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Julie and the Phantoms #2
Whatever Happens
Julie and the Phantoms' adventures continue in this original novel based on the hit Netflix show from Descendants director Kenny Ortega!
Julie Molina is about to make it big with her band, Julie and the Phantoms. There's only one catch: All her bandmates are ghosts.
Back in the 1990s, Luke, Reggie, and Alex were on the cusp of rock stardom with their band, Sunset Curve, before an unfortunate encounter with Los Angeles street food brought their rock band dreams—and lives—to an end. Now, with Julie as their lead singer, the guys have a second chance at stardom.
But being bandmates—and maybe more than bandmates?—is hard enough as it is! Can Julie, Luke, Reggie, and Alex keep playing gigs and growing their fan base without anyone figuring out their big secret?
This exclusive Julie and the Phantoms story is told in alternating points of view and comes with a full-color pull-out locker poster!
Julie Molina is about to make it big with her band, Julie and the Phantoms. There's only one catch: All her bandmates are ghosts.
Back in the 1990s, Luke, Reggie, and Alex were on the cusp of rock stardom with their band, Sunset Curve, before an unfortunate encounter with Los Angeles street food brought their rock band dreams—and lives—to an end. Now, with Julie as their lead singer, the guys have a second chance at stardom.
But being bandmates—and maybe more than bandmates?—is hard enough as it is! Can Julie, Luke, Reggie, and Alex keep playing gigs and growing their fan base without anyone figuring out their big secret?
This exclusive Julie and the Phantoms story is told in alternating points of view and comes with a full-color pull-out locker poster!
208 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2021
101 people are currently reading
1517 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
September 10, 2025
finished 11 oct!
4.9999999999 shiny stars, one for julie, luke, alex, reggie and flynn 🥰 after some deliberation I change this to 4 stars, tho julie, luke, alex, reggie and flynn are still amazing (and bobby, dont forget bobby please)
only problem: I NEED MORE JUKE
review coming soon!
pre-read!
this show is fueling me rn
I fear that my obsession is becoming a bit too much....... idc 😊
I NEED MORE JUKE 🥰
now time to belt the song of the title of this book 🤭
introducingggggg NOUR AND THEphantoms PHAT ONES 😍 (yeah man my handwriting sucks)
I’M GOING OUT OF MY MIND (me and luke singing together 🥰)
WHATEVER HAPPENS EVEN IF IM THE LAST STANDING IMMA STAND TALL. IMMA STAND TALL.
WHATEVER HAPPENS EVEN IF EVERYTHING'S DOWN IMMA STAND TALL. IMMA STAND TALL (me and luke harmonizing perfectly (perfect harmony))
I GOTTA
KEEP
ON
DREAMING
CAUSE I GOTTA
CATCH
THAT FEELING
WHATEVER HAPPENS EVEN IF IM THE LAST STANDING IMMA STAND TALL. IMMA STAND TALLLLLLLLLLLL
(I will admit, I was BAWLING during this song)
thank you for coming to my performance ❤️✨ we're Nour and the Phantoms, tell your friends 🥰😉
only problem: I NEED MORE JUKE
review coming soon!
pre-read!
this show is fueling me rn
I fear that my obsession is becoming a bit too much....... idc 😊
I NEED MORE JUKE 🥰
now time to belt the song of the title of this book 🤭
introducingggggg NOUR AND THE
I’M GOING OUT OF MY MIND (me and luke singing together 🥰)
WHATEVER HAPPENS EVEN IF IM THE LAST STANDING IMMA STAND TALL. IMMA STAND TALL.
WHATEVER HAPPENS EVEN IF EVERYTHING'S DOWN IMMA STAND TALL. IMMA STAND TALL (me and luke harmonizing perfectly (perfect harmony))
I GOTTA
KEEP
ON
DREAMING
CAUSE I GOTTA
CATCH
THAT FEELING
WHATEVER HAPPENS EVEN IF IM THE LAST STANDING IMMA STAND TALL. IMMA STAND TALLLLLLLLLLLL
(I will admit, I was BAWLING during this song)
thank you for coming to my performance ❤️✨ we're Nour and the Phantoms, tell your friends 🥰😉
October 17, 2023
in protest of julie and the phantoms not being renewed for a second season 😭😭
September 2, 2021
the fact that this book gave us things we haven’t seen before and gave us more juke scenes, i am forever grateful for it
June 20, 2022
To start out I have to say that this book was doomed to disappoint me, and it's only partly the author's fault. After being active in this fandom for almost a year, you have certain headcanons and ideas about characters that are very fixed, and this book just doesn't play into any of them, which is fine and shouldn't stop those people who want to from reading it.
