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Take a Bow

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 2,032 ratings · 405 reviews

From the fantastic author of The Lonely Hearts Club and Prom & Prejudice comes a story of all the drama and comedy of four friends who grow into themselves at a performing arts high school.

Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academ...more

Hardcover, 278 pages

Published April 1st 2012 by Point

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Sep 28, 2012 Idle Hippo marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: fiksi

Jadi begini...

abis pulang jumatan lagi siap2 mau pergi ke kecamatan ngurus e ktp. tiba2 ada abang2 dari sebuah jasa pengiriman pos ngetok2 pager. disamperin dunk. trus dia bilang
"ada kiriman paket"
waaaaaaaaah, aseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek *kliatannya kiriman buku soalna*

"buat siapa" *basa basi*
"nggggggg...."
*hening*
"ini bener dengan dengan rumah..." *nyebutin alamat ama nomer rumah*
malah nanya dia
"iya, betul.. buat siapa paketna?"
*hening lagi*
"anu.. anu... " *menyerahkan paket tanpa mau nyebutin nama...more

17 likes · like · see review

Apr 25, 2012 Nikki rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, tear-jerker, reviewed, read-2012, amazing, favorites, contemp

I'll just start by saying this: the book was beautiful. I've read a few Elizabeth Eulberg books before and I can say with absolute certainty that none of them could quite compare to Take A Bow.

I'll admit, I was initially skeptic about this one. Considering The Lonely Hearts Club and Prom and Prejudice I didn't actually expect much from this. If anything, I imagined this to be just as flat and lifeless. Maybe even worse, after I saw the format of the book: four different POVs.

The only thought th...more

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 17, 2012 Mesa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I found my favorite contemporary book of 2012 and my new favorite author!

You have no idea how much I love this book. It such a cute, adorable book! Take a Bow follows four unique, talented teenagers: Emme, Ethan, Sophie and Carter. I loved all characters, especially the member of Teenage Kicks: Emme, Ethan, Jack and Ben. Jack and Ben cracked me up throughout the book. It’s been a long time since a book has made me smile this much throughout the book, and even after I finished it, I had a smile o...more I found my favorite contemporary book of 2012 and my new favorite author!

You have no idea how much I love this book. It such a cute, adorable book! Take a Bow follows four unique, talented teenagers: Emme, Ethan, Sophie and Carter. I loved all characters, especially the member of Teenage Kicks: Emme, Ethan, Jack and Ben. Jack and Ben cracked me up throughout the book. It’s been a long time since a book has made me smile this much throughout the book, and even after I finished it, I had a smile on my face.

Carter is adorable, sweet guy. He really wants to be normal, to have normal friends, a normal life and not act all the time. Emme is a sweet girl; she’s very quick to forgive people. Ethan is kind of a reserved, quiet guy yet nice and caring. Sophie is a selfish, heartless and very manipulative. She uses Emme and Carter; she plays with their emotion. Even though she’s not my favorite, I really liked how she made the story more interesting.

Take a Bow is written in four POV. I know some people, including me, get confused when a book is written in multiple POV but I didn’t have problem with this book, I didn’t get confused ones.

I also loved how there is music in this books; it made the book more appealing. I think the characters were funny but also had depth and seemed real. I was able to relate to every single character. From the first moment I opened this book, I was smiling from ear to ear. This book went really fast for me, when I didn’t even want to finish it; it was that good.

The way Eulberg wrote this book was amazing. The writing is so beautiful. It’s another reason that I fell in LOVE with this book. Eluberg sense of humor, writing style, characters, and storyline will draw you and keep you cozy. There is NOTHING I would change about this book.

I can’t recommend this book enough! Every single person should pre-order this one; you won’t be disappointed. I have no doubt that if you are a fan of contemporary novels, music, and romance … you would adore this book. You are going to be missing a FANTASTIC book if you skip this one.

Now, I’m going to have to look for my copy of The Lonely Hearts Club (it’s somewhere in my messy bookshelf) because I’m addicted to Eulbergs writing, story and character.

Find the original review @ The Sagacity Quest
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5 likes · like · see review

Mar 15, 2012 Mimi Valentine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, gorgeous-covers, pure-awesomeness, boys-i-wish-were-real, best-of-2012, 5-star, adorable-favourites, favourites, reviewed

You know those books that are so adorable, so sweet, so subtly inspiring that they make you want to hug the author and all of the people involved in publishing them? Take a Bow is one of those books!

My first thought after reading this was that I wanted to become a singer — which is completely untrue because I'm a writer-girl, and singing and I don't go together unless it involves broken windows. But Elizabeth Eulberg wrote this novel in a way that made me want to jump in and follow these four te...more

14 likes · like · see review

Jan 22, 2013 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-the-library, favorite-books, wishlist, cute-romance, young-adult

There is only one word i can use to describe this book: AMAZING! It was honestly the best book i have read by elizabeth. I have already read her pervious books and they were awesome, but not as awesome as this! I pretty much loved every single thing about this book. It was about 4 students attending a preforming arts school, in New York City. They were in their senior year and were going through normal teenage issues. While doing gigs(shows outside of school), preformances, and auditions.

The ch...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 07, 2013 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, owned, spring-2012

I won this book from Goodreads First Reads. I used to sing and have big dreams of the spotlight which is part of why I entered to win this book.

