Amplified (Amplified, #1)

Apr 13, 2012 Lisa O. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-neurons-involved, ya-lit, swoooooon, hot-musicians

4.5 stars

So I guess I might have a thing for books with music in them.
Might it be because I can actually hear it like a soundtrack, just like in a movie and it makes it more vivid? Maybe. Might it be because musician are always irrevocably hot? Yeah, that's probably more like it.
Come on, who wasn't mesmerized at some point in their life by the guy playing the guitar in front of a bonfire during a hot summer night? Only me? Ok, FINE. Moving on.

My expectations for Amplified were middle to low....more

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Mar 21, 2012 Ariana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: x, favorites, sweet-romance, laugh-aloud, music, funny, ya-contemporary, 2011, series, beloved

Help! I can't get this stupid grin off my face! :D

Yeah, this means that I loved this story!
And no, I don't really want it off - I kinda look cute with it.

Now back to our story..
There are books with deep messages that touch the bottom of my heart, but there are also books like this one, with simple meanings but with a great power to make me laugh, to make me dream, to make me hope, to fill my sleepless nights.

I love them all the same - some for making my heart ache, some for making my stomachflu...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Eunice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, contemporary, cool-covers, favourites, kick-ass-heroines, realistic-fiction, ya-romance, young-adult

3.75 stars

I was instatntly hooked the first time I read the blurb of this book and decided I have to read this. Well, becuase like Jasmine, I once dreamed of joining a band when I was in high-school and just like her again, I wanted to be a lead guitarist. The difference is just that I stopped having guitar lessons when I turned sophomore year and got caught up with all school stuffs and teenage-stuffs. So you know, when I started reading it I was like, wow this girl's just like me and I liked J...more 3.75 stars

I was instatntly hooked the first time I read the blurb of this book and decided I have to read this. Well, becuase like Jasmine, I once dreamed of joining a band when I was in high-school and just like her again, I wanted to be a lead guitarist. The difference is just that I stopped having guitar lessons when I turned sophomore year and got caught up with all school stuffs and teenage-stuffs. So you know, when I started reading it I was like, wow this girl's just like me and I liked Jasmine right away.

This was a lovely and enjoyable read especially since it's a music inclined story and you know, I'm really such a sucker for that. I really loved playing guitar (though I didn't get to be any good. lol) so I can pretty much relate to Jasmine. Jasmine Kiss was an admirable and adorable character. I loved her determination and how sure she was of what she really wants for herself. But what I loved about her the most was her great passion towards music and playing guitar. Yes, she's flawed and she could be really frustrating at some point but she always manage to stand up and fixed things. It was great to see how she developed, learned things, trust herself and gained confidence.

Sean, the cute bassist of the band Jasmine had joined in was likable too. He and Jasmine makes a really cute couple and could make some really swoony and pretty steamy scenes too. However there was this time that made me a little disappointed in him but thank goodness he was able to regain himself on me. Other character like the memebers of the band - C-side - Veta, Felix and Bryn were funny and adorable too though sometimes they could be a little weird and harsh but still they were good and likable.

The ending was great though I would admit I'm not that satisfied because I'm a sappy person who loves sweet sweet ending and needs to be reassured that the guy and the girl really did end up with each other which in this story was left pretty vague. Though I really liked to think that they did and spent most of my time after reading it mentally editing the book. lol. But still, it was a really wonderful and enjoyable read and I would still recommend this to you guys!

This review is also posted at Book Overdose (less)

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Jul 24, 2012 Katrina Passick Lumsden rated it 2 of 5 stars

I made one note of this book while reading. It was as follows:

"Jasmine is judgmental, close-minded, insecure, negative, gullible, inconsiderate, entitled, incompetent, spoiled, proud, deceitful, and uptight."

I wanted to like this book. When I read the synopsis, I thought, hell, yeah, 'cause, you know, who among us didn't once harbor a fantasy of running away to join a band? Hell, I still habor that fantasy. But this book? You know what, I'm just going to do this list style.

