Face the Music

Diary of a Teenage Girl #9

by Melody Carlson

Redemption has made it to the bestseller chart, but what Chloe and the girls need most is some downtime to sift through the usual high school stress with grades, friends, guys, and the prom. Chloe struggles to recover from a serious crush on the band leader of Iron Cross. Then, just as an unexpected romance catches Redemption by surprise, Caitlin O'Conner - whose relationship with Josh is taking on a new dimension - joins the tour as their chaperone. Chloe's wild ride only speeds up, and this one-of-a-kind musician faces the fact that life may never be normal again.

Monday, June 13

prepare my heart for the storm / keep me safe, keep me warm / heap those bags, around my heart / build that wall, before it starts / pile them up, and pile them high / keep me safe, keep me dry / before the waves come rushing in / Lord, please, make me strong again

Chloe, Allie, and Laura split their time between “normal” high school life—going to classes, attending prom—and touring as Redemption, a rising new Christian band. When Allie’s mom needs to bow out of their summer tour, Caitlin O’Conner fills in as chaperone.

And a good thing, too. Caitlin is the perfect person to have around as Chloe’s feelings for the handsome lead singer of Iron Cross continue to grow. Amid a grueling concert schedule, Chloe realizes that attraction is a powerful and even dangerous force. But when death hits close to home, Chloe’s heart is slammed by another emotion: guilt.

In good times and bad, with blessing and temptation, and especially when things spin out of control, trusting God is the challenge. ’Cause there comes a time when we all have to face the music.

Story Behind the Book

Chloe and her band, Redemption, are being given amazing opportunities, but with it comes the responsibility of serving God wholeheartedly. In this book, perhaps more than the others in the Diary series, Chloe begins to grasp what sort of ministry (not just a music career) that God is calling her to. As an author, I travel a similar road. I am constantly weighing my "art/craft" against what God is pressing on my heart to write, while striving to be authentic and uncompromising.

Genres: Young Adult, Christian Fiction, Christian, Teen, Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2004

About the author

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus.

She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.

Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.

Reviews

[Ashley W · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was pretty simple, but it got the point across. Being a YA Christian fiction book, of course the focus was on Chloe's relationship with God. Along with that, though, there was also the tour, her friends, and of course, Jeremy. There wasn't really anything scandalous, though she made a super big deal out of her and Jeremy kissing, which by today's standards is not a big deal at all. Though them both being in youth Christian bands and him being a couple years older could make it a big deal. The big moment was Tiffany's death. I get why Chloe felt so guilty, and I would too. I do think she rambled about it to the audiences too much and there wasn't much point to that.
There could have been more depth to the book but it kept to the wholesome theme it was meant to and taught a couple good lessons as it went.

[Sarah L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yalll, some great lessons in here for teen girls! I totally recommend. Even convicted me a little bit 😅Definitely got me thinking about some stuff in my life that I should change!


*Note:: it does mention sex, but no it’s not someone having sex. Mentions it as in: do not have it before marriage. *

[Chloe L · Rating 5 out of 5]

With strong themes that it all goes to show that relationships can be difficult and sometimes need to be put aside, but all relationships are worth it and hold value, and it all goes to show that we're not all perfect because we're all human and will fall into temptation, Face The Music is a book that carries wisdom. When tragedy strikes and Chloe feels a sense of guilt, God shows her that there will be a time when we all have to “face the music”. Only by the strength of God is Chloe able to control her emotions and feelings, come clean to her friends, and make an impact through her music to teenagers and people everywhere. This book is full of knowledge and was an excellent finale to the Diary of A Teenage Girl: Chloe series.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember enjoying the Chloe diaries, they were a very fast series I tore through as a teen, but the plots quickly lost the realism of the Caitlin books as Chloe becomes a world famous rock star over the course of four short books.
Still, a good quick read that holds your interest (even if you have to really suspend the disbelief).

[Gloria Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much! I think that Chloe is my favorite character besides Caitlin. Loved it so much!

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little hard to get into. However, the Author made it clear for me to understand what the characters had gone through. (Which was good for me because I haven't read the previous books in the Chole series.)

