636 books
—
2,189 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “How to Kill a Rock Star” as Want to Read:
How to Kill a Rock Star
by
Written in her wonderfully honest, edgy, passionate and often hilarious voice, Tiffanie DeBartolo tells the story of Eliza Caelum, a young music journalist, and Paul Hudson, a talented songwriter and lead singer of the band Bananafish. Eliza's reverence for rock is equaled only by Paul's, and the two fall wildly in love.
When Bananafish is signed by a big corporate label,
Get A Copy
Paperback, 417 pages
Published
September 1st 2005
by Sourcebooks Landmark
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
How to Kill a Rock Star,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Maria
Yes, but it takes awhile to get there and this book gutted me in the process. Very good and worth the read, but I remember bawling when reading this.
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of How to Kill a Rock Star
This book is fiction.
If you buy it for real tips on how to actually murder a musician, you will be disappointed.
I ended up loving it, anyway. But I'll have to search a different genre for an actual how-to guide. That's a little annoying.
...more
If you buy it for real tips on how to actually murder a musician, you will be disappointed.
I ended up loving it, anyway. But I'll have to search a different genre for an actual how-to guide. That's a little annoying.
...more
"I decided that F train stood for slow fucking chug a lug train"
My favorite line in the book. Kind of a shallow choice when you have such a buffet of great one liners and philosophical soul shakers. Raise your hand if you know of a character that can beat Paul "goddamn" Hudson. You can't, you ass. You can't. Don't even try. I was so bonded with Eliza that for three hundred and two pages I lived in her paper world, and kissed her rock-stars, and rode on her slow fucking chug a lug train. Man this ...more
My favorite line in the book. Kind of a shallow choice when you have such a buffet of great one liners and philosophical soul shakers. Raise your hand if you know of a character that can beat Paul "goddamn" Hudson. You can't, you ass. You can't. Don't even try. I was so bonded with Eliza that for three hundred and two pages I lived in her paper world, and kissed her rock-stars, and rode on her slow fucking chug a lug train. Man this ...more
***FIVE GODDAMN STARS - With some 'milkshake secret recipe' on top!***
'Dreams can change histories and songs can alter destinies'
How do you review a book like HTKARS??? Seriously, if you guys have read this gem, can you let me know how to do it without embarrassing myself?
Let’s try… I had seen this book on GR for a while and I always thought it was just another book about a Rock Star so I wasn’t really interested, not my cuppa anymore. But then, some of the best buddies ever told me to read i ...more
5+++ rocked-my-world stars.*****Review completed July 16, 2013
F@ck. I wanna quote the whole goddamn book! Sorry for the language but Paul rubbed off on me. Loved, loved it! Read this book, it's beyond A-mazing! A thankyou goes out to Geri who accepted my spontaneous offer to do a buddy read with me. <3
F@ck. I wanna quote the whole goddamn book! Sorry for the language but Paul rubbed off on me. Loved, loved it! Read this book, it's beyond A-mazing! A thankyou goes out to Geri who accepted my spontaneous offer to do a buddy read with me. <3
"Is he cute?" I asked her....more
"Cute? If you like the dysfunctional lunatic, male-slut vibe, sure."
"(…) But I'm almost thirty and my day job is folding shirts at the Gap. Have you seen my room?
According to my friends and family, I read a ridiculous amount of books. They find it hysterical (maybe frightening) that I carry my kindle in my purse with me everywhere I go (you know just in case I might find a few minutes to read here and there). Because I do read so much I am constantly being asked “what are you reading” or “read anything amazing lately”? I hate these questions because half the time I am reading my smexy books and I feel a little embarrassed to share the titles (especially
...more
Music journalist Eliza moves to New York and falls for talanted lead singer Paul who is trying to make it big with his band Bananafish. Not your ordinary love triangle.
This is my third five stars read ever, and it couldn't be more well deserved! if I were to describe this How to Kill a Rock Star, it would probably be with the words pure magic. I had a magical feeling stirring in my body that wanted to get out through this entire book. Like I said, it's sheer, pure brilliance. I don't know how t ...more
This is my third five stars read ever, and it couldn't be more well deserved! if I were to describe this How to Kill a Rock Star, it would probably be with the words pure magic. I had a magical feeling stirring in my body that wanted to get out through this entire book. Like I said, it's sheer, pure brilliance. I don't know how t ...more
I'd shed my blood to touch the pearls that kiss your ears.