1. Jasmine is an ass...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Glass rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: music, realistic-fiction, girl-power, favorites, tanja-zemira-miss-glass-book-club

I already know what will be the biggest "don't like" for some of the readers - ending of this novel. But that's just what was turning point in my decision to give Amplified five stars instead of four. Author didn't give in to the temptation of the usual happy endings - girl gets the boy, daddy and mommy are my biggest fans after all and so on... And this girl knows how to use the words and not make them pathetic and cheesy.
I have to admit that I didn't completely understand all those music te...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

Normally I’d be all a-gush over this music filled novel, of a girl coming into her own as well as a boy to die for… but something was missing because I’m not (gushing, I mean) . It’s an OK book though with Jasmine Kiss who’s more than a music loving, guitar playing girl. She WAS daddy’s little girl. She TRIED her best in school, but she really loves music and wants more of it. SO she makes time and gets leaves home- all this in the first couple of chapters.

Here’s what I did like. They all know...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Chanda added it

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great contemporary read. I always love a book where the guy and girl start off not liking each other. It brings a good amount of humor to a story when they are not all "I love you no I love you" in the beginning. I wish it would have been a little bit more on the romance side ( or I guess I mean I wish they would have made out some more then what they did ). What made me rate it 4 stars instead of 5 is that the girl is a little immature and irresponsible for...more

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Mar 30, 2012 VampireAngelSadist rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kinda-strange-beginning, spring-break-books, loved-and-should-reread

LOVED IT! The book was amazing and kind of a break from all the crap I've read till now. Now I have to go on about the parts I did not like in the book. It's a pain in the ass, but it has to be done. I couldn't understand Jasmine that much. She kept going back from a hard core kick-your-ass kind of chick to a scared little girl. It was kind of confusing, trying to find out which was her real rhythm. I HOPE there is a second book, because, frankly, it was too short. The book could've had more and...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, my-fav, young-adult-romance, own-import-books, music, kids-could-read

I love it since the first page.

Tara Kelly would be my next favorit author.
Warning!! It's the kind of book that would suck your time, it even worthed sacrificing my bedtime.

Amplified is a story of a girl who risk everything to find ways into her passion. And music is her passion.

Jasmine is a music talented girl who runaway from her luxurious house and life to take time for playing guitars on a band. Fortunately she found a group band that suits her good enough, only that she hides one little fa...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, own, 2011-reads, favorites

My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

I knew there was a reason why I added Tara Kelly to my favorite authors list back in 2010. Her debut novel Harmonic Feedbackwas a favorite read of mine that year, and her second novel Amplifiedbecame one of my most anticipated novels for 2011. Just like with her debut, once I started readingAmplified I couldn't stop! I stayed up very late and finally went to sleep when I had only about 20 pages left to read. I loved Amplified as much as Harmonic...more
My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

I knew there was a reason why I added Tara Kelly to my favorite authors list back in 2010. Her debut novel Harmonic Feedback was a favorite read of mine that year, and her second novel Amplified became one of my most anticipated novels for 2011. Just like with her debut, once I started reading Amplified I couldn't stop! I stayed up very late and finally went to sleep when I had only about 20 pages left to read. I loved Amplified as much as Harmonic Feedback, and it was another authentic coming-of-age and music novel by Tara Kelly.

I admit, when I first read the summary of Amplified, it sounded like it would be a cute and light read. I don't believe the summary reveals enough of the depth that can be found in this novel. It would have been so easy for the author to make the main character Jasmine's situation and her relationship with the other characters simple and convenient to resolve. But she didn't make it easy for Jasmine or the rest of the characters, and I loved that. It felt true and real. Including the music, which was another aspect I loved about the novel.

What I loved about Jasmine was how deep her passion for music and playing guitar was. She believed in her ability to create music, but she tended to be awkward around people and had some issues when it came to performing in front of crowds. She was pretty stubborn though and determined to prove herself. I found Jasmine to be such an easy character for me to relate to, and it was her awkwardness and determination that made me root for her. She really had to work hard to overcome her fears and prove that she deserved a chance.

My heart also went out to Jasmine because of the difficult situation she was in. Not only did she have to prove herself to the band, but her strict father kicked her out for postponing college. She basically had no money and decided not to say anything to her new band-mates because she doesn't quite trust others nor does she want to burden anyone with her problems. It would have been easier if she had spoken up, but I know the feeling of not wanting to let anyone know if something is wrong. There's shame and embarrassment involved, so I completely understand why she felt the need to keep it to herself.

