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Under All the Lights

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

A songwriter wrestles with instant stardom and his bisexuality in this raw and propulsive novel for fans of If This Gets Out and Alice Oseman's I Was Born for This.

After one of his songs goes viral, Ollie Cheriet gets the opportunity of a lifetime: a cross-country tour, an album deal, and a chance to help his family with their financial struggles. The only problem? Ollie has major stage fright, a symptom of his anxiety disorder. As pressure from performing, social media rumors, and his romantic life rises, his mental health starts to spiral. So he's surprised at how grounded he feels when he collaborates with his wildly talented—and distractingly cute—touring partner, Jesse. Music has always helped Ollie through hard times, but he's going to have to be more vulnerable than he ever thought possible to find self-acceptance in the glow of the spotlight.

Featuring characters from Maya Ameyaw's acclaimed debut When It All Syncs Up, this story takes readers into the green room, immersing them in the vivid behind-the-scenes world of touring musicians.

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    • Kirkus

      August 15, 2024
      A teen musician's life changes overnight when his original song goes viral on YouTube. When the "Indigenous indie pop rock artist" Jesse Jacobs reposts his video, Ollie, a Canadian boy who has Algerian, Libyan, and French ancestry, is swept into a meeting with music executives who offer him a record deal and a spot on Jesse's upcoming tour. Touring would mean missing most of senior year, but the advance could help support Ollie's family after his father's job loss. Other hurdles include Ollie's anxiety disorder and the deeply personal inspiration behind his viral song. Ollie's close friends and girlfriend, Aisha, encourage him to follow the opportunity and help him embrace his bisexuality, which he hasn't yet widely disclosed. Ollie, who's nearly 18, is devoted to Aisha, but he can't deny his attraction to 19-year-old Jesse as they bond on the road. Jesse and Ollie's backstage banter offers nuanced discussions of identity, vulnerability, and the pressures of fame. Ollie manages his anxiety with a realistic combination of medication, therapy, and meditation. The novel includes a steamy, slow-burn romance and multidimensional characters while deftly tackling tough topics. Featuring familiar faces from Ameyaw's debut, When It All Syncs Up (2023), Ollie's story stands alone. Jesse belongs to the Squamish Nation, and Ollie's group of friends is realistically diverse in race, sexuality, and gender identity. From behind the scenes to center stage, readers will cheer for a young man as he explores authenticity through music. (content note)(Fiction. 14-18)

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Booklist

      Starred review from September 1, 2024
      Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* This companion to the author's 2023 novel When It All Syncs Up finds 18-year-old Ollie on center stage. A little-known singer-songwriter, Ollie is dumbfounded to learn that wildly popular singer Jesse Jacobs has posted a link taking fans to Ollie's YouTube channel and his song "On Repeat." As a result, the song has gotten 12 million hits, so many that Jesse's label offers Ollie a contract to appear as the opening act on Jesse's Canadian tour. Despite Ollie's anxiety at appearing alone onstage, he signs the contract. His anxiety disorder, which leaves him prone to panic attacks, is the least of his problems, however. Ollie, who is bi and suffers from internalized biphobia, finds himself immediately attracted to Jesse while also being in love with his girlfriend, Aisha. The tour begins, and Ollie's appearances are hugely popular, but he soon learns the price of success: when Aisha visits, the two--along with Jesse--impulsively go skinny dipping. They don't know that a fan is taking pictures until they appear on social media. Can Ollie handle this atrocity as well as his attraction to both Aisha and Jesse? Ameyaw's superb novel is a marvel of verisimilitude, taking readers inside the music business while offering irresistibly empathic characters and a richly compelling plot.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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  • English

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