#Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning

[theforbiddentower]

"This is Paul," Dean said. "He wants to manage us."

And with those eight words everything changed. I didn't realise that something monumental had happened. You never recognise those big moments when they happen, its only afterwards when you look back and wonder at the weirdness that you realise. Right then, I sipped a Diet Coke that someone had thrust into my hand and nodded and smiled as Paul talked at me and Dean about how he was going to make us famous.

-Guitar Girl, Sarra Manning

[slashingdisneypasta]

Cain licked a hailstone right off Tallulah Casey's face for no apparent reason other then cuz he's bad and odd, Chris had a 'supervillain glare' to protect Em Watts at a party, Dean completely manipulated Molly Montgomery to get famous, Hayden and (a different) Chris were both actual enemies with their respective heroines at the start, and Sebastian straight-up used Penn O'Connell for a study,...

Just looking at the love interests in the books I used to read when I was 10-13 and realising they totally set me up for the men I like now 😅XD

The books, for anyone interested:

Cain and Tallulah are from Louise Rennison's hilarious Wuthering Tights Trilogy. These are so so funny, and I read the second one like a thousand times XDD Louise Rennison also did Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging and that is also amazing XDD You cant stop at just a few pages, you canttt XD

Chris and Em are from Meg Cabot's brilliant Airhead trilogy. AHH this one was my PERSONALITY for like a whole year. I cant even explain what this series was for me!

Dean and Molly are from Sarra Manning's Guitar Girl. ... I had (have) a huge crush on their evil manager Paul 😅 Also it has a great ending ^^ 'Instead we signed to a tiny, teeny label who can just about afford to take us out for coffee, and we write songs about what we watched on telly the other night. Oh, and dark-haired boys who steal your heart away' still gets to me.

Hayden is from Tara Eglington's How To Keep a Boy from Kissing You Duo. Oh, young me thought she was gonna be sooo popular with the boys XDD And well, Young Hannah- I must say you're going to be disappointed. Not because boys don't like you, but because you don't want them 😅😅😅

Chris is from Rachael Wing's Star Crossed. This was pretty much my first x reader fanfic XD You get to be Juliet to Chris' Romeo. I was a lil more interested in the dads though... is that a surprise? no.

And Sebastian and Penn are from Nansi Kunze's EXCELLENT Mishaps. This one??? THIS ONE??? Even more indescribable then Airhead. I just, ughhhhhhhh. I think I got a whole lotta my need to write from this book.

[bookishbratbabe]

7 Covers in 7 Days - Day 2

Rules: no reviews or explanations, just 7 of your favorite book covers

Tagging: @bookworm-of-camelot (if you want to or haven’t already done this) and anyone else who wants to participate

[beautyandthebeastlyloveofbooks]

So sometimes I felt like I was being torn apart until there was nothing left of me. And other times I felt so top-of-the-world fantastic, I thought my heart would explode into a million glittery pieces..✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.☆.*｡･ﾟ✫*..✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*..・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*

~Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning

[vices-aand-virtues]

30 Day Book Challenge

Days 4-8 — work got so busy this week y’all 🤦🏼‍♀️

——

Day 4 — Book You Remember From Childhood

I have 2 that really stick out to me:

• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (elementary school)

• Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning (middle school)

For some reason, I was obsessed with Treasure Island as a kid. I read the book with my dad in 2nd Grade, then I watched all movie formats of it that were available. Muppet Treasure Island was one of my absolute favorite movies.

Guitar Girl I read in my pre-teen/teen years (can’t remember exactly which) and it really stuck with me. I read it multiple times over those years. I wanted so bad to be a cool guitar girl.

——

Day 5 — Favorite Classic Novel

Ah shit, here we go again.

Pride & Prejudice.

Forever and always.

I’ve read it several times and have seen almost every movie/TV/online adaptation. I’ve also read Pride & Prejudice & Zombies which, imo, is hysterical.

——

Day 6 — Book That Broke Your Heart

Oof this one is hard because I’ve had fiction books that broke my heart and I’ve had non-fiction books break my heart. Both for the same reason: they’re sad or bittersweet. But I guess they break my heart in different ways since one is real and one is not. So I suppose I’ll choose one of each.

• Fiction — The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

• Non-Fiction — The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

Book Thief....it stayed with me for many years. I’ve read it a couple times and it still hits me just as hard. The movie, while not perfect, brought it to life and made it even more heartbreaking imo.

