Code Red

Couldn't help comparing this to [b:If This Gets Out 54738255 If This Gets Out Sophie Gonzales https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1610723548l/54738255.SY75.jpg 85387795], a YA romance between two members of a boy band, and unfortunately Code Red does not come off favorably. The other four members of the band have little personality, the downside of fame & fortune is whitewashed, and the whole “boy band member is gay” is never an issue, which is a nice fantasy but also feels unrealistic. Plus Maddox annoyed me on more than one occasion for his selfishness in refusing to realize that starting a relationship with his personal manager could get Roscoe fired. And although Maddox does end up getting help for his anxiety, the romance is arguably a co-dependent one, with Maddox often claiming that Roscoe is the only one who can calm him down. I love reading books about the music business, so I was looking for something with more depth, but YMMV if you're mostly there for the love story.

[4.5] As the TV host at the end succinctly puts it: “That's sweet, but Maddox, that's also kind of sad.”

THE ENTIRE BOOK IN A NUTSHELL MY FRIENDS

Straight off the bat, let me confess that celebrity/band books aren't my favorite. Too much infighting, too many meddling outsiders, too many stupid decisions, too many eyes on the MCs. Just too much of everything.

But this was a welcome change from what I've come to expect from the trope, and I can honestly say I didn't anticipate for this story about a global sensation boy band to make me feel so much.

Code Red paints an incredibly realistic picture of the physical and emotional toil of fame and touring on the lives and wellbeing of stars (and the crew behind-the-scenes).

MADDOX

As the face of the band, Maddox has the world's expectations on his shoulders. It's easy to dismiss his troubles as insignificant when he supposedly has it all, but through Maddox's struggles, we see that fame isn't all it's cracked up to be.

We meet him when he's already a shell of the young kid who played around with music in a garage with his friends. Everyone puts him on a pedestal, and as a diehard perfectionist, he completely internalizes those expectations. He must perform every dance move on point, sing perfectly—failure is not an option. There is no excuse for disappointing fans.

Roscoe is the only one Maddox allows to see the real him. At times, he can almost feel too dependent on Roscoe but I saw it more as a cry for help than anything. Especially as his frustration builds when events reveal what little control he actually has over his life.

It's lonely at the top. And being part of a band since a young age, his whole identity is built around this persona. It's too easy to lose sight of himself when this is all he knows and it's as if the entire world has something to say. There were times when I'd just put down my tablet, stare into the distance, and think about how sad and empty he must feel inside. insert woman protecting Kevin Hart meme here

I think these lyrics from Suga's Interlude: Shadow represent where Maddox's head is at perfectly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV1gCvzpSy0&ab_channel=HYBELABELS
People say, there's splendor in that bright lightBut my growing shadow swallows me and becomes a monsterUp high, high, and higher, higherI only go higher and vertigo overtakes meI rise, rise, I hate itI pray, I pray, hoping to be okay

But despite this, Maddox has a backbone of steel and will not take disrespect lying down. When he has something to fight for, he turns full-on alpha male, and respect to him for taking absolutely no bullshirt when the safety of those he cares for is threatened