I will admit that I somewhat delayed reading this book because I used do pageants and acting classes and I used to sing. Part of me didn't really want to go back to that world, but it wasn't all that I thought it would be, so no harm done. I liked that the book jumped back and forth between Emme, Sophie, Carter and Ethan for their point of view. I also r...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Mitch rated it 3 of 5 stars

This wasn't an easy read and contemporary isn't usually my thing, but I wanted a change of pace after my last couple of books and hopefully I've kept this review fairly objective. Anyway, yeah, I had some problems reading this; it's a fairly interesting concept but the execution needs work.

The book’s from an ensemble first person point of view, and each narrator (Sophie, Emme, Ethan, and Carter) alternates chapters, though that's not the problem. At least for me, it was pretty easy to tell who'...more This wasn't an easy read and contemporary isn't usually my thing, but I wanted a change of pace after my last couple of books and hopefully I've kept this review fairly objective. Anyway, yeah, I had some problems reading this; it's a fairly interesting concept but the execution needs work.

The book’s from an ensemble first person point of view, and each narrator (Sophie, Emme, Ethan, and Carter) alternates chapters, though that's not the problem. At least for me, it was pretty easy to tell who's narrating which chapter - even without looking at the chapter headings - Carter's are written with a lot of the dialogue in script form, Emme's is the most nervous, Sophie's is incredibly b-y, and Ethan's are judgmental and self-loating. The first four chapters are each of the four characters setting up their expectations before high school, the last four are them reflecting at graduation, and the rest takes place during senior year. All good right? Except at various points during the narration, these narrators would reflect back on events during the other three years of high school, and the only warning is a little line like 'I remember back during...' A little italics or spacing or something would've been really helpful.

Beyond that, I really liked only one character, found another one merely OK, the third boring, and absolutely hated the last one (if you're wondering, in order that'd be Ethan, Emme, Carter, and Sophie). I guess that’s mostly intentional, because Ethan and Emme got the best plot of the four, and I can relate to a guy who acts like a jerk but realizes his mistake (yeah, done it too…). I can also more or less understand a girl who hangs on to a best friend who treats her badly. And I can understand adding in a rather clichéd character going through the I feel empty despite my success and want to find myself by doing something else thing to fill out a couple more pages. What I don’t understand is Eulberg’s choice to write from Sophie’s POV. This could’ve been interesting because the other characters don’t have a good opinion of her and she could’ve explained her attitude better, but no, just like everyone says she really is a b-, and who wants to read the opinions of a complete b- with delusions of grandeur? By the time I got to her last rant, I was more than ready to be done with her character.

With such messed up characters, the only thing that saved this book was the plot and setting. I’m sure not all of us remember fondly high school generally or everyone making plans of what to do after graduation, which colleges to apply to, anxiously waiting acceptance letters, and then having to pick and choose specifically, but at least it’s all captured honestly and entertainingly here. Kind of like a nostalgic trip to the not the distant past down memory lane. Or maybe it’s because I went to a super competitive cutthroat high school too and I can relate…

Overall, I can’t say I regret taking the time to read this book, but I can't give more than 3 stars to a book that I couldn't stand a quarter of the time either.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 28, 2012 Mrs.Heise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: conf-ncte-alan-2011, all-time-favorites

Review originally posted on Heise Rads & Recommends.

I adore Elizabeth Eulberg and I love, love, love her books and writing. It all started with THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB in January 2010, I was drawn in by the cover and I immediately loved it and recommended it to a few students who started passing it on to each other until I had to buy a second copy to meet demand. Then came the wonderfulness of PROM & PREJUDICE last year which was a lovely modern retelling of the classic Jane Austen story...more Review originally posted on Heise Rads & Recommends.

I adore Elizabeth Eulberg and I love, love, love her books and writing. It all started with THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB in January 2010, I was drawn in by the cover and I immediately loved it and recommended it to a few students who started passing it on to each other until I had to buy a second copy to meet demand. Then came the wonderfulness of PROM & PREJUDICE last year which was a lovely modern retelling of the classic Jane Austen story (and a title my students recently chose for an impromptu book club). You may have seen me mention one or both of those titles on twitter whenever someone asks for a cute, light-hearted, contemporary with some romance. The thing I love most about her books is that they are very accessible read and completely appropriate for the middle schoolers I recommend them to the most. And TAKE A BOW is no exception. In fact, I think this might be her best one yet!

One of the cool things about Elizabeth's books is that they all incorporate music in some way. Now, if you follow her on twitter or her blog, you'll quickly realize that Elizabeth loves music in real life and is always on the look out for the next concert, and I think that's something that many students can relate to. Sometimes it's more subtly included than others, but it's always there. In TAKE A BOW, it's a huge part of the story, but also done in different ways based on the characters. As I was reading I kept thinking back to Fame and that this is what it must really be like in these performing arts high schools. I love the whole concept and setting for this book-it's like high school drama on steroids when you add in the musicians and actors. This is one of those books where you're going to want to say, "I'm with the band!"

There is an honesty to Elizabeth's writing that I really appreciate and can relate to. It's not angsty just to be angsty, these teens are dealing with real issues that affect their lives and hopes for the future. Carter, Sophie, Ethan, and Emme are each their own definitively unique characters and all come across and realistic portrayals of people we could all know out in the world. They are not stereotyped, they have depth, they have real emotions and feelings, and they aren't always perfect. Even the good guy (and I appreciate having a true good guy, not just the bad boys) isn't perfect in how he deals with his emotions and feelings, which is realistic. They are teens and they are learning how to get by and figure out their lives in this cuthroat environment reaching for their dreams. Even the secondary characters are well-drawn and add some needed commentary and humor. I really appreciated that this story was told from the four different points of view, and the way in which they overlapped was so well done that I got the feeling of the complete story. Sometimes it was a little hard to distinguish what was happening in the present from the past memories helping us get background, but the voices were each distinct from each other.

