Ultra Violet

by Christie Nauheimer

Lizzie Marano has always dreamed of being a part of something special. She never had the chance before. She wasn't on sports teams or clubs in high school. She wasn't even in them now, in her third year of college. But everything changes one day when a mysterious new customer comes into her aunt's restaurant and offers her a chance she can't pass up.


Selina is a musician. She's a singer, guitarist, and a total natural rockstar. Which is why Lizzie can't quite believe it when she asks her to form a band together. Why would she want someone like Lizzie, with hardly any musical experience at all?


As they figure out how to start a band together, Lizzie and Selina form an instant friendship. Lizzie is excited to make new friends, but making new friends can get really confusing when feelings that are more than friendly start to arise. Either way, she finally feels like she might be a part of something special, which in the end, was all she really wanted anyway, right?

340 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2023

About the author

Christie Nauheimer is a new author from Long Island, New York. She is excited for the release of her first self-published book, Ultra Violet, this November 12, 2023.

She received her BFA in Visual Arts from SUNY Purchase in 2023. She is a painter and a writer and enjoys creating things, especially stories and art.

Reviews

[Chelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing YA girlband rom com read. Like if Julie and the Phantoms meets The Runaways with fun energetic girly pop songs reminiscent of the early 2000s pop rock Hannah Montana era. I LOVED this book someone please make into a tv series. WE need better bisexual and lesbian representation on streaming platforms anyway! I also loved every characters distinct style described throughout the book. I loved Bridget, she was so fun and bubbly. I resonate with her :)
Read the freakin book pls

[Arianna Conti · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my best friends wrote this book over the course of years and I finished it in 15 hours READ IT ITS SO GOOD

[Maria (a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You're too quiet. You trained yourself to keep the thoughts in for years, so now when you need them the most, they're nowhere to be found. There's nothing to rack your brain for because they're trapped in the back, in a secret corner that's locked up. You spend so much time feeling that you can't speak your mind, so your body is trained to stay quiet. No words.

Lizzie's social struggles are incredibly relatable. I got attached to her really fast. That probably says at least as much about me as about the character, but still. It's not often I see the way I struggle with social interaction written as well as I did in this book.

I also loved the huge part music plays in the book, both in the way it helps Lizzie out her shell (that part reminded me a bit of Sparrow) and in the way it was woven throughout. I wasn't a big fan of Bridget, but not in any there's-objectively-something-wrong-with-her way, she just rubbed me the wrong way.

The romance between Lizzie and Selina worked really well. I also really loved how Lizzie starts out with this huge crush on a guy in her class, and realises the difference between the fantasy of far-away adoration and the reality of a personal relationship as she starts getting closer to Selina.

Unfortunately, the book could use some editing, both the layout (though it's possible those issues have been resolved already) and the story itself. The writing doesn't flow all that smoothly; this really only bothered me at first and once I got used to it, I didn't even notice it any more, but still. That said, this is really worth a read and I'm glad I somehow randomly stumbled upon it!

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so beyond excited for everyone to read Ultra Violet. I have spent so much time pouring my heart into making this book as perfect as it can be. I spent about three years working on it, drawing inspiration from the things that were happening in my life at that time. In a way, it is a love story, but it is also a story about finding yourself and figuring out how to exist in this silly little world we live in while also being a part of a super cool girlband.

While I did draw lots of inspiration from my own personal life, a huge chunk of inspiration came from early 2000s media about bands. So many movies and tv shows from my own childhood made me always wish I could be apart of something so cool as a band, and with Ultra Violet, I am, and so is every person who finds themselves among these pages.

If you like this book, and are interested in what I have to say, follow me on Instagram @christie.nauheimer.art !!

[Carrie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

epic, amazing, GAYYYY <333