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Songs About a Girl #3
Songs About A Boy
Music, boy bands, first love and heartbreak in the explosive finale to the Songs About A Girl trilogy - a modern love story for anyone who has ever dreamed of being 'with the band'. From a Zoella Book Club friend.
Just as Charlie allows herself to succumb to Gabe's charms, the explosive revelation about her mother's death threatens to pull them apart.
Meanwhile, a media circus has exploded around the future of Fire&Lights - when they announce a US tour to show the world that they are stronger than ever, Charlie gets the opportunity to accompany them. New York City, here she comes! But it's not all fun and games. Charlie is still feeling all kinds of awkward around Gabe and knowing that her mother's last days were in America touring with her band, Charlie uses the opportunity to uncover some more truths about her mother's death.
As Fire&Lights try to win over the world again, and as Charlie and Gabriel uncover the true story that links their pasts, will Charlie finally be able to follow her heart?
'Sweet, sensitive and a joy to read ...' Non Pratt, author of Remix and Unboxed
Just as Charlie allows herself to succumb to Gabe's charms, the explosive revelation about her mother's death threatens to pull them apart.
Meanwhile, a media circus has exploded around the future of Fire&Lights - when they announce a US tour to show the world that they are stronger than ever, Charlie gets the opportunity to accompany them. New York City, here she comes! But it's not all fun and games. Charlie is still feeling all kinds of awkward around Gabe and knowing that her mother's last days were in America touring with her band, Charlie uses the opportunity to uncover some more truths about her mother's death.
As Fire&Lights try to win over the world again, and as Charlie and Gabriel uncover the true story that links their pasts, will Charlie finally be able to follow her heart?
'Sweet, sensitive and a joy to read ...' Non Pratt, author of Remix and Unboxed
438 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2018
15 people are currently reading
652 people want to read
About the author
Chris Russell
3 books136 followersWhen I was thirteen, my best friend and I went to a Bon Jovi concert at Wembley Stadium. We thought it looked like fun, so we started our own band - a band that, ten years later, would become The Lightyears. Since then, we've been lucky enough to tour all over the world, from Cape Town to South Korea, playing at Glastonbury Festival and O2 Arena and supporting members of legendary rock bands such as Queen, Journey and The Who. And though we never made it anywhere near as big as Bon Jovi, we did get to play Wembley Stadium, four times, to crowds of over 45,000 people.
Music aside, writing was my first love. In 2014, I published a novel called Mockstars, which was inspired by my tour diaries for The Lightyears. Shortly afterwards, following a three-month stint ghostwriting for a One Direction fan club, I came up with the idea of a YA novel that combined an intense teenage romance with the electrifying universe of a chart-topping boyband. That idea became the trilogy Songs About a Girl, which was signed up by Hodder Children's in 2015, and has sold in multiple territories worldwide. Book One will be published this summer.
Music aside, writing was my first love. In 2014, I published a novel called Mockstars, which was inspired by my tour diaries for The Lightyears. Shortly afterwards, following a three-month stint ghostwriting for a One Direction fan club, I came up with the idea of a YA novel that combined an intense teenage romance with the electrifying universe of a chart-topping boyband. That idea became the trilogy Songs About a Girl, which was signed up by Hodder Children's in 2015, and has sold in multiple territories worldwide. Book One will be published this summer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
August 8, 2018
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this series is the One Direction fanfic of my sixteen year old selfs dreams. It’s possibly one of the most cliche, dramatic, angsty, predictable and far fetched books I’ve ever read and I loved ever second of it. I had the most fun I’ve had in a long time flying through this trilogy. It made me incredibly nostalgic and happy. I think I’ve officially found my ultimate guilty pleasure read but I can’t even bring myself to feel guilty about it, it was just too much fun.
TW: homophobic slur.
TW: homophobic slur.
August 9, 2018
I'm emotional. I can't form words. OH and I love Gabriel West thank you goodbye
August 8, 2018
I’m actually tearing up right now! I’ve just finished this book and I honestly adore this trilogy. The characters, the storyline, the twists and turns, the mystery, the music, the setting, the relationships... I just love it all so much! This is honestly one of my favourite YA trilogies of all time and I’m so sad that this is all over. Every character is fantastic and has their own focus, their own problems and their own star qualities. I could’ve written this review by just putting ‘I love it. I love it. I love it’ over and over again. Highly recommend (if that wasn’t already obvious!)
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October 15, 2025gabriel west was my first fictional boyfriend. i miss him
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September 25, 2018This series has been such a joy to read. There's something about it that makes me feel warm and cosy, each book something to sink into like a nice cosy blanket. It's dramatic and emotional, but it's still like an old friend that you can feel comfortable reading about. I love books like that. It makes reading them a real pleasure.
I don't know much about One Direction, but I've seen some people calling this One Direction fanfiction. There's nothing wrong with fanfiction at all, but I do feel that calling is really overlooking Charlie, because yes it's a story about Fire and Lights, but more than that, it's Charlie's story. Everything is centred around her and the mystery of her mum. Charlie is such a beautiful character, driven, talented and a really great person. I love how much the band adores her and make her feel like she's a really integral part of the team.
The band is beautiful. Yuki is wonderful and Aiden too, I really liked. The dynamic of Ollie and Gabriel was a dramatic conflict, but Yuki and Aiden were a really amazing part of the band.