I passed my ARC on to one of my students who was looking for a new book (and who had read Elizabeth's other two books and loved them) and asked her to share her thoughts with me when she was done, and she gave me a bullet pointed list of her thoughts. This is what she had to say (*caution-spoilers ahead): "Liked how it was from four people's points of view and how they all knew each other. Loved how Sophie was using Emme by Emme didn't realize it for awhile, loved how Emme stood up to Sophie, glad Sophie got what she deserved. Love the band. LIked how they were talking about college. Liked Carter's point of view. Liked how Ethan has always like Emme and glad Ethan and Emme are a couple." And my favorite comment from my student: "Loved how the book made me want to read more every time I put it down!"

This is definitely one to add to any middle school or high school classroom library or recommendation list. Especially recommend it to your drama kings and queens and your passionate musicians. And I hear it's already on store shelves, so go get it today and come back and let me know your thoughts about it! I am eagerly anticipating whatever Elizabeth Eulberg will share with us next!(less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 10, 2012 KM rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: girly-wonderfulness, scholastic, signed

Similar Books: Withering Tights by Louise Rennison, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody, Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff that Made Me Famous by Kathryn Williams

I'm a huge fan of books (and movies/TV shows) that deal with people trying to "make it" in the entertainment industry. This interest has led to me watching movies like "Fame," eating up every last bit. I also really liked Elizabeth Eulberg's previous novel, Prom & Prejudice, so I was excited to see her writing about one of my f...more Similar Books: Withering Tights by Louise Rennison, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody, Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff that Made Me Famous by Kathryn Williams

I'm a huge fan of books (and movies/TV shows) that deal with people trying to "make it" in the entertainment industry. This interest has led to me watching movies like "Fame," eating up every last bit. I also really liked Elizabeth Eulberg's previous novel, Prom & Prejudice, so I was excited to see her writing about one of my favorite topics!

This is a short little book that I read in one sitting. It's told from four different perspectives, and it's super fast-paced. The four main characters couldn't be any more different. You've got Carter, the former child star who is now a regular on a daytime soap and trying to decide if he's actually still interested in acting. Then there's Sophie, who is determined to graduate high school with a recording contract, and she'll do whatever it takes to reach her dreams - including using her friends and boyfriend to get ahead. Emme is the soft-spoken songwriter that grows a lot during the book, and Ethan must deal with a lot of inner-demons before he can ever become successful.

Emme is really the main protagonist of the story, and she propels the plot. She was a good MC, though I thought maybe her character development was a little too extreme. She and Ethan are best friends, but it's clear at the beginning that Ethan is more talented. However, as the story progresses, Emme begins to overshadow him. I didn't like that her talent made him less talented, and she ended up becoming the better songwriter. Also, he was a little too dependent on her, like his world revolved around her - a little too much girl power for me.

But other than that, I really liked this book! Sophie is ruthless, and I loved to hate her. And her friendship with Emme was really interesting. I liked watching Emme make excuses for Sophie until she just couldn't take it anymore. I think this sort of frenemy relationship is one that a lot of girls deal with at some point in their lives (if not always), so I think that's a really relatable topic.

Then you've got the music aspect, which was wonderful. Honestly, that's what I loved the most. I liked when Emme and Ethan would talk about songwriting, when Sophie would dream about getting a Grammy. This book reminded me A LOT of the movie "Fame," with the overwhelming pressure these kids have to face. I kept wondering if it was all worth it for them, and the different characters come to different conclusions, which I loved.

This is my favorite Elizabeth Eulberg book so far, and I can't wait to read more by her!(less)

1 like · like · see review

Nov 02, 2012 Inspired Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

Take a Bow is told from 4 different points of view. Emme, Sophie, Ethan and Carter alternate the narrating of the story. They are attending a prestigious New York performing arts school together. There are also some wonderful secondary characters written into this story who you can't help but love or hate.

This was a fast paced one sitting read for me, once I started I didn't stop. This is my 3rd Elizabeth Eulberg book and I'll definitely be reading her next book as well. I like her characters,...more

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May 15, 2013 HomeschoolGirl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Okay, so, this book was pretty good--after I was able to get into it. The start was a bit iffy. I thought, "Great--I'm going to have to read a book about thirteen and fourteen year olds?" But thankfully it skipped forward.

The real stars of this book were Emme and Ethan, so I found the POVs of Sophie and Carter unnecessary. Although Carter was an interesting read, but I never really felt like he shined.

Also, the author tends to have an odd writing style, especially when it comes to tenses. And...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Speakercoret rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Speakercoret by: Mery

Shelves: hadiah, indonesian, punya-sendiri

Sophie memang egois, tapi Emme memiliki andil dalam semakin buruknya sifat Sophie..
Apa yang bisa diharapkan ketika emme selalu memberikan pujian terhadap suara dan penampilan Sophie, padahal Emme ketika membuat lagunya harus melalukan 'penyesuaian' agar lagu tersebut bisa membuat Sophie tampil hebat..

Ini karya Elizabeth Eulberg kedua yang aku baca, menurut pendapat gw sih, karakter2nya lebih kuat di

.. di buku ini perbedaan karakter 'Aku' di setiap bab yg berganti POV agak saru kayaknya, kuran...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Angelina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, best-books-ever

Sometimes, a book will feel so special that you want it to be around you for days.

This is one of those books. It's one of those precocious coming-of-age chick-lit books that remind you of the world around you and all the people in it.

In this story, there are four POVs: Emme, Ethan, Carter and Sophie.

