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Radio Hearts #2
We Own the Night
"Happy midnight, my fellow Niteowls..."
As a candy store employee by day, and mysterious deejay "Niteowl" by night, eighteen-year-old Ingrid North is stuck between rock 'n roll and a hard place. She can't wait to get out of her tiny hometown of Steadfast, Nebraska (population three hundred and forty-seven) to chase her dreams, but small-town troubles keep getting in the way. She can't abandon her grandmother with Alzheimer's, or her best friend Micah--who she may or may not be in love with.
But for one hour each Saturday, she escapes all of that. On air, she isn't timid, ugly-sweater-wearing Ingrid North. She's the funny and daring Niteowl. Every boy's manic pixie dream girl. Fearless. And there is one caller in particular-- Dark and Brooding--whose raspy laugh and snarky humor is just sexy enough to take her mind off Micah. Not that she's in love with Micah or anything. Cause she's not.
As her grandmother slips further away and Micah begins dating a Mean-Girls-worthy nightmare, Ingrid runs to the mysterious Dark and Brooding as a disembodied voice to lean on, only to fall down a rabbit hole of punk rockstars, tabloid headlines, and kisses that taste like bubble tea. But the man behind the voice could be surprising in all the right, and wrong, ways.
And she just might find that her real life begins when Niteowl goes off the air.
As a candy store employee by day, and mysterious deejay "Niteowl" by night, eighteen-year-old Ingrid North is stuck between rock 'n roll and a hard place. She can't wait to get out of her tiny hometown of Steadfast, Nebraska (population three hundred and forty-seven) to chase her dreams, but small-town troubles keep getting in the way. She can't abandon her grandmother with Alzheimer's, or her best friend Micah--who she may or may not be in love with.
But for one hour each Saturday, she escapes all of that. On air, she isn't timid, ugly-sweater-wearing Ingrid North. She's the funny and daring Niteowl. Every boy's manic pixie dream girl. Fearless. And there is one caller in particular-- Dark and Brooding--whose raspy laugh and snarky humor is just sexy enough to take her mind off Micah. Not that she's in love with Micah or anything. Cause she's not.
As her grandmother slips further away and Micah begins dating a Mean-Girls-worthy nightmare, Ingrid runs to the mysterious Dark and Brooding as a disembodied voice to lean on, only to fall down a rabbit hole of punk rockstars, tabloid headlines, and kisses that taste like bubble tea. But the man behind the voice could be surprising in all the right, and wrong, ways.
And she just might find that her real life begins when Niteowl goes off the air.
250 pages, ebook
First published June 28, 2016
70 people are currently reading
2461 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Poston
28 books22.2k followersNew York Times best-seller by day, fanfic author by night.
Viist her at www.ashposton.com.
Viist her at www.ashposton.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
May 24, 2016
2.5 stars
I loved the idea of this book and that cover, so I was eager to start reading it.
Ingrid is a decent MC. She's smart and has an idea of what she wants to do, but doesn't go after it. She's struggling with some things, so I get that she's stressed out, but she was quite a push over.
I loved LD and Billie, but Micah was just meh. What I didn't understand was how this group of friends because friends. I would have liked just a bit more on the history side.
The plot was good and I was interested in what was happening and rooting for Ingrid right away. I wanted her to succeed and more than anything, I wanted her to stop saying "bless" every time she opened her mouth.
Overall, it was a cute story. I know there will be people absolutely love this story and from the reviews that are already posted, I'm in the minority.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury Spark and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
I loved the idea of this book and that cover, so I was eager to start reading it.
Ingrid is a decent MC. She's smart and has an idea of what she wants to do, but doesn't go after it. She's struggling with some things, so I get that she's stressed out, but she was quite a push over.
I loved LD and Billie, but Micah was just meh. What I didn't understand was how this group of friends because friends. I would have liked just a bit more on the history side.
The plot was good and I was interested in what was happening and rooting for Ingrid right away. I wanted her to succeed and more than anything, I wanted her to stop saying "bless" every time she opened her mouth.
Overall, it was a cute story. I know there will be people absolutely love this story and from the reviews that are already posted, I'm in the minority.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury Spark and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
July 2, 2016
I'm going to get straight to the point here: We Own the Night probably isn't the kind of contemporary that I would read over and over again like, say, Anna and the French Kiss or My Life Next Door, but it's fun, it's quick, and surprisingly emotional. As in I almost cried a few times.
Ingrid North is trapped. In her tiny town, in her life, in her head. She feels like she's stuck in Nebraska working in a store where she's miserable forever, and while her friends are moving on, she feels left behind. She lives with only her grandmother, who has Alzheimer's. She's really the only one there is take care of her grandmother. And this is really where my heart broke - Ingrid's struggles with her grandmother. Ingrid loves her grandmother so much, but she's also a teenager who's not meant to be the caretaker of someone like this, and the way she struggles with this felt so genuine.
"Is losing your memory painful? Or is it something that happens slowly, like sand slipping through your fingers, so slight you barely notice you're leaving bits of yourself behind?"
In addition to that, Ingrid deals with bullying. Between her thoughts of being trapped and the way she always feels like she's not good enough, like someone like football player Billy could never be friends with her because she's not pretty and cool, I don't think I've related to a character that way in a long time. I know I've said it already, but I need to say it again. My heart broke for her.
"I see how small I am, and realize how easy it is for him to call me nothing. Am I nothing?"
I AM IN PAIN.
When Ingrid's grandmother was diagnosed, Ingrid kind of went off the radar. Which is something Micah in particular holds a grudge for, which is pretty annoying, to say the least. I can't say much about the romance without spoiling the entire thing, but I will say this: Micah is a pretty horrible friend to Ingrid most of the time. He has his moments sure, but that doesn't make up for all the crap and I think the way that Ingrid's thoughts progress about him throughout the course of the book are realistic and really show her growth.
The radio aspect is cool, too. I really like that part of Ingrid's character, how important it is to her life, how she can become a different person at night. (Plus, her banter with Dark & Brooding is adorable, even though I knew exactly who the caller was pretty quickly.) And it's such a different hobby than anything I've ever done, so that made it fun to read about for me! Not that I would ever do it. Radio certainly takes away some of the pressure of being right in front of an audience, but me and any form of public speaking are basically enemies.
tl;dr: A quick contemporary that has a surprising punch of emotion to it. I did want more depth from most of the secondary characters (and for them to be a little nicer sometimes), but Ingrid herself was a really great main character because I connected to her so easily and the way her emotions came across felt painful, genuine, and true. 3.5 stars.
Ingrid North is trapped. In her tiny town, in her life, in her head. She feels like she's stuck in Nebraska working in a store where she's miserable forever, and while her friends are moving on, she feels left behind. She lives with only her grandmother, who has Alzheimer's. She's really the only one there is take care of her grandmother. And this is really where my heart broke - Ingrid's struggles with her grandmother. Ingrid loves her grandmother so much, but she's also a teenager who's not meant to be the caretaker of someone like this, and the way she struggles with this felt so genuine.
"Is losing your memory painful? Or is it something that happens slowly, like sand slipping through your fingers, so slight you barely notice you're leaving bits of yourself behind?"
In addition to that, Ingrid deals with bullying. Between her thoughts of being trapped and the way she always feels like she's not good enough, like someone like football player Billy could never be friends with her because she's not pretty and cool, I don't think I've related to a character that way in a long time. I know I've said it already, but I need to say it again. My heart broke for her.
"I see how small I am, and realize how easy it is for him to call me nothing. Am I nothing?"
I AM IN PAIN.
When Ingrid's grandmother was diagnosed, Ingrid kind of went off the radar. Which is something Micah in particular holds a grudge for, which is pretty annoying, to say the least. I can't say much about the romance without spoiling the entire thing, but I will say this: Micah is a pretty horrible friend to Ingrid most of the time. He has his moments sure, but that doesn't make up for all the crap and I think the way that Ingrid's thoughts progress about him throughout the course of the book are realistic and really show her growth.
