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Remix
From the author of Trouble comes a new novel about boys, bands and best mates.
Kaz is still reeling from being dumped by the love of her life... Ruby is bored of hearing about it. Time to change the record.
Three days. Two best mates. One music festival. Zero chance of everything working out.
Kaz is still reeling from being dumped by the love of her life... Ruby is bored of hearing about it. Time to change the record.
Three days. Two best mates. One music festival. Zero chance of everything working out.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2015
About the author
Non Pratt
12 books254 followersNon Pratt started her career working on non-fiction activity books at Usborne, before becoming an editor at Catnip Publishing. Her debut novel TROUBLE shortlisted for the YA Book Prize and the Branford Boase Award, with rights sold to the USA, Germany and Brazil. Her second novel, REMIX came out in 2015 and a novella, UNBOXED for Barrington Stoke in 2016. Her third novel with Walker Books, TRUTH OR DARE will come out in 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
June 9, 2015
Stories like this make me wish I had a best friend, one that knows me better than I know myself, that I can communicate with in just a look and know will dislike anyone I dislike out of loyalty.
Kaz and Ruby have that kind of friendship, and when they attend Remix Festival for a weekend of fun after two messy breakups their friendship is tested to the limit.
For the most part it's totally believeable and the emotions are raw. There's a couple of the more 'far fetched' twists, but overall this is a really fun read, especially during festival season!
Kaz and Ruby have that kind of friendship, and when they attend Remix Festival for a weekend of fun after two messy breakups their friendship is tested to the limit.
For the most part it's totally believeable and the emotions are raw. There's a couple of the more 'far fetched' twists, but overall this is a really fun read, especially during festival season!
September 1, 2021
As many of you know (because I don't stop talking about it), Non Pratt's
Trouble
is one of my favourite UKYA books. I praised it for being "brilliantly written" and "wonderfully authentic and realistic". You'll be happy to hear that Remix is no less so. Kaz and Ruby are two best mates who have stood by each other through some tough times, so when they're given two tickets to the hottest festival of the summer, they know they're about to have fun they deserve. But add alcohol, ex-boyfriends and a whole bunch of lies into the mix and you get the messy world of teenage friendships.
As expected from a novel by Non Pratt, Remix gives us two witty and relatable female characters. I've mentioned before how frustrating it is when you're unable to distinguish between characters when reading novels with multiple perspectives. In Remix, both personalities shine through so much that you see how the two friends change over the course of the manic festival weekend. Kaz and Ruby are two very different but equally as colourful and vivid characters, and through Non Pratt's signature short-style chapters, we're able to see how these two best friends feel about each other, even if they are sometimes unable to show it to each other.
It would shock many of my school friends to hear that I now rarely listen to music. Unless it's Taylor Swift, I just do not connect. Music used to be what I would turn to in every situation and even now, when I listen to bands and artists that appeared on my playlists 10 years ago, so many memories come back to me. But I've never been to a proper festival, so I loved Remix for taking me there. It's a stunning setting, one with so much energy that you fly though the story in a flurry of emotions, and not just surrounding our two lead characters. Remix introduces us to a brilliant line-up of supporting artists, from new boys and new friends to rocky ex-boyfriends and misunderstood siblings. It shows us that there's no right way to grow up. Remix is about making mistakes (and maybe telling lies) while learning to forgive both ourselves and those we love.
Remix is another brilliant young adult novel that withholds judgement on even the trickiest situations that our young teenage protagonists find themselves in. It'll having you opening up Spotify and looking for a new band to jump around to in no time!
Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review!
I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.
As expected from a novel by Non Pratt, Remix gives us two witty and relatable female characters. I've mentioned before how frustrating it is when you're unable to distinguish between characters when reading novels with multiple perspectives. In Remix, both personalities shine through so much that you see how the two friends change over the course of the manic festival weekend. Kaz and Ruby are two very different but equally as colourful and vivid characters, and through Non Pratt's signature short-style chapters, we're able to see how these two best friends feel about each other, even if they are sometimes unable to show it to each other.
It would shock many of my school friends to hear that I now rarely listen to music. Unless it's Taylor Swift, I just do not connect. Music used to be what I would turn to in every situation and even now, when I listen to bands and artists that appeared on my playlists 10 years ago, so many memories come back to me. But I've never been to a proper festival, so I loved Remix for taking me there. It's a stunning setting, one with so much energy that you fly though the story in a flurry of emotions, and not just surrounding our two lead characters. Remix introduces us to a brilliant line-up of supporting artists, from new boys and new friends to rocky ex-boyfriends and misunderstood siblings. It shows us that there's no right way to grow up. Remix is about making mistakes (and maybe telling lies) while learning to forgive both ourselves and those we love.
Remix is another brilliant young adult novel that withholds judgement on even the trickiest situations that our young teenage protagonists find themselves in. It'll having you opening up Spotify and looking for a new band to jump around to in no time!
Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review!
I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.
June 8, 2015
4.5 stars
Kaz and Ruby are two best friends that dance to the same beat. Although they have very different personalities their friendship is perfectly in tune and this summer they’ve massively been looking forward to forgetting about heartbreak, putting their troubles behind them and going to music festival Remix to see their favourite band Goldentone live. Will the weekend be everything the girls dreamed of? One thing’s for sure – it’ll be a weekend they’ll never forget.
Remix is told between both Kaz and Ruby and jumps back and forth between the girls after sometimes as little as a few sentences. I loved the way this story was told, it made it easy to see Kaz and Ruby’s thought process and gave an inside view of the unsaid thoughts and feelings between them. With Ruby’s bravado and Kaz’s heart on sleeve approach to life the voices were distinct enough that it never got confusing to read. I loved how Non’s writing made me feel not only like I knew Kaz and Ruby intimately but also their friendship.
Non Pratt delivers these incredibly real characters who are openly flawed and make mistakes but as a reader you love them anyway – maybe even because of it. If Kaz and Ruby are the headline act then the secondary characters are brilliant support acts. From Ruby’s brother Lee and his boyfriend Owen, to the girls exes who I could never quite make up my mind about, to Lauren – Kaz’s new mate- whose presence drives a huge wedge between Kaz and Ruby. Each character brought something to this story – mostly trouble for the girls!
