February 2, 2008
Review: Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
Posted by jocelyn under 2k8 Challenge, 888, review | Tags: celebrity, debut novel, fame, friendship, music, relationships, romance |Robin Benway’s debut novel, Audrey, Wait!, completely blew me away! It’s about what happens to a teenage girl living a pretty typical life when her ex-boyfriend’s band suddenly shoots to worldwide fame, and his song about her–titled Audrey, Wait–is suddenly playing on radio stations around the world, and rising to the top of the charts. Suddenly, Audrey is famous. She definitely did not ask for fame; all she did was break up with her rather self-centered musician boyfriend. Now, however, she has to deal with the paparazzi and reporters who twist her words and her phone is ringing off the hook, and, well, she’s rather understandably overwhelmed.
Her best friend, Victoria, wants to take advantage of all this fame by getting free stuff and maybe getting Audrey a reality show, but all Audrey wants to do is go back to her normal life, to being able to go out in public without getting mobbed by screaming fans. Her fans–how is it that a girl who has never done anything fan-worthy can’t go out in the street anymore? And there are videos of her on the internet!
She’s also got a potential love interest in James, her co-worker at the Scooper Dooper. He’s kind of quiet and shy, but Victoria insists they’d be good together–that is, if he’ll actually talk to her about something other than work, and if they can handle the fact that if they go out, they’ll be all over the tabloids!
Audrey, Wait! is about sudden fame, yeah, but being about life in the spotlight isn’t really how I thought of this book. Mostly, it’s about a girl trying to hold onto her sanity in a crazy world! Despite her celebrity status, Audrey is a very relatable character, with a distinct, funny voice. This book was blurbed by Rachel Cohn, and her blurb–calling it “Awesomely funny, fresh, and true”–is right on! Also, Rachel Cohn fans will love this book.
Even the background characters are fantastic. Victoria and Jonah were so awesome and interesting and cool that I kind of wished there was a book about them, too! Three-dimensional background characters almost take over the story at times, but Audrey is too fantastic for that to happen. The writing, the characters, everything in this book is just perfect. I seriously can’t gush about it’s fabulousness enough! Nothing I say seems to really express how much I adore this book. Robin Benway is a brilliant writer. Audrey, Wait! is an unputdownable book about music, love, friendship, and life from an author to watch. It comes out in April, and when it does, I strongly suggest you get in your car, turn on your favorite music as loud as it can go, and get to your nearest bookstore as fast as you can!
February 2, 2008 at 1:27 pm
That sounds like a great book. It reminds of the song Hey There Delilah and how it was really written about that girl.
Sounds like something I’ll have to check out soon.
February 2, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I really want to read this one!
February 3, 2008 at 12:57 am
Audrey Wait rocks! The plot was completely different than anything I’ve read lately and I loved the characters. Great review! :)
February 5, 2008 at 4:35 pm
[...] characters, music, robin benway, writing | Robin Benway is the author of the fantastic Audrey, Wait!. I’m lucky enough to have gotten the chance to interview her, and here are her awesome [...]
February 22, 2008 at 5:26 pm
LUV this book–sooooo good, i have read it 18 times and i am doing a book report on it it is so good. oh god i am acting like tizzy! lol!!!! evan sucks tho i am soo mad at him it was soo mean even tho it was not real but it feels so real!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 10, 2008 at 5:33 pm
i looooved this book so much!!!! but i like evan i think they should get back together. sequal??? movie??? anyone know anything else about it? details people, i need details!!! i <3 evan :]
April 12, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I like the style of your review! I hope you’ll consider reviewing my novel, Courage in Patience, when it is released. Please contact me if you’d be interested in receiving an ARC when they come out in August. Thanks!
beth@bethfehlbaum.com
Beth Fehlbaum, author
Courage in Patience, a story of hope for those who have been abused
http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com
Chapter One is online!