Reviews

Whatever Happens by Candace Buford

dantanian_noir's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

marena02's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

miaa_sx's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review

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4.0

I'm weird. I know I'm weird, so no need to tell me that. I did read the book of Julie and the Phantoms, and loved it to pieces and unexpectedly teared up while reading it, but I still haven't actually seen the Netflix series. What can I say? I'm a reader. I'm in every possible way a reader. Everything works better on paper than on screen for me. However, since I loved the book so much I had to have this second book.

Once more I flew through the book. It's an easy read, mostly because it's written in a very natural and realistic way. The dialogues feel real and the descriptions fit the point of view character. In this book we get to read from quite a few points of view, but the main focus were of course Julie and Luke, the ones telling each other everything about that one day they had felt the same kind of excitement as after the season finale.

Since this book is actually a prequel of the series, the excitement of not knowing how it will end and being surprised by emotional moments wasn't really there. We know how things will end, we knew what will happen after the days our main characters are talking about. In a way both stories read a little like dramatic irony. All the plans for the future the characters make, all the dreams they have and all the times they say "we do that tomorrow", we already know it's not gonna happen.

However, since we're in the past we especially get a far better idea of the daily life of our rock band heroes. Of course, we got the gist of their family issues, but reading them from their points of view is still different from having them told in throwaway lines. I also really loved getting to know Julie's mother on a way more personal level. We've heard about her, but in this book we actually get the chance to meet her.

I'm sure the impact of the series will actually be only bigger after this prequel. I hope there will be more books!

mbfeeney's review

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3.0

Ok, this was much better than the previous JATP book.

However, I feel that the author missed the mark just a little with the boys.

Her characterisation of Julie and Flynn was very good, but Luke and the other boys fell just a little flat. There were elements of them from the show, but she could have done so much more with them - especially with their banter.

Having said that, I will read more JATP books she writes

kaldan's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

heather_19's review

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4.0

I need a season 2 or more books!

brycerocksmysocks's review

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3.0

in protest of julie and the phantoms not being renewed for a second season

noa_rose's review

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4.0

Esta secuela parte directamente de donde termina el primero —tras Julie volviendo del concierto en el Orpheum y encontrando a los fantasmas en estudio— y, tras ese final, tanto ella como Luke rememoran sus días más especiales.

Realmente, más que una secuela, es casi un spin-off, ya que la trama no avanza y, cuando termina el libro, estamos prácticamente en el mismo punto que al comienzo. Aun así, me gustó conocer más a fondo el pasado de estos personajes.

racheljohnsxn's review

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4.0

immaculate incredible i ate every word up. need more jatp canon in my life. delicious