Spirit Catches You is something I feel like you have to read to really get the brunt of the awfulness. But the gist is that a Hmong family is trying to heal their daughter’s illness but Western medicine is consistently failing them and is shoved down their throats despite their desire to do things in respect to their culture. It’s so, so heartbreaking and despicable to read about how people treat(ed) them.

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Day 7 — Best Audiobook to Listen to on a Roadtrip

Ok here’s my question: do you want just a really good book that’s narrated well but may not be very long, or do you want something that’s a good book, narrated well, and really long? Eh let’s do both.

• Great Audiobook, not long: I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

• Great Audiobook, long: Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon

I’ll Give You the Sun is outstanding. It’s YA, which might turn some people off, but it’s truly excellent. One of my favorite books I read in 2018 and definitely one of my favorite ones since I started really reading again in 2017.

Outlander is kinda soapy and a bit much at times, but, despite being long, it’s an easy read, imo. It’s got good plots and plenty of action and romance to suit your fancy. I really enjoy it honestly. The show is also delightful.

——

Day 8 — Series Everyone Should Read

OOF!! How to choose!! There are several series I feel are definitely worth reading. Maybe I should make it series’ instead? 😁

• Harry Potter (7 books, complete)

• Anne of Green Gables (8 books, complete)

• Divergent (3 books + 1 novella, complete)

• The Hunger Games (3 books + prequel in the works, complete?)

• A Series of Unfortunate Events (13 books, complete)

• Cormoran Strike Series (4 books, incomplete)

• Game of Thrones (5 books, incomplete)

All of these series’ I have thoroughly enjoyed as books and in their film/TV adaptations. There are a few other series I really like as well, but I thought 7 was enough. But I’m happy to recommend them if anyone is curious :)

[memoriallibrarytmc]

What’s Here Wednesday: Guitar Ellison Die Cut

What’s Here Wednesday: Guitar Ellison Die Cut!

Strum along in the Inspiration Station with this guitar die. You can also read some books about guitar players, many of them true stories!

The blues of Flats Brown by Walter Dean Myers

Finding the music by Jennifer Torres

Talkin’ guitar by Robbin Gourley

Django by Bonnie Christensen 

Guitar girl by Sarra Manning

[burtonslittlehelper]

I've actually got a book called Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning and now we come to Drummer Girl! I've got this from my local library. It's all snake print and bright pink, the chapters are made up of a tracklist.. pretty cool :) #yabooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookreview #youngadultfiction #youngadultbooks #drummergirl #bridgettyler #musicfiction https://www.instagram.com/p/BwXVbs2HOz_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rq76vbg18by5

[brettyimages]

for the book asks: h, i, & t

H. Hidden Gem BookI don't know if I really read books that can be classed as 'hidden gems', the things I pick up that don't come with a reputation never turn out to be good. The only thing I can really come up with is The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides which I hardly ever find in charity shops although another of his books is common, anyway I thought it was magical and way better than the movie which is beautiful in itself 
I. Important Moments of Your Reading LifeA few:- getting Roald Dahl and Jacqueline Wilson sets for Christmas when I was young - getting Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning from the YA section when I was just getting into rock music- doing personal study for English at school and reading Carrie by Stephen King and The Pact by Jodi Picoult- picking up The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath at the University library and reading it on one return train journey - starting my own little library of charity shop books - working in Shelter doing online book sales and taking home a boxful every couple of monthsT. Three Of Your All-Time Favorite BooksThe Bell Jar, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

[afoolsingenuity]

My Thoughts // Books Which Shaped Me

I have been blogging for over three years. My blogoversary was last month and I didn’t do anything to celebrate (for shame, I know) but I wanted to mark it in some way. I’ve been sitting on this post for about a month because of that face. I could have written about what I’ve learnt during my time blogging but, to be honest, I’m still learning and what I do know everyone else has taught me so I don’t really feel comfortable relaying other people’s knowledge. Anyway, I decided instead to focus on books. I started this blog because I like reading and so I figure my three year blogoversary should be about books.

I have been reading since I was young and sure, sometimes I wasn’t as avid a reader as I am now, but I have been reading for as long as I can remember. I didn’t stop reading at secondary school or high school as many did. I didn’t get put off reading after you pass the mandatory ‘you will learn how to read’ years. In fact, I was encouraged to read by my nan who is wonderful and I am forever grateful to her. I want to look back on the books I remember most growing up and were the books I loved.

