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Girlfriend Fiction #3
She's with the Band
'Life never starts when you think it will. When I turned 15, I figured I'd be tossed the keys to the city, make out with a hottie, and have a modest parade thrown in my honour. But all that happened was that I got out of doing the washing up. The day we moved to Sydney was supposed to be the start of the new Mia Mannix - confident, charming, taller. But so far, it sucked.'
Mia Mannix has made a deal: in return for moving from the social backwater of the Snowy Mountains to life in the fast lane in Sydney, she's promised her dad she'd give up music and concentrate on real art.
But that was before she discovered new friends, a cool record store and a ridiculously hot rockstar.
'She's With the Band' is for every girl who's ever wanted to start a band, had a crush on the wrong boy, or made a promise she couldn't keep.
Mia Mannix has made a deal: in return for moving from the social backwater of the Snowy Mountains to life in the fast lane in Sydney, she's promised her dad she'd give up music and concentrate on real art.
But that was before she discovered new friends, a cool record store and a ridiculously hot rockstar.
'She's With the Band' is for every girl who's ever wanted to start a band, had a crush on the wrong boy, or made a promise she couldn't keep.
204 pages
First published May 1, 2008
About the author
Georgia Clark
26 books1,021 followersHello! I'm a Brooklyn-based, Aussie-born novelist and the founder and host of Generation Women, a multigenerational storytelling series that performs monthly at Joe's Pub in New York. I love improv, being cozy, and fun snacks that are salty.
My latest novel is the queer ensemble rom-com PLAY IT AGAIN. I also wrote MOST WONDERFUL, ISLAND TIME, IT HAD TO BE YOU, THE BUCKET LIST, THE REGULARS, and two YA novels.
I mentor novelists through My Novel Year, my 12-month program for writing or revising a novel, which ends with a pitch session with a literary agent and an acquiring editor. I also host writers' retreats and write Heartbeat, my monthly newsletter for writers and readers.
Say hi on Instagram @georgialouclark, and find My Novel Year at georgiaclark.com.
My latest novel is the queer ensemble rom-com PLAY IT AGAIN. I also wrote MOST WONDERFUL, ISLAND TIME, IT HAD TO BE YOU, THE BUCKET LIST, THE REGULARS, and two YA novels.
I mentor novelists through My Novel Year, my 12-month program for writing or revising a novel, which ends with a pitch session with a literary agent and an acquiring editor. I also host writers' retreats and write Heartbeat, my monthly newsletter for writers and readers.
Say hi on Instagram @georgialouclark, and find My Novel Year at georgiaclark.com.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 18, 2011
When I was first offered the chance to read and review She's with the Band, I instantly agreed! As most of you know by now, I always jump at the chance to read a new contemporary, and since She's with the Band was just that, I knew I had to give it a try. Thankfully, even though She's with the Band fell victim to a few cliches and a little underdevelopment, it was still a funny and sweet book about growing up and learning how to be yourself!
She's with the Band tells the story of Mia Mannix, a girl who ready to embark on new journeys in Sydney, Australia and leave her boring old town in the dust. However, as Mia is about to learn, everything won't be as easy or glamorous as she thinks, because lying in her path are mean girls with hidden agendas, the right and wrong guys (but which one is which?!), and a great opportunity if only her dad would allow her to give it a try. What will happen to Mia? Will she find her place, or become more lost than ever before? Only time and more pages can tell in this fast paced book filled with plenty of musical goodness!
From the first page, I instantly liked Mia. She carried a sarcastic yet sweet tone throughout the book, and even though she was a bit naive at times when it came to making decisions, it was still very easy to root for her character, especially when she finally made the right choice! In addition to her character I also adored the addition of her band mates as well as Emil! Her band contained Lexie, a girl facing her own demons, and Sabe, an adorable guy hiding a few secrets of his own! Together, all of them made for a great book due to the problems and fun that always ensued when they were together.
In addition to the characters, the plot in this was also lots of fun, and even though I've seen this formula (new girl goes to new school, makes some bad decisions, and finds herself in the process) countless times, I still enjoyed it. I felt the music addition allowed it to stand on its own a bit, especially when Georgia gave it a little twist, and even though I knew who Mia was going to end up with from the beginning, it was still fun (albeit a little frustrating) watching her figure everything out.
However, I did have a few tiny problems with this book. One was the constant amount of cliches thrown in my face as mentioned before, but it wasn't the biggest of problems. I also would have loved some more development into the characters, specifically Mia's family life.
In all, She's with the Band is a good little novel, and while it wasn't necessarily a favorite of mine, I still suggest it to fans of contemporary looking for a small book for a rainy or snowy day.
