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Eighteen-year-old Barrie Krumholtz is a super-tall optimist hell-bent on a single goal: securing a slot on Pop University, a reality show for singer-songwriters helmed by her #1 musical idol. When she humiliates herself on national TV and loses a spot in the finals to smug balladeer Ava Alvarez, the door to Barrie’s well-hidden dark side swings open. Never a quitter, she uses her bitter envy of Ava to shape a bold new artistic direction, and people love it. But when Ava ropes her into a secret collaboration, it sparks feelings neither girl expected—feelings that might threaten their creative identities and distract them from their professional goals.
Can love and ambition live side by side? Is happiness an art-killer? They’ll figure it out with the help of a blue guitar named Fernando, a keyboard named Rosalinda, and a few new friends who feel like home.
(Rated R for Rivalry, Romance, and Really Neat Subplot featuring Brandon and Abel from HOW TO REPAIR A MECHANICAL HEART.)
Can love and ambition live side by side? Is happiness an art-killer? They’ll figure it out with the help of a blue guitar named Fernando, a keyboard named Rosalinda, and a few new friends who feel like home.
(Rated R for Rivalry, Romance, and Really Neat Subplot featuring Brandon and Abel from HOW TO REPAIR A MECHANICAL HEART.)
326 pages, ebook
First published November 29, 2016
7 people are currently reading
1811 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Lillis
7 books237 followersJ.C. Lillis lives in Baltimore with her patient family and a ragtag band of tropical fish, some of which will be dead by the time you read this. She loves thrift store art, dollhouses, koi ponds, retrofuturism, and peanut butter and banana sandwiches. She hates writing bios.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
July 23, 2018
EDIT: guys!! I OFFICIALLY HAVE a blurb on the back of the paperback edition!! so now I have an excuse to buy a copy :') and you all do as well so it's time to make this hilarious book a part of your life bye
This is the best, most underrated f/f contemporary I have ever come across in my life. It's rare to find a book that's happy and hilarious while also being meaningful. A&B is both a fun romance between two very different girls and a story about letting go of your bitterness. When are you all going to stop sleeping on this hilarious, adorable, and meaningful book?
As always, J.C. Lillis nails character work. Over the course of the story, these two characters were developed far more than I expected. Barrie's character, with her bitterness and her contrasting desire to be good, was so relatable. Her character arc was solid as well. It astounds me how much she developed from her beginning.
This story manages to be so meaningful without getting bogged down by pretentious language or depressing conversations. This is a book about letting ourselves be happy. This is a book about not killing ourselves for our art.
Okay, okay, now we get to talk about my favorite part: the romance. That's probably the first time that sentence has EVER popped up in one of my reviews. Barrie and Ava had such amazing banter and such beautiful buildup. Their dynamic is infinitely entertaining and adorable.
Brandon and Abel's side plot was great as well. They were cute and it made me happy. I'd read How To Repair A Mechanical Heart before this one just to understand their side plot, but it's not totally necessary. It'll definitely add to your enjoyment, though.
The humor in this book is so A+. I don't even know how to pick a favorite quote. J.C. Lillis is STILL a master at snappy dialogue, believable yet entertaining.
I have to admit the plot's a little out there and hokey, but I loved this way too much not to give it five stars.
SONGS BARRIE AND AVA SHOULD DUET
a playlist by me, a sad lesbian who really wants to see them duet all the things
Mirrors - PVRIS
Ghost - Ella Henderson
Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift
Arms - Christina Perri
The One That Got Away - The Civil Wars
Mine - Taylor Swift
Initial Review
Barrie and Ava are the greatest couple?? This is going on top of my list of “best girl romances”
This is the best, most underrated f/f contemporary I have ever come across in my life. It's rare to find a book that's happy and hilarious while also being meaningful. A&B is both a fun romance between two very different girls and a story about letting go of your bitterness. When are you all going to stop sleeping on this hilarious, adorable, and meaningful book?
As always, J.C. Lillis nails character work. Over the course of the story, these two characters were developed far more than I expected. Barrie's character, with her bitterness and her contrasting desire to be good, was so relatable. Her character arc was solid as well. It astounds me how much she developed from her beginning.
This story manages to be so meaningful without getting bogged down by pretentious language or depressing conversations. This is a book about letting ourselves be happy. This is a book about not killing ourselves for our art.
Okay, okay, now we get to talk about my favorite part: the romance. That's probably the first time that sentence has EVER popped up in one of my reviews. Barrie and Ava had such amazing banter and such beautiful buildup. Their dynamic is infinitely entertaining and adorable.
Brandon and Abel's side plot was great as well. They were cute and it made me happy. I'd read How To Repair A Mechanical Heart before this one just to understand their side plot, but it's not totally necessary. It'll definitely add to your enjoyment, though.
“It's not what you think! It's not a religious thing– he's an atheist, actually. Former chef at Crux in San Francisco.”
“So it's like Eat Don't Pray Don't Love?”
The humor in this book is so A+. I don't even know how to pick a favorite quote. J.C. Lillis is STILL a master at snappy dialogue, believable yet entertaining.
I have to admit the plot's a little out there and hokey, but I loved this way too much not to give it five stars.
SONGS BARRIE AND AVA SHOULD DUET
a playlist by me, a sad lesbian who really wants to see them duet all the things
Mirrors - PVRIS
Ghost - Ella Henderson
Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift
Arms - Christina Perri
The One That Got Away - The Civil Wars
Mine - Taylor Swift
Initial Review
Barrie and Ava are the greatest couple?? This is going on top of my list of “best girl romances”
April 24, 2017
A & B.
It's just two letters - the first of the alphabet. It's funny how they can come to mean so much.
Buddy read with my favorite Abandon shipper (and J. C. Lilis fan) (also known as Silvia)
((increasing the rating to five because the deal is the deal))
It's just two letters - the first of the alphabet. It's funny how they can come to mean so much.
Buddy read with my favorite Abandon shipper (and J. C. Lilis fan) (also known as Silvia)
I have nothing much to say, except that I loved this tiny book and all the wonderful characters to pieces.
((increasing the rating to five because the deal is the deal))
June 1, 2017
Buddy-read with my loyal Church of Abandon girlie Pragya <3
I think 4,5 stars but I'm rounding up to 5 because this made me laugh so much and also ABANDON.
Okay, but let’s back up a little.
• This is a story about 18 year old Barbara (Barrie), a musician with an idol-crush on a singer she idolizes (like many of us do). She takes her chance to be selected for a reality/talent show for singers/composers (where her idol is one of the hosts) and she fails.
• This is a story of how she deals with having been rejected.
