YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Eighteen-year-olds Ruben Montez and Zach Knight are two members of the boy-band Saturday, one of the biggest acts in America. Along with their bandmates, Angel Phan and Jon Braxton, the four are teen heartbreakers in front of the cameras and best friends backstage. But privately, cracks are starting to form: their once-easy rapport is straining under the pressures of fame, and Ruben confides in Zach that he’s feeling smothered by management’s pressure to stay in the closet.

On a whirlwind tour through Europe, with both an unrelenting schedule and minimal supervision, Ruben and Zach come to rely on each other more and more, and their already close friendship evolves into a romance. But when they decide they’re ready to tell their fans and live freely, Zach and Ruben start to truly realize that they will never have the support of their management. How can they hold tight to each other when the whole world seems to want to come between them?

Joining, I'm starting it this evening :)

Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[Glad we're getting both Ruben and Zach's p.o.v.s - they both seem really sweet so far. Although Zach is a bit oblivious, haha.
The life of a popstar isn't as amazing as we imagine, is it? Especially if they are younger. I expect all the rules and restrictions are pretty realistic. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[OK, so Zach was in some serious denial & I did not expect that kiss so soon! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8
(view spoiler)[I didn't expect that it would take them so long to sort things and that they'd suffer so much along the way!
I do want to shake Zach a little 😅 I'm sure it's not easy to suddenly realise you're bi and like your best friend, but asking for time and space to figure things out doesn't mean never interacting again. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13
“I don’t like it when I’m not the center of everyone’s universe, so I’m gonna need you to be mindful of my feelings.”
Oh, Angel 😆
(view spoiler)[I'm so glad nothing worse happened (for now), I was stressing! (hide spoiler)]

I started this!

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ This very much reminds me of groups like One Direction. I bet they went through similar things like having their entire image curated and being forced to "stay in character" all the time. I feel bad that the boys can't be themselves (hide spoiler)]

Andreea wrote: "Chapter 2
Glad we're getting both Ruben and Zach's p.o.v.s - they both seem really sweet so far. Although Zach is a bit oblivious, haha.
The life of a popstar isn't as amazing as we imagine, is it?..."

Agreed! It does seem realistic

Aly wrote: "Agreed! It does seem realistic"
It's kind of strange, I never stopped to really think about it. And I'm sure the authors have done their research, but it's all so much worse than I ever imagined.

Chapter 17
(view spoiler)[I can't believe how awful management is to these poor boys! And they pretend to "care", yet when something is actually wrong, they turn a blind eye, because it's convenient. I have a bad feeling about Angel :( (hide spoiler)]

Starting this now!

Ill try and start this today!

6%
(view spoiler)[ I wish one of my friends would throw a party with peacocks lmao (hide spoiler)]

Katrina wrote: "6%
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Haha, that made me think of the Malfoys!

Chapter 22
(view spoiler)[I am soooo glad Zach and his mom talked it out & are ok again! We need at least one good parent in this book... (hide spoiler)]

Katrina wrote: "6%
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Right? Sounds fun!

Andreea wrote: "Chapter 2
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(view spoiler)[ I don't think Zach is oblivious. It just kinds of seems like he's never thought about liking guys before or that a guy would like him. I feel like that's pretty normal for a situation like this. It's not like he has much time to focus on anything other than what his managers have him focus on (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 2 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree. Kinda makes me take a second look at all the bands I've ever loved and wonder if they singers actually look/act like they're portrayed as (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 26
(view spoiler)[“Let’s wreak some havoc.”
Yes! I'm so ready for this!!! (hide spoiler)]

12%
(view spoiler)[ I've always found it weird how people just wait around at airports or hotels where they know celebrities are going to be. They're just people trying to get from one place to another (hide spoiler)]

Katrina wrote: "12%
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Yeah, anything for just a glimpse I guess?

19%
(view spoiler)[ Oooh. I thought they were gonna dance around each other a lot longer. Pleasantly surprised to see a kiss this early on (hide spoiler)]

Andreea wrote: "Chapter 5
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(view spoiler)[ I think it's more confusion than denial when you consider he's only ever seriously thought about girls. I agree with you about the kiss though! (hide spoiler)]

22%
(view spoiler)[ Gotta love the gay panic. At least Zach is willing to think on it and figure out what everything means instead of just yelling from the rooftops that he's not gay and going about his day as usual (hide spoiler)]

Katrina wrote: "22%
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(view spoiler)[Definitely, I thought it was the right approach, to stop and think about it, figure it out. (hide spoiler)]

Finished! I really enjoyed it!

