . Yes, teenagers do stupid things, but relationships should be built on trust and mutual understanding. Noah went into whatever it was with MagePants69 with the upper hand, and had to keep his ruse up for the majority of the book. His anxiety over his secret being found out was self-inflicted, and I spent more than half the book thinking "you did this to yourself, now deal with the consequences".
I don't really know how to wrap up this review. This book just wasn't for me, unfortunately, and I know I am in the minority there.
This was a quick and easy read. Only took me 5 days, when I had time to sit and read between work and other commitments, and the majority of that reading was done on the weekend.
The musical theatre setting was fun, but nothing mind-blowing. As an ex-high school choir/band kid myself, it was nice to re-immerse myself in aspects of that world for a bit. Although I never did musical theatre, some parts are still similar for choir or band, mainly the hours and hours of rehearsals before a big performance.
Noah is a deeply flawed character, and because of some of those flaws, I didn't relate to him. The biggest was the lying to MagePants69, . Yes, teenagers do stupid things, but relationships should be built on trust and mutual understanding. Noah went into whatever it was with MagePants69 with the upper hand, and had to keep his ruse up for the majority of the book. His anxiety over his secret being found out was self-inflicted, and I spent more than half the book thinking "you did this to yourself, now deal with the consequences".
I don't really know how to wrap up this review. This book just wasn't for me, unfortunately, and I know I am in the minority there.
January 3, 2023
Whilst Tobias Madden set up a very exciting plot, I couldn’t help but feel that Take a bow Noah Mitchell was disappointing.
Take a bow Noah Mitchell is a young adult contemporary romance that revolves around Noah, who is big on computer games and has an online crush on a boy he has never met in real life whose username is MagePants69. However, Noah is convinced that if they met, they would be soulmates. After realising that MagePants69 is part of the cast of Chicago with his mom (who had insisted Noah to join it), he decides to give it a shot with the sole purpose of meeting his crush and making him fall in love with him. Little does he know his plan has an Achilles heel that would make it backfire.
Even though I understood the message the author wanted to leave to the readers, I thought the book was not well executed. I'm going to walk you through the aspects that made me feel this way.
First of all, the main character. Although it is good to see books that include the character's flaws, I got the impression that Noah's decisions were selfish, to the point that he was manipulative and did not care about the effects his actions could have on others. As a consequence, instead of empathizing with him, I disliked him, which made it difficult for me to read the book sometimes. It would’ve been more interesting if throughout the story we could read Noah mulling over his decisions instead of waiting to get away with them.
Secondly, it struck me that the book was packed with moments where I thought they would move to another direction but they didn't. For example, on the first hundred pages I thought there was going to be a love triangle but it didn't. After feeling that way on multiple occasions throughout the book, I started to think whether these parts of the book were included with the sole purpose of adding more drama to it. Were I the author, I would have omitted those parts to avoid confusion on the readers.
Despite all this, I will give Tobias Madden credit for his prose. Thanks to his writing style, the book is easy to read and understand. Another aspect that is worth mentioning is the way the author portrays how people hide behind a façade, which I considered an interesting topic to be included in a story.
Even though I would not recommend the book overall, it’s important to mention that this novel contains both messy young adults and relationships, which may appeal to other readers.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Take a bow Noah Mitchell is a young adult contemporary romance that revolves around Noah, who is big on computer games and has an online crush on a boy he has never met in real life whose username is MagePants69. However, Noah is convinced that if they met, they would be soulmates. After realising that MagePants69 is part of the cast of Chicago with his mom (who had insisted Noah to join it), he decides to give it a shot with the sole purpose of meeting his crush and making him fall in love with him. Little does he know his plan has an Achilles heel that would make it backfire.
Even though I understood the message the author wanted to leave to the readers, I thought the book was not well executed. I'm going to walk you through the aspects that made me feel this way.
First of all, the main character. Although it is good to see books that include the character's flaws, I got the impression that Noah's decisions were selfish, to the point that he was manipulative and did not care about the effects his actions could have on others. As a consequence, instead of empathizing with him, I disliked him, which made it difficult for me to read the book sometimes. It would’ve been more interesting if throughout the story we could read Noah mulling over his decisions instead of waiting to get away with them.
Secondly, it struck me that the book was packed with moments where I thought they would move to another direction but they didn't. For example, on the first hundred pages I thought there was going to be a love triangle but it didn't. After feeling that way on multiple occasions throughout the book, I started to think whether these parts of the book were included with the sole purpose of adding more drama to it. Were I the author, I would have omitted those parts to avoid confusion on the readers.