I'd sell my soul to see you fly.
Brilliant. This book rocked my world yet again. I couldn't help but cry all over and I knew what was going to happen.
I still can't write a review. Over a year later and a second read behind me (and about half of the book highlighted with quotes - I am not kidding...there is no book I have highlighted more than this one, yet I can't seem to bring myself to want to share the quotes because they a ...more
WARNING, MY REVIEW IS SPOILER FREE BUT SOME REVIEWS DO NOT APPEAR TO BE SO IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO THIS BOOK BLIND I WOULD ADVISE ABOUT NOT READING OTHER REVIEWS ... unless the review says SPOILER FREE.
This was me yesterday …
so a few friends threw a few suggestions at me about what to read next.... this was it!
“It sounds silly, I know. But for me, the power of music rests in its ability to reach inside and touch the places where the deepest cuts lie.
Like a benevolent god, a good song will never ...more
This was me yesterday …
so a few friends threw a few suggestions at me about what to read next.... this was it!
“It sounds silly, I know. But for me, the power of music rests in its ability to reach inside and touch the places where the deepest cuts lie.
Like a benevolent god, a good song will never ...more
throughout most of this book!
Sep 13, 2013
Lady Vigilante (Feifei)
added it
2 stars? 3 stars? 5 stars? I still don’t know…
I wish I had the energy and brains to flush out a detailed review but I’m sorry to say, I don’t. I’m just so goddamned exhausted after reading this inspirational yet depressing book, so goddamned frustrated with these strangely fascinating characters, and so goddamned upset that even the breathtaking writing can’t mask my disappointment with the last 50% of the book.
All I have left to say is that this book had the complete possibility of ...more
I wish I had the energy and brains to flush out a detailed review but I’m sorry to say, I don’t. I’m just so goddamned exhausted after reading this inspirational yet depressing book, so goddamned frustrated with these strangely fascinating characters, and so goddamned upset that even the breathtaking writing can’t mask my disappointment with the last 50% of the book.
All I have left to say is that this book had the complete possibility of ...more
This review probably won't make any sense but I'll try ...
Absolutely, positively, without a doubt 5 glorious stars!
(My 5 star ratings are reserved for books that have been/will be read multiple times because they are that good and this is definitely one of those books!)
A couple of things before I begin:
First ... this is one of the best goddamn books ever written (in my humble opinion).
Second ... Tiffanie DeBartolo, I feel like you just kicked my ass in a boxing match and I need to leave the ri ...more
~Just about 3 stars~
”Note to self: Always remember how lucky you are to wake up next to someone who thinks you're the shit.”
True words of wisdom spoken above. In a world where loneliness can be all encompassing it’s nice to have someone on your side rooting for you. When you find your ‘tribe’ it’s very freeing to allow you to be who you are meant to be. The problem is when someone else’s idea of success is not your own and they alter your course with their actions. They think they’re doing it fo ...more
”Note to self: Always remember how lucky you are to wake up next to someone who thinks you're the shit.”
True words of wisdom spoken above. In a world where loneliness can be all encompassing it’s nice to have someone on your side rooting for you. When you find your ‘tribe’ it’s very freeing to allow you to be who you are meant to be. The problem is when someone else’s idea of success is not your own and they alter your course with their actions. They think they’re doing it fo ...more
5 ♪♫ Goddamn ♪♫ Stars
Dreams can change histories and songs can alter destinies.
Music. Two people madly in love with it. And one band. Paying respect to the gods of Rock N' Roll.
Eliza is afraid to let herself fall. And learn how to fly in the process.
Paul is a dreamer and a true believer. And a rockstar in the making.
When Eliza, a young music reporter lands the story of a lifetime, meeting her idol, she comes to New York to work for a famous magazine. There she will meet her other half ...more
Dreams can change histories and songs can alter destinies.
Music. Two people madly in love with it. And one band. Paying respect to the gods of Rock N' Roll.
Bananafish
Eliza is afraid to let herself fall. And learn how to fly in the process.
Paul is a dreamer and a true believer. And a rockstar in the making.
When Eliza, a young music reporter lands the story of a lifetime, meeting her idol, she comes to New York to work for a famous magazine. There she will meet her other half ...more
Jun 24, 2012
Jennifer Kyle
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites,
cry-baby-books
What to say... I laughed, cried, and mostly sat on the edge of my seat as I read it. A love triangle, terrible decisions that left me feeling terribly ill,(mabye my pancreas?) and a twist!
