Book Review: I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman

Title: I Was Born For This (2018)
Author: Alice Oseman
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary and LGBTQ+
Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books
Release Date: 3rd May 2018
Rating: ★★★★★
Reviewed by: Lois

Synopsis:

For Angel Rahimi, life is only about one thing: The Ark – a pop-rock trio of teenage boys who are currently taking the world by storm. Being part of The Ark’s fandom has given her everything – her friendships, her dreams, her place in the world.

Jimmy Kaga-Ricci owes everything to The Ark too. He’s their frontman – and playing in a band is all he’s ever dreamed of doing. It’s just a shame that recently everything in his life seems to have turned into a bit of a nightmare.

Because that’s the problem with dreaming – eventually, inevitably, real life arrives with a wake-up call. And when Angel and Jimmy are unexpectedly thrust together, they will discover just how strange and surprising facing up to reality can be.

Review:

Angel Rahimi’s life revolves around one thing: The Ark. The Ark are a pop-rock trio of teenage boys taking over the world. Angel has not only found friendship through The Ark, she has also found where she belongs in the world and what her dreams are. Jimmy Kaga-Ricci’s life also revolves around The Ark. He is The Ark’s frontman and fulfilling his life goal of being in a world-famous band. The problem is Jimmy’s life has turn into an anxiety riddled nightmare. When Angel and Jimmy unexpectedly meet, they discover what facing reality is like.

I Was Born For This made me so happy! I shed so many happy tears throughout reading it. Alice Oseman knows how to write an incredible novel. This book is out of the world! Can you tell I love this book a lot?

I Was Born For This is a duel-perspective narrative. I was a huge fan of this aspect of the novel as it added so much to the storyline. The diversity in this book is unforgettable. Angel is a Muslim and Jimmy is mixed race, trans and gay. Not only that but the secondary characters are also diverse. Rowan is Nigerian and Lister is bisexual and struggles with alcoholism.

The amount of love I have for the characters in this book is extraordinary. Angel has become a big inspiration for me. She may have been determined to meet The Ark. Although it was her determination in general that inspired me. Jimmy is the character I related to the most. His anxiety and panic attacks were like those that I have. So, I saw a lot of myself in Jimmy’s character in terms of his anxiety problems. I also connected to the secondary characters in I Was Born For This, Rowan, Lister, Juliet and Bliss. Bliss is easily my favourite character in this book, she is sassy, determined and doesn’t stop for anything or anyone. Also, she loves the band All Time Low who are my favourite band.

 I Was Born For This lets you take a glance into two versions of the same world. The fandom world and the celebrity world. This part of the storyline was so well written. Alice shows how the different events throughout the book are perceived by members of The Ark fandom and from the perspective of the members of The Ark. Fandoms and friendships are the main focus of I Was Born For This. Romance plays a very little part in the story. All the interactions between the character’s work so well. Alice manages to bring all the characters perfectly despite the weird circumstances.

Alice Oseman is such an amazing writer who I cannot thank enough for this story. Everything is well thought out and there is so much attention to detail. Alice, I need more of these characters, please write a novella, please!

I was part of many fandoms when I was younger and I still am, this book brought me back to my fandom years. I Was Born For This is a letter of love between fandoms, the lovely side of friendships and love and the aggressive side of fandoms, which is trying to understand that celebrities are humans too.

Overall, this is my favourite book of 2018 so far! Alice’s writing is extraordinary and this story is unforgettable. I have already recommended this book to so many people and I will be recommending it for a very long time. I Was Born For This is a five star read I won’t be getting over anytime soon.

Thank you to, Harper Collins Children’s Books, Nina Douglas and Alice Oseman for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Look out for my post in the I Was Born For This blog tour!