The books I remember most from when I was really young are simple. I adored the Dr Seuss Sleep Book. I read it all the time convinced it would put me to sleep (it didn’t, but try to read it without yawning). And that book was followed by longer books with fewer pictures. Books like The BFG and Matilda were my next port of call. Mostly I was reading books my nan gave me.

My nan can be attributed with a lot of my reading, to be honest. She was the reason I read Harry Potter (obviously this book was going to be included on here) and Harry Potter was probably the point I loved reading. At the same time as reading Harry Potter I also discovered Jacqueline Wilson's books. I was fully obsessed with her writing. She even did an author visit to my primary school but I had a music lesson scheduled at the same time as her visit and ended up missing seeing her! It was utterly unfair considering I was a girl who actually liked reading!

My memories of reading then get a bit fuzzy. I know I was in year 4 (so aged 8-9) when I was reading Harry Potter and and Jacqueline Wilson but I don’t remember much for a while. I read a lot of teen books as I got older and the next lot of books I remember distinctly growing up is the Fearless series by Francine Pascal. I was full on obsessed with that book series for a while, I never finished it (my library didn’t have all of the books) but I loved it for a long while. I then moved onto LJ Smith’s Secret Circle series and the Wicca series by Cate Tiernan. I went through a long phase of witches there. I loved the idea of witches and wanted to read all of the books which included them.

At around that time I was also becoming obsessed with contemporary books. I was much like I am now, I loved contemporary and fantasy and I loved a book best when there was a romance as well. I discovered two authors who I still love today. I discovered Meg Cabot and her Princess Diaries books and her Mediator series and her 1-800-Missing series. I began reading everything Cabot I could get my hands on. I read my first historical romance in the form of her YA books Nicola and the Viscount and Victoria and the Rogue but I didn’t actually discover my love for historical romance until I read some after I began blogging.

Once I discovered Meg Cabot it’s about the same time I learnt there was a teen section of books in my local book shop. I then read quite a few books which would now be classified as YA. I bought Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning (there was a girl with pink hair on the cover, I couldn’t not). And it was there I learnt I love a girl who likes music, but I don’t like boys in bands as much. I became a loyal reader of hers and she will feature again later on.

By the time I was fifteen I was finding myself growing out of YA (I thought so, anyway) but didn’t know where to turn next. I began to read whatever I could a hold of, in my case the books my mom was borrowing form the library. My mom was going through a phase of reading a whole heap of contemporary romance, most of it what would have been classified as chick-lit then. I discovered two very important authors. I discovered Sophie Kinsella and Jennifer Crusie. I adored Kinsella’s Can You Keep A Secret? (still do and it’s on my shelf, I should really reread). It’s where I learnt whilst miscommunication in romance can be frustrating it is also insanely fun. And Crusie’s Crazy for You and Bet Me where I learnt I have a thing for her writing and also for cocky men (ala Cal who is charming without trying) and oblivious men in denial (like Nick). Really, this is the point I should have known romance was my thing but it still took a few years.

Once I went to university I read a whole lot less. I began reading again when I turned 21. I got my first Kindle for my 21st birthday and I have no regrets. I’d forgotten what I enjoy to read before I got that Kindle. I bought a lot of different books and spent a long time learning what I enjoy to read after a three year reading break. I discovered Sarra Manning had published some adult romances and so I read those, still didn’t fully realise I enjoyed romance (I know, I was crazy) but I did learn I loved all the romances she had done so far. Those books are still some of my favourites.

I also discovered YA books with my new Kindle. I read The Hunger Games for the first time right before the first film came out and fell into a bit of a blackhole of YA dystopian. I read Matched and Delirium, I absolutely adored the Birthmarked series (I need to reread to see if it’s still as good as I think). And towards the end of 2012 I discovered an author I still love. I bought Daughter of Smoke and Bone for £3.35 and I had bought it simply because it was cheap and sounded vaguely interesting. It was actually Miss Peregrine’s which I’d really wanted to read. Turns out I was surprised by the book I wanted less.

I discovered book blogs during my time reading a whole heap of YA dystopian as I was determined to find more books to read. I didn’t follow them religiously but I did go to blogs to find new books. in 2013 I read less but I enjoyed far more of what I read. I read only 40 books (yeah, I know) but those books were Throne of Glass and Fangirl, Nowhere But Home and The Bone Season. They were mostly books I adored and still I was learning what I liked to read.