What her mother taught her and the way she treats her and tries to constantly have her become someone who hates people who succeed where she fails is, in my opinion, borderline abusive behavior.
• This is a story of how an idol becomes just a human.
• This is a story about art and creativity and how art and creativity are achieved.
• This is a story about how two girls, two artists with different styles and a different approach to art, can work together and learn from each other
• This is a sort of continuation to How to Repair a Mechanical Heart, because we find Abel and Brandon again and we get to see them ten years after the events of HTRAMH
and relive a bit of that meta feeling that personally I loved.
(You and me both, Abel.)
• What I love about J.C. Lillis is how incredibly modern and refreshing her stories are. Be it with the use of fanfiction, shipping fictional characters, the use of social media or just plain text messaging, these books feel extremely real to anyone who spends a lot of time online (like me, if you can’t tell), and at the same time it doesn’t feel like fanservice at all because everything works together too well and it’s too much part of the story for it to be only that.
Plus, I adore her writing style! It’s so witty and just within the first 20% of this book it had me burst out laughing around 7 times (I lost count after that), even in public (which was embarrassing, 10/10 would not recommend).
I will keep reading her books and recommending them to everyone because honestly they’re a little pearl in the ocean of contemporaries.
I think 4,5 stars but I'm rounding up to 5 because this made me laugh so much and also ABANDON.
Okay, but let’s back up a little.
• This is a story about 18 year old Barbara (Barrie), a musician with an idol-crush on a singer she idolizes (like many of us do). She takes her chance to be selected for a reality/talent show for singers/composers (where her idol is one of the hosts) and she fails.
• This is a story of how she deals with having been rejected.
Mothers share what they love with their daughters, and there was nothing Ma loved more than spewing poison about folks who had it better.
What her mother taught her and the way she treats her and tries to constantly have her become someone who hates people who succeed where she fails is, in my opinion, borderline abusive behavior.
• This is a story of how an idol becomes just a human.
“You really love her, huh,” says Ava.
“She saved my life.”
“Maybe you saved your own life, and she was just the soundtrack.”
• This is a story about art and creativity and how art and creativity are achieved.
• This is a story about how two girls, two artists with different styles and a different approach to art, can work together and learn from each other
“Just because we’re women, it doesn’t mean we have to hide our ambitions in something soft.”
• This is a sort of continuation to How to Repair a Mechanical Heart, because we find Abel and Brandon again and we get to see them ten years after the events of HTRAMH
“Ahh, the joys of fan forums.” Abel lifts a brow at Brandon.
and relive a bit of that meta feeling that personally I loved.
“I knew it! […] The Enemies to Lovers trope! My absolute favorite!”
(You and me both, Abel.)
• What I love about J.C. Lillis is how incredibly modern and refreshing her stories are. Be it with the use of fanfiction, shipping fictional characters, the use of social media or just plain text messaging, these books feel extremely real to anyone who spends a lot of time online (like me, if you can’t tell), and at the same time it doesn’t feel like fanservice at all because everything works together too well and it’s too much part of the story for it to be only that.
Plus, I adore her writing style! It’s so witty and just within the first 20% of this book it had me burst out laughing around 7 times (I lost count after that), even in public (which was embarrassing, 10/10 would not recommend).
I will keep reading her books and recommending them to everyone because honestly they’re a little pearl in the ocean of contemporaries.
March 20, 2018
THIS. WAS. MAGICAL.
BRB COASTING WAY UP IN GAY BOOK HEAVEN RN
BRB COASTING WAY UP IN GAY BOOK HEAVEN RN
February 13, 2017
Loved this. So so good!! The story is funny, honest, and true. And these characters are overflowing with life. The writing sparkles.
(FARG is staying with me-it still makes me smile XD)
Best YA I've read in ages.
(FARG is staying with me-it still makes me smile XD)
Best YA I've read in ages.
July 17, 2018
Trigger Warnings: heartbreak, biphobic comments
FIND MY REVIEW FOR A&B ALSO ON MY BLOG
I don’t know what I expected going into A&B but it definitely wasn’t what I got. I didn’t guess a single thing that would happen throughout this book and at times I was shocked at the direction in which the plot took (especially the end). This story was definitely a fluffy one that didn’t have too much angst throughout. It really spoke about doing what speaks to you and how sometimes you should follow your heart.
A&B is a fun f/f story starring a bisexual girl named Barrie. She is a massive fan of a singer named Tera and tries out for a show she hosts called Pop U. Unfortunately, Barrie gets voted out in the first round basically because she is too happy and kind – something that is because of her idol Tera. After she loses her wig falls off as well, revealing her scalp to the world (something she has only shared with one other person). Being booted off the show was a real kick to the confidence but after meeting the characters from the first book in the series, that I’m a moron and didn’t read first, the group put on a show that is sparked by ‘Evil Barrie’. It gains attention quickly and is focused mainly on the jealously Barrie feels towards the girl who beat her into the show, Ava. The pair spark an unlikely alliance though as Barrie needs Ava to keep her jealous and Ava needs help writing songs. The pair are an unlikely duo but it works so well. I rooted for them the whole book and despite the mess that embarks between them it is so sweet. This book is a super easy and fast read. I definitely recommend it, especially since it is currently Pride Month.
what I liked
✗ LOVED THE CHALLENGE ATMOSPHERE
I’m a competitive person. Majorly competitive. Last year an old friend of mine and I challenged each other to who could read more books. She beat me and I am still salty despite the fact we aren’t friends anymore. So reading a book where there is a competitive element is straight up my alley.
✗ ROMANCE HAPPENS ORGANICALLY
I’ve read so many books lately where the romance just feels forced on me. I definitely felt that the romance in this book was perfectly done. From the girls coming out to each other, Barrie as a bisexual and Ava as a lesbian, to the actual on-page sex scene that happened, it is all simply great. I really have no words to describe how I feel.
✗ ENVY ISNT BAD
A lot of time in storylines envy and jealousy are portrayed as bad things that the main character must ignore. However, A&B really embraces envy at its core. It really feels as if it highlights that envy can inspire you creatively and provide you your best work. As I mentioned before I am a very competitive person, so I obviously combat with envy and jealousy when it comes to people doing better than me. These things make me work harder which is exactly what Barrie does throughout this book.
what I didn’t like
✗ STORYLINE WAS A LIL CLUNKY
Not only was the storyline a little bit clunky at parts – big chunks of time missing – but it also dragged occasionally. As cute as Brandon and Abel were their story inclusion was really a waste of paper. I know it was a way of including the first book but it really did make me frustrated because they got more page time than Ava and Barrie.
