HSMTMTS: In the Spotlight: Nini and Ricky’s Stories

by Carin Davis

Ricky and Nini have a history that started way before they won the lead roles in East High's production of High School Musical. This chapter book, told in alternating first-person narrative by Ricky and Nini, explores their long-time friendship and recently ended romance. But has the curtain really closed on this engaging tale of first love?

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 27, 2020

About the author

Carin Davis, an award-winning singles columnist and feature writer for The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, was first introduced to the plight of the single Jewish girl at age nine, when no one asked her to the B’nai Tikvah Purim Carnival. Brian asked Andrea, Evan asked Rachel, and poor Carin spent the night alone, trying to win a goldfish in a plastic bag. Over the years, she sharpened her social skills slow dancing at Bar Mitzvahs and flirting at AE Phi formals. In 2001, she began sharing her Of Mice and Mensch dating adventures with Jewish Journal readers. In addition to her work in The Journal, Carin’s feature and sports articles have appeared in Jewish newspapers across the country.
Carin graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from UCLA, with a BA in Communication Studies. Before sundown, she works as the Vice-President of an animation company. In her free time, she hosts Iron Chef: Matzah parties, Torah and Tonic Shabbats, and volunteers with The Jewish Federation.

From: http://www.lifelovelox.com/html/bio.html

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have you ever played a video game based on a movie or television show?

While there are a few beloved releases that fall into that category--the most notable of which, in my experience, has been GoldenEye for the Nintendo 64--most of them are mediocre at best, and are made just to make money. The developers know their work is shoddy; they just hope some unwitting parent or grandparent will buy it because his son had a blast watching A Bug's Life in theaters, or her granddaughter watches That's So Raven every night.

Why am I talking about video games on a book review website? Simple: A book like this is to literature what such Nintendo or PlayStation titles are to gaming. Too much wasted space, middle-of-the-road writing, annoyingly short chapters...yeah, this was published merely to make money. I'm proud to say that I got this at a thrift store, so, Disney didn't make any more moolah from me. It's not that I mind supporting the House of Mouse; I just don't like any corporation--regardless of which one or what kind--getting richer off of me for a sub-par product.

[Dario · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very shallow book about romance and theatre camp. The book was badly written and the theme was boring and it did not go into enough detail.

[b]

Thank you Zory 😃

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love HSMTMTS so when I saw this book on my library app I had to read it

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, I'm a whole grown adult, and I'm unreasonably obsessed with HSMTMTS, so I was gifted this book kind of ironically for my birthday. Tbh this was a delight and I'm only slightly ashamed.

[sophia (taylor’s version)]

okay listen i bought this for two dollars at my old middle school’s book fair don’t judge me

[Pamela Rabon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good teen book.

[The Keepers of the Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

They started as friends and their friendship developed into a romance. However, before Nini went to drama camp, Ricky's inability to express his feelings cause the two to break up. While at drama camp, Nini meets E.J Caswell and starts to fall in love with him. Meanwhile, Ricky begins to regret his actions. Will the two fall in love again? Will Ricky get a second chance? Remniscent of the Disney Plus series, the plot is well-written and engaging. The characters are likable, realistic, and authentic to the series. Fans of High School Musical: The Musical will enjoy reading this book.

[emily wilkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

rlly good ngl but there was no romance between ricky and nini ahh. the book was more focused on what happened before where season one was set, so like in the summer. i loved it though, my fav show <333

[Erin Weaver · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m sure fans of the series would enjoy this book; however, picking it up as a cold read I cannot say it’s great. It starts strangely and ends abruptly which, I assume, is so I’ll run to find the next one. Mostly that just aggravated me because that makes for a bad book.

[Andrew Hepditch · Rating 3 out of 5]

pick-me-up part 2.

[Geiosh A]

Even though I already watched the TV show I love this book

[m · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVE

[Manuela Lima · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just think it could have been better

[Reagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book because it goes more in-depth with the story line.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very interesting book and is showed all about the two people in the book!!!

[Alayna Carver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this book I didn’t expect to, I read this before I watched the series and I liked it better that way it was a good entertaining book especially since it’s marked as a kids book.