Hey all, Dani here.
Okay, so my book review for today is one I received in my OwlCrate box…I think it was the December box. I definitely like the OwlCrate exclusive cover’s color choices better than the original, but they are both nice to look at. Anyway, this is a book that I probably would have put off getting, or might have borrowed from the library, if I didn’t get it in a subscription box. But now that I’ve read it, I can say that I did enjoy it, and I’m glad to have a copy in my personal library.
Summary
A contemporary novel about a girl whose high school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream leads her to new friends—and maybe even new love.
The day of the last party of the summer, Claudia overhears a conversation she wasn’t supposed to. Now on the wrong side of one of the meanest girls in school, Claudia doesn’t know what to expect when the two are paired up to write a paper—let alone when they’re both forced to try out for the school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
But mandatory participation has its upsides—namely, an unexpected friendship, a boy band obsession, and a guy with the best dimpled smile Claudia’s ever seen. As Claudia’s world starts to expand, she finds that maybe there are some things worth sticking her neck out for.
My Thoughts
Rating: 4.5 stars
This was a cute, somewhat geeky, contemporary read. I actually really enjoyed having Claudia and Iris be forced together in both a school project and then also for the school production. The developing female friendship was one of the strongest aspects of the book, for me. I like that we are starting to get more books that have female friendships that have more substance to them. It is nice that not all friendships are just because of being in the same clique or just because of participating in the same extra-curriculars. And I liked that Claudia and Iris didn’t always agree. Friends can still be friends even if they have differing opinons. Since it was a newer friendship too, they had some bumps in the road to get through, and I think those strengthened their bond, which was also really cool.
However, it is that somewhat geeky part that caused me to lower the rating. I believed Iris in her fangirling over the band TION, because it was very clear that she was an unapologetic fan of theirs. I loved when she would gush about a music video, or an album, or a band interview or show DVD. It was adorable to see how excited she was about it all. But when it came to Claudia and the MMORPG she plays, it felt more like someone rattling off facts trying to sound like a fan instead of someone who is clearly passionate about the game. And that was disappointing to me. Perhaps Emma Mills isn’t a gamer. Or maybe she is. I don’t know. I just wanted to feel that same passion and excitement for this hobby that Claudia spends so much time with, especially since she gets her new friends to play as well. But maybe that’s just me.
I still enjoyed the book. It was a nice contemporary read, and it didn’t take me long to finish it. Sometimes it is nice for me to read something like this, where I don’t have to fully invest myself in figuring out the worldbuilding and the magic systems and the politics of a fantasy realm. So, I can honestly say I would recommend this book if it sounds interesting to you.
Where to Buy
You can pick up your own copy from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-million, Book Depository, or your local indie bookstore.
Free State of Geek 