All of the main characters go to a prestigious performing art school.

Emme is your standard protagonist. Shy, talented and introverted, she plays back-up for the diva superstar, Sophie. She's also...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Erin M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

I had Take a Bow for two weeks before I started reading it. It just seemed like so much drama. And it was. But to my surprise it was a good story. One that I tiptoed into like cold water before it became a whirlpool that pulled me in.

When I found out it was written in four povs, I was a little unsure of how that was going to come across. I've read books before with several povs where the characters start to blend into each other and take on the same personalities. I have a hard time di...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Bryanna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: project-books

Take a Bow is about four teenagers during their senior year at CPA. Emme the main character gives up everything for her "best friend" Sophie. While Sophie thinks one day after CPA she will become a famous singer all because of Emme's help by making her songs. Carter a childhood star does he really still want to be an actor? Ethan is one with a talent of singing and writing songs but what happens with him being in love with Emme?

I personally loved this book and I would love to read it again. I...more Take a Bow is about four teenagers during their senior year at CPA. Emme the main character gives up everything for her "best friend" Sophie. While Sophie thinks one day after CPA she will become a famous singer all because of Emme's help by making her songs. Carter a childhood star does he really still want to be an actor? Ethan is one with a talent of singing and writing songs but what happens with him being in love with Emme?

I personally loved this book and I would love to read it again. I loved how it ended with the graduation and each character at least one page of their view of graduation. "Take a Bow" reminds me of a really a good movie I haven't seen in a while which is "Raise Your Voice". In the movie the main character goes to a music school and well in "Take a Bow" Emme goes to CPA for music even though there is other things to go into there. I just think it is crazy that Emme's friends make her towards the end of the book sing for the senior showcase I never thought she would go through with it.
Sophie is one person that really shocked me. She ended up using Emme just so she could get good songs written just for her. I hate how Emme would give up everything even at the last second for Sophie. I cannot believe how obsessed Sophie was with fame that she ruined her relationship with Carter. I think Sophie it was horrible how Sophie never thought of Carter as a normal guy and only as a celebrity who could get her in the spotlight.
Carter shocked me a little bit but I sort of figured at the beginning of the book he didn't want to be an actor anymore. He wanted to have a life and go to high school like a normal teenager. I would hate to be stuck in his situation having to act and going to school that's just so much when you don't want to act anymore. What shocked me was that he wanted to drop out of CPA and go to art school.
I honestly did not like Ethan's character at all. He didn't really seem like a guy Emme would ever date. At the beginning of the book he seemed like he was too obsessed with Emme by saying he wanted to go to whatever college Emme went to. I get that he is love with Emme but he didn't tell her till almost the end of the book. Personally I thought Ethan was not good for Emme and I wanted her to be with Carter. I felt like Carter was such a great guy and would treat her like a princess so it upset me when she got with Ethan.

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Oct 23, 2012 Tirta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own-a-copy

Full review on blog: http://iprefereading.blogspot.com/201...

Ceritanya asyik!
Saya suka novel-novel remaja yang banyak masukin unsur musik ke dalam ceritanya, termasuk Take a Bow. Latar disini adalah di CPA, atau Creative and Performing Arts, New York. Novel diceritakan melalui sudut pandang keempat tokoh diatas, yang mana jadi nilai lebih karena kita bisa 'masuk' lebih jauh ke dalam pikiran para tokoh, tapi terdapat nilai kurang juga karena jadi nggak fokus sama satu pikiran, pembaca harus siap...more Full review on blog: http://iprefereading.blogspot.com/201...

Ceritanya asyik!
Saya suka novel-novel remaja yang banyak masukin unsur musik ke dalam ceritanya, termasuk Take a Bow. Latar disini adalah di CPA, atau Creative and Performing Arts, New York. Novel diceritakan melalui sudut pandang keempat tokoh diatas, yang mana jadi nilai lebih karena kita bisa 'masuk' lebih jauh ke dalam pikiran para tokoh, tapi terdapat nilai kurang juga karena jadi nggak fokus sama satu pikiran, pembaca harus siap loncat-loncat pemahaman.

Jujur aja di beberapa bab awal sempat bosan, apalagi ditambah harus adaptasi sama terjemahannya yang menurut saya agak nggak biasa. Disini kata gantinya jadi 'aku-kamu', bukan 'aku-kau' seperti buku-buku terjemahan biasanya. Kata-kata lain juga banyak yang mengalami 'peremajaan', istilahnya, hehehe, contohnya kalau buku terjemahan biasanya 'tidak', ini jadi 'nggak'. Mungkin maksudnya supaya lebih akrab dengan sasaran genre-nya, yaitu remaja, tapi saya pribadi sebenernya lebih suka yang agak resmi kayak biasanya aja sih. Tapi untungnya, begitu sampai ke tengah-tengah sampai akhir, ceritanya jadi lumayan intense dan seru. Kalau baca terjemahannya tuh, entah kenapa terbayang gimana asiknya baca versi asli bukunya :D

Saya suka gimana karakter-karakternya berkembang (*uhuk* kecuali Sophie kayaknya *uhuk*), dari Carter yang mulai berani keluar dari zona nyaman, Emme yang mulai percaya diri, tapi tetep aja... sebel sama Ethan yang nggak berani-berani ngungkapin perasaan! Hihihi. Pas Emme-nya deket sama cowok lain dia malah uring-uringan sendiri.

