Turn it Up! | Review

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Summary

The Nightingales are in a serious funk. Bradley Academy’s all-girl a cappella group used to be the pride and joy of the sunshine state, but the Nightingales have fallen out of harmony. Best friends and co-captains Lidia Sato and Sydney Marino aren’t speaking. A boy has come between them — none other than Griffin Mancini, the obnoxious lead singer of Bradley’s smug all-boy a capella group, the Kingfishers.

The Nightingales have no chance at winning the big state final if their captains are at each other’s throats. Their only hope is new girl Julianna Ramirez. She’s super shy, but she has some serious pipes. The three girls — and the whole group — will have to come together if they want to beat the Kingfishers and their rivals from Julianna’s old school. Told from alternating points of view, this novel explores the ups and downs of friendship, romance, competition, and finding the perfect song!

Review

I’m a long-time fan of Jen Calonita and this was another book to add to my list of her books that I loved. It was funny, dramatic, and had just enough romance to keep me smiling. Even though it very much felt like a 10th-grade retelling of Pitch Perfect, there was enough to make it feel a little different as well. This book has rivaling a capella groups, a girl group on the brink of self-destruction, and a legacy that was difficult to follow.

I loved that we got to experience this story through the POV of three different girls. Sydney and Lidia, bffs that are pretty much feuding the whole book, and Julianna, the new girl with intense stage fright. They each had a unique voice and a unique outlook on the situation which contributed to the story in a funny and interesting way.

In true Calonita form, there was a good amount of drama as well. A couple of the twists even threw me for a loop. I never saw them coming. And all the rivalry really added to it too.

Overall, this was a great book for those who enjoy high school drama, first-loves, and a team of underdogs striving for a victory.

Rating

To check out my other reviews, click here. Or to check out more books by Jen Calonita, go to her GoodReads profile or her website.