With an overall theme that friendship, like music, has the power to tear you down, build you up and bring you back to yourself Remix is a must read for the summer for anyone who has had a song or friendship change their life.
Kaz and Ruby are two best friends that dance to the same beat. Although they have very different personalities their friendship is perfectly in tune and this summer they’ve massively been looking forward to forgetting about heartbreak, putting their troubles behind them and going to music festival Remix to see their favourite band Goldentone live. Will the weekend be everything the girls dreamed of? One thing’s for sure – it’ll be a weekend they’ll never forget.
Remix is told between both Kaz and Ruby and jumps back and forth between the girls after sometimes as little as a few sentences. I loved the way this story was told, it made it easy to see Kaz and Ruby’s thought process and gave an inside view of the unsaid thoughts and feelings between them. With Ruby’s bravado and Kaz’s heart on sleeve approach to life the voices were distinct enough that it never got confusing to read. I loved how Non’s writing made me feel not only like I knew Kaz and Ruby intimately but also their friendship.
Non Pratt delivers these incredibly real characters who are openly flawed and make mistakes but as a reader you love them anyway – maybe even because of it. If Kaz and Ruby are the headline act then the secondary characters are brilliant support acts. From Ruby’s brother Lee and his boyfriend Owen, to the girls exes who I could never quite make up my mind about, to Lauren – Kaz’s new mate- whose presence drives a huge wedge between Kaz and Ruby. Each character brought something to this story – mostly trouble for the girls!
With an overall theme that friendship, like music, has the power to tear you down, build you up and bring you back to yourself Remix is a must read for the summer for anyone who has had a song or friendship change their life.
January 26, 2016
Remix, A Summary: Festival + Friendship = Fun???
I absolutely loved this book. So much happened in such a short space of time, I've never wanted to read a book with so much care and precision!
I absolutely loved this book. So much happened in such a short space of time, I've never wanted to read a book with so much care and precision!
January 24, 2018
Enjoyable yet unrealistic
September 11, 2018
This book took a while for me to get into. I found it a bit confusing with all the different characters at the start. I enjoyed the love drama and love interests but disappointed you never find out if Kaz and Sebastian get in touch or end up together
May 31, 2015
This review was originally published on Blogs of a Bookaholic.
A smart and funny emotionally charged book about friendship, forgiveness and the power of music.
There are three things I think YA novels are often missing, one, realistic teen characters that constantly mess up, two, relationships that aren’t perfect, and three, real representations of friendships that aren’t purely a plot device. Remix is a novel that has all three of these, and, therefore, it has epic proportions of awesome!
Kaz and Ruby have just finished their GCSEs and are nursing painful breakups, looking forward to a summer of freedom before real life kicks in and everything changes. They’ve bagged tickets to the music festival Remix where their favourite band Goldentone are playing. With Ruby’s brother, Lee, his boyfriend, Owen and a group of other friends they’re off to the land of wellies, flower crowns and hot guys. There’s just one problem, it turns out Kaz and Ruby’s ex’s are at the festival too, and their presence is about to wreck havoc on the girls ‘perfect’ weekend. Will they be able to stay away from temptation or will their lies and past baggage drive a wedge between their friendship?
Remix is a novel set over a period of three days and switches between the point of views of Kaz and Ruby. Each character’s voice instantly feels distinct, and because the POVs alternate in short snappy bursts sometimes only lasting half a page, you aren’t given the time to form a favourite and so become equally invested in their stories. Non Pratt has a writing style that I adore. It’s direct and to the point but packs a mighty punch. Her dialogue is full of sass and sarcasm which often made me snort unintentionally, she’s so great at capturing believable teen voices and I love that she talks about the kind of natural teenage mistakes and mishaps many YA books gloss over, it’s so refreshing!
As I mentioned above, the main reason I loved this book was because in centred on a friendship between two girls, something which is so often pushed aside in YA in favour of steamy romances or dramatic events which is a shame, because I think friendships are often the unsung heroes in our lives and we share many of our most treasured moments with them. This is an aspect that comes across strongly in Remix. The dynamic between Kaz and Ruby is brilliantly crafted, they are aware of each other flaws and quirks inside out, know the words to each other’s favourite songs and can have screaming matches only to make up in a minute the next day. I loved the way the bond between the two and their love for music made them feel invincible as if they could face any battles as long as they were together. However, like real friendships, not everything is perfect. Each is dealing with their own personal problems that impact their relationship, and both are struggling to find their individual identities, questioning how their friendship can grow and thrive when their lives are going in such different directions. This rung so true for me and I’m sure many other people out there will relate!
Of course, this novel has many other great aspects, the vibrant festival setting was a big plus, the author captures so well the feelings of freedom and endless possibilities, the power of music and the stench of unclean portaloos. The insane boy drama had me hooked and who I was rooting to steal the protagonists’ hearts seemed to change every chapter. I loved the focus on the importance of making mistakes and learning from them, as well as the significance of knowing when to let go and when to hold on.
Remix also hits on many current hot topics in YA which was brilliant to see! There’s ethnic diversity in the main characters, representations of different sexualities and a realistic, gritty, portrayal of teen life which doesn’t shy away from depicting excessive drinking or sex. We need more books like this in the world! However, one small problem I did have was that I wish there had been a more central driving plot in Remix that I could have dug my nails into. At points, I did wonder where the story was going and I felt like it could have used that extra hook to reel me in!
As for the characters, they were pretty awesome. They were crazy and flawed, as teenagers SHOULD be, and made some pretty failtastic decisions but were all the more likable because of it. I related to both Kaz and Ruby in different ways, and although Kaz is technically the ‘good girl’ and ruby the ‘bad girl’ they never fall into stereotypes and are rounded individuals. I enjoyed reading about Kaz and her struggles to get over her ex-boyfriend and it was great to see her become more confident in herself as the book progressed. However, it was Ruby that really captured my attention with her hard, sometimes self-destructive attitude that hid so many insecurities. I loved reading about her school problems and worries about living up to her parents expectations, and her friend envy, when Kaz was hanging out with other people, hit a chord with me.