I love these characters so much and the story was a wild ride of dramatic twists and turns. Chris Russell's habit of ending each book on a sudden twist was frustrating in the best possible way, but I can forgive him for that.
I can't wait to see what he does next.
I don't know much about One Direction, but I've seen some people calling this One Direction fanfiction. There's nothing wrong with fanfiction at all, but I do feel that calling is really overlooking Charlie, because yes it's a story about Fire and Lights, but more than that, it's Charlie's story. Everything is centred around her and the mystery of her mum. Charlie is such a beautiful character, driven, talented and a really great person. I love how much the band adores her and make her feel like she's a really integral part of the team.
The band is beautiful. Yuki is wonderful and Aiden too, I really liked. The dynamic of Ollie and Gabriel was a dramatic conflict, but Yuki and Aiden were a really amazing part of the band.
I love these characters so much and the story was a wild ride of dramatic twists and turns. Chris Russell's habit of ending each book on a sudden twist was frustrating in the best possible way, but I can forgive him for that.
I can't wait to see what he does next.
August 10, 2018
OMG!!! Just when I think Chris Russell can’t beat the last book he releases another amazing read!
We are reunited with Charlie and the boys for the third and,very sadly, last time. We are taken on a worldwide ride across the pond to New York as the boys work feverishly to save their band and their reputations!
Olly is out of the band and it’s a mad scramble to replace him in time.Trouble is brewing and Gabe has slipped into a morose state due to his own personal demons. Aiden has his own inner turmoils going and Yuki is,well, Yuki! Charlie is with her best friend Melissa on the trip of a lifetime but it can’t last surely?
With ups and downs and surprises galore ‘Songs About a Boy’ delivers an emotional punch that will leave you reeling.
Chris Russell has created a great series that will be loved and re-read many times! He is definitely an author to watch and I look forward to his future as it looks very bright!!
We are reunited with Charlie and the boys for the third and,very sadly, last time. We are taken on a worldwide ride across the pond to New York as the boys work feverishly to save their band and their reputations!
Olly is out of the band and it’s a mad scramble to replace him in time.Trouble is brewing and Gabe has slipped into a morose state due to his own personal demons. Aiden has his own inner turmoils going and Yuki is,well, Yuki! Charlie is with her best friend Melissa on the trip of a lifetime but it can’t last surely?
With ups and downs and surprises galore ‘Songs About a Boy’ delivers an emotional punch that will leave you reeling.
Chris Russell has created a great series that will be loved and re-read many times! He is definitely an author to watch and I look forward to his future as it looks very bright!!
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August 2, 2025Les 100 dernières pages gâchent toute la saga !!!
Le premier tome était sympa sans être génial, mais la fin m’a donné très envie de lire la suite, le seconde était vraiment bien je l’ai lu d’une traite et je me suis jetée sur le troisième, mais là… Il y avait beaucoup trop d’éléments posés là d’un coup et qui ont gâché l’histoire. Dommage.
Le premier tome était sympa sans être génial, mais la fin m’a donné très envie de lire la suite, le seconde était vraiment bien je l’ai lu d’une traite et je me suis jetée sur le troisième, mais là… Il y avait beaucoup trop d’éléments posés là d’un coup et qui ont gâché l’histoire. Dommage.
December 19, 2018
Okay. I put it off for as long as I could... and NOW was the right time to read the final book in this super fun trilogy.
Charlie is facing the most important exams of her school life, but the many distractions weighing on her mind are making it hard to focus. The secrets of her mother's and Gabriel's father intertwined musical careers and tragedy have ripped Gabriel and her apart.
And now that one of the members of Fire&Lights has quit to start his own career, the other boys are going on a big US tour. And because so much of the answers Charlie and Gabriel seek are in America, she ends up going with them.
Well, she goes with her best friend's family. And what they find there will change everything, while possibly tearing everyone apart...
I said this after the second book and I have to say it with this one: he did it again! Chris Russell REALLY delivered. Wow.
Charlie's voice has been one of my favourite things about this trilogy. I say one because there's so much to love about these books. And in this installment, she once again swept me away in her adventure. I was totally invested in her problems. In her heartbreak. In her grief. In her excitement. In how hard it was to discover the truth about her mother, only to have everything turned upside down.
Yep. There are several twists and turns, unexpected revelations, and some very cool surprises.
I especially liked how her father finally got a chance to share the spotlight. Although I understood the necessity of her lies, I felt bad for him. Being left out of her adventure was really playing havoc on their relationship, which made me sad.
OMG, and we got plenty of Melissa. She's such a sweetheart and gets what she deserves and more in this book. Yay.
Now, the boys. Sigh. Yuki was his usual jokey self, even while going through some family drama. Aiden was his usual shy and adorable self, even while dealing with personal issues. Gabriel was still the complicated, troubled guy. Olly was still the nice guy we all know and love. And we meet another interesting musician, but I don't want to spoil anything so I won't say too much about him.
Yeah, I'm totally fangirling about this book. About these characters. About this trilogy. SO awesome!
Songs About a Boy is the perfect way of ending this amazing and emotional story. THIS is how you end a super fun, high-energy, awesome trilogy filled with drama and music! Not only did the storyline continue perfectly, but new obstacles and problems were introduced. All the answers I chased through the other books were revealed here. And most importantly, like the other two books: I was hooked.
