Publishers Weekly
05/01/2017
Dana Cartwright lives in the shadow of her talented best friend Olivia until she is unexpectedly chosen to join a new girl group, Daisy Chain, alongside Olivia. Jealousies and tension, romantic and otherwise, grow between the two girls, even as they try to maintain a sense of normalcy. The lack of cohesion onstage and off between the members of Daisy Chain threatens to undermine the band, and when its producer pits Dana and Olivia against each other, their friendship suffers even more. Cotugno (99 Days) follows a mostly predictable script of interpersonal dramas, set against the backdrop of the competitive world of pop stardom. Initially, Dana is the weakest link in Daisy Chain, but hard work and growing self-confidence get her noticed and propel her into the spotlight. As an interest develops between Dana and Alex—the boy Olivia likes—their secret romance further threatens her relationship with Olivia. Olivia’s struggle with an eating disorder aside, Cotugno’s coming-of-age novel mostly keeps it light as it explores the breakdown of friendship and the lure of fame. Ages 13– up. Agency: Alloy Entertainment. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
A compelling portrait of the intimacies of close girl friendships …and a romance as hot as the midsummer Orlando sun” — Kirkus Reviews
“Cotugno hits the nail on the head when exploring female friendship and the difficulties surrounding life in the spotlight. This devourable novel will appeal to those interested in the creation of fame, but also to any girl on the cusp of change.” — Booklist
“A thrilling, intense read...this book will hook readers.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
“[A] fast-paced drama about the significance of authentic friendship and romance.” — School Library Journal
Praise for 99 DAYS: “This book will appeal to fans of E. Lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks (Hyperion, 2008), offering complex characters, plot twists, and an insightful look at society’s double standards.” — School Library Journal
Praise for 99 DAYS: “A thought-provoking story...[that] explores the powerful bonds that arise between childhood friends who grow up to discover romance” — Publishers Weekly
Praise for 99 DAYS: “Molly’s a totally engaging, multi-faceted character…A fascinating story of adolescent love and betrayal.” — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for 99 DAYS: “A complicated, compelling summer romance…and a whole lot of kissing make[s] this one to stick in the beach bag.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “There are those novels, once in a spectacular blue moon, that just feel perfect. HOW TO LOVE is that book. Perfect.” — Carolyn Mackler, winner of the Printz Honor and bestselling author of THE FUTURE OF US
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “HOW TO LOVE is epic. I crushed so hard on this book. A roller coaster ride with all the euphoric highs and the stomach-dropping lows of falling in love. The writing is as beautiful as the love story. I adored it!” — Siobhan Vivian, author of THE LIST
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “A vibrant, sparkling narrative of first love and second chances - will remind you that love isn’t ever easy, but falling for a great story is.” — Entertainment Weekly
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “[In this] confident debut...it’s impossible not to root for the two of them to beat the odds.” — Publishers Weekly
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “Cotugno’s debut ambitiously, and intriguingly, follows a couple who fall in love twice, over two different time periods.” — Booklist
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “Readers looking for a story of whirlwind passion…and a happily-ever-after drive into the sunset will not be disappointed.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
A thrilling, intense read...this book will hook readers.
Carolyn Mackler
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “There are those novels, once in a spectacular blue moon, that just feel perfect. HOW TO LOVE is that book. Perfect.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for 99 DAYS: “A complicated, compelling summer romance…and a whole lot of kissing make[s] this one to stick in the beach bag.
Booklist
Cotugno hits the nail on the head when exploring female friendship and the difficulties surrounding life in the spotlight. This devourable novel will appeal to those interested in the creation of fame, but also to any girl on the cusp of change.
Siobhan Vivian
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “HOW TO LOVE is epic. I crushed so hard on this book. A roller coaster ride with all the euphoric highs and the stomach-dropping lows of falling in love. The writing is as beautiful as the love story. I adored it!
Entertainment Weekly
Praise for HOW TO LOVE: “A vibrant, sparkling narrative of first love and second chances - will remind you that love isn’t ever easy, but falling for a great story is.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for 99 DAYS: “A complicated, compelling summer romance…and a whole lot of kissing make[s] this one to stick in the beach bag.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Praise for 99 DAYS: “A complicated, compelling summer romance…and a whole lot of kissing make[s] this one to stick in the beach bag.
Booklist
Cotugno hits the nail on the head when exploring female friendship and the difficulties surrounding life in the spotlight. This devourable novel will appeal to those interested in the creation of fame, but also to any girl on the cusp of change.
School Library Journal
03/01/2017
Gr 8 Up—Growing up in late 1990s Georgia, 17-year-olds Olivia and Dana have been inseparable best friends since childhood. Dana, with an incompetent mother, views Olivia's mom as a welcome surrogate. Ashamed of her ho-hum grades, Dana feels permanently stuck in their ordinary small town. Then, performance-trained Olivia's hope for pop stardom materializes when she heads to Orlando, FL, to audition for a new girl group—with Dana in tow for moral support. Surprisingly, pretty Dana is prompted to audition, too, despite her lack of preparation, and both she and Olivia are selected for a four-girl group. As grueling practices ensue and Dana struggles to progress, she is subjected to mean girl nastiness; she suspects Olivia of anorexic behavior; and boy band member Alex, Olivia's crush, falls for Dana. Dana's believable and likable first-person character, attempting to overcome self-doubt, comfortably meshes with encouraging, sweet, almost-too-good-to-be-true Alex as they embark on a swoon-worthy relationship leading to meaningful, though not graphic, first-time sex. However, Olivia is not as convincing as the sisterly pal who ultimately sells out their friendship for fame, though this plot point makes the inevitable bittersweet ending easier to swallow. Readers still drawn to Rachel Cohn's Pop Princess may overlook the more dated aspects of the book as they discern relatable truths woven into this fast-paced drama about the significance of authentic friendship and romance. VERDICT A general purchase for YA collections, especially those with teens interested in recent historical fiction.—Diane P. Tuccillo, Poudre River Public Library District, CO
Kirkus Reviews
2016-12-21
Dana—poor, white, and from a troubled home—knows she has no real prospects for a life outside of her small Georgia town. Dana doesn't mind living in the shadow of her best friend, Olivia, also white. Olivia is the special one, and Dana happily plays the role of supporter and caregiver, talking Olivia out of stage fright and monitoring her eating. When Dana accompanies Olivia to try out for Guy Monroe's new girl group, neither takes it seriously when the white pop mogul himself asks Dana to perform. Both are shocked when they are each offered a place in the four-piece ensemble. When the girls of Daisy Chain move in together in Orlando, tensions quickly mount. Dana, untrained, struggles to keep up with the others, who have been performing since childhood. She tries to avoid the undeniable chemistry igniting between her and Olivia's crush, a member of Guy's boy-band project. Set in the late 1990s, the narrative is well-paced, with authentic dialogue among the racially diverse supporting characters and all-white leads. Dana's honest, self-aware, past-tense narration recounts her navigation of her changing friendship with Olivia, the harsh realities of the music business, and a romance as hot as the midsummer Orlando sun, ultimately finding her own path to success. A compelling portrait of the intimacies of close girl friendships and young love. (Historical fiction. 14-17)