Despite all this, I will give Tobias Madden credit for his prose. Thanks to his writing style, the book is easy to read and understand. Another aspect that is worth mentioning is the way the author portrays how people hide behind a façade, which I considered an interesting topic to be included in a story.
Even though I would not recommend the book overall, it’s important to mention that this novel contains both messy young adults and relationships, which may appeal to other readers.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2022
Did I rush out today to buy this because I didn't want to wait the extra two days postage time for my preorder to arrive? Why yes, yes I did. And it was worth it.
This is one of those train wrecks of a love story, where you know everything is going to sink because the MC is making terrible decisions, but you just want everything to go right and need to scream at them a little.
Noah is a very adorkable teen and so socially awkward and self-conscious that he holes himself up on his computer, talking online to a fellow gamer he's been in love with for years, but has never met. So when they slip up and give out a few extra details, Noah figures out they're in the same play as his mother, and volunteers to be an extra cast member so he can figure out who it is, and then make them fall in love with him.
You can see exactly where this will all fall off the rails, right?
It was fun, but dealt with some heavy topics too. There's bullying, body shaming, absentee parenting (and just completely self-absorbed parenting too) and a slew of other things. Nothing homophobic though, which was a friendly change.
I loved the debates about Cats in here. I remember when I saw the stage show with someone who loved it (and was going back to see it again) and I very firmly fell into Noah’s reaction of ‘WTF am I watching?’ And it was made even better by the fact the author met his husband while they were both working on a stage production of Cats themselves.
This is one of those train wrecks of a love story, where you know everything is going to sink because the MC is making terrible decisions, but you just want everything to go right and need to scream at them a little.
Noah is a very adorkable teen and so socially awkward and self-conscious that he holes himself up on his computer, talking online to a fellow gamer he's been in love with for years, but has never met. So when they slip up and give out a few extra details, Noah figures out they're in the same play as his mother, and volunteers to be an extra cast member so he can figure out who it is, and then make them fall in love with him.
You can see exactly where this will all fall off the rails, right?
It was fun, but dealt with some heavy topics too. There's bullying, body shaming, absentee parenting (and just completely self-absorbed parenting too) and a slew of other things. Nothing homophobic though, which was a friendly change.
I loved the debates about Cats in here. I remember when I saw the stage show with someone who loved it (and was going back to see it again) and I very firmly fell into Noah’s reaction of ‘WTF am I watching?’ And it was made even better by the fact the author met his husband while they were both working on a stage production of Cats themselves.
December 29, 2022
Trigger Warnings: Bullying, porn, cursing, body shaming, sex, alcohol, outing, infidelity, drugs
Representation: Gay
Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is a young adult contemporary romance. Noah Mitchell has fallen for his online gaming friend, who he has never met in real life. When Noah realizes the mystery person is also casted in his mom’s production of Chicago, he joins so he can finally meet him irl. Is this all worth it? And what happens if everyone finds out about his lie?
This ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The ALC was provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an awesome story! The book is very easy to read and a light story perfect for this weird week between Christmas and New Year’s. The storyline is fun to follow and I love me a musical. I loved that the show was Chicago, since I am familiar with it. I thought the premise was good but probably not the book for anyone who doesn’t like a lie/deception trope. I thought Noah was fun to get to know but Eli had so much pinned against him, it was hard to rectify his character in such small bursts. I thought a lot of the characters needed to be more fleshed out as well. I loved that the story takes place in Australia and the audiobook narrator having an accent was awesome!
Representation: Gay
Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is a young adult contemporary romance. Noah Mitchell has fallen for his online gaming friend, who he has never met in real life. When Noah realizes the mystery person is also casted in his mom’s production of Chicago, he joins so he can finally meet him irl. Is this all worth it? And what happens if everyone finds out about his lie?
This ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The ALC was provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an awesome story! The book is very easy to read and a light story perfect for this weird week between Christmas and New Year’s. The storyline is fun to follow and I love me a musical. I loved that the show was Chicago, since I am familiar with it. I thought the premise was good but probably not the book for anyone who doesn’t like a lie/deception trope. I thought Noah was fun to get to know but Eli had so much pinned against him, it was hard to rectify his character in such small bursts. I thought a lot of the characters needed to be more fleshed out as well. I loved that the story takes place in Australia and the audiobook narrator having an accent was awesome!
