I enjoyed everything about this book, from the chapters in different POVs and the text strings to the actual plot. Kassidy and Archer were such a cute couple, and Archer's insecurities over being the less famous brother were totally relatable. Loved it.

I received a copy of this book via Net-Galley.

This is not your typical rock star book, actually its not a rock star book at all. Its about the brother of a rock star that is being used to get close to his brother, and he is dealing with that.

I loved this book, It was a quick read. I loved Kassidy and Archer.

Kassidy goes to a concert with her sister, where she meets Archer. I love how the first thing he says is I'm not him. She was so confused as she didn't know who he was talking about.

Kassidy is struggling with who she is, she was always the one to make her best friend Kate happy no matter what, and at all costs. Now she is finding out who she really is.

Archer is the twin brother of famous singer Ross. He is tired of being liked for who his brother is and not for who he is.


Both Kassidy and Archer have trust issues both like each other but is it enough? Is what they have real or are they using each other. Kassidy because he is Ross's Brother and Archer because he doesn't want her to be after his brother but thinks she might be? I loved the dynamics of the characters. There is more to this story then I thought it would be.

I do hope we get other books from the characters in the book. I would love the rock star story of Ross as well! Great story!

A very cute and sweet YA read!I usually don't read too many YA books these days, but this one's blurb caught my eye and my interest was piqued!And after recognizing the author's name I realized that I'd read a few books of hers.And her book Tripping Me Up was a favorite of mine when I'd read it a few years back!

I'm Not In The Band was also really good and different from the usually boring contemporary YA books.Because,other than a few exceptional books by Kasie West,Morgan Maston, Jenn Bennett,Deb Caletti and such none have really caught my attention.
INitB has refreshing and original characters whom I grew to love!Archer has always lived in his famous brother's shadow and is tired of people coming close to him with an agenda.So he's surprised to meet Kassidy, at one of his brother's concerts, who isn't interested in his brother or him for the benefits.Kassidy has her own issues to deal with from her past, and is quite wary of letting people in.
But they were really cute together!You can expect a little bit of the usual teen drama - jealousy,ex issues,mean girls,etc- but without too much angst!
Each character had their own set of things to work through, and the author handled it quite brilliantly!I really liked the development of the characters too!So,if you're looking for feel good,cute YA read with refreshing characters and amazing writing, I'd suggest this one!Do give it a try!

Every so often I have to slow down and get to a different kind of romance. Young love makes me wistful but is wonderful to read. Archer thinks he has problems but alot of those are caused by whom he is related to. He also has a young crush on one named Kassidy. As you go with these two you forget time and flow with them escaping into their fun and dilemmas. The more you read the more you want Kass and Arthur to overcome the issues and have something grow from them. Since hard drama not in this it becomes a quick read that tickles you with actually could be said a bit refreshing if not your norm in reading.

4.5 Stars!
This was such a cute book. I wish the two main characters would have had a little more happy time other than the drama on both sides. That being said there wasn't much drama to begin with. The characters were loveable with flaws and insecurities which always makes them feel more human. And the texts were a nice added touch to this. I honestly hope this will be a series so we can find out more about the brother and sister. It would be fun watch them find love too. I recommend this read as a fun fast afternoon read.

Archer is not in the band, but his twin brother is. He finds it hard to find a girl who is into him and not using him to get to his brother. He meets Kassidy at his brother's concert and he likes her from the very beginning. She is there with her sister who is a big fan but Kassidy doesn't even know who Archer's brother is. But when she meets him and they have a few things in common, I can’t tell if she’s into me or my brother now.

But Kassidy has some issues letting people in because it has burned her in the past. She likes Archer but its hard for her to let him completely in and its hard for her to trust people. He has his own issue with being in the shadows of his brother. He can't tell who likes him for him and not who he is related too. Both with trust issues, it makes it hard to move forward when you don't know who you can trust.

I really liked this cute YA book. I feel for Kassidy and Archer both having issues but attracted to each other. It is sweet young love. The problem is Kassidy trust Archer and starts to let him in when he starts worrying if she is into his brother after they meet. I completely enjoyed it. It was filled with young love in almost bloom and I hoped for their HEA. I love a sweet love story with the build up. I read it cover to cover in one sitting it was a great book. One click this one if you like YA and love young love.

I'm Not in the Band is cute but not as fluffy as I initially expected.