As Paul Hudson would say. OVER
As Paul Hudson would say. OVER
4.5 torturous, soul- consuming stars!
*****Kudos to everyone out there who has managed to review this book spoiler-free. That is a huge feat. I'll start with saying mine will be spoiler free (except the final quote which is hidden). I would try to avoid reading a lot of other reviews....even avoid reading the quotes posted on the book's GR page. Personally, they should be deleted as they give everything away. Don't do it, don't look! I KNOW Mo and Rosalinda's are also spoiler free. I'm sure t ...more
*****Kudos to everyone out there who has managed to review this book spoiler-free. That is a huge feat. I'll start with saying mine will be spoiler free (except the final quote which is hidden). I would try to avoid reading a lot of other reviews....even avoid reading the quotes posted on the book's GR page. Personally, they should be deleted as they give everything away. Don't do it, don't look! I KNOW Mo and Rosalinda's are also spoiler free. I'm sure t ...more
Mar 02, 2013
Geri Reads
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone!!
Buddy read with the lovely Baba.
♥5 Swan-dive off the bridge stars!!♥
How do you exactly review a book that affected you in so many ways? A book that made you laugh and made you cry. A book made you dust off old records and listen to the old melodies but never forgotten melodies of the past. A book that made you want to pick up a guitar and play those songs that made your heart bled a little. How?
Contained in this book is a love story. But it's not just a love story between two people but ...more
♥5 Swan-dive off the bridge stars!!♥
How do you exactly review a book that affected you in so many ways? A book that made you laugh and made you cry. A book made you dust off old records and listen to the old melodies but never forgotten melodies of the past. A book that made you want to pick up a guitar and play those songs that made your heart bled a little. How?
Contained in this book is a love story. But it's not just a love story between two people but ...more
3.75 American Pie stars
“Fate is the magnetic pull of our souls toward the people, places, and things we belong with.”
That wasn't quite what I expected, but in a good way!
How to Kill a Rockstar is the story of Eliza, a young rock journalist who in a twist of fate, meets her idol and follows her dreams. After landing a job as a journalist in a prominent magazine in New York, Eliza moves in with her brother, and meets her new roommate Paul Hudson.
“Personally, I don’t like inherently happy ...more
“Fate is the magnetic pull of our souls toward the people, places, and things we belong with.”
That wasn't quite what I expected, but in a good way!
How to Kill a Rockstar is the story of Eliza, a young rock journalist who in a twist of fate, meets her idol and follows her dreams. After landing a job as a journalist in a prominent magazine in New York, Eliza moves in with her brother, and meets her new roommate Paul Hudson.
“Personally, I don’t like inherently happy ...more
I don't have much to goddamn say about this goddamn book except that if it weren't for that goddamn Paul I would not have finished it or bothered giving it a goddamn full star let alone a goddamn 2 star rating!
This book would be categorized in what those who know me well understand to be the 12 Monkeys/Sophia Coppola category of entertainment. For those, which is most of you, who are not familiar with my Kris-isms this category contains stories that have so much fucking potential that you are o ...more
This book would be categorized in what those who know me well understand to be the 12 Monkeys/Sophia Coppola category of entertainment. For those, which is most of you, who are not familiar with my Kris-isms this category contains stories that have so much fucking potential that you are o ...more
I finished reading this yesterday, but I couldn't really decided what rating should I give it. I feel very conflicted about this book. I think it was a unique read and I most certainly loved the music theme in it and that it went further than average rock star romance. Not only did it tell us a story about a couple, but it also showed us a little glimpse in the music industry. I really enjoyed that.
However, I absolutely hated the choices heroine made and the direction plot took. I know that a l ...more
However, I absolutely hated the choices heroine made and the direction plot took. I know that a l ...more
How to Kill a Rock Star by Tiffanie DeBartolo is one of my favorite reads for 2011. It moved me emotionally and I simply could not put it down. I could say I loved it because the book is beautifully written. Or I could say that the book is a favorite because the dialogue is incredibly witty and funny. Yes, that is all true. But that is not why it affected me so deeply – this book is so powerful because the characters are so completely real. Okay, the book was powerful. The book was a favorite. B
...more
How to describe this book…… You know what? I don’t even want to try.