Overall, Remix was a smart, emotionally charged drama fest full of intense emotions and makes the perfect summer book with its focus on endings and new beginnings. It’s a book about the beauty and struggles of friendship, and how while friends are never perfect, they are always there for you in the end.
*Thank you to the lovely people at Walker books for giving me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
August 4, 2015
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/08/w...
Remix was an entertaining read that not only shows the turmoil of friendship, but how we are all irrevocably flawed. But rather than take issue with how we make mistakes, often over and over, it celebrates our differences and how we grow from our misdemeanors. Kaz and Ruby may be best friends, but the two girls couldn't be more different. While Kaz is quiet and pines for former boyfriend Tom, Ruby is a wild child who isn't afraid to put herself back on the market. Or is she? The musical festival plays a very small part of the storyline, but focuses on the lives of a small group of friends, the girls, Ruby's brother and his boyfriend and the relationships they form. One of the biggest flaws I find in young adult, is the unrealistic portrayal of teen relationships, and while not all teens are sexually active, many are and Remix showcases teens who are perhaps not ready to deal with the maturity that comes along with adult relationships.
It also touches on issues such as cheating and the moral dilemma between suspecting someone isn't single, and having it confirmed he or she is attached. Kaz is single, and refuses to believe that former boyfriend Tom has already moved on, so she doesn't ask and it makes for an incredibly uncomfortable situation. Although morally Kaz should feel ashamed, she isn't the one who should be feeling guilty. It's a fine line that will divide readers and raise discussion about loyalty. Although Remix is sex positive with Kaz's mother promoting sexual health, I think the sexual situations the girls both found themselves in was anything but positive. The experience of regretful sex in both cases adds to their journey of growth, showing yet again how flawed we all are.
Thank goodness Kaz meets Sebastian. He's absolutely lovely and just what the storyline needed. A positive beginning of what could possibly be a new relationship.
The emotion of it's characters, their flaws and how we learn from our mistakes is what makes Remix so emotionally raw and realistic. It's the passion and lives beyond the music that makes Remix compelling, the lines that are crossed, the chances taken. It's teen life at it's worse... And best.
Remix was an entertaining read that not only shows the turmoil of friendship, but how we are all irrevocably flawed. But rather than take issue with how we make mistakes, often over and over, it celebrates our differences and how we grow from our misdemeanors. Kaz and Ruby may be best friends, but the two girls couldn't be more different. While Kaz is quiet and pines for former boyfriend Tom, Ruby is a wild child who isn't afraid to put herself back on the market. Or is she? The musical festival plays a very small part of the storyline, but focuses on the lives of a small group of friends, the girls, Ruby's brother and his boyfriend and the relationships they form. One of the biggest flaws I find in young adult, is the unrealistic portrayal of teen relationships, and while not all teens are sexually active, many are and Remix showcases teens who are perhaps not ready to deal with the maturity that comes along with adult relationships.
It also touches on issues such as cheating and the moral dilemma between suspecting someone isn't single, and having it confirmed he or she is attached. Kaz is single, and refuses to believe that former boyfriend Tom has already moved on, so she doesn't ask and it makes for an incredibly uncomfortable situation. Although morally Kaz should feel ashamed, she isn't the one who should be feeling guilty. It's a fine line that will divide readers and raise discussion about loyalty. Although Remix is sex positive with Kaz's mother promoting sexual health, I think the sexual situations the girls both found themselves in was anything but positive. The experience of regretful sex in both cases adds to their journey of growth, showing yet again how flawed we all are.
Thank goodness Kaz meets Sebastian. He's absolutely lovely and just what the storyline needed. A positive beginning of what could possibly be a new relationship.
The emotion of it's characters, their flaws and how we learn from our mistakes is what makes Remix so emotionally raw and realistic. It's the passion and lives beyond the music that makes Remix compelling, the lines that are crossed, the chances taken. It's teen life at it's worse... And best.
July 4, 2015
Received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book. It is my true opinion only
A very enjoyable story about friendship and relationships at a festival called Remix.
Definitely the perfect book for the moment because of Glastonbury.
Has a real content festival feel to it.
Anyone with love for music and bands will also adore this.
Told from Kaz and Ruby: two best friends.
I liked both their voices.
I was satisfied with the ending.
Really recommend this one.
Thank you Walker Books. :)
A very enjoyable story about friendship and relationships at a festival called Remix.
Definitely the perfect book for the moment because of Glastonbury.
Has a real content festival feel to it.
Anyone with love for music and bands will also adore this.
Told from Kaz and Ruby: two best friends.
I liked both their voices.
I was satisfied with the ending.
Really recommend this one.
Thank you Walker Books. :)
February 22, 2015
It's been so long since I read a book cover to cover in one day. This was so good. So heartfelt, so beautiful, so perfect.
My only flaw was that I had to leave those characters behind.
Full review on shinraalpha.com to come.
My only flaw was that I had to leave those characters behind.
Full review on shinraalpha.com to come.
June 13, 2016
It is no secret that I adore Non Pratt. I met her few years ago now whilst she was working for Catnip and she was one of those people I instantly liked most probably because we have very similar reading tastes and can quite happily chat for hours about books with her. I've loved books she's pushed into my hands by other authors since that first meeting and it meant when she told me she had got her first book deal that I was very excited indeed because I knew I was going to love it. As predicted I adored Trouble and very much the same is true for Remix.
I have been waiting to read Remix from the moment I finished Trouble because I knew whatever it was about I would adore it. It arrived at my house to excited book post dancing flailing and was gobbled up in one greedy go later on that evening.
I loved several things about this book.
Firstly I loved what this book had to say about friendship and in particular teenage girls. Teenage girls get it tough when it comes to being frinds in YA novels. Their friendships aren't seen as important, thrown aside for someone more popular or a over a boy and I feel that representation is doing them a real disservice. Remix goes a long way to remedy this through the friendship portrayed over the course of the novel between Ruby and Kaz. Don't get me wrong it isn't perfect. They fight and bicker like anyone but under it all it was nice to see two girls who were solid in their friendship and loyalty to one another.
