Review by Booklist Review
Angel (as she's known online) has been waiting her whole life to meet The Ark. Though her Muslim family doesn't understand her obsession, The Ark is more than a boy band to Angel; they are her reason for getting up in the morning. Jimmy Kaga-Ricci, one of three members of The Ark, is becoming increasingly disillusioned by fame each day. Battling anxiety would be difficult enough without thinking about the way fans seem to encroach on his privacy and sense of self. After a series of events throws Angel and Jimmy together, they both begin to rethink what it means to be a fan. Oseman's (Radio Silence, 2017) latest provides an interesting look at fandom, showing immense empathy and even some righteous indignation about how super-fans are often pigeonholed and dismissed; however, she doesn't shy away from the darker potential of being devoted to a celebrity you've never met. Both Angel's and Jimmy's journeys of self-discovery are compelling, and the complex but unbreakable bonds between the bandmates are the strongest part of the novel.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this immersive, character-driven drama, Oseman (the Heartstopper series) thoughtfully highlights the cost of celebrity on one's mental health alongside the ways in which online fandoms can both build community and fan the flames of obsession and parasocial behavior. Eighteen-year-old Iranian-cued Fereshteh "Angel" Rahimi is meeting her online best friend, white-cued Juliet, for the first time IRL; they're set to spend an epic week together, culminating in a concert by mega-popular boy band The Ark. After arriving in London, however, Juliet reveals she has also invited her crush, sidelining Angel. Meanwhile, Ark's front man, Indian and Italian 19-year-old Jimmy, struggles to keep his trans identity private from fans and manage his anxiety--especially when a photo of him and Black-cued bandmate Rowan goes viral, ostensibly supporting the popular theory that they are secretly a couple. When Angel and Jimmy's lives suddenly converge, the two teens grapple with their respective internal struggles while offering mutual support. Employing even pacing, enticing alternating perspectives, and a cinematic writing style that continually builds tension, Oseman capably explores myriad facets of experience, spanning gender and sexual identity, ethnicity, and religion. Ages 14--up. Agent: Claire Wilson, RCW Literary. (Oct.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two teens--a super fan and a celebrity musician--confront their insecurities about their relationships and identities as their lives unexpectedly intertwine. Fereshteh (or Angel as she's known online, a translation of her Farsi name), is a Persian British hijabi who lives for The Ark, a boy band rising to international fame. Before the final show of their tour, Fereshteh ditches her high school leavers' ceremony to fulfill her dream of seeing them in concert with Juliet Schwartz, a White online friend she's meeting for the first time--but when she arrives in London, her high expectations are derailed by reality. Jimmy Kaga-Ricci, a gay Christian transgender boy of Indian and Italian descent, greets his fans from a distance. On the inside, he's overwhelmed by anxiety. His emotions spiral out of control when the press exposes too much about his relationships. This irresistibly energetic coming-of-age story alternates between the perspectives of two emerging adults grappling with their senses of self. Fereshteh values The Ark more than her own achievements, while Jimmy questions whether he can keep sacrificing his happiness for his career. Love takes center stage in the unfolding drama, showcasing the complex and varied experiences of admiration, attraction, and connection within relationships, particularly friendships. Religious faith also plays an important role in the protagonists' lives, shaping their outlooks and decisions. The characters are multidimensional with flaws and goals that direct their growth. A magnetic, emotional journey with nuanced internal conflict and dynamic characters. (bonus story) (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