I haven't finished this book, nor do I want to. The issues I do have are mainly with characterisation (particularly that of Reggie which you will see in a minute).
First of all the beginning scene was extremely disappointing to me. The book sets on right after the hug between the band at the end of the show when the guys are freed from Caleb's control and seem to get a second chance at afterlife. After, understandably, Alex wants to go check on Willie, and even Reggie (and you again will see in a minute why I say 'even') goes along with it - but Julie and Luke stay behind with some shared looks, and frankly I thought that was a little... strange. They just almost lost all of three them, and neither Luke or Julie in my opinion would want to split up with them just a few minutes later. Luke and the guys are basically brothers, they're supposed to be the closest of friends (they did die together, and keep saying stuff like 'it doesn't matter as long as we have each other') and I feel he'd be a little more worried about the two of them going out by themselves after such a traumatic event especially when they don't know where Caleb is or what he may or may not be planning. Julie would also not value a crush or even romantic love over platonic love, judging from her other relationships, and she honestly just almost lost them. This whole thing bothered me so much, honestly... just because they're teenagers doesn't mean all they care about is their hormones. There's time for Juke later when you've started digesting this near-death experience, thanks.
Things like that where they acted really weirdly bothered me in the following chapters too, but this one was one of the worst.
There was also a really awkward chapter from Alex' point of view where we got two really awkward explanations as to why he wears pink and Luke wears sleeveless shirts, and that bugged me because it was so ridiculous but also because the show did such a great job with Alex and this was just - not great. Alex isn't confident about a lot of things, but I don't see why that has to mean he can't confidently wear a pink shirt without accidentally putting a pink sock in with all his white clothes (which, cliché alert). Sure, he deals with it in the book by noting that he's always liked pink, but I don't know why we so desperately needed an excuse for him. In the early nineties, my father was walking around beaches in a playboy crop top, and Alex isn't exactly from rural Texas. He lives in LA, and he looks like a surfer. He can wear pink. (plus, you can't tell me Luke isn't tearing his sleeves off because he wants to show off his biceps and look like a Rockstar - in the book he falls into a rose bush and accidentally tears a hole in the sleeve - and only the sleeve... why? Why did we need an explanation for that? Nobody would have questioned the shirts. )
What I really really didn't like, though, was what was done to Reggie. Disclaimer, Reggie is my favorite and I have a lot of feelings about him, but I feel that even if I didn't I would be a little mad about this.
Reggie is a comic relief character even in the show, but I thought a novel would give some great opportunity to develop a rounded character! Apparently, I was wrong because in the novel he's less developed than in the show. In the narration of his friends, he mostly stays in the background and only comes in to say something dorky about how hungry he is, or about girls. That seems to be the extents of his character. Food and girls. Reggie gets to narrate few very short, relatively insignificant chapters and even there, in his brain, we get little more than food and girls (and a stupid line that makes him sound like a pick me boy because he's apparently so dorky and klutzy that he can't be too 'choosy' with the girls, which is why he just hits on all of them so chances are he gets one at some point). Oh, he's also stupid in literally every way except when it comes to playing his bass. The only small hint at depth are a few dips into his past in the form of a sentence about tensions at home and about three little paragraphs just by the way about his brother, who he wants to be some kind of hero to but isn't really around enough for. This is so inserted and so poorly explored, though, that it feels a bit like the author realised how flat they made him but didn't want to put in the work and change that, so they just added this for sympathy points.
Julie and the Phantoms is a children's show, and I am a student of literature, so if you buy this book for a kid, I'm sure they would enjoy it. However I'd personally think twice if I wanted to tell my kids stories that have girls that care more about pretty boys than they care about their friends and boys that fulfil all societal expectations and care about nothing than their basic carnal needs. Better let them watch the show. It worked too hard to tear down all those rigid norms to ruin it with this.
Two stars because I didn't finish it and maybe they saved it a little bit at some late point - and I feel bad giving this a horrible rating when it's just a children's book. Also I kinda liked Rose, a little. Still would not recommend this to anyone who liked the show for how refreshing it was in its character constellations because if you're one of them, you'd probably be better off waiting for the next season for the next ten years (or reading some good fanfiction).
I'm sorry for the author for this negative review, but I hope lots of people enjoy this book anyway. (Also I really like their writing style, so I'll definitely check out their non JatP work.)
I haven't finished this book, nor do I want to. The issues I do have are mainly with characterisation (particularly that of Reggie which you will see in a minute).