Juga, senangnya, buku ini nggak melulu fokus ke romance, tapi lebih ke usaha tokoh-tokohnya untuk sukses ngelakuin hal-hal di bidangnya masing-masing, juga hubungan persahabatan Sophie-Emme yang mulai renggang itu. Ditambah bumbu-bumbu humor yang muncul tiap kali ada anggota band-nya Emme & Ethan, si Jack & Ben. Nilai plus banget deh.
Endingnya juga tidak mengecewakan! Hihihi.

In conclusion, Take a Bow is a really read-worthy book. Sweet, light-read, cocok untuk pembaca contemporary YA yang suka kisah-kisah berbau musik, atau mungkin mereka-mereka yang suka nonton TV show semacam Glee nih. :)(less)

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Aug 05, 2012 Tammy Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-reviews

Let me just preface this by saying that I really did enjoy the book. The story unfolds with four perspective voices. There's Sophie, Carter, Ethan and Emme. Each chapter is from a different perspective character which still moves the plot along in a linear fashion. I liked way the story was told. The voice was always fresh and new because it would be four chapters until we came back to that character's chapter again. And I liked that I could see the story through not just one pair of eyes. It wa...more Let me just preface this by saying that I really did enjoy the book. The story unfolds with four perspective voices. There's Sophie, Carter, Ethan and Emme. Each chapter is from a different perspective character which still moves the plot along in a linear fashion. I liked way the story was told. The voice was always fresh and new because it would be four chapters until we came back to that character's chapter again. And I liked that I could see the story through not just one pair of eyes. It was very well crafted.

I do have to say though, that starting out, the only character I really liked was Ethan. I couldn't stand Sophie. She's so completely absorbed in her own talent and importance. She sees the world as her stage and all the little people help her reach her goals. She has drawn out a plan to become famous, which also includes those around her. She uses every one she knows to her own end like she has the right to because she deserves it. An example is her relationship with Emme. She is Emme's best friend, but I can't say the feeling is mutual. Emme is a songwriter and she needs Emme to be a part of the plan so Emme will write songs for her to sing. No one can write songs like Emme can or make Sophie sound as dynamic as Emme does with her music. Emme doesn't sing her own songs because Sophie has convinced her that she doesn't sing very well. As it turns out, Emme does have a decent voice, but then she becomes competition. Even Sophie's choice in boyfriends is calculated. She is dating Carter who is a child star and currently starring in a soap opera. She like dating Carter because they go out often to premiers and such and there are lots of photo ops to get her face out there and her name. Carter is just one of the stepping stones that will help Sophie achieve her dream of fame and success. I found nothing at all endearing about her, but the character was very well written.

Carter is a bit more sympathetic. He is going through an identity crisis realizing that he really doesn't enjoy acting. It is unfortunate because no one will allow him the opportunity to explore any other career path other than acting. In any of the school productions, he is always told he is going to be doing a scene from a play. Even when he tried to suggest another talent to showcase, he was basically shut down. He feels trapped by a future he no longer wants and has no idea how to extricate himself from the situation he has found himself in. He finds that he is not just acting on the set, but he's acting through life. Playing the perfect boyfriend, playing the perfect student, playing the perfect son. Catering to everyone else's expecatations of who he should be. He knows Emme since he is dating Sophie, but in one evening they have a meaningful conversation where he confides in her his personal conflict and she is supportive. He wants to get into an art program and she encourages him. They become friends, but that is just another thorn in Sophie's side. The one issue I had with Carter is that it took him so long to figure out what a manipulative, conniving girl he was dating. He, as it turns out, can also play the perfect doormat.

Emme and Ethan are in a band together along with Ben and Jack. I really got a kick out of the sections in the book dealing with the band, name - Teenage Kicks. Before every show, or at least major show, Jack would pump up the band by telling stories about the demise of the band and all the members there in. They were tragic tales. I like the banter and you could tell that these were four people who cared for one another and supported one another and as the end of senior year gets closer, the realization that the band will soon break up is a little sad, but such is the way of life.

Emme is a loyal friend which is certainly a quality I look for in a friend, but she is also handicapped by her friendship with Sophie. Everyone keeps telling her that Sophie is just using her, but she gets angry and defensive. She makes excuses, allowances, even bends the rules slightly all to help her friend out. Sophie knows that a few tears will get Emme to do whatever she wants and Emme just lets her. I want to shake her silly. She is a talented songwriter who doesn't want to shine in the spotlight. She'd rather be in the back ground where she is comfortable. She has believed all the things Sophie has been telling her for years, so she is not very confident in herself. It takes Ethan to break her out of that. It wasn't until she finally realized for herself what Sophie is really like that I really came to like her as a character. I found that she is not a push over as I had thought, but is actually very strong and can stand up for herself when the need arises.

Ethan is my favorite character. He's flawed, but he seems to be the most balanced out of the four. He is the front man for the group. He accepted the roll reluctantly, but became comfortable with the attention. He was dating Kelsey, but they split up. He was living a true rock star life style in that he was drinking before the shows, cheating on his girlfriend with the groupies if she wasn't there and generally engaged in all kinds of self destructive behavior. His relationship with Kelsey took place off page and before the present story takes place, but it was an on again / off again relationship that finally ended with them calling quits. It left him shattered and he found himself in a very dark place. He didn't care about himself or much else. It took Emme losing it to shake him out of his downward spiral. He is not proud of how he behaved, but he is reformed and would like nothing more than to regain Emme's trust. He is in love with her, but feels like she could never reciprocate his feelings. She made her feelings on his infidelity very clear. He contents himself with just being friends until Carter starts hanging around, although Carter and Emme just become good friends. He can still handle it though, until Emme starts dating another student in the music program and he loses it again. His feelings run deep and he just doesn't know what to do with them since he feels he has a snowball's chance in hell of Emme ever returning his feelings. He starts to self destruct again and it seems as if Emme is the only one that can help pull him back together.

