The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor

From Goodreads:
She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah!

When Regina Bloomsbury’s band, the Caverns, breaks up, she thinks it’s all over. And then she makes a wish—

 “I wish I could be as famous as the Beatles.”

 The Beatles are her music idols. The next day, she gets up to find that the Caverns are not just as famous as the Beatles, they have replaced them in history! Regina is living like a rock star, and loving it. There are talk shows, music videos, and live concerts with thousands of screaming fans. And Regina is the star of it all.

 But fame is getting the better of Regina, and she has a decision to make. Does she want to replace the Beatles forever?

 Here is a rocking novel about the good and the bad of Hollywood, fame, and rock ’n roll.

Regina is a musician just trying to keep her band together and find at least one paying gig. As the band breaks up with two of the musicians off to play for another band, Regina makes a wish to be as famous as her favorite band, the Beatles. That would solve everything, right? The next morning she finds that her wish came true by a mysterious fairy godmother. She has 3 days to make a decision. Does she want to spend the rest of her life in this alternate reality or go back to her life as she knew it? As she starts this journey she is certain of what she wants and what she will chose... or does she?

I have to admit that while I loved the premise (hey, it's the Beatles, so I had to read!) I wasn't sure how this was going to play out. I mean, can you really replace such an iconic band? I think Mr. Taylor writes this well and it is a fast paced novel. It is also written simply so that MG readers will get a lot out of this novel as well. In fact, I thought it was MG when I started reading it. However, some of the trials Regina goes through are typical for a YA novel, so I do believe that was the writer's intent.

I must say that I loved the idea of this book to deal with "fame". I felt it was the type of fame we see so often lately. The kind that comes without any real talent or creativity. In other words, fame for the sake of fame. Because what else could that be if you are claiming someone else's talent as one's own? The question becomes, in the end of this book, if you (Regina in this case) are brave enough to rely on yourself? Can you trust in your own talent? I love that philosophy that was incorporated into this book.

All in all I give this book 4 stars. I think the philosophy is perfect for the YA and MG crowd. I also think it is perfect in the days of Snooki (sorry, guys... don't watch the show and don't mean to dis but I don't get that whole reality tv thing. Yes, you can hate on me for hating on that. lol). Oh, and one word to those that go "Beatles who?" PLEASE! Music is music. If it's good... it's timeless. :D

I received this book from the publisher and no compensation was given for my review. I thought it was published (Jan. 4 is the date on the book) but it looks like it was pushed back to Feb. 15th.



...and since this dealt with Beatles songs not sung by Beatles.. I present my favorite rendition of Let it Be from Across the Universe