✗ CHARACTERS NOT TOO FLESHED OUT
I think this was a problem because we focused on Brandon and Abel, two characters who had been fleshed out in their own book. Due to them getting so much page time I really feel as if we didn’t get to know Ava and Barrie as well as I wanted to. The storyline also contributed to this in the way that the characters were all over the place. Additionally, the characters really didn’t feel like they were there for me. I feel the author could have done better in creating three-dimensional characters.
✗ SHOWED ITS BAD TO MEET YOUR IDOLS
I know not every time someone meets his or her idol it goes well. I know that it is best to have realistic expectations. However, I really feel what Barrie experienced is unrealistic and disappointing. Definitely not something to promote throughout a young adult book I feel. As someone who has never met their idols as well seeing someone’s experience go sourly wasn’t something I really want to read.
Overall, A&B was one of the most enjoyable books I have read. The f/f romance was super sweet and the story was fun. It did have its flaws, including the fact it felt like it dragged in some parts. I don’t have much to say. I still recommend this book highly.
FIND MY REVIEW FOR A&B ALSO ON MY BLOG
I don’t know what I expected going into A&B but it definitely wasn’t what I got. I didn’t guess a single thing that would happen throughout this book and at times I was shocked at the direction in which the plot took (especially the end). This story was definitely a fluffy one that didn’t have too much angst throughout. It really spoke about doing what speaks to you and how sometimes you should follow your heart.
A&B is a fun f/f story starring a bisexual girl named Barrie. She is a massive fan of a singer named Tera and tries out for a show she hosts called Pop U. Unfortunately, Barrie gets voted out in the first round basically because she is too happy and kind – something that is because of her idol Tera. After she loses her wig falls off as well, revealing her scalp to the world (something she has only shared with one other person). Being booted off the show was a real kick to the confidence but after meeting the characters from the first book in the series, that I’m a moron and didn’t read first, the group put on a show that is sparked by ‘Evil Barrie’. It gains attention quickly and is focused mainly on the jealously Barrie feels towards the girl who beat her into the show, Ava. The pair spark an unlikely alliance though as Barrie needs Ava to keep her jealous and Ava needs help writing songs. The pair are an unlikely duo but it works so well. I rooted for them the whole book and despite the mess that embarks between them it is so sweet. This book is a super easy and fast read. I definitely recommend it, especially since it is currently Pride Month.
what I liked
✗ LOVED THE CHALLENGE ATMOSPHERE
I’m a competitive person. Majorly competitive. Last year an old friend of mine and I challenged each other to who could read more books. She beat me and I am still salty despite the fact we aren’t friends anymore. So reading a book where there is a competitive element is straight up my alley.
✗ ROMANCE HAPPENS ORGANICALLY
I’ve read so many books lately where the romance just feels forced on me. I definitely felt that the romance in this book was perfectly done. From the girls coming out to each other, Barrie as a bisexual and Ava as a lesbian, to the actual on-page sex scene that happened, it is all simply great. I really have no words to describe how I feel.
✗ ENVY ISNT BAD
A lot of time in storylines envy and jealousy are portrayed as bad things that the main character must ignore. However, A&B really embraces envy at its core. It really feels as if it highlights that envy can inspire you creatively and provide you your best work. As I mentioned before I am a very competitive person, so I obviously combat with envy and jealousy when it comes to people doing better than me. These things make me work harder which is exactly what Barrie does throughout this book.
what I didn’t like
✗ STORYLINE WAS A LIL CLUNKY
Not only was the storyline a little bit clunky at parts – big chunks of time missing – but it also dragged occasionally. As cute as Brandon and Abel were their story inclusion was really a waste of paper. I know it was a way of including the first book but it really did make me frustrated because they got more page time than Ava and Barrie.
✗ CHARACTERS NOT TOO FLESHED OUT
I think this was a problem because we focused on Brandon and Abel, two characters who had been fleshed out in their own book. Due to them getting so much page time I really feel as if we didn’t get to know Ava and Barrie as well as I wanted to. The storyline also contributed to this in the way that the characters were all over the place. Additionally, the characters really didn’t feel like they were there for me. I feel the author could have done better in creating three-dimensional characters.
✗ SHOWED ITS BAD TO MEET YOUR IDOLS
I know not every time someone meets his or her idol it goes well. I know that it is best to have realistic expectations. However, I really feel what Barrie experienced is unrealistic and disappointing. Definitely not something to promote throughout a young adult book I feel. As someone who has never met their idols as well seeing someone’s experience go sourly wasn’t something I really want to read.
Overall, A&B was one of the most enjoyable books I have read. The f/f romance was super sweet and the story was fun. It did have its flaws, including the fact it felt like it dragged in some parts. I don’t have much to say. I still recommend this book highly.
December 23, 2017
5 Stars.
Adorable story and endearing characters. ❤
GRACIAS ROSALINDA!!
Adorable story and endearing characters. ❤
GRACIAS ROSALINDA!!
February 7, 2017
we should change 'abandon' for 'losers' honestly
barrie and ava are goals
i don't know what to write, my mind shutdowns on me again (why am i like this with Lillis' books) except that IT IS SO CUTE AND SAPPY AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH
y'all should totally read How to Repair a Mechanical Heart and A+B because these books are cute, tooth-achingly AND EXTREMELY UNDERRATED
barrie and ava are goals
i don't know what to write, my mind shutdowns on me again (why am i like this with Lillis' books) except that IT IS SO CUTE AND SAPPY AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH
y'all should totally read How to Repair a Mechanical Heart and A+B because these books are cute, tooth-achingly AND EXTREMELY UNDERRATED
August 15, 2018
3.5 Aw. Cheesy, and full of non surprising twists but hey, sometimes a cheesy story about girls falling in love and deciding to live in happiness instead of sadness and envy is exactly what we need.
PS: JC Lillis scared me for a minute when my boys Abel and Brandon weren't happily together but of course she mended that part too... ;)
PS: JC Lillis scared me for a minute when my boys Abel and Brandon weren't happily together but of course she mended that part too... ;)
Read
March 22, 2017*happy sigh*
December 23, 2017
SapphicAThon: Hate to love
Review also on my blog • Twitter • Bookstagram
A&B is the companion sequel to the book How to Repair a Mechanical Heart. While it can be read on it's own, there are elements in the book that would make more sense if you read the first book first. Especially since the couple from the first book, Abel and Brandon, are quite prominent characters.
