Synopsis:
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.
Review:
I’m yet to dislike an Alice Oseman book and I honestly don’t think that will ever happen. I Was Born for This is now my second favourite written novel by Alice Oseman and I had a great time reading it.
It was so interesting to read a story about fame and fandom from the perspectives of a fan and a celebrity – especially when their paths cross. I did wonder how well the book would flow with these different perspectives, but it actually made a lot of sense.
As with all Alice Oseman books, I Was Born for This had incredible representation. Our main characters include a questioning muslim and a biracial gay trans male. It was obvious, even before seeing the extensive list of people who supported the writing of these characters, that Alice Oseman did careful research into the varying aspects of what it meant to be a part of these communities and religions. Everything was written with clear consideration and sensitivity.
The plot is completely wild but that’s what made it such a great read. It’s definitely not realistic that you’ll end up meeting your favourite band member in a bathroom after someone threw a brick at a different member during a meet and greet, but it does make for an interesting read.
I adore how fandom is painted in I Was Born for This. As someone who was part of a fandom as a teenager, it felt extremely nostalgic. I’ve used the phrase ‘a love letter to fandom’ in a book review before, and that applies to this as well. I Was Born for This does show the darker side to fandom, but it also shows the nicer sides and proves that not all fans are screaming teenage girls.
I was hoping to write a, let’s be honest, better review than this, but life got in the way and I didn’t have time to write this after reading. It’s now been 10 days since I finished reading and like an idiot, I didn’t make any notes – I really need to stop doing that.
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