This is my first book by Garza and I really like her writing style. The story is told from Kass and Archer's POV. While Kass's POV is told in the first narrative, Archer's is narrated through social media posts and messages. At first, I was kinda worried that I wouldn't like Archer's POV... but very quickly I realized I totally adore it. It's a very interesting and quirky way to tell a story. Not an easy choice, but Garza nailed it. One of the things I loved most about Garza story telling was the sense of humor.

Going back to the fluffy part. As I said this is cute. It has its fair share of melodramas. It's packed with teenage insecurities, but it also does touch on some heavier subjects. I did enjoy the story line and kept wondering at the "mystery" though by the time we got the "reveal", I had figured it out. I like the subject and I genuinely got where Kass was coming from. I experienced the same with a friend, so I know the shock when it happens. I could totally relate to many of Kass feelings.
There is no deep analyses or great solution in this book. Which was fine by me, it is after all a cute romance novel. I do however feel that there was this huge build up to the reveal and then things were "sorted", the end. It felt a bit rushed and retrospectively I'm not even sure if the situation was actually "handled".

The character building is great. I love- nay ADORE - Archer. I liked Kass. They both a bit melodramatic, there is plenty of dramas between them, yet while Garza pushed the melodramatics, she didn't push them too far IMO. We talking teenagers after all. I quite like the siblings' tensions. They are relatable. I mean we all have some sort of odd rivalry/ insecurities when it comes to our siblings/ families during our teens, thankfully most of us do resolve them then as well... It gives the book the unexpected depth I was talking about right in the beginning.
My biggest issue, however? The female support cast. With the exception of a couple, they are all horrible. Even Kass sister is kinda superficial, or at least she seems like it in the beginning. It's like all the teen girls in this novel are super good looking and manipulative, opportunistic and quite underhanded. Like every other girl is only interested in Archer because of his brother? Really?? That's just sad.



Well written novel, that made me smile and laugh quite a bit. Great male lead, totally swoon worthy and some interesting subjects.
In three words: Cute, funny and quirky.

When a book starts out with the characters going to a concert, then it is my kind of book.
I love the cover and the title of I'M NOT WITH THE BAND. Both of those things attracted me to this book and played a huge part in my desire to read it.

Even though the book isn't about the guy in the boy band, there is a love of music and some silly attempts at rap to woo the girl.

What I liked:

*I like that I'M NOT IN THE BAND is a short quick read. Sometimes that is exactly what you need.
*I liked the hashtags and the Facebook status updates and the texts. There were a fun way to share the story and catch up with the characters.
*The storyline of being accepted for who we are and not who we know and who are our best friends. Kassidy and Archer need authentic friendships.
*When their friends give them advice. It's as though Kassidy and Archer can't see what's in front of them and they get in their own way.
*All of the brotherly banter

Favorite Quote:

"I'm not the lead singer of the biggest boy band in the country. Social media's all I have. Don't take this from me." - Just some of Archer's wit. And YES! He posts everything going on in his life.

I'M NOT IN THE BAND by Amber Garza is sweet and sensitive and full of funny wit. It's another great addition to Entangled Crush.

I’m not in the Band ticks all the usual boxes for the Entangled Teen brand. It is a romance focusing predominantly on the two main characters, in this case, Kassidy and Archer. We see they both have secrets to hide, although not really dreadful ones. There is some interaction with adults, mostly parents and teachers, although this one has less time spent with friends than in previous books I have read.

I quite like Archer’s motley group of friends. We see bit more of Mac and John through playful social media messengers. I especially liked seeing the boys chat this way—often there is a presumption that girls use online communication more than boys, and I believe that is false. The humour and joking between the boys shows strong friendship bonds. These two really had Archer’s back.

Something that Kassidy acknowledges and realises it’s not something she has any more. This aspect of the story—Kass’s loss of friends is the big secret, and ultimately, I was disappointed with how this played out. I wanted her anxiety and grief to have a more powerful emotional impact on readers, and I don’t think it quite hit the mark.

Together, Kassidy and Archer have great chemistry. I was glad we didn’t have THAT miscommunication, although Archer’s jealously and insecurity came close. But there was communication and forgiveness and understanding.

I realise I haven’t really provided plot premise. It’s very simple. Archer’s identical twin brother Ross is a pop star. He has experienced too many girls pretending to like him to get to Ross, so when he discovers Kassidy doesn’t know who Ross is, he takes a chance on his attraction. They go on a few dates, but they are both insecure and vulnerable. I liked them both a lot.

Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Teen for providing an advanced copy. I’m not in the band is out in the US on June 12th. Recommended for teens who like their romances wholesome and adorable. This cute pair have both suffered and need time to overcome their fears. There is some snide commentary from other girls, and thankfully Ross doesn’t turn out to be a complete egotist. It also has a very happy-ever-after, which is lovely.

I'm Not in the Band
Amber Garza
Book Review: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
I'm not in the band is a sweet teen read. It is perfect for the age group it is aimed at (12-16).

Kassidy is wanting a fresh start and is moving to a new school. Just before she starts, she attends a music concert where she meets a cute boy. Lucky for her he offers to show her around her new school.

Archer is a twin. He has always felt like he lives in his brother's shadow. He wants Kassidy to be the one thing that is truly his. He's been used before to get to his brother, but Kass seems different. Now all he has to do is pluck up the courage to ask her out.

This is a sweet clean read about a boy with a famous twin. I really enjoyed I'm not in the band and would recommend it. My favourite thing about this book is the modern writing style. It fits perfectly, and I think it will appeal to the desired teen age group. This book uses texts and social media to enhance the story. Both characters are likeable, and the storyline is engaging.

5 out of 5. Spot on!

*I received this book in exchange for a fair review*

ebook £2.37
Expected publication: June 12th 2017

archer devlin's twin brother happens to be the lead singer in the latest music sensation, the playlisters. this is at once the best thing that has ever happened to him, and the worst. he loves his brother, but it's nice to finally have the chance to be away from him and their identical twin-ness. but now, people are noticing him for the wrong reasons, they see him as a way to get to his brother.

when he meets kassidy milton at one of his brother's concerts, he thinks she's just another fan. but when she has no idea who he is or who he looks like or what his brother's band sounds like, he is intrigued. kassidy only showed up to the concert because she promised her sister she would. her whole family has been worried about her hypochondria and general anxiety manifesting themselves as the new school year at a new school approaches.

archer is charmed by kassidy. and she is surprised by her reaction (actually her non--reaction) to him. he doesn't make her nervous. she doesn't want to recoil from his touch. at the same time, she is painfully shy and archer carries enough insecurities due to his brother that his trust issues and her fears pose some significant obstacles that they must overcome in order to work things out.

one of the things i enjoyed about the story was the way the dual point-of-views were formatted. kassidy's chapters are straightforward prose, but archer's are either social media, tweets and facebook posts, or text message exchanges between different characters. the differences in chapters sets the two point-of-views apart, but at the same time helps establish something about their personalities.

this is an enjoyable contemporary ya romance, a fun, quick read to be enjoyed by the pool.

BROOKE’S REVIEW

Amber Garza’s I’m Not in the Band is a delightful YA book that tells the story of Kassidy Milton and identical twin brothers, Archer and Ross Devlin. Amber and Archer connect in a meet-cute fashion at a Playlisters concert. The catch? Kassidy’s not exactly a Playlisters fan, and Archer’s twin brother is the band’s lead singer. Tired of living in his brother’s shadow, Archer is taken by Kassidy’s easy beauty and seeming indifference to his brother’s stardom.

While happy with her budding new romance, Kassidy cannot run away from the troubles that caused her to transfer to Oakhollow High School. Archer’s insecurities and Kassidy’s difficulties opening up threaten this couple’s potential happiness.

Complex and also heartwarming - Garza develops a captivating cast of characters that readers will be cheering for in this book.

PRAISE

“A super sweet young teen romance about the new girl in school and the twin brother of a teen pop sensation. […] There are secrets and jealousies and mean girls. I loved it.” ~Alison, Goodreads

“LOVED this book! Just the right amount of innocence but still a bit of steam between the two leads to keep me interested I found this book highly addictive.” ~-Kris, Goodreads

“I thought this book was so adorable. I loved it!! This was not your typical boy band book. It was super cute and funny.” ~Christina, Goodreads

AUTHOR

Amber Garza is the author of the Playing for Keeps series as well as many contemporary romance titles, including Star Struck, Tripping Me Up and Break Free. She has had a passion for the written word since she was a child making books out of notebook paper and staples. Her hobbies include reading and singing. Coffee and wine are her drinks of choice (not necessarily in that order). She writes while blaring music, and talks about her characters like they’re real people. She currently lives in California with her amazing husband, and two hilarious children who provide her with enough material to keep her writing for years.