The radio aspect is cool, too. I really like that part of Ingrid's character, how important it is to her life, how she can become a different person at night. (Plus, her banter with Dark & Brooding is adorable, even though I knew exactly who the caller was pretty quickly.) And it's such a different hobby than anything I've ever done, so that made it fun to read about for me! Not that I would ever do it. Radio certainly takes away some of the pressure of being right in front of an audience, but me and any form of public speaking are basically enemies.
tl;dr: A quick contemporary that has a surprising punch of emotion to it. I did want more depth from most of the secondary characters (and for them to be a little nicer sometimes), but Ingrid herself was a really great main character because I connected to her so easily and the way her emotions came across felt painful, genuine, and true. 3.5 stars.
June 6, 2016
D'AWWWW! That's what this was. We Own the Night is cute, sweet, and short. It is a delightful, heartfelt little romance that is perfect for kicking off the real start of summer. It is heartwarming, funny, surprisingly surprising (see what I did there?), and overall just a wonderful read. I'm in love.
Full of clever writing, dark and brooding characters, and an overall sense of quirkiness, We Own the Night is a light-hearted and unique summer adventure.
Full of clever writing, dark and brooding characters, and an overall sense of quirkiness, We Own the Night is a light-hearted and unique summer adventure.
June 24, 2016
OH MY GOODNESS! This book is a delight, and I am still kind of grinning silly over how it ends. While I do have a few personal reservations, I still wound up enjoying it overall. Perfect contemporary to indulge in during summertime!
July 21, 2019
I cannot believe there isn’t a third in this series. I mean, what the heck?! Oh, this book had me at the radio show and Sleepless In Seattle! I just love this story to death. If you’re looking for a light, summer-y read, love music, and stories with a HEA, this is a good one.
April 21, 2020
Dear finding-a-new-book-to-read search engines, would you please add filters to exclude books containing any of the following story points:
1) Emphasizing protagonist's appearance as being not thin and pretty.
2) Insecure characters as a direct result of repeatedly placing shallow importance on appearance.
3) Mean girl tropes.
4) Whiny characters feeling stuck in their lives with no future, when every circumstance around them is aligning to give them a golden ticket out.
5) Martyr characters who use the "well-being" of their loved ones as an excuse to not pursue their own dreams, when said loved ones have already said "Go."
6) Gaping plot holes like how radio must mysteriously change everyone's voices enough so that people who have literally spent every day of their lives talking with each other in some podunk infinitesimally small town wouldn't recognize each other over the airwaves.
Search engines, when you get those filters in place, would you let me know? Because then I can make sure to avoid books that contain not just one or two, but instead go all in with every one of these grating story lines like We Own the Night was so kind to do.
1) Emphasizing protagonist's appearance as being not thin and pretty.
2) Insecure characters as a direct result of repeatedly placing shallow importance on appearance.
3) Mean girl tropes.
4) Whiny characters feeling stuck in their lives with no future, when every circumstance around them is aligning to give them a golden ticket out.
5) Martyr characters who use the "well-being" of their loved ones as an excuse to not pursue their own dreams, when said loved ones have already said "Go."
6) Gaping plot holes like how radio must mysteriously change everyone's voices enough so that people who have literally spent every day of their lives talking with each other in some podunk infinitesimally small town wouldn't recognize each other over the airwaves.
Search engines, when you get those filters in place, would you let me know? Because then I can make sure to avoid books that contain not just one or two, but instead go all in with every one of these grating story lines like We Own the Night was so kind to do.
March 19, 2015
I absolutely loved this book. Ashley has a gift with contemporary YA, and the characters in this one are especially amazing. Add this to your to-read lists for sure, because I really couldn't put it down. :D
June 19, 2022
I'm really sad to give this 2 stars. This is the first Ashley Poston book I couldn't really get into. I didn't really like Ingrid to start, she seemed so absorbed in herself, she isn't aware of anything her supposedly best friends are thinking, or wanting, or dreaming, or doing. Though they all seem to be in the same boat there. They don't seem like a very good friend group, it's like they were supposed to be, but the drifting had already started before the book even began so there wasn't much investment, especially since Ingrid herself didn't really seem to care. She had "bigger things to worry about" already from the start so, see you later friends. This makes it hard to get attached or care. I found myself wondering, "Wait, these guys are all supposed to be bffs for over a decade and ABC doesn't/don't know XYZ?" a lot. Really weird. And the interplay between them was just...off. Many times things were said or done that just made me step back and say, "Well, that's not a good friendship at all right there". Especially with Micah, but maybe that was supposed to be the point? But then it makes it harder to feel what Ingrid is feeling about it all? And holy cow, if she is SUCH A GOOD FRIEND then how in the WORLD does she forget about something so important, and defining, between her and her "friend"? Because it needed to hinge the story, so she just conveniently....forgets, until she needs to remember. It made me so angry.
A lot of it was super obvious, and the ploy between Nightowl and "Dark" seemed a bit awkward. This "getting to know the real you" gambit without KNOWING the "real you" worked better in Geekerella. This one is just, meh.
I also didn't realize this was the second in a "series" because I just downloaded it on audible saying, "Oh! Ashley Poston!" and didn't look into it further as I was in a hurry and just needed a new book to listen to. Luckily, it doesn't seem to matter too much. There are definite pings over to the other book that readers would understand, little "we're in the same world!" stuff, and maybe it would have changed a few small bits here and there if I'd known what references were being made, but not really.
There were also a lot of little mistakes in continuity or story-telling. Things that should have caught but weren't for some reason. Billy has Mike in a headlock, but then the next moment they are switched. Billy and LD are neighbors, until suddenly they aren't. Somebody quits a job, but then are working it again. A character has on a dress and then suddenly has a back pocket. Little things, but they bit at me.
But despite it all, I still couldn't stop listening or put it down. I just needed some Ashley Poston-style fluff I guess. And even if it was disappointing, it still hit the spot. So, two stars.
Lots of swearing including a bunch of uses of "the F-word". Teenagers drinking alcohol, having sex (all implied, "off screen"), some dirty jokes. Bullying. Dealing with the repercussions of abandonment, death, loss, Alzheimer's.
Poston writes LGBTQIA+ friendly books in a refreshing way where it's something that just Is. And some people have trouble with it, but most characters take it all in stride and it's no big thing, just life. She's not ramming it in your face with "Oh! Look! I included an LGBTQIA+ character! PRAISE ME!!" like some authors do, it feels natural.
A lot of it was super obvious, and the ploy between Nightowl and "Dark" seemed a bit awkward. This "getting to know the real you" gambit without KNOWING the "real you" worked better in Geekerella. This one is just, meh.
I also didn't realize this was the second in a "series" because I just downloaded it on audible saying, "Oh! Ashley Poston!" and didn't look into it further as I was in a hurry and just needed a new book to listen to. Luckily, it doesn't seem to matter too much. There are definite pings over to the other book that readers would understand, little "we're in the same world!" stuff, and maybe it would have changed a few small bits here and there if I'd known what references were being made, but not really.
There were also a lot of little mistakes in continuity or story-telling. Things that should have caught but weren't for some reason. Billy has Mike in a headlock, but then the next moment they are switched. Billy and LD are neighbors, until suddenly they aren't. Somebody quits a job, but then are working it again. A character has on a dress and then suddenly has a back pocket. Little things, but they bit at me.
But despite it all, I still couldn't stop listening or put it down. I just needed some Ashley Poston-style fluff I guess. And even if it was disappointing, it still hit the spot. So, two stars.
Lots of swearing including a bunch of uses of "the F-word". Teenagers drinking alcohol, having sex (all implied, "off screen"), some dirty jokes. Bullying. Dealing with the repercussions of abandonment, death, loss, Alzheimer's.
Poston writes LGBTQIA+ friendly books in a refreshing way where it's something that just Is. And some people have trouble with it, but most characters take it all in stride and it's no big thing, just life. She's not ramming it in your face with "Oh! Look! I included an LGBTQIA+ character! PRAISE ME!!" like some authors do, it feels natural.