First of all the beginning scene was extremely disappointing to me. The book sets on right after the hug between the band at the end of the show when the guys are freed from Caleb's control and seem to get a second chance at afterlife. After, understandably, Alex wants to go check on Willie, and even Reggie (and you again will see in a minute why I say 'even') goes along with it - but Julie and Luke stay behind with some shared looks, and frankly I thought that was a little... strange. They just almost lost all of three them, and neither Luke or Julie in my opinion would want to split up with them just a few minutes later. Luke and the guys are basically brothers, they're supposed to be the closest of friends (they did die together, and keep saying stuff like 'it doesn't matter as long as we have each other') and I feel he'd be a little more worried about the two of them going out by themselves after such a traumatic event especially when they don't know where Caleb is or what he may or may not be planning. Julie would also not value a crush or even romantic love over platonic love, judging from her other relationships, and she honestly just almost lost them. This whole thing bothered me so much, honestly... just because they're teenagers doesn't mean all they care about is their hormones. There's time for Juke later when you've started digesting this near-death experience, thanks.
Things like that where they acted really weirdly bothered me in the following chapters too, but this one was one of the worst.
There was also a really awkward chapter from Alex' point of view where we got two really awkward explanations as to why he wears pink and Luke wears sleeveless shirts, and that bugged me because it was so ridiculous but also because the show did such a great job with Alex and this was just - not great. Alex isn't confident about a lot of things, but I don't see why that has to mean he can't confidently wear a pink shirt without accidentally putting a pink sock in with all his white clothes (which, cliché alert). Sure, he deals with it in the book by noting that he's always liked pink, but I don't know why we so desperately needed an excuse for him. In the early nineties, my father was walking around beaches in a playboy crop top, and Alex isn't exactly from rural Texas. He lives in LA, and he looks like a surfer. He can wear pink. (plus, you can't tell me Luke isn't tearing his sleeves off because he wants to show off his biceps and look like a Rockstar - in the book he falls into a rose bush and accidentally tears a hole in the sleeve - and only the sleeve... why? Why did we need an explanation for that? Nobody would have questioned the shirts. )
What I really really didn't like, though, was what was done to Reggie. Disclaimer, Reggie is my favorite and I have a lot of feelings about him, but I feel that even if I didn't I would be a little mad about this.
Reggie is a comic relief character even in the show, but I thought a novel would give some great opportunity to develop a rounded character! Apparently, I was wrong because in the novel he's less developed than in the show. In the narration of his friends, he mostly stays in the background and only comes in to say something dorky about how hungry he is, or about girls. That seems to be the extents of his character. Food and girls. Reggie gets to narrate few very short, relatively insignificant chapters and even there, in his brain, we get little more than food and girls (and a stupid line that makes him sound like a pick me boy because he's apparently so dorky and klutzy that he can't be too 'choosy' with the girls, which is why he just hits on all of them so chances are he gets one at some point). Oh, he's also stupid in literally every way except when it comes to playing his bass. The only small hint at depth are a few dips into his past in the form of a sentence about tensions at home and about three little paragraphs just by the way about his brother, who he wants to be some kind of hero to but isn't really around enough for. This is so inserted and so poorly explored, though, that it feels a bit like the author realised how flat they made him but didn't want to put in the work and change that, so they just added this for sympathy points.
Julie and the Phantoms is a children's show, and I am a student of literature, so if you buy this book for a kid, I'm sure they would enjoy it. However I'd personally think twice if I wanted to tell my kids stories that have girls that care more about pretty boys than they care about their friends and boys that fulfil all societal expectations and care about nothing than their basic carnal needs. Better let them watch the show. It worked too hard to tear down all those rigid norms to ruin it with this.
Two stars because I didn't finish it and maybe they saved it a little bit at some late point - and I feel bad giving this a horrible rating when it's just a children's book. Also I kinda liked Rose, a little. Still would not recommend this to anyone who liked the show for how refreshing it was in its character constellations because if you're one of them, you'd probably be better off waiting for the next season for the next ten years (or reading some good fanfiction).
I'm sorry for the author for this negative review, but I hope lots of people enjoy this book anyway. (Also I really like their writing style, so I'll definitely check out their non JatP work.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2023
i read this book over the course of a few months as a comfort book - whenever i felt sick or anxious, this book was there for me. the cover is all battered because i took it with me absolutely everywhere i went, just in case 😭. it makes me so sad that julie and the phantoms wasn’t renewed, but i got just a little more time with these characters through this book <3
overall, it was really cute! it follows two separate storylines - julie in 2019, as she shares a good day with her mother (who we didn’t get to meet in the show), as they write and share their music together. her friendship with flynn and fracturing friendship with carrie are also explored. meanwhile, sunset curve are back in 1995 - the long & busy day they had leading up to the moment they died (😢). bobby’s point of view and how he felt when they were still alive was also explored, which i thought was cool!