Interesting dilemnas and concepts were proposed in the plot. I was really interested in the situation between Chole and her Iron Cross member crush. My favorite part of the book was where one of Chloe's "friends" died. It really helped me to understand that we have to love each other, (like God loves us) and try really hard to touch the hearts of others, despite our dislike for them. It gave me the true meaning of "love your enemies".

[Mattie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Face the Music was good. Not amazing, but not horrible. There were times where I had to go back and reread things to make sure I knew where they were and what they were doing. I guess I am not one to truly judge this book because I haven't read the books before this one. When I got to the part where Tiffany died, I was like, "HOLD UP." It was like Melody Carlson wanted to kill someone off suddenly... I wish I saw more of Tiffany before she died. Oh well- I did like how it affected Chloe through Christ. The romance between Caitlin and Josh was nice, but there maybe could've been more excitement from Chloe when she heard about the proposal.

Good book.

[Delaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that Face the music was a good book, but I would recomend reading the first ones in the series. Because when I started reading it i was kind of lost because i hadn't read the previous books. Over all a great book! I thought Melody Carlson had a great message when writing the book. I really liked the last paragraph of the book! I liked how she talked about that we have to be responsible for ourselves and not be responsible for other people. I didn't really like how she made Tiffany just all of a sudden die, and it would have been nice to know if Tiffany accepted christ before she died. I still thought it was a good book!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot, but maybe not as much as the book or two before it. I can't believe it's the last of the Chloe books! But, with the Jeremy situation, I think the author left it open for another book, similar to "I Do" about Caitlin.

Death of a friend was the main hard topic in this book, but that wasn't even covered until the last 1/4 of the book.

Well, setting healthy boundaries in relationships and making God a priority was the other main point of the story.

Overall, a good read.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It talked about abstinence until marriage and mono from kissing. It was my favorite book to this point. It was last one in this series but great. It went right along with the Caitlin Oconner series. The band is on the road and doing great and things seem right. THere is a death at the high school and it shakes up the band pretty hard. It talks about treating everyone like it is the last time you may see them.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Heck, I like all the Diary books. :)

I love how relateable these books are. I love Chloe's spunk. Alot of the stuff discussed is the stuff teens go through, not just Christian teens but all teens. Really helps teach God's way and direction in our lives. Every part of our lives. Even if we are a teen rockstar (Chloe) or not. :)

I recommend this to all teens, even guys, although it might look funny for a guy to be reading "Diary of A Teenage Girl." :)

[Lynnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, even though it is intended for teenagers. :)
Because this is the only book I have read in the series, I want to find the other books so I can appreciate and understand this one even more.
For any of you out there with teenage daughters, I highly recommend this for them!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stellar book! I can totally relate to Chloe about crushes and getting head-over-heels when you don't even see the guy and all of that controlling your heart and mind stuff. Been there, gone through that and decided I never wanted to go through it again! (And have pretty much succeeded :). I lke how these books are so relaetable. Like the Christ Miller & Co. books.

[Jennifer Friess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot, but I think I missed out by not reading the first three books in the series. I have no idea how she came to this place where she believes in God so deeply that he is her whole life.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I cried with the book. Either I'm pathetic or it really moved me, you choose. It's a teen book, so it's simpler than an adult book. I also feel like it's too good to be true. I went to a Christian high school and we never had experiences like this.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this series!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Chloe the best.

[Angela Sellers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Face the Music....face yourself. This book helped me realize that even though we grow up we should never grow away from God.

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teehee, Chloe is sooo cool. She also mentions Josh and Caitlin's engagement in this book too, but of course, Caitlin's version is WAY cuter!! (:

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

F CAR doatg chloe bk.4

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a lot better because some of the boy stuff in it really hit me hard. But again, Christian fiction isn't my thing.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith based series about an all girl Christian rock band. Reads similar to Soul Surfer

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think if I were to meet this character in real life I would really like her. I like her individualism.

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

well I am Baptist so i really liked it, it showed me that the most important thing is God. He is what we should put above everything else.

[Mary Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a very good book. I really enjoyed reading it. I still continue to love the plot and characters of Chloe's Dairy. Once I got started I could not put it down.

[Taren Buckner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was good but I wasn't really interested at first.

[Danae]

Review to follow.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two Stars for nostalgia

[Miranda | BookishlyBrewed | · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this series as a teenager and absolutely loved it. Will update if I ever decide to reread. 🌟