January 7, 2021
We Own the Night is the second book in the Radio Hearts series by Ashley Poston. The Radio Hearts series is a young adult contemporary romance series. I never read the first book in the Radio Hearts series, and I wasn't lost so I believe each of these books can be read as standalones. I believe they each focus on a different member of the friend group. We Own the Night was a super cute, fun and heartwarming story. I really enjoyed it and when I was done I had a big smile on my face. My only wish is that the book was little longer because I wanted the fun times to keep on going.
We Own the Night is Ingrid's story. Ingrid is just an ordinary teenager that has a secret identity- on Saturday nights she becomes niteowl- a radio talk show host. I absolutely loved watching her become niteowl. Her radio hosting stints were my favorite part of the book. I felt like it was when Ingrid could really let loose and shine. It was great to watch her gain the confidence to bring that aspect of herself over into her real life. I really felt for Ingrid in real life. There is a bit of bullying in We Own the Night, so if that is a trigger for you, be forewarned. But I thought it was a great theme to show Ingrid's growth as a character. Her journey was an emotional one, and not always fun emotions, but overall it felt so, so satisfying to me.
I enjoyed the friends group as well. I didn't love all of the characters, and I found their friendships to be very realistic and indicative of high school. Friends bicker, and fight and there are frenemies. It made me want to go take a look at the first book and see who it was about, because I have a feeling that their story would be just as fun and satisfyingly as Ingrid's was for me. If you are a fan of young adult novels that feature realistic friends (where you won't love everyone), and a great journey of self discovery and character growth, then I think you will really enjoy We Own the Night! This was a really good story.
We Own the Night is Ingrid's story. Ingrid is just an ordinary teenager that has a secret identity- on Saturday nights she becomes niteowl- a radio talk show host. I absolutely loved watching her become niteowl. Her radio hosting stints were my favorite part of the book. I felt like it was when Ingrid could really let loose and shine. It was great to watch her gain the confidence to bring that aspect of herself over into her real life. I really felt for Ingrid in real life. There is a bit of bullying in We Own the Night, so if that is a trigger for you, be forewarned. But I thought it was a great theme to show Ingrid's growth as a character. Her journey was an emotional one, and not always fun emotions, but overall it felt so, so satisfying to me.
I enjoyed the friends group as well. I didn't love all of the characters, and I found their friendships to be very realistic and indicative of high school. Friends bicker, and fight and there are frenemies. It made me want to go take a look at the first book and see who it was about, because I have a feeling that their story would be just as fun and satisfyingly as Ingrid's was for me. If you are a fan of young adult novels that feature realistic friends (where you won't love everyone), and a great journey of self discovery and character growth, then I think you will really enjoy We Own the Night! This was a really good story.
June 23, 2016
4 “Golden Boy” STARS
ARC via NetGalley
Thank you, Bloomsbury Spark
So this was a pleasant surprise.
I have to confess that “We Own the Night” was one of those books I requested because of its beautiful cover. The blurb was pretty cool, too, but I hadn’t heard anything about the story or the author prior to seeing it on NetGalley. This time, the cover didn’t steer me wrong.
The book promised a fun and cute read and it delivered just that. Not to say that it didn’t have some serious and heartbreaking moments, because the MC’s relationship with her grandmother provided many of those.
Ingrid is a small town girl with a secret – she runs her own radio show every Saturday at midnight. I can’t say I’m a radio type of person – can’t even remember the last time I listened to it – but I remember being younger and tuning in like the rest of my friends, so this resonated with (too-many-years-ago) teenage me. Maybe that was why I felt like – although it was pretty clear from the cultural references, like Leo winning an Oscar that this was set in 2016 -- the story had this 1990’s vibe.
The chapters that featured her radio show were among my favorites. The cultural references were pretty cool and the whole vibe with the deejay talking with the callers brought a constant smile to my face.
As Niteowl, the deejay, Ingrid is confident and fun. She has fans who call to ask her advice, who listen to her and think she’s awesome. As herself, she’s the target of bullying from her high school peers, an underpaid employee at a candy store, a girl who has to watch the guy she loves date her archenemy, and the person responsible for her only living relative, her sick grandmother.
No wonder why she feels like she needs to live this double life.
In my opinion, “We Own the Night” is a typical and great “coming of age” story. Ingrid’s character development was really good. She went from the girl who thought people only liked Niteowl because they didn’t know who she truly was to the person who understood she could keep Niteowl’s confidence and still be herself. Some people would still dislike her, but others loved her just the way she was – and those people were enough to make her happy.
Another positive was Ingrid’s relationship with her grandmother. I loved how she thought of her grandmother as her entire world, and wasn’t afraid to show that. It was heartbreaking to see how she feared losing her grandmother to Alzheimer’s, something inevitable, and how she had to make decisions that no one should have to. Honestly, when it came to what Ingrid was handling, there was no right or wrong answers. One could only hope to do what’s best for the people involved, even when best doesn’t feel right, or means heartbreaking. All I can say is everything about those two showed me how much they cared for each other, which made me care for Ingrid a lot more.
Ingrid’s relationship with her friends was also an interesting aspect of the story. I think it could’ve benefited from showing us more of Micah and Ingrid’s supposedly epic friendship before we jumped right into Ingrid’s love for him and her pain as Micah fell for the town’s prettiest and meanest girl. This mean girl was also someone I wished I’d gotten to know better, because it seemed like she could’ve been a much deeper character than she had the chance to be.
On the other hand, I have no complaints about her relationship with LD and Billie.
Ingrid and LD’s friendship was my favorite by far. The girls were awesome together and LD was an easy character to like. She was well developed and had a story of her own. I hope we get to see more of her in the future.
Billie… oh Billie. I really liked him. The whole mystery involving him was too easy to figure out to even be considered a mystery – but I won’t get into that because some people might feel differently about it. All I can say is that while the romance subplot isn’t the biggest part of the story, it’s big enough to keep you engaged. And it’s super adorable.
I was team Billie from the start – and if that hadn’t been the case, I’m pretty sure I would’ve fallen for him along way. I only wish we’d gotten to see more of him. There were way too many chapters where he was absent, and I needed more Billie.
Something I also needed was a clearer vision of what would happen with Billie and Ingrid after the story ended. I’m not a big fan of uncertain endings, those open for interpretation. I wanted to know how they’d make it work. I even wanted to see what would happen if and when Ingrid called her idol back about that internship -- that plot felt a little unbelievable, I have to add. I mean, I could get behind everything that happened with the radio show and the interview, but Ingrid not answering the producer’s call? Or even the fact that he called her repeatedly? Not sure that would ever happen in the real world.
“We Own the Night” is the second book in the Radio Hearts series, and while it reads as a stand-alone, there were parts that could’ve been explained better. If you didn’t read the first book, like me, you might find yourself confused about all the references to Roman Holiday and Jason Dallas (characters from the first book, “The Sound of Us”).
Nothing that ruined the magic, though.
If you like character-focused stories with a main character who is relatable and has a great arc, then I truly believe you’ll enjoy this book. Highly recommended.
November 9, 2018
This one's a fun one, full of geeky references and Sleepless-in-Seattle-ness. Pretty predictable, but enjoyable all the same!
July 8, 2016
This book was a cute insight to deeper topics, fresh with pop culture references and cute romance as well as coming-of-age realizations and questions of morality and moving forward.
To start off... A few random things I specifically liked and want to mention:
-You get the idea that Ingrid is on the chubby side, but she doesn't care. I love that.
-Ingrid's best friend, LD, is a really well-thought out character, and her development alongside Ingrid was wonderful.
-The last 25% of the book took a sort of unexpected, dream-like turn, which I think fit well with the story. It was not-quite-plausible, but believable enough that I really enjoyed reading it. And FUN. While the first half of the book went at a slower pace, the second half zoomed by.
