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Along for the Ride
Imagine if your brother was a Justin Bieber-like pop star? And your parents forced you to go on tour?
Connor Jackson. These two words make every girl go crazy, screaming and begging for a chance to meet him. He's the world's biggest pop star, but for seventeen-year-old Katelyn Jackson: he’s just her older brother. When she’s forced to put her competitive soccer dreams on hold to go along on his US summer tour, she’s unimpressed. But when she meets the lead singer of his opening act, everything changes and life on the road takes a whole different turn.
Connor Jackson. These two words make every girl go crazy, screaming and begging for a chance to meet him. He's the world's biggest pop star, but for seventeen-year-old Katelyn Jackson: he’s just her older brother. When she’s forced to put her competitive soccer dreams on hold to go along on his US summer tour, she’s unimpressed. But when she meets the lead singer of his opening act, everything changes and life on the road takes a whole different turn.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 22, 2021
18 people are currently reading
813 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
April 22, 2023
THIS BOOK WAS SO MUCH BETTER ON WATTPAD
DONT FIX IT IF IT AINT BROKE BABES
DONT FIX IT IF IT AINT BROKE BABES
April 18, 2023
The Wattpad editors did this story dirty
August 12, 2021
First sentence: "Excuse me?" a voice asked behind me. I turned to see a young girl, a bright smile on her face. "Could you take our picture?"
Premise/plot: Katelyn Jackson, our heroine, has a pop star for a brother. Everyone is swooning over Connor Jackson. As for Katelyn she's a bit annoyed that her life is almost always being put on hold so the family can focus on Connor. Take this summer. She'll be going on the road with him--the whole family is--and well, her soccer is almost an afterthought. But how much can she really complain when Skyline (her favorite, favorite, favorite band) is an opening act for her brother. Jesse (22), Aaron (20), Ross (18) and Zach (17? 16?) are a brother act. (Last name Matthews) And Katelyn gets all swoon-y thinking of Zach. Going on tour with her brother means she'll get a chance to get to know Zach (and all his brothers). Yet life doesn't always run smoothly...
My thoughts: This one is sporty-sport teen romance. (The sport is soccer). If you are only looking for sports, all the romance stuff might not suit. If you are only looking for romance, the sports talk might not suit. The sports does balance the book; if it was just Katelyn being along for the ride and watching the same acts night after night after night, it might be a little too repetitive.
Expect *some* melodrama. There's a scene that is a little over the top that makes Katelyn super unlikable. But. In a way that is real life. Sometimes people are just in a MOOD. And you need to learn how to look for cues and clues. Zach learns this the hard way when approaching Katelyn when she's in a FOUL, FOUL MOOD. Sometimes it's best to just back away slowly and not engage.
The book does tend toward the fluffier/sillier side. But it was a quick read.
Premise/plot: Katelyn Jackson, our heroine, has a pop star for a brother. Everyone is swooning over Connor Jackson. As for Katelyn she's a bit annoyed that her life is almost always being put on hold so the family can focus on Connor. Take this summer. She'll be going on the road with him--the whole family is--and well, her soccer is almost an afterthought. But how much can she really complain when Skyline (her favorite, favorite, favorite band) is an opening act for her brother. Jesse (22), Aaron (20), Ross (18) and Zach (17? 16?) are a brother act. (Last name Matthews) And Katelyn gets all swoon-y thinking of Zach. Going on tour with her brother means she'll get a chance to get to know Zach (and all his brothers). Yet life doesn't always run smoothly...
My thoughts: This one is sporty-sport teen romance. (The sport is soccer). If you are only looking for sports, all the romance stuff might not suit. If you are only looking for romance, the sports talk might not suit. The sports does balance the book; if it was just Katelyn being along for the ride and watching the same acts night after night after night, it might be a little too repetitive.
Expect *some* melodrama. There's a scene that is a little over the top that makes Katelyn super unlikable. But. In a way that is real life. Sometimes people are just in a MOOD. And you need to learn how to look for cues and clues. Zach learns this the hard way when approaching Katelyn when she's in a FOUL, FOUL MOOD. Sometimes it's best to just back away slowly and not engage.
The book does tend toward the fluffier/sillier side. But it was a quick read.
June 17, 2021
ACTUAL: 4.35 stars
* Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review *
- rtc -
* Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review *
- rtc -
October 13, 2021
i was a huge fan of the wattpad version so i was super excited to start this one.
at first i really liked the changes made to this story and i thought it would add a lot to the overall story. then i noticed that a lot of my favorite parts were missing. i liked that since the fifth brother didn’t exist (trey, i think?) there wasn’t any of that drama that he brought. but at the same time i think that that’s what molded zach into such a lovable character. overall i felt like we hardly seen any zach and katelyn interactions. what happened to the high school bathroom scene or the playground/i love you scene or the interview where skyline and kaitlyn get to play the games on live tv?? even the zoo scene!!!!
the fifth brother not existing, katelyn’s ex boyfriend not existing, and the female performer on connors tour being a nice person was so surprising to me.
i love seeing wattpad stories being turned into published books but i guess i was just a tiny bit disappointed by all the changes. although, i’m sure the author made these changer for a good reason. i still thought the writing in general was beautifully done!
at first i really liked the changes made to this story and i thought it would add a lot to the overall story. then i noticed that a lot of my favorite parts were missing. i liked that since the fifth brother didn’t exist (trey, i think?) there wasn’t any of that drama that he brought. but at the same time i think that that’s what molded zach into such a lovable character. overall i felt like we hardly seen any zach and katelyn interactions. what happened to the high school bathroom scene or the playground/i love you scene or the interview where skyline and kaitlyn get to play the games on live tv?? even the zoo scene!!!!
the fifth brother not existing, katelyn’s ex boyfriend not existing, and the female performer on connors tour being a nice person was so surprising to me.
i love seeing wattpad stories being turned into published books but i guess i was just a tiny bit disappointed by all the changes. although, i’m sure the author made these changer for a good reason. i still thought the writing in general was beautifully done!
May 11, 2021
This was probably one of the most relatable books I have read in a long time.
It was incredibly easy to get into the characters and falling in love with them was no problem. Katelyn was very relatable with feeling like she wasn't number one on their agenda, but in this case, she actually wasn't. I felt like Meinke did a really great job of converting that and making it a subplot for Katelyn and her family to grow together.
One thing that I did have problems about was the fast paced romance. It just felt like for me, that they went from being friends to making out every moment. It was a weird transtition and I wish that the romance moved at a little slower pace.
Overall, this is a great summer romance for readers and supposedly there is going to be a movie which I will definitely be watching.
**Thank you Netgalley and Wattpad Books for letting me read this ARC.**
It was incredibly easy to get into the characters and falling in love with them was no problem. Katelyn was very relatable with feeling like she wasn't number one on their agenda, but in this case, she actually wasn't. I felt like Meinke did a really great job of converting that and making it a subplot for Katelyn and her family to grow together.
One thing that I did have problems about was the fast paced romance. It just felt like for me, that they went from being friends to making out every moment. It was a weird transtition and I wish that the romance moved at a little slower pace.
Overall, this is a great summer romance for readers and supposedly there is going to be a movie which I will definitely be watching.
**Thank you Netgalley and Wattpad Books for letting me read this ARC.**
November 17, 2020
3.5
Thank you to Unplugged Book and Edelweiss for this ARC. In return, here is my honest review.
