Mundie Moms

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Fireworks by Katie Cotugno / Book Review #fireworks


Published by: Harper Collins 
Released on: April 18, 2017
Add it to: Goodreads
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Source: Purchased


From Katie Cotugno, bestselling author of 99 Days, comes Fireworks—about a girl who is competing with her best friend to become the new pop star of the moment—and all the drama and romance that comes with it—set in Orlando during the late-'90s boy-and-girl-band craze.

It was always meant to be Olivia. She was the talented one, the one who had been training to be a star her whole life. Her best friend, Dana, was the level-headed one, always on the sidelines, cheering her best friend along. 

But everything changes when Dana tags along with Olivia to Orlando for the weekend, where superproducer Guy Monroe is holding auditions for a new singing group, and Dana is discovered too. Dana, who’s never sung more than Olivia’s backup. Dana, who wasn’t even looking for fame. Next thing she knows, she and Olivia are training to be pop stars, and Dana is falling for Alex, the earnest, endlessly talented boy who’s destined to be the next big thing. 

It should be a dream come true, but as the days of grueling practice and constant competition take their toll, things between Olivia and Dana start to shift . . . and there’s only room at the top for one girl. For Olivia, it’s her chance at her dream. For Dana, it’s a chance to escape a future that seems to be closing in on her. And for these lifelong best friends, it’s the adventure of a lifetime—if they can make it through. 

Set in evocative 1990s Orlando, New York Times bestselling author Katie Cotugno’s Fireworks brings to life the complexity of friendship, the excitement of first love, and the feeling of being on the verge of greatness.


Have you ever wondered what it was like for those contestants on American Idol or for One Direction when they first started? Or, more my generation, NSync? These bands or singers who are put together for marketing purposes and then catapulted to stardom. I know, I have wondered what life was like for them. The pressure. The microscope of fans, record companies, management all expecting them to give it their all every single day.

I was so excited to read Fireworks, because of the synopsis. As a boy band fangirl of old, my heart always falls for this trope. And I was really looking forward to reading a Katie Cotugno story, because I've seen her last book, 99 Days, simply everywhere (okay, mostly at Target, Costco and Walmart -- you guys know where to find me). 

The set up of the book is perfect. A wallflower best friend who cheers on her diva-wanna-be pal. But, a few things just didn't catch my attention as much as I would've expected. I did love their friendship, but the pitfalls of Dana not being as prepared as Olivia and the others felt a little contrived. As did some of the plot points that happened. The plot was just a tad too predictable for me. I would've loved to see it be a little more fleshed out or at least deviate a bit more from the trope.

All in all though, it is a quick and easy read. One that is perfect for these long summer days when we all find ourselves unable to escape the heat. I did enjoy reading about the process of becoming a girl band. Like I said, it's something I'll never tire of reading. So, if you're like me, throw this one in your beach bag and sit back and enjoy all those boy band/girl band fandom memories. 

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