hao_ming_zi's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I adored this novel and appreciate the way it both condemns and celebrates, holds accountable and has respect for fandoms and fangirls. The audiobook was absolutely incredible, and the nuance with which the author explores the necessary roles fandoms play in lives as well as calling into question the sanity of it all was brilliant.
ishoa's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sassysoda13's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
cloudkurona's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lindy_b's review against another edition
3.0
A few days ago, I was browsing the Gay and Lesbian genre page on here and saw that Kill the Boy Band was one of the most read books this month. I looked at the cover and assumed, probably due to having watched Girltrash recently, that it must be about a lesbian punk band who beat out the resident douchebags in a local battle of the bands.
I clicked on the link and was disappointed to find out the book was about straight fangirls obsessed witha fictionalized One Direction a musical group called The Ruperts.
And then I remembered what that particular fanbase and their conspiracy theories are like, became very alarmed, and decided that I had to read this book. I do adore garbage.
I am almost certainly not the target audience, because I never have participated in fandom so much as I think they’re a great site for advanced peoplewatching. But here’s my take on Kill the Boy Band anyway.
Almost Head-esque in its deconstruction of the cultural figure of the boy band and what it stands for, a fitting title could be F*** You, Gloria Stavers. Kill the Boy Band also addresses insidiously abusive dynamics that tend to arise in fandoms where emotions run high. There is a lot going on here, but accessibly so. And I remembered how much I love satire and how I don't read enough of it!
One specific thing I appreciated is the author’s dry sense of humor. For example:
Now, for the complaints portion of the review, arranged from most to least significant:
1) If you’re going to kill the boy band, so to speak, you have to commit. And commitment does not look like makingHarry Styles Rupert K into a perfect feminist cinnamon roll, OK? It undermines one of the main themes and makes me question if this book is nothing more than half-baked self-insert fanfic.
2) This really did not belong in the Gay and Lesbian genre category on Goodreads. It’d be akin to me calling [b:Othello|12996|Othello|William Shakespeare|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459795105s/12996.jpg|995103] Jewish literature, but maybe not quite as insidious. While the gay characters in Kill the Boy Band are terrible people, they’re no more terrible than almost everyone else in the book. On the other hand, so, like, this isn’t exactly positive representation here. Likewise, while the stuff surrounding Apple’s weight and self-esteem issues and Isabel’s Dominican heritage and tough attitude were intended to satirize stereotypes affecting fat girls and Caribbean women, it didn’t always come off that way.
3) The eleventh-hour plot point about the narratorwas unnecessary and annoying.
4) The foreshadowing is super heavy-handed. Ergo, the twists aren’t really twists.
5) WTF ever happened toLouis Tomlinson’s Rupert P’s phone?
6) Not really a complaint, but it amuses me that this book as the same ending as
In conclusion, despite flaws, I had a good time reading and it is still better than anything [a:John Green|1406384|John Green|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1353452301p2/1406384.jpg] ever wrote.
ETA: A couple of months later, out of nowhere it occurs to me that the author was (is?) a Fall Out Boy fan and suddenly most of the... dissonant... parts make so much sense.
I clicked on the link and was disappointed to find out the book was about straight fangirls obsessed with
And then I remembered what that particular fanbase and their conspiracy theories are like, became very alarmed, and decided that I had to read this book. I do adore garbage.
I am almost certainly not the target audience, because I never have participated in fandom so much as I think they’re a great site for advanced peoplewatching. But here’s my take on Kill the Boy Band anyway.
Almost Head-esque in its deconstruction of the cultural figure of the boy band and what it stands for, a fitting title could be F*** You, Gloria Stavers. Kill the Boy Band also addresses insidiously abusive dynamics that tend to arise in fandoms where emotions run high. There is a lot going on here, but accessibly so. And I remembered how much I love satire and how I don't read enough of it!
One specific thing I appreciated is the author’s dry sense of humor. For example:
My feelings on the matter could best be summed up with lyrics from The Ruperts’ hit ‘I’m So Excited.’Yeah Yeah Yeah!
I’m so excited!
Yeah Yeah Yeah!
Tonight is the night! (loc. 328)
Now, for the complaints portion of the review, arranged from most to least significant:
1) If you’re going to kill the boy band, so to speak, you have to commit. And commitment does not look like making
2) This really did not belong in the Gay and Lesbian genre category on Goodreads. It’d be akin to me calling [b:Othello|12996|Othello|William Shakespeare|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459795105s/12996.jpg|995103] Jewish literature, but maybe not quite as insidious. While the gay characters in Kill the Boy Band are terrible people, they’re no more terrible than almost everyone else in the book. On the other hand,
Spoiler
a character’s homosexuality did lead to his death,3) The eleventh-hour plot point about the narrator
Spoiler
potentially having an unreliable memory4) The foreshadowing is super heavy-handed. Ergo, the twists aren’t really twists.
5) WTF ever happened to
Spoiler
6) Not really a complaint, but it amuses me that this book as the same ending as
Spoiler
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.In conclusion, despite flaws, I had a good time reading and it is still better than anything [a:John Green|1406384|John Green|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1353452301p2/1406384.jpg] ever wrote.
ETA: A couple of months later, out of nowhere it occurs to me that the author was (is?) a Fall Out Boy fan and suddenly most of the... dissonant... parts make so much sense.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
1.0
There's a lot wrong here. I thought this was just a comedy, but it was not that funny. Also, the side characters were one dimensional and one of them was the fat friend. She's not too bright and only seems to be consumed with the one boy band member and food. Great essay here https://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2016/03/kill-fatphobia-fat-girls-ya/ about that.
I don't mind having unlikable characters, but this really took the cake there. The characters didn't seem to have any redeeming qualities.
I'm not a fan.
I don't mind having unlikable characters, but this really took the cake there. The characters didn't seem to have any redeeming qualities.
I'm not a fan.
_meganno's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
camilacadibe's review against another edition
5.0
4.5!
That was so awesome!! I loved it!
It was different, funny, surprisingly real, awkwardly relatable, the characters were so fun and ridiculous and shady as fuck and I loved it!
I loved that we can't trust the narrative and that everything is kind of twisted and you can actually pick any version of the story to believe.
And I can't express how glad I am that the book had a decent amount of cursing. Call me whatever you want, but I just need some shits and fucks for a story to be believable. Especially one involving teenagers.
Now I need something else from this author, need that quirkiness in my life again!
That was so awesome!! I loved it!
It was different, funny, surprisingly real, awkwardly relatable, the characters were so fun and ridiculous and shady as fuck and I loved it!
I loved that we can't trust the narrative and that everything is kind of twisted and you can actually pick any version of the story to believe.
And I can't express how glad I am that the book had a decent amount of cursing. Call me whatever you want, but I just need some shits and fucks for a story to be believable. Especially one involving teenagers.
Now I need something else from this author, need that quirkiness in my life again!
bookclubbitches's review against another edition
2.0
this was a bit of weekend at bernies for me, which I never enjoy that plot so idk why I thought this would be different. the characters were as shallow as a shower and I couldn't wait to be finished
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
3.0
Couldn't get into the first fifty pages and it didn't lean into the dark comedy of it enough but I enjoyed it.