I loved that this book was set at a music festival. I have been wanting more books set at one after reading and loving Sarra Manning's diary of a crush series years ago and this had a similar feel to it in that regard. It was really fun to see the girls go through that experience, bad toilets, crappy tents and unwashedness in all its icky glory.
I also loved the characterisation in this book. The teenage voices in this book are spot on and made the characters and the story feel so much more realistic for me.
All in all a book unsurprisingly a book I adored. I can't recommend it highly enough and will be buying multiple copies myself to give out to everyone.
I have been waiting to read Remix from the moment I finished Trouble because I knew whatever it was about I would adore it. It arrived at my house to excited book post dancing flailing and was gobbled up in one greedy go later on that evening.
I loved several things about this book.
Firstly I loved what this book had to say about friendship and in particular teenage girls. Teenage girls get it tough when it comes to being frinds in YA novels. Their friendships aren't seen as important, thrown aside for someone more popular or a over a boy and I feel that representation is doing them a real disservice. Remix goes a long way to remedy this through the friendship portrayed over the course of the novel between Ruby and Kaz. Don't get me wrong it isn't perfect. They fight and bicker like anyone but under it all it was nice to see two girls who were solid in their friendship and loyalty to one another.
I loved that this book was set at a music festival. I have been wanting more books set at one after reading and loving Sarra Manning's diary of a crush series years ago and this had a similar feel to it in that regard. It was really fun to see the girls go through that experience, bad toilets, crappy tents and unwashedness in all its icky glory.
I also loved the characterisation in this book. The teenage voices in this book are spot on and made the characters and the story feel so much more realistic for me.
All in all a book unsurprisingly a book I adored. I can't recommend it highly enough and will be buying multiple copies myself to give out to everyone.
October 5, 2015
Disclaimer: I picked up a proof copy of this novel up at work, provided by Walker Books in exchange for an honest review. The book is set to be released on 4th June 2015 and I finished reading it on 6th March, the date that I wrote this review.
Towards the end of 2014 I went to an author event in Waterstones Birmingham High Street which was a talk between James Dawson, Non Pratt and Holly Bourne. In preparation for the event, I picked up books by the two authors I hadn't previously read, Non Pratt and Holly Bourne. I didn't manage to get to The Manifesto on How to be Interesting by Holly Bourne in time for the talk (and I still need to get around to it!) but I did manage to complete Trouble, Non Pratt's debut novel. I really enjoyed it, despite one small issue that I had with it, but during the talk, she mentioned the novel she was working on at the time, a novel based on two best friends going to a music festival, and straight away I wanted to read it. Remix is that novel and I'm so happy that I got a chance to read it early and review it!
Remix follows a strong set of characters that all have realistic flaws; their actions and motives are sometimes irritating but they always face the consequences throughout the plot so I found that I did end up liking some of them by the conclusion of the novel. The plot was interesting, though slightly predictable, and although I didn't like one of the things that happened (something that I am unwilling to spoil!) I found that overall I was satisfied with this book and actually prefer it to Trouble. The event that took place that I was uncomfortable with provided a great message to the book but I think it was the only point that was a little too unrealistic.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this new novel by Non Pratt and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. I loved how this young adult book did not shy away from talking about sex and relationships in a realistic way and also I liked how the friendship between Ruby and Kaz was the main focus of the plot. On the whole I would highly recommend this book and look forward to seeing what other people think of it when it comes out!
Towards the end of 2014 I went to an author event in Waterstones Birmingham High Street which was a talk between James Dawson, Non Pratt and Holly Bourne. In preparation for the event, I picked up books by the two authors I hadn't previously read, Non Pratt and Holly Bourne. I didn't manage to get to The Manifesto on How to be Interesting by Holly Bourne in time for the talk (and I still need to get around to it!) but I did manage to complete Trouble, Non Pratt's debut novel. I really enjoyed it, despite one small issue that I had with it, but during the talk, she mentioned the novel she was working on at the time, a novel based on two best friends going to a music festival, and straight away I wanted to read it. Remix is that novel and I'm so happy that I got a chance to read it early and review it!
Remix follows a strong set of characters that all have realistic flaws; their actions and motives are sometimes irritating but they always face the consequences throughout the plot so I found that I did end up liking some of them by the conclusion of the novel. The plot was interesting, though slightly predictable, and although I didn't like one of the things that happened (something that I am unwilling to spoil!) I found that overall I was satisfied with this book and actually prefer it to Trouble. The event that took place that I was uncomfortable with provided a great message to the book but I think it was the only point that was a little too unrealistic.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this new novel by Non Pratt and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. I loved how this young adult book did not shy away from talking about sex and relationships in a realistic way and also I liked how the friendship between Ruby and Kaz was the main focus of the plot. On the whole I would highly recommend this book and look forward to seeing what other people think of it when it comes out!
July 6, 2017
So for my first (non-graphic) novel of 2016, I read Remix by Non Pratt.
It wasn't... great.
I was just bored the whole time. The entire book was set in a music festival called Remix somewhere in the UK, and that's the problem. Having one setting bored the hell out of me. Not to mention the book just read like a bad straight-to-DVD teen movie. I didn't particularly like or care about Ruby, Kaz, or any of their friends and other minor characters. Their problems were petty and mostly about guys and cheating significant others, which reminded me way too much of the drama going on at my school (which I'm hoping to avoid hearing about when my senior year starts in 3 weeks), and that was instantly repellant to me.
I did, however, liked the concept of being friends with your ex-boyfriend's present girlfriend (and caring more about her feelings -- yay for not pitting women against each other!) and a different ex-boyfriend trying to make it up to you and earn your forgiveness even after cheating on you. Pratt's writing wasn't too bad either. But that's about it. Sadly, these were not enough to make me give it 3 stars.
If you liked this book, you might also like:
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
You're the Kind of Girl I Write Songs About by Daniel Herborn
It wasn't... great.
I was just bored the whole time. The entire book was set in a music festival called Remix somewhere in the UK, and that's the problem. Having one setting bored the hell out of me. Not to mention the book just read like a bad straight-to-DVD teen movie. I didn't particularly like or care about Ruby, Kaz, or any of their friends and other minor characters. Their problems were petty and mostly about guys and cheating significant others, which reminded me way too much of the drama going on at my school (which I'm hoping to avoid hearing about when my senior year starts in 3 weeks), and that was instantly repellant to me.
