Scan barcode
booksandladders's review against another edition
5.0
hall852's review against another edition
4.0
Olivia has always wanted to be a pop star, has spent years in plays and training. While Dana has always just been on the sidelines, cheering for her best friend. Bu everything changes when the two of them go to Orlando for Olivia’s audition and Dana is discovered also. It should be a dream come true, two friends living together during the summer before they go on tour. But the days are gruelling with long practices and constant competition is taking their toll and things between Olivia and Dana start to shift.
This book really shows what it was like to be in the show world, with all the competition, the long days and they even touched among eating disorders, but kinda brushed it aside which I didn't like. But like all friendships they have their ups and downs but eventually work things out. really enjoyed this book
This book really shows what it was like to be in the show world, with all the competition, the long days and they even touched among eating disorders, but kinda brushed it aside which I didn't like. But like all friendships they have their ups and downs but eventually work things out. really enjoyed this book
jessturnsthepage's review against another edition
3.0
It was alright. It kept me wanting to keep reading. It's like a typical teen book.
pineapple_kh's review against another edition
3.0
I mostly liked this book, but Olivia was such a terrible friend/person that it made me like it less. Yes, she wanted the fame more or whatever, but there's no reason to force a pact onto your "friend" that you have no intention of keeping.
bernadettebloom's review against another edition
4.0
Dana and Olivia are best friends. So when they both get picked from an audition to be part of a girl group (think Spice Girls) the competition is on. Their friendship is tested, and the pressure of life in the public eye starts to mount.
I really liked this book. But as with all of Cotugno’s novels, they never go the way I want them to. The characters make good choices and bad decisions and it’s all so messy sometimes. And frankly, she’s a brave author for sending the story in a way she knows readers might not like.
I really liked this book. But as with all of Cotugno’s novels, they never go the way I want them to. The characters make good choices and bad decisions and it’s all so messy sometimes. And frankly, she’s a brave author for sending the story in a way she knows readers might not like.
brittany_tellefsen's review against another edition
2.0
With an average rating of 3.42 stars, Fireworks by Katie Cotugno was one of the lowest rated books on my TBR. That made me very hesitant, especially since this would be my first ever read of hers and I own all her published novels (Why do I do that?)
I wish I could say that this blew me away and I cannot understand how it could possibly be rated so low. Sadly, after finishing, I am in the majority camp as I am coming in with a rating of a 2.5 stars.
First, let me say that I did enjoy the overall story. I felt that it was a fun and quick read, but it was ultimately very superficial and forgettable and no real "meat" to give it any substance or memorability.
Here were my main issues with the story:
1. Pacing. I am referring to the pacing of events in this book and how quickly everything happened. It went from Olivia and Dana auditioning, to them giving live performances by mid-way through the story. The first half of the book takes place only within a month's time, which seems oddly fast for such events to occur. This also affected the ability to connect to plot or characters, since neither were really fleshed out.
2. Insta-Love. On the same note as pacing, the relationship in here happened almost instantaneously and felt very forced and unnecessary. The overall point and purpose of the story seemed to be the friendship dynamic between Olivia and Dana, yet they threw in a boy, who, while arguable the best character in the story, ultimately did not contribute to the plot and had no real purpose. He was just.....there.
3. Characters- Truth be told, the majority of the characters in here were fairly unlikeable. And on top of that, they really had no development.
4. Girl Drama - Now, I am not one who disregards the "mean girls" trope because it is a terrible depiction of female relationships and is a negative influence on women. I actually find that the trope is realistic and accurate to real life, and that was no different in this story. Even so, I don't usually care to read about it.
Almost as soon as Dana and Olivia arrive and start their rehearsals, Olivia essentially turns on her best friend, forgetting their life-long friendship and focusing only on being the best and taking the spotlight. She has distorted views on the situation, viewing Dana as thief, wanting to steal the glory, when Dana originally had no intention on auditioning for the group and was treated like garbage by the other roommates from the beginning......
5. The Ending. That girl drama I referenced above? Yeah. It hit its worse within the last chapter or two of the book, solidifying Olivia has the worst friend ever, and it was never resolved which made almost the entire book pointless in my opinion.
Sadly, Fireworks was not for me. It was just a very "meh" book, and had it ended more satisfactorily, I would probably have given it a low three-star rating.
I wish I could say that this blew me away and I cannot understand how it could possibly be rated so low. Sadly, after finishing, I am in the majority camp as I am coming in with a rating of a 2.5 stars.
First, let me say that I did enjoy the overall story. I felt that it was a fun and quick read, but it was ultimately very superficial and forgettable and no real "meat" to give it any substance or memorability.
Here were my main issues with the story:
1. Pacing. I am referring to the pacing of events in this book and how quickly everything happened. It went from Olivia and Dana auditioning, to them giving live performances by mid-way through the story. The first half of the book takes place only within a month's time, which seems oddly fast for such events to occur. This also affected the ability to connect to plot or characters, since neither were really fleshed out.
2. Insta-Love. On the same note as pacing, the relationship in here happened almost instantaneously and felt very forced and unnecessary. The overall point and purpose of the story seemed to be the friendship dynamic between Olivia and Dana, yet they threw in a boy, who, while arguable the best character in the story, ultimately did not contribute to the plot and had no real purpose. He was just.....there.
3. Characters- Truth be told, the majority of the characters in here were fairly unlikeable. And on top of that, they really had no development.
4. Girl Drama - Now, I am not one who disregards the "mean girls" trope because it is a terrible depiction of female relationships and is a negative influence on women. I actually find that the trope is realistic and accurate to real life, and that was no different in this story. Even so, I don't usually care to read about it.
Almost as soon as Dana and Olivia arrive and start their rehearsals, Olivia essentially turns on her best friend, forgetting their life-long friendship and focusing only on being the best and taking the spotlight. She has distorted views on the situation, viewing Dana as thief, wanting to steal the glory, when Dana originally had no intention on auditioning for the group and was treated like garbage by the other roommates from the beginning......
5. The Ending. That girl drama I referenced above? Yeah. It hit its worse within the last chapter or two of the book, solidifying Olivia has the worst friend ever, and it was never resolved which made almost the entire book pointless in my opinion.
Sadly, Fireworks was not for me. It was just a very "meh" book, and had it ended more satisfactorily, I would probably have given it a low three-star rating.
blakehalsey's review against another edition
5.0
One of the ultimate best friend books. Bittersweet, romantic, tense. And, set during the late 90s, which is exactly when I would've fit into Dana and Olivia's world. Loved this so much.
maiasreads_16's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.0