September 16, 2022
Content warnings: underage drinking, cheating (mc's mum), bullying, body image issues, peer pressure (to drink and do drugs), lying and manipulation, vomit (so much effing vomit in one chapter it made me queasy).
Rep: Noah (MC) is gay, Eli (love interest) is gay. Side queer and POC characters.
Noah Mitchell, you are a dramatic little shit.
This book was a pretty fun and easy read. Noah is as dramatic as his mum, but he'd be hurt anyone compared them to each other. But hey, toxic is as toxic does and these two were really toxic. They're cut from the same cloth for sure.
This book is great for those who game, and those who enjoy the performing arts. Noah only loved one, but gained some respect for the other.
I was expecting a bit more something for Noah's big secret. But when I take a step back, I can realise that is quite a huge thing for young teenagers to go through. And good on Noah for not bowing to peer pressure - which is the worst, especially from "friends".
Bookish links: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
Rep: Noah (MC) is gay, Eli (love interest) is gay. Side queer and POC characters.
Noah Mitchell, you are a dramatic little shit.
This book was a pretty fun and easy read. Noah is as dramatic as his mum, but he'd be hurt anyone compared them to each other. But hey, toxic is as toxic does and these two were really toxic. They're cut from the same cloth for sure.
This book is great for those who game, and those who enjoy the performing arts. Noah only loved one, but gained some respect for the other.
I was expecting a bit more something for Noah's big secret. But when I take a step back, I can realise that is quite a huge thing for young teenagers to go through. And good on Noah for not bowing to peer pressure - which is the worst, especially from "friends".
Bookish links: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
January 1, 2023
I was fortunate to get to listen to this audio book ARC for ‘Take A Bow Noah Mitchell’ by Tobias Madden. Thank you NetGalley!
This was an adorable YA Queer romance!
Matthew Backer did a great job narrating and I really enjoyed this audio.
Noah Mitchell is a nerdy gamer who falls in love with his online best mate. When his mom asks him to be in the production for the play Chicago, Noah realizes his online love interest is another teen, Eli, also in the production.
Noah schemes a plan to join the production and make Eli fall madly in love with him, and eventually he’ll tell Eli who he is.
This was such a cute engaging story, solid 5 stars for me! I really enjoyed the narration and the writing was great!
This was an adorable YA Queer romance!
Matthew Backer did a great job narrating and I really enjoyed this audio.
Noah Mitchell is a nerdy gamer who falls in love with his online best mate. When his mom asks him to be in the production for the play Chicago, Noah realizes his online love interest is another teen, Eli, also in the production.
Noah schemes a plan to join the production and make Eli fall madly in love with him, and eventually he’ll tell Eli who he is.
This was such a cute engaging story, solid 5 stars for me! I really enjoyed the narration and the writing was great!
December 31, 2022
TW: bullying, cheating (another character), divorce, body shaming (and yes, skinny shaming is also body shaming!!!), talk about child pornography (news), sexual content (no details and fade to black)
Rep: gay MC, queer SCs, set in Australia
If you don’t like the hiding the truth/lying trope, then this book isn’t for you.
After a little incident Noah remains with zero real life friends. His only friend is his online gaming bestie MagePants69. Who is also gay. And really cute. And yes, Noah is kind of head over heals for him.
So when he sees the chance of finally meeting him irl, he takes it. Even if it means taking part in a musical production with his horrible mother.
This was one of the most true to real life YA book I’ve ever read and I really loved that!
The teenagers are moody, mean, fight with their parents, are a litttleee bit overdramatic (especially Eli omg) and they keep everything to themselves, creating a huge mess of everything. I mean why would you talk to adults?!
But Noah’s thoughts were hilarious! I laughed out loud several times.
For me the main focus wasn’t purely on the romance, but also and the bullying Noah’s experiences at school, his relationship with his parents and his new formed friendship.
None of the characters in this book were perfect, especially not the adults and I think that was so refreshing to read.
Not that I’m excusing Noah’s parents behaviour, especially towards him, but life is messy and humans are messy. Nothing is one sided and nothing is easy.
First love includes a lot of big feelings, passion and…drama.
It might sound weird, but I also loved the “first time” sex scene. Nothing worked as planned, it wasn’t movie perfect, but in the end they were simply acting respectful and nice and asked for consent for everything. I loved reading such a realistic scene in a YA book!
What I also “loved” was reading about the body shaming. Because I’ve never read a book that includes body shaming in that way. Being extremely skinny in my teens too I know what it feels like to get comments like this, that make you hate your body and your self esteem even lower. Skinny shaming is also a thing and every kind of body shaming is hurtful and not okay!
