evierysik's review against another edition
4.0
This book is wonderfully queer and I love to see it. That said, there were a few things that I wished had been explored more in depth, such as the main character's relationship with her parent's. I didn't particularly care for the seemingly never ending drama but, overall the book was decent.
inkyginge's review against another edition
2.0
Good range of POC and Queer characters. It was fine and average fluffy novel. It is enjoyable enough. Good for the lead romance to have a non cis partner.
I didn't hate or regret reading it, but I felt most of it was the main characters thinking about hot people look. To many descriptions of kissing, which seemed to be the main way of building intimacy. Building tension by being amongst friends and trying not not let people know they are into each other kind of falls flat because it keeps happening several times.
Also which kids who grew up in LA don't know who David Bowie is? I really don't think it makes Alfie cool and alternative for singing rebel rebel at school?
I didn't hate or regret reading it, but I felt most of it was the main characters thinking about hot people look. To many descriptions of kissing, which seemed to be the main way of building intimacy. Building tension by being amongst friends and trying not not let people know they are into each other kind of falls flat because it keeps happening several times.
Also which kids who grew up in LA don't know who David Bowie is? I really don't think it makes Alfie cool and alternative for singing rebel rebel at school?
readabookorfive's review against another edition
3.0
The Brightsiders is a book that I was so determined to have on my N.E.W.Ts tbr because I wanted to read it so badly and was absolutely convinced that it would be a 5* read for me but unfortunately, I wasn't so impressed with this book but, saying that, I did enjoy it and there were some things that I really liked about it!
One of my absolute favourite things about this book was the sheer amount of representation we had! Our main character was bi, we had a love interest who is pan and transitioned from being a female to being genderqueer who uses he/him pronouns, another character called Chloe (what a GREAT name) who is black, bi and uses they/them/their pronouns, an Asian character who comes out as bi, another bi female character and two lesbians. And, it all felt so natural and authentic within the story. As well as there being no assumption of gender. In one scene, the band are playing at a queer prom and a character is described as a person in a yellow dress rather than using pronouns and I just loved it so much. Jen Wilde is so good at making sure her books have so much representation and a character that everyone who picks it up can relate to.
There were some characters in the book that I just really liked. Especially Will who was just an absolute sunshine who lit up every single scene he was in, I also loved the cameos from the characters in Queens of Geek who I loved so much. And, for the most part, apart from one scene, I really loved Alfie, he was a highlight of the book for me.
I also really liked, although I don't think that's the right word, that Wilde wasn't scared to show an emotionally abusive relationship within this book and really show the effects that the abuser had on our main character. Also, she didn't romanticise the relationship AT ALL which, for some reasons, a lot of authors seem to do.
Unfortunately, there were some things I didn't like about this book.
One of the big things I really didn't enjoy was that some of the things that happened, I was just like really though? Like, I just thought some things that happened within the book were a little bit unrealistic and just pulled me out of the story completely.
Another thing that I noticed was that, I've read books about musicians that had a lot more of a musical focus which this one was really lacking and I've enjoyed a LOT more. For example the The Songs About trilogy by Chris Russell which is about a band and focuses a lot more on the music and the dynamic of the band. I wanted to see more of the band aspects of the book and not the stupid, sometimes petty, drama of the characters.
One of my absolute favourite things about this book was the sheer amount of representation we had! Our main character was bi, we had a love interest who is pan and transitioned from being a female to being genderqueer who uses he/him pronouns, another character called Chloe (what a GREAT name) who is black, bi and uses they/them/their pronouns, an Asian character who comes out as bi, another bi female character and two lesbians. And, it all felt so natural and authentic within the story. As well as there being no assumption of gender. In one scene, the band are playing at a queer prom and a character is described as a person in a yellow dress rather than using pronouns and I just loved it so much. Jen Wilde is so good at making sure her books have so much representation and a character that everyone who picks it up can relate to.
There were some characters in the book that I just really liked. Especially Will who was just an absolute sunshine who lit up every single scene he was in, I also loved the cameos from the characters in Queens of Geek who I loved so much. And, for the most part, apart from one scene, I really loved Alfie, he was a highlight of the book for me.
I also really liked, although I don't think that's the right word, that Wilde wasn't scared to show an emotionally abusive relationship within this book and really show the effects that the abuser had on our main character. Also, she didn't romanticise the relationship AT ALL which, for some reasons, a lot of authors seem to do.
Unfortunately, there were some things I didn't like about this book.
One of the big things I really didn't enjoy was that some of the things that happened, I was just like really though? Like, I just thought some things that happened within the book were a little bit unrealistic and just pulled me out of the story completely.
Another thing that I noticed was that, I've read books about musicians that had a lot more of a musical focus which this one was really lacking and I've enjoyed a LOT more. For example the The Songs About trilogy by Chris Russell which is about a band and focuses a lot more on the music and the dynamic of the band. I wanted to see more of the band aspects of the book and not the stupid, sometimes petty, drama of the characters.
grey_skiess's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
marineb09's review against another edition
4.0
Like Queens of Geek, The Brightsiders was a quick funny sweet and heartbreaking story ... :)
I really love how Jen Wilde described her characters, they are flawed, sweet and real and you can really see part of yourself in them.
I seriously screamed at my book at one point because I was pissed at the situation haha
Can't wait for the next book really ;)
I really love how Jen Wilde described her characters, they are flawed, sweet and real and you can really see part of yourself in them.
I seriously screamed at my book at one point because I was pissed at the situation haha
Can't wait for the next book really ;)
nahtagain's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It is definitely written for a younger audience but I still enjoyed it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
mehsi's review against another edition
Dropped at 42%. Don't get me wrong, this was a pretty OK book up to around 40%. But sorry, I am just not happy with how our MC just falls for her bandmate right after a very big break-up, right after her ex was being so jealous about that person. Way to show her she was actually right all along. I wouldn't have minded the romance between these characters IF it took them a bit longer to develop, maybe give our MC some time to think about the whole break-up, her feelings, etc.. Now it just felt weird and awkward. Plus I would have loved to see more of the band as a band. Concerts, lives, tours, all that stuff. I couldn't really get the feeling that this band was so famous. It just felt like a tiny relatively unknown band.
Great cast of characters though. Lots of diversity.
Great cast of characters though. Lots of diversity.
lemonlohan's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars.
I loved Wilde's other two books so I was excited for this one but I was a little disappointed. The representation seemed to be done well but the store definitely didn't have much happening and the writing wasn't as well done as her other two.
I loved Wilde's other two books so I was excited for this one but I was a little disappointed. The representation seemed to be done well but the store definitely didn't have much happening and the writing wasn't as well done as her other two.
biblioemily's review against another edition
3.0
The good: LGBTQIA+ representation & diversity!
The bad: the writing. so much telling instead of showing. this one seemed worse than Queens of Geek in that regard.
I am still glad a book like this exists, but the writing made it challenging for me to read. I have no doubt that many teen readers will enjoy this book. Alcohol abuse, sex, abusive parents all make it lean high school.
The bad: the writing. so much telling instead of showing. this one seemed worse than Queens of Geek in that regard.
I am still glad a book like this exists, but the writing made it challenging for me to read. I have no doubt that many teen readers will enjoy this book. Alcohol abuse, sex, abusive parents all make it lean high school.
mora55's review against another edition
all i have to say about this is that attraction to another person seems very inconvenient