Such a Ginger Read: Fireworks by Katie Cotugno

Where I read a book and then label it as "Such a Ginger Read" because, well, it is such a Ginger read. To see my first edition post of this new feature, please click here.

Fireworks by Katie Cotugno
Published: April 18, 2017 by Harper Collins/ Balzer + Bray
Source: e-ARC from publisher

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. [goodreads]

I had the honor of reading an early copy of this book back in 2016. Already I knew it was a 2017 release that would make waves, and definitely find its place as Such a Ginger Read. Katie Cotugno's writing has always captured my attention. She has a way of telling a story that is endless with its depth, yet so relateable at the same time. She's definitely one of my favorite YA contemporary writers and this novel only proves it more.

As someone who grew up in the 90s as a teenager, the beginning of the boy/girl-band craze is something I can so relate to. I loved how Cotugno takes us back to a time when 90s pop music was all the rage, along with the fashion, and iconic symbols. This novel screams nostalgia for me. There was potential for cheesiness though; however, as I've come to realize with Cotugno's stories, she took what could have been a two dimensional storyline and gave it lungs to breath on its own. The story was so rich, I found myself not wanting to put it down.

The friendship between Olivia and Dana is one I'll remember (and I have, all these months later since I read it). Their relationship was more than tangible, it symbolized so many great friendships from my past. The kind you can rely on and fall back on when life gets rough. But there was an honest portrayal of what can become of friendships through those crucial growing years. These two girls were definitely experiencing some major changes and it was interesting to witness their friendship change as they did. I really appreciated the authentic ending Cotugno delivers.

And then there was the boy. I was definitely picturing young Justin Timberlake as I read the character of Alex. His relationship with Dana was sweet and enduring, yet electrifying and thrilling, as all young first loves should be. It gave this already rich story the icing on the cake. 90s pop music + an emotional contemporary YA is definitely Such a Ginger Read! 

99 Days by Katie Cotugno

99 Days by Katie Cotugno
Published: April 21, 2015 by HarperTeen
Source: From the publisher

Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me. [goodreads]

Every so often I'll come across a book that delves into a subject matter that's hard to stomach.  99 Days by Katie Cotugno reached that place deep within me, causing me to stop and reflect, contemplating if I could keep reading, yet not being able to resist the pull from page to page.  Cheating is such a tough subject to read about in books for me.  Automatically my mind wants to scream: wrong! wrong! wrong! And not give the accused a moment to state their case.  Yet this particular novel forced me to listen, really hear what the other side had to say.  And my, what an incredible, thought provoking story did it have to tell.

Molly Barlow is hated by so many in the small town of Star Lake.  She did the unthinkable by cheating on her devoted boyfriend, breaking apart an already crippled family.  From the outside all signs are pointing toward negativity when it comes to Molly's actions.  Even she couldn't handle the truth and skipped town as soon as she could.  But now she's back, to face the music, for just 99 days, until she's able to escape the hell she's brought on herself for good.

The character of Molly was a complicated one that took awhile to present herself.  She is guarded and hurting.  As the reader, I found it intriguing that I wanted to know why she was hurting so much.  Even though I knew her actions were wrong, I still found myself wanting to discover the reasons behind her story.  What led to these events? How can she put it behind her and truly move on?  I knew being involved with Gabe, the catalyst that ultimately separated Molly and Patrick, was a very bad move to make.  Yet I continued to follow her path, seeking answers, only to discover even more questions.

There are moments in this story that left me hurting, right along side Molly.  When literature has the power to provide empathy for a character who's actions should be unforgivable, you realize there's something much deeper here than just a book offering up an entertaining story.  I appreciate the honesty in Katie Cotugno's writing, no matter how unlikable the subject matter may be.  The power that propels this story is one I was not expecting.  There is healing in these words, whispering, almost shouting in parts, to be heard.  For readers who are on the fence when it comes to difficult subject matters such as this one, I highly encourage you to give this one a try.  The beauty in this story will surprise you.  The authenticity in its bravery will coax out a wanting to keep reading, until you reach that final page.

Waiting On: 99 Days by Katie Cotugno

99 Days by Katie Cotugno
To be published: April 21, 2015 by Balzer + Bray

Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me. [goodreads]

I really gravitated toward Katie Cotugno's writing in her debut novel, How to Love.  It's a style that really appealed to my eye and made me instantly aware of anything new she'd be sending out into the universe once again.  I'm curious to find out the reasons behind this turmoil that seems to be circulating around these new characters.  And I'm also hoping for a repeat of another slow, authentic, page-turning romance.  Anyone else waiting patiently for Cotugno's next YA?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

How to Love by Katie Cotugno

How to Love by Katie Cotugno
Published: October 1, 2013 by Balzer + Bray
Source: Borrowed from Tara - thank you!

Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he's never seemed to notice that Reena even exists until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated-and pregnant-Reena behind.

After: Almost three years have passed, and there's a new love in Reena's life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena's gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she's finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn't want anything to do with him, though she'd be lying if she said Sawyer's being back wasn't stirring something in her. After everything that's happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again? [goodreads]

Messy and complicated love.  That is exactly what this story is about.  HOW TO LOVE depicts young love during its fresh, exciting, and addicting time.  It also represents love when its being tested and stretched beyond its bounds.  HOW TO LOVE is an authentic story full of heartbreak and how to put those pieces back together.  Yes, there's a romantic story here, but there's also a bigger story about how that romance affects us and those we love.

Reena has been secretly in love with Sawyer all her life.  They've grown up close since their parents share a restaurant together.  The view that Reena has of Sawyer has always been a bit deeper than what most people see at the surface.  But its always just been that, a view far off in the distance.  While she's on the path to early graduation and getting out of town -- something she's longed for almost as long as Sawyer -- her life's plans come to a crushing halt.  An unfortunate accident occurs, bringing together Reena and Sawyer in a new, unexpected way.

The story is told in alternating chapters of a Before and After.  The Before tells the story of how Reena and Sawyer first fell in love.  Its brand new, exciting, and somewhat blind.  As Sawyer is carrying around demons of his own, he finds himself falling hopelessly and madly in love with Reena.  The After tells the story of Reena almost three years later, a teenage mom who never left this town and carries around a broken heart by her baby's father.

As the story weaves on, you begin to see how the Befores lead up to equal the Afters.  Reena and Sawyer's young love became every bit messy and oh so complicated.  There were moments that left me feeling so uneasy and heartbroken.  I wanted the two of them to be together, yet I knew as teenagers they both had a lot of living yet to do.  The writing is powerful and will grip you hardest when you least expect it to.  I could have easily read this book in one sitting, especially since my mind kept wandering back to it when I was forced to put it down.

HOW TO LOVE is not your predictable young adult fairy tale romance.  It is raw and painful, beautiful and enchanting.  These characters are littered with flaws, yet they make the story feel that much more real and authentic.  I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I think those who crave young adult literature with a heavy dose of realism and emotion will too.