Now, let's talk plot. There were aspects of it that I thought were original and fun, like Ingird's Niteowl persona and her job at the radio station. As well as that, there were some beautifully written, magical moments. Where I think this book was lacking was its cliches. The writing was beautiful, but the overall storyline (minus the DJ gig) felt a bit oh-this-has-been-done-before.
Let me elaborate: Main character has lived in the same town her whole life, she gets picked on, etc. She wants to get out but no one ever seems to leave, and there's something holding her back (her grandma has Alzheimer's and she's caring for her alone). Her mother abandoned her, she's in love with her best friend, yadda yadda yadda. And of course there's the mean girl and jock and the golden boy. The story line was fairly predictable (well... most of it. The end, maybe not). Also, side note: what's up with the bless?? Yes, people say it all the time, but Ingrid not only said it but thought it 15 times (I counted) during the last 50% of the book. Seriously, girl? That much blessing is not necessary. Looking past those cliches (and the number of times Ingrid said bless), however, was a beautifully crafted story of a girl just finding her way in life, which I really, really enjoyed.
As for the characters? A few of the characters were very well developed (LD, for instance), but I felt like I was missing something in terms of the development of most of the more minor characters, including the background of Ingrid's supposed best-friend-that-she's-actually-in-love-with. We were constantly told of their history together, but we don't get much actual background, so the reader just has to take that fact in stride. One thing I really would have loved to see more of is the character of Heather (the mean girl), because I felt like she had a lot more depth to her character underneath what we got to see. And although I enjoyed our MC Ingrid, she didn't quite feel real; she felt a little too naive and implausible for me to fall completely in love with. I did, however, really love reading about these characters, especially the relationship between Ingrid and her grandma.
While, yes, there were a number of things that could have been improved in this story, it was, all in all, a really adorable story that I enjoyed reading. I would recommend it to someone looking for a light, slightly different contemporary that can be breezed through in no time flat.
Overall, a 3.5/5 stars.
To start off... A few random things I specifically liked and want to mention:
-You get the idea that Ingrid is on the chubby side, but she doesn't care. I love that.
-Ingrid's best friend, LD, is a really well-thought out character, and her development alongside Ingrid was wonderful.
-The last 25% of the book took a sort of unexpected, dream-like turn, which I think fit well with the story. It was not-quite-plausible, but believable enough that I really enjoyed reading it. And FUN. While the first half of the book went at a slower pace, the second half zoomed by.
Now, let's talk plot. There were aspects of it that I thought were original and fun, like Ingird's Niteowl persona and her job at the radio station. As well as that, there were some beautifully written, magical moments. Where I think this book was lacking was its cliches. The writing was beautiful, but the overall storyline (minus the DJ gig) felt a bit oh-this-has-been-done-before.
Let me elaborate: Main character has lived in the same town her whole life, she gets picked on, etc. She wants to get out but no one ever seems to leave, and there's something holding her back (her grandma has Alzheimer's and she's caring for her alone). Her mother abandoned her, she's in love with her best friend, yadda yadda yadda. And of course there's the mean girl and jock and the golden boy. The story line was fairly predictable (well... most of it. The end, maybe not). Also, side note: what's up with the bless?? Yes, people say it all the time, but Ingrid not only said it but thought it 15 times (I counted) during the last 50% of the book. Seriously, girl? That much blessing is not necessary. Looking past those cliches (and the number of times Ingrid said bless), however, was a beautifully crafted story of a girl just finding her way in life, which I really, really enjoyed.
As for the characters? A few of the characters were very well developed (LD, for instance), but I felt like I was missing something in terms of the development of most of the more minor characters, including the background of Ingrid's supposed best-friend-that-she's-actually-in-love-with. We were constantly told of their history together, but we don't get much actual background, so the reader just has to take that fact in stride. One thing I really would have loved to see more of is the character of Heather (the mean girl), because I felt like she had a lot more depth to her character underneath what we got to see. And although I enjoyed our MC Ingrid, she didn't quite feel real; she felt a little too naive and implausible for me to fall completely in love with. I did, however, really love reading about these characters, especially the relationship between Ingrid and her grandma.
While, yes, there were a number of things that could have been improved in this story, it was, all in all, a really adorable story that I enjoyed reading. I would recommend it to someone looking for a light, slightly different contemporary that can be breezed through in no time flat.
Overall, a 3.5/5 stars.
June 28, 2016
WOW! WOW! WOW! We Own the Night is the perfect summery read. It is definitely an attention-grabbing and fast-paced novel (I read it in less than 5 hours, maybe 4), with heart-pounding moments, and a main character worth rooting for. From the first page, we are introduced to a young radio deejay named NiteOwl, who is going through the many motions of crushes, teenage life dilemmas, and graduating high school. NiteOwl turns out to be the main character, Ingrid North, a small town Nebraska native who adores music, is on the mends with her three best friends, and at the same time she has to care for her grandmother who has Alzheimer’s.
I really loved Ingrid as a character. Even though she is cautious, she can also be fearless, and definitely sarcastic and snarky. She has spent months not hanging out or communicating with her friends, because she has been taking care of her grandmother, and to top off her senior year, she has a major crush on her childhood friend, best friend in fact, Micah. But it turns out Micah is in love with someone else, and that’s when hearts start crumbling in this story.
But Ingrid does not let her heartache outweigh her strength to make it through summer. Ingrid hosts her own Saturday midnight radio show, and this outlet allows her to be her true self, which is a smart, spunky, sassy, and determined young woman. I, in turn, loved how gritty and brave Ingrid truly is, especially when she is communicating with one of her notable callers, who she has dubbed “Dark and Brooding.” Ahhh…their banter is sexy, wildly angsty, and romantic all at the same time. *swoons* These two characters bounce off each other so well, that you will be praying for a chance for them to meet in real life.
Ingrid not only exchanges “laugh out loud” banter with strangers on the radio, but she also exchanges sarcastic comments and hilarious repartee with her best friends and her own grandmother. This banter is often used as a comedic relief in all the craziness and sadness that Ingrid and her friends have to face. Additionally, I loved that throughout the book we not only get fun banter, but there is the awesome littering of The Princess Bride and The Office references, just to name a few popular culture allusions.
This whole story is a mesh of fighting bullies, experiencing both heartbreak and/or heart-pounding confessions of love, and truly understanding the good and the bad moments that life throws at people. We Own the Night is an all-around, feel good story sprinkled with love and infinite snapshots of a female protagonist enduring change. Friendships are tested. Punches are thrown. Relationships blossom. Gumballs are spilled. Dreams are dared. Life lessons are learned. And in the end, we get a truly remarkable book about maturing, falling in love, adventuring out of your comfort zone, and accepting the contingent events of life.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Spark/ Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books for providing me an e-galley/e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All statements and opinions are my own.
I really loved Ingrid as a character. Even though she is cautious, she can also be fearless, and definitely sarcastic and snarky. She has spent months not hanging out or communicating with her friends, because she has been taking care of her grandmother, and to top off her senior year, she has a major crush on her childhood friend, best friend in fact, Micah. But it turns out Micah is in love with someone else, and that’s when hearts start crumbling in this story.
But Ingrid does not let her heartache outweigh her strength to make it through summer. Ingrid hosts her own Saturday midnight radio show, and this outlet allows her to be her true self, which is a smart, spunky, sassy, and determined young woman. I, in turn, loved how gritty and brave Ingrid truly is, especially when she is communicating with one of her notable callers, who she has dubbed “Dark and Brooding.” Ahhh…their banter is sexy, wildly angsty, and romantic all at the same time. *swoons* These two characters bounce off each other so well, that you will be praying for a chance for them to meet in real life.
Ingrid not only exchanges “laugh out loud” banter with strangers on the radio, but she also exchanges sarcastic comments and hilarious repartee with her best friends and her own grandmother. This banter is often used as a comedic relief in all the craziness and sadness that Ingrid and her friends have to face. Additionally, I loved that throughout the book we not only get fun banter, but there is the awesome littering of The Princess Bride and The Office references, just to name a few popular culture allusions.