I went in not knowing much about it except the fact that there is so much love out there for this book. It was very different from what I was expecting and I both loved and hated it.
It is the story of musical journalist, Eliza, moving to New York City and meeting Paul - a sexy, tortured and crazy talented sexy singer/songwriter who is on the cusp of big success. They share a worshipful obsession of all things music, and their s ...more
I went in not knowing much about it except the fact that there is so much love out there for this book. It was very different from what I was expecting and I both loved and hated it.
It is the story of musical journalist, Eliza, moving to New York City and meeting Paul - a sexy, tortured and crazy talented sexy singer/songwriter who is on the cusp of big success. They share a worshipful obsession of all things music, and their s ...more
Feb 13, 2013
Ash Wednesday
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
readers who enjoyed The Goldfinch but wants more romance in the message
Recommended to Ash Wednesday by:
Stacia (the 2010 club)
08.20.14
: Buddy read with Robin, Sandra, Ya, KdBrand and Samantha.
I can't believe it's just been a little more than a year since I read this the first time. This re-read was a great gauge on how differently I read then and now, how the critiquing has shifted highlighting things that didn't bother me the first time around. Case in point, I don't remember being annoyed with Eliza as much as I did this time around. How she belittled Paul's fears against her own in the beginning were but among t ...more
I can't believe it's just been a little more than a year since I read this the first time. This re-read was a great gauge on how differently I read then and now, how the critiquing has shifted highlighting things that didn't bother me the first time around. Case in point, I don't remember being annoyed with Eliza as much as I did this time around. How she belittled Paul's fears against her own in the beginning were but among t ...more
I believe there are moments that are so huge in time that can change the course of our lives. Never have I believed in that statement more than now. That one decision that changes everything. I connected with this book on so many different levels.
”The song was senseless and sappy, but it made me feel something. And although I couldn’t articulate it at that age, feeling something-anything-made me conscious that I was alive…
Eliza is a character I instantly adored. She possessed this sadness an ...more
Aug 13, 2014
Penelope ✘ that awkward girl that doesn't go here ✘
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Penelope ✘ that awkward girl that doesn't go here ✘ by:
Kristin (KC) - Traveling Sister
I honestly have no idea what to say about this book. My immediate reaction after finishing this was to throw my kindle against my bedroom wall and give this book a nasty review. However, I let myself simmer (well, mainly due to the fact that I had indulged in my idiotic tendencies and read the whole book rather than sleeping for work and had to leave that very moment or else be late) composed myself, and thought to share what I took from this read.
There are four messages that I took away from th ...more
6 How to Kill A Write an Amazing Rockstar Book Stars!!!
Ever see the movie Almost Famous ? This book is that movie, 30 years later, as far as its depiction of the music industry as it zeros in on one band trying to find success.
It was funny, tender, sophisticated.
There really isn't much else to say here except that this book moved me and made me feel so much...intensely and passionately! I 110% loved it!
What an incredible author! Why hasn't this book been made into a movie?!?! I loved e ...more
Ever see the movie Almost Famous ? This book is that movie, 30 years later, as far as its depiction of the music industry as it zeros in on one band trying to find success.
It was funny, tender, sophisticated.
There really isn't much else to say here except that this book moved me and made me feel so much...intensely and passionately! I 110% loved it!
What an incredible author! Why hasn't this book been made into a movie?!?! I loved e ...more
I need a whole galaxy of stars!!!
My dear GR friends, you won't need a full charged vibrator for reading this book. There are no graphical hot sex scense in it.
All you need is HEART. All you need is SOUL. All you need is LOVE. All you need is BELIEVE.
And maybe a bottle of wine.
It is about LOVE. LIFE. HOPE. MUSIK. FATE. DESTINY. LIES AND TRUTH. PAUL. EL ...more
" There are still people out there who believe music is more than just something to dance to. I'm glad I got a chance to see that."
My dear GR friends, you won't need a full charged vibrator for reading this book. There are no graphical hot sex scense in it.
All you need is HEART. All you need is SOUL. All you need is LOVE. All you need is BELIEVE.
And maybe a bottle of wine.