definitely worth the read for them. i miss these characters so much 😔😔 give them back to me
overall, it was really cute! it follows two separate storylines - julie in 2019, as she shares a good day with her mother (who we didn’t get to meet in the show), as they write and share their music together. her friendship with flynn and fracturing friendship with carrie are also explored. meanwhile, sunset curve are back in 1995 - the long & busy day they had leading up to the moment they died (😢). bobby’s point of view and how he felt when they were still alive was also explored, which i thought was cool!
definitely worth the read for them. i miss these characters so much 😔😔 give them back to me
April 16, 2021
[I received a free electronic review copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
4 stars (Personal rating = 4.5 - I loved it, would re-read. Book rating = 3.5 - Good+. Average: 4 stars)
I have completely fallen in love with the Netflix show this book is based on - I love the music, the characters, the actors, the story, all of it. And I am craving new content, so I was thrilled to read an early review copy of this book which goes back in time to tell the story of the day of Sunset Curve's planned performance at the Orpheum (1995) and a day of Julie and her mom before they found out her mom was sick (2019). It's a clever set up because it hardly moves forward in time from what fans have seen on the show, so a second season is not tied to any activities from this book. Each of the 6 teen characters from the show (Luke, Alex, Reggie, Bobby, Julie, Flynn) get to tell parts of the stories from their perspectives, so there's some great character development. It made me fall that much more in love with my favorite characters.
That said, I had to set my fandom aside for a moment because the set up of the story has some wrinkles. Alex and Reggie leave and Julie and Luke are alone in the studio reminiscing about the performance they just finished, and they share with each other these two stories from the past. But that doesn't account for how the other 4 characters share their own perspectives on the events. I *loved* those different perspectives in execution, but there's no explanation in the story for how these two characters sharing their personal memories can also share from other perspectives as well as sharing about events they weren't present to witness. I'm not sure the target audience will pick up on that inconsistency, but it had to be a factor in my rating and review.
Overall I found the book to be delightful. I loved exploring these two moments from the past as well as the added character details! The author does a fantastic job of conveying the chemistry between Julie and Luke early in the book - it's pretty intense for a middle grade novel. Readers will definitely need at least a working knowledge of the Netflix show to understand the events in this book. Fans should snatch this up as soon as it's released! (LGBTQ+, TW: coming out stories/parent issues)
4 stars (Personal rating = 4.5 - I loved it, would re-read. Book rating = 3.5 - Good+. Average: 4 stars)
I have completely fallen in love with the Netflix show this book is based on - I love the music, the characters, the actors, the story, all of it. And I am craving new content, so I was thrilled to read an early review copy of this book which goes back in time to tell the story of the day of Sunset Curve's planned performance at the Orpheum (1995) and a day of Julie and her mom before they found out her mom was sick (2019). It's a clever set up because it hardly moves forward in time from what fans have seen on the show, so a second season is not tied to any activities from this book. Each of the 6 teen characters from the show (Luke, Alex, Reggie, Bobby, Julie, Flynn) get to tell parts of the stories from their perspectives, so there's some great character development. It made me fall that much more in love with my favorite characters.
That said, I had to set my fandom aside for a moment because the set up of the story has some wrinkles. Alex and Reggie leave and Julie and Luke are alone in the studio reminiscing about the performance they just finished, and they share with each other these two stories from the past. But that doesn't account for how the other 4 characters share their own perspectives on the events. I *loved* those different perspectives in execution, but there's no explanation in the story for how these two characters sharing their personal memories can also share from other perspectives as well as sharing about events they weren't present to witness. I'm not sure the target audience will pick up on that inconsistency, but it had to be a factor in my rating and review.
Overall I found the book to be delightful. I loved exploring these two moments from the past as well as the added character details! The author does a fantastic job of conveying the chemistry between Julie and Luke early in the book - it's pretty intense for a middle grade novel. Readers will definitely need at least a working knowledge of the Netflix show to understand the events in this book. Fans should snatch this up as soon as it's released! (LGBTQ+, TW: coming out stories/parent issues)
October 8, 2022
it's like my children came back to me
August 29, 2021
I need a season 2 or more books!
February 5, 2022
I walked away from this with my heart filled with joy:
- Cute stuff with Julie and Flynn from when her mom was still alive.
- Luke/Julie moments!!!!!
- You get to know Bobby (Trevor) better and REALLY appreciate and get invested in him. I felt so attached to him after this book and I feel robbed we won't get to know him better.
- REGGIE POV for like 2 seconds I missed u BB
- Luke/Alex and Bobby/Luke moments to make me FEEL
If you love JatP just read this! It reads like a silly happy in character fanfic!
- Cute stuff with Julie and Flynn from when her mom was still alive.
- Luke/Julie moments!!!!!