This is your cliché Wattpad book. And guess what, it was originally a Wattpad book! I have nothing against Wattpad, it’s just the writing style is fledging (and sometimes nauseatingly horny) and the plot is predictable.
The protagonist Katelyn has a brother who’s like Justin Bieber (according to the blurb), famous among teens and all. But Katelyn likes to play football and she’s crazy good at it. However, due to her brother’s new fame, her parents –– though mainly her father –– became more distant with her, making her feel neglected and uncherished. I wished the author would have developed more with the theme of familial respect and negligence, which could appear in any form, such as not paying enough attention to small/big details.
The only time where I felt a connection with Katelyn was when she injured her knee. I injured my knee a few years ago due to dance, so I understand how she felt. However, I hoped that the author could have done more with her emotions! Everything was too sudden and elasticated too quickly. There were minimal times where I felt warmhearted.
Though, Zach (the love interest from her favorite band) suffers from epilepsy. A quick note, Zach’s band and Katelyn’s brother are doing the same tour. Well, it’s her brother’s tour, but the band Outline got invited to perform the opening act. Anyways, I found these illness parts insightful. However, it did not occur often throughout the book, which is such a shame because I really wanted to learn more about epilepsy –– in terms of how it impacts individuals. Though I know this is a book, and most illnesses are often romanticized, but this book did not really romanticize epilepsy. It was just written very simply and plainly.
I am not a fan of the writing style; it’s too simplistic and telling the readers most things instead of showing them. The start was alright, but I found the middle section unnecessary, especially the football parts. No offense, but if the author decided to cut these sections out, it would still make sense. I actually got bored during most of her “competitions” and “annoying dramas.”
This book is written like a Wattpad book. It lacks depth. I did not connect with the characters a lot, and I found Katelyn’s later outbursts too extreme and unlike her previously established characteristics –– a lack of cohesion.
Furthermore, the plot is very cliché and predictable. The protagonist meets her pop star crush, and they fall in love. I was bored at least 70% of this book.
I think this book has potential, but it’s just not very well developed (no offense! I am just giving my honest review).
Thank you to Unplugged Book and Edelweiss for this ARC. In return, here is my honest review.
This is your cliché Wattpad book. And guess what, it was originally a Wattpad book! I have nothing against Wattpad, it’s just the writing style is fledging (and sometimes nauseatingly horny) and the plot is predictable.
The protagonist Katelyn has a brother who’s like Justin Bieber (according to the blurb), famous among teens and all. But Katelyn likes to play football and she’s crazy good at it. However, due to her brother’s new fame, her parents –– though mainly her father –– became more distant with her, making her feel neglected and uncherished. I wished the author would have developed more with the theme of familial respect and negligence, which could appear in any form, such as not paying enough attention to small/big details.
The only time where I felt a connection with Katelyn was when she injured her knee. I injured my knee a few years ago due to dance, so I understand how she felt. However, I hoped that the author could have done more with her emotions! Everything was too sudden and elasticated too quickly. There were minimal times where I felt warmhearted.
Though, Zach (the love interest from her favorite band) suffers from epilepsy. A quick note, Zach’s band and Katelyn’s brother are doing the same tour. Well, it’s her brother’s tour, but the band Outline got invited to perform the opening act. Anyways, I found these illness parts insightful. However, it did not occur often throughout the book, which is such a shame because I really wanted to learn more about epilepsy –– in terms of how it impacts individuals. Though I know this is a book, and most illnesses are often romanticized, but this book did not really romanticize epilepsy. It was just written very simply and plainly.
I am not a fan of the writing style; it’s too simplistic and telling the readers most things instead of showing them. The start was alright, but I found the middle section unnecessary, especially the football parts. No offense, but if the author decided to cut these sections out, it would still make sense. I actually got bored during most of her “competitions” and “annoying dramas.”
This book is written like a Wattpad book. It lacks depth. I did not connect with the characters a lot, and I found Katelyn’s later outbursts too extreme and unlike her previously established characteristics –– a lack of cohesion.
Furthermore, the plot is very cliché and predictable. The protagonist meets her pop star crush, and they fall in love. I was bored at least 70% of this book.
I think this book has potential, but it’s just not very well developed (no offense! I am just giving my honest review).
June 16, 2022
This one was cute! I'd put of reading it for months because I hate the cover (I really, really hate it. It's hideous), but I'm so glad I finally picked it up! While it isn't something I'd recommend because of sophistication, it was a fun read, and that's all it needed to be.
Unlike some other reviewers, I really liked the sports content. I'm not a soccer fan at all, so I had no idea what was going on, but I still found it fun. It added some variation into the book, and made Katelyn into more of a person. Additionally, I really liked the short mention of her injury. As someone fighting off an injury right now, it was all very relatable.
I also really enjoyed the full cast of characters. Connor and Zach's brothers were so dynamic and fun. The scenes of them tormenting the main couple were hilarious, especially the nerf gun war at the end. I can't say that they were super developed, but they were fun.
Even though I put this one off for months upon months, I'm really happy I picked it up! It was a super quick, easy read, but one that was still enjoyable.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Unlike some other reviewers, I really liked the sports content. I'm not a soccer fan at all, so I had no idea what was going on, but I still found it fun. It added some variation into the book, and made Katelyn into more of a person. Additionally, I really liked the short mention of her injury. As someone fighting off an injury right now, it was all very relatable.
I also really enjoyed the full cast of characters. Connor and Zach's brothers were so dynamic and fun. The scenes of them tormenting the main couple were hilarious, especially the nerf gun war at the end. I can't say that they were super developed, but they were fun.
Even though I put this one off for months upon months, I'm really happy I picked it up! It was a super quick, easy read, but one that was still enjoyable.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
June 26, 2021
It was interesting to see the changes from the Wattpad version to the published.
July 1, 2021
Wattpad to now
I fell in love with this story years ago on wattpad and I love it just as much now. 10/10
I fell in love with this story years ago on wattpad and I love it just as much now. 10/10
June 21, 2021
Thank you to Wattpad Books for sending me an ARC via netgalley for an honest review
4/5 stars
I was so excited to read this one because I remember reading the original that had been posted on Wattpad years ago. This book did not disappoint. It’s a super cute, fun, hilarious, and exciting YA contemporary read. I found the writing flowed well and it was easy to follow. Even when it didn’t seem like a lot was happening, I was still eagerly turning the pages and I flew through this book.
The book follows Katelyn Jackson as she joins her family for her brother’s summer tour. Her brother, Connor Jackson, is a famous pop star, and Katelyn isn’t as close with him as she used to be. She feels like her family only cares about Connor and his achievements, and her soccer playing doesn’t get recognized by her dad or brother. Her mom was awesome and so supportive the whole book! And I liked seeing the relationship change and develop between Katelyn and Connor as they spent more time together. The fun that came from the scenes of being on tour and exploring the different places they visited was contrasted by the energy and excitement that came from the times when Katelyn was playing soccer.
The romance in the book is adorable and it develops in a slow and sweet way. Katelyn is a fangirl of the band Skyline who happen to be one of the opening acts for her brother’s tour. The band dynamic was a lot of fun, and I loved Zach’s character. His relationship with Katelyn was sweet and felt genuine. I also liked that Zach has epilepsy, and that there’s discussion of him having seizures and what to do if it happens.
I was smiling and laughing for most of the book, and I was rooting for the characters in everything they did. This book has such a great balance and dynamic between the characters and the different atmospheres, and I had a blast reading it!