Her band-mates were all interesting people, but I want to just focus on one of them, the bassist Sean. When Sean first appeared, he really wasn't nice to Jasmine. I assumed he would be one of those bad boys, but once Jasmine got to know him, he's actually a smart and good (and cute!) guy who's not perfect. I really adored his character, and it was great reading how Jasmine's relationship with him gradually changed and developed as the story progressed. I loved their moments together, but like I mentioned, the author didn't take the easy route with these characters. Once Jasmine and Sean's relationship started getting a bit serious, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows from there, which to me made it that much more realistic.

Like Harmonic Feedback, Amplified was such an authentic, relatable, and wonderful read. Tara Kelly is definitely an author to look out for! (Also, I know I'm being biased, but I have to say that out of all the authors I've read books by, Tara Kelly is the one with the best taste in music!) I'm so looking forward to reading her next novel. And I really hope there are sequels to Amplified in the works because these characters all have their own stories that should be told. But whatever novel comes next, I just know I won't be disappointed.(less)

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Nov 26, 2012 Mimi Cross rated it 5 of 5 stars

Pitch Perfect.

Tara Kelly doesn't miss a beat in this story about a teenage girl who joins a band and affirms her identity through music. If you're a musician of any age, you have to read AMPLIFIED. You'll fall in love, laugh, and miss your old band mates if your band is no longer together. If you haven't been in a band yet, you'll want to start one!

Tara Kelly has a real gift for describing music, something that's not easy to do. The reader can imagine the sound of the songs featured in AMPLIFI...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Jessica Day rated it 3 of 5 stars

een rebellion, hot boys, stunning realism; Amplified is the epitome of a good YA read. The story begins with 17-year-old Jasmine who is living on her own in Santa Cruz after telling her father she doesn’t want to go to college, at least not yet. This is a great book for any girl, or guy, who has longed to tell their parents the popular line, “I don’t want to follow your plan for me.” Lots of adults have plans for us teens and I really think it takes guts to follow your own plan for yourself. O,...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Liza Wiemer added it

BE DARING, PURSUE YOUR DREAM!

Amplified was recommended to me by Jaime Arkin of http://fictionfare.blogspot.com and if I'm honest, I'm not sure I would have picked this book up without that recommendation. The book did not disappoint! The characters were layered and interesting.
From moment one, I hated Jasmine's father, a rich cardiologist who kicks his daughter out of the house because she wants to take time off and defer going to Stanford U. This guy is a doofus for not recognizing how amazing...more

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May 16, 2012 Eva rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm a sucker for a music book --- it could be because I'm a musician myself, but I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I'm a much more buttoned-up musician than the characters in rock-band books; I play classical music. Something about the way rock musicians lose themselves in the sheer volume and power of the sounds they make is incredibly beautiful to me and I love to read about it, gritty underbelly and all. Amplified had much less of a gritty underbelly than most rock books, probably...more

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May 03, 2012 CekMoNSter rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: deep-impact, english, motivation, romance

I`m a pretty tough girl to crack when it comes to rating a book. Some books just get me thus the five, others don`t usually scored a two (for the effort, it never comes cheap in my eyes). Hence the distinguishable differences in their ratings.

Saying that, it still baffled me that I was giving this book a five..The story was simple, the plot was conventional same goes with the setting and all, but what had cracked me open to like this one?

Its all about the writing..The writing for this was..no..I...more I`m a pretty tough girl to crack when it comes to rating a book. Some books just get me thus the five, others don`t usually scored a two (for the effort, it never comes cheap in my eyes). Hence the distinguishable differences in their ratings.

Saying that, it still baffled me that I was giving this book a five..The story was simple, the plot was conventional same goes with the setting and all, but what had cracked me open to like this one?

Its all about the writing..The writing for this was..no..Is awesome..I like the motivation behind this. Though there are unresolved issues between Jasmine and her father, but the hope of her being independent and setting the right footing in her messed up life were the things that had sucked me up badly.

