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Love On the Main Stage
Five music festivals . . . One unforgettable summer! A new clean teen romance from the author of Love, Secret Santa.
16-year-old songwriter Nova is having the best summer of her life. Helping out with her parents' food truck, she gets to attend not one, but FIVE different music festivals! Things get even better when she meets cute American boy, Sam, an aspiring musician like her. After sharing a magical evening dancing under the stars, Nova never expects to see Sam again. But to her surprise they keep meeting up at music festivals . . .
Nova begins to hope that their romance could become more than just a festival fling. So why is Sam so reluctant to talk about himself? And why does he have access to the VIP backstage area . . .?
A perfect summer beach read for fans of Holly Smale and Jenny Han.
16-year-old songwriter Nova is having the best summer of her life. Helping out with her parents' food truck, she gets to attend not one, but FIVE different music festivals! Things get even better when she meets cute American boy, Sam, an aspiring musician like her. After sharing a magical evening dancing under the stars, Nova never expects to see Sam again. But to her surprise they keep meeting up at music festivals . . .
Nova begins to hope that their romance could become more than just a festival fling. So why is Sam so reluctant to talk about himself? And why does he have access to the VIP backstage area . . .?
A perfect summer beach read for fans of Holly Smale and Jenny Han.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2020
3 people are currently reading
481 people want to read
About the author
S.A. Domingo
3 books12 followersBorn in Camberwell, South East London, S.A. Domingo spent her formative years in Bahrain, when her family moved there for her father's job. She works as an editor of romantic fiction, and writes adult romances under the name Sareeta Domingo. S.A. Domingo lives in South East London, with her husband, her cat, and her daydreams.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 24, 2020
This was a cute and entertaining summer read! It was a quick read and I really liked the setting - the festivals, the music, the food. The writing left something to be desired though, and I wasn't the biggest fan of the romance.
August 7, 2020
Love on the Main Stage was a super cute, feel good read. It was an easy read with all the summery festival vibes and fluffy moments you could want in a YA book. Although, the romance was a little fast burn for my taste and I found Nova to be a frustrating character — especially when she accused Sam of something akin to cheating (but not quite) and started an argument over him taking photos with fans.
In terms of Nova herself, she was very oblivious. I predicted the “plot twist” very quickly. Despite there not being many surprises, it was still really enjoyable. Nova’s friendship with Gemma was one of my favourite parts. I’m such an advocate for strong female friendships in YA. It’s also more about family than romance this book, so Nova’s dedication to her family business was refreshing.
On the whole, I’d recommend for those on the younger end of YA (12-14) because it’s a formulaic teen romance. I wasn’t surprised at any point and a lot of typical tropes (ex boyfriend cheating, latest boyfriend keeping a secret then rescues from suddenly possessive ex, grand apology etc) were utilised. Regardless of how predictable it was, I liked all the character dynamics and the structure surrounding five different festivals.
In terms of Nova herself, she was very oblivious. I predicted the “plot twist” very quickly. Despite there not being many surprises, it was still really enjoyable. Nova’s friendship with Gemma was one of my favourite parts. I’m such an advocate for strong female friendships in YA. It’s also more about family than romance this book, so Nova’s dedication to her family business was refreshing.
On the whole, I’d recommend for those on the younger end of YA (12-14) because it’s a formulaic teen romance. I wasn’t surprised at any point and a lot of typical tropes (ex boyfriend cheating, latest boyfriend keeping a secret then rescues from suddenly possessive ex, grand apology etc) were utilised. Regardless of how predictable it was, I liked all the character dynamics and the structure surrounding five different festivals.
June 30, 2020
First things first, the main character in this would have to get an award for missing what is blindingly obvious to everyone reading (though seemingly no one else, so perhaps we shouldn’t be too harsh). That gripe aside, this was a sweet wish-fulfilment romance with a summer of festivals, wonderful sounding food, great family and friends...
Entertaining read, which will definitely put a smile on your face and have you chuckling at the antics of best friend Gemma.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this prior to publication. A great summer pick-me-up that will go down a treat (the only thing that I’d love to see is recipes of some of those dishes!)
Entertaining read, which will definitely put a smile on your face and have you chuckling at the antics of best friend Gemma.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this prior to publication. A great summer pick-me-up that will go down a treat (the only thing that I’d love to see is recipes of some of those dishes!)