4/5 stars
I was so excited to read this one because I remember reading the original that had been posted on Wattpad years ago. This book did not disappoint. It’s a super cute, fun, hilarious, and exciting YA contemporary read. I found the writing flowed well and it was easy to follow. Even when it didn’t seem like a lot was happening, I was still eagerly turning the pages and I flew through this book.
The book follows Katelyn Jackson as she joins her family for her brother’s summer tour. Her brother, Connor Jackson, is a famous pop star, and Katelyn isn’t as close with him as she used to be. She feels like her family only cares about Connor and his achievements, and her soccer playing doesn’t get recognized by her dad or brother. Her mom was awesome and so supportive the whole book! And I liked seeing the relationship change and develop between Katelyn and Connor as they spent more time together. The fun that came from the scenes of being on tour and exploring the different places they visited was contrasted by the energy and excitement that came from the times when Katelyn was playing soccer.
The romance in the book is adorable and it develops in a slow and sweet way. Katelyn is a fangirl of the band Skyline who happen to be one of the opening acts for her brother’s tour. The band dynamic was a lot of fun, and I loved Zach’s character. His relationship with Katelyn was sweet and felt genuine. I also liked that Zach has epilepsy, and that there’s discussion of him having seizures and what to do if it happens.
I was smiling and laughing for most of the book, and I was rooting for the characters in everything they did. This book has such a great balance and dynamic between the characters and the different atmospheres, and I had a blast reading it!
March 28, 2022
Along for the Ride focuses on Katelyn Jackson, soccer-playing sister of superstar Connor, and her summer on tour.
We get to see Katelyn as she travels with her brother on his American tour, her only consolation being that his support act are her favourite band. When she first meets the group she determines to play it cool, but is somewhat surprised over the course of the summer as she gets closer to them.
From the outset we guess she will have a fling with her crush Zach, youngest member of the group, but this was wish-fulfilment at its best. Not only do they meet and get on, but they start dating and soon the gossip pages are full of the news.
While her relationship is the key focus, Katelyn also plays soccer to a high level so there’s a bit of a diversion as we see her training and how she copes with a potentially career-destroying injury.
We get to see Katelyn as she travels with her brother on his American tour, her only consolation being that his support act are her favourite band. When she first meets the group she determines to play it cool, but is somewhat surprised over the course of the summer as she gets closer to them.
From the outset we guess she will have a fling with her crush Zach, youngest member of the group, but this was wish-fulfilment at its best. Not only do they meet and get on, but they start dating and soon the gossip pages are full of the news.
While her relationship is the key focus, Katelyn also plays soccer to a high level so there’s a bit of a diversion as we see her training and how she copes with a potentially career-destroying injury.
November 28, 2022
this was exactly what i needed! just a cheesy romance between a fangirl and her fav band member hehehe i absolutely devoured almost the entire book in one sitting! only reason it’s 4 stars and not 5 is because it focused a bit too much on the ~soccer~ than the ~tour~ part for me but still very much enjoyed it and getting to see katelyn’s life outside of her brothers/the tour was nice too :)
May 3, 2023
Thinking I might be generous by giving this three stars, but idk it was cute I guess?? It definitely read like a fanfic, which was expected given the large WATTPAD BOOKS logo on the cover. Everything just felt a little flat. Zach was kind of whiny. I wasn’t a huge fan of all the soccer stuff. But idk I think I would’ve liked this more when I was younger. It could be a cute Netflix movie though!!
September 27, 2021
Very light hearted read. I must admit that I spent most of the book wishing the relationships between characters had been developed especially the main couple. I found their interactions a little repetitive.
June 6, 2022
didn’t hate it but i very much did not love it. katelyn was annoying but zach omg my son!!!
June 22, 2021
There is so much to gush about with this book! What I loved was the many topics addressed but not in an over dramatic way! It was relatable and a very enjoyable read!
Even if Katelyn and Zach live an extraordinary life the trials and triumphs they face are some we can all relate to at one point in our lives! I love that even though it’s a story of fiction you don’t have over embellishments! The writing was intriguing and though I didn’t read the original story on Watt pad I am now a fan of this author and can’t wait to read future material!
Even if Katelyn and Zach live an extraordinary life the trials and triumphs they face are some we can all relate to at one point in our lives! I love that even though it’s a story of fiction you don’t have over embellishments! The writing was intriguing and though I didn’t read the original story on Watt pad I am now a fan of this author and can’t wait to read future material!
November 10, 2021
I had very little to do with my time and this is the exact reason why I chose to power through and finish this bland and frankly boring read. I’m not quite sure why authors believe that readers would be interested in reading about cringe and winge characters, because Katelyn is exactly that! Whilst I appreciated that she had a niche of her own, I found it hard to believe why she complained and made such a big deal about the smallest things going wrong in her life. She often sets extremely high standards and anything less amounts to her considering herself as a big zero. I didn’t find this to be healthy on an emotional and social front and made her to be a very annoying individual.
When Zach, her love interest is introduced, you finally feel like there might be some tension and challenge in her life, but lo and behold, he’s one minute her friend and the next minute, the love of her life! Zach and his band/ brothers in their own right are picture perfect; painfully flawless. The relationship between Katelyn and Zach is flat and two dimensional with poor, forced chemistry.
I understand this is a YA book, but including a boy band with one of the members in a relationship, you would expect the mention of late night fiasco’s, sex, drugs and alcohol. These boys are literally saints! All the goody goody behaviour became unbelievable very early on continued to disappoint and bring down their personalities that the author could’ve made unique and fun.
I have read some fantastic stories to come out of Wattpad but I can’t say this one has even made it close enough. It may be an easy read but one that leaves you feeling empty.
When Zach, her love interest is introduced, you finally feel like there might be some tension and challenge in her life, but lo and behold, he’s one minute her friend and the next minute, the love of her life! Zach and his band/ brothers in their own right are picture perfect; painfully flawless. The relationship between Katelyn and Zach is flat and two dimensional with poor, forced chemistry.
I understand this is a YA book, but including a boy band with one of the members in a relationship, you would expect the mention of late night fiasco’s, sex, drugs and alcohol. These boys are literally saints! All the goody goody behaviour became unbelievable very early on continued to disappoint and bring down their personalities that the author could’ve made unique and fun.
I have read some fantastic stories to come out of Wattpad but I can’t say this one has even made it close enough. It may be an easy read but one that leaves you feeling empty.
August 30, 2022
4 / 5 Stars
This book holds a special place in my heart as it is written by my favorite wattpad author, Knightsrachel, whose real name is Rachel Meinke. I enjoyed reading this published version and seeing how much I remember from when I read it on Wattpad, years ago. Even though I couldn't remember it much, I still loved this book and could not put it down. I finished it within 24 hours, only stopping to sleep and do school.
This book took place over Connor Jackson, the main character’s older brother, and his tour with the opening bands, Skyline which the main character is obsessed with, and another person. The story also incorporates the main character, Katelyn’s, passion for soccer. In the beginning, there was soccer through here and there, and about halfway through, the main focus turned to soccer and her experience with the world tour.
I enjoyed this, but at the same time, almost felt like I was reading a different book halfway through. When the Connor Jackson Live Tour was happening, there wasn't much action about performing and concerts. I thought Rachel did a great job of sharing what the tour is like without feeling like it was overwhelming. However, I did not feel this way about soccer. I felt like there was too much. This could be because I don't understand technical terms, but I did not enjoy the soccer action. I did love reading about the awards she won and the bonding she did with the other teammates.