This story was about a girl, named Jasmine Kiss who was getting out from her house after her request to defer a year from Stanford was dismissed by her Dad. Her soul screamed music, but her father thought that she was following her mother`s footstep. The mom who stopped being a part of her life after leaving when she was five. So out she went, with no where to go until she found a place that would rent for a guitarist to stay. Thus, the meeting with C-side, cue Veta the vocalist, Bryn the drummer@leader, Felix the keyboardist and Sean, the ever cute annoying guitarist.

As mentioned earlier, I love the writing for this book. It told me the depth of the story, the problems and how Jasmine handled them. Yes, I did feel like knocking on her head for some decisions and actions that caused her to fail, but thats part of making her characters more human. So yeah, a bonus for characters there. For a second, reading into the YA, I actually thought that the book will be a bit adultish.But I was glad that it didn`t sway that way, because reading it will give wrong impression. I`m glad that reading this book, it taught more than just reading from cover to cover. It thought about life, about keep holding on for something to get better( because its alway did), about failing and how failing makes your victory sweeter. I learnt that here.

Plus, the music in here. There was never a book that had so much sound`s lingo that mixing them all together made up a book. So much music in here..You`d get sentences that made up the whole song, and surprisingly enough it`s never bored you..Love it..

Thanks for the read!A good one, nuff said~(less)

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Apr 14, 2012 Tammy Jo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, reality

Jasmine Kiss has had enough. She is tired of trying to be what her cardiologist father wants her to be. Jasmine is also tired of her father trying to keep her away from everything her mother loved -- the mother that left them when she was 6. Determined to do what she wants, Jasmine defers her entrance to Stanford University and drives into Santa Cruz in a smoking car (literally) to chase her dream - to be the lead guitarist in an Industrial Rock band. Short on money, a working car, and a job, J...more

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Mar 15, 2012 K. Bird rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think I'm a confirmed Tara Kelly fan now. I loved Harmonic Feedback so much; the immersion in music, the development of Drea's character that I was reluctant to pick up Amplified in case it was disappointing or (gasp) boring.

Shouldn't have worried. Kelly took me back to the Santa Cruz boardwalk culture, complete with serious and earnest psychics, annoying tourists, and an arts culture both pretentious and cool.

Jasmine has decided to leave the perfect life her Dad has mapped out for her and ins...more I think I'm a confirmed Tara Kelly fan now. I loved Harmonic Feedback so much; the immersion in music, the development of Drea's character that I was reluctant to pick up Amplified in case it was disappointing or (gasp) boring.

Shouldn't have worried. Kelly took me back to the Santa Cruz boardwalk culture, complete with serious and earnest psychics, annoying tourists, and an arts culture both pretentious and cool.

Jasmine has decided to leave the perfect life her Dad has mapped out for her and instead of going to Stanford she's going to at last follow her heart; music.

She has no idea how she's going to make money or if she's good enough to play live (she's only played with her best friend Jason in the garage before) and she makes naive mistakes all the time, but she's going to go through with this.

But then her car breaks down. And her last chance audition is a band that says "guys preferred."

I love the Jasmine is strong, but breaks down and tries to borrow money from her Dad. I love that their realistic fights center on both's insecurities about love and trust and how Jasmine's absent mother affects them both.

It was very, very painful watching Jasmine's first live gig, so much was I invested in her doing well. But true to real life, we fail and we pick up and move on and try harder. Jasmine makes several major mistakes and does just that; moves on.

And then there's the romance. Sean's in the band, been cheated on by his girlfriend, and seems to have nothing but criticism for newbie Jasmine. Watching him take care of her anyway in small ways was lovely. While my romance heart cringed that they were hooking up despite the fact he was just out of a major relationship and they played in the band together, I think it was entirely realistic, entirely "teen caught up in major life moments" kind of expression of Jasmine's physical self-knowledge.

The icing on the cake is Jasmine's love of music. Like Drea in Harmonic Feedback, Jasmine's utterly compelling knowledge of music and name dropping of bands and musical styles takes you into the music in a way most amateurs can never know.

Tight, compelling, and utterly fun to read.

