[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
Saturday is one of the hottest pop groups around. Angel is the fun one; Jon is the sexy one. Zach is the “bad boy.” And Ruben is the blank slate. The label wants him to be the “every guy” who can fit any niche a fan might want that the other three don’t. And that means there is NO room for him to share that he’s gay.
Everything from the boys’ images to their off-stage wardrobes to their choreography is dictated by the label. They want what they want, and they expect the guys to stand and deliver.
But in a moment of vulnerability, Zach acts on feelings he’s been trying to ignore. He kisses Ruben. And everything changes – Zach’s self-concept and identity, the band’s dynamic (even though no one else knows what happened), and the friendship between Zach and Ruben.
If this gets out? It will shake the foundation of everything – the group, their fan base, their record deal, and their future.
Review
This was such a great read! For me there were two aspects of the story – the romance and the band life. Both were so well done.
I liked Ruben and Zach as individuals and also as a couple. All four guys in the group are fascinating, and I loved their fierce devotion to one another. Ruben and Zach get to tell their own stories, which is powerful. Readers are along for the ride as Zach wrestles with his sexual identity and Ruben waffles between his determination to be fully himself and the pressure to give in under all of the gaslighting, manipulation, abuse, and coercion from the adults around him.
The psychology of the novel was my favorite part, though. The manipulation from the label. The identity journey for Zach and for Ruben to a lesser degree. The group dynamics in the “band.” One character’s “merging” behavior (losing himself as he tries to accommodate everyone else first). It’s all SO well done and a joy to dig into.
Come for the romance and the behind-the-scenes look at the music business. Stay for the fantastic characters and the brilliant, insightful moments throughout the story! (Language, sex, alcohol/drug use, LGBTQ+, TW: gaslighting/manipulation/verbal abuse)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥*
*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.