I also enjoyed how each chapter followed a new location, whether it was for the Conner Jackson Live Tour, or the World Soccer Tour, and the location was placed almost as a chapter title. I also loved how I wanted to keep a memento from each stop of the tour. These things ranged from tacky tourist items - her description - to special moments from hanging out with her family, friends, and the band.
This brought up a lot of cute moments with Katelyn and her love interest, the lead singer of Skyline. First, when she shows him her keepsakes she mentioned how she didn't get one from Portland because she was too caught up on her morning run. The lead singer, Zach, wasted no time stepping outside and picking up a rock from their current location and wrote “Portland” on it, and joked that he remembered getting it when they were there.
Also when Katelyn was off doing her World Soccer Tour, she missed the midwest part of the tour. Zach took it upon himself to pick up items from each of the stops, so she could fulfill her collection. I loved how much he cared about her and wanted her to have pieces of the tour, even if she missed it.
Another cute moment between them is the fact that he wrote a song about her! And of course, it was the cliche moment where she was oblivious to the fact that the song was about her. He even gave her a necklace for good luck on her soccer world tour as he wasn't able to come with her. Another major swoon moment! And they weren't even dating at this point! He told her about the song in a very cute moment that ended with them kissing for the first time! A major swoon-worthy moment.
Once their relationship progressed, they had a lot of time kissing. It did feel like it happened a lot, but it was also adorable reading about their lazy dates of lounging around eating takeout and binge-watching television. My favorite kind of date.
One of my favorite things about reading Rachel’s books, or knightsrachel as I always will think of her, is that she includes serious physical or mental health issues. This book tackled epilepsy and even included an epileptic seizure. I thought this was written well and didn't feel too much like teaching the readers about it. It fits in well with the story.
As mentioned before, despite this book being about tours and performing, there was a lot of mention of the locations and bonding with the band, friends, and family. I wish these moments were expanded but thought they were good. I just loved these moments and wished I could have kept reading all the cute moments with the love interest. I was living through her on the trips to London and France, and all around the US.
The book ended in the most perfect way. Talked about all the members of the opening bands separately and how much they meant to Katelyn. Especially Zach Matthews, the lead singer of Skyline, and her boyfriend. It even ended with the band announcing they have signed to a record label and will be moving to LA! Meaning Katelyn and Jackson are not just a summer fling, but can be a real relationship. And of course, my absolute favorite way to end a book, by factoring in the book title.
However, there are a few more things I wish had been added or mentioned more.
First, halfway through there was a mention of a Gossip Channel called Drama Llama. I thought this was adorable and loved it. But I wish it was mentioned earlier on as it seemed like a big deal to Katelyn and even wanted to use it to announce her relationship with Zach to the world.
Second, there was constant talk about the big secret conversation that caused Connor, her older brother, to sign an NDA with his ex-girlfriend and cease all contact. Even to the point where the girlfriend was going to do a live stream about their relationship. It caused a lot of stress for Connor and the family. However, the secret was shared with his sister in a nice personal moment. I just felt like the big reveal didn't lead up to the suspense. Though I understand wanting only to tell the family about something as personal as sexuality.
Thirdly, when Katelyn was going around talking about how much everybody meant to her, one of the reviews didn't seem as accurate to the story. I loved how she ended up feeling like Mackenzie, the other opener, was a close friend to her. But I didn't see much of that in the story. I wish this could have been shared more.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and am so proud of Rachel for having her debut novel, I just wish things were expanded on and shared more than told. This is why my rating for this book is 4/5 stars.
This book holds a special place in my heart as it is written by my favorite wattpad author, Knightsrachel, whose real name is Rachel Meinke. I enjoyed reading this published version and seeing how much I remember from when I read it on Wattpad, years ago. Even though I couldn't remember it much, I still loved this book and could not put it down. I finished it within 24 hours, only stopping to sleep and do school.
This book took place over Connor Jackson, the main character’s older brother, and his tour with the opening bands, Skyline which the main character is obsessed with, and another person. The story also incorporates the main character, Katelyn’s, passion for soccer. In the beginning, there was soccer through here and there, and about halfway through, the main focus turned to soccer and her experience with the world tour.
I enjoyed this, but at the same time, almost felt like I was reading a different book halfway through. When the Connor Jackson Live Tour was happening, there wasn't much action about performing and concerts. I thought Rachel did a great job of sharing what the tour is like without feeling like it was overwhelming. However, I did not feel this way about soccer. I felt like there was too much. This could be because I don't understand technical terms, but I did not enjoy the soccer action. I did love reading about the awards she won and the bonding she did with the other teammates.
I also enjoyed how each chapter followed a new location, whether it was for the Conner Jackson Live Tour, or the World Soccer Tour, and the location was placed almost as a chapter title. I also loved how I wanted to keep a memento from each stop of the tour. These things ranged from tacky tourist items - her description - to special moments from hanging out with her family, friends, and the band.
This brought up a lot of cute moments with Katelyn and her love interest, the lead singer of Skyline. First, when she shows him her keepsakes she mentioned how she didn't get one from Portland because she was too caught up on her morning run. The lead singer, Zach, wasted no time stepping outside and picking up a rock from their current location and wrote “Portland” on it, and joked that he remembered getting it when they were there.
Also when Katelyn was off doing her World Soccer Tour, she missed the midwest part of the tour. Zach took it upon himself to pick up items from each of the stops, so she could fulfill her collection. I loved how much he cared about her and wanted her to have pieces of the tour, even if she missed it.
Another cute moment between them is the fact that he wrote a song about her! And of course, it was the cliche moment where she was oblivious to the fact that the song was about her. He even gave her a necklace for good luck on her soccer world tour as he wasn't able to come with her. Another major swoon moment! And they weren't even dating at this point! He told her about the song in a very cute moment that ended with them kissing for the first time! A major swoon-worthy moment.
Once their relationship progressed, they had a lot of time kissing. It did feel like it happened a lot, but it was also adorable reading about their lazy dates of lounging around eating takeout and binge-watching television. My favorite kind of date.
One of my favorite things about reading Rachel’s books, or knightsrachel as I always will think of her, is that she includes serious physical or mental health issues. This book tackled epilepsy and even included an epileptic seizure. I thought this was written well and didn't feel too much like teaching the readers about it. It fits in well with the story.
As mentioned before, despite this book being about tours and performing, there was a lot of mention of the locations and bonding with the band, friends, and family. I wish these moments were expanded but thought they were good. I just loved these moments and wished I could have kept reading all the cute moments with the love interest. I was living through her on the trips to London and France, and all around the US.
The book ended in the most perfect way. Talked about all the members of the opening bands separately and how much they meant to Katelyn. Especially Zach Matthews, the lead singer of Skyline, and her boyfriend. It even ended with the band announcing they have signed to a record label and will be moving to LA! Meaning Katelyn and Jackson are not just a summer fling, but can be a real relationship. And of course, my absolute favorite way to end a book, by factoring in the book title.
However, there are a few more things I wish had been added or mentioned more.
First, halfway through there was a mention of a Gossip Channel called Drama Llama. I thought this was adorable and loved it. But I wish it was mentioned earlier on as it seemed like a big deal to Katelyn and even wanted to use it to announce her relationship with Zach to the world.
