Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell follows 17-year-old Noah, who enjoys nothing better than playing games with his online friend he only knows by his username, MagePants69. Noah is so certain they could actually be more if they only met in person, so when he gets a crumb of real-life information, he joins a community theater show that he assumes his friend is a part of. This becomes extra complicated as he was never into theater, his mom is a part of this production, his ex-friend is trying to ruin him, and the more he lies, the more difficult it becomes to come clean.

This novel is really what you would expect from the synopsis, and I expected quite a bit of teen drama and being over-the-top. However, I feel like the execution of the plot really made this not as enjoyable as it could've been. In my opinion, the fun and the draw of books with such a plot is the excitement of the chase and not really knowing the identity of the person the protagonist is trying to find. Otherwise, it really just is one person lying to the other for no good reason. And unfortunately, Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is just Noah lying to his friend because he doesn't want to come clean.

What I mean by this is, that Noah immediately figures out the identity of his friend, there is no mystery, there is no uncertainty, he's just right on his first guess, and that's it. Knowing that, it felt extremely strange that he would continue pretending, as he really has no reason to keep lying. I understand it makes him nervous, as he figured out his identity and became a part of the show pretty much against their agreement to keep their friendship online, but if he didn't want to come clean at any point, what was his plan? Anyways, all this to say, I didn't really enjoy just reading about Noah just lying for the sake of lying.

All that said, teens will be teens, and I give Noah some leeway here, I can sort of understand where he was coming from in the beginning. The novel did have some really sweet moments, and I found Noah’s relationship with his mom interesting to read about. They were both way too dramatic, but family is complicated, and I appreciated that part of the book.

Obviously the book is not all bad, it makes for a fun, fast read, I simply expected more from the execution, given what the premise was. I enjoyed the ending, the kind of open, we’ll see what happens conclusion to Noah’s story, and I find it fitting - you can’t mastermind relationships into a desired outcome, you have to see where it goes naturally. As always, this is just my opinion, and if you’re interested in the book, definitely give it a go! :)

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Seventeen-year-old Noah Mitchell is in love with his online gamer friend, Magepants69. The boys have played online together for years and know everything about each other except their IRL identities. When Magepants69 drops a hint that leads Noah to believe he might be acting in the same play Noah’s mom is starring in, Noah joins his mom’s play despite having no experience with acting, singing, or dancing. His plans to make Magepants69 fall in love with him might be a little harder than expected, though, especially as he conceals the fact that they know each other online. What will happen when the truth is finally revealed?

I had expected the story to be about Noah trying to figure out which boy in the play might be Magepants69, but in reality, he figured it out almost immediately and then spent the remainder of the book lying to him about knowing each other. Because of that, it was filled with cringe-worthy moments. Maybe I could have overlooked it better if I were closer to his age, but I really just wanted to shake some sense into Noah. Matthew Backer did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

Well, that was the hilarious romp into community theater culture I needed to heal my Florida-induced seasonal depression (since Florida only has one season... yes. It might just be regular, garden-variety "the sun is killing me like a grocery store rotisserie" depression).

Firstly, I highly recommend the audiobook. Not only is the narrator immensely talented in bringing Noah and company to life, but the audio edition features an interview with the author at the end and I am a sucker for interviews with authors.

While the overall tone of this is lighthearted, funny, and fabulous, there are some heavier themes and I appreciated the deft skill