- You get to know Bobby (Trevor) better and REALLY appreciate and get invested in him. I felt so attached to him after this book and I feel robbed we won't get to know him better.
- REGGIE POV for like 2 seconds I missed u BB
- Luke/Alex and Bobby/Luke moments to make me FEEL
If you love JatP just read this! It reads like a silly happy in character fanfic!
January 27, 2025
An enjoyable read that gives you a deeper insight into the characters from the show.
January 29, 2023
they make me so happy i can’t explain it ☹️☹️
January 31, 2025
chyba 3,5/5⭐️, muszę pomyśleć
wciąż nie wiem, jaka ocena byłaby odpowiednia, ale to nieważne.
po opisie tej książki spodziewałam się, że poznam kontynuację losów bohaterów, co wydarzyło się z nimi po koncercie w Orpheum i wgl, a tu takie rozczarowanie
fakt, tych wydarzeń nie było w serialu, jednak są to momenty sprzed niego, z 1995 i 2019 roku, gdy akcja serialu jest w 2020
Julie i Luke NIE opuściliby Reggie’go i Alexa po tym, gdy prawie zniknęli na dobre, naciągane w chuj
relacje Julie z Flynn i jej mamą, a także chłopaków, były urocze i takie po prostu szczęśliwe, więc spoko
również proces powstawania piosenek i całej reszty szczegółów, które poznajemy w tym 2020, był spoko, takie "smaczki"
rozczarowało mnie to, czego nie dostałam, a to, co dostałam, było fajne
wciąż nie wiem, jaka ocena byłaby odpowiednia, ale to nieważne.
po opisie tej książki spodziewałam się, że poznam kontynuację losów bohaterów, co wydarzyło się z nimi po koncercie w Orpheum i wgl, a tu takie rozczarowanie
fakt, tych wydarzeń nie było w serialu, jednak są to momenty sprzed niego, z 1995 i 2019 roku, gdy akcja serialu jest w 2020
Julie i Luke NIE opuściliby Reggie’go i Alexa po tym, gdy prawie zniknęli na dobre, naciągane w chuj
relacje Julie z Flynn i jej mamą, a także chłopaków, były urocze i takie po prostu szczęśliwe, więc spoko
również proces powstawania piosenek i całej reszty szczegółów, które poznajemy w tym 2020, był spoko, takie "smaczki"
rozczarowało mnie to, czego nie dostałam, a to, co dostałam, było fajne
January 11, 2024
The first and last chapter of this book carried fr. Like the Julie and Luke moments. HE SAID HE LIKED HER LIKE I KNEW IT BUT AHHHHH.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2024
2/5
The show was great. I absolutely love it.But this really didn't add anything to it. It was cute, sure. But that's as far as it went.
The show was great. I absolutely love it.But this really didn't add anything to it. It was cute, sure. But that's as far as it went.
January 19, 2024
,,Let’s live like there’s no tomorrow“🎸🎤🥁💜
Must read for every JATP fan!
It’s about the backgroundstory’s of the main characters and wow. Everything makes sense!
I need more of JATP😭💜
Must read for every JATP fan!
It’s about the backgroundstory’s of the main characters and wow. Everything makes sense!
I need more of JATP😭💜
October 6, 2021
Here's the thing.
I love the show Julie and the Phantoms. After it being out for almost a year when I read this, I naturally have my own thoughts on character's personalities and backgrounds from my viewing of the show.
I didn't go into reading this book expecting them to be met. However, I did hope for more consistent characterisation and character interactions that followed up from the show, rather than created what felt like almost a whole new character (Reggie. I'm looking at Reggie.) Some choices for characters I felt worked, like some of Julie's introspection on her relationship with Carrie, and Luke and his parents, but I will question how the Reggie I read about is the same sunshine boy I love in the show, or how the Sunset Curve boys' interactions felt shallow considering the deaths of 3/4 of them that we knew were coming.
Maybe I'm just a fan of the show who hoped for more out of a book directed at the supposed children audience of the show, but I found this an easy but simplistic read that somewhat connected to its source material.
I love the show Julie and the Phantoms. After it being out for almost a year when I read this, I naturally have my own thoughts on character's personalities and backgrounds from my viewing of the show.
I didn't go into reading this book expecting them to be met. However, I did hope for more consistent characterisation and character interactions that followed up from the show, rather than created what felt like almost a whole new character (Reggie. I'm looking at Reggie.) Some choices for characters I felt worked, like some of Julie's introspection on her relationship with Carrie, and Luke and his parents, but I will question how the Reggie I read about is the same sunshine boy I love in the show, or how the Sunset Curve boys' interactions felt shallow considering the deaths of 3/4 of them that we knew were coming.
Maybe I'm just a fan of the show who hoped for more out of a book directed at the supposed children audience of the show, but I found this an easy but simplistic read that somewhat connected to its source material.
April 2, 2024
this is literally my new favourite book ever (being a jatp fan)!! I definitely 100% suggest it if you like julie and the phantoms and want new content of the characters, It showed so much backstory of the characters and facts that you would’ve never known if you haven’t read it. like they made the characters so much more complex ALEX STORY BROKE ME UGHHH AND BOBBYS POV KILLED ME I just love this book so much 😩😩😩
reread: this book FOREVER has my heart genuinely luke is literally the only man to ever exist this micro-tropes kill me the obsession is back
reread: this book FOREVER has my heart genuinely luke is literally the only man to ever exist this micro-tropes kill me the obsession is back
March 27, 2022
This was amazing! The story offers so much insight into the characters' past, that is heartbreaking but at the same time so heart-warming. I couldn't get enough of it. I can't believe they canceled this show. It had so much potential and the most amazing songs. I'm currently on my more or less 7th rewatch and will never not be sad about that cliffhanger ending. At least this book provides a little bit more thoughts on the ending situation and we finally see more of 1995 Luke, Alex and Reggie.
August 6, 2021
This was amazing! I loved the flashbacks and learning more about all the characters. Julie and her mom are so precious, I can't stand it. All the details about the boys made me 🥺🥺 it was delightful to have canonical (?? I think??) details and clarifications from what us fans have speculated from the show. Now i just need as second season and/or more perfectly written novel tie-ins like this!
December 19, 2022
in 1995 Julie Molina’s mother gave Luke hot tea while he was nervous and unwell and i’m here to cry about it
February 15, 2023
I'm obsessed - THANK YOU ALLYYYYYY
April 1, 2023
No one look at me I'm in mourning 😭
September 15, 2021
I'm weird. I know I'm weird, so no need to tell me that. I did read the book of Julie and the Phantoms, and loved it to pieces and unexpectedly teared up while reading it, but I still haven't actually seen the Netflix series. What can I say? I'm a reader. I'm in every possible way a reader. Everything works better on paper than on screen for me. However, since I loved the book so much I had to have this second book.
Once more I flew through the book. It's an easy read, mostly because it's written in a very natural and realistic way. The dialogues feel real and the descriptions fit the point of view character. In this book we get to read from quite a few points of view, but the main focus were of course Julie and Luke, the ones telling each other everything about that one day they had felt the same kind of excitement as after the season finale.
Since this book is actually a prequel of the series, the excitement of not knowing how it will end and being surprised by emotional moments wasn't really there. We know how things will end, we knew what will happen after the days our main characters are talking about. In a way both stories read a little like dramatic irony. All the plans for the future the characters make, all the dreams they have and all the times they say "we do that tomorrow", we already know it's not gonna happen.
However, since we're in the past we especially get a far better idea of the daily life of our rock band heroes. Of course, we got the gist of their family issues, but reading them from their points of view is still different from having them told in throwaway lines. I also really loved getting to know Julie's mother on a way more personal level. We've heard about her, but in this book we actually get the chance to meet her.
I'm sure the impact of the series will actually be only bigger after this prequel. I hope there will be more books!
Once more I flew through the book. It's an easy read, mostly because it's written in a very natural and realistic way. The dialogues feel real and the descriptions fit the point of view character. In this book we get to read from quite a few points of view, but the main focus were of course Julie and Luke, the ones telling each other everything about that one day they had felt the same kind of excitement as after the season finale.
Since this book is actually a prequel of the series, the excitement of not knowing how it will end and being surprised by emotional moments wasn't really there. We know how things will end, we knew what will happen after the days our main characters are talking about. In a way both stories read a little like dramatic irony. All the plans for the future the characters make, all the dreams they have and all the times they say "we do that tomorrow", we already know it's not gonna happen.
However, since we're in the past we especially get a far better idea of the daily life of our rock band heroes. Of course, we got the gist of their family issues, but reading them from their points of view is still different from having them told in throwaway lines. I also really loved getting to know Julie's mother on a way more personal level. We've heard about her, but in this book we actually get the chance to meet her.
I'm sure the impact of the series will actually be only bigger after this prequel. I hope there will be more books!
August 14, 2021
I will come back after drying my tears and having a good night's sleep. It's 3:21am.
But, it has about 3,5 - 4 stars.
(containing spoilers!)
(Yes, I am back)
I had a lot of fun reading this! It's so much better than Edge of Great.
In terms of writing style, I love it so much. It really felt like reading fanfiction and it just gave me a lot of serotonin.
About characterisation, we love that for Bobby. Oh my god I love him. We see all of the band's problems at home and at life, and they all need therapy. I cried a lot.