This story is what teenage dreams are made of. The boys, music, vibes and excitement of actually meeting your favourite band... ALL of it is enough to take you back to being an obsessed teenager.
I LOVED this.
Charlie is facing the most important exams of her school life, but the many distractions weighing on her mind are making it hard to focus. The secrets of her mother's and Gabriel's father intertwined musical careers and tragedy have ripped Gabriel and her apart.
And now that one of the members of Fire&Lights has quit to start his own career, the other boys are going on a big US tour. And because so much of the answers Charlie and Gabriel seek are in America, she ends up going with them.
Well, she goes with her best friend's family. And what they find there will change everything, while possibly tearing everyone apart...
I said this after the second book and I have to say it with this one: he did it again! Chris Russell REALLY delivered. Wow.
Charlie's voice has been one of my favourite things about this trilogy. I say one because there's so much to love about these books. And in this installment, she once again swept me away in her adventure. I was totally invested in her problems. In her heartbreak. In her grief. In her excitement. In how hard it was to discover the truth about her mother, only to have everything turned upside down.
Yep. There are several twists and turns, unexpected revelations, and some very cool surprises.
I especially liked how her father finally got a chance to share the spotlight. Although I understood the necessity of her lies, I felt bad for him. Being left out of her adventure was really playing havoc on their relationship, which made me sad.
OMG, and we got plenty of Melissa. She's such a sweetheart and gets what she deserves and more in this book. Yay.
Now, the boys. Sigh. Yuki was his usual jokey self, even while going through some family drama. Aiden was his usual shy and adorable self, even while dealing with personal issues. Gabriel was still the complicated, troubled guy. Olly was still the nice guy we all know and love. And we meet another interesting musician, but I don't want to spoil anything so I won't say too much about him.
Yeah, I'm totally fangirling about this book. About these characters. About this trilogy. SO awesome!
Songs About a Boy is the perfect way of ending this amazing and emotional story. THIS is how you end a super fun, high-energy, awesome trilogy filled with drama and music! Not only did the storyline continue perfectly, but new obstacles and problems were introduced. All the answers I chased through the other books were revealed here. And most importantly, like the other two books: I was hooked.
This story is what teenage dreams are made of. The boys, music, vibes and excitement of actually meeting your favourite band... ALL of it is enough to take you back to being an obsessed teenager.
I LOVED this.
November 28, 2018
I can't believe the thought ever even crossed my mind to dismiss these books as cheesy, trashy fanfic. They are so much more than that. I picked this 400+ page book up on Sunday night, and I had finished it by Tuesday. For me, that's absolutely insane. And I've not exactly been at home all that time - I've been looking after the flat, going out and going to uni. But this book just absolutely flew by for me, and whenever I had a spare minute I would pick it up and dive right in.
That being said, I can't totally dismiss the cheese or the trash. Because honestly, it does have those elements. It's a bit like looking back on High School Musical. You can't believe how cheesy it is, but you would watch it with your girlfriends any day of the week. It's unrealistic, dramatic and far fetched. But goshdarnit, it is good.
This is for sure a complete guilty-pleasure read, but I can't deny that it's very well written. Every single character in this book holds their place and has a lot of depth, and that's just so hard to do! To be able to build such individuality into so many people - especially the band, the management team and even Melissa's family - is so impressive.
Being 19, I'm definitely way out of the target audience for this series. But the 13 year old inside me couldn't put this down, and made me reminiscent of the simpler way I used to read. It's perfect nostalgia for those years, of loving the sweet teenage relationships and band obsessions.
Unfortunately, I can't put enough emphasis on the far-fetched concept of this book. Charlie is a 16 year old girl flying around the world photographing a band, with little to no equipment or professional photography training. As I'm studying photography at uni, this was a little hard to get out of my mind. No one around me would even dare to dream of having an opportunity like this, and most of those people are already starting their professional careers.
Overall, I would definitely say go for these books! Just make sure you clear your mind beforehand, and understand that this is going to be a drama-filled, unrealistic but wonderful rollercoaster. Sit back and enjoy the ride!
★★★★
4 stars
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
That being said, I can't totally dismiss the cheese or the trash. Because honestly, it does have those elements. It's a bit like looking back on High School Musical. You can't believe how cheesy it is, but you would watch it with your girlfriends any day of the week. It's unrealistic, dramatic and far fetched. But goshdarnit, it is good.
This is for sure a complete guilty-pleasure read, but I can't deny that it's very well written. Every single character in this book holds their place and has a lot of depth, and that's just so hard to do! To be able to build such individuality into so many people - especially the band, the management team and even Melissa's family - is so impressive.
Being 19, I'm definitely way out of the target audience for this series. But the 13 year old inside me couldn't put this down, and made me reminiscent of the simpler way I used to read. It's perfect nostalgia for those years, of loving the sweet teenage relationships and band obsessions.
Unfortunately, I can't put enough emphasis on the far-fetched concept of this book. Charlie is a 16 year old girl flying around the world photographing a band, with little to no equipment or professional photography training. As I'm studying photography at uni, this was a little hard to get out of my mind. No one around me would even dare to dream of having an opportunity like this, and most of those people are already starting their professional careers.