I did, however, liked the concept of being friends with your ex-boyfriend's present girlfriend (and caring more about her feelings -- yay for not pitting women against each other!) and a different ex-boyfriend trying to make it up to you and earn your forgiveness even after cheating on you. Pratt's writing wasn't too bad either. But that's about it. Sadly, these were not enough to make me give it 3 stars.
If you liked this book, you might also like:
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
You're the Kind of Girl I Write Songs About by Daniel Herborn
December 23, 2015
4.5 stars I absolutely loved it. It starts out with so much great humour out of the gate and I immediately loved best friends Ruby and Kaz. I wanted to hug them both so much! Boys were always peripheral to thier friendship and I loved reading its up and downs over the three days of the Remix festival. I was in tatters during the last third of the book, desperately trying not to bawl my eyes out on the crowded tube. My favourite thing about the book is how well it dealt with the often polarizing subject of cheating - that many people think it's always wrong. I think the book showed different attitudes and circumstances that lead to it, and that it's not always an unforgivable mistake.
BRAVA NON.
BRAVA NON.
July 6, 2016
Awful. A book at once juvenile, yet dealing with mature issues. Not a single character is particularly likeable, they are all lying to each other and theirselves. The situations are completely ridiculous. And the writing moves from standard YA to weird overblown imagery.
Not impressed. DNF.
Not impressed. DNF.
June 7, 2015
All the love.
August 23, 2015
Stuck between a two or a three. 2.5 for now.
June 22, 2017
It's 2016; can we stop pretending we don't judge books by their cover? Remix has amazing cover art—in particular, the way the back cover copy is arranged is a thing of beauty. Just look at it. If I hadn’t already wanted to read Remix after reading Non Pratt’s debut,
Trouble
, that back cover would change my mind.
I love that Remix is, at its core, about the best friendship between two girls. Yes, there is sex and romance and relationship drama. At the end of the day, though, this is about Kaz and Ruby. They are such distinctive people who nevertheless care deeply about each other, and even though one weekend at a music festival seems to drive them apart, their friendship is a resilient one. And I'm probably going to spend the rest of this review unpacking that last sentence, because that’s this novel in a nutshell.
Like Trouble, Remix features two narrators. This time the book also changes up the typeface with each narrator: Kaz is your standard serif; Ruby is a smooth, stream-of-consciousness sans-serif. I love this little extra degree of differentiation—regrettably, the fact that almost all books are ordinary serif means that Kaz’s typeface looks “normal” while Ruby’s is more extraordinary. In actuality, Pratt manages to portray both girls as interesting but individual voices. So really, when you read this book, you get two great protagonists for the price of one.
I could go into stereotypes to summarize their differences. Kaz is the sensible, no-nonsense, down-to-earth girl who doesn't see the boys flirting with her and has eyes only for the one guy she loves. Ruby is the wild child who doesn’t do great in school, likes having sex, and knows what she wants. Yet this type of classification is reductive, because each girl has elements of the other in her—Kaz has desires and yearnings she explores here, and Ruby must confront some of her emotional denial.
Although Remix emphasizes friendship, it’s not to the detriment of other important relationships. For example, Pratt illustrates how our interactions with parents influence us: Kaz’s mother is an encouraging, progressive role model when it comes to activities like sex, but she’s hopeless with cooking or home maintenance, forcing Kaz to step up and be more responsible than your average 16-year-old. In contrast, Ruby’s parents have high academic expectations for her that she never seems to meet; they are deliberately unseen and, aside from notes, unheard here, to emphasize their distance from their daughter.
And then, of course, there’s sex and dating. Or “going out with” as Ruby might put it, since she thinks dating is an icky word.
She has a point: dating has two connotations, one far more juvenile than what’s happening here (like you’re in Grade 7 and you have a “girlfriend”) and one far more adult. Another thing I love about Remix is that it holds no illusions about what teens are up to. Kaz and Ruby are 16, and they and their similarly-aged friends are drinking, sexing, and rock-n-rolling. They talk like teenagers, and they have the same flimsy but oh-so-confident worldviews that teenagers have.
The fun, if you will, in this book is watching Kaz and Ruby’s desires and decisions conflict and lead them to make bad choices. There’s an “oh no she didn’t” vibe to much of the story, with one or the other doing something in the heat of the moment that seems to propel the other one further away. Both realize it’s happening and realize it’s stupid, and Pratt perfectly captures that strong-headed teenage attitude that often prevents people (even well into adulthood) from simply stopping and saying, “We're being dumb.” I wanted things to work so badly for Kaz and Ruby, but it’s easy to see why it keeps going wrong. As I mentioned in my review of Trouble, my disinclination towards relationships and sex meant I didn’t experience this type of drama first-hand as a teenager—but I can definitely identify with making stupid decisions and arguments that just spiral further and further out of control.
As far as the sex goes, I just want to highlight a great, frank moment when Ruby recalls having bad sex. It’s awesome to see a YA book not just portraying teenagers having causal sex (like they do) but also acknowledge that it will often be bad sex (or at least, so I am given to understand) instead of fictionalizing sex into some kind of perfect expression of romantic compatibility. On a similar note, Ruby’s sexual attraction to Stu despite her complicated emotional feelings validates the idea that you can be attracted to someone physically but not emotionally, or vice versa.
As far as the relationships go, I want to highlight Lauren, Kaz’s ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend. Pratt could easily have made Lauren a haughty bitch. Much to Ruby’s disappointment, Kaz actually likes Lauren. And while I found myself sympathizing quite a bit with Ruby’s disgust over the way Lauren acts, I have to agree with Kaz that Lauren is a good person—and that she deserves better than Tom! I appreciate this sympathetic portrayal of the “replacement” significant other.
The back of the book promises “zero chance of everything working out.” It delivers. It’s not a downer ending, though—quite the contrary. I loved the ending. But it reminds us that you can’t please everyone. Life is messy and is full of mistakes, and things we say or do in the heat of the moment are impossible to take back and difficult to remedy.