July 14, 2020
If you're after an escapist read that will have you longing for the next music festival then look no further! This book had me absorbed from the start and I finished it in two days. Nova and Sam's budding romance is explored through a series of music festivals around the UK, but the book also has some other lovely touches: I adored best friend Gemma, Nova's Jamaican/Sierra Leonean family and the theme of sustainability throughout. This book is perfect for anyone looking for a light, romantic and summery read.
May 8, 2020
This was very sweet and romantic.
July 27, 2020
Love on the Main Stage is the cutest Summer read that every teen needs, it’s a fun, diverse romcom with an eco warrior for a main character! If you enjoyed Love, Secret Santa by S. A. Domingo you will no doubt enjoy this Summer inspired novel, from teen drama and romance to festival food and music, Love on the Main Stage has it all. Nova is touring the festival circuit with her family to work on their food truck, which includes a fusion of food inspired by her Jamaican father and Sierra Leonean mother, I need this food truck outside my door as soon as possible because the food all sounded delicious! I loved how proudly Nova spoke of her parents restaurant or food truck, she was confident and passionate about her heritage and it showed.
Gemma is that wild best friend who gets up to all sorts of mischief and ropes Nova into all the drama, but she could brighten up anybody’s day! I really enjoyed reading about this sweet and loyal friendship and how accepted Gemma was amongst Nova’s wonderful family as well, Gemma definitely had some personal issues to work through which added some depth to her character but she was generally very upbeat and joyful. At the first festival Nova stumbles upon up & coming musician Sam, the pair hit it off and are soon falling in love with each other. The plot twist within this novel in regards to Sam who attempts to keep his identity a secret is quite obvious to the reader but naïve Nova was completely oblivious, I think the mystery around Sam was too obvious but it didn’t impact the overall enjoyment of the book.
This adorable novel will not only leave you wanting a cute romance, an amazing family and loyal best friend but also salivating for Jamaican & Sierra Leonean fusion food! My only disappointment is where are the recipes? I think adding a couple of recipes of the foods mentioned within this book would have been a wonderful treat for baking readers, especially readers who love to be immersed in stories. Love on the Main Stage is everything you expect it to be, a light and fluffy romance but with an added sensitivity of a main character who’s passionate for the environment!
Gemma is that wild best friend who gets up to all sorts of mischief and ropes Nova into all the drama, but she could brighten up anybody’s day! I really enjoyed reading about this sweet and loyal friendship and how accepted Gemma was amongst Nova’s wonderful family as well, Gemma definitely had some personal issues to work through which added some depth to her character but she was generally very upbeat and joyful. At the first festival Nova stumbles upon up & coming musician Sam, the pair hit it off and are soon falling in love with each other. The plot twist within this novel in regards to Sam who attempts to keep his identity a secret is quite obvious to the reader but naïve Nova was completely oblivious, I think the mystery around Sam was too obvious but it didn’t impact the overall enjoyment of the book.
This adorable novel will not only leave you wanting a cute romance, an amazing family and loyal best friend but also salivating for Jamaican & Sierra Leonean fusion food! My only disappointment is where are the recipes? I think adding a couple of recipes of the foods mentioned within this book would have been a wonderful treat for baking readers, especially readers who love to be immersed in stories. Love on the Main Stage is everything you expect it to be, a light and fluffy romance but with an added sensitivity of a main character who’s passionate for the environment!
June 26, 2020
3.5/4 stars!
Love On The Main Stage was a quick and fun read about friendship, young love and music.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Nova Clarke is prepared to have the best summer of her life travelling around the country's music festivals with her family's food truck/restaurant business. Nova's summer becomes even more exciting when she meets Sam Rodriguez at the first festival, an up and coming musician from Miami who is travelling through the festivals with his English dad.
Nova and Sam are having the time of their lives at the festivals and hopelessly falling in love each other, but Sam's reluctance to tell Nova anything about himself is worrying. The fact Sam will have to go back to the States at the end of the summer is also a stone in their path. Will their love rise above the issues that arise? Will Nova finally be okay with sharing her songs and her music? Will Sam finally open up?
Love On The Main Stage was incredibly cute and full of important representation. The family relationships and friendships in this novel are wonderfully crafted and very interesting to read about.
I want to point out that whilst I love Nova as a main character, I found it hilariously frustrating that she was oblivious to the truth about Sam, despite the awful amount of clues and coincidences. Sam, the love interest, on the other hand, was near enough perfect. His actions, thoughts, logics, feelings were all spot on and made him an incredibly lovable character from the beginning.