Overall, I would definitely say go for these books! Just make sure you clear your mind beforehand, and understand that this is going to be a drama-filled, unrealistic but wonderful rollercoaster. Sit back and enjoy the ride!
★★★★
4 stars
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
December 27, 2024
Honestly one of those books/series that gets you right out of a reading slump. i’ve been struggling to find time to read but i felt like a teenager again when i picked up this book, reading all the time even when it was inconvenient. the plot and the characters just get stuck into your brain and you’re constantly thinking about it.
The best part about it is what i think everyone is wrongly criticising it for. it’s so UTTERLY far fetched that whatever’s going on in your life simply fades to nothing because you can just escape into this world where everything is neat and perfect in the end but there’s tension and creepy people and a bit of violence and drama the whole way through. Its huge pull to me is that it’s entirely unrealistic, and that’s what makes a good, easy read to me.
I’m 21 but read the first one when i was in school in 2017/2018 probably, picked the series back up when i fell into a reading slump at university and its helped me so much! Makes me so excited to tackle the rest of the books in my very long TBR now, with no guilt that i’ve got this three book long series left.
Thanks chris for creating a world where we can absolutely just escape and where i’ve found the reason i loved reading fiction again, knowing there’s someone that isn’t my real life to run away to! x
The best part about it is what i think everyone is wrongly criticising it for. it’s so UTTERLY far fetched that whatever’s going on in your life simply fades to nothing because you can just escape into this world where everything is neat and perfect in the end but there’s tension and creepy people and a bit of violence and drama the whole way through. Its huge pull to me is that it’s entirely unrealistic, and that’s what makes a good, easy read to me.
I’m 21 but read the first one when i was in school in 2017/2018 probably, picked the series back up when i fell into a reading slump at university and its helped me so much! Makes me so excited to tackle the rest of the books in my very long TBR now, with no guilt that i’ve got this three book long series left.
Thanks chris for creating a world where we can absolutely just escape and where i’ve found the reason i loved reading fiction again, knowing there’s someone that isn’t my real life to run away to! x
January 11, 2021
I give this book a 3.5 ⭐️ rating.
I don’t know what to say without giving spoilers for the other books... but this was such a good book. I loved the characters, the plot was what I needed right now. I basically read this book in hours since I resumed after months of not reading it. And that’s by no fault but my own, because I subconsciously insisted on reading books I thought I’d “enjoy more.” I can say this was an “explosive finale” to this series. I screamed and laughed and cried.
Loved it <3
I don’t know what to say without giving spoilers for the other books... but this was such a good book. I loved the characters, the plot was what I needed right now. I basically read this book in hours since I resumed after months of not reading it. And that’s by no fault but my own, because I subconsciously insisted on reading books I thought I’d “enjoy more.” I can say this was an “explosive finale” to this series. I screamed and laughed and cried.
Loved it <3
November 28, 2020
This was an amazing end to the series!
I thought I knew how it would end, but in the end the book surprised me which kept me captivated until the end. I really loved the end to the book, but no spoilers!
Charlie Bloom really grew on me, I won't be forgetting her soon.
Definitely check out this series if you're into photography, boybands, music and contemporary books!
I thought I knew how it would end, but in the end the book surprised me which kept me captivated until the end. I really loved the end to the book, but no spoilers!
Charlie Bloom really grew on me, I won't be forgetting her soon.
Definitely check out this series if you're into photography, boybands, music and contemporary books!
August 10, 2018
I honestly cannot praise this book enough, it's such a phenomenal series that I have recommended to so many friends and fellow bloggers/BookTubers. Simply brilliant, and I cannot wait to see what Chris writes next!
September 13, 2018
Not quite as good as the first two, but they did set the bar pretty high. Still, a sweet ending to this trilogy I really loved.
July 25, 2023
wow…what a great ending for a trilogy….gave this one 4.5 stars!!!!
a plot twist….a happy ending…YES THIS IS WHAT I NEED IN THE LAST BOOK. for sure a bit disappointed bcs we didn’t get to see lots of romance from charlie and gabe but nvm…THE BAND GOT A HAPPY ENDING AND REUNITED. i’m the happiest fangirl ever. this trilogy really shows the ups and downs about a boyband and i liked it so much. they’ve been through a lot and they deserves a happiness :(( love gabe, olly, yuki and aiden so much they’re my babies
a plot twist….a happy ending…YES THIS IS WHAT I NEED IN THE LAST BOOK. for sure a bit disappointed bcs we didn’t get to see lots of romance from charlie and gabe but nvm…THE BAND GOT A HAPPY ENDING AND REUNITED. i’m the happiest fangirl ever. this trilogy really shows the ups and downs about a boyband and i liked it so much. they’ve been through a lot and they deserves a happiness :(( love gabe, olly, yuki and aiden so much they’re my babies
February 11, 2024
Again younger me would give this whole series 5 stars!! I love the bandddd and I just imagine Gabriel as a Brazilian Harry Styles and goddddd 🔥 I love band storiesssss yes I do wish I could say I’m with the band 😭
September 4, 2018
enjoyed this as much as I hoped. A fab end to a brilliant series.
August 30, 2020
Wow. Just wow. Chris Russel really blows my mind.
Okay, so what did I like about this book? I loved Yuki tons and tons and tons but he wasn’t in this book very much which was v sad. I loved his little brother Itchy too!! I also really liked Aiden and seeing him come to terms with his asexuality. Olly was also just such a pure baby who deserves the whole damn universe!!