Second, there was constant talk about the big secret conversation that caused Connor, her older brother, to sign an NDA with his ex-girlfriend and cease all contact. Even to the point where the girlfriend was going to do a live stream about their relationship. It caused a lot of stress for Connor and the family. However, the secret was shared with his sister in a nice personal moment. I just felt like the big reveal didn't lead up to the suspense. Though I understand wanting only to tell the family about something as personal as sexuality.
Thirdly, when Katelyn was going around talking about how much everybody meant to her, one of the reviews didn't seem as accurate to the story. I loved how she ended up feeling like Mackenzie, the other opener, was a close friend to her. But I didn't see much of that in the story. I wish this could have been shared more.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and am so proud of Rachel for having her debut novel, I just wish things were expanded on and shared more than told. This is why my rating for this book is 4/5 stars.
July 12, 2021
“Along for the Ride” had always been one of my favorite wattpad books. I loved the relationship between Katelyn and Connor and between the brothers in skyline. There were a lot of changes from wattpad to the published book, which is to be expected, but I missed a lot of the things that were included in the wattpad series, like seeing more of Zach’s illness and seeing more of that sibling bond between Katelyn and Connor.
However, it is a sweet and fast read. Every 13 year old girl’s fantasy is to date her favorite band member and we live that vicariously through Katelyn Jackson. I hope she publishes the second book cause this series is rather a guilty pleasure of mine.
However, it is a sweet and fast read. Every 13 year old girl’s fantasy is to date her favorite band member and we live that vicariously through Katelyn Jackson. I hope she publishes the second book cause this series is rather a guilty pleasure of mine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2021
So I stopped about page 160. The beginning started out pretty good, but eventually felt like I was reading repeated chapters. We never really got anything more about Katelyn besides her love of soccer and Skyline.
Honestly it probably could've been made shorter. But I honestly wasn't even excited about the chemistry between her and Zach. It seemed too...boring, dull, as if they had been friends for years. We know next to nothing about Zach.
To be fair, plot had potential but it wasn't as exciting as I thought it was going to be. So it was okay.
Honestly it probably could've been made shorter. But I honestly wasn't even excited about the chemistry between her and Zach. It seemed too...boring, dull, as if they had been friends for years. We know next to nothing about Zach.
To be fair, plot had potential but it wasn't as exciting as I thought it was going to be. So it was okay.
October 10, 2022
This book got draggy and I was so bummed. I mean romance between a soccer player and a band player? Delicious. Brother's bandmate? Even better. It was cute but it just got real flat at some point.
Reviewed on 18 November 2021: 3☆
Updated review: 2.5 ☆
Reviewed on 18 November 2021: 3☆
Updated review: 2.5 ☆
June 23, 2021
I have to be honest: I did not initially realize that this was a WattPad Book. If I had known, I would not have chosen this book. There's absolutely nothing wrong with publishing books like this, books that obviously have an audience but probably are not up to the expected standards of traditional publishing, but I am just not the correct audience for this book.
This book is pure wish-fulfillment about a teen soccer star with a famous musician brother, who also ends up dating the lead singer of her favorite band. Yeah, it's a lot. And it is not offensively bad, just very dull and there is zero depth to it.
Our main character, Katelyn, is being forced to go on tour with her brother for no specific reason whatsoever (both her parents are going, but it is mentioned that usually only her dad goes with her brother, so she and her mother could have stayed home, she also has a very close relationship with her best friend/teammate and her mother, who she theoretically could have stayed with as well). Normally this wouldn't seem so ridiculous, except Katelyn is an elite soccer player that is being taken away from summer training. Your main character can be either a top-two-in-the-country teen soccer player that is invited to train with the US National Women's Team OR a nobody afterthought that is dragged across the country for convenience, not both. I do appreciate that the author gave Katelyn her own talent/hobby, but it directly conflicts with the main plot of the book, and it could have been easily fixed by toning down Katelyn's soccer prowess a few levels. She could have just been worried about making the soccer team for her preferred college instead of literally the US NATIONAL WOMEN'S TEAM. Like, damn.
Zach, the love interest, is the lead singer and songwriter (and also youngest member) of an all-brothers band called Skyline. He has epilepsy, and I think he and his brothers are a direct nod to the Jonas Brothers (isn't one of them diabetic?). He is completely bland and perfect with nothing else to describe about him. I find it reasonable that the younger sister of a musician could end up in a romantic relationship with a member of another band on the same tour, but where this gets over-the-top again is Katelyn's relationship with the entire band. All three of Zach's generic, indistinguishable brothers love Katelyn and constantly invite her to do things with just the four of them. Of course, none of them ever have girlfriends or other women hanging around, so it is just her and the four members of her favorite band doing fun things together. They even fly five hours (in the middle of being on a national tour) to see her play soccer.
Also, despite this being a WattPad book about teen/early 20's characters on a national band tour, I would give it a soft PG rating for some mild bad language. No drugs, no sex, no alcohol, nothing--not even real mentions of these things being a temptation. Sure, Katelyn and her brother have their parents on the tour, but the members of Skyline are completely on their own, but are perfectly content playing video games and hanging out with their youngest brother's girlfriend. Sometimes there are also squirt guns.
It's just too much for me. Katelyn and Zach are way too perfect, the pacing is off, the soccer portions drag on for someone that doesn't watch or have any interest in soccer, and nothing interesting, exciting, or unexpected happens. It's just BLAND.
*eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This book is pure wish-fulfillment about a teen soccer star with a famous musician brother, who also ends up dating the lead singer of her favorite band. Yeah, it's a lot. And it is not offensively bad, just very dull and there is zero depth to it.
Our main character, Katelyn, is being forced to go on tour with her brother for no specific reason whatsoever (both her parents are going, but it is mentioned that usually only her dad goes with her brother, so she and her mother could have stayed home, she also has a very close relationship with her best friend/teammate and her mother, who she theoretically could have stayed with as well). Normally this wouldn't seem so ridiculous, except Katelyn is an elite soccer player that is being taken away from summer training. Your main character can be either a top-two-in-the-country teen soccer player that is invited to train with the US National Women's Team OR a nobody afterthought that is dragged across the country for convenience, not both. I do appreciate that the author gave Katelyn her own talent/hobby, but it directly conflicts with the main plot of the book, and it could have been easily fixed by toning down Katelyn's soccer prowess a few levels. She could have just been worried about making the soccer team for her preferred college instead of literally the US NATIONAL WOMEN'S TEAM. Like, damn.
Zach, the love interest, is the lead singer and songwriter (and also youngest member) of an all-brothers band called Skyline. He has epilepsy, and I think he and his brothers are a direct nod to the Jonas Brothers (isn't one of them diabetic?). He is completely bland and perfect with nothing else to describe about him. I find it reasonable that the younger sister of a musician could end up in a romantic relationship with a member of another band on the same tour, but where this gets over-the-top again is Katelyn's relationship with the entire band. All three of Zach's generic, indistinguishable brothers love Katelyn and constantly invite her to do things with just the four of them. Of course, none of them ever have girlfriends or other women hanging around, so it is just her and the four members of her favorite band doing fun things together. They even fly five hours (in the middle of being on a national tour) to see her play soccer.
