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mortoria's review against another edition
3.0
Way darker than I thought it would be. I was expecting it to be much more lighthearted. However, it was so relatable as a former 'directioner'. (Obviously without the kidnapping). The description of fan culture, what the different girls did as fans, how they felt and acted was so spot on. I felt personally spoken to lol.
You have to be in the right mood to enjoy this book. I do think it got a bit dark and sadistic for me though? I took a long break while reading this just because it was a bit much. Overall a fun read though, especially if you were/are part of a fandom.
You have to be in the right mood to enjoy this book. I do think it got a bit dark and sadistic for me though? I took a long break while reading this just because it was a bit much. Overall a fun read though, especially if you were/are part of a fandom.
racheltanza's review against another edition
3.0
I got an ARC of this at work, and I love boy bands and also think boy band fandom is extremely interesting, so I wanted to read. The cover is simple and eye-catching. The book itself is a quick read with enough twists to keep you interested. I don't know that it particularly says anything that deep about teen fandom culture (and I could have used more grounding in reality, less 80s references), but overall this is a fine way to spend a day.
loesje_kr's review against another edition
3.0
ending was a little underwhelming after planting the seeds of a more juicy twist. but i feel like horrors/thrillers often end in an underwhelming way. but this was fast and fun in a twisted way.
lizthewhizz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
futurepotus's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
saraisreading95's review against another edition
2.0
2,5.
Well... That was... Bizarre. I really don't know how to feel about this book.
As a professional (boyband) fangirl I could /kinda/ relate to this book (minus the psyco part... obviously). But then it just was so weird and... wtf
Well... That was... Bizarre. I really don't know how to feel about this book.
As a professional (boyband) fangirl I could /kinda/ relate to this book (minus the psyco part... obviously). But then it just was so weird and... wtf
charliesbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.5
bunny for girls who used to be obsessed with one direction
(listened on audiobook)
(listened on audiobook)
gialauren's review against another edition
4.0
she got the 1d fandom aspects correct omg goldy came for my neck!
emleemay's review against another edition
4.0
Boy band fangirls are a species that are more focused, determined, and powerful in large numbers than just about any other group of people I can think of.
I thought this was awesome. It's the kind of book you have to be in the right mood for - a dark, sadistic sense of humour kind of mood - but it's a diverse, murderous and hilarious comedy about fangirls in the age of social media.
[b:Kill the Boy Band|25184383|Kill the Boy Band|Goldy Moldavsky|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1448318289s/25184383.jpg|44892290] has many laugh-out-loud moments that come with a side order of guilt because you know you really shouldn't be laughing. But, despite it's implausible plot and ludicrous characters, there are many underlying truths laid bare in this book. And the funniest things of all are the sad truths you have to begrudgingly admit to.
I must confess: I related to parts of this book, which may have affected my experience. I'm in my early twenties now, but I grew up when the digital age was just finding its feet. At age thirteen, most people I knew had some form of social media - usually myspace or bebo - and I witnessed the emerging culture of celeb stalking that redefined what it meant to be a fan.
My personal obsession (well, the main one) was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and James Marsters (Spike) in particular. I would watch his interviews on Youtube, read every post on his website and, later, follow his movements on Twitter. In other circumstances, this level of stalkery would be illegal. In my early to mid teens, I felt attached to him on a weird level. I'd followed his life so closely that I felt like I knew him, something those of my parents generation simply couldn't understand. Being his fan made me happy. Loving him made me feel good about myself. It sounds so silly now, but I think I truly believed that a) we were meant to be together, and b) this could eventually happen if I just attended enough signings and concerts.
Thankfully, I was too shy to do anything. I couldn't tackle him because I melted into a puddle of emotions every time he was in the same room. But I can understand how crazy it could get if someone with my mindset *did* have the will and ability to take it to the next level.
That's what this book is about. It's about four teenage girls who are devoted to a boy band called "The Ruperts" - hilariously based on One Direction - and how their devotion escalates into something more sinister. The book makes fun of teen girl crushes on celebrities (lots of great parodies of real life, pop culture references, and some surprisingly graphic sex jokes), but it also has an anti-slut-shaming, feminist spin and, in a way, defends the girls' right to their crushes and silly desires.
Did I love them because they were the only boys in my life who consistently told me I was beautiful? Probably.
I loved The Ruperts for who they were, sure, but I mostly loved them for how they made me feel. Which was happy.
The Ruperts made me happy. The simplest thing to be in the world. And the hardest.
It's silly, for sure. Reminds me of a darker version of Rudnick's [b:It's All Your Fault|25664996|It's All Your Fault|Paul Rudnick|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435706811s/25664996.jpg|45487903]. But it's surprisingly not as shallow as you might expect. It has lots of insights into the minds of teen girls and fangirls and, though comical, Moldavsky's observations ring true.
The joy you find as a teen, however frivolous and dumb, is pure, and meaningful. It doesn’t matter that it might ferment and taste different when you’re older. That’s the whole point of being a teenager - not worrying about the future.
The plot gets darker and darker. The narrator grows increasingly unreliable. But the comedy is a strong constant throughout, pulling the book back into the light when it threatens to get too dark.
It's funny, feminist, and diverse, with the Dominican Isabel and the fat, Chinese Apple. I will point out that some reviewers have taken issue with the way Apple's weight plays into some of the comedy. To me, it seemed like an unapologetic embracing of size, but then I don't have the same experiences and perspectives that bigger women do, so it would be stupid of me to dismiss these criticisms and not bring attention to them.
Anyway, for me, [b:Kill the Boy Band|25184383|Kill the Boy Band|Goldy Moldavsky|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1448318289s/25184383.jpg|44892290] was a fun, dark and interesting read.
By the way, for those of you who are now concerned for my sanity, I'm much cooler now.
Lol, jk.
But I can meet James Marsters and pose for cool pictures without being a total loser... :D
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