All in all, this is a fun summer read for anyone who loves ya contemporaries with lots of friendship, great descriptions of food, representation and a cute love story.
Love On The Main Stage was a quick and fun read about friendship, young love and music.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Nova Clarke is prepared to have the best summer of her life travelling around the country's music festivals with her family's food truck/restaurant business. Nova's summer becomes even more exciting when she meets Sam Rodriguez at the first festival, an up and coming musician from Miami who is travelling through the festivals with his English dad.
Nova and Sam are having the time of their lives at the festivals and hopelessly falling in love each other, but Sam's reluctance to tell Nova anything about himself is worrying. The fact Sam will have to go back to the States at the end of the summer is also a stone in their path. Will their love rise above the issues that arise? Will Nova finally be okay with sharing her songs and her music? Will Sam finally open up?
Love On The Main Stage was incredibly cute and full of important representation. The family relationships and friendships in this novel are wonderfully crafted and very interesting to read about.
I want to point out that whilst I love Nova as a main character, I found it hilariously frustrating that she was oblivious to the truth about Sam, despite the awful amount of clues and coincidences. Sam, the love interest, on the other hand, was near enough perfect. His actions, thoughts, logics, feelings were all spot on and made him an incredibly lovable character from the beginning.
All in all, this is a fun summer read for anyone who loves ya contemporaries with lots of friendship, great descriptions of food, representation and a cute love story.
July 28, 2020
This end of school year is bitter sweet for Nova. If only the only thing she had to worry about was just acing her GCSEs, but no! This year had to end with her being cheating on and having to see Nate parading himself shamelessly with his new girlfriend, how annoying! Thank God, Gemma her partner in crime is here to throw them daggers on her behalf. At least, it’s nearly over and it won’t be long until the festival season starts this summer, a time Nova promised herself to enjoy fully, in between her shifts at the Eats & Beats, her parents fusion food truck, feeding hungry festival goers with the delicious mix of West Indian and African home-cooked food they are well known for, and the free time she’ll have to watch the few shows she has on her list, a time for inspiration for her own song writing. So, no room for a boys, and after Nate, who can blame her?
Needless to say that things didn’t exactly go according to plan. Sam Rodriguez happened, and although they are from two different worlds, Nova and Sam have their love of music in common. But will this be enough for their budding relationship to flourish and survive?
‘Love On The Main Stage’ is great feel good read exploring different themes through the characters and their stories. The contradictions between Nova and Sam are well played out, one wants no secrets while the other wants to remain a mystery so that he can find his own success. There is also a rather lovely sub plot with Nova’s parents, Deana and Hector. Both display love, hard work and sacrifice and seeing their story develop did not come in the way of the main characters, but rather added to the tale as if making an original dish with different ingredients.
If you’re a lover, of food, music and love, this is for you!
Needless to say that things didn’t exactly go according to plan. Sam Rodriguez happened, and although they are from two different worlds, Nova and Sam have their love of music in common. But will this be enough for their budding relationship to flourish and survive?
‘Love On The Main Stage’ is great feel good read exploring different themes through the characters and their stories. The contradictions between Nova and Sam are well played out, one wants no secrets while the other wants to remain a mystery so that he can find his own success. There is also a rather lovely sub plot with Nova’s parents, Deana and Hector. Both display love, hard work and sacrifice and seeing their story develop did not come in the way of the main characters, but rather added to the tale as if making an original dish with different ingredients.
If you’re a lover, of food, music and love, this is for you!
June 23, 2020
As soon as I saw a new S.A. Domingo book on NetGalley I knew I had to request it. Love, Secret Santa was such a cute book and I really like Domingo’s writing style.
This book did not disappoint, and I ended up loving Love on The Main Stage more than Love, Secret Santa. I ended staying up into the early hours because I was desperate to finish this book! It was so light-hearted and honestly adorable.
Nova is a brilliant main character, she is realistic and incredibly relatable, struggling with her future and what she wants to do. I mean what 16 year old didn’t go through that?! I also loved Nova’s relationship with her best friend Gemma. They both have each other’s backs and it honestly everything.
My only qualm with this book is that I would have liked to have seen what happened after and if Nova did end up pursuing a musical career. I felt that a lot of this book was focused on how she wasn’t sure whether she was going to take that leap and how nervous she was but then we never got the answer.