This whole story is a mesh of fighting bullies, experiencing both heartbreak and/or heart-pounding confessions of love, and truly understanding the good and the bad moments that life throws at people. We Own the Night is an all-around, feel good story sprinkled with love and infinite snapshots of a female protagonist enduring change. Friendships are tested. Punches are thrown. Relationships blossom. Gumballs are spilled. Dreams are dared. Life lessons are learned. And in the end, we get a truly remarkable book about maturing, falling in love, adventuring out of your comfort zone, and accepting the contingent events of life.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Spark/ Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books for providing me an e-galley/e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All statements and opinions are my own.
July 1, 2016
I definitely didn't know what to expect going into this novel. I'm not sure why, but I just kinda thought it would be not-great, and I wasn't actually looking forward to reading it. But WOWZA BUDDY WAS I WRONG. I'm incredibly impressed by this novel. I loved every second of it!
So, I had a tough time thinking up a rating of this book, because it isn't necessarily the most original story, and it's probably not a book that I'm going to constantly fangirl over and shove in people's hands. This is the type of book that is just so perfect in the moment. It was cute and fun, but it also dealt with some really meaningful subjects, and it had some touching moments.
This novel follows Iggy, who received some bad news the end of her senior year of high school and distanced herself from her three best friends. However, that doesn't stop Iggy from being in love with one of those best friends--Micah. But then Iggy agrees to go to a party with her friends, and she sees Micah kissing another girl, and things just kinda go downhill from there as she struggles to unravel who and what she wants in life. I really liked Iggy. I didn't necessarily love her, but I found her to be good-intentioned and relatable. I was rooting for her a ton, and I really enjoyed watching her grow and figure herself out.
As for her friends, I freaking adored LD. She was my favorite character in the book. She was such a good friend to Iggy, even when she didn't necessarily deserve it, and she was just so kickass. Billie, the "golden boy" best friend was adorable! I liked him a lot as well. I didn't like Micah, though. He was, scientifically speaking, a giant douche spoon (I'm pretty sure that was the point). Poston did a fantastic job of giving her side characters depth and fleshing out their character arcs.
Now, I don't want to say too much, but this book deals with some serious stuff, like Alzheimer's, body image, homophobia, and death of a loved one. Poston handled those topics wonderfully. There were a couple points that I got really choked up, and I was on the verge of tears.
Also, the radio aspect was really cool. I can't overlook that.
All in all, this book was downright addicting! There wasn't a single point when I was reading that I felt bored, and that's something I've been struggling with a lot lately. By the end I was grinning like Cheshire cat, and I was actually rooting for the characters out loud (I kid you not, I sat up in my bed, placed a hand to my chest, and chanted, "Holy crap. HOLY CRAP. Yes, this is great! Yes!") This is a fantastic, feel-good summer book.
P.S. - Even though this is the second book in a series, it is a standalone (it's a companion series). I didn't read the first one, but, obviously, that did not hinder my enjoyment of this novel.
So, I had a tough time thinking up a rating of this book, because it isn't necessarily the most original story, and it's probably not a book that I'm going to constantly fangirl over and shove in people's hands. This is the type of book that is just so perfect in the moment. It was cute and fun, but it also dealt with some really meaningful subjects, and it had some touching moments.
This novel follows Iggy, who received some bad news the end of her senior year of high school and distanced herself from her three best friends. However, that doesn't stop Iggy from being in love with one of those best friends--Micah. But then Iggy agrees to go to a party with her friends, and she sees Micah kissing another girl, and things just kinda go downhill from there as she struggles to unravel who and what she wants in life. I really liked Iggy. I didn't necessarily love her, but I found her to be good-intentioned and relatable. I was rooting for her a ton, and I really enjoyed watching her grow and figure herself out.
As for her friends, I freaking adored LD. She was my favorite character in the book. She was such a good friend to Iggy, even when she didn't necessarily deserve it, and she was just so kickass. Billie, the "golden boy" best friend was adorable! I liked him a lot as well. I didn't like Micah, though. He was, scientifically speaking, a giant douche spoon (I'm pretty sure that was the point). Poston did a fantastic job of giving her side characters depth and fleshing out their character arcs.
Now, I don't want to say too much, but this book deals with some serious stuff, like Alzheimer's, body image, homophobia, and death of a loved one. Poston handled those topics wonderfully. There were a couple points that I got really choked up, and I was on the verge of tears.
Also, the radio aspect was really cool. I can't overlook that.
All in all, this book was downright addicting! There wasn't a single point when I was reading that I felt bored, and that's something I've been struggling with a lot lately. By the end I was grinning like Cheshire cat, and I was actually rooting for the characters out loud (I kid you not, I sat up in my bed, placed a hand to my chest, and chanted, "Holy crap. HOLY CRAP. Yes, this is great! Yes!") This is a fantastic, feel-good summer book.
P.S. - Even though this is the second book in a series, it is a standalone (it's a companion series). I didn't read the first one, but, obviously, that did not hinder my enjoyment of this novel.
August 27, 2016
If I had to choose one word to describe We Own the Night, it’s cute. This was such a cute, relatable story, from A to Z and back. More than the story, which was sweet, what stood out to me was the characters.
The story is simple enough - Ingrid and her friends, Micah, Billie and LD graduate from highschool and try to figure out themselves over the summer. Ingrid keeps a secret, one she’s not willing to tell anyone. The book is about trust, friendship and family.
Ingrid is the kind of person who isn’t popular at school, but has the best friends one could imagine. With them, she’s spunky and cool and open. She’s the type who wears ugly sweaters, has the heart the size of a mountain, and has a very direct sense of humor. Through their senior year, she fell in love with her best friend, Micah, who, right at the beginning of the book, starts going out with Heather - Ingrid’s total opposite. Heather is the daughter of the mayor, the most popular at school, and can get anyone to do anything she wants. Personally, I hated her just through the dialogue.
Micah is a cool, laid-back, messy guy who likes mechanics and watching stars... I liked his character until he got with Heather. For me, the relationship didn’t feel genuine, and it felt like it was there just to make Ingrid upset. But maybe that was just me! I felt so bad for Ingrid when she saw them together... The feels were real. I do think that those feelings were stretched out quite a bit over the entire book, but it makes sense, as the book takes place in the space of one or two months.
I liked Billie’s character right away - quirky and unique, kinda shy and happy. He was such a good friend to Ingrid, and his feelings for her were apparent right from the start. I thought he was just so cute in the story!
Ingrid is down-to-the-bone good. Even though she hated seeing Micah get together with her enemy, she still helped him make it happen, just because she wanted his happiness (well, and because she thought it was a pity-date... whoops!) I loved her Niteowl podcast and her relation to Dark and Brooding! Those little sequences were so, so nice!
The ending of this book - with Ingrid revealing who she really is, was refreshing and brought it all to a nice conclusion.
One thing I didn’t appreciate was the attitude her friends took on sometimes - they seemed upset at Ingrid for not being as socially active as before because she has to take care of her grandmother with Alzheimers, but then don’t blink at Micah abandoning them for a girl they all hate. That left me bothered...
I’m giving this book a 3/5 stars! Cute summer read! It’s only 250 pages, and it’s a super quick read that makes you smile!
The story is simple enough - Ingrid and her friends, Micah, Billie and LD graduate from highschool and try to figure out themselves over the summer. Ingrid keeps a secret, one she’s not willing to tell anyone. The book is about trust, friendship and family.
Ingrid is the kind of person who isn’t popular at school, but has the best friends one could imagine. With them, she’s spunky and cool and open. She’s the type who wears ugly sweaters, has the heart the size of a mountain, and has a very direct sense of humor. Through their senior year, she fell in love with her best friend, Micah, who, right at the beginning of the book, starts going out with Heather - Ingrid’s total opposite. Heather is the daughter of the mayor, the most popular at school, and can get anyone to do anything she wants. Personally, I hated her just through the dialogue.