A&B follows Barrie, a musician who has a place on a music reality show. When she's booted off after a sudden death round against a girl named Ava, as well as humiliated on TV, a song of her expressing her envy towards Ava is leaked and Barrie is berated. However, this also brings out a subset of people who insist that envy is okay and she is celebrated for expressing it. With the support of Abel and Brandon, two guys who are exes, she starts an act where she sings about envy and the anger that comes with it. Along the line, she and Ava begin to develop feelings for each other.
This was really well written, and that was one thing I really liked about it. The writing was really strong. The characters were also very fleshed out and well rounded. I like that it allowed Barrie to be envious but she learnt how to do it in a less brash way. I also like how it showed how Ava's breakup with her ex girlfriend had affected her. I like how it explored her avoidance of being out as a lesbian on the show and how being black and being a lesbian would affect her public image.
Barrie and Ava's strengths and weaknesses in music was showed too. Barrie is great at fun songs but bad at emotional, sad songs (to the point she's detached from her own lyrics), while Ava is the opposite. She excels at sad songs but has trouble with happy songs. That was a dynamic I really liked because it was a unique way to play the opposite-attract trope.
There were some things that didn't work for me. I think the plot dragged a lot of the time. It was a little boring and pretty character driven but it did pick up eventually. I also thought Abel and Brandon were a little tacked on, a new could've replaced them. But I did enjoy their presence since I did enjoy them in the first book.
Overall, A&B is a cute book with fun music elements and a nice romance. I definitely would recommend it.
Review also on my blog • Twitter • Bookstagram
A&B is the companion sequel to the book How to Repair a Mechanical Heart. While it can be read on it's own, there are elements in the book that would make more sense if you read the first book first. Especially since the couple from the first book, Abel and Brandon, are quite prominent characters.
A&B follows Barrie, a musician who has a place on a music reality show. When she's booted off after a sudden death round against a girl named Ava, as well as humiliated on TV, a song of her expressing her envy towards Ava is leaked and Barrie is berated. However, this also brings out a subset of people who insist that envy is okay and she is celebrated for expressing it. With the support of Abel and Brandon, two guys who are exes, she starts an act where she sings about envy and the anger that comes with it. Along the line, she and Ava begin to develop feelings for each other.
This was really well written, and that was one thing I really liked about it. The writing was really strong. The characters were also very fleshed out and well rounded. I like that it allowed Barrie to be envious but she learnt how to do it in a less brash way. I also like how it showed how Ava's breakup with her ex girlfriend had affected her. I like how it explored her avoidance of being out as a lesbian on the show and how being black and being a lesbian would affect her public image.
Barrie and Ava's strengths and weaknesses in music was showed too. Barrie is great at fun songs but bad at emotional, sad songs (to the point she's detached from her own lyrics), while Ava is the opposite. She excels at sad songs but has trouble with happy songs. That was a dynamic I really liked because it was a unique way to play the opposite-attract trope.
There were some things that didn't work for me. I think the plot dragged a lot of the time. It was a little boring and pretty character driven but it did pick up eventually. I also thought Abel and Brandon were a little tacked on, a new could've replaced them. But I did enjoy their presence since I did enjoy them in the first book.
Overall, A&B is a cute book with fun music elements and a nice romance. I definitely would recommend it.
February 19, 2017
Splendid novel. Highly recommended. Will come back with full thoughts as soon as I stop smiling at every single thing that was just brilliant about this book:
1- This book is a joy to read, the characters bring perfect agency, the dialogues are witty, clever and make you smile.
2- It is two stories in one, yep. We not only get the main story of Ava and Barrie and their goin ons but we also get quite a peek at Abel and Brandon 10 years on from the road trip of awesome. The way the two couples narrative intertwine and deliver a fully formed narrative was a joy to read.
3- The subtext on the creative process and the different point of views from which artists get to creating was an added bonus which gives credit to J.C. Lillis as an excellent author and artist indeed.
4- the whole empowering message that you know? Envy is indeed a very human feeling too and that well it needs embracing and turned into energy - positive possibly and dripping of creativity but yeah, you get the picture
5- Music, yep, music. I'd be more of an Ava girl when it comes to musical tastes but any novel which takes on another art form and makes it come alive through a different medium is one hell of a good achievement in my book.
J.C Lillis writes beautifully and I will be looking forward many more of her novels.
1- This book is a joy to read, the characters bring perfect agency, the dialogues are witty, clever and make you smile.
2- It is two stories in one, yep. We not only get the main story of Ava and Barrie and their goin ons but we also get quite a peek at Abel and Brandon 10 years on from the road trip of awesome. The way the two couples narrative intertwine and deliver a fully formed narrative was a joy to read.
3- The subtext on the creative process and the different point of views from which artists get to creating was an added bonus which gives credit to J.C. Lillis as an excellent author and artist indeed.
4- the whole empowering message that you know? Envy is indeed a very human feeling too and that well it needs embracing and turned into energy - positive possibly and dripping of creativity but yeah, you get the picture
5- Music, yep, music. I'd be more of an Ava girl when it comes to musical tastes but any novel which takes on another art form and makes it come alive through a different medium is one hell of a good achievement in my book.
J.C Lillis writes beautifully and I will be looking forward many more of her novels.
July 12, 2017
Reviewed for Just Love
I just finished rereading A&B and I think I love it even more the second time. It’s one of those books that upon finishing I want to shout from the rooftops how good it is and tell everyone I know to read it. It can be read as a standalone but if you’ve read How to Repair a Mechanical Heart you’ll be pleased to know that we get lots more of Abel and Brandon. In fact, it’s really more of a two-for-one romance since we get to reconnect with those two as we follow Ava and Barrie’s main story arc. If you haven’t read HTRAMH then I implore you to do so because it’s absolutely adorable and another great example of Lillis’ stellar writing.
It became evident to me pretty early on that Barrie (and even her alter ego Evil B) are very relatable. I admired her will to see past her mother’s negativity to follow her hopes and dreams even when they lead her on a downward spiral. These are the learning lessons that we all must go through when we’re figuring out how to achieve our goals. They’re also the experiences that we remember and carry with us through life.
I also appreciated that the characters are flawed. Lillis seems to have a good handle on the teenage mind and she portrays her characters in a way that they’re aware of their shortcomings but they don’t become obsessed with them. This is something that I think any reader would be relieved to see but especially the younger ones. The author takes her understanding of human nature one step further by tackling feelings of jealousy and she does so in the most hilarious way. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much throughout a book. Barrie’s envy and jealousy is the fuel she needs to create the Sour Grapes Cabaret and the driving force behind her creative efforts. I enjoyed seeing her embrace her strongest talents and finding a way to make them work for her, and it was pretty cool to see her connect with the fans she gained by letting it all out on the stage, as well.