I also like how Remix feels very quotidian; it doesn’t pivot on a single, capital-I-Issue, like teenage pregnancy or rape or body shaming, etc. Don’t get me wrong: books that pivot on such issues are essential—but books that don’t are just as necessary. And Remix still has some heavy stuff in it, but it’s part of a larger, overall narrative.
Did I make a mistake reading Remix and Trouble only six months apart, with no idea when Pratt’s next novel is coming out? I don’t think so. We like to badger our favourite authors to finish their next work, because we are eager to read it, of course—but, you know, I actually have a ton of books to read. I’d rather Pratt takes her time polishing her next novel, even if it takes longer, and I will distract myself with other reads while I wait. Looking forward to whatever comes next, however, because so far it has been delightful.
I love that Remix is, at its core, about the best friendship between two girls. Yes, there is sex and romance and relationship drama. At the end of the day, though, this is about Kaz and Ruby. They are such distinctive people who nevertheless care deeply about each other, and even though one weekend at a music festival seems to drive them apart, their friendship is a resilient one. And I'm probably going to spend the rest of this review unpacking that last sentence, because that’s this novel in a nutshell.
Like Trouble, Remix features two narrators. This time the book also changes up the typeface with each narrator: Kaz is your standard serif; Ruby is a smooth, stream-of-consciousness sans-serif. I love this little extra degree of differentiation—regrettably, the fact that almost all books are ordinary serif means that Kaz’s typeface looks “normal” while Ruby’s is more extraordinary. In actuality, Pratt manages to portray both girls as interesting but individual voices. So really, when you read this book, you get two great protagonists for the price of one.
I could go into stereotypes to summarize their differences. Kaz is the sensible, no-nonsense, down-to-earth girl who doesn't see the boys flirting with her and has eyes only for the one guy she loves. Ruby is the wild child who doesn’t do great in school, likes having sex, and knows what she wants. Yet this type of classification is reductive, because each girl has elements of the other in her—Kaz has desires and yearnings she explores here, and Ruby must confront some of her emotional denial.
Although Remix emphasizes friendship, it’s not to the detriment of other important relationships. For example, Pratt illustrates how our interactions with parents influence us: Kaz’s mother is an encouraging, progressive role model when it comes to activities like sex, but she’s hopeless with cooking or home maintenance, forcing Kaz to step up and be more responsible than your average 16-year-old. In contrast, Ruby’s parents have high academic expectations for her that she never seems to meet; they are deliberately unseen and, aside from notes, unheard here, to emphasize their distance from their daughter.
And then, of course, there’s sex and dating. Or “going out with” as Ruby might put it, since she thinks dating is an icky word.
She has a point: dating has two connotations, one far more juvenile than what’s happening here (like you’re in Grade 7 and you have a “girlfriend”) and one far more adult. Another thing I love about Remix is that it holds no illusions about what teens are up to. Kaz and Ruby are 16, and they and their similarly-aged friends are drinking, sexing, and rock-n-rolling. They talk like teenagers, and they have the same flimsy but oh-so-confident worldviews that teenagers have.
The fun, if you will, in this book is watching Kaz and Ruby’s desires and decisions conflict and lead them to make bad choices. There’s an “oh no she didn’t” vibe to much of the story, with one or the other doing something in the heat of the moment that seems to propel the other one further away. Both realize it’s happening and realize it’s stupid, and Pratt perfectly captures that strong-headed teenage attitude that often prevents people (even well into adulthood) from simply stopping and saying, “We're being dumb.” I wanted things to work so badly for Kaz and Ruby, but it’s easy to see why it keeps going wrong. As I mentioned in my review of Trouble, my disinclination towards relationships and sex meant I didn’t experience this type of drama first-hand as a teenager—but I can definitely identify with making stupid decisions and arguments that just spiral further and further out of control.
As far as the sex goes, I just want to highlight a great, frank moment when Ruby recalls having bad sex. It’s awesome to see a YA book not just portraying teenagers having causal sex (like they do) but also acknowledge that it will often be bad sex (or at least, so I am given to understand) instead of fictionalizing sex into some kind of perfect expression of romantic compatibility. On a similar note, Ruby’s sexual attraction to Stu despite her complicated emotional feelings validates the idea that you can be attracted to someone physically but not emotionally, or vice versa.
As far as the relationships go, I want to highlight Lauren, Kaz’s ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend. Pratt could easily have made Lauren a haughty bitch. Much to Ruby’s disappointment, Kaz actually likes Lauren. And while I found myself sympathizing quite a bit with Ruby’s disgust over the way Lauren acts, I have to agree with Kaz that Lauren is a good person—and that she deserves better than Tom! I appreciate this sympathetic portrayal of the “replacement” significant other.
The back of the book promises “zero chance of everything working out.” It delivers. It’s not a downer ending, though—quite the contrary. I loved the ending. But it reminds us that you can’t please everyone. Life is messy and is full of mistakes, and things we say or do in the heat of the moment are impossible to take back and difficult to remedy.
I also like how Remix feels very quotidian; it doesn’t pivot on a single, capital-I-Issue, like teenage pregnancy or rape or body shaming, etc. Don’t get me wrong: books that pivot on such issues are essential—but books that don’t are just as necessary. And Remix still has some heavy stuff in it, but it’s part of a larger, overall narrative.
Did I make a mistake reading Remix and Trouble only six months apart, with no idea when Pratt’s next novel is coming out? I don’t think so. We like to badger our favourite authors to finish their next work, because we are eager to read it, of course—but, you know, I actually have a ton of books to read. I’d rather Pratt takes her time polishing her next novel, even if it takes longer, and I will distract myself with other reads while I wait. Looking forward to whatever comes next, however, because so far it has been delightful.
June 1, 2015
One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. A must-read.
Originally posted on my blog Ashleigh Online
You guys have got to get out there and grab yourself a copy of Remix. It's coming out on 4 June and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
I knew that I'd enjoy this one. I found Non Pratt's debut, Trouble, so refreshingly honest that I couldn't wait to pick up Remix. Like Trouble, Remix has a split narrative, but this time it's between two female best friends, Kaz and Ruby. Kaz is the more quiet of the two, while Ruby is mouthy and bold. It's quite a cliché friendship in that way, but that's as far as the clichés go in this book.