Love on the Main Stage is a cute read that flowed seamlessly, packed full with diversity, music, festivals and food that will have you hungry throughout! This is the perfect summer book, especially for teens and young adults! I cannot wait to read what Domingo writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Group for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This book did not disappoint, and I ended up loving Love on The Main Stage more than Love, Secret Santa. I ended staying up into the early hours because I was desperate to finish this book! It was so light-hearted and honestly adorable.
Nova is a brilliant main character, she is realistic and incredibly relatable, struggling with her future and what she wants to do. I mean what 16 year old didn’t go through that?! I also loved Nova’s relationship with her best friend Gemma. They both have each other’s backs and it honestly everything.
My only qualm with this book is that I would have liked to have seen what happened after and if Nova did end up pursuing a musical career. I felt that a lot of this book was focused on how she wasn’t sure whether she was going to take that leap and how nervous she was but then we never got the answer.
Love on the Main Stage is a cute read that flowed seamlessly, packed full with diversity, music, festivals and food that will have you hungry throughout! This is the perfect summer book, especially for teens and young adults! I cannot wait to read what Domingo writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Group for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2020
If you are, or you have, a teen who enjoys reading, this would be THE PERFECT summer read. There is nothing overly dramatic about it, it's just a lovely, gentle romance with very little drama. Set around the festival circuit, Nova's story is not only adorable, but it'll also make you super hungry!!
Nova's passion for the environment, music and the love of her friends was lovely to read about. Her and Gemma's friendship is what I'm sure we all aspired to as teens, always having each others backs and looking out for one another. Sam was a suitably adorable love interest, and the little mystery around his identity was a fun little element to the story. He supported Nova beautifully, and aside from him hiding a few truths from her, it was great to see him lifting her up.
I really liked the addition of the food truck, aside from making me crave Caribbean cuisine, it added a new dynamic to how you view festivals. I thought Nova's family were amazing, and loved all the scenes that her parents featured in. The London references were also a welcome addition, and I enjoyed seeing my city in the pages.
If you get to sit on the beach this summer, or by a pool, I can highly recommend this one. I thought Love, Secret Santa was adorable, and Love On the Main Stage follows closely in it's footsteps. 4 glittery (eco-glitter of course) stars from me.
Nova's passion for the environment, music and the love of her friends was lovely to read about. Her and Gemma's friendship is what I'm sure we all aspired to as teens, always having each others backs and looking out for one another. Sam was a suitably adorable love interest, and the little mystery around his identity was a fun little element to the story. He supported Nova beautifully, and aside from him hiding a few truths from her, it was great to see him lifting her up.
I really liked the addition of the food truck, aside from making me crave Caribbean cuisine, it added a new dynamic to how you view festivals. I thought Nova's family were amazing, and loved all the scenes that her parents featured in. The London references were also a welcome addition, and I enjoyed seeing my city in the pages.
If you get to sit on the beach this summer, or by a pool, I can highly recommend this one. I thought Love, Secret Santa was adorable, and Love On the Main Stage follows closely in it's footsteps. 4 glittery (eco-glitter of course) stars from me.
June 15, 2020
“ 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥, 𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕨𝕖’𝕣𝕖 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝕚��� 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕒𝕞𝕖 𝕕𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕀’𝕞 𝕘𝕠𝕟𝕟𝕒 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕟 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘”
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Thank You to @hatchettekids and @sareetwdomingo for sending me a gifted copy of this book! All views of this book are my own.
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This book is just so cute and fluffy. Like it’s adorable. I really wish I’d read it last week when it was sunny here as it would be the perfect summer read. The storyline is fairly predictable but sometimes that’s just what you need and didn’t put me off reading this book in anyway. As hey I actually read it in one sitting as I just couldn’t put it down. You get pretty attached to the characters and whilst I think this book is just a standalone I would quite enjoy a sequel or two... (but we all know I’m a sucker for a series). For me this book was a quick and easy read so in my opinion it could definitely be suited for young teens as well as young adults.
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This book is due to be released on the 25th of June and I’d definitely recommend checking it out!
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I also know there’s been a few people recently saying how they are finding it difficult to find a typical YA/contemporary book written by Black Authors or featuring POC characters so if that’s the case then this book might just be for you ☺️
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Thank You to @hatchettekids and @sareetwdomingo for sending me a gifted copy of this book! All views of this book are my own.
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This book is just so cute and fluffy. Like it’s adorable. I really wish I’d read it last week when it was sunny here as it would be the perfect summer read. The storyline is fairly predictable but sometimes that’s just what you need and didn’t put me off reading this book in anyway. As hey I actually read it in one sitting as I just couldn’t put it down. You get pretty attached to the characters and whilst I think this book is just a standalone I would quite enjoy a sequel or two... (but we all know I’m a sucker for a series). For me this book was a quick and easy read so in my opinion it could definitely be suited for young teens as well as young adults.