I really adored Barrie and Ava as a couple. Even though they were supposed to be against one another, it never felt malicious and you could definitely sense the chemistry between them right from the start. It was sweet to see this relationship bloom and seeing them collaborate on their music together made my heart sing.
The rest of the cast is also extremely likeable. Their quick wit and banter as they all play off one another was not only entertaining but also made them feel like one big supportive family that I wanted to be a part of. They made me wish they were real. I felt for them in times of woe and celebrated with them in times of cheer.
As if it wasn’t enough to be feeling all the best kinds of emotion there’s a twist at the end that I never saw coming. The writing is top notch and a good reminder of why I love to read so much. Sometimes it seems like the really great books are few and far between but this is definitely one of them.
Delightfully heartfelt and laugh out loud funny, I’m completely charmed by Lillis’ ability to capture the essence of her characters and tell their story so beautifully. A&B is the best F/F romance I’ve ever read and one of the overall best books I’ve read in a very long time. I really can’t recommend it enough!
“A&B and A&B. Two stories that need to keep going, forever and ever and ever.”
I paid for this fine novel with my own bank.
I just finished rereading A&B and I think I love it even more the second time. It’s one of those books that upon finishing I want to shout from the rooftops how good it is and tell everyone I know to read it. It can be read as a standalone but if you’ve read How to Repair a Mechanical Heart you’ll be pleased to know that we get lots more of Abel and Brandon. In fact, it’s really more of a two-for-one romance since we get to reconnect with those two as we follow Ava and Barrie’s main story arc. If you haven’t read HTRAMH then I implore you to do so because it’s absolutely adorable and another great example of Lillis’ stellar writing.
It became evident to me pretty early on that Barrie (and even her alter ego Evil B) are very relatable. I admired her will to see past her mother’s negativity to follow her hopes and dreams even when they lead her on a downward spiral. These are the learning lessons that we all must go through when we’re figuring out how to achieve our goals. They’re also the experiences that we remember and carry with us through life.
I also appreciated that the characters are flawed. Lillis seems to have a good handle on the teenage mind and she portrays her characters in a way that they’re aware of their shortcomings but they don’t become obsessed with them. This is something that I think any reader would be relieved to see but especially the younger ones. The author takes her understanding of human nature one step further by tackling feelings of jealousy and she does so in the most hilarious way. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much throughout a book. Barrie’s envy and jealousy is the fuel she needs to create the Sour Grapes Cabaret and the driving force behind her creative efforts. I enjoyed seeing her embrace her strongest talents and finding a way to make them work for her, and it was pretty cool to see her connect with the fans she gained by letting it all out on the stage, as well.
“ladythoughts12: Idk I feel like if more people talked about jealousy it wouldn’t feel so goddamn shameful like ‘you’re the world’s worst person if you aren’t instantly jumping out of your skin with joy when someone else gets what you want.’”
“virginia_creeper: …Like the song helped me bring my ugly feelings to the surface and purge them and laugh at them, and now I don’t have to waste my energy on them anymore.”
I really adored Barrie and Ava as a couple. Even though they were supposed to be against one another, it never felt malicious and you could definitely sense the chemistry between them right from the start. It was sweet to see this relationship bloom and seeing them collaborate on their music together made my heart sing.
“When you make things, people don’t fall in love with you. They fall in love with how you make them feel. They want heartbreak and drama and brokenness and envy from us. They want to see us feeling it, not faking it.”
The rest of the cast is also extremely likeable. Their quick wit and banter as they all play off one another was not only entertaining but also made them feel like one big supportive family that I wanted to be a part of. They made me wish they were real. I felt for them in times of woe and celebrated with them in times of cheer.
As if it wasn’t enough to be feeling all the best kinds of emotion there’s a twist at the end that I never saw coming. The writing is top notch and a good reminder of why I love to read so much. Sometimes it seems like the really great books are few and far between but this is definitely one of them.
Delightfully heartfelt and laugh out loud funny, I’m completely charmed by Lillis’ ability to capture the essence of her characters and tell their story so beautifully. A&B is the best F/F romance I’ve ever read and one of the overall best books I’ve read in a very long time. I really can’t recommend it enough!
“A&B and A&B. Two stories that need to keep going, forever and ever and ever.”
I paid for this fine novel with my own bank.
December 26, 2019
Aaaaand I just finished a book in one day, in one sitting... and it feels so good...
Found exactly the book I was looking for... it was one of those can’t-put-down, who-cares-it’s-2-am, must-finish-now kind of book... my favorite genre...
Maybe it’s not gonna make my year end top ten list... I’m probably not gonna remember what happens in this one in 3 months... but I realized that I don’t read books to change my life or “like realize stuff”... I read because it helps me to get out of my life and go somewhere else and other stuff... and these books do exactly that... what else does a girl need right???
Found exactly the book I was looking for... it was one of those can’t-put-down, who-cares-it’s-2-am, must-finish-now kind of book... my favorite genre...
Maybe it’s not gonna make my year end top ten list... I’m probably not gonna remember what happens in this one in 3 months... but I realized that I don’t read books to change my life or “like realize stuff”... I read because it helps me to get out of my life and go somewhere else and other stuff... and these books do exactly that... what else does a girl need right???
August 27, 2018
1.5 stars.
DNF 20%.
I know this is an unpopular opinion, but whatever. This was way too cheesy and over the top for me, and the longer I read it, the more my teeth cracked and fell out of my head from all the ridiculous levels of sugar. Okay, maybe that's not really a fair statement seeing as I only got around 20% of the way through (or maybe it is, considering how cringefully over-the-top Abel and Brandon are), but basically this one just stopped holding my interest and I had to step away for the sake of my sanity (and dental health).
DNF 20%.
I know this is an unpopular opinion, but whatever. This was way too cheesy and over the top for me, and the longer I read it, the more my teeth cracked and fell out of my head from all the ridiculous levels of sugar. Okay, maybe that's not really a fair statement seeing as I only got around 20% of the way through (or maybe it is, considering how cringefully over-the-top Abel and Brandon are), but basically this one just stopped holding my interest and I had to step away for the sake of my sanity (and dental health).
November 20, 2017
4.5 stars, probably. I was honestly a little hesitant going into this book, and I remained hesitant for about the first 20% of the book, but this ended up being such a positive surprise and such a delight.
Basically, our heroine, Barrie (short for Barbara) ends up in a sudden-death competition with a girl named Ava in a songwriting reality competition TV show in which her all-time favorite pop star is a host/judge/mentor/something. Barrie humiliates herself on national TV, Ava who knows nothing about that pop star or pop music advances, and Barrie writes a scathing song on the spot about Ava beating her and performs it for the empty auditorium, which, of course, wasn't entirely empty and which someone leaks to the interwebs.