It was in 2014 which I started blogging and it was then I finally learnt romance was my thing. I drifted from YA contemporary to the romance genre (much like I did at 15). It was only when I became part of the blogging community I really learnt what I do and don’t like to read. I am glad I did and I am so glad I started blogging.

What I learnt from writing this post is I have basically loved romance ever since I started reading. It took me a long while to realise what I liked in reading but now I do it’s great. I mean, I love fantasy and I love a good mystery and I really love books that punch me in the feelings but romance. That will forever be my bread and butter. I don’t know why it took me so damn long to realise it. It’s amazing how my reading now has a lot of links back to my reading growing up. I still love books with witches in and I still love to get immersed in a series to binge read. But yeah, mostly I really love a book which features a good romance in it.

Have you looked back at your reading pre-blogging and seen how it is similar to your reading now? And has your reading changed as much as you think?

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[bookishbratbabe]

Another Tag Game

Thank you to @bookbandit and @the-forest-library for tagging me forever ago! I’ve been so bad about interacting on my tumblr lately so today I’m playing catch up.

1. Is there a book that you reach for on a regular basis?

By far, my most read book is “Guitar Girl” by Sarra Manning.

2. If you had to only read ONE book over and over for the rest of your life what would it be?

I feel like I couldn’t pick just ONE book, but I could do a series, maybe. I’d probably have to pick ACOTAR.

3. Have you memorised a poem/quote/speech? If so, spill!

I was in theater and speech in high school so I memorized monologues and speeches all the time. At the moment, though, nothing is coming to mind.

4. What book from your childhood destroyed you emotionally?

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark! I was terrified and had horrible nightmares but I still kept reading it.

5. Would you rather only read tiny poems OR 400+ page books for the rest of your life?

400+ page books!!! That’s basically all I read now.

6. RANDOM BONUS QUESTION: what’s one thing that you taught yourself? Guitar? Hockey? Mechanical engineering?

I taught myself how to play guitar when I was 12 out of spite because my dad said I would never be able to learn how to play guitar.

Tagging: @superalteza666, @previouslyafangirl, @booksareperfection and anyone else who wants to do it.

[bookishbratbabe]

words, spelling, bestseller!

Words: What book made you love reading?

I’ve always loved reading but the book that really made me obsessed with reading was “Guitar Girl” by Sarra Manning. Ordinary girl turns rock n roll princess. She has pink hair and a pink guitar. She experiences love, heartbreak, betrayal but she showed me what it meant to stand up for yourself and that’s exactly what I needed in my early teens.

Spelling: If you could be put into any universe, which would it be?

I’m gonna say Holly Black’s Faerie. It’d be terrifying as a human but so cool as a Faerie.

Bestseller: Who is your favorite author?

Right now, I have to say Madeline Miller.

Thanks for the ask!!

[bookishbratbabe]

Forget Me Not and Love In The Mist

Forget me not; do you have any regrets looking back in your life?

Mostly the way I treated other people in certain situations where I said or did something I shouldn’t have. Biggest one is when I was dating my high school boyfriend. He was toxic, controlling, and abusive. He didn’t like my best friend and convinced me that I didn’t like her either. I treated her like shit and told her we weren’t friends anymore. 😞 Even though almost 10 years later, we’re friends again, I know I really hurt her. And I can’t ever forgive myself for that.

Love in the mist; best books you’ve ever read?

My favorite books are House of Earth and Blood by Sara J Maas, Guitar Girl and the Diary of a Crush series by Sarra Manning, and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. 

Thanks for the ask, anon!

Botanical Asks

[bookishbratbabe]

Emily Dickinson, Oscar Wilde?

Thanks for the ask, bb!! 😽💖

Emily Dickinson: What’s the last book you were reading?

I’m currently reading Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas. It’s my first time reading the Throne of Glass series - started in early May and should finish today.

Oscar Wilde: What book have you read more than once?

So many books. I really enjoy re-reading books and going back and catching all the clues for the plot twists and reliving the emotions. My most read books are Guitar Girl and the Diary of a Crush series by Sarra Manning, The Forrest of Hands and Teeth series by Carrie Ryan, and The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. But in the past year, I’ve read The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black, Wicked Saints by Emily A Duncan, A Court of Thorns and Roses series and House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas all more than once.

Classic Author Asks

[bookishbratbabe]

For the bookish asks: 2 and 11 please!?

