Remix by Non PrattReleased: 4th June 2015
Published by: Walker Books
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Publisher
Pages: 320
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
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From the author of Trouble comes a new novel about boys, bands and best mates.
Kaz is still reeling from being dumped by the love of her life... Ruby is bored of hearing about it. Time to change the record.
Three days. Two best mates. One music festival. Zero chance of everything working out.
Thank you to Walker Books Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Remix is an entertaining and lively YA contemporary novel which showcases not only the relationship between two best friends and their exes, but a story which reminds us all of the fact that nobody's perfect, and how one event can make a big difference in our lives.
Though music festival aspect wasn't the be-all-and-end-all to this story, its dynamic, pulsing environment was the catalyst for all these character relationships to became embroiled with each other and have the real drama come out. It's the perfect setting for a story like this - after all, what better place to set the action than a place where the music's loud, inhibitions are low and it's all about letting your hair down. Non Pratt has done a fabulous job of making this a bubbly novel which is truly driven by the characters in it, all of which have their own fundamental flaws that make them realistic to read about.
While dual POV's can be a hindrance if not executed well, in this case I think the balance was achieved perfectly. In fact, the perspective change between Kaz and Ruby occurs sometimes a few times in a chapter which makes the book go by at a faster pace and gives us a glimpse into how their minds work in different ways. The two couldn't be more different in personalities, but as they say - opposites attract. Their dialogue is honest and doesn't mess around with being deep and philosophical - it's witty, snappy and yet still manages to convey a deeper message that comes through. The relationships that these two girls find themselves in and dealing with their exes is complicated to say the least, and while mistakes were made in how they were handled by all involved, it's interesting to see how people react. There were twists which I didn't see coming, and overall the ending was satisfying which makes for a positive last impression.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In all, Remix is a novel which is testimony to how teenage life can be one of extremes - with moments of elation and heartbreak always ready to tip up and down on this see-saw of life. And yet - it's the friends we make which can help us get through it all, and that's what really counts in the end.
Guest Post by Non Pratt
In all, Remix is a novel which is testimony to how teenage life can be one of extremes - with moments of elation and heartbreak always ready to tip up and down on this see-saw of life. And yet - it's the friends we make which can help us get through it all, and that's what really counts in the end.
Guest Post by Non Pratt
Best Friends Over Boyfriends
I always say I write for fourteen-year-old Non: Remix is about a world of music and boys that fourteen-year-old me was desperate to get into… but that’s the bait. The real heart of the book doesn’t lie in romantic entanglements, but in the more emotionally charged relationship between best friends Kaz and Ruby.
Although I reckon more teenagers have experienced friendship than romance, at fourteen, I was still hoping to be Sam to someone’s Frodo. I wanted to have someone call me ‘best’ and trust me with their secrets, but that had yet to happen for me. Best friendship seemed as mythical as finding my one true love.
It’s happened to me since, though and I know that what I saw from the outside wasn’t all that went on inside. I saw only the joy in being special and not the fear in having to share; I saw teamwork, not competition; security, not self-doubt. I thought best friends shared everything, I didn’t realise that sometimes they can’t and that when that happens, it can change everything.
True best friends are people with whom you share all of yourself; the best and the worst and giving so much of yourself to one person, no matter how much you trust them, can leave you vulnerable.
At fourteen I believed it was boys that broke your heart, not best friends.
The thing is – I also believe that they’re the ones who can put you back together.
Although I reckon more teenagers have experienced friendship than romance, at fourteen, I was still hoping to be Sam to someone’s Frodo. I wanted to have someone call me ‘best’ and trust me with their secrets, but that had yet to happen for me. Best friendship seemed as mythical as finding my one true love.
It’s happened to me since, though and I know that what I saw from the outside wasn’t all that went on inside. I saw only the joy in being special and not the fear in having to share; I saw teamwork, not competition; security, not self-doubt. I thought best friends shared everything, I didn’t realise that sometimes they can’t and that when that happens, it can change everything.
True best friends are people with whom you share all of yourself; the best and the worst and giving so much of yourself to one person, no matter how much you trust them, can leave you vulnerable.
At fourteen I believed it was boys that broke your heart, not best friends.
The thing is – I also believe that they’re the ones who can put you back together.
Check out the other stops on the tour!
Monday August 3, Loony Literate
Tuesday August 4, Diva Booknerd
Wednesday August 5, Fictional Thoughts
Thursday August 6, Imaginary Misadventure
Friday August 7, Book Much
Saturday August 8, Genie in a Book
What a lovely post <3 And she's so right - best friendship isn't easy, and just like with every relationship you have to work at it. I'm so glad we've got Non Pratt writing books about friendship!
ReplyDeleteExactly! It's great to find books like these which deal with friendship, and lovely to read Non Pratt's perspective on it as well and how it influenced her work :)
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