Now, the premise of the book was what I was hesitant about. BUT. It gets much better. Ava thinks the song is hilarious and gives Barrie feedback and fuel for the envy/jealousy-themed cabaret show she's writing, and in turn Ava asks Barrie to help her with the songs she has to write for the show because she's not good at writing catchy pop choruses. So, the girls start texting in secret (because collaboration is forbidden on that weird fake reality show), collaborating in secret videochat sessions, and also start falling for each other.
Barrie ends up meeting and crashing with Abel and Brandon from How to Repair a Mechanical Heart who are at this point no longer together, but still best friends and also still in love with each other. I was not a big fan of How to Repair a Mechanical Heart at all, but I LOVED Abel and Brandon in this, a few years later, a lot more grown up, and trying to work out their issues. I don't think it's necessary to have read their book in order to read this one - the only thing you have to know is that in their youth they were fannish about a fake sci-fi show called Castaway Planet and Abel opened a cafe/bar/performance space that is themed for that show.
ANYHOW. Barrie and Ava are SO GREAT and SO DELIGHTFUL and I really loved their progression of enemies to friends to lovers, and I was honestly very happily surprised by the book. I had a huge grin on my face starting from when and even through the obstacle they faced, it was always clear they'd make it work. This was just really cute.
Also, one other thing I appreciated is that even though the girls in this book get to be together and happy and loved, homophobia and biphobia isn't just glossed over as a non-issue. It's something that both girls have faced in their lives and have had to learn how to deal with, but despite some heavy themes like rejection by family, this still manages to be a happy and undramatic book.
Basically, our heroine, Barrie (short for Barbara) ends up in a sudden-death competition with a girl named Ava in a songwriting reality competition TV show in which her all-time favorite pop star is a host/judge/mentor/something. Barrie humiliates herself on national TV, Ava who knows nothing about that pop star or pop music advances, and Barrie writes a scathing song on the spot about Ava beating her and performs it for the empty auditorium, which, of course, wasn't entirely empty and which someone leaks to the interwebs.
Now, the premise of the book was what I was hesitant about. BUT. It gets much better. Ava thinks the song is hilarious and gives Barrie feedback and fuel for the envy/jealousy-themed cabaret show she's writing, and in turn Ava asks Barrie to help her with the songs she has to write for the show because she's not good at writing catchy pop choruses. So, the girls start texting in secret (because collaboration is forbidden on that weird fake reality show), collaborating in secret videochat sessions, and also start falling for each other.
Barrie ends up meeting and crashing with Abel and Brandon from How to Repair a Mechanical Heart who are at this point no longer together, but still best friends and also still in love with each other. I was not a big fan of How to Repair a Mechanical Heart at all, but I LOVED Abel and Brandon in this, a few years later, a lot more grown up, and trying to work out their issues. I don't think it's necessary to have read their book in order to read this one - the only thing you have to know is that in their youth they were fannish about a fake sci-fi show called Castaway Planet and Abel opened a cafe/bar/performance space that is themed for that show.
ANYHOW. Barrie and Ava are SO GREAT and SO DELIGHTFUL and I really loved their progression of enemies to friends to lovers, and I was honestly very happily surprised by the book. I had a huge grin on my face starting from when and even through the obstacle they faced, it was always clear they'd make it work. This was just really cute.
Also, one other thing I appreciated is that even though the girls in this book get to be together and happy and loved, homophobia and biphobia isn't just glossed over as a non-issue. It's something that both girls have faced in their lives and have had to learn how to deal with, but despite some heavy themes like rejection by family, this still manages to be a happy and undramatic book.
February 2, 2019
This is a lesbian love story that includes a sequel to the gay love story "Mechanical Hearts" as a subplot. Neither storyline is completely satisfying. The Mechanical Hearts part of the story pales by comparison with the original story and is quite abbreviated. The girls' storyline is a lot of writing about songwriting, which is sort of like any writing about writing...generally it doesn't work very well. The whole thing is kind of cutesy-poo for my taste TBH. But it's well-written and the characters are likeable.
I think just about anyone would enjoy the first book far more than the second tho.
This is usually the spot where I recommend a similar book that is way better, but I've got nothing. If you want to read a pleasant and semi-charming girl-girl romance, this will do. Otherwise, I'd skip it.
I think just about anyone would enjoy the first book far more than the second tho.
This is usually the spot where I recommend a similar book that is way better, but I've got nothing. If you want to read a pleasant and semi-charming girl-girl romance, this will do. Otherwise, I'd skip it.
April 29, 2021
3.5
Even as I write this review, I’m not sure if I want to rate it 3 or 4 stars.
The book begins with Ava and Barrie in a sudden death battle for the reality show Pop University. When Barrie—the pop song writer—loses to Ava—the angstier writer of heartbreak—Barrie’s carefully crafted plan to suppress what she views as her inherently negative side, crumbles. She embraces her envy and jealousy and, in a weird twist is helped along by her rival, Ava when they strike up a mutually beneficial deal.
Barrie begins to find success as people relate to her bitter words but where her fans find happiness after her shows, Barrie spirals deeper and deeper into her negative feelings. As she’s experiencing this, and forming a complicated relationship with Ava, she’s taken in and helped along by Brandon and Abel of How To Repair A Mechanical Heart. It was awesome revisiting those two, though they were not in a place I’d have expected. They were just what Barrie needed though.
I feel like the author gave all of the characters enough room to develop. And while I did enjoy watching Ava and Barrie together, I was not quite as invested as I was with Brandon and Abel’s story. Maybe if it had been a little longer. Or if we saw more scenes with them before everything spiraled out of control... I don’t know. Maybe if, as much as it hurts me to say it, Brandon and Abel had less screen time? Because, while I enjoyed Barrie, I was invested in knowing what happened with them in the years that passed between books.
I loved that Ava was brown. Even with characters of color becoming more present in all genres, it’s still a bit of a shock to me when a character is just described as not white when the book wasn’t marketed as such. It was kind of awesome. And Barrie’s being a size 14. And they were never treated as plot points or defining characteristics. (Though I do appreciate the author acknowledging the racist and homophobic prejudices that Ava might face.) I also loved that Barrie was a proud bisexual. And, with the exception of her extremely negative mother, no one questioned her.
This was light, fun and a bit intense though never over the top. Possible triggers: There is mild biphobia and the unfortunate truth that sometimes your idles aren’t all you expect them to be.