Amber loves to connect with her readers. You can visit her at ambergarza.com, or find her on facebook or on twitter @ambermg1.

Kassidy Milton is just trying to move on with her life after a tragedy rocked her world last year. To start her senior year off right, her older sister takes her to a Playlisters concert. They’re only the biggest band in the world right now, but Kassidy knows nothing about them. She doesn’t know their songs or even what they look like, but being a huge music fan, she doesn’t turn down the opportunity for a concert.

While searching for some snacks that haven’t been deep-fried, Kassidy runs into a very cute, very friendly boy who offers to show her around at her new school. Little does Kassidy know, he’s the twin brother of the Playlisters’ lead singer, and he just can’t believe that this girl has no idea who his famous brother is.

Archer and Kassidy click instantly, but will insecurities get the best of them as Kassidy can’t believe that this cute boy wants her and Archer can’t believe that this perfect girl isn’t just using him for his twin?

This was my first book by Amber Garza, and it was very cute. It’s exactly the kind of book I would have loved as a teenager, and I’m sure that the actual demographic it’s targeting will rave about it.

Like in many romances, we have alternating POV’s here. Unlike many other books I’ve read, the POV’s are in different formats. While Kassidy’s chapters are more inside her head, Archer’s side of the story is told through social media posts and text messages. When reading books with alternating POV’s, it often becomes difficult to tell who’s talking if both characters have the exact same voice. This was such an interesting and unique way to tackle that problem and really clarify what was going on. I loved this aspect of the book.

I also thought that Archer and Kassidy were super cute together, and I really appreciated that Archer didn’t listen to the stupid advice he got from his friends about making Kassidy wait or not texting her first. I liked that Kassidy became friends with Archer’s famous twin, Ross, through their shared interests and never once swooned over him or thought about what it would be like to date the famous one. Especially since Archer experienced this in the past with (seemingly) every girl he’s ever dated, it was nice that Kassidy didn’t have any ulterior motives.

However, there’s a reason that this book didn’t give five stars from me.

The biggest reason that I didn’t love this book is the sheer amount of teenage drama. I hated it when I was a teenager and I cannot stand it as an adult. There’s jealousy that doesn’t really make a ton of sense (who gets that upset over a Facebook friend request?!) and both characters react like children (not teenagers) when things don’t go their way.

I also thought that Kassidy’s “tragedy” or “trauma” or whatever you want to call it was handled poorly. There are constant hints that something awful happened to her, but the actual event isn’t revealed until nearly the end of the book. By that point, I thought it had been built up a lot more than necessary and was almost disappointed about what had happened. I was also concerned for Kassidy’s health because she seemed to have some serious issues with anxiety and food/exercise that were never really addressed.

Overall, this was a cute, quick read, but not one that I’d go back to. I’m sure that the target demographic will enjoy it more than I did.

Final rating: ★★★☆☆

This was a cute read. It’s fast and airy, and well put together. I loved how the text was organized, the difference between the two POVs.
There were a few things that I disliked though, they all had to do with the story, without any specifics:
1. Things dragged out too much
2. Everything between the main Kassidy and her love interest Archer was just so dramatic and/or childish
3. Everything seemed childish, and petty
4. The infamous ‘not like other girls’ line made an appearance, and not in a good way

The writing was okay, the characters were okay. The book itself is okay. It’s a quick YA romance read, but it didn’t wow me as much as I expected it to.

3.5 stars

It was a very mellow read.

I have to say that I really didn't love it but I didn't dislike it either.
I did like and enjoyed the relationship of our leads with their siblings and
Friends. I think that is what kept me reading. I also enjoying seeing inside the
Life of our lead guy, seeing how the poor guy had to go thru because of being
A celebrity brother. I felt so sad for him because of how the mom expected him
To do thing he didn't want to because of his brother.
Our lead girl was just okay I didn't necessary love her or hate her. Which I
Prefer than absolutely hating.
One thing I dislike is the mentioning of she is not like any other girl. I think
Author use this because they think it will make us see her differently but in
My point of view is just annoying. Why is she so special? Is she really?

Me being a Mom which book show more lead girls in YA that they could respect and look
Up too but so many YA lack that. Sadly I don't think my daughter will read this because is not her type of genre but maybe I recommend it too my nieces.

Overall a Good book. Just which it had plot twists too make it more exciting.