Thank you for the ask!!

2. Most nostalgic book you’ve read?

The book that makes me the most nostalgic is Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning. It absolutely defined my teenage years. It’s still one of my favorite books and I actually just finished reading it for the 25th or so time (that really isn’t an exaggeration).

11. Book mark or book darts?

I admittedly had no idea what book darts were and had to look it up. So I guess that means bookmark. I’m currently just using a Target gift card with a balance of $0.27.

[afoolsingenuity]

After The Last Dance // A Fantastic Read I’d Been Convinced I Wouldn’t Enjoy

After The Last Dance – Sarra Manning

Published: 3rd December 2015 Source: Borrowed Genre: Romance, Historical, Contemporary My Rating:

Two women. Two love affairs. One unforgettable story.

Kings Cross station, 1943. Rose arrives in London hoping to swap the drudgery of wartime for romance, glamour and jiving with GIs at Rainbow Corner, the famous dance hall in Piccadilly Circus. As the bombs fall, Rose loses her heart to a pilot but will lose so much more before the war has done its worst.

Las Vegas, present day. A beautiful woman in a wedding dress walks into a seedy bar and asks the first man she sees to marry her. When Leo slips the ring onto Jane's finger, he has no idea that his new wife will stop at nothing to get what she wants. So when Jane meets Rose, now a formidable older lady, there's no love lost between them. But with time running out, can Rose and Jane come together to make peace with the tragic secrets that have always haunted their lives? After the Last Dance is an extraordinary story of two women, separated by time but connected by fate, that will make you believe in the redemptive power of unexpected love.

I forget how much I love what Sarra Manning writes until I read one of her books. This book is a long way from the first book I ever read by her, Guitar Girl, but I love this one just as much as I did that one the first time I ever read it. I'm just sad I waited so long to pick this up and I waited for the most ridiculous of reasons… I didn’t think I’d like it! I may have stopped reading Manning’s young adult fare as I often feel like it is too immature for my own reading tastes, but her adult novels have never failed to please me so it was illogical I chose to ignore this one simply because it included historical elements. Thankfully, my library had a copy and I do not regret borrowing this book at all.

To explain my hesitations I will tell you my reasoning. I am not always a fan of books which are set during WW2, it comes from over studying at school, I think. It’s strange considering I really love TV shows and films set during that same period. This one is written beautifully, though. Rose's story of life in London and everything she did was amazing and utterly heart-breaking. I'm was in tears over her struggles and adored her instantly as soon as she brazenly asked those GI’s a favour at the train station. Rose is what made me fall in love with this book with her bold personality who is willing to run from her home way up north to London simply to avoid joining the land girls. And the adventures she has in London during the war are amazing. These are the kinds of stories I want to know, the hidden ones which you don’t hear much about.

Are other main character, Jane was far less sympathetic a character. She was cold and manipulative and I didn't like her. I didn’t get why I should care about her during the present day when all she seemed to be was a gold digger and a con artist. The fact I loved her by the end of the book demonstrates both her character growth but also Manning's skill as a writer. The progression of her story and how it relates to Rose's was just amazing. I loved the slow reveal we had about both characters as the story progressed and the journey’s the both went through to get them to the end of the book. It was truly amazing and I don’t want to reveal a single thing in this review so you can enjoy it too.

The fact I liked both love stories in this book helped as well. I just couldn't help myself. My only complaint is we didn't learn more about Charles as I adored him so much and how he helped Jane. I would have loved to have known more about his past in the book, but there is little which can be done about that. He will just be a fabulous mysterious stranger.

In the end, this was a really fantastic book and one of my favourite reads of last year. It demonstrated to me both that Manning is a fantastic writer who shouldn’t just limit herself to romance (something which I know her best for) and an author who can tell a wonderful story not matter what year it is set in.

What was the last book you read which surprised you because you had convinced yourself you wouldn’t like it?

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[daydreamlies]

I'd always thought that my awkwardness was a thin veil disguising the real me. The me that was funny and could write songs that touched people. The me that would one day find some beautiful, intelligent boy who'd recognize me as his soul mate. The me who was secretly pretty and stylish if only someone would lift the veil and see. But I was beginning to suspect that underneath the awkwardness there was just more awkwardness and not much else. And that would explain why I stood in a room full of people and felt like the loneliest girl in the world.

Guitar Girl, Sarra Manning