Even as I write this review, I’m not sure if I want to rate it 3 or 4 stars.
The book begins with Ava and Barrie in a sudden death battle for the reality show Pop University. When Barrie—the pop song writer—loses to Ava—the angstier writer of heartbreak—Barrie’s carefully crafted plan to suppress what she views as her inherently negative side, crumbles. She embraces her envy and jealousy and, in a weird twist is helped along by her rival, Ava when they strike up a mutually beneficial deal.
Barrie begins to find success as people relate to her bitter words but where her fans find happiness after her shows, Barrie spirals deeper and deeper into her negative feelings. As she’s experiencing this, and forming a complicated relationship with Ava, she’s taken in and helped along by Brandon and Abel of How To Repair A Mechanical Heart. It was awesome revisiting those two, though they were not in a place I’d have expected. They were just what Barrie needed though.
I feel like the author gave all of the characters enough room to develop. And while I did enjoy watching Ava and Barrie together, I was not quite as invested as I was with Brandon and Abel’s story. Maybe if it had been a little longer. Or if we saw more scenes with them before everything spiraled out of control... I don’t know. Maybe if, as much as it hurts me to say it, Brandon and Abel had less screen time? Because, while I enjoyed Barrie, I was invested in knowing what happened with them in the years that passed between books.
I loved that Ava was brown. Even with characters of color becoming more present in all genres, it’s still a bit of a shock to me when a character is just described as not white when the book wasn’t marketed as such. It was kind of awesome. And Barrie’s being a size 14. And they were never treated as plot points or defining characteristics. (Though I do appreciate the author acknowledging the racist and homophobic prejudices that Ava might face.) I also loved that Barrie was a proud bisexual. And, with the exception of her extremely negative mother, no one questioned her.
This was light, fun and a bit intense though never over the top. Possible triggers: There is mild biphobia and the unfortunate truth that sometimes your idles aren’t all you expect them to be.
April 4, 2017
Não teve a mesma magia para mim que o primeiro livro teve, mas essa leitura foi muito agradável. Barrie é completamente diferente de mim, então não me identifiquei muito, mas ela é uma personagem boa de se acompanhar e o romance com a Ava é muito fofo.
Todas as personagens femininas tem personalidade forte (no sentido de elas sabem o que quer e vão atrás) e isso é ótimo de ler. A própria Barrie é teimosa, mas perseverante. A Ava sabe administrar seu talento pra conseguir o que almeja e não tem medo de quebrar as regras pra chegar lá. Sabemos pouco da Tera (porque a Barrie fala do impacto da carreira dela, mas pouco da carreira EM SI), mas dá pra perceber que é uma businesswoman incrível. Mesmo a mãe da Barrie, que aparece pouquinho, deixa sua marca na história.
Amei ver Brandon e Abel aqui de novo, mais velhos e com outras prioridades, mas senti que a inclusão deles aqui foi só pra puxar leitores do primeiro livro e não pra ter um desenvolvimento real. Daria na mesma se quaisquer outros garotos ajudassem a Barrie. Eu sei que esse livro não é deles, mas eu queria ver quais consequências o relacionamento deles tem na relação com a família. Os pais do Brandon aceitam ele durante este tempo?
Pontos extras por falar do meu gênero musical favorito HAHAHAHAH
Todas as personagens femininas tem personalidade forte (no sentido de elas sabem o que quer e vão atrás) e isso é ótimo de ler. A própria Barrie é teimosa, mas perseverante. A Ava sabe administrar seu talento pra conseguir o que almeja e não tem medo de quebrar as regras pra chegar lá. Sabemos pouco da Tera (porque a Barrie fala do impacto da carreira dela, mas pouco da carreira EM SI), mas dá pra perceber que é uma businesswoman incrível. Mesmo a mãe da Barrie, que aparece pouquinho, deixa sua marca na história.
Amei ver Brandon e Abel aqui de novo, mais velhos e com outras prioridades, mas senti que a inclusão deles aqui foi só pra puxar leitores do primeiro livro e não pra ter um desenvolvimento real. Daria na mesma se quaisquer outros garotos ajudassem a Barrie. Eu sei que esse livro não é deles, mas eu queria ver quais consequências o relacionamento deles tem na relação com a família. Os pais do Brandon aceitam ele durante este tempo?
Pontos extras por falar do meu gênero musical favorito HAHAHAHAH
February 23, 2018
Read for the 2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book with a female author who uses a male pseudonym (okay, I mean, J.C. is not particularly male, but it's ambiguous. You get my drift).
I've wanted to read this book for a while, but kept pushing it off, because I still don't have a Kindle, but anyway, yesterday I woke up to some heartbreaking messages and I needed some emergency stuff to distract me. This was the worst and best book I could have picked.
Best because the story is incredibly compelling, the narration funny, the romance great (hello, I really needed a f/f read for once) and I got to meet Abel and Brandon once again, the protagonists from How to Repair a Mechanical Heart . Worst because the parts about co-writing hurt way too much now, but hats off to Ms. Lillis, because she nailed the feeling of finding the perfect collab partner.It hurts now, because I lost mine, but it's been the best sensation ever, building on each other's words, coming up with new ideas and wondering how our readers would react to it.
I need to mention this before finishing the review. I love how the characters aren't confused about their orientation (or that it's not actually the focus of the book). But my heart made a leap when I read that Barrie is a proud bisexual, as she says, and Ava is a lesbian. :) Also that Ava didn't comment on B's orientation, like her mother did (bi people getting too much of that crap).
Please read this book, it's super interesting and funny and you won't regret it!
I've wanted to read this book for a while, but kept pushing it off, because I still don't have a Kindle, but anyway, yesterday I woke up to some heartbreaking messages and I needed some emergency stuff to distract me. This was the worst and best book I could have picked.
Best because the story is incredibly compelling, the narration funny, the romance great (hello, I really needed a f/f read for once) and I got to meet Abel and Brandon once again, the protagonists from How to Repair a Mechanical Heart . Worst because the parts about co-writing hurt way too much now, but hats off to Ms. Lillis, because she nailed the feeling of finding the perfect collab partner.
I need to mention this before finishing the review. I love how the characters aren't confused about their orientation (or that it's not actually the focus of the book). But my heart made a leap when I read that Barrie is a proud bisexual, as she says, and Ava is a lesbian. :) Also that Ava didn't comment on B's orientation, like her mother did (bi people getting too much of that crap).
Please read this book, it's super interesting and funny and you won't regret it!
April 17, 2019
It took a while to get into it, the first part wasn’t my thing but the second part more than made up for that. I loved it.