Micah is a cool, laid-back, messy guy who likes mechanics and watching stars... I liked his character until he got with Heather. For me, the relationship didn’t feel genuine, and it felt like it was there just to make Ingrid upset. But maybe that was just me! I felt so bad for Ingrid when she saw them together... The feels were real. I do think that those feelings were stretched out quite a bit over the entire book, but it makes sense, as the book takes place in the space of one or two months.
I liked Billie’s character right away - quirky and unique, kinda shy and happy. He was such a good friend to Ingrid, and his feelings for her were apparent right from the start. I thought he was just so cute in the story!
Ingrid is down-to-the-bone good. Even though she hated seeing Micah get together with her enemy, she still helped him make it happen, just because she wanted his happiness (well, and because she thought it was a pity-date... whoops!) I loved her Niteowl podcast and her relation to Dark and Brooding! Those little sequences were so, so nice!
The ending of this book - with Ingrid revealing who she really is, was refreshing and brought it all to a nice conclusion.
One thing I didn’t appreciate was the attitude her friends took on sometimes - they seemed upset at Ingrid for not being as socially active as before because she has to take care of her grandmother with Alzheimers, but then don’t blink at Micah abandoning them for a girl they all hate. That left me bothered...
I’m giving this book a 3/5 stars! Cute summer read! It’s only 250 pages, and it’s a super quick read that makes you smile!
June 5, 2016
*I received a free ebook copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.*
As of this late, contemporary, post-high school, pre-college books are officially my thing. Saying goodbye to the past, embracing the future, and experiencing new things are all part of my near future as I prepare to graduate from high school (I'm graduating today, actually!) and leave to college next year, as they are part of Ingrid North's life in this novel. While our lives are very different (I attended a large school with a graduating class of about 700 versus her class of 30-ish students, and I run a book blog, as opposed to her saturday night radio show) I think that the experience of making big life decisions and letting go of the people you've always known is one shared by many people in the 17-19 age range.
In addition to making big life decisions, there's also the concepts of unrequited love, unaware love, and family love. I won't say how or in who, but the relationships that Ingrid forms with those around her are very realistic. There are fights and moments of irrationality and dark emotions, which is so much better than in some novels in which the friends never fight. There are real life issues as well, such as grief, bullying and health issues. This novel isn't just about Ingrid's radio show; it's about her experiences just after high school graduation, which just so happens to include her radio show and potential internship.
Speaking of the that, author Ashley Poston expertly balanced the different aspects of Ingrid's life, making sure that her family, friends, and radio show all got their time. Additionally, the band Roman Holiday, which I just found out is from the companion novel to this book, called The Sound of Us, is interwoven throughout the book, be it through suggested hints during the radio show, or actually mentioned by the characters. We Own the Night is actually the "sequel" to The Sound of Us, but rest assured that you don't need to read them in any particular order! You're not missing out on anything. I am excited to actually read the Sound of us, though. It's next on my TBR list!
All-in-all, this book is great for those in the transition period after high school, or for high school seniors ready to leave the nest. Fans of Cori McCarthy's You Were Here will love this contemporary young adult novel.
As of this late, contemporary, post-high school, pre-college books are officially my thing. Saying goodbye to the past, embracing the future, and experiencing new things are all part of my near future as I prepare to graduate from high school (I'm graduating today, actually!) and leave to college next year, as they are part of Ingrid North's life in this novel. While our lives are very different (I attended a large school with a graduating class of about 700 versus her class of 30-ish students, and I run a book blog, as opposed to her saturday night radio show) I think that the experience of making big life decisions and letting go of the people you've always known is one shared by many people in the 17-19 age range.
In addition to making big life decisions, there's also the concepts of unrequited love, unaware love, and family love. I won't say how or in who, but the relationships that Ingrid forms with those around her are very realistic. There are fights and moments of irrationality and dark emotions, which is so much better than in some novels in which the friends never fight. There are real life issues as well, such as grief, bullying and health issues. This novel isn't just about Ingrid's radio show; it's about her experiences just after high school graduation, which just so happens to include her radio show and potential internship.
Speaking of the that, author Ashley Poston expertly balanced the different aspects of Ingrid's life, making sure that her family, friends, and radio show all got their time. Additionally, the band Roman Holiday, which I just found out is from the companion novel to this book, called The Sound of Us, is interwoven throughout the book, be it through suggested hints during the radio show, or actually mentioned by the characters. We Own the Night is actually the "sequel" to The Sound of Us, but rest assured that you don't need to read them in any particular order! You're not missing out on anything. I am excited to actually read the Sound of us, though. It's next on my TBR list!
All-in-all, this book is great for those in the transition period after high school, or for high school seniors ready to leave the nest. Fans of Cori McCarthy's You Were Here will love this contemporary young adult novel.
June 21, 2016
This book has two separate plot threads, one of which I liked, and the other—not so much.
First, there’s the dilemma facing the main character, Ingrid, regarding her future. Ingrid wants to leave the tiny Nebraska town she lives in and see the world. She’s even been accepted to college in NYC. But her grandmother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and Ingrid doesn’t feel like she can go. After all, her grandmother raised her after Ingrid’s mother abandoned her, and it’s always been just the two of them. So how can Ingrid just leave her grandmother behind? That’s a really difficult problem to deal with, and I thought that part of the story was very interesting, if maybe a bit too easily resolved in the end.
Then there’s the romance plot line, and that’s the one that didn’t work for me, unfortunately. The problem is that the boy Ingrid likes is so clearly wrong for her, while the one she should be with is so clearly right. Her mooning after her friend Micah, who doesn’t even treat her very well, seems excessive, especially after she starts to see the right boy in a new light. Maybe I just don’t remember what it’s like to be an angsty teenage girl, but I wanted Ingrid to stop being so dim and figure out who she should be with more quickly. (I have to admit, though, that the guy she winds up with seems pretty swoonworthy.)
And then there were the things that just left me scratching my head. Like, in a town of 300+ people, nobody (OK, almost nobody) knows that she’s the DJ of a local radio show? Having grown up in a super small town myself, I had to work really hard to suspend my disbelief about that one, because in a place that size, it’s hard to hide anything. And then there’s the fact that Ingrid says “bless” all the time. (Like, “Bless, that sounds like heaven.”) I think it’s supposed to make her seem quirky and show her grandmother’s influence, but I just found it odd. What teenage girl uses “bless” as an interjection non-ironically?
I think that other readers will enjoy this book, but it was just OK for me.
An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First, there’s the dilemma facing the main character, Ingrid, regarding her future. Ingrid wants to leave the tiny Nebraska town she lives in and see the world. She’s even been accepted to college in NYC. But her grandmother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and Ingrid doesn’t feel like she can go. After all, her grandmother raised her after Ingrid’s mother abandoned her, and it’s always been just the two of them. So how can Ingrid just leave her grandmother behind? That’s a really difficult problem to deal with, and I thought that part of the story was very interesting, if maybe a bit too easily resolved in the end.
Then there’s the romance plot line, and that’s the one that didn’t work for me, unfortunately. The problem is that the boy Ingrid likes is so clearly wrong for her, while the one she should be with is so clearly right. Her mooning after her friend Micah, who doesn’t even treat her very well, seems excessive, especially after she starts to see the right boy in a new light. Maybe I just don’t remember what it’s like to be an angsty teenage girl, but I wanted Ingrid to stop being so dim and figure out who she should be with more quickly. (I have to admit, though, that the guy she winds up with seems pretty swoonworthy.)
And then there were the things that just left me scratching my head. Like, in a town of 300+ people, nobody (OK, almost nobody) knows that she’s the DJ of a local radio show? Having grown up in a super small town myself, I had to work really hard to suspend my disbelief about that one, because in a place that size, it’s hard to hide anything. And then there’s the fact that Ingrid says “bless” all the time. (Like, “Bless, that sounds like heaven.”) I think it’s supposed to make her seem quirky and show her grandmother’s influence, but I just found it odd. What teenage girl uses “bless” as an interjection non-ironically?