I would like to say that Sophie redeems herself, that Carter finds himself, that Emme can see Sophie for who she is and Ethan as well and that Ethan will at least find some happiness. You're going to have to read the book to find out, though. (less)

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Jul 21, 2012 Aria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review can also be found here.

Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg is one of the best books I’ve read so far in this year. I really love, love, love this book! Like what Susane Colasanti (author of When It Happens) has said, Take a Bow is definitely a fresh, fun and fabulous read that will have you cheering for new beginnings—and I did! I loved how realistic the characters are, especially the main characters! Even Jack and Ben are great! Back to the previous point; Emme is a darling, Carter is sweet,...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Karen Yingling rated it 3 of 5 stars

Things are tense during senior year at a performing arts school in New York City. Flashing back to freshman year when Emme, Sophie, Ethan and Carter met, and taking them up to graduation, we get to see all the machinations they go through to become successful in their fields. Sophie has a fantastic voice, and her plan is to become a superstar. Her friend, Emme, is a songwriter who gladly writes songs for her, but who is also in a band and has a good voice of her own. Ethan writes songs brillinat...more

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May 25, 2012 My Sister's Bookshelf rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I knew this book was set at a performing arts high school, but I hadn’t realized how much of the focus would be on music. I suppose from the title I was expecting actors (yes, I should have paid more attention to the cover or picked it up and read the book jacket earlier!) I love a good band story! Lemonade Mouth for the Disney-version, Bandslam for the indie-comedy-version (with a little Disney thrown in, hi Vanessa Hudgens!), or, my personal favorite, School of Rock, for the Jack-Black-take. C...more

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May 14, 2012 Barbara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: community, art, music, ncbla2013, school, romance, self-esteem, writing

While this title is likely to appeal to fans of Fame, Glee, and High School Musical, I was disappointed in it, perhaps because I've read books that cover the same terrain better. Four teens audition for spots in the prestigious New York City High School of the Creative and Performing Arts, and once they are accepted, the storyline shifts quickly to their senior year at the school. Talented songwriter Emme is painted with a sympathetic brush since she has talent to write and sing but hides that t...more

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Apr 22, 2012 Shelby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-library-challenge-books, books-i-love

This review can be previously found here: http://imlostinabook.blogspot.com/201...

Emme is a talented singer, songwriter, and musician living in the shadows of her friend. Sophie is a charismatic singer who will do anything to be famous - even if it means using the ones who trust her. Ethan is a songwriter who hasn't always made the best decisions. And Carter is a famous actor who suffers from the cliche problem: Being himself, and finding out how to get there.

This book was great. All of the char...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Jenny rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 18, 2012 Reading Teen rated it 4 of 5 stars

The 4 main characters of this book are extremely talented students at the New York City High School of Creative and Performing Arts. Sophie's big dream is to win a Grammy before she turns 20. Her plan for success includes singing an original song written just for her by her long time best friend, Emme Connelly. Emme is in the Music Composition Program and also plays guitar in a band with Ethan Quinn and two other guys. Carter Harrison is a former child star who is searching for a little normalcy...more The 4 main characters of this book are extremely talented students at the New York City High School of Creative and Performing Arts. Sophie's big dream is to win a Grammy before she turns 20. Her plan for success includes singing an original song written just for her by her long time best friend, Emme Connelly. Emme is in the Music Composition Program and also plays guitar in a band with Ethan Quinn and two other guys. Carter Harrison is a former child star who is searching for a little normalcy and the true passion of his life. Sophie and Emme have been best friends since the third grade and have been working together since then. However, as they went through high school, Sophie's ambition heightened as her skills plateaued. As she felt her dreams slipping away, she becomes more and more desperate and willing to use anyone to find a place in the spotlight of celebrity. Sophie was very happy to be dating Carter Harrison and accompany him to openings and red carpet affairs even though her motivation wasn't Carter but to get her picture and name in the press. She was happy to use Carter in the same way that she used Emme. Emme was such a good friend that she was willing to drop anything to write a song for Sophie and rehearse with her, even if it meant that her own work didn't get done. Her dream was to graduate and attend the famed Juilliard School of Music. She didn't need to be in the spotlight but was perfectly happy being in the shadows, writing and playing her music. She was very clear about where she wanted to go in life and was therefore surprised that Carter Harrison, the child star and soap actor, seemed to be living a role rather than actually living his life. He was attending school in the hope of having a normal life for a change but soon realizes that he is still "special" even when he doesn't deserve it or want it. The story follows these 4 characters through their senior year of high school as they pursue their dreams of fame and fulfillment.

This is not a long book and once I started reading it didn't take me long to finish it. I found the characters believable and the story very interesting. I do not have any firsthand knowledge of the world of the arts and performing so I don't know how accurate it is but I thought it was very good. These kids were basically good kids....no drugs, drinking was frowned on, no sexual episodes were described. Neither were they depicted as perfect angels who never did anything wrong. The story talks about the pressures and deadlines that these talented young people were facing as they tried to display their talents, keep up with their schoolwork and the occasional boyfriend/girlfriend. I liked the book a lot and am interested in reading other books by Elizabeth Eulberg. I would recommend it for younger and older teens.