May 5, 2019
This book was FANTASTIC!
August 29, 2022
Rating 4/5
Totally recommend if you're in the mood for an extremely cute and a bit angsty f/f rivals to lovers book that revolves around music and songwriting!
Totally recommend if you're in the mood for an extremely cute and a bit angsty f/f rivals to lovers book that revolves around music and songwriting!
February 9, 2018
4.5
the enemies to lovers trope is so powerful
the enemies to lovers trope is so powerful
August 24, 2019
Very slow burn. I read this not having read book one and it still worked for me. Book one blurb did not work for me so I skipped it and all's good. Well worth the time.
February 7, 2018
THIS IS IT! The book I have been waiting for since I read Everything Leads To You about 2.5 years ago. FF romance is unfortunately riddled with terribly written books. It's so damn hard to find something that is well written, and has a cute couple that I can ship the fuck out of. But A&B managed to just do it all for me.
It's funny, emotional, has an adorable pairing with great banter and a lovely message to go with. I am always here for the enemies to lovers troupe, although they weren't really full blown enemies to start with. I am also always here for stories involving hollywood/reality tv type stuff. It's just fun! Gah I just really loved Barrie and Ava they were ADORABLE together!! And I loved every bit of them creating beautiful music together. I think it can be quite difficult to write about people writing music and playing music in a way that is entertaining and meaningful, but J.C. Lillis definitely pulled it off here. I found myself genuinely enjoying Barrie and Ava's creative process and the songs they wrote, instead of skimming it like I've done with other books involving music.
It was also lovely to see Abel and Brandon again. How To Repair A Mechanical Heart is one of my favourite MM romance books, so I was pleasantly surprised by how present they were in this story.
It's funny, emotional, has an adorable pairing with great banter and a lovely message to go with. I am always here for the enemies to lovers troupe, although they weren't really full blown enemies to start with. I am also always here for stories involving hollywood/reality tv type stuff. It's just fun! Gah I just really loved Barrie and Ava they were ADORABLE together!! And I loved every bit of them creating beautiful music together. I think it can be quite difficult to write about people writing music and playing music in a way that is entertaining and meaningful, but J.C. Lillis definitely pulled it off here. I found myself genuinely enjoying Barrie and Ava's creative process and the songs they wrote, instead of skimming it like I've done with other books involving music.
It was also lovely to see Abel and Brandon again. How To Repair A Mechanical Heart is one of my favourite MM romance books, so I was pleasantly surprised by how present they were in this story.
February 10, 2017
Oh this is a lovely delicious treat, not least of all because of how much Abel & Brandon we get. It's gloriously snarky, and exudes good will and optimism, even when Evil Barrie is in charge (well, thinks she is).
One major sad point is Barrie's mum. A lowlight if you will (but entirely realistic). But for the rest of it, Ava, and all the people Barrie comes into contact with, who help her learn, and not only carry on, but put herself out there to be the best she can be, well, like I said, glorious.
And A & B... sigh. Too much of these guys is never enough. Thanks JC for writing this.
One major sad point is Barrie's mum. A lowlight if you will (but entirely realistic). But for the rest of it, Ava, and all the people Barrie comes into contact with, who help her learn, and not only carry on, but put herself out there to be the best she can be, well, like I said, glorious.
And A & B... sigh. Too much of these guys is never enough. Thanks JC for writing this.
December 16, 2016
Imagine jamming in a convertible with the top down to the catchiest, wildest, pure-love pop song you've ever heard. That's what reading this book feels like.
December 5, 2016
What a lovely, sweet, funny book. Although it's a coming of age story with a love story mixed in, for me it's an ageless tale about the joys of and value of creativity within collaboration.
Even when the heroine is at her most down, she still reaches out to others - to her boss, to a fellow songwriter, to fans, to the online community, to her audience. Her own songwriting and stage work involves their input and helps to heal them. When things go wrong, from public humiliation to parental abandonment, the heroine doesn't sit around for long with navel gazing angst. Instead she flips into how can I make a path forward mode, which is often a creative, hey-kids-lets-put-on-a-show activity. Yet, she does it without being a sugary Pollyanna.
I loved the details on how the two songwriters collaborated - one bringing hooks, structure and practical knowledge; the other bringing intuition, mystery and poetry. It reminded me very much of how book writers differ - plotters versus pantsters.
This is also one of the rare books I've found where a lead character is bisexual and they end up with a woman. (For some reason fictionally these days, if you have a choice of genders to fall for, you grab a guy.) The sex is pretty much a light G-PG. it exists, but no details aside from a brief section I adored because it had a brief list of non-explicit, practical tips, and the word, "BOOOOOBS".
On the parent front (I always note parents in books), there are no good parents in this book. Two are homophobic, one is dead and one is a permanent resident of planet negative. On the other hand, there are plenty of supportive older characters, so all is not lost.
Lastly, may I say how thrilled I was about the heroine's physicality? She is six feet tall and a solid size 14. She is also round-faced blonde who wears wigs because her hair is permanently falling out due to a rare condition. She hops up on stage without reservations and never fusses about dieting - she's fairly comfortable in her skin. I loved that.
Even when the heroine is at her most down, she still reaches out to others - to her boss, to a fellow songwriter, to fans, to the online community, to her audience. Her own songwriting and stage work involves their input and helps to heal them. When things go wrong, from public humiliation to parental abandonment, the heroine doesn't sit around for long with navel gazing angst. Instead she flips into how can I make a path forward mode, which is often a creative, hey-kids-lets-put-on-a-show activity. Yet, she does it without being a sugary Pollyanna.
I loved the details on how the two songwriters collaborated - one bringing hooks, structure and practical knowledge; the other bringing intuition, mystery and poetry. It reminded me very much of how book writers differ - plotters versus pantsters.
This is also one of the rare books I've found where a lead character is bisexual and they end up with a woman. (For some reason fictionally these days, if you have a choice of genders to fall for, you grab a guy.) The sex is pretty much a light G-PG. it exists, but no details aside from a brief section I adored because it had a brief list of non-explicit, practical tips, and the word, "BOOOOOBS".
On the parent front (I always note parents in books), there are no good parents in this book. Two are homophobic, one is dead and one is a permanent resident of planet negative. On the other hand, there are plenty of supportive older characters, so all is not lost.
Lastly, may I say how thrilled I was about the heroine's physicality? She is six feet tall and a solid size 14. She is also round-faced blonde who wears wigs because her hair is permanently falling out due to a rare condition. She hops up on stage without reservations and never fusses about dieting - she's fairly comfortable in her skin. I loved that.
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