Music runs in Katie Cox’s family. Her dad’s a session musician, now based in California after divorcing Katie’s mum. Her sister Amanda plays bass, while Katie’s a talented songwriter with a flair for penning ingeniously comic lyrics, a personal highlight being the hilarious ‘Cake Boyfriend’ (“And when he’s gone/It won’t much matter/You can bake me another/From the leftover batter”). And then there’s Ade (aka Nose Hairs), her mum’s new boyfriend, who runs a record shop and used to be in a band that almost made it to the big-time. Katie isn’t best pleased when her mum and Ade move them to a mouse-infested house where “the loo flushes with hot water (two words: poo soup)”, but her life takes a crazy turn when a video of her song 'Just Me’ goes viral. Within a few days it’s notched up a million hits and Katie becomes quite a celeb, doing press conferences and even getting invited to It Girl Savannah’s party.
Recognising her talent, Ade introduces Katie to Tony Topper, his former bandmate who's now CEO of a record label, and she’s offered a deal on the spot. But while Katie’s musical star seems to be rising, reality is far from stellar. Ade's shop is about to go bust, Tony Topper might just have an ulterior motive, and Katie’s relationship with her best friend is under serious strain. The gripping, heartfelt conclusion sees Katie stepping-up for the performance of her life, to put things right for the people she loves.
Offering a fresh take on the rags-to-riches archetype, this highly entertaining novel is laden with laughs and touching insights into friendship and family life. ~ Joanne Owen
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