Of course, I had quite a few things to complain.
One, I would have loved it so much more if we had seen more about Julie's story. I know the ending of her story made me cry my eyes out, but I still wanted to read more about her relationship with Mom and other characters. Flynn's chapters disappointed me a bit cuz I wanted to know more about her, instead of her parents.
Two, I love a multi-perspective book but it doesn't make sense since Julie and Luke are the only people there to tell the stories.
Three, they ruined my Reggie. Oh gosh. Oh my god. Rage is the only word I got throughout some chapters. This Reggie made such bad decisions that I had to sit up in the middle of the night to rub my face in disappointment. Oh my god he was a creep to Paige. She deserved more than this.
Also the way Reg and Bobby talked about Rose. Yikes. Yikes. YIKES.
Because of this, I almost gave it a 3 stars. BUT, the number of Juke scenes at the end of the book sealed it for me. Still crying over Julie and her mom's chapter then smiling so big because Luke Patterson says "I like you too" to Julie Molina when it was 3:20 in the morning hit different.
4 stars!
BUT I AM STILL PISSED OFF BECAUSE OF THE WAY REGGIE IS WRITTEN. I realized I didn't sound angry enough. You guys must see my notes.
But, it has about 3,5 - 4 stars.
(containing spoilers!)
(Yes, I am back)
I had a lot of fun reading this! It's so much better than Edge of Great.
In terms of writing style, I love it so much. It really felt like reading fanfiction and it just gave me a lot of serotonin.
About characterisation, we love that for Bobby. Oh my god I love him. We see all of the band's problems at home and at life, and they all need therapy. I cried a lot.
Of course, I had quite a few things to complain.
One, I would have loved it so much more if we had seen more about Julie's story. I know the ending of her story made me cry my eyes out, but I still wanted to read more about her relationship with Mom and other characters. Flynn's chapters disappointed me a bit cuz I wanted to know more about her, instead of her parents.
Two, I love a multi-perspective book but it doesn't make sense since Julie and Luke are the only people there to tell the stories.
Three, they ruined my Reggie. Oh gosh. Oh my god. Rage is the only word I got throughout some chapters. This Reggie made such bad decisions that I had to sit up in the middle of the night to rub my face in disappointment. Oh my god he was a creep to Paige. She deserved more than this.
Also the way Reg and Bobby talked about Rose. Yikes. Yikes. YIKES.
Because of this, I almost gave it a 3 stars. BUT, the number of Juke scenes at the end of the book sealed it for me. Still crying over Julie and her mom's chapter then smiling so big because Luke Patterson says "I like you too" to Julie Molina when it was 3:20 in the morning hit different.
4 stars!
BUT I AM STILL PISSED OFF BECAUSE OF THE WAY REGGIE IS WRITTEN. I realized I didn't sound angry enough. You guys must see my notes.
July 24, 2021
Julie and the Phantoms: Whatever Happens is a must-read for fans of Julie and the Phantoms. Candace Buford shines with her enchanting writing and gives fans a bit of backstory on the show's favorite characters.
I am a huge fan of Julie and the Phantoms on Netflix. It is one of my favorite shows that I binge-watched in one day. I have been wanting more and this book is great. It picks up where season 1 of the show left off. The band is coming off their perfect performance at the Orpheum and it leaves them with a big question. What next?
The boys ( Luke, Reggie, and Alex) are still in Los Angeles and they didn't poof. The weird thing is that Julie can not only see them but actually feel them when they hug. They completed their unfinished business and are still here. So, can the band stay together and continue to make awesome music?
I loved that we get a backstory of each of the characters when they begin to tell their stories of their last perfect day. You can expect some explanations/walkthroughs of their songs like 'Unsaid Emily' and 'Stand Tall', swoon at Luke and Julie's chemistry, and get to know more about Sunset Curve's early days.
I give Julie and the Phantoms: Whatever Happens 5 stars. I couldn't put this book down because it's so easy to get lost in the story. If you areimpatiently waiting for season 2 of Julie and the Phantoms, you have to read this book! It will put a huge smile on your face, bring you joy, and allow you to fall in love with the band all over again!!
I am a huge fan of Julie and the Phantoms on Netflix. It is one of my favorite shows that I binge-watched in one day. I have been wanting more and this book is great. It picks up where season 1 of the show left off. The band is coming off their perfect performance at the Orpheum and it leaves them with a big question. What next?
The boys ( Luke, Reggie, and Alex) are still in Los Angeles and they didn't poof. The weird thing is that Julie can not only see them but actually feel them when they hug. They completed their unfinished business and are still here. So, can the band stay together and continue to make awesome music?