This Book's Snack Rating: An array of tasty treats from the Santa Cruz boardwalk; cotton candy for the sweet, melt in your mouth sweetness of Jasmine and Sean's feelings to the oily goodness of fried artichokes for the way band culture (and it's accompanying drama) drenches the book.(less)

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Mar 07, 2012 Tracey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012

When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but she needs to convince the three guys living there that she's the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright and the cute bassist doesn't think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it. . .

In this fresh new novel b...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Maggie Desmond-O'Brien rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I reviewed Tara Kelly's debut, Harmonic Feedback, back in September, I noted its bravery, its heart, and, of course, its music. Its beloved and lovely Manic Pixie Dream Girls (and Boys). Its street cred. I also noted its unfortunate earnestness and clumsy debut tone; wrinkles that I was sure would be ironed out in Kelly's sophomore release, Amplified.

And were they. Oh, ever were they. In Amplified, Kelly brings us a spunky, brash, and wonderful YA whose author has wised up as much as her ch...more When I reviewed Tara Kelly's debut, Harmonic Feedback, back in September, I noted its bravery, its heart, and, of course, its music. Its beloved and lovely Manic Pixie Dream Girls (and Boys). Its street cred. I also noted its unfortunate earnestness and clumsy debut tone; wrinkles that I was sure would be ironed out in Kelly's sophomore release, Amplified.

And were they. Oh, ever were they. In Amplified, Kelly brings us a spunky, brash, and wonderful YA whose author has wised up as much as her characters, and which will retain its beloved place on my wannabe riot grrrl bookshelf pretty much forever.

It wasn't until I read Harmonic Feedback that I began to notice what a dearth of teen girl musicians there were in YA. Sure, every guy love interest and his uncle plays an instrument (often guitar) and usually has a husky, sex-on-a-stick singing voice, too (see: Shiver, The Sky is Everywhere, Everneath), and that's great. Guy musicians are sexy. But where are the future Amanda Palmers, the Chrissie Hyndes, the Kim Gordons, and, for better or worse, the Courtney Loves? Where are the girls who have musical talent beyond just an angelic choir voice? Where are the girls with grit and fire, who can bring it just as well as any guy?

Answer: in Amplified, of course. From fabulous, gritty-voiced out-and-proud lesbian Veta, to enigmatic local celebrity Zia, to our heroine, curvy, naive, angry, desperate-to-prove herself Jasmine, the musically talented gals fairly fly off the page here. Everything about the Santa Cruz music scene crackles with energy and exuberance, and it made me want to pick up my poor battered keyboard all over again.

I could complain that the writing still stumbles, that the ending dragged on a little too long, that a few characters fell just a hair into trope territory. But frankly, they're inconsequential complaints when a writer is forging into such new and awesome territory in YA. Bravo, Tara Kelly, for giving us a heroine who hacks it just as well as her boyfriend, for whom music is a matter of exchange and not just vapid enjoyment. Bravo.(less)

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Jan 22, 2012 K rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

Worthwhile. I really enjoyed this one.

Jasmine has a bit of an early life crisis after graduating high school. Her emotionally distant, by-the-books father fully expects her to start at Stanford in the fall. She can’t imagine much worse. She’s done everything according to his plan and still seems to disappoint him constantly. When her friends start planning for the summer and getting excited about life in general, Jasmine decides she’s had enough. This is the summer she makes something happen wit...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Darla added it

Jasmine was kicked out of her house by her overly realistic father who really doesn't understand how someone can just go off and forget about college. Jasmine loves music and just wants a break from school. After her car breaks down and a little luck finding a place to stay, Jasmine joins a band under the false pretense than she can perform live.

Jasmine was a great character who has major stage fright. Despite her fears, she wasn't afraid to stand up to the other band members, when she felt tha...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Lauren rated it 2 of 5 stars

Seventeen year-old Jasmine ‘runs away’ (she’s a high school grad) from home and her father’s wishes for her life in order to work on her music. She ends up renting a room in exchange for joining a band, except she has no prior stage experience. I know practically nothing about guitar playing, industrial rock or its culture, and that took up a large part of the book. Even so, I enjoyed the story and the subject matter was fairly interesting, even though the author used a lot of details in describ...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Bailey (IB Book Blogging) rated it 5 of 5 stars

AMPLIFIED is a one-of-a-kind and outstanding YA that I cannot stop thinking about!! Seriously, I was so engaged in the characters and their lives that I was stuck thinking about them long after I had finished. AMPLIFIED is so honest, raw, and mesmerizing. I don't have a single complaint about it at all. You have to pick this one up when it hits shelves!