Going to the gym was also the thing that helped me a lot with my self esteem and make me feel good, not only in my body, but also for my mind.
I really liked to read about that!
I was hoping that in the end Noah’s situation at school would be a little more resolved. He didn’t deserve what he got and how people treated him.
I was also hoping for an open talk with his mother, her gaslighting was not okay and I would have loved to see it spelled out on page.
There’s a lot going on in this book and maybe it was a bit too much (bullying, his family issues, the body shaming thing, internet security and pedophilic behaviour?, the lying thing etc.).
For me personally especially the lying to Eli thing was dragging on a bit too long, especially because Noah kept adding little lies to hide his identity, which made the thing worse and worse.
I think this is great for fans of Simon James Greens books!
Rep: gay MC, queer SCs, set in Australia
If you don’t like the hiding the truth/lying trope, then this book isn’t for you.
After a little incident Noah remains with zero real life friends. His only friend is his online gaming bestie MagePants69. Who is also gay. And really cute. And yes, Noah is kind of head over heals for him.
So when he sees the chance of finally meeting him irl, he takes it. Even if it means taking part in a musical production with his horrible mother.
This was one of the most true to real life YA book I’ve ever read and I really loved that!
The teenagers are moody, mean, fight with their parents, are a litttleee bit overdramatic (especially Eli omg) and they keep everything to themselves, creating a huge mess of everything. I mean why would you talk to adults?!
But Noah’s thoughts were hilarious! I laughed out loud several times.
For me the main focus wasn’t purely on the romance, but also and the bullying Noah’s experiences at school, his relationship with his parents and his new formed friendship.
None of the characters in this book were perfect, especially not the adults and I think that was so refreshing to read.
Not that I’m excusing Noah’s parents behaviour, especially towards him, but life is messy and humans are messy. Nothing is one sided and nothing is easy.
First love includes a lot of big feelings, passion and…drama.
It might sound weird, but I also loved the “first time” sex scene. Nothing worked as planned, it wasn’t movie perfect, but in the end they were simply acting respectful and nice and asked for consent for everything. I loved reading such a realistic scene in a YA book!
What I also “loved” was reading about the body shaming. Because I’ve never read a book that includes body shaming in that way. Being extremely skinny in my teens too I know what it feels like to get comments like this, that make you hate your body and your self esteem even lower. Skinny shaming is also a thing and every kind of body shaming is hurtful and not okay!
Going to the gym was also the thing that helped me a lot with my self esteem and make me feel good, not only in my body, but also for my mind.
I really liked to read about that!
I was hoping that in the end Noah’s situation at school would be a little more resolved. He didn’t deserve what he got and how people treated him.
I was also hoping for an open talk with his mother, her gaslighting was not okay and I would have loved to see it spelled out on page.
There’s a lot going on in this book and maybe it was a bit too much (bullying, his family issues, the body shaming thing, internet security and pedophilic behaviour?, the lying thing etc.).
For me personally especially the lying to Eli thing was dragging on a bit too long, especially because Noah kept adding little lies to hide his identity, which made the thing worse and worse.
I think this is great for fans of Simon James Greens books!
January 3, 2023
I read 'Anything But Fine' a few months ago and loved it. I very much identified with the main character and just found it a delight. This book has the same, excellent, relatable writing and it's set in the same world. There are gaming and community theatre elements, and while there are a lot of the beats of a romance novel, I don't suppose it quite fulfils all of the requirements to be classified as a pure romance. There are lots of fun turns in the story, some excellent characters and the tone is light hearted.
While I did find it extremely enjoyable, I did have some issues with the plot that meant it isn't a new top tier favourite. For me, it was all too easy and predictable. For the first section of the book I was praying that the assumption that the main character made regarding who the love interest was, was wrong because it would have been much more interesting. It was just so straightforward and you instantly knew what the third act conflict would be. And what was the point in Alex? Don't get me wrong, I loved him and wanted him to be the love interest, but he didn't really have any impact on the plot as it stands.
I was kindly given access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review - so thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. The audiobook was an excellent quality production and I especially loved the changing of the voices when they were on the phone. The narrator felt young and fun and really matched the tone of the book.
All in all I had a really good time with this book and felt compelled to continue to read to find out how it all resolved. I will certainly be interested to read anything else that this author writes.