Now. What I didn’t like. Lets start with Charlie Bloom. I loathed her throughout this book. Everything she said and did driver me crazy. She’s jealous, self-centred, possessive, nosy and a huge liar and I’m not here for it. “Hanging out with famous people becoming almost a habit for me now...” ??There’s a scene where Gabriel and Olly are on the radio and Gabriel claims that he knows Charlie better than Olly ever will and stuff like that and Olly literally couldn’t care less and Charlie goes BOTH of you stop it! I’m not some trophy! Mate, I know you’re it a trophy and Gabriel was the one wanting her , not Olly??? She just irritates me so much it’s just unbearable.
Gabriel was a massive douche in this book and am I supposed to root for these guys to be together? Because Gabriel is so rude and mean to everyone except from Charlie and is that supposed to be romantic??
And Melissa got a boyfriend. Of course she did! Because everyone needs a happy ending in this trilogy!!
Now I understand that hanging out with a boy band isn’t particularly realistic but Chris Russel pulled out the most stupid plot wits I have ever known. At least choose one plot wise not 50 million. The ending. My god the ending was so unrealistic I couldn’t get over it. Charlie does well in her exams even though she runs round with a boy band for how long? She also gets the highest photography grade! Melissa gets the best results in the county! Charlie is an apprentice for a photographer and gets to go to Berlin and Florence! Melissa goes to America to see Leo and they live happily ever after! Her dad can continue his studies!
Ooh! And guess what! What we’ve building up to throughout these books is how Charlie’s mum died, right! And guess what it ACTUALLY was just an accident the WHOLE TIME. Are you kidding me?
Now I’ve given this book a 2 star rating as it was addictive and my reactions gave me and my friends a lot of laughs but I seriously this book was unbelievable in the worst way. Thankyou for coming to my ted talk.
Okay, so what did I like about this book? I loved Yuki tons and tons and tons but he wasn’t in this book very much which was v sad. I loved his little brother Itchy too!! I also really liked Aiden and seeing him come to terms with his asexuality. Olly was also just such a pure baby who deserves the whole damn universe!!
Now. What I didn’t like. Lets start with Charlie Bloom. I loathed her throughout this book. Everything she said and did driver me crazy. She’s jealous, self-centred, possessive, nosy and a huge liar and I’m not here for it. “Hanging out with famous people becoming almost a habit for me now...” ??There’s a scene where Gabriel and Olly are on the radio and Gabriel claims that he knows Charlie better than Olly ever will and stuff like that and Olly literally couldn’t care less and Charlie goes BOTH of you stop it! I’m not some trophy! Mate, I know you’re it a trophy and Gabriel was the one wanting her , not Olly??? She just irritates me so much it’s just unbearable.
Gabriel was a massive douche in this book and am I supposed to root for these guys to be together? Because Gabriel is so rude and mean to everyone except from Charlie and is that supposed to be romantic??
And Melissa got a boyfriend. Of course she did! Because everyone needs a happy ending in this trilogy!!
Now I understand that hanging out with a boy band isn’t particularly realistic but Chris Russel pulled out the most stupid plot wits I have ever known. At least choose one plot wise not 50 million. The ending. My god the ending was so unrealistic I couldn’t get over it. Charlie does well in her exams even though she runs round with a boy band for how long? She also gets the highest photography grade! Melissa gets the best results in the county! Charlie is an apprentice for a photographer and gets to go to Berlin and Florence! Melissa goes to America to see Leo and they live happily ever after! Her dad can continue his studies!
Ooh! And guess what! What we’ve building up to throughout these books is how Charlie’s mum died, right! And guess what it ACTUALLY was just an accident the WHOLE TIME. Are you kidding me?
Now I’ve given this book a 2 star rating as it was addictive and my reactions gave me and my friends a lot of laughs but I seriously this book was unbelievable in the worst way. Thankyou for coming to my ted talk.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2023
the first half of the book was so good I was actually thinking of giving it a 4 star but then for the last 100 pages I couldn't go a page without saying wtf.
December 24, 2018
-don't think this is going to be my favourite in the series. It's definitely a downhill series. I absolutely adored the first book, but I find that each book gets more unrealistic and unnecessarily dramatic. It's not that the last book isn't good, I just don't enjoy it nearly as much as the first book
-I don't think I was surprised when
-I loved that Charlie finally stood up for herself and told both Olly and Gabriel to back off because she isn't a prize to be won. It was really important for her own self development and it was time that the boys looked past themselves and realized that Charlie was real and had her own opinions about which boy she liked. To be honest, I don't even think that Olly really likes Charlie the way that Gabriel does. I just think that he wants whatever Gabriel has.
-I've really likes Melissa so far in the series, but she seems oddly immature in this book. She gets so excited about the dumbest things (like riding in a yellow cab in new York city) and is so childish about her crush on Leo. Like, I get it, she's always been a dramatic type, but she's going off claiming that they're in love and I'm like, definitely not.