I think that other readers will enjoy this book, but it was just OK for me.
An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2016
I was rooting for Ingrid as she faced the challenges throughout the book. Ingrid and her friends have just graduated high school and this book borders on the upper limits of YA. This is the kind of great immersive romance novel that invokes the unbelievable coincidences that we see in movies but the reader can get caught up in the drama anyway. Not entirely believable but a great story anyway. I read the companion novel "The Sound of Us" right afterward and highly recommend it also.
June 7, 2022
I was more bored with this than anything else. It's annoying how it's tied into the first book because the connection feels pasted-on and totally extraneous to this particular story. There is a romantic moment or two here, but mostly it's unsatisfying.
February 25, 2024
2.5 stars. I have really enjoyed the authors later books, so thought I’d try some of her back list. It was fine, there were several characters who were so cruel and that annoyed me. The end was no real surprise and too abrupt. I’ll stick to her more recent books.
Want to read
October 15, 2015
Seriously. I need it.
June 28, 2016
Super cute and filled with feels. This is a strong 3.5 stars for me. Review to come.
November 14, 2019
"The daylight is for all those other normal people. For all the blunt, round edges in life. But the night? We own the night."
Eighteen-year-old Ingrid North can't wait to get out of her tiny hometown of Steadfast, Nebraska (population three hundred and forty-seven) to chase her dreams, but small-town troubles keep getting in the way. She can't abandon her grandmother with Alzheimer's, or her best friend Micah--who she may or may not be in love with.
But for one hour each Saturday, she escapes all of that. On air, she isn't timid, ugly-sweater-wearing Ingrid North. She's the funny and daring Niteowl. And there is one caller in particular-- Dark and Brooding--whose raspy laugh and snarky humor is just sexy enough to take her mind off Micah. Not that she's in love with Micah or anything. Cause she's not.
I thought I was in a reading slump and had seriously been considering taking another break when I read this gem. It was exactly what I needed. It's light, funny, has geeky references, and still manages to touch on deeper issues: the concept of slowly losing a loved one Alzheimer's, not knowing who you are, growing into who you want to be, and--of course--navigating those rough waters of girl-hood crushes and first loves.
Because of her double-life, she struggles with her sense of purpose and worth. Her growth was truly beautiful: she went from the girl who thought people only liked Niteowl because they didn’t know who she truly was to the person who understood she could keep Niteowl’s confidence and still be herself.
The girl in the mirror would be beautiful—not because she’s skinny or has the prettiest makeup or most expensive clothes, but because she knows she’s beautiful. Because no one has to tell her for her to believe it.
While some might find her internal struggles a little annoying ("just go after your dreams already!"), I felt it was incredibly real. Placing Grandma in a home (even though it's needed) feels like failing, feels like abandonment to Ingrid. If you felt abandoned by everyone--and you do not want to wish that abandonment onto the one person that stayed and cared for you--wouldn't you struggle with wanting to pursue a passion that directly conflicts with that?
I miss talking to her. I miss how she knew what to say and when to say it. I miss the way she knew my heart better than I did. I just miss her—wholly and without measure. And my heart has been breaking these last months as I watch her shrink and shrink and shrink until sometimes she looks like a stranger inside my grandmother’s skin.
Ingrid's relationship with her friends was also an interesting aspect of the story. You have Micah (the playboy who she's been helplessly in love with), LD (sassy with a side of kickass), and Billie (sweet, sweet Billie).
Let's start with Micah: I honestly didn't understand why Ingrid was so head over heels for him. He didn't have a lot of depth or bring much to the table. His relationship with Heather felt like it was forced so he wouldn't be available and he kinda just dropped his friends once he entered into a relationship with her. Needless to say, I'm okay that he didn't play much of an active role beyond the start of the book.
Now all I can think about is how much of the universe I’ve missed all this time, thinking that he was it.
Then there's LD: she's willing to throw punches, take punches, and hides her hurt well. Her devil-may-care attitude was a great offset for North and they made a great pair. Their interactions were some of my favorites. Ultimately, I think I liked their relationship best because both LD and North grew...together. If LD gets a book of her own, you bet your buttons I'm going to be reading it.
"You’re a symphony, and I’m sorry she couldn’t hear it."
And finally...Billie. Gosh, what to say about Billie? Emo Kid turned Golden Boy. Rebel turned Football Jock. Ingrid wasn't the only one living a double-life but his choice was made by his father's death. I was hard-core team Billie because he is just the sweetest cinnamon roll. I need me some more Billie.
“Cheat!” I howl, laughing so hard my spleen is beginning to hurt. “Cheat! Cheat! Foul on the forty-yard line!”
“And what’s my penalty?” My laughter slowly dies in my throat as I realize how close we actually are.
While the romance subplot isn’t the biggest part of the story, it’s super adorable. Totally squee-worthy. It made my little fangirl heart happy. (Just don't expect any suspense behind it.)
The ending--though not very realistic--was bittersweet and perfect.
Recommended for those that like a light, coming-of-age story with a healthy side of adorable romance.
May 14, 2018
This was such a fun and amazing read. I absolutely loved the fact that it took place in a small town and all the characters were so close and you could feel the atmosphere... hard to explain but I got the same vibe from watching One Tree Hill. I guess it's a small town kind of thing.
It was nice to read about Ingrid being Niteowl, radio host by night and normal Ingrid by day. After a while they sort of meshed together and became one to be Ingrid North who follows her dreams and stands up for herself and finally gets to do what she wants and leave Steadfast, Nebraska to do what she loves. In the meantime, she had her heartbroken by her best friend Micah, started to fall in love with Dark and Brooding, a caller to her radio show, hung out with her other best friends Billie and LD, and dealt with her grandma having Alzheimer's all while living in a small town where everyone knows each other and everyone wants to leave but almost everyone stays because theycan't escape don't have opportunities to go to better places.
In the end, Ingrid proves to herself and her listeners that she can and will follow her dreams to become a radio show host/DJ. And of course she manages to fall in love with Dark aka Billie (totally saw that coming since the beginning), and while the ending left it open, I'm glad that at least Ingrid got her happy ending.
It was nice to read about Ingrid being Niteowl, radio host by night and normal Ingrid by day. After a while they sort of meshed together and became one to be Ingrid North who follows her dreams and stands up for herself and finally gets to do what she wants and leave Steadfast, Nebraska to do what she loves. In the meantime, she had her heartbroken by her best friend Micah, started to fall in love with Dark and Brooding, a caller to her radio show, hung out with her other best friends Billie and LD, and dealt with her grandma having Alzheimer's all while living in a small town where everyone knows each other and everyone wants to leave but almost everyone stays because they
In the end, Ingrid proves to herself and her listeners that she can and will follow her dreams to become a radio show host/DJ. And of course she manages to fall in love with Dark aka Billie (totally saw that coming since the beginning), and while the ending left it open, I'm glad that at least Ingrid got her happy ending.
May 26, 2017
LD, Billie, Micah and Ingrid are best friends who know how to party hard when we meet them first.
The stoey focuses on Ingrid as we learn about her, she got into NYU for her future studies but stays at home being her grandma's carer.
Of the group, Billie and Ingrid are close, with him often talking about his dad with her. They also share a maze together as a hideaway as well as a tower pointing North alike Billie's nickname for her.
Yet, Micah and Ingrid kissed before and Ingrid likes him while he had a night with Ingrid's bully, Heather whom she has to endure working with at a sweet shop. He also wants to be in a relationship with Heather, making Ingrid ask her out for him which makes her feel even worse.
Ingrid escapes at night and hosts a midnight radio show under the pseudonym, Nightowl where she has a lot of talks with caller, Dark and Brooding.
Billie pushes her to apply for an internship she gets accepted into it until her grandma's Alzheimer's worsens and she cancels, until LD goes with her and Ingrid realises many things about her life, her future and her relationships.
An emotional rollercoaster for the character of Ingrid that keeps us reading for sure.