-Janeth
Readingteen.net

Content:

Sexual Content: Mild
Profanity: Mild
Violence: None
Other Notables: Underage Drinking

For more details, check out Take a Bow on Parentalbookreviews.com(less)

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Apr 13, 2012 Rai rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

This book has a very "Fame" feel to it. Of course, what do you expect from a book set in New York at a high school for performing arts? The characters are cliched... there's the famous child star who doesn't want to be an actor, the self-centered singer who will do anything to be famous, the quiet best friend who is the true talent and the hopeless heart-throb in love with his bandmate...

So, it sounds like a bad book, right? Except it's not. It gives a snapshot of the pressures of success. And...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Lora rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-lit

Told in four voices this book tells the story of the senior year at a performing arts high school in New York City. Sophie the singer, Emme the songwriter (and best friend to Sophie), Carter the child star, and Ethan another songwriter make up the four main characters, however through their eyes the audience is introduced to a handful of other characters that are just as well developed as the narrators. As many high school stories go there is romance and betrayal and friendships, but this book h...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Soycazadoradesombrasylibros rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: finish

Cuando un libro me gusta tanto a veces no se como expresarlo o como decirlo en una reseña pero sin duda la autora ha sabido como plasmar de una manera magistral la carrera que muchas personas tienen que llevar a cabo para conseguir algo en su vida, en este caso en una academia de artes creativas y escénicas de Nueva York.

Unos personajes con formas de pensar y ser diferentes pero que les une una cosa en común y esa persona se llama Emme una pelirroja que es dulce,tranquila y amiga de sus amigos/a...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Once Upon rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! Elizabeth did it again!!! Absolutely brilliant!

This book follows the lives of Carter, Sophie, Ethan, and Emme as they go through high school at a performing arts school. Many times when I read books where the author writes from many different points of view I get easily confused, but not with this book. I even felt like I could hear some of these characters reading their parts in this story out loud to me.

I really enjoyed tagging along on this journey through high school with...more I loved this book! Elizabeth did it again!!! Absolutely brilliant!

This book follows the lives of Carter, Sophie, Ethan, and Emme as they go through high school at a performing arts school. Many times when I read books where the author writes from many different points of view I get easily confused, but not with this book. I even felt like I could hear some of these characters reading their parts in this story out loud to me.

I really enjoyed tagging along on this journey through high school with these talented teenagers. We start out by learning a little bit about each of the characters:
~Emme is a songwriter, one of the best, and she feels indebted to her best friend, Sophie, for putting a voice to her words. Emme is perfectly happy being in Sophie's shadow and ends up at CPA because of her.

~Sophie has her eye on the prize. She is a great singer wants to be a star, and will stop at nothing to reach that goal--even if it means damaging a relationship, or two, along the way.

~Carter is a former child star who cannot seem to get out of the spotlight. He decides to attend high school because he wants to be more normal. Sophie manages to snag him as her boyfriend, but does she really like him or is it his fame and fortune she is after?

~Ethan is a songwriter, too, and he is AMAZING! He and Emme are best friends and he seems to have this problem of messing up his relationships.

There are a few other characters, who are really good friends with Emme and Ethan, but I'll let you enjoy them for yourself when you pick this book up.

This book took me on somewhat of an emotional roller coaster. I was yelling at a few of these characters at times, and crying or laughing with or at them at other times. I love it when an author can write characters that are so believable and stories that draw out my emotions and make me root for some of them and curse others. This book also took me back to my own high school experience, and even childhood, a bit. I wasn't talented enough to attend a performing arts school, or brave enough to be the star of the show. I did, however, enjoy helping in the background getting sets ready for plays that our school put on and was a proud member of our school's drama club. From the age of 4, I was in dance class (tap, ballet, jazz-you name it) and I really looked forward to our dance recitals every year when we could dress up in great costumes and be a part of the fabulous productions we put on for 100s of family members, friends, and the public. I miss those days sometimes. So I really identified with Emme in this book-how she was okay with being in the background...and yet, I enjoyed performing at times, too.

My favorite part of this story, besides the ending (of course), is seeing how the characters changed and grew as the story progressed. Well, most of them changed anyway. You'll see what I mean when you read it. And you must pick it up as soon as it is available!!! You will not be disappointed! If you are a fan of Elizabeth's other books, you'll love this one, too. And if you haven't read any of her books yet--what are you waiting for? I'm not kidding, you won't be sorry! Love them!!!

review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...(less)

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Apr 02, 2012 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Take a Bow is a short but surprisingly emotional read, thrusting into the midst of a creative and performing arts school as four very different students try to find their way through their classes, their futures, and their individual relationships. The fact that there are four first-person point of views packed into an under three-hundred page story may cause some readers to balk initially–questioning whether or not there will be enough time to adequately connect to each character before reachin...more Take a Bow is a short but surprisingly emotional read, thrusting into the midst of a creative and performing arts school as four very different students try to find their way through their classes, their futures, and their individual relationships. The fact that there are four first-person point of views packed into an under three-hundred page story may cause some readers to balk initially–questioning whether or not there will be enough time to adequately connect to each character before reaching the last page–but Ms. Eulberg does an extremely impressive job of layering each character and giving them the means to pull a strong, visceral response from us however brief our sojourn into their heads and hearts. Watching as the relationships change between the four narrators as well as the side characters is entertainment at its finest, each one of them flawed and in various stages of recognizing those flaws so they may get out of their own way and grab onto the future that’s waiting just beyond their self-constructed walls.