Jasmine, to quote Kari from A Good Addiction, is so spicy! She doesn't back down from anything and is determined to make a niche for herself in t...more AMPLIFIED is a one-of-a-kind and outstanding YA that I cannot stop thinking about!! Seriously, I was so engaged in the characters and their lives that I was stuck thinking about them long after I had finished. AMPLIFIED is so honest, raw, and mesmerizing. I don't have a single complaint about it at all. You have to pick this one up when it hits shelves!

Jasmine, to quote Kari from A Good Addiction, is so spicy! She doesn't back down from anything and is determined to make a niche for herself in the band. The whole situation with her controlling dad really made an impact on her and she just had to get away after graduation. I can definitely understand how she feels. When you have just had it with the world, you will go to extreme lengths to get away from all the pressure and the stress.

I just loved Jasmine's attitude. She is tough, but she also has a softer side that comes out during the perfect moments. I don't know anything about music, but I could feel her raw passion for it. I wanted so badly for her to have her moment in the band. But it isn't at all easy for her. She has major stage-fright which causes quite a few problems with her and C-Side. Especially Bryn, the uber delicious drummer and self-appointed leader of the band. Oh, and she also has to deal with the brooding and yummy Sean who has a few problems of his own. Jasmine does have a rough time of it, but I was so proud of her by the end.

I cannot brag enough about all of Kelly's characters. Even though they each have their darker sides, I came to care for them all. Sean is my absolute favorite. He is snarky, intense, and has so much chemistry with Jasmine. I really don't know how to describe their relationship with each other. It is rough, slow but oh-so sweet. There is just one teensy tiny complication that had me wanting to pull my hair out, though!

Bryn is such a jerk, but I adored him. He is a bit of a player and he can be brutally honest, but he has just as much passion for music as Jasmine does. Vita is amazing! Props to her for owning who she is and never doubting it. Her friendship with Jasmine really made the whole story. Felix is a bit of a teddy bear. He is such a sweetheart and lightened the mood when it was needed.

AMPLIFIED is definitely going on the list of my favorite YA novels. It is so powerful and gorgeous. Kelly has become an auto-buy for me!(less)

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Jun 18, 2011 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars

The one thing that Jasmine Kiss wants more than anything is to be a musician. But when she picks her music over college, her father kicks her out of the house, leaving Jasmine with no place to live and a whole slew of new problems. She finds a nice room to rent, but now she needs to convince the three other guys living in the house that she’ll be the best roommate. She finds a band looking for a guitarist, but now she needs to show them that she’s worth their time. Too bad Jasmine the band’s bas...more The one thing that Jasmine Kiss wants more than anything is to be a musician. But when she picks her music over college, her father kicks her out of the house, leaving Jasmine with no place to live and a whole slew of new problems. She finds a nice room to rent, but now she needs to convince the three other guys living in the house that she’ll be the best roommate. She finds a band looking for a guitarist, but now she needs to show them that she’s worth their time. Too bad Jasmine the band’s bassist has doubts about Jasmine’s skills. Too bad Jasmine’s seriously starting to have a crush on the same guy. And most of all, it’s too bad that Jasmine has a serious case of stage fright.

I was a big fan of Kelly’s musically inspired debut Harmonic Feedback, so I had high hopes that I would be similarly impressed by her second novel Amplified. And for the most part, I was. Kelly’s portrayal of a girl on her own for the first time is so genuine. Readers will be able to truly sympathize with Jasmine’s struggles to take care of herself and determination to be true to her dreams. It’s so interesting to see how music is both Jasmine’s greatest source of joy as well as one of her greatest sources of fear; she is so passionate about her music but performing in front of others is at times too much pressure to handle. I love how Kelly thoroughly explores Jasmine’s relationships with those around her, because I got to see how these evolved and responded to different hardships. However, I thought Kelly could have spent a little more time on Jasmine’s relationship with her father, because he is a relatively small character in this novel despite the huge impact he has on his daughter’s life. I found the lack of discussion of family dynamics a little odd, especially since Jasmine’s father was really the catalyst this story when he kicks Jasmine out of the house, and think that one would have made the story that much stronger.