“I’m Not in the Band” is a cute YA romance about Kassidy and Archer. Archer has been forced into the shadow of his identical twin brother, who is the lead singer for a popular boy band, and resents (although he loves his brother) the unwanted attention- as girls only want him as far as it takes to get to his brother. Kassidy has some issues of her own to work through- we know there was some kind of event at her old school that really changed her life, and she was transferred from private to public school as a result; we don’t learn more about the event until about 80% of the way through the book. She also appears to have some undiagnosed psychiatric disorder(s), potentially anxiety, which manifests primarily as fear of illness/”germs,” and maybe also an eating disorder (not entirely clear, but extremely strict about eating and exercise, so maybe/maybe not).

Anyway, cue the meet-cute, where Kassidy is at Archer’s brother’s concert with her sister, who is a big fan, and they literally run into each other. At hearing Kassidy doesn’t even know who his brother is, Archer’s all about her and gets her phone number right away. Kassidy is loving the attention she’s getting from the attractive stranger. This doesn’t feel like insta-love, just lust, as the obsession is not immediate and they don’t go crazy. They exchange numbers, he thinks about asking her out, and they text- but not too much, as Archer is coached by his friend Mac, a self-professed ladies’ man (and seeming jerk/womanizer).

The plot alternates between Kassidy’s point-of-view in first person traditional prose and Archer’s point-of-view told entirely through texts, tweets, facebook posts, and the occasional script-like conversation. The differences in the types of writing were really interesting and add something unique to your typical boy-meets-girl story. They both have their hang-ups, and these were set as main plot points, and I think they may have been over-exaggerated for some teenage-style drama- particularly on Archer’s side, so much lead up to the issue and then minimal resolution (but could be the limited POV from his side of just conversations).

My biggest concern here is for Kassidy’s psychological well-being. It’s pretty clear she’s not coping extremely well with the event (that we learn about at the end), and the care is fairly minimal- it’s mentioned that she’s seen a psychologist but not much more- seems like she would need more consistent care. I feel that this a little overlooked in the plot and maybe should have been a bigger point, but on the other hand, we only get small amounts, so a diagnosis (if necessary) is unclear. However, since her family is all clearly concerned and pointing out she’s not coping well, this leads me to believe that it is a big issue/should be addressed. I think it would have been helpful to hear about her going to regular therapy, as this sets a good example for younger readers of someone getting the help they need.

The romance was cute, and they spend a decent amount of time getting to know one another. I liked their relationship and the overall fast pace of the book- it’s a very fast read! I have some reservations overall, but I would be curious to see more from this author/world (if they do a Playlisters series). Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I found this book to be an ok read and overall it did not stand out to me. I feel that it is the type of plot line that has been written before.

I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint was the secret Kassidy was hiding. I just couldn't rationalize that that was the reason for all of her issues. Despite that blip, which I was able to kinda gloss over, this was a great read. The social media postings at the start of the chapters were cute, the interaction between friends and family were funny and real, the characters were overall relatable, and it was a cute story. This was the first time I have read this author, but it definitely won't be the last.

This one seemed liked a refreshing twist on the rockstar trope, and I couldn't resist requesting a copy after seeing the synopsis. Even though the chance meeting and instant connection between Archer and Kassidy seemed cliche and over the top, once the story unfolds, I found myself enjoying the journey. It's a sweet, light hearted story, and definitely has an old school YA feel.

Archer is charming and one any teen girl would adore. His POV chapters are refreshingly different, and I liked seeing his story through the social media aspect that's so prevalent with today's teens. Kassidy is likable, but her story is overly dramatic and drawn out. I felt the "twist" could have told from the beginning. I absolutely adored the supporting cast, especially Kassidy's family. Garza does an outstanding job of capturing the family dynamics of teens and parents.

This isn't a standout YA, but it was an enjoyable and feel good read. I'd read this author again in the future and would not discourage anyone from trying this one.


Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for my advanced copy in exchange for this review.

This is a sweet teen romance book between Kassidy and Asher. Readers find that something happened to Kassidy before the start of the novel that has caused her to be afraid and changed schools. Asher, the twin brother of a pop star, is a little jaded about people trying to befriend him to get access to his famous brother. As Kassidy and Asher navigate the waters of becoming friends, they learn about each other and realize that the relationship might be more than friendship.

The Kassidy POV is a regular fiction narrative but the Asher POV is told through texts and chat messages. This novel literary device is very interesting to the reader.