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This book is due to be released on the 25th of June and I’d definitely recommend checking it out!
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I also know there’s been a few people recently saying how they are finding it difficult to find a typical YA/contemporary book written by Black Authors or featuring POC characters so if that’s the case then this book might just be for you ☺️
July 6, 2020
This was a really fun and entertaining read that transported me straight to summer and reminded me of the magic of music. Summer feels like this stretch of time where anything could happen, which Domingo capitalises on with this romantic, feel good read.
I really loved how much food there was in this book, with all of the vivid descriptions sounding mouth-wateringly good. The fusion of food and sheer variety of flavours were so delicious, I could practically smell them. I really loved how Domingo explored the link between food and culture, with Nova’s parents using their culinary magic to keep aspects of their culture prevalent in their family life. Food, when done right, evokes so many memories and you often associate it with a time or place, something which Domingo utilises to full effect.
Similarly, music is such an emotional tool in our lives and it is music that is at the heart of the sweet, natural feeling romance that the book centres around. Music draws Sam and Nova together, giving them confidence and expressing their feelings in such a powerful and eloquent way. Nova felt like such a star in the making, initially shy and lacking confidence in her skill. She slowly blossoms out of her shell and is just incredibly likeable and relatable.
I really liked Domingo’s style of writing, as it was just so engaging and bingeable. This was the case with Love, Secret Santa and it happened again here! I flew through the majority of the story within an afternoon, getting wrapped up entirely in the summer that might’ve been. The general tone of the book is light and fun, but it also delves into tougher topics of privilege, gentrification and the effects of alcoholism and broken families.
Love on the Main Stage is a really cute, endearing summery read that will leave you dreaming of your own dream festival.
I really loved how much food there was in this book, with all of the vivid descriptions sounding mouth-wateringly good. The fusion of food and sheer variety of flavours were so delicious, I could practically smell them. I really loved how Domingo explored the link between food and culture, with Nova’s parents using their culinary magic to keep aspects of their culture prevalent in their family life. Food, when done right, evokes so many memories and you often associate it with a time or place, something which Domingo utilises to full effect.
Similarly, music is such an emotional tool in our lives and it is music that is at the heart of the sweet, natural feeling romance that the book centres around. Music draws Sam and Nova together, giving them confidence and expressing their feelings in such a powerful and eloquent way. Nova felt like such a star in the making, initially shy and lacking confidence in her skill. She slowly blossoms out of her shell and is just incredibly likeable and relatable.
I really liked Domingo’s style of writing, as it was just so engaging and bingeable. This was the case with Love, Secret Santa and it happened again here! I flew through the majority of the story within an afternoon, getting wrapped up entirely in the summer that might’ve been. The general tone of the book is light and fun, but it also delves into tougher topics of privilege, gentrification and the effects of alcoholism and broken families.
Love on the Main Stage is a really cute, endearing summery read that will leave you dreaming of your own dream festival.
June 2, 2020
Nova and her family are heading to the Isle Of Wight for Island Rocks music festival with their fusion food truck along with Nova's best mate Gemma.
Only while there aspiring songwriter Nova meets Sam, a musician who she falls for as they spend more and more time together only he's evasive about his family telling her little and being secretive despite him being a bit with her friends and family.
Can the couple survive when his situation is revealed to Nova in a big way?
I loved this book, the festival setting was great as we see the couple come together so naturally and her family's trouble but how they stay positive through it which is a good way to be through bad times. It was a lovely light read about teen love and friendship as well as showing how you should follow your dreams and not give up!
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
Only while there aspiring songwriter Nova meets Sam, a musician who she falls for as they spend more and more time together only he's evasive about his family telling her little and being secretive despite him being a bit with her friends and family.
Can the couple survive when his situation is revealed to Nova in a big way?
I loved this book, the festival setting was great as we see the couple come together so naturally and her family's trouble but how they stay positive through it which is a good way to be through bad times. It was a lovely light read about teen love and friendship as well as showing how you should follow your dreams and not give up!
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
August 26, 2021
http://www.esmeraldaviaggielibri.it/l...