Amplified will be enjoyed by fans of Harmonic Feedback, also by Tara Kelly, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert, and Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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Oct 28, 2012 Radiant rated it 4 of 5 stars

When jasmine - strong,independent yet stubborn as rock and who closes herself tight as ball at times of crisis and runs away - tries to take break from college and go into music..to make her life as guitarist.But her father kicks out..literally.

Now she is stuck in new town,with little money,a stupid broke down car,a band which may/not take her and let her live in a apartment with them.Oh did she say she has no experience playing with crowd and a lot of stage fright..nope..so simply her life's fu...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Zabet The Dark Empress of Dark Chocolate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, contemporary-fiction

This and other reviews can be found on Reading Between Classes

Cover Impressions: The cover is simple, but fitting. I like the incorporation of the title as part of the amp and the use of the often overlook, puke-green color.

The Gist: Jasmine Kiss has fled the stifling world of academia and an overbearing father for the streets of Santa Cruz and the chance to lose herself in her music. When the perfect opportunity of a place to stay and a spot in an up and coming band lands in her path, Jasmine...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Keertana rated it 3 of 5 stars

I started reading Amplified on whim, delving into it without expecting much of nothing. Needless to say, I was shocked and pleasantly surprised by the simple plot, deep message, and rich characters.

Jasmine's life looks perfect from the outside. Her father is rich, she's grown up with everything she could possibly want and she got accepted into Stanford. So when Jasmine leaves her life behind to find music, no one can be more surprised than her father. But there is more to Jasmine than he thinks...more I started reading Amplified on whim, delving into it without expecting much of nothing. Needless to say, I was shocked and pleasantly surprised by the simple plot, deep message, and rich characters.

Jasmine's life looks perfect from the outside. Her father is rich, she's grown up with everything she could possibly want and she got accepted into Stanford. So when Jasmine leaves her life behind to find music, no one can be more surprised than her father. But there is more to Jasmine than he thinks. Jasmine can't fathom the idea of learning music through theory, of sitting through another four years of lectures in a stuffy classroom. All she wants to do is play guitar and experience it - raw, rich, live. So, when she meets a band looking for a guitarist, she seizes the opportunity - needing not only their music, but also a place to stay. Yet, she can't help but butt heads with Sean, the bassist who also worked to fix her car when it broke down. Sean is hurting, still recovering and moving on from a nasty break-up with his ex-girlfriend, Amy, who cheated on him with his best friend. Sean doesn't see Jasmine for anything more than a snobby rich girl, a "princess" as he calls her. But Jasmine has more secrets than anyone can possibly imagine and the journey to fulfilling her dreams is a lot more challenging than Jasmine could have ever anticipated.

I loved Jasmine from the very first page. I loved her independence, her courage, her determination, and most importantly, I loved that she was able to cope with her mistakes, fix them, and move on. Yet, the quality that truly made me love Jasmine was her inability to trust people easily. Jasmine isn't one of those characters who opens up easily. She has her secrets and although we see only Jasmine's perspective throughout the novel, even we, as the reader, don't know all the secrets she holds. I fell in love with how she tried to cope with her struggles and managed to rise above them. Her relationship with Sean was amusing at first, slowly turning into something sweet and adorable. The ending was unexpected; definitely something most readers wouldn't like, but I admired Kelly for choosing to end the novel so realistically. It made the entire story that much more believe-able. However, Jasmine and Sean's relationship seemed to be mostly based on lust. That's not to say there wasn't understanding there, because there was. There was also friendship and deep like, but no love. Beyond their understanding of each other and friendship, all that was left was chemistry and lust. Nevertheless, I like to think that their time apart from each other physically will allow them to grow closer, seeking true love. There is definitely potential - another aspect which made the novel so realistic.

