Book Beginnings is a book meme hosted by Rose City Reader where participants share the first sentence (or so) of the book, along with initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.
The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice, and the rules are quite simple: Grab a book, any book and turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader. Find any non-spoilery sentence(s) and post.
This week’s book: Fireworks by Katie Cotugno
Title: FireworksAuthor: Katie Cotugno
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: April 18, 2017
From Katie Cotugno, bestselling author of 99 Days, comes Fireworks—about a girl who is competing with her best friend to become the new pop star of the moment—and all the drama and romance that comes with it—set in Orlando during the late-'90s boy-and-girl-band craze.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.
Thoughts
I am so glad that I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book! I love Katie Cotugno’s writing and the musical aspects of this book. I’m not that far into it, but I am already loving the intense competition!
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.
Sounds like a book I’d enjoy. Adding it to the wishlist. This week I am reading The Inconceivable Life of Quinn by Marianna Baer. Happy reading!
Not something I would normally read, but it does sound interesting. I am sure Olivia is going to have some issues????
sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes
Time will tell! 😉
I’m glad you’re enjoying this book! I’m thinking about starting joining The Friday 56 starting next week. It seems like a lot of fun!
I really enjoy hearing if people are enjoying their current reads and getting a taste for the book at the same time. I think you will enjoy it! 🙂
I’m really excited for this one. And the cover is gorgeous! <3
Megan @ http://wanderingsofabookbird.blogspot.co.uk/
That title sure is fitting for this book. I see all kinds of issues. Have a fun read.
My Friday 56 from H.P. Lovecraft’s Favorite Weird Tales
There is a lot of drama, for sure! 🙂
Looks like my kind of read! Happy weekend!
I never read 99 Days even though it is sitting on my shelf. But this one sounds awesome! I am definitely giving this one a chance.. Maybe 99 Days will be read during the wait, as a warm up!
I think that you will really enjoy 99 Days. I really love anything this author writes. 🙂
Looks like a great read! Just discovered the 56 Friday meme and have been loving people’s excerpts! Have a great weekend 🙂
This sounds good! I actually never read Cotugno’s book before but I’m excited for this.
Ahh this sounds like such a perfect summer read! Definitely looking forward to picking this one up. I haven’t read anything else by Katie Cotugno but this looks like a great place to start!
I can’t believe I haven’t read this book yet. It sounds like the perfect summer read. Luckily I am currently living on the Equator in South East Asia and it is eternally summer here!