Also, despite this being a WattPad book about teen/early 20's characters on a national band tour, I would give it a soft PG rating for some mild bad language. No drugs, no sex, no alcohol, nothing--not even real mentions of these things being a temptation. Sure, Katelyn and her brother have their parents on the tour, but the members of Skyline are completely on their own, but are perfectly content playing video games and hanging out with their youngest brother's girlfriend. Sometimes there are also squirt guns.
It's just too much for me. Katelyn and Zach are way too perfect, the pacing is off, the soccer portions drag on for someone that doesn't watch or have any interest in soccer, and nothing interesting, exciting, or unexpected happens. It's just BLAND.
*eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
July 1, 2021
4.5/5 stars!
I first read this book on Wattpad when I was probably 13 and since then it was always the book that I would go back to because I loved it so much! There were a lot of changes from the original Wattpad book but I cannot say that I was disappointed!
Katelyn Jackson is a soccer mad teenage girl who feels as through her dreams aren’t as important as her brothers- this resulting in her having to give up her summer to follow him around the US as he goes on tour. I love this character so much because she is so relatable. She has insecurities and she builds walls to try and prevent her from getting hurt. She cares for things with her whole heart and is vulnerable. She also makes mistakes and admits to herself and others that this is the case. She was a huge role model for me as I was moving through my early teenage years and I am so grateful that I get to carry her strength through to my late teenage years too!
Zach Matthews is the brooding, mysterious lead singer of Skyline, who was diagnosed with Epilepsy. This fact alone makes his incredibly inspirational as he is still able to carry out his passion for singing and performing as well as keeping on track with his health. He is the perfect love interest and just general person- he is strong and fights for what he believes in. He is charming, moody, loving and you always know that he is going to have your best interest at heart.
There isn’t a single characters- with the exception of Lana- that you won’t love in this book. Connor is exciting, Jesse is protective, Aaron is kind of clueless, Ross is the life of the party!
The only reason why I’m not rating this 5 stars is because I personally found it quite fast paced. I love every aspect of this sort other than I wish there were more of the little moments between Katelyn and Connor like in the original book. Their relationship was always my favourite because of how close they were and I wish that more of their moments would have been included- like when Connor asked for Katelyn’s opinion on a song and immediately took the song chosen to their parents to show them.
These characters along with Rachel Meinke’s phenomenal writing is what makes this book so special and I am keeping all of my fingers crossed that we also see ‘You Belong With Me’ as a physical novel as there are so many more things that need to be explored in the book that weren’t in the original book!
I first read this book on Wattpad when I was probably 13 and since then it was always the book that I would go back to because I loved it so much! There were a lot of changes from the original Wattpad book but I cannot say that I was disappointed!
Katelyn Jackson is a soccer mad teenage girl who feels as through her dreams aren’t as important as her brothers- this resulting in her having to give up her summer to follow him around the US as he goes on tour. I love this character so much because she is so relatable. She has insecurities and she builds walls to try and prevent her from getting hurt. She cares for things with her whole heart and is vulnerable. She also makes mistakes and admits to herself and others that this is the case. She was a huge role model for me as I was moving through my early teenage years and I am so grateful that I get to carry her strength through to my late teenage years too!
Zach Matthews is the brooding, mysterious lead singer of Skyline, who was diagnosed with Epilepsy. This fact alone makes his incredibly inspirational as he is still able to carry out his passion for singing and performing as well as keeping on track with his health. He is the perfect love interest and just general person- he is strong and fights for what he believes in. He is charming, moody, loving and you always know that he is going to have your best interest at heart.
There isn’t a single characters- with the exception of Lana- that you won’t love in this book. Connor is exciting, Jesse is protective, Aaron is kind of clueless, Ross is the life of the party!
The only reason why I’m not rating this 5 stars is because I personally found it quite fast paced. I love every aspect of this sort other than I wish there were more of the little moments between Katelyn and Connor like in the original book. Their relationship was always my favourite because of how close they were and I wish that more of their moments would have been included- like when Connor asked for Katelyn’s opinion on a song and immediately took the song chosen to their parents to show them.
These characters along with Rachel Meinke’s phenomenal writing is what makes this book so special and I am keeping all of my fingers crossed that we also see ‘You Belong With Me’ as a physical novel as there are so many more things that need to be explored in the book that weren’t in the original book!
August 13, 2021
Soccer-crazy Katelyn Jackson is the younger sister of Connor Jackson, an up and coming pop singer about to embark on his first national tour, supported by band Skyline. ‘Along the Ride’ follows Katelyn’s journey as she travels America - navigating her brothers fame, her tumultuous relationship with her parents and her growing feelings for Skyline’s lead singer, Zach Matthews.
It was a really lovely, light-hearted easy read. I’ve read Rachel’s works for many years - and somethings that always been profoundly clear is her ability to write characters. Each character in this book was well-developed, each with their flaws and their endearing traits - a feat even the most successful authors sometimes fail to achieve. Furthermore, despite the several events that occur over the span of the book (the world tour, Katelyn’s relationship with zach, her family relationships, the skyline relationships, the soccer tournament, her relationships with the girls on the soccer team), the book made for a cohesive and interesting read, as opposed to being cluttered / incoherent as one might expect from a book with so many plot lines. Being young adult fiction - it of course isn’t going to have the stunning prose or the mature themes you would expect from a book aimed at an older audience and thus I think it is unfair to review it as such. It is very much a Wattpad style book, dating a member of your favourite band - but I think the myth of reviewing books badly because they’re aimed at younger audiences is one which needs to be dispelled. Why must people attack / criticise teenage girls for... just enjoying things?
I first came across this book several years ago on the little orange app that, regrettably for most, consumed so many of our early teenage years. Though the app has been deleted for many years, Rachel’s books were a firm favourite for me. This book is brimming with nostalgia for the era when your biggest concern was whether you’d *actually* meet a member of your favourite band, and for the days where you’d be sat in your mums car reading aimlessly on your phone. Seeing a Wattpad original author (one that is not a fanfiction) be published gives me hope for alternative entry points to a career which is so difficult to pursue, and I hope to god this book gets the success it deserves.
(Seriously, read this book. I want to see Lee Adams in Print format).
It was a really lovely, light-hearted easy read. I’ve read Rachel’s works for many years - and somethings that always been profoundly clear is her ability to write characters. Each character in this book was well-developed, each with their flaws and their endearing traits - a feat even the most successful authors sometimes fail to achieve. Furthermore, despite the several events that occur over the span of the book (the world tour, Katelyn’s relationship with zach, her family relationships, the skyline relationships, the soccer tournament, her relationships with the girls on the soccer team), the book made for a cohesive and interesting read, as opposed to being cluttered / incoherent as one might expect from a book with so many plot lines. Being young adult fiction - it of course isn’t going to have the stunning prose or the mature themes you would expect from a book aimed at an older audience and thus I think it is unfair to review it as such. It is very much a Wattpad style book, dating a member of your favourite band - but I think the myth of reviewing books badly because they’re aimed at younger audiences is one which needs to be dispelled. Why must people attack / criticise teenage girls for... just enjoying things?
I first came across this book several years ago on the little orange app that, regrettably for most, consumed so many of our early teenage years. Though the app has been deleted for many years, Rachel’s books were a firm favourite for me. This book is brimming with nostalgia for the era when your biggest concern was whether you’d *actually* meet a member of your favourite band, and for the days where you’d be sat in your mums car reading aimlessly on your phone. Seeing a Wattpad original author (one that is not a fanfiction) be published gives me hope for alternative entry points to a career which is so difficult to pursue, and I hope to god this book gets the success it deserves.