-I think that the paparazzi was not accurate at all. Like, people literally are freaking out because Gabriel "lied" about his family which he sort of did. He said they were living in France, but really, he just didn't talk about it. He's just a private person, and I don't understand why the fans and the entire world got so upset that he wanted to be private. Like the whole scandal that happened when the news about his family broke out was so unrealistic. If you look at modern pop stars and celebrities, nobody really asks about their parents. Nobody cares about the parents so it made no sense that people got so upset just because Gabriel wanted to pretend that he had a normal family
- I kind of wish that Cameron/Campbell from the second book was in this. I know that the band entirely cut off everything with him and Duffy but he seemed like a really nice guy and I thought it would be nice if he didn't get cut off from the band because he didn't even do anything
-I was really unhappy when
-the blond haired girl was a total creep and psychopath. Her subplot was so weird though because she was mentioned a few times in a short period of time near the beginning, and then the book was nearly over before she came back and it was finally explained why she was relevant. When she
-the author probably should have gotten some American beta readers, because I found that sometimes the Americans would use British language (specifically Carrie and Leo). It was British slang that I didn't know. I'm Canadian but the slang here and in the States is practically the same, and it would have been more realistic if the Americans in the book actually talked like Americans. Most of the time I could figure out the slang, but it's really important that American characters sound like they are American.
-I think Melissa was really underdeveloped in this book. She didn't have any purpose in the main plot. She only existed to get Charlie to America and she was hardly around. Then it was like the author remembered that she was there and you would get snippets of Melissa every so often, but they felt meaningless. Like the mention at the end that Melissa was in America with Leo wasn't interesting. I had zero interest in that relationship and it didn't matter to me that they were together again
-the ending was terrible and I was so unimpressed by it. Literally, I've been waiting the entire series for Charlie and Gabriel to get past their barriers and finally be together and kiss and be happy. But at the end, I think I wanted to see more of their relationship after they had gotten together because I want to read about that ship.
-I don't think I was surprised when
-I loved that Charlie finally stood up for herself and told both Olly and Gabriel to back off because she isn't a prize to be won. It was really important for her own self development and it was time that the boys looked past themselves and realized that Charlie was real and had her own opinions about which boy she liked. To be honest, I don't even think that Olly really likes Charlie the way that Gabriel does. I just think that he wants whatever Gabriel has.
-I've really likes Melissa so far in the series, but she seems oddly immature in this book. She gets so excited about the dumbest things (like riding in a yellow cab in new York city) and is so childish about her crush on Leo. Like, I get it, she's always been a dramatic type, but she's going off claiming that they're in love and I'm like, definitely not.
-I think that the paparazzi was not accurate at all. Like, people literally are freaking out because Gabriel "lied" about his family which he sort of did. He said they were living in France, but really, he just didn't talk about it. He's just a private person, and I don't understand why the fans and the entire world got so upset that he wanted to be private. Like the whole scandal that happened when the news about his family broke out was so unrealistic. If you look at modern pop stars and celebrities, nobody really asks about their parents. Nobody cares about the parents so it made no sense that people got so upset just because Gabriel wanted to pretend that he had a normal family
- I kind of wish that Cameron/Campbell from the second book was in this. I know that the band entirely cut off everything with him and Duffy but he seemed like a really nice guy and I thought it would be nice if he didn't get cut off from the band because he didn't even do anything
-I was really unhappy when
-the blond haired girl was a total creep and psychopath. Her subplot was so weird though because she was mentioned a few times in a short period of time near the beginning, and then the book was nearly over before she came back and it was finally explained why she was relevant. When she
-the author probably should have gotten some American beta readers, because I found that sometimes the Americans would use British language (specifically Carrie and Leo). It was British slang that I didn't know. I'm Canadian but the slang here and in the States is practically the same, and it would have been more realistic if the Americans in the book actually talked like Americans. Most of the time I could figure out the slang, but it's really important that American characters sound like they are American.
-I think Melissa was really underdeveloped in this book. She didn't have any purpose in the main plot. She only existed to get Charlie to America and she was hardly around. Then it was like the author remembered that she was there and you would get snippets of Melissa every so often, but they felt meaningless. Like the mention at the end that Melissa was in America with Leo wasn't interesting. I had zero interest in that relationship and it didn't matter to me that they were together again
-the ending was terrible and I was so unimpressed by it. Literally, I've been waiting the entire series for Charlie and Gabriel to get past their barriers and finally be together and kiss and be happy. But at the end, I think I wanted to see more of their relationship after they had gotten together because I want to read about that ship.
September 2, 2018
Somehow, I’ve managed to read and absolutely love all three books in the Songs About A Girl trilogy without publishing a review of any of them, so after finishing the final instalment this morning I thought I’d do things a little differently and review the whole trilogy at once.
I’ve read a fair few books about girls like you and me finding themselves falling in love with celebrities, and so many of them are among my favourites. You can’t beat that crazy idea that one of the most famous men on the planet could choose you over everyone else, right? So I knew the Songs About A Girl trilogy would be right up my street when I first heard about it a few years back.
I read the first book in St Lucia and it was the absolute perfect holiday read. The best kind of guilty pleasure about a girl that finds herself hanging out with the hottest boyband around. But there was more to it than that, which is one of the things that captivated me most and made these books stand out from the crowd. There’s a mystery running through Charlie’s story that adds depth, and it quickly becomes clear that all four of the boys in the band have lives that are far from perfect.
Plus, it’s not all smiles and money and jetsetting for Fire&Lights. There are some serious ups and downs, which paints a realistic picture of what it’s really like to be famous and what needs to be sacrificed as a result.