Tara Kelly develops Jasmine very well throughout the story, showing her character growth and maturity. Yet, she gives the same amount of attention to the secondary characters. I loved every member of the band - they were not afraid to question each other or point out their flaws, but they were also the best of friends. They were a close-knit family of their own and Jasmine's transition into their group was a change that they all coped with in their own unique way. The chemistry between each member of the band and their kinship for each other was mesmerizing. Most readers prefer to read about romance, but unbreakable bonds of friendship are just as important, if not more, and Kelly captures that perfectly.

Amplified may have a simple story, but it carries a deep meaning - one that I'm sure will resonate with every reader in some way or the other. Tara Kelly writes from her heart - she truly writes based off of her own experiences. This makes her novel flawlessly realistic, emotionally gripping, and incredible. It was also surprisingly funny, making me laugh throughout the progression of the story. I loved Amplified and I'd definitely recommend it to all readers. One thing's for sure - I'll definitely be reading more of Tara Kelly(;(less)

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Mar 06, 2012 Cathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

We meet Jasmine just after she has left her house and is on her way to being free to explore her musical talents. Of course she leaves with all of her savings and not much else. When she gets to Santa Cruz her car decides to break down. At least it was in front of a body shop. It was going to take all her money to pay for that car. In the meantime she goes in search of a band and a room in hopes that she can find both at the same time. She tries out for a band called C-Side and they like her, at...more We meet Jasmine just after she has left her house and is on her way to being free to explore her musical talents. Of course she leaves with all of her savings and not much else. When she gets to Santa Cruz her car decides to break down. At least it was in front of a body shop. It was going to take all her money to pay for that car. In the meantime she goes in search of a band and a room in hopes that she can find both at the same time. She tries out for a band called C-Side and they like her, at least the lead singer Veta does. It's instant, she is part psychic so she knows that there is something special about Jasmine. After a night in her car and a run in with Sean (part of the band and her first confrontation in Santa Cruz), she runs into Veta who gets her a job with her mom at the physic store as a cashier, and is made part of the group. After lying and saying she has played live in the past.

Sean and Jasmine's relationship grows day by day and I absolutely could not get enough of them. They seemed sooo perfect for each other. But he's not 100 percent over his ex - Amy. Who is/was with his ex best friend Teddy (who formed a rival band together). There is just so much going on and finally it's time for their fist live show with Jasmine. Which she of course freaks out because she's never done a live show. More drama after that especially from Bryn who thinks he owns the band.

Jasmine is now out to prove herself that she can do this and she wants to be in the band and stay in the apartment. She's basically fighting for her dream. Her and Sean still grow close but things happen, and he really isn't over his ex yet. The timing is just not right. They go on to their second gig with Jasmine and she rocks.
There is just too much going on but I can't get enough of it. The book is addicting, the banter between everyone is just addicting.

I. Could. Not. Put. This. Book. Down!
I was very mad when it ended because I did NOT want this book to end. I want to see what happens next, I want to go on tour with them. I need more of these people.
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Apr 09, 2012 Judy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, ya

I've been on a contemporary YA kick lately, so I devoured Amplified in about two days. Even though the read was enjoyable, the story was fairly predictable and it's one of those books you breeze through and then forget about soon after.

I love books about music and band dynamics especially. I love the concept of a girl taking a year off to find herself and living her dream. Unfortunately, throughout the book, I found Jasmine's attitude grating at times. She spent most of the time depending on ot...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Teen Department Homewood Library rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recent high school graduate Jasmine Kiss (yes, that is her real name) has just left home for good after an argument with her father. He wants her to go straight to college. She wants to take a year off, join a band, and find out if she has what it takes for a career in music. Now she's stuck with no place to sleep, no job, and a beat up Jetta belching smoke. After perusing Craigslist she finds the perfect situation advertised: "Looking for a live-in lead guitarist (industrial rock)." The catches...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
I pictured Devon Bostick as Sean...	1	8	Oct 20, 2012 11:23am
This book needs a sequel	2	18	Apr 24, 2012 04:58pm
This book needs a sequel	3	26	Apr 24, 2012 04:58pm

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