Title: FireworksAuthor: Katie Cotugno
Also by this author: 99 Days (99 Days #1)
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: April 18, 2017
Rating:
It was always meant to be Olivia. She was the talented one, the one who had been training to be a star her whole life. Her best friend, Dana, was the level-headed one, always on the sidelines, cheering her best friend along.
But everything changes when Dana tags along with Olivia to Orlando for the weekend, where superproducer Guy Monroe is holding auditions for a new singing group, and Dana is discovered too. Dana, who’s never sung more than Olivia’s backup. Dana, who wasn’t even looking for fame. Next thing she knows, she and Olivia are training to be pop stars, and Dana is falling for Alex, the earnest, endlessly talented boy who’s destined to be the next big thing.
It should be a dream come true, but as the days of grueling practice and constant competition take their toll, things between Olivia and Dana start to shift . . . and there’s only room at the top for one girl. For Olivia, it’s her chance at her dream. For Dana, it’s a chance to escape a future that seems to be closing in on her. And for these lifelong best friends, it’s the adventure of a lifetime—if they can make it through.
Set in evocative 1990s Orlando, New York Times bestselling author Katie Cotugno’s Fireworks brings to life the complexity of friendship, the excitement of first love, and the feeling of being on the verge of greatness.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
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Book Review: Fireworks by Katie Cotugno
Fireworks by Katie Cotugno is the 90s stardom book I never knew I wanted. The hard work and intense training shown in the story is exactly what I love to see, and the main character has a complex backstory and is so likeable. What I especially adored is the female friendship between the two main characters, since it is actually goals. Fans of Katie Cotugno’s previous books will not be disappointed with her latest work!
As a sucker for any book related to the arts, I naturally loved this one. What I especially enjoyed is the fact that this book doesn’t skip over the intense training of the band members and just mention the performances. The story is filled with voice lessons and intense dance practise, which I could never survive. However, there is also a cute boy band included, which I could definitely live with.
❀ Dana is Complex and Well-Developed
I loved Dana’s character. She doesn’t have an easy life and has a hard time fitting in with the other girls in the band. Dana is so considerate to her friends and just wants everyone to have a good time. I sympathized with her because she is such a nice person and has a hard time saying no to the other girls. Her character is also so complex and well-developed, which I always love to see.
❀ Strong Female Friendship
One of my favourite things about Fireworks is the strong female friendship. Dana and Olivia have been best friends their entire lives and are basically sisters. Olivia even put an extra bed in her room for Dana to use during their frequent sleepovers. It really hurt to see the pressure of the music world start to come between them and watch them slowly start to drift apart. Even so, I think that the fact that Dana goes along with Olivia to live a dream that isn’t really hers is absolute friendship goals.
❀ A Musical Book
Fireworks by Katie Cotugno is a musical book filled with the behind-the-scenes aspects of a rising girl band. The main character is so complex and likeable, and the strong friendship is so adorable. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to fans of 90s music.
Book Quotes: Fireworks by Katie Cotugno
Book Beginning:
Jonah Royce threw a rager in the field behind his stepdad’s house the night after high school graduation, which is why Olivia and I were both so unbelievably hungover on the afternoon everything changed.
Page 56:
Once warm-ups were finished, Lucas handed us all binders full of lyrics for the songs we’d be learning over the next couple of weeks, ran quickly through each of our individual parts, then jumped right into the intro of a purring ballad called “Only for You.” I gave it my best effort, but it didn’t take more than a few minutes before it was clear to everyone, me especially, that I was, by far, the worst singer in Daisy Chain.
About Katie Cotugno
Katie Cotugno is the New York Times bestselling author of messy, complicated, feminist love stories. She studied Writing, Literature and Publishing at Emerson College and received her MFA in Fiction at Lesley University.
Katie is a Pushcart Prize nominee whose work has appeared in The Iowa Review, The Mississippi Review, and Argestes, among others.
The great loves of her life include child's pose, her little sister, and mozzarella and honey sandwiches. She lives in Boston with her husband, Tom, and her dog, Avon.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
This one sounds so good! I haven’t read any of this author’s books, but I want to read this one now! Great review!
it is such a fantastic book! I think that you will enjoy it. 🙂
I’ll have to read it then!
I love books with a focus on female friendships, so this one sounds like the perfect spring/summer read! I’m definitely going to check this one out 😀 Thank you for sharing your thoughts in this wonderful review 🙂
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
it really is a perfect book for summer reading! 🙂
I didn’t liked 99 days so I was a bit hesitant to pick this up. Anyway, I’m glad you enjoyed this book! Nice review! 🙂
Awesome review! I haven’t read anything by Katie Cotugno yet, even though I do have other books by her. I actually just started reading this one this morning, and I liked the first two chapters so far so I’m super excited to see where the story goes!
I hope that you enjoy it and become a Cotugno fan! 🙂
I’m so excited to read this now!
I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I know people enjoy her stories. This one sounds pretty interesting. I can’t imagine the pressure put on people in a new band, especially teens. Learning the routines, dealing with pettiness, learning how to navigate newfound fame and crazy amounts of attention. And on top of it, new love and a friendship breaking at the seams? I definitely want to check this one out, no doubt! The cover is cute, too. I love the pictures!
Her covers just grab me every time! 🙂
Sounds like an interesting book. Not that I’m judging it by that, but I love the cover art!
I love 90’s Music so I cant wait to read this for that reason alone!!
I’m not always attracted to musical books being the wrong side of musical myself but I really like the sound of this book. Especially looking forward to complex characters. Great review!
This sounds like a great story.