While I did find it extremely enjoyable, I did have some issues with the plot that meant it isn't a new top tier favourite. For me, it was all too easy and predictable. For the first section of the book I was praying that the assumption that the main character made regarding who the love interest was, was wrong because it would have been much more interesting. It was just so straightforward and you instantly knew what the third act conflict would be. And what was the point in Alex? Don't get me wrong, I loved him and wanted him to be the love interest, but he didn't really have any impact on the plot as it stands.
I was kindly given access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review - so thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. The audiobook was an excellent quality production and I especially loved the changing of the voices when they were on the phone. The narrator felt young and fun and really matched the tone of the book.
All in all I had a really good time with this book and felt compelled to continue to read to find out how it all resolved. I will certainly be interested to read anything else that this author writes.
June 1, 2024
3.75
this was a shitshow, and idk if that was good or bad.
definitely not as good as tobias madderns other books, but still was his usual hilarious aussie stories.
AND WE GOT CAMEOS FROM LUCA AND MARCO???????
I WAS SOO HAPPY ABOUT THAT
this was a shitshow, and idk if that was good or bad.
definitely not as good as tobias madderns other books, but still was his usual hilarious aussie stories.
AND WE GOT CAMEOS FROM LUCA AND MARCO???????
I WAS SOO HAPPY ABOUT THAT
January 9, 2023
2.5 Stars
I enjoyed the story for what it was even though the writing left a lot to be desired for. The fact that the opening sentence is “I’m in love with MagePants69.” I was already cringing. The ‘gayming’ terms and the breaking of the 4th wall through bracketed text would instantly take me out of the story - there was rarely anything charming with their inclusion. Noah as a character was incredibly whiny and bratty which never really went away, but I guess that could just be whittled down to stereotypical teenage angst.
Personally, I wouldn’t find the idea of some stranger who I play games with online tracking me down irl and trying to make me fall in love with them very romantic - it’s actually quite creepy. Especially since whenever Eli would be upset with Noah, he would confide in his online friend ‘RcticF0x’ about his frustrations - unknowing that it was also Noah - who would then borderline gaslight Eli into reconciling. That doesn’t seem very healthy nor fair on Eli. I was also disappointed with the plot line of Eli’s mother being paranoid and overprotective leading to nothing.
However, I did like that the story both begins and ends in the same location, as well as Charly - by far the best character. I thought the continuous ramping of tension between Noah and his mum’s tumultuous relationship was handled well - conveyed through their lack of healthy communication, always ending up fighting and bickering over who’s problems deserve more attention. But Noah telling his mum, who put her dreams and life on hold to raise her kids, that “life’s not fair” left a bad taste in my mouth. I enjoyed the aspect of Noah leaving the virtual realm in order to level himself up in the real world, it was kind of cheesy but cute.
TW: I was quite shocked by the skinny shaming prevalent throughout and Noah’s fears surrounding body dysmorphia when it came to wanting to be intimate with Eli, I didn’t realise how triggering that would be for me - especially during the fitting rehearsal.
I enjoyed the story for what it was even though the writing left a lot to be desired for. The fact that the opening sentence is “I’m in love with MagePants69.” I was already cringing. The ‘gayming’ terms and the breaking of the 4th wall through bracketed text would instantly take me out of the story - there was rarely anything charming with their inclusion. Noah as a character was incredibly whiny and bratty which never really went away, but I guess that could just be whittled down to stereotypical teenage angst.
Personally, I wouldn’t find the idea of some stranger who I play games with online tracking me down irl and trying to make me fall in love with them very romantic - it’s actually quite creepy. Especially since whenever Eli would be upset with Noah, he would confide in his online friend ‘RcticF0x’ about his frustrations - unknowing that it was also Noah - who would then borderline gaslight Eli into reconciling. That doesn’t seem very healthy nor fair on Eli. I was also disappointed with the plot line of Eli’s mother being paranoid and overprotective leading to nothing.
However, I did like that the story both begins and ends in the same location, as well as Charly - by far the best character. I thought the continuous ramping of tension between Noah and his mum’s tumultuous relationship was handled well - conveyed through their lack of healthy communication, always ending up fighting and bickering over who’s problems deserve more attention. But Noah telling his mum, who put her dreams and life on hold to raise her kids, that “life’s not fair” left a bad taste in my mouth. I enjoyed the aspect of Noah leaving the virtual realm in order to level himself up in the real world, it was kind of cheesy but cute.
TW: I was quite shocked by the skinny shaming prevalent throughout and Noah’s fears surrounding body dysmorphia when it came to wanting to be intimate with Eli, I didn’t realise how triggering that would be for me - especially during the fitting rehearsal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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