Andreea wrote: "Chapter 8
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(view spoiler)[ Yeah he's being a bit wishy washy right now. He doesn't want to talk, but he wants Ruben to to give him attention. It's not fair, but I can't find it in me to be mad at him given the situation (hide spoiler)]

38%
(view spoiler)[ So is it ever going to be addressed that Ruben's mother is emotionally abusive? I get angrier with her with every interaction she and Ruben have (hide spoiler)]

Andreea wrote: "Chapter 13
“I don’t like it when I’m not the center of everyone’s universe, so I’m gonna need you to be mindful of my feelings.”
Oh, Angel 😆
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Right! I can't believe the pressure these boys are under. Is it a surprise to anyone that Angel has reached a breaking point? (hide spoiler)]

59%
(view spoiler)[ This is stupid. Weren't they just concerned about the fans thinking they hate each other? Isn't keeping them as far apart as possible just going to perpetuate that idea? I genuinely don't understand. They can joke about a relationship between Jon and Angel in interviews, but a real one between Zach and Ruben is frowned upon? What??? (hide spoiler)]

Andreea wrote: Chapter 17"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah these people are absolutely awful. I can't help but thinking about One Direction and wondering if they were suffocated like this (hide spoiler)]

70%
(view spoiler)[ Oh. My. God. I knew things weren't going to go well for Angel. I hope this doesn't kill him :(( (hide spoiler)]

Finished
There are a few things I still have some issues with, but I enjoyed this for the most part

@Katrina I can't respond directly to your comment for some reason.
19% I agree, I thought it might take longer to get to that

@Katrina 22% (view spoiler)[ I'm glad Zach is taking time to think about it too. Much better than just saying he's straight and pretending nothing happened (hide spoiler)]

@Katrina 38% (view spoiler)[ I hope he cuts contact with her, she's horrible. Everyone around him tells him that she's awful, hopefully he'll listen (hide spoiler)]

@Katrina 59% (view spoiler)[ Right?? Better they're fighting than together? Makes zero sense (hide spoiler)]

@Andreea Ch 8 (view spoiler)[ Yep, why does he need to avoid Ruben at all costs? And I feel like Ruben did give him space so come on buddy (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ I feel bad for Ruben. He's waiting on Zach to decide his feelings and then Zach makes that comment that makes Ruben feel bad. And everyone thinks they're fighting now (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[ I'm very wary of Geoff. I don't for one second think that after Russia they'll get to come out. I'm surprised they haven't set up a fake girlfriend for one of them yet (hide spoiler)]

I thought it was just me, I was trying to reply, but no luck all day!
@Katrina - I quite enjoyed it, didn't have major issues with anything in the end. I hated some characters & some decisions, but I liked the story.

@Aly - (view spoiler)[Yes, Geoff is a scumbag. Sadly, there are probably plenty of Geoff-like people in the industry :( (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[ So much has happened! I hope Angel is okay and gets the help he needs. I also think the band either needs to break up or get new management because Geoff is horrible and Ruben and Zach will never be allowed to come out. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I'm so happy the moms came together and the boys will likely get new management. It did feel unfinished to me, Ruben never talked to his mom about how mean she is and I would've liked an epilogue or something to wrap it up (hide spoiler)]

Andreea wrote: "Katrina wrote: "22%
[spoilers removed]"
[spoilers removed]

Finished! I really enjoyed it!"

So glad you liked it! I really enjoyed it too

48%
(view spoiler)[ I want to find out whats going on with Angel. Clearly theres something behind his partying, some deeper reason. Because hes gonna end up ruining himself if this continues (hide spoiler)]

Brinley wrote: "48%
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Yes he definitely needs help

62%
(view spoiler)[ I would be so frustrated, i dont know how Ruben took that so calmly. All he asked for on this trip was to see the Burgtheater, and now they took that from him too?? As if being forced to hide his sexuality and pretend to be straight wasnt enough (hide spoiler)]

Brinley wrote: "62%
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Yeah it's very messed up

64%
(view spoiler)[ Ok thats terrible, and a terrible invasion of privacy, but its also hilarious. Im sorry, but them sending in a picture of Zach and his pregnant cousin had me dying (hide spoiler)]

Brinley wrote: "64%
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(view spoiler)[ The things they'll do to prevent anyone from finding out these boys aren't straight astounded me lol (hide spoiler)]

Katrina wrote: "38%
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(view spoiler)[ Same, she was terrible. Especially because at the end, she was all "im on your side" and everything, even though shes been mistreating Ruben the entire time (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I wanted an epilogue too, it seems like a lot went unfinished. I really wanted to see Angel getting better, or at least working through his issues, but that was just glossed over. And Ruben and his mother definitely shouldve been addressed (hide spoiler)]