No one looked at him and saw a has-been or a bloated version of his teenage self or someone who had peaked too early or a moron. They just loved him. If it weren’t so excruciating, it would have been wonderful.
Annie finds herself bunked up with Maira after her sister’s birthday Boy Talk extravaganza has been ruined by a broken leg. Although once a fan, she’s hardly the typical Talker having worked for an opera magazine for decades, bemused at the lengths hardcore fans will go to attract the attention of their idols. The bands spend little or no time together outside their annual four-day performance. Keith only turns up to appease his brother, Boy Talk’s unofficial leader, still bouncing around as if he’s eighteen and expecting the others to follow suit. Sarah’s in charge of the show, used to smoothing rough edges, ruffled egos and anticipating trouble. The cruise kicks off with the usual deafening screaming of over excited fans for who the following four days offer an opportunity to escape middle-aged life, immerse themselves in nostalgia, snag a selfie with the band and, for the fortunate few, attend the late night afterparties. As ever, each day is organised down to the last minute until simmering tensions boil over.
Annie wondered if her predilection for Boy Talk had been living dormant in her body, the way chicken pox stayed quiet for decades and then bloomed into shingles.
Straub unfolds her narrative from the perspectives of Annie, Sarah and Keith, all at awkward stages in their lives: Sarah has just been dumped and can’t resist trawling Instagram for posts of her ex’s new girlfriend; Annie has not long divorced; and Keith seems lost, friendless and unwanted by his wife and daughter, only there thanks to Shawn’s bullying. It’s all highly entertaining and often funny but Straub has serious points to make about fame and its fallout. The adulation and joy of the fans, fuelled by a seemingly endless stream of alcohol and carefully choreographed appearances by the band, contrasts smartly with the lives of their idols none of whom have escaped unscathed in one way or another. There were a few sticky moments when I thought she might step too far into overly sentimental romcom territory, but Straub neatly avoided that. An enjoyable, escapist, holiday read that will likely resonate with boy band fans: I’m sure Straub was one of them.
Michael Joseph: London 9780241453483 400 pages Hardback (Read via NetGalley)
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This sounds fun!
It is! It does have a serious edge but it’s an enjoyable piece of escapism.
I’m going to try and squeeze this in over the summer as I think it sounds fun
It’s a great summer read.
I’m really tempted by this one – the premise is great and I enjoyed This Time Tomorrow!
I think you’d enjoy this one, then. It’s a quick sunny afternoon read!
Nah. Cruises? Middle aged fans? What’s to like? (you can see I’m still seeking excuses not to add to the dreaded TBR!)
Unless you’re a Straub fan, I think you can safely ignore this one.
I’ve enjoyed the Straubs I’ve read, but I can wait for the paperback, although I’d like to read this one.
Definitely a paperback read, Annabel.
Oh that first quote!!! I remember that feeling at my 40th band reunion–all those great looking teenage boys now becoming Grandpas. The lawyer, the professor, the small family business guy, the one who did too many drugs and still plays in dive bars–all of them fit that quote.
This one should be right up your street, then. I’m sure Straub was a big boy band fan. She captures that disconnect between what they are now and what they were, plus what all that fame did to them.
It still shocks me how little some of my classmates achieved. And, also, in a very few case, what they actually DID achieve when they got away from school and started a real life.
I have several Emma Straub novels awaiting me on my Kindle. I think she’s good at coming up with concepts that are appealing, but then she’s an author I don’t get around to reading. I really must pick one of her novels and try it. Your vote makes me keener to get to her.
She’s a great author to turn to if you’re in the mood for untaxing but intelligent fiction.
This one does sound like fun – my inner T. Rex fan fully understands that true teen love never dies!
Ha! Now you’ve started an earworm. I think she enjoyed writing this one.
I gave this to my DIL for a recent holiday. They are due back tonight, so I will learn if I picked correctly very soon.
Fingers crossed!