Avete voglia di un libro fresco, spensierato che abbia le vibrazioni di Summertime? Allora fermatevi perché lo avete trovato. Il paragone è parecchio azzardato, i protagonisti di questa storia sono più piccoli e le loro emozioni ricalcano la loro età, ma il profumo di estate è nell’aria e la musica la fa da padrona. Certo siamo in Inghilterra e non sulla Riviera Romagnola, ma io mi sono sentita pervasa dall’allegria di questi festival a cui partecipa la protagonista per aiutare la sua famiglia, ho assaporato gli odori dei food truck e ho adorato la semplicità con cui sboccia questo primo grande amore.
Sono quasi certa di avere convinto tutte le amanti del genere young adult, la mia recensione potrebbe anche concludersi qui, ma so che ne volete sapere di più.
la recensione prosegue sul blog
Avete voglia di un libro fresco, spensierato che abbia le vibrazioni di Summertime? Allora fermatevi perché lo avete trovato. Il paragone è parecchio azzardato, i protagonisti di questa storia sono più piccoli e le loro emozioni ricalcano la loro età, ma il profumo di estate è nell’aria e la musica la fa da padrona. Certo siamo in Inghilterra e non sulla Riviera Romagnola, ma io mi sono sentita pervasa dall’allegria di questi festival a cui partecipa la protagonista per aiutare la sua famiglia, ho assaporato gli odori dei food truck e ho adorato la semplicità con cui sboccia questo primo grande amore.
Sono quasi certa di avere convinto tutte le amanti del genere young adult, la mia recensione potrebbe anche concludersi qui, ma so che ne volete sapere di più.
la recensione prosegue sul blog
July 2, 2020
Nora is involved with a Jason Mamoa lookalike but when he cheats on her she swears off boys for the summer. With her parents food truck prepped for a summer of festivals there is only one problem - enter stage left Sam.
Sam is a tall American all round nice guy but it feels like he’s hiding something. Can they get round the sense of betrayal in the air?
Small touches throughout reminded me of my childhood and being that age when everyone received their GCSEs. Don’t get me wrong there is a sense of fiction, I mean who is going to move halfway across the world at 16 for their boyfriend or girlfriend? But I enjoyed it and easily read it in a few hours.
Sam is a tall American all round nice guy but it feels like he’s hiding something. Can they get round the sense of betrayal in the air?
Small touches throughout reminded me of my childhood and being that age when everyone received their GCSEs. Don’t get me wrong there is a sense of fiction, I mean who is going to move halfway across the world at 16 for their boyfriend or girlfriend? But I enjoyed it and easily read it in a few hours.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2020
i loved the authors previous book , love, secret Santa, so i assumed that i would love this one and i have to say love on the main stage does not disappoint ! the setting is amazing and you can really picture the festivals going on throughout the book. gemma was such an amazing friend to nova and i felt like those two had a really strong friendship .
i would recommend this book to people aged 12+
a book that you would enjoy if you liked this one would be maybe this time by kasie west!
i would recommend this book to people aged 12+
a book that you would enjoy if you liked this one would be maybe this time by kasie west!
July 29, 2021
This book is like hearing your favourite song on the radio, it just makes you smile and feel good.
It was a little predictable and I'm not normally a fan of insta-love, but I really enjoyed this read. The banter was great, the characters were easy to like and the backdrop of festivals and music was really fun.
A great read for anyone who loves the YA/Contemporary/Romance genre - add it to your TBR :)
It was a little predictable and I'm not normally a fan of insta-love, but I really enjoyed this read. The banter was great, the characters were easy to like and the backdrop of festivals and music was really fun.
A great read for anyone who loves the YA/Contemporary/Romance genre - add it to your TBR :)
June 25, 2020
Festivals, Food and young love! This book ticked all my boxes for a good summer read.
Really enjoyed this story, including the diversity of the characters and representation of different food trucks.
A really enjoyable quick read.
Thank You to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Really enjoyed this story, including the diversity of the characters and representation of different food trucks.
A really enjoyable quick read.
Thank You to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
March 1, 2025
This book was AMAZING! I couldn’t even put the book down! I loved how this book included the ups and downs of a relationship and not just the positives, it kept me grasped the whole way through. I really need a pt. 2 like ASAP!! If you don’t have this book right now, I definitely recommend you get it, or else your missing out on the best book! ❤️
May 14, 2020
Love on the Main Stage is the perfect summer read, it will sweep you away in to a world of festivals, music, love, angst and a little bit of intrigue. It's a really fun read that will have you longing to go to a festival.