I fell in love with both of these characters equally, which is rare because I always tend to develop a favourite when there are two protagonists. They both have flaws and they make plenty of mistakes over the three days that this book spans, but you'll forgive them because they're exactly the kinds of mistakes real teenagers make.
I read a lot of YA books, and while I enjoy most of them, not many feel like they've been captured directly from real life. Remix does, and that's what makes it so special.
I had absolutely no idea where the story was going to go. There are twists and turns on what feels like every page. As I said in my review of Lobsters, which by the way you'll really like if you liked Remix (and vice versa), I've discovered a new love for books with festivals in them. Ok, so I've only read two and I've just mentioned both of them, but I want to read more! It's such a cool scene to read about, with music, dancing, drinking, lots of new people to meet and lots of familiar faces, too. There's also lots of fangirling over hot musicians, which is brilliant fun.
Kaz and Ruby's relationship is so heart-warming. It's pushed to the absolute limits in this novel and it's actually their friendship rather than the relationships they have with various boys that you'll find yourself really routing for, another thing that's refreshing about this book.
I'm starting to think that Non Pratt is actually magic. She probably graduated from Hogwarts last year. I am so excited about what else Non Pratt has got up her sleeve because her voice is so perfectly authentic and I cannot wait to read more.
Originally posted on my blog Ashleigh Online
You guys have got to get out there and grab yourself a copy of Remix. It's coming out on 4 June and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
I knew that I'd enjoy this one. I found Non Pratt's debut, Trouble, so refreshingly honest that I couldn't wait to pick up Remix. Like Trouble, Remix has a split narrative, but this time it's between two female best friends, Kaz and Ruby. Kaz is the more quiet of the two, while Ruby is mouthy and bold. It's quite a cliché friendship in that way, but that's as far as the clichés go in this book.
I fell in love with both of these characters equally, which is rare because I always tend to develop a favourite when there are two protagonists. They both have flaws and they make plenty of mistakes over the three days that this book spans, but you'll forgive them because they're exactly the kinds of mistakes real teenagers make.
I read a lot of YA books, and while I enjoy most of them, not many feel like they've been captured directly from real life. Remix does, and that's what makes it so special.
I had absolutely no idea where the story was going to go. There are twists and turns on what feels like every page. As I said in my review of Lobsters, which by the way you'll really like if you liked Remix (and vice versa), I've discovered a new love for books with festivals in them. Ok, so I've only read two and I've just mentioned both of them, but I want to read more! It's such a cool scene to read about, with music, dancing, drinking, lots of new people to meet and lots of familiar faces, too. There's also lots of fangirling over hot musicians, which is brilliant fun.
Kaz and Ruby's relationship is so heart-warming. It's pushed to the absolute limits in this novel and it's actually their friendship rather than the relationships they have with various boys that you'll find yourself really routing for, another thing that's refreshing about this book.
I'm starting to think that Non Pratt is actually magic. She probably graduated from Hogwarts last year. I am so excited about what else Non Pratt has got up her sleeve because her voice is so perfectly authentic and I cannot wait to read more.
October 20, 2015
I haven't read Non Pratt's Trouble (yet!) so Remix is my first experience of her writing. And I have to say I was really impressed.
Best friends Ruby and Kaz are dual narrators (with short alternating viewpoints throughout the book) and this was the perfect way to tell the story of their weekend at Remix music festival where they're desperate to see favourite band Gold'ntone play live. This book wouldn't have worked as well in any other format, because the strongest aspect of the story is how relatable the main characters are. That's not to say I always liked Kaz and Ruby, and there were moments I wanted to scream at them for the choices they were making, but seeing how and why they behaved as they did really made me empathise with both of them.
However Lauren, the new girlfriend of Kaz's ex Tom - she creeped me out! I'm not sure if that was the author's aim, but I found it very cringey and uncomfortable how both Tom and Lauren seemed to think it was perfectly normal to force her into Kaz's friendship group. Not cool.
I admit to finding the first forty or fifty pages of this one fairly slow going, but once the action started this book was like a runaway train and I was waiting for explosive crash. Non Pratt touches on so many topics that are relevant to young adults (and adults) - friendship, relationships, being part of a family, sex, drugs, hero worship...and in many ways this is a coming of age story set over a weekend.
The festival setting gave a lively and vibrant backdrop to the action and made a plausible and surprisingly rarely-used setting for a YA book (I think I read a Melvin Burgess set at a festival a few years back, but no others spring to mind). It certainly allows the characters to break free from the constraints of everyday life, which is exactly what happens to both Kaz and Ruby.
Overall, I enjoyed Remix and have already bought Trouble - I can see why Non Pratt is being so widely praised for both her writing and her content. Above all it's a story of friendship and trust, and those themes will never go out of fashion.
Best friends Ruby and Kaz are dual narrators (with short alternating viewpoints throughout the book) and this was the perfect way to tell the story of their weekend at Remix music festival where they're desperate to see favourite band Gold'ntone play live. This book wouldn't have worked as well in any other format, because the strongest aspect of the story is how relatable the main characters are. That's not to say I always liked Kaz and Ruby, and there were moments I wanted to scream at them for the choices they were making, but seeing how and why they behaved as they did really made me empathise with both of them.
However Lauren, the new girlfriend of Kaz's ex Tom - she creeped me out! I'm not sure if that was the author's aim, but I found it very cringey and uncomfortable how both Tom and Lauren seemed to think it was perfectly normal to force her into Kaz's friendship group. Not cool.
I admit to finding the first forty or fifty pages of this one fairly slow going, but once the action started this book was like a runaway train and I was waiting for explosive crash. Non Pratt touches on so many topics that are relevant to young adults (and adults) - friendship, relationships, being part of a family, sex, drugs, hero worship...and in many ways this is a coming of age story set over a weekend.