Emme and Ethan are perhaps the two characters with whom we spend the most time, their relationship consisting of deep friendship (and unrequited love on Ethan’s part) the most emotional of the four threads woven together to create this beautiful patchwork of a story. Emme is endearingly naïve and a genuinely good person, always the first to help any of her friends should they need it, and utterly unsuspecting of any type of subterfuge or petty jealousy to the extent that we often want nothing more than to reach in and force her eyes open wide so she can see what everyone else around her already does. Her eyes do eventually open much to our immense relief, and once they’re open they remain blissfully clear and she never allows her vision to be clouded by a manipulative farce of a friend again. She goes from a meek, quiet young woman content to her place in the shadows to a strong and confident young woman who’s still plagued by nerves, but who no longer allows herself or those around her to stand in her way.

Ethan has our hearts from the opening pages, his feelings for Emme as obvious to us as Emme is oblivious, and we immediately enter into a love/hate relationship with him—loving his protectiveness of Emme while simultaneously hating that he protects her even from himself. His flaws are probably the darkest and most numerous, his self-destructive behavior a burden he bears not alone, but rather one he unintentionally shares with Emme and those who most care for him, weighing all of us down until our toes brush bottom and he begins to push off and drag us all back toward the surface. Despite his behavior, he is nothing if not worthy of redemption and affection, his clear love for Emme something painful and stunning at the same time as we honestly have no idea as to whether her feelings for him can be what he so desperately wants them to be.

Ethan and Emme are definitely the strongest of the four narrators, our time spent with Carter and Sophie not quite as complex or interesting as the maelstrom of emotions constantly swirling around the other two. Carter’s chapters are written in script-like form, something a bit jarring given the other three perspectives have no such clear distinction, and while we understand why it’s done that way given Carter’s entire life has been scripted for him, it seems just a touch out of place. Overall however, Ms. Eulberg has written a story rich with intriguing relationships where all the beauty and pain that accompanies change is laid before us in glorious detail.

Rating: 4/5 (less)

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Apr 01, 2012 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg follows a group of students in their Senior year at a competitive performing arts school in New York City. The story revolves around Emme a shy composer who slowly comes into her own and learns to stand up for herself. The story is told through the eyes of Emme and several of her classmates: Sophie, her best friend whom she'll have to come to realize is using her. Carter, Sophie's boyfriend and child star who is not sure if he wants to be an actor and Ethan who ha...more

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About Elizabeth Eulberg

The short and sweet version:
Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to Syracuse University and then making a career in the New York City book biz. She lives outside of Manhattan with her three guitars, two keyboards, and one drumstick. In researching The Lonely Hearts Club, she tried swearing off boys forever. It didn’t work. She did, however, learn how to play Rachma...more The short and sweet version:
Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to Syracuse University and then making a career in the New York City book biz. She lives outside of Manhattan with her three guitars, two keyboards, and one drumstick. In researching The Lonely Hearts Club, she tried swearing off boys forever. It didn’t work. She did, however, learn how to play Rachmaninoff’s Eighteenth Variation from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini on the piano while writing Prom and Prejudice, so she’s not a total slacker.
The long and babbling version:
I was born in the small town of Portage, Wisconsin and am the youngest of four children. My father owned a clothing store, called (appropriately enough) Eulberg’s, that had been in my family since 1929. My mother was a teacher then stayed at home with us kids until I was old enough to go to school. She eventually became a high school librarian…at the high school I attended! (And no, she did not play favorites. Ever.)

Growing up, three things dominated my life: traveling, music and reading. I still have passion for all three today.

Traveling:
Every summer my parents packed us all up in a van, complete with a tent that slept six—and we travelled for two weeks to a different parts of the country. Being the youngest child, there are many pictures of me crying in numerous historical landmarks across the United States: Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon—you get the idea. Of course, as soon as I was able to appreciate these trips, my parents decided to stop doing them. Something about us wanting to spend more time in the campsite pool than site-seeing…

My love of travel prompted me to become a foreign exchange student the summer between my junior and senior year of high school (if you do it in the summer – no homework!). I lived in the tiny village of Bühler, Switzerland and got to travel all around Switzerland. I also studied abroad my junior year of college in London. I have since travelled extensively around Europe, been to Australia (twice!), New Zealand, Argentina… I have a lot more places that I want to go and think Chile is going to be next on my list, but I also really want to travel around the countryside of Ireland since I’ve only been to Dublin. So many places…

Music:
My mother had me begin taking piano lessons when I was five since, she says, I banged on the piano more than my two older sisters who were taking lessons. Music became my main obsession throughout childhood. I started playing the clarinet when I was in fourth grade and even played the drums in marching band in high school (how cool was I?). A few years ago, I decided I wanted to learn to play the guitar. I still keep up with the piano, although I’m nowhere near the level I was in high school and continue my quest with guitar lessons to become a full-out rock star (some day!). It was my love of music that led to my career in publicity… but more on that in a bit.

Reading:
The first book series that I remember becoming enthralled by was the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace. I think I was in second grade when I got one of the books from the library. I was hooked instantly and followed Betsy from the first book to the last, Betsy’s Wedding (I always laugh when publishers say kids don’t want to read about adults). I also remember reading Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and, of course, Little Women. I say “of course” about Little Women since my mom wanted me to be called Beth, after the character from the book (oh, and I have a sister named Meg). But alas, I never went by Beth. I prefer Elizabeth (and still do).

My next reading craze happened when I started reading the Sweet Valley High series. My mother always encouraged us to read. While some people would prefer their children to read more “literary” books, my mother didn’t care. She was just happy I was b(less)

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“We’ve been focusing so much on getting there that we haven’t been enjoying the ride” — 36 people liked it

“I don't want to ruin our friendship and what we have but I cannot for another minute stand in front of you without you knowing exactly how I feel. Because I can't see past you. You are everything to me.” — 26 people liked it

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