(Seriously, read this book. I want to see Lee Adams in Print format).
May 31, 2021
Thank you to Edelweiss for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
4.5/5 ⭐️
I really really enjoyed this book! I’m a sucker for the dating someone famous trope so I knew I needed to read this book as soon as I read the synopsis! There were a lot of things I loved about this book and only a couple things that kept me from giving it the other .5 ⭐️.
My favorite things:
- I loved Katelyn! She was a really fun and lovable lead character. The fact that she was still a huge Fangirl even though her brother is one of the most famous people in the world was really relatable!
- The way Katelyn’s relationship with her family evolved over the course of the book was really beautiful. I can’t imagine how hard it is to have to live in the spotlight of your brother and feel like your accomplishments aren’t good enough. But I really loved the relationship between her and Connor, them feeding the ducks was a great sibling moment for them!
- Katelyn and Zach were so sweet 🥰 I loved everything about their relationship! They made my heart melt in all the ways I look for in a romance book. I could’ve read a million more pages of them going on adventures in different cities! ♥️
- The way Zach’s brothers handled his Epilepsy was really great! I personally don’t know a lot about epilepsy but it was just really nice to see how much they loved him and made sure everyone around knew how to take care of him, just in case.
- I also loved how all of the soccer scenes were written. I personally know nothing about soccer but I was still able to understand everything!
- This book was just a perfect mix of fun, romantic, and emotional! I had a great time reading it ☺️
My least favorite things:
- I just wish it had one more chapter that went into the future a few months! There were just a few things that I would’ve loved to know if they worked out or not!
- The pacing was a little off. I think it might’ve been that the formatting was weird on the kindle file and it made it confusing because there were no breaks between scenes so it took me a second to realize the scene had changed!
Definitely pick up this adorable book when it’s released on June 22nd! 🥰
4.5/5 ⭐️
I really really enjoyed this book! I’m a sucker for the dating someone famous trope so I knew I needed to read this book as soon as I read the synopsis! There were a lot of things I loved about this book and only a couple things that kept me from giving it the other .5 ⭐️.
My favorite things:
- I loved Katelyn! She was a really fun and lovable lead character. The fact that she was still a huge Fangirl even though her brother is one of the most famous people in the world was really relatable!
- The way Katelyn’s relationship with her family evolved over the course of the book was really beautiful. I can’t imagine how hard it is to have to live in the spotlight of your brother and feel like your accomplishments aren’t good enough. But I really loved the relationship between her and Connor, them feeding the ducks was a great sibling moment for them!
- Katelyn and Zach were so sweet 🥰 I loved everything about their relationship! They made my heart melt in all the ways I look for in a romance book. I could’ve read a million more pages of them going on adventures in different cities! ♥️
- The way Zach’s brothers handled his Epilepsy was really great! I personally don’t know a lot about epilepsy but it was just really nice to see how much they loved him and made sure everyone around knew how to take care of him, just in case.
- I also loved how all of the soccer scenes were written. I personally know nothing about soccer but I was still able to understand everything!
- This book was just a perfect mix of fun, romantic, and emotional! I had a great time reading it ☺️
My least favorite things:
- I just wish it had one more chapter that went into the future a few months! There were just a few things that I would’ve loved to know if they worked out or not!
- The pacing was a little off. I think it might’ve been that the formatting was weird on the kindle file and it made it confusing because there were no breaks between scenes so it took me a second to realize the scene had changed!
Definitely pick up this adorable book when it’s released on June 22nd! 🥰
January 6, 2022
3.5 Stars
I originally read this book YEARS ago on Wattpad back when Wattpad didn’t have adds or any paid membership at all. This book lived on my favorites shelf from the beginning. I just read the published version and I am a little disappointed. Not to say the published version isn’t good, but the original was great. In the published version, I feel like the relationships between characters weren’t as developed, the plot is simpler, and there were characters completely missing. #theresanotherbrother I miss the rivalry between Zach and the brother he didn’t get along with (I forgot his name) because it just made the story that much better. The original also went more full-depth with Lana and the reasons why the audience shouldn’t like her. Mackenzie wasn’t developed at all, and she and Connor ended up having a flirtationship at the end of the original - that isn’t in the published version anywhere. I miss the scene where one of Katelyn’s friends falls off a bed because of some TV drama revelation, I wish the mom was meaner like she is in the original, and I miss all the characters’ development - Ross, Aaron, Jesse, Zach, Lana, Ross’s girlfriend (who is also nonexistent), and Marci. Where’s the detail of Marci’s little brother? What happened to the song about wearing mismatched socks ?(I know it’s mentioned but I loved the lyrics for that one and the lyrics are not there) Another thing, I feel like the original was semi educational when it came to epilepsy, and with the published I don’t think I learned anything.
So why the 3.5 stars because I obviously had much to say about being disappointed, right? Well, overall it’s still a well written book. Had I come into the book with no prior knowledge of the plot or the original, I would have definitely given this book a 3.5/5 - easy to follow, fun, speed read. The characters are likeable, I love the soccer aspect, and the pop star boyfriend who writes songs just melts my heart. This is a good book. The original was great. I am definitely interested in reading more of Rachel Meinke’s work in the future, and this time I’m just going to stick with the published versions ;)
I originally read this book YEARS ago on Wattpad back when Wattpad didn’t have adds or any paid membership at all. This book lived on my favorites shelf from the beginning. I just read the published version and I am a little disappointed. Not to say the published version isn’t good, but the original was great. In the published version, I feel like the relationships between characters weren’t as developed, the plot is simpler, and there were characters completely missing. #theresanotherbrother I miss the rivalry between Zach and the brother he didn’t get along with (I forgot his name) because it just made the story that much better. The original also went more full-depth with Lana and the reasons why the audience shouldn’t like her. Mackenzie wasn’t developed at all, and she and Connor ended up having a flirtationship at the end of the original - that isn’t in the published version anywhere. I miss the scene where one of Katelyn’s friends falls off a bed because of some TV drama revelation, I wish the mom was meaner like she is in the original, and I miss all the characters’ development - Ross, Aaron, Jesse, Zach, Lana, Ross’s girlfriend (who is also nonexistent), and Marci. Where’s the detail of Marci’s little brother? What happened to the song about wearing mismatched socks ?(I know it’s mentioned but I loved the lyrics for that one and the lyrics are not there) Another thing, I feel like the original was semi educational when it came to epilepsy, and with the published I don’t think I learned anything.
So why the 3.5 stars because I obviously had much to say about being disappointed, right? Well, overall it’s still a well written book. Had I come into the book with no prior knowledge of the plot or the original, I would have definitely given this book a 3.5/5 - easy to follow, fun, speed read. The characters are likeable, I love the soccer aspect, and the pop star boyfriend who writes songs just melts my heart. This is a good book. The original was great. I am definitely interested in reading more of Rachel Meinke’s work in the future, and this time I’m just going to stick with the published versions ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2021
*This book was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*
I enjoyed reading this book. It's about Katelyn who is a young soccer player but must go on a tour for her pop star brother where she meets the lead singer of her favorite band. I always love these traveling/ pop star love stories. They are always cute and bring in some background knowledge of the music industry. I love how detailed the author went with the soccer and music information as I learned so much. I think the author did a wonderful job with the story structure, setting, and pacing. It was amazing to see Rachel go from a Wattpad author to a published author which I think is amazing to see the changes and everything. I had no problems with the writing of the book and I think the author did an amazing job.