It is about LOVE. LIFE. HOPE. MUSIK. FATE. DESTINY. LIES AND TRUTH. PAUL. EL ...more
There are no words for how much I loved this book, it is one of my all time favorites. I wish I could find the words to express how wonderful this book is, but nothing I could write would do it justice. It is the best example of how perfection renders me speechless. I feel so guilty for not being able to create some awesome eloquent review, seriously IT.IS.MY.FAVORITE.BOOK.. And all I can say is READ IT! - Tiffanie DeBartolo is like a genius. Magic flows from each page. This book gives me an a ...more
This book had me from the beginning, you will laugh and cry (or sob like a baby) but overall great book with an ending I loved
One of the best books EVER!
REVIEW TO COME ~
PS: Paul, I goddamn love you, you bastard! <3
REVIEW TO COME ~
PS: Paul, I goddamn love you, you bastard! <3
I am thinking this book should have been titled How to Make a Reader Swoon, Tear Them Up Emotionally and Then Attempt to Stick Them Back Together While Making Them Think of a Bunch of Goddamn Philosophical Stuff. This book just about killed me! I laughed, I cried, I cried some more, and I felt like I was going to throw up but it was soooo worth it!
How to Kill a Rock Star made me look at fate in a whole new way. I had always thought fate was some universal pull that made things happen but in real ...more
How to Kill a Rock Star made me look at fate in a whole new way. I had always thought fate was some universal pull that made things happen but in real ...more
Read this review and many more at: 5171 Miles Book Blog.
Is it just me, or are the books with the biggest hype the hardest to read? I've been holding off on How to Kill a Rockstar for months because I simply wasn't ready after having my heart stomped on by God-Shaped Hole. Tiffanie DeBartolo can write heartache like nobody's business. I wish I could borrow her brain for a day because this woman is incredibly smart. Her pages seep deep, philosophical Romance and I can't soak up her words enough.
U ...more
Is it just me, or are the books with the biggest hype the hardest to read? I've been holding off on How to Kill a Rockstar for months because I simply wasn't ready after having my heart stomped on by God-Shaped Hole. Tiffanie DeBartolo can write heartache like nobody's business. I wish I could borrow her brain for a day because this woman is incredibly smart. Her pages seep deep, philosophical Romance and I can't soak up her words enough.
U ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natalie and Madal...: June 2020 | 3 | 5 | Jul 16, 2020 08:19PM | |
| Nothing But Readi...: DeBartolo, TIffanie--How To Kill A Rock Star informal buddy read starts May 12, 2018 | 57 | 163 | May 29, 2018 08:32AM | |
| Young Adult Conte...: How to Kill a Rock Star - Staring May 15, 2018 | 21 | 15 | May 23, 2018 08:03AM | |
| Crazy For NA Books: How to Kill a Rock Star, by Tiffanie DeBartolo → Start Date: January 2, 2018 | 4 | 6 | Dec 27, 2017 12:42AM | |
| Around the Year i...: How to Kill a Rock Star, by Tiffanie Debartolo | 1 | 18 | Jan 09, 2017 01:58PM | |
| 52 weeks, 52 books: Week 2015.47: How To Kill A Rock Star | 1 | 28 | Dec 07, 2015 06:04AM | |
| Any books similar to this? | 22 | 732 | May 28, 2015 10:21AM |
Readers also enjoyed
Tiffanie DeBartolo's most recent novel is Sorrow. Her previous novels include God Shaped Hole (2002), How To Kill a Rock Star (2005), and the graphic novel Grace: Based on the Jeff Buckley Story (2019). She also wrote and directed the film Dream for an Insomniac (1996) starring Jennifer Aniston and Ione Skye.
Tiffanie is the founder and CEO of San Francisco Bay Area record label Bright Antenna, wh ...more
Tiffanie is the founder and CEO of San Francisco Bay Area record label Bright Antenna, wh ...more
Related Articles
Angeline Boulley set out over a decade ago to write the story she wanted to read as a young Ojibwe teenager. The result is Firekeeper's Daughter,...
3 likes · 0 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Did you really want to die?"
"No one commits suicide because they want to die."
"Then why do they do it?"
"Because they want to stop the pain.”
—
2543 likes
"No one commits suicide because they want to die."
"Then why do they do it?"
"Because they want to stop the pain.”
“Personally, I don’t like inherently happy people. I don’t trust them. I think there’s something seriously wrong with anyone who isn’t at least a little let down by the world.”
—
609 likes
More quotes…