July 22, 2020
This was a really cute YA summer romance. I loved the setting of the music festivals, getting to follow Nova as she went from festival to festival working on her family's food truck was the perfect summer setting. I smiled the whole time I was reading, perfect summer reading.
June 30, 2020
Review up soon
July 29, 2021
a really fun, fluffy, feel-good read. lighthearted and just overall pure good vibes. nice to cosy up with at night and just smile 😊
April 30, 2023
It was OK it got a bit boring after the dad won the award tho I think she was running out on ideas no offance to the at athour it just seems so simple and boring
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2023
I'm not the target audience at all, but I loved this book. Simple, sweet, predictable: a guilty summer pleasure.
August 26, 2021
I really liked this book. However, it was a bit cliche but it was also original at the same time. Would recommend it if looking for some lightweight reading. The love story between the protagonist is super cute and it was finally a book WITHOUT a love triangle.
August 25, 2020
I personally really didn’t like this book.
It was too slow and I wasn’t a huge fan of Nova’s personality, she came off stand offish and harsh. How could I get into a book if I didn’t especially like the main character?
I guessed the only plot twist around 25% in and only carried on because I needed something to read on the beach. It just wasn’t for me, I recommend it for teens (11-13). However if you want something really light without having to think too much during reading you might enjoy this 🤷♀️💓
It was too slow and I wasn’t a huge fan of Nova’s personality, she came off stand offish and harsh. How could I get into a book if I didn’t especially like the main character?
I guessed the only plot twist around 25% in and only carried on because I needed something to read on the beach. It just wasn’t for me, I recommend it for teens (11-13). However if you want something really light without having to think too much during reading you might enjoy this 🤷♀️💓
September 11, 2020
I honestly don’t think I could have asked for a better book to join me and my factor-50 sun cream during this heatwave that we have been having! It’s fun with a cute story and lovable characters. The setting of the various festivals that Nova’s family visits filled me with serious envy as literally every fun activity I had planned for the summer was cancelled, but this story acted as some much-needed escapism, I could almost smell the curried goat and ginger beer as I read, I was that immersed in the story!
I found Nova to be a really enjoyable protagonist, and I think she would be really uplifting for other young Black, and West African-Jamaican girls to read about, who are long over-due some positive representation in mainstream media. Nova is fashionable, sociable and fun-loving, but there is also some depth to the character (her struggles with her family's expectations versus her own dreams and wishes) which allows the reader to easily connect with her and feel empathy for her.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading Love on The Main Stage, it was the perfect summer read to keep me company for me the two-days our British heatwaves usually go on for, and because of that I am giving this book a rating of 4/5 stars. There are lovable characters (honestly Nova’s family sounds like domestic bliss) and some great escapist elements (my new life goal is to own a food truck and tour festivals). If you’re someone who can read a children's book without expecting it to be something that it's not (an adult's book) then I would definitely recommend that you grab a copy of this, ready for the next time we experience even the slightest hint of sunshine!
I found Nova to be a really enjoyable protagonist, and I think she would be really uplifting for other young Black, and West African-Jamaican girls to read about, who are long over-due some positive representation in mainstream media. Nova is fashionable, sociable and fun-loving, but there is also some depth to the character (her struggles with her family's expectations versus her own dreams and wishes) which allows the reader to easily connect with her and feel empathy for her.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading Love on The Main Stage, it was the perfect summer read to keep me company for me the two-days our British heatwaves usually go on for, and because of that I am giving this book a rating of 4/5 stars. There are lovable characters (honestly Nova’s family sounds like domestic bliss) and some great escapist elements (my new life goal is to own a food truck and tour festivals). If you’re someone who can read a children's book without expecting it to be something that it's not (an adult's book) then I would definitely recommend that you grab a copy of this, ready for the next time we experience even the slightest hint of sunshine!
September 16, 2020
*I was kindly given this is in exchange for an honest review*
This wasn't the best read but let's start with the positives. I loved the setting! I've been loving music themes in my reads recently so this was super up my street. I also really liked most of the characters, especially Gemma - she was so likeable and sweet and just all round a great way to brighten up the mood of the book. But she also had a deeper level to her and some family drama which I really liked. Nova's family were extremely sweet and great too read. I also really liked Sam. He was funny, caring and super patient. All his actions were super logical and I felt sorry for him being lumped with Nova. I really got a sense of the importance of family from this. It was clearly very central to every characters life and I enjoyed reading that cause I'm close with my family too. Not every family is perfect and this book got that across really well in a way that wasn't forced or offensive. It also had some decently funny moments so that gets some up votes in my eyes.