The main character, Katelyn, is addicted to soccer which I love as I haven't read any books with an athletic female. Though I have to say that Katelyn was annoying and didn't act maturely at times. She was a fun character to read about but didn't have much character development. I also enjoyed the amount of side characters that were mentioned in the book. I had so many favorite side characters because they were wonderfully written and were funny plus very supporting to the main character. I have to say that the side characters also didn't have any character development which I was disappointed with. Also, there is romance in this book which is instant love which was amazingly done as I'm not a huge fan of this trope but the author nailed it!
The ending was well done and to be honest, I want a second book just to see what happens next. There is one on Wattpad which I read and enjoyed but I hope to see one on paper. This story was wonderfully done with a great story and side characters but there were some minor problems. This book was super close to getting 5/5 stars but I would most likely to be reading this book again. I recommend this book to fans of Far from Normal and Jenn Bennett.
I enjoyed reading this book. It's about Katelyn who is a young soccer player but must go on a tour for her pop star brother where she meets the lead singer of her favorite band. I always love these traveling/ pop star love stories. They are always cute and bring in some background knowledge of the music industry. I love how detailed the author went with the soccer and music information as I learned so much. I think the author did a wonderful job with the story structure, setting, and pacing. It was amazing to see Rachel go from a Wattpad author to a published author which I think is amazing to see the changes and everything. I had no problems with the writing of the book and I think the author did an amazing job.
The main character, Katelyn, is addicted to soccer which I love as I haven't read any books with an athletic female. Though I have to say that Katelyn was annoying and didn't act maturely at times. She was a fun character to read about but didn't have much character development. I also enjoyed the amount of side characters that were mentioned in the book. I had so many favorite side characters because they were wonderfully written and were funny plus very supporting to the main character. I have to say that the side characters also didn't have any character development which I was disappointed with. Also, there is romance in this book which is instant love which was amazingly done as I'm not a huge fan of this trope but the author nailed it!
The ending was well done and to be honest, I want a second book just to see what happens next. There is one on Wattpad which I read and enjoyed but I hope to see one on paper. This story was wonderfully done with a great story and side characters but there were some minor problems. This book was super close to getting 5/5 stars but I would most likely to be reading this book again. I recommend this book to fans of Far from Normal and Jenn Bennett.
June 22, 2021
ALONG FOR THE RIDE was all my boyband fantasy’s coming true. I feel like Rachel Meinke was literally like “let me see how I can check off another box in Katie’s fantasy of dating a boyband member?” The even more fantastical part is the main character is named Katelynn and her nickname is Katie 😳 so it felt like the hunky Zach was talking to me at times and I was hanging out with the band. #GroupieGoals 🙌🏻
Katelynn Jackson is stuck going on tour with her famous popstar brother and giving up her soccer team, her friends, and her entire summer goodbye. The only good news is Conner’s opening act is her favorite band with the hottest lead singer. Serious chemistry develops between Katelyn and Zach and she has to decide if she willing to take the risk or just along for the ride.
This is must-read if you ever crushed on anyone in a band, but here are some highlights to further convince you:
⚽️Strong female lead.
🎤Fantastic disability rep: epilepsy. Educational and realistic.
⚽️Excellent slow-burn friends to lovers.
🎤Pretty much every fantasy you have dreamed about happening if you have ever crushed on anyone famous, but done so well and it’s so much fun!
⚽️Katelynn plays soccer, which I don’t know much about, but it was so much fun learning the sport and getting to love it through her passion for it.
🎤This book really made me miss live music! Ready for concert season again asap!
This book was my dream! Scratch, that it still is. 😂 I read this book in one sitting. (Hi! Turning into @a.rogue.librarian over here 💁🏻♀️) ALONG FOR THE RIDE will forever be a happy book for me return to and read again!
Thanks to Wattpad Books for the gifted copy!
Katelynn Jackson is stuck going on tour with her famous popstar brother and giving up her soccer team, her friends, and her entire summer goodbye. The only good news is Conner’s opening act is her favorite band with the hottest lead singer. Serious chemistry develops between Katelyn and Zach and she has to decide if she willing to take the risk or just along for the ride.
This is must-read if you ever crushed on anyone in a band, but here are some highlights to further convince you:
⚽️Strong female lead.
🎤Fantastic disability rep: epilepsy. Educational and realistic.
⚽️Excellent slow-burn friends to lovers.
🎤Pretty much every fantasy you have dreamed about happening if you have ever crushed on anyone famous, but done so well and it’s so much fun!
⚽️Katelynn plays soccer, which I don’t know much about, but it was so much fun learning the sport and getting to love it through her passion for it.
🎤This book really made me miss live music! Ready for concert season again asap!
This book was my dream! Scratch, that it still is. 😂 I read this book in one sitting. (Hi! Turning into @a.rogue.librarian over here 💁🏻♀️) ALONG FOR THE RIDE will forever be a happy book for me return to and read again!
Thanks to Wattpad Books for the gifted copy!
September 8, 2021
This read like the summary to a 12-episode long series on Netflix. There was too much going on, and too many secondary characters, for there to be much depth to the story. However, I still give it 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for having a very intricate plot. This really would do well as a Netflix series, and the ending also lends itself well to a possible sequel/Season Two.
Even though it's intricate, layered, and a great overall plot, I felt that we lost out on the details because the span of the novel felt epic. It took on too much. I would've appreciated more details about how Katelyn and Zach operated as a couple. Plus, there were subtle hints about the hidden depths to the other (secondary and tertiary) characters, which would've been great to read about in greater detail...to read about their backstories/motivations as well.
Overall, I think it's a very good story, but more suited to TV. If it gets picked up for a series, it would make for great viewing. I'm, frankly, blown away that something so detailed and well-structured was born on Wattpad.
The only real issue I had was how vile Katelyn was when she lashed out at Zach after her injury. She behaved like a petulant child who feels that she's owed something just because she had her famous brother give her favourite band a popularity boost on social media. Zach deserved better than that, and I don't think his relationship with an entitled brat like Katelyn can survive the hard patches. The way Katelyn behaved towards Zach made me dislike her, and I won't be sad if he leaves her for a less viper-ish girl. Katelyn's sense of self-righteous entitlement was a massive turnoff.
Even though it's intricate, layered, and a great overall plot, I felt that we lost out on the details because the span of the novel felt epic. It took on too much. I would've appreciated more details about how Katelyn and Zach operated as a couple. Plus, there were subtle hints about the hidden depths to the other (secondary and tertiary) characters, which would've been great to read about in greater detail...to read about their backstories/motivations as well.
Overall, I think it's a very good story, but more suited to TV. If it gets picked up for a series, it would make for great viewing. I'm, frankly, blown away that something so detailed and well-structured was born on Wattpad.
The only real issue I had was how vile Katelyn was when she lashed out at Zach after her injury. She behaved like a petulant child who feels that she's owed something just because she had her famous brother give her favourite band a popularity boost on social media. Zach deserved better than that, and I don't think his relationship with an entitled brat like Katelyn can survive the hard patches. The way Katelyn behaved towards Zach made me dislike her, and I won't be sad if he leaves her for a less viper-ish girl. Katelyn's sense of self-righteous entitlement was a massive turnoff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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