I loved that we get a backstory of each of the characters when they begin to tell their stories of their last perfect day. You can expect some explanations/walkthroughs of their songs like 'Unsaid Emily' and 'Stand Tall', swoon at Luke and Julie's chemistry, and get to know more about Sunset Curve's early days.
I give Julie and the Phantoms: Whatever Happens 5 stars. I couldn't put this book down because it's so easy to get lost in the story. If you are
November 1, 2022
I feel like the #1 after the title displayed by the app is laughing at me ... Screw you Netflix!
This book was amazing and souvb better than the other novel recapping season 1! 😍 It gave so much more depths to the sunset curve guys and I am not asahemd to admit that Alex relationship with his parents brought tears to my eyes 😭 #AlexBestBoy!
It's also so nice to see more of the realtionship between Julie and her mother. The only thing I disliked was that I thought Luke felt a little out of character especially during the later chapters. He was made even more dreamy, almost chivalry. I prefer Luke with edges.
Still, this is a must read for every jatp fan!
Edit: After the excitement died down a little I have to admit that the ooc parts of the book where way too much for me. It was still an enjoyable read though.
This book was amazing and souvb better than the other novel recapping season 1! 😍 It gave so much more depths to the sunset curve guys and I am not asahemd to admit that Alex relationship with his parents brought tears to my eyes 😭 #AlexBestBoy!
It's also so nice to see more of the realtionship between Julie and her mother. The only thing I disliked was that I thought Luke felt a little out of character especially during the later chapters. He was made even more dreamy, almost chivalry. I prefer Luke with edges.
Still, this is a must read for every jatp fan!
Edit: After the excitement died down a little I have to admit that the ooc parts of the book where way too much for me. It was still an enjoyable read though.
Read
July 8, 2025Do you have any idea how excited I was when I found out this book existed? The show got cancelled, so I was ready to see how this was supposed to end. Jokes on me: if this was the script of the second season, there’s a very good reason it never went to air.
This entire book is a flashback scene. Not quite a clip special, but five pages before the end we jump back into the current timeline. The rest of the story is Julie and Luke telling each other about their ‘best day ever’ and is almost a prequel novel, but not. There is no progression to the story, or the cliff hanger we got left on. There is no resolution. It’s filler! Why are they still hanging around? No answer. How are they solid? No idea. They’re barely even ghosts in here beyond the opening credits. It’s just a bunch of dudes hanging out.
And it introduces new threads that don’t get answered. Alex goes to check on Wille. We hear nothing more about it. There’s a giant thread about younger Julie starting to lose a friend (ie mean girl from the show) without ever getting around to telling us why or how it happens. I am so disappointed.
This entire book is a flashback scene. Not quite a clip special, but five pages before the end we jump back into the current timeline. The rest of the story is Julie and Luke telling each other about their ‘best day ever’ and is almost a prequel novel, but not. There is no progression to the story, or the cliff hanger we got left on. There is no resolution. It’s filler! Why are they still hanging around? No answer. How are they solid? No idea. They’re barely even ghosts in here beyond the opening credits. It’s just a bunch of dudes hanging out.
And it introduces new threads that don’t get answered. Alex goes to check on Wille. We hear nothing more about it. There’s a giant thread about younger Julie starting to lose a friend (ie mean girl from the show) without ever getting around to telling us why or how it happens. I am so disappointed.
March 8, 2023
i love this silly little band!!!!!!!
bobby (the vegan member that doesn’t die)
that mans a KLEPTOOOO
we know from the show that he stole the songs from Luke after they died BUT THE NAME HE STOLE THE NAME TREVOR FROM A GUITARIST ON THE STREET
THAT WAS SO FUNNY
i love their silly little relationships too.
i love the pinky promise at the end
yeah i’m gonna need them to keep writing these books if they not gonna give us a season 2 of the show
bobby (the vegan member that doesn’t die)
that mans a KLEPTOOOO
we know from the show that he stole the songs from Luke after they died BUT THE NAME HE STOLE THE NAME TREVOR FROM A GUITARIST ON THE STREET
THAT WAS SO FUNNY
i love their silly little relationships too.
i love the pinky promise at the end
yeah i’m gonna need them to keep writing these books if they not gonna give us a season 2 of the show
August 25, 2021
I'm sure it's hard and a bit intimidating to write a book for a show that has such an intense fandom. Everyone has their own ideas and canons and theories, including me, and one author isn't going to tackle all of those. For what this is, though, I found it very cute. I didn't love some of the characterization (Reggie!), but there were certain moments that really made me grin.
January 11, 2025
i do feel silly for reading a middle grade book at the age of almost 21… but im starved for any content from this show i can get. this was a really sweet, silly story with a surprising amount of new information about these characters and their backstories. would definitely recommend for 8-12 years or so!!
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