And now for the elements I didn't like. There were really only two real issues I had with this book, that ultimately really ruined it for me. Firstly, I really disliked the main character Nova. After been cheated on she was very untrusting and jealous to characters that hadn't done anything to deserve this treatment; which I didn't like reading, it honestly made me feel uncomfortable at times. Coupled with this she was completely clueless about the deception going on around her. This ties into my second reason for disliking the book, it had no intrigue. I guessed the plot twist exactly after only 30%. It made it super dull to read because I knew what was coming and there were no surprises. This ties back into Nova because she's completely untrusting of everyone and yet she lets this extremely obvious plot twist fly right by - I do not by that. It felt fake and manufactured to further the books progress. Just not great.
My last gripe...that's not really a gripe but more of a personal vendetta is that Nova loved Frida Kahlo and as someone who was forced to study her art for years it only made me dislike Nova more 😂😂 but to be honest at that point there wasn't anything Nova could have done to redeem herself.
Overall it wasn't my favourite read but there was definitely some redeemable features - mainly Gemma 😂
Full Review Here: https://hawthornbookreviews.com/2020/...
This wasn't the best read but let's start with the positives. I loved the setting! I've been loving music themes in my reads recently so this was super up my street. I also really liked most of the characters, especially Gemma - she was so likeable and sweet and just all round a great way to brighten up the mood of the book. But she also had a deeper level to her and some family drama which I really liked. Nova's family were extremely sweet and great too read. I also really liked Sam. He was funny, caring and super patient. All his actions were super logical and I felt sorry for him being lumped with Nova. I really got a sense of the importance of family from this. It was clearly very central to every characters life and I enjoyed reading that cause I'm close with my family too. Not every family is perfect and this book got that across really well in a way that wasn't forced or offensive. It also had some decently funny moments so that gets some up votes in my eyes.
And now for the elements I didn't like. There were really only two real issues I had with this book, that ultimately really ruined it for me. Firstly, I really disliked the main character Nova. After been cheated on she was very untrusting and jealous to characters that hadn't done anything to deserve this treatment; which I didn't like reading, it honestly made me feel uncomfortable at times. Coupled with this she was completely clueless about the deception going on around her. This ties into my second reason for disliking the book, it had no intrigue. I guessed the plot twist exactly after only 30%. It made it super dull to read because I knew what was coming and there were no surprises. This ties back into Nova because she's completely untrusting of everyone and yet she lets this extremely obvious plot twist fly right by - I do not by that. It felt fake and manufactured to further the books progress. Just not great.
My last gripe...that's not really a gripe but more of a personal vendetta is that Nova loved Frida Kahlo and as someone who was forced to study her art for years it only made me dislike Nova more 😂😂 but to be honest at that point there wasn't anything Nova could have done to redeem herself.
Overall it wasn't my favourite read but there was definitely some redeemable features - mainly Gemma 😂
Full Review Here: https://hawthornbookreviews.com/2020/...
August 16, 2020
Nova is ready for the summer, to put school and ex’s behind her and get stuck in to working the circuit on her family’s food truck. Then she meets Sam a gorgeous American boy with an amazing voice who makes her want to share her own songs…but why does he always have those backstage passes?
This is a really easy read and also is super sweet without being too cutesy. Nova was an amazing character who stands out well on her own, even without the romance element. Not only is she smart and on top of things such as environmental issues, she also doesn’t take herself too seriously.
I also absolutely adored the passion for cooking and food that came from Nova’s parents. It was as if I could smell the food, taste how delicious it was and the additional plot line of their challenges and need to win a competition. I was rooting for them the whole way through as well as Nova.
The relationship between Sam and Nova is very sweet, particularly the stages as they begin to get to know each other. While there is clearly a romantic attachment between them this isn’t what pulled me in. It’s the fact that they can encourage each other, have fun and be teenagers. There was a kindness about their relationship that was lovely to read.
Domingo clearly has a talent for description, I felt like I was at a festival while reading this novel (something I’ve missed this year). I could hear it, see it, smell it and I had a huge craving for Eats and Beats after I finished, yep I know it’s fictional.
This is a sweet read and I really enjoyed it. I’d love to know what Nova gets up to after this novel. This was a 4 star read for me. I highly recommend it for those who love music and for those who want a nice chilled read.
Thank you to the publisher and author for sharing a copy of this with me in exchange for review.
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