Chris Russell’s storytelling is so captivating and full of drama and suspense that I am not exaggerating one bit when I say I struggled to put all three of them down once I’d started reading them. By the third book I felt so sad knowing that it was coming to an end and that I wasn’t going to be spending any more time with these awesome characters.
I love every one of them. All of the boyband members are fantastic in their own ways, as is Charlie, Charlie’s dad and especially Melissa. In fact, I think the friendship between Charlie and Melissa is one of my favourite fictional friendships ever.
The conclusion in Songs About A Boy was bitter sweet. I didn’t want this trilogy to be over but it felt like a satisfying ending to an epic adventure. There were moments that seemed a little too easy or convenient, and there were probably a little less swoon-worthy moments in book three than I’d have liked, but there’s no doubt this is one of my favourite contemporary YA trilogies around and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
I can’t wait to see what Chris Russell comes up with next!
I’ve read a fair few books about girls like you and me finding themselves falling in love with celebrities, and so many of them are among my favourites. You can’t beat that crazy idea that one of the most famous men on the planet could choose you over everyone else, right? So I knew the Songs About A Girl trilogy would be right up my street when I first heard about it a few years back.
I read the first book in St Lucia and it was the absolute perfect holiday read. The best kind of guilty pleasure about a girl that finds herself hanging out with the hottest boyband around. But there was more to it than that, which is one of the things that captivated me most and made these books stand out from the crowd. There’s a mystery running through Charlie’s story that adds depth, and it quickly becomes clear that all four of the boys in the band have lives that are far from perfect.
Plus, it’s not all smiles and money and jetsetting for Fire&Lights. There are some serious ups and downs, which paints a realistic picture of what it’s really like to be famous and what needs to be sacrificed as a result.
Chris Russell’s storytelling is so captivating and full of drama and suspense that I am not exaggerating one bit when I say I struggled to put all three of them down once I’d started reading them. By the third book I felt so sad knowing that it was coming to an end and that I wasn’t going to be spending any more time with these awesome characters.
I love every one of them. All of the boyband members are fantastic in their own ways, as is Charlie, Charlie’s dad and especially Melissa. In fact, I think the friendship between Charlie and Melissa is one of my favourite fictional friendships ever.
The conclusion in Songs About A Boy was bitter sweet. I didn’t want this trilogy to be over but it felt like a satisfying ending to an epic adventure. There were moments that seemed a little too easy or convenient, and there were probably a little less swoon-worthy moments in book three than I’d have liked, but there’s no doubt this is one of my favourite contemporary YA trilogies around and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
I can’t wait to see what Chris Russell comes up with next!
February 8, 2020
I read the first two books back when they first came out and adored them. I hadn't realised until I saw a review that I had not finished reading the trilogy and I knew I had to remedy that quickly! I had owned all three books for a while and I can't believe it has taken me so long to get to reading the whole lot! Of course I started from book 1 again before getting to the final book that I had not read yet and fully immerse myself back in the story.
I loved this just as much, if not a bit more, than I did the first time around. Following Charlie, a budding young photographer, as she attends school but gets offered the job of taking photos of Fire & Lights (the hottest boy band of the time). She gets to know the band and various other characters that come along the way - some good and some not so good. There's also a bit of a love triangle going on and simply because I had read the first two books before I kind of knew that was coming but there were definitely a lot of questions I had about what has happened in the past that ties some characters together.
The characters also were a big pull for me in reading this trilogy. Whether they are a good character or a not so good character, all had their own quirks and personalities and were intriguing to follow. If I had to pick my favourites they would have to be Charlie (of course!) and Yuki who is another member of the band and a larger than live character.
I cannot recommend this trilogy enough. If you like Emery Lord's Open Road Summer, you need to pick this up!
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
I loved this just as much, if not a bit more, than I did the first time around. Following Charlie, a budding young photographer, as she attends school but gets offered the job of taking photos of Fire & Lights (the hottest boy band of the time). She gets to know the band and various other characters that come along the way - some good and some not so good. There's also a bit of a love triangle going on and simply because I had read the first two books before I kind of knew that was coming but there were definitely a lot of questions I had about what has happened in the past that ties some characters together.
The characters also were a big pull for me in reading this trilogy. Whether they are a good character or a not so good character, all had their own quirks and personalities and were intriguing to follow. If I had to pick my favourites they would have to be Charlie (of course!) and Yuki who is another member of the band and a larger than live character.
I cannot recommend this trilogy enough. If you like Emery Lord's Open Road Summer, you need to pick this up!
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
August 16, 2018
In the finale of the trilogy, Gabe and Charlie set about discovering just what happened to Harry, the link between them and what went wrong, why the one connected person to them committed suicide it so seems.
Gabe and Charlie along with the rest of the band and entourage travel on your once again facing backlash about the band's current form especially during a visit at a theme park. The media go crazy for their now line up and will relationships form between the characters or not as old characters show themselves once again...
There's crazy deranged fans, shocking reunions and musical mayhem as alike the industry seems to always have in real life. I found this one likable but not as enjoyable as the previous but it did conclude the series mystery even if it was a lesser shocking reveal at first, just wait and hold out, you'll see what I mean...
