Sing Paperback – 2 Jun. 2016

Full review at [...]Music, summer and a romance that will sweep you off your feet – Sing is the perfect summer read for the hot days in the sun.

The cover caught my eye as it reminded me of Taylor Swift (seriously, did they trace a photo of her face?), and from reading the book it's pretty obvious that she was the main inspiration for Lily Ross - Lily is a singer-songwriter known equally for her confessional number-one hits and her whirlwind romances, and even some of the smaller details of her personal life seem oddly similar to Taylor's - a redheaded best friend and how she was taught to play music are some of the obvious similarities. This wasn't a particularly deep or difficult read, but it's a cute, summery romance that didn't take me long to finish. If there's a Taylor Swift-loving YA fan in your life, this would be a good choice!

We've all wanted to know what it must be like, being a famous singer, pop star, idol to millions. Lily Ross takes on this role, becomes the name of the star whose every move is analysed, gossiped over and photographed for the entertainment of the world.And we get to see behind the scenes. As her boyfriend (also a well-known star) breaks up with her. As she fails to bounce back and decides to take a break from it all for a summer. And tries to find a new voice for herself - and possibly a new love...A great story for teenager readers. Lily is nicely written, an everygirl who worked hard and had raw talent, and is now enjoying fame but missing anonymity and privacy when it comes to her personal life. She is no diva - her employees are friends from school, loyal and honest, who complement her as characters and are seen to have their own lives and wishes. It's not just about becoming a star and never worrying about life again.Everyone has their problems, even those with privileges. The usual idea of 'searching for yourself' is covered here but it's not too stereotyped, and her potential new love interest has a spark and personality that doesn't always develop in books aimed more at the female teen market.It also ends in a distinctly 'different' way, more realistic than I was expecting, I was pleasantly surprised.Loved all the characters, the descriptions of preparing for a tour, creating an album, life as a pop star. Lily is very aware of her fanbase and their role in her success, but remains a down-to-earth young woman, one who isn't resting on her laurels. A good role model.Nice little story, a read to encourage talented young women that it is their own work and skill that can get them what they want.

Lily Ross sings about her love life and an uplifting tribute album to her perfect relationship is about to come out. When her boyfriend leaves her Lily is heartbroken and she needs a change. She wants to find herself again and she'd like to write some new songs. She doesn't want to depend on men any longer. That's why she decides to spend her summer on a small island together with her best friends. It's time to heal and to get some rest after years of hard work.Lily loves the peace and quiet of the island and it's nice to be able to breathe a little. There are fans, but not hordes of them and she can leave the house on her own if she likes. When she tries to make the most of her newfound freedom she meets Noel. Noel is a local who spends all of his time on the island. Lily isn't looking for a new man in her life, but they get along well, so they meet as often as they can. Noel doesn't like the spotlights though and Lily has to start performing again soon. Will things end with more heartbreak or is there a chance for Lily to find what she's looking for?Sing is a cute story about a famous singer who needs some time to reflect. After another breakup Lily has to learn how to be herself again. I loved the idea of a small, peaceful island where people don't care if someone's famous or not. It's the perfect place for something unexpected to happen. Vivi Greene's vivid descriptions are making it easy to picture Lily's new temporary surroundings. Lily has a lot to consider, life in general, work, friends and love. Being famous doesn't mean she doesn't have the same wishes as anybody else. She's unhappy and she wants to find a way to feel better again. I liked that idea and the fact that she's consciously working on having a good future is interesting.Vivi Greene shows that famous people are as human as everybody else. Fame brings money and status, but the downside is that often it also results in loneliness, lack of privacy and unequal relationships. Vivi Greene focuses on the sad part of it and balances it with something new and unexpected, meeting Noel and finding someone who likes Lily for who she is. That's sweet and lovely. I really liked this book. If you're into celebrity stories Sing is definitely a good choice.

Reading Sing felt like reading about a summer in Taylor Swift's life, mixed with the Hannah Montana movie. It was utterly adorable. I flew through this in one sitting. It was simple in plot and writing and I really enjoyed that about it. It wasn't trying to be anything other than a cute contemporary romance, as that's exactly what it was and it worked! There weren't any mind blowing plot twists or secrets but that's what made it such a lovely, easy, feel good read read. I loved the element of music and that, despite having a world famous singer as the protagonist, it wasn't all about fame etc. I really warmed to its cast of characters and enjoyed the relationships and friendships within this. It also had a really lovely f/f relationship which was great to see in a contemporary!All in all this was an adorable, feel good read, perfect for if you want a pick me up! (Also perfect for anyone, who like me, can't help but love the Hannah Montana movie...)