The festival setting gave a lively and vibrant backdrop to the action and made a plausible and surprisingly rarely-used setting for a YA book (I think I read a Melvin Burgess set at a festival a few years back, but no others spring to mind). It certainly allows the characters to break free from the constraints of everyday life, which is exactly what happens to both Kaz and Ruby.
Overall, I enjoyed Remix and have already bought Trouble - I can see why Non Pratt is being so widely praised for both her writing and her content. Above all it's a story of friendship and trust, and those themes will never go out of fashion.
July 5, 2015
Ok - I am giving this novel 5 stars because I really enjoyed reading it. When thinking about awarding ratings sometimes I just have to think that some books may not be the most lyrically written or compelling or life changing but you just relate to them on some level. I loved Trouble, Non Pratt's first book so was very keen to read this. This appealed to me on so many levels. Starting with the blurb - "Three days. Two best mates. One music festival. Zero chance of everything working out." - I knew I would probably like this.
a. Anyone who has been to a music festival knows that all that communal togetherness, mixed with substances, grievances, heart-break and music is bound to cause some implosions and explosions all around. Reading this reminded me of attending in 1989 what was billed as London's biggest Aussie-Kiwi BBQ. What a fun day was had by all but at least then the worst thing that could happen to you was that your photo would end up in TNT Magazine (which it did) - quite unlike today where there is no privacy . It actually made me yearn for a time when everything that happened to you in those formative years remained in still photos and friend's memories and wasn't trapped forever in cyberspace to humiliate you.
b. I digress. Overall, this is a fabulous exploration of friendship - the little hurts, the feels, the digs and the insecurities that are present in those teen relationships are all present, but so is the love and loyalty.
c. Made me feel like I was 16 again
d. Tom, Tom, Tom
a. Anyone who has been to a music festival knows that all that communal togetherness, mixed with substances, grievances, heart-break and music is bound to cause some implosions and explosions all around. Reading this reminded me of attending in 1989 what was billed as London's biggest Aussie-Kiwi BBQ. What a fun day was had by all but at least then the worst thing that could happen to you was that your photo would end up in TNT Magazine (which it did) - quite unlike today where there is no privacy . It actually made me yearn for a time when everything that happened to you in those formative years remained in still photos and friend's memories and wasn't trapped forever in cyberspace to humiliate you.
b. I digress. Overall, this is a fabulous exploration of friendship - the little hurts, the feels, the digs and the insecurities that are present in those teen relationships are all present, but so is the love and loyalty.
c. Made me feel like I was 16 again
d. Tom, Tom, Tom
July 21, 2015
I loved this book. Having read Trouble by Non Pratt in February(?) and having absolutely loved it, I was incredibly excited to read Remix. Then when the early copes went out and they came back with mainly positive reviews, my excitement grew. I’m so happy about the fact that I was not let down.
What I love about this book is that it is mainly about friendship compared to being about relationships and love. Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot of relationship drama but the fact that it was primarily about a friendship made me so happy.
Read more of my review at: https://thereadingfangirl.wordpress.c...
What I love about this book is that it is mainly about friendship compared to being about relationships and love. Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot of relationship drama but the fact that it was primarily about a friendship made me so happy.
Read more of my review at: https://thereadingfangirl.wordpress.c...
August 23, 2015
Soooooo I had a few problems with this one, mainly that 1) not much happened and 2) it seemed to go in circles quite a lot. But I really really liked Kaz and Ruby (who was hilarious) and their friendship despite its ups and downs.
Ruby and Kaz are pretty great characters, and Ruby is SO funny. That was what I most loved about it – the humour. There were things I didn’t like – it’s dual-POV (and it’s rare that I find one I like) and not a lot happens, but I LOVED the friendship.
Because I’m always rabbiting on about friendship and I think it’s really important in YA. So it gets points for that.
Ruby and Kaz are pretty great characters, and Ruby is SO funny. That was what I most loved about it – the humour. There were things I didn’t like – it’s dual-POV (and it’s rare that I find one I like) and not a lot happens, but I LOVED the friendship.
Because I’m always rabbiting on about friendship and I think it’s really important in YA. So it gets points for that.
March 22, 2015
I can give this book no higher praise than this: it made me (owner of about three albums) want to go to a music festival. Non writes so convincingly that although my own teen experience couldn't have been further from Kaz and Ruby's, I felt totally connected to them. Even better than Trouble!
June 29, 2018
After reading Non Pratt’s first novel ‘Trouble’ I wanted to continue reading her books. I really didn’t get on with this book. I know it is a YA novel but it just felt incredibly young and I don’t feel like it was particularly original. Really disliked this.
November 1, 2015
Loved this so so much! Review to follow shortly :-)
July 19, 2018
lmao crappiest book i ever did read
April 16, 2019
I'm finally done with this book. It took me a little bit longer to get into this book in the beginning and I must admit that it didn't captivate me too much the first half of the book, which is why I was easily distracted by other things. The Second half got way more interesting and I more characters popped up that I really liked, including their cute, crazy and slightly dramatic storylines.
The setting of the book is really cool and reminded me of the old Teen Dramas with James Dean that also took only place on one weekend but had all the drama in it you could have wanted. I also enjoyed hearing about different music genres and lyrics that added lots of meaning to some scenes.
It ended on some parts kind of open and a little bit too vague for my taste, but altogether it's a nice, realistic story about the ups and downs in family, relationships and most of all friendships.
The setting of the book is really cool and reminded me of the old Teen Dramas with James Dean that also took only place on one weekend but had all the drama in it you could have wanted. I also enjoyed hearing about different music genres and lyrics that added lots of meaning to some scenes.
It ended on some parts kind of open and a little bit too vague for my taste, but altogether it's a nice, realistic story about the ups and downs in family, relationships and most of all friendships.
October 1, 2019
I really had a lot of fun with this one. I liked the characters (Ruby > Kaz, though, all the way ), and what a soap opera it kind of turned into by the end--I dunno, I just dug it. I thought it was a really interesting book. I liked the music stuff, I liked the tangled everything, it was a good time.
February 24, 2019
I know it's YA, but I'd still recommend that if you've had nearly as much drama and as many relationship issues at 16 you move to a new country, change your name, and probably get an STD test.
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