Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/15/2017 *Starred Review* Natasha Zelenka has one heck of an unrequited crush: the love of her life is one Leo Tolstoy, and she and her two best friends have been recreating one of his best-known novels as a web series. Unhappy Families is a modern-day adaption of Anna Karenina with a modest viewership until a well-known vlogger gives it a shout-out and they go viral. This newfound Internet fame comes with some heady pros (fan art, Tumblr GIF sets, enthusiastic subscribers), but there are plenty of cons as well (haters come out of the woodwork, there’s more pressure, and Tash and her friends are suddenly at odds). When Unhappy Families is nominated for a Golden Tuba (think the Oscars for YouTube), Tash feels accomplished (her older sister has always been the superstar of the family), and she might actually get to meet Thom, a vlogger she’s had an online flirtation with. But long-dead literary boyfriends aside, Tash isn’t sure about romance: she’s recently worked out that she’s asexual, and she isn’t sure how to explain that. It’s beyond refreshing to see an asexual character, and the complexities of Tash’s relationships with Thom, her friends, her sister, and, yes, fame make this a home run. The flip, irreverent tone, literary references, and peek into the creation of a web series are just icing on the cake. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2017 Gr 9 Up—Seventeen-year-old Kentucky filmmaker and Tolstoy superfan Tash Zelenka's summer takes an unexpected turn when her web series, Unhappy Families (a modern adaptation of Anna Karenina) goes viral. The newfound fame causes tension between Tash and her best friend Jack, who also works on the series. Tash is easily caught up in the increased social media attention, her fans' expectations, and the criticisms. She is also grappling with her complicated relationship with her sister, Klaudie, who drops out of acting in the series to more fully enjoy her last summer before college. Plus, Tash must deal with her flirtation with vlogger Thom, her confusing feelings for Paul (Jack's brother and Tash's other best friend), and her worries about the end of the series and her impending college applications. Tash is also beginning to come out to people as romantic asexual and needs to figure out how to share her identity with Thom, whom she will be meeting soon at the Golden Tuba independent web awards. Tash and her group of artsy theater friends are vibrant, creative, and thoughtful. They may not always totally understand one another, but their admirable and complicated friendships have so much heart. The much-needed asexual representation plays a significant role in the story, with readers privy to Tash's thoughts on identity and conversations with friends about what the term means. VERDICT Funny, well written, and compulsively readable, this will especially appeal to readers with an interest in web series. A strong choice for YA shelves.—Amanda MacGregor, formerly at Great River Regional Library, Saint Cloud, MN - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.