Narrated by: Aysha Kala and Huw Parmenter
Pages: 396
Published: 3rd May 2018
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Content warnings: Mental health storyline, transphobia
For Angel Rahimi, life is only about one thing: The Ark – a pop-rock trio of teenage boys who are currently taking the world by storm. Being part of The Ark’s fandom has given her everything – her friendships, her dreams, her place in the world.
Jimmy Kaga-Ricci owes everything to The Ark too. He’s their frontman – and playing in a band is all he’s ever dreamed of doing. It’s just a shame that recently everything in his life seems to have turned into a bit of a nightmare.
Because that’s the problem with dreaming – eventually, inevitably, real life arrives with a wake-up call. And when Angel and Jimmy are unexpectedly thrust together, they will discover just how strange and surprising facing up to reality can be.
Fandom takes many different forms. It can be toxic, it can be tribal, but it can also help people find a light in their lives as well as others to share their passions with. In this witty yet highly intelligent story we see authentic depictions of all possible sides of the spectrum with strong use of dual perspectives, making it both an entertaining and insightful read that provides plenty of food for thought.
While on the face of it a young adult book about a boyband and a fangirl may seem like something light and frivolous, there is a large helping of depth to be found here, particularly in the way the themes are explored. As we alternate between two angst-ridden, emotionally compelling narrators, we see just how far apart fame can lift celebrities away from their adoring fans and what happens when the two worlds collide.
The narrators complement each other so well, and the author invites us into their rather lonely, insecure worlds in a way that makes us able to connect with them easily. Angel is well realised as an anxious girl who obsesses over all the online gossip about The Ark, a three-piece boyband whose popularity is a little similar to that of One Direction. Like many others, she has a crush on attractive member Jimmy Kaga-Ricci.
But for all his success, Jimmy is going through personal turmoil. He is struggling to deal with the attention and pressure, causing rifts with his bandmates. Jimmy’s perspective is actually very hard-hitting, characterised by wariness and fear as he rebels against his life being ruled by agents and music executive. He enters a dark place, and eventually you just want to give him a hug.
What makes Angel so likeable is her selfless, down-to-earth nature. She unashamedly loves The Ark and they consume so much of her life and her thoughts, but not in a dangerous way. It is fascinating to exist inside Jimmy’s head and feel his genuine terror at the idea of being attacked or confronted by a crazed fan, but Angel is not like that at all. They are her escape.
Angel’s friendship with Juliet is another impactful aspect of the story. They are from different walks of life and do not have a huge amount in common, but their love of The Ark brings them together and it was hard not to feel invested as they go through several peaks and troughs. It is easy to underestimate Juliet at first but we eventually find there is a lot to her as a character, although her perseverance with Mac – who really grates – is frustrating.
One moment that strikes as very relatable is when the two meet, and the author’s frequent changes in narrator here help capture the awkwardness of it. Meeting the people you idolise is something we think about, but we are never prepared for that to actually happen. Like many a fan, Angel regards Jimmy as someone beyond a mere human and he instinctively sees her as a potential threat, which leads to an edgy though well written scene that neither can handle with any composure.
As for the other characters, Jimmy’s bandmates have strong personalities despite their sheltered lives, especially Rowan who can be quite hot-headed and lacking in empathy at times. Bliss is fun and laidback for someone dating a pop star, but nobody brings the story loveably down-to-earth in a better way than Jimmy’s grandad, who is there to put everything into perspective. He is the oldest character in the book, but easily the coolest.
The main weaknesses to be found here are in terms of the pacing, for some sections are dragged out just a little bit in the latter part of the story. A few aspects of the plot felt unnecessary and it could possibly have done with being a tad shorter, but none of that stops it from being a thoroughly enjoyable read, with the writing style engaging and believable throughout. Creating the whole aura of The Ark and bringing them to life also took really strong imagination.
Overall, this may seem fairly low-brow on the surface but underneath that there is a sea of depth, particularly from a thematic point of view which is where the book truly succeeds. Readers will see themselves in Angel while Jimmy’s powerful narrative voice offers a window to another walk of life. Not everything about it is completely polished, but the characters shine and will strike many a chord.
It drags a little around the three-quarter mark, but otherwise this was a really fun listen with a set of memorable characters and themes that are fantastically well.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