The stoey focuses on Ingrid as we learn about her, she got into NYU for her future studies but stays at home being her grandma's carer.
Of the group, Billie and Ingrid are close, with him often talking about his dad with her. They also share a maze together as a hideaway as well as a tower pointing North alike Billie's nickname for her.
Yet, Micah and Ingrid kissed before and Ingrid likes him while he had a night with Ingrid's bully, Heather whom she has to endure working with at a sweet shop. He also wants to be in a relationship with Heather, making Ingrid ask her out for him which makes her feel even worse.
Ingrid escapes at night and hosts a midnight radio show under the pseudonym, Nightowl where she has a lot of talks with caller, Dark and Brooding.
Billie pushes her to apply for an internship she gets accepted into it until her grandma's Alzheimer's worsens and she cancels, until LD goes with her and Ingrid realises many things about her life, her future and her relationships.
An emotional rollercoaster for the character of Ingrid that keeps us reading for sure.
January 16, 2020
Ms. Postan did an excellent job writing this book, and it you want a coming of age story, a book that's an easy read, or a book that you want to analyze everything down to foreshadowing to characterization, this is the book for you.
My new years goal is to start reflecting on the books I'm reading so here it goes.
The book really made me think about how it will be when I have to leave. I hate saying goodbye, and if I do, it's never a "I'll never see you again" goodbye. I don't make those. And this book made me realize it's okay to have those, but sometimes you need to make those goodbyes to friends, to family, even to a part of yourself. While I was reading the book, I just kept imagining what it would be like to leave and it's hard. Choosing between college, staying, and even going straight to a job is a hard choice because once you make it, you can go back, but it won't be the same. I love the aspect of Niteowl because that side of Ingrid showed that some people may seem like one thing, but really are another. I experience this personally and read it all the time through books but, a shy person is normally the friends you want to have. They have the best personality and are great people.
My new years goal is to start reflecting on the books I'm reading so here it goes.
The book really made me think about how it will be when I have to leave. I hate saying goodbye, and if I do, it's never a "I'll never see you again" goodbye. I don't make those. And this book made me realize it's okay to have those, but sometimes you need to make those goodbyes to friends, to family, even to a part of yourself. While I was reading the book, I just kept imagining what it would be like to leave and it's hard. Choosing between college, staying, and even going straight to a job is a hard choice because once you make it, you can go back, but it won't be the same. I love the aspect of Niteowl because that side of Ingrid showed that some people may seem like one thing, but really are another. I experience this personally and read it all the time through books but, a shy person is normally the friends you want to have. They have the best personality and are great people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2019
Baca ini tanpa membaca buku pertamanya tidak membuat perbedaan. Cuma gak kenal sama artisnya aja. Jadi, seperti standalone.
Menurut saya, menghadapi tokoh perempuan yang cukup canggung, enggak percaya diri sampai pesimis dalam hidup itu melelahkan. Ini saya buktikan sepanjang menikmati cerita bagian North dan isi kepalanya yang gelap. Saya merasa lelah dan kurang bersemangat jadinya. Tapi, karena kisahnya ringan dan romancenya ini cukup manis. Saya bisa bertahan pada akhirnya.
Saya tidak bilang bahwa saya tidak menyukai buku ini. Saya tetap menyukainya. Bahkan bisa dikatakan cukup senang membaca ini karena kita dibawa berkunjung ke Nebraska. Penggambaran North tentang langit Nebraska yang cukup mampu membuat penduduk di sana menikmati bintang malam hari. Berhasil menjadikan saya pembaca yang sabar dan menikmati hingga akhir cerita
.
Sejauh ini, gaya bahasa Ashley Poston cukup menyenangkan karena tidak bertele-tele. Bisa dinikmati bahkan ketika sedang menghadapi Reading Slump sekalipun. Tapi, pastinya akan terasa melelahkan. Karena, berat rasanya mengikuti kehidupan tokoh yang pesimis dalam hidup.
Menurut saya, menghadapi tokoh perempuan yang cukup canggung, enggak percaya diri sampai pesimis dalam hidup itu melelahkan. Ini saya buktikan sepanjang menikmati cerita bagian North dan isi kepalanya yang gelap. Saya merasa lelah dan kurang bersemangat jadinya. Tapi, karena kisahnya ringan dan romancenya ini cukup manis. Saya bisa bertahan pada akhirnya.
Saya tidak bilang bahwa saya tidak menyukai buku ini. Saya tetap menyukainya. Bahkan bisa dikatakan cukup senang membaca ini karena kita dibawa berkunjung ke Nebraska. Penggambaran North tentang langit Nebraska yang cukup mampu membuat penduduk di sana menikmati bintang malam hari. Berhasil menjadikan saya pembaca yang sabar dan menikmati hingga akhir cerita
.
Sejauh ini, gaya bahasa Ashley Poston cukup menyenangkan karena tidak bertele-tele. Bisa dinikmati bahkan ketika sedang menghadapi Reading Slump sekalipun. Tapi, pastinya akan terasa melelahkan. Karena, berat rasanya mengikuti kehidupan tokoh yang pesimis dalam hidup.
September 12, 2019
I enjoyed this book. The MC was easy to like and root for. And I also liked the dedication to LD as well. This part is a spoiler:
I was at one point questioning whether Dark and Brooding was Mike. Because when he was in her face about being nothing, it sounded much more bitter but had a slight echo in what D&B said in the first call. I almost DNF right there because the romantic interest being homophobia, fatphobic, and a bully... I will never read all of that book.
Thank goes I was wrong because the book quickly assures the reader who D&B is. I really want a book/excerpt/novella in Billie’s pov. It’s a credit to the book that he was very interesting and I wanted to know more of what was going on when he wasn’t on the pages. This is a cute read, I recommend it on a day when your heart needs a guarantee.
I was at one point questioning whether Dark and Brooding was Mike. Because when he was in her face about being nothing, it sounded much more bitter but had a slight echo in what D&B said in the first call. I almost DNF right there because the romantic interest being homophobia, fatphobic, and a bully... I will never read all of that book.
Thank goes I was wrong because the book quickly assures the reader who D&B is. I really want a book/excerpt/novella in Billie’s pov. It’s a credit to the book that he was very interesting and I wanted to know more of what was going on when he wasn’t on the pages. This is a cute read, I recommend it on a day when your heart needs a guarantee.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2018
WOW. GOOD BOOK IS GREAT.
This really surprised me. The romance was unbelievably sweet, but there were a lot of hurdles that needed to be dealt with before things got to happen. A lot of the plot twisted in unconventional ways, which I LOVED. The things you expect upon reading the cover/summary don’t happen, which is fun and sort of rare if you read as much stuff as I do.
I can’t give the moments of friendship in here enough props. Micah was kind of meh, and if I have a problem with the book it’s where he ends, because I think he should have used more development.
Billie and LD stole the show, and not just because this is the second book I’ve ever found that has a character with my name spelled this way.
A delightful coming of age story.
This really surprised me. The romance was unbelievably sweet, but there were a lot of hurdles that needed to be dealt with before things got to happen. A lot of the plot twisted in unconventional ways, which I LOVED. The things you expect upon reading the cover/summary don’t happen, which is fun and sort of rare if you read as much stuff as I do.
I can’t give the moments of friendship in here enough props. Micah was kind of meh, and if I have a problem with the book it’s where he ends, because I think he should have used more development.
Billie and LD stole the show, and not just because this is the second book I’ve ever found that has a character with my name spelled this way.
A delightful coming of age story.
June 22, 2024
I couldn't get into this one. My two pet peeves were 1) the super unlikable characters and constant petty drama and 2) the severe overuse of the word Bless. I'm getting really into Ashley Poston romance, and I really liked the first in this series, but this one was noooot it for me. If less time was spent on her shitty town, and we got to see a little later where she finally finds her place, I would have liked it a lot more. Instead, it ends with the resolution of the romance which honestly felt more like the side story. Still not the worst thing you could read, just not the strongest of her stories in my opinion.
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