Gabe and Charlie along with the rest of the band and entourage travel on your once again facing backlash about the band's current form especially during a visit at a theme park. The media go crazy for their now line up and will relationships form between the characters or not as old characters show themselves once again...
There's crazy deranged fans, shocking reunions and musical mayhem as alike the industry seems to always have in real life. I found this one likable but not as enjoyable as the previous but it did conclude the series mystery even if it was a lesser shocking reveal at first, just wait and hold out, you'll see what I mean...
December 15, 2020
FINISHED! im so happy and the ending was so good,, im relieved 😉
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It’s been a long ride actually. this trilogy really make me hooked until i feel like im belong to their world. im really gonna miss the moment when Charlie got to meet the band for the first time, like she just an ordinary girl who got to hang out with the popular band that she doesnt even really into them 😅 and now she literally date with the most popular member in the band, Gabriel :) and also she’s the only person who know the each member in the band very well,, she’s such a lucky girl!
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im really sad that i’ve finished the trilogy tho-. i mean like this trilogy meant a lot to me,, like A-LOT! and of course i will reread them soon :) i wished i could just turn back time and read them like i never did bfr,, i really gonna missed the overwhelming feeling while im reading this trilogy :)
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It’s been a long ride actually. this trilogy really make me hooked until i feel like im belong to their world. im really gonna miss the moment when Charlie got to meet the band for the first time, like she just an ordinary girl who got to hang out with the popular band that she doesnt even really into them 😅 and now she literally date with the most popular member in the band, Gabriel :) and also she’s the only person who know the each member in the band very well,, she’s such a lucky girl!
.
im really sad that i’ve finished the trilogy tho-. i mean like this trilogy meant a lot to me,, like A-LOT! and of course i will reread them soon :) i wished i could just turn back time and read them like i never did bfr,, i really gonna missed the overwhelming feeling while im reading this trilogy :)
January 30, 2019
And here I thought that the last book was filled with drama! I was a little bit expecting it this time though, so it wasn't as jarring. A little cliché, But even that didn't ruin my enjoyment of the series. And you'd better believe I was crying by the end of the book!
Good characters, decent story - definitely an enjoyable series. Though I will always be #TeamOlly, sorry Gabe.
Good characters, decent story - definitely an enjoyable series. Though I will always be #TeamOlly, sorry Gabe.
April 23, 2019
After reading the previous books in this series I knew I had to read the final installment, i HAD to know how it all ended.
It took a while to get to reading this one, with work and life getting in the way, so I squeezed as many pages in as possible during any free time I had. I loved catching up with the gang again, and seeing the consequences of what happened in the previous book.
I liked getting to see the story through to the end, seeing how the story that was started many years ago finally getting its ending. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I'm sad to say goodbye to the characters.
It took a while to get to reading this one, with work and life getting in the way, so I squeezed as many pages in as possible during any free time I had. I loved catching up with the gang again, and seeing the consequences of what happened in the previous book.
I liked getting to see the story through to the end, seeing how the story that was started many years ago finally getting its ending. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I'm sad to say goodbye to the characters.
November 24, 2019
I LOVED this book. Couldn’t be happier with its ending.
Great character development. I liked Gabriel in the first book but thought he was a little egocentric and snobby. But in this book, since on the second one you didn’t get much of Gabriel, it was really possible to see that he grew up, that he really was more selfless and really cared about Charlie. I mean... by the ending you get evidence he LOVES Charlie more than anything.
Also loved Yuki, getting to know him more, to see his sweet side towards family and friends. All in all, F&L boys are just the best.
Loved seeing the relationship between Charlie and her dad getting more honest.
Loved everything.
Great character development. I liked Gabriel in the first book but thought he was a little egocentric and snobby. But in this book, since on the second one you didn’t get much of Gabriel, it was really possible to see that he grew up, that he really was more selfless and really cared about Charlie. I mean... by the ending you get evidence he LOVES Charlie more than anything.
Also loved Yuki, getting to know him more, to see his sweet side towards family and friends. All in all, F&L boys are just the best.
Loved seeing the relationship between Charlie and her dad getting more honest.
Loved everything.
August 7, 2018
This was such a satisfactory conclusion to this brilliant trilogy. I picked it up only intending to read the first chapter or two but found myself sitting there until I had read the whole thing – I was so desperate to find out what had happened. I have loved seeing these characters develop over the course of the trilogy and particularly loved the fact that even the slightly lesser characters got really good arcs and development. I’m sad to be saying goodbye to these characters but at the same time I’m excited to see what comes next from the author.
August 12, 2018
This book was definitely my least favourite out of the series. Don't get me wrong though, I know I am not the intended target audience for the trilogy and if I'd have been early teens I know I would've adored these books. I know the series is extremely far fetched anyway but this book to me went beyond that to the point where some of the things that were happening I just thought 'really though?'. They weren't plausible in the slightest in my opinion. I'm bummed I didn't enjoy the finale but like I have said I do appreciate someone younger would absolutely adore these books.
March 22, 2020
I've really enjoyed Chris' Songs About A Girl trilogy. Hosting an author visit for a day with him gives the books another dimension as I can see his energy and humour in every page. The girls at my school love this series, from Year 7 to Year 13, so we would love to see more books from you in this vein Chris. Am going to put Songs About A Girl into the Year 8 recommended reading for September. Thank you for a great trilogy...We can't wait for more!!
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