Grade: B
She's with the Band tells the story of Mia Mannix, a girl who ready to embark on new journeys in Sydney, Australia and leave her boring old town in the dust. However, as Mia is about to learn, everything won't be as easy or glamorous as she thinks, because lying in her path are mean girls with hidden agendas, the right and wrong guys (but which one is which?!), and a great opportunity if only her dad would allow her to give it a try. What will happen to Mia? Will she find her place, or become more lost than ever before? Only time and more pages can tell in this fast paced book filled with plenty of musical goodness!
From the first page, I instantly liked Mia. She carried a sarcastic yet sweet tone throughout the book, and even though she was a bit naive at times when it came to making decisions, it was still very easy to root for her character, especially when she finally made the right choice! In addition to her character I also adored the addition of her band mates as well as Emil! Her band contained Lexie, a girl facing her own demons, and Sabe, an adorable guy hiding a few secrets of his own! Together, all of them made for a great book due to the problems and fun that always ensued when they were together.
In addition to the characters, the plot in this was also lots of fun, and even though I've seen this formula (new girl goes to new school, makes some bad decisions, and finds herself in the process) countless times, I still enjoyed it. I felt the music addition allowed it to stand on its own a bit, especially when Georgia gave it a little twist, and even though I knew who Mia was going to end up with from the beginning, it was still fun (albeit a little frustrating) watching her figure everything out.
However, I did have a few tiny problems with this book. One was the constant amount of cliches thrown in my face as mentioned before, but it wasn't the biggest of problems. I also would have loved some more development into the characters, specifically Mia's family life.
In all, She's with the Band is a good little novel, and while it wasn't necessarily a favorite of mine, I still suggest it to fans of contemporary looking for a small book for a rainy or snowy day.
Grade: B
April 2, 2012
This book is about a girl called Mia who loves playing the guitar. She made a deal with her dad that if they moved where she wanted to go then she would give up her music & focus on art (her dad is a famous artist) so she sold her beloved guitar "Cherry" & they moved away. Mia has problems settling into her new school but after a while she meets some genuine friends & they decide to form a band & enter the Battle Of The Bands contest. I won't say any more about the story but it's a good YA novel with the usual teen issues involved.
January 28, 2013
It wasn't like one of those big heavy books that takes forever to read. It was refreshingly Aussie, being a Girlfriend Fiction novel, but yeah, it was something I could relate to, as a humongous music fan. Seriously though, if there is ever gonna be a movie out of this (I highly doubt it), "Justin" should REALLY be played by Justin Bieber! I was imagining him all along ahhaha
June 11, 2012
I really enjoyed reading this book though it took me a while at the start to really get into it. I believe that it could just about relate to any teenager with all its major themes, as it did with me!
It's something that I would recommend to read :)
It's something that I would recommend to read :)
June 20, 2012
I really loved this book. For a lot of the book I was just thinking that she was stupid to still want Justin but when she finally realised everything started falling into place. I found this a really cute romance and fell in love with Emil!
August 13, 2012
Books and music are two of my most favorite things in the world so even if the story was a bit predictable, the playlist in this book - with some bands I wouldn't have known about otherwise, is enough to merit a 3-star rating.
Cute, quick read.
3.5 stars
Cute, quick read.
3.5 stars
February 27, 2010
This book is a novel that any teenager could relate to; boyfriends, popularity, parties, the whole shabang. I recommend this to teenagers of any age.
September 12, 2010
good series :)
March 3, 2011
Such a great book, and the ending leaves you wishing there was a book #2!
March 16, 2011
This is a really good book!!
November 18, 2011
I don't know why but aussie fiction is so much better than other fiction. it's much more real, somehow.
November 24, 2012
I loved this book :)
May 20, 2026
Another book I've owned since 2008 (as well as the boxset) that I hadn't read until now.
Again, I probably wouldve liked this at 14 but at 31, I feel like it could've been fleshed out a lot more. Maybe..by the seems of the boxset, that it needed to have a page limit, it stops itself from being more.
But hey..it helped pass time while I was on my lunch break at work.
Again, I probably wouldve liked this at 14 but at 31, I feel like it could've been fleshed out a lot more. Maybe..by the seems of the boxset, that it needed to have a page limit, it stops itself from being more.
But hey..it helped pass time while I was on my lunch break at work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2018
Cute. I liked the ending - it was very fitting.
January 10, 2021
*read back in the day when I was about 14 years old
May 8, 2012
Title: She's With the Band
Series: Girlfriend Fiction (#3)
Author: Georgia Clark
Genre: Teen Fiction
Rating: 3.5 stars
Personally I love these Girlfriend Fiction books as they all have relatable characters, a great story with a message and they're based on teens.
SHE'S WITH THE BAND was a great read. Really enjoyed the storyline.
Series: Girlfriend Fiction (#3)
Author: Georgia Clark
Genre: Teen Fiction
Rating: 3.5 stars
Personally I love these Girlfriend Fiction books as they all have relatable characters, a great story with a message and they're based on teens.
SHE'S WITH THE BAND was a great read. Really enjoyed the storyline.
May 5, 2011
'so true
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews