Sophia Reston has never been bothered by the term band geek. The definition of geek is an enthusiast or expert in a particular field or activity. She loves marching band with all her heart, so the term is appropriate. Of course, one of the lesser known definitions of a geek is a carnival performer who is often billed as a wild man and whose act typically includes biting the head off a live … chicken or snake. This definition also seems accurate since there is one snake Sophia fantasizes about maiming in the most deliciously torturous ways—her archnemesis, James Fossoway.
He has a stupid nickname, stupidly attractive muscles, a reputation for sleeping around, and he is a fellow band geek. Unfortunately for Sophia, he’s also an enthusiast of pushing all her buttons—and not in a good way.
When their rivalry leads to one final showdown during the competition for head drum major, the entire band is invested in the outcome. And James has some new tricks up his sleeve to win the last battle they’ll ever wage against each other.
Because, after years of pranks, James isn’t out for revenge. He wants Sophia’s heart.
Or maybe it’s just another dumb challenge.
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Keep The Beat was an hilarious and wild band comedy, colorful characters with no filter, passionate geeks about music and sizeable dose of emotion . I loved it!
But what I loved the most was the main characters’ well developed personalities, adding so much to this great storyline brilliantly carried out.
My heart’s still beating like a drum to this wonderful beat, the beat of their hearts as their primary source of rhythm.
Sophia and James are totally not in love but in hate of each other, competitive as hell and when in their senior year for the head drum major would be elected, well all bets were off.
All is fair in love and band.
I laughed so hard, totally in love with all their bickering and delightful back and forth.
Sophia is a strong and independent woman who had two passions: the band and giving hell to the sexy and cocky arch-nemesis, James. Making him sweat was also a too tempting and dangerous activity that would lead to confused feelings and bring their smoking hot chemistry to another level. Sophia was one stubborn to the core, building that tough exterior keeping people at bay and somehow unreachable.
After three years of resentment, lust turned into hate and pranks, well, things were going to change… for better or worse. You pick.
James is a complex character, on the outside being the life of the party, popular at school, a reputation with the ladies that preceded him. He was definitely more like he seemed to be, intended to make the show for sure and still he won me over with the other sides of his personality, with that strong hint of swoon and sexiness.
I had to admit that I was a bit wary about this story because I know the author’s ability to push the readers’ limit and I was afraid that at some point I would like to strangle any characters.
But I didn’t. Well, they frustrated the hell out of me a lot but in a good way. I was rooting for these two because they were alike in many ways.
Adding in the mix an audience of supportive characters who were living vicariously through their little war, especially Sophia and James’ moods would influence the band’s life as well.
I adored the banter and craziness in the air and how the author managed to bring such emotions into the characters’ history. Scratching the surface, underneath the reputation and good looks, enhancing the substance of their relationship. Some readers could somehow relate to the main characters’ issues and experience through life.
Characters are more matured and also acting like their age, but facing different experiences.
I was thriving for these moments when they show some vulnerability and put aside their weird relationship they’ve built through the years, which was their normality.
When all the walls and pretending stopped, it took an interesting turn, a beautiful story nonetheless still funny. It just got all I loved in a romantic comedy.
Kata Ĉuić kept the beat until the end and did it with brio, with smooth efficiency and mostly with unawaring and energetic enthusiasm.
High five, girl!
5 stars for this funny, clever and witty rom-com. It is full of warmth, great banter, not only between Sophie/a and Jim/Jimbo/James, but from other members of the cast. Special shout out for Shannon here! This book is the absolute perfect tonic, bringing laughter and happiness, not just because of the crazy shenanigans, but because of the genuinely well written adventure of going from enemies to lovers. Kata Cuic has a winning combination of the skill in writing free flowing comedy, but also writing with such flair. Fabulous!
This hilarious, somewhat enemies to lovers, young adult college age novel will definitely keep the readers entertained. Sophie and James dished up snarky banter and antics while trying to ignore that electric chemistry they both felt towards each other. I really enjoyed the storyline. I’ve not read one like this before. I also loved the cameo appearances of some of the characters from Moving the Chains series.
While I won’t even pretend to understand what’s going on in Sophia’s and Jimbo’s heads a lot of the time – the whole “love/hate/wait, what now?” gave me occasional mental whiplash – I enjoyed their banter/pranks/full-on war.
Keep the Beat, a Band-Com for Romance Geeks!
I’m definitely a Romance Geek and this Band-Com/Rom-Com was a fun 5 star read for me!!!
Lovers-to-Enemies-to-Lovers with a fierce driven competitiveness and flaming chemistry that burned deeply between Sophia and James!! There’s so much hilarious and entertaining antics between the two MC’s and the rest of the band that kept me glued to the pages with high anticipation for what they could possibly do next LOL, and they always surprised me!! The connection between Sophie and Jimbo could be felt constantly simmering with a heat that went beyond band competitions and kept the heart beating wildly from the beginning to the finale!!!
I enjoyed this book so very much and highly recommend Keep the Beat to all Romance Geeks!!!!
A one night stand at a band event in highschool should have been the end of their story. But, when they end up at the same college and in the same marching band, it leads to a relationship based on challenges and one upping one another both on the field and in their classes. And now, with the title of head drum major on the line, it’s all out war.
But, is that really the play? There is a fine line between love and hate, and Jimbo has been playing the long game for the past 3 years just hoping to get Sophia to see him as more than her competitor and enemy . . . a whole lot more.
Keep the Beat was super unique. I was in love with this entire concept as, I have to admit, I was a bit of a music geek myself in college (although it was choir and not band).
Both of the main characters had such huge chips on their shoulders. Sophia feels she has so much to prove for herself and for her sister and family. She feels the need to experience every moment that she knows her sister can’t. And Jim wants to be known for his own accomplishment , not for who his brother is. Their rivalry pushes them both to be better and I loved the subtle manipulations since no one was hurt.
I adored the other drum majors as well as Shannon and the rest of the bandies. I loved how they all worked together and how they all had each other’s backs. I also have to say that this story was much hotter than expected. When Sophia and Jimbo finally decided to go all in, there were not just sparks, but full on flames!
I loved Jimbo and Sophia’s story. It was unique and different and felt fresh and fun. It wasn’t your typical college romance, because not many authors are tackling romance in the marching band. But, it totally worked because band geeks can party too! 5 stars!
This book was brilliant. It’s my first book by this author and as the pages were turning and I became engrossed, I wondered why that was the case. And the truth is, I have no idea. This story is light, fun and a beautiful love story. I don’t usually read college books but I made the exception and I am glad to say, I am so pleased I did.
Sophia/Sophie and James/Jimbo/Jim. Yes, they go by all those names in this book, provide great Enemies to Lovers storyline and the relationships that run throughout this book involving all characters are brilliant, touching and fun. This story is about so much more than you first think and it was great finding out the ins and outs of it all.
I won’t give the secrets, lies or truths away. You’ll have to read it and make your own opinions in that respect but I know you won’t be disappointed at all. This book is s total recommendation from me. I enjoyed it so much I am gonna go back and read the books that this one is a spin-off from.
Reviewer: Donna
Honestly, this might be the most adorable romcom I’ve ever read in my life. If you’ve ever had any lingering questions about how the band geeks are living, the answers are inside.
James is a giant dummy. I mean, just really. The boy is up to some pretty creative shenanigans.
And Sophia. I wonder if she’s even more blind than some non named blind musicians we all know and love. The girl literally can’t see the forest for the trees.
I giggled, I snorted, I outright cackled. But I also felt. The good, the bad, the happy and the sad. The family bonds with blood and chosen. The battle of the sexes. The girl power.
I loved every inch of this one.
“Who run the world?”
“GIRLS!”
4.5*
This was a quick and funny read about former lovers/enemies to lovers book. I’ll be honest and say I did roll my eyes a few times whole reading because I can not believe some of the things Jim did to stay on her radar. But then I remembered how old they are a things (kinda) made sense.
Sophie was such a great character. I liked her spunk and her personality. I loved that she hated (and had good reason to do so) as much as she loved him. Together they were perfect with bring out the best and sometimes the worst out of each other.
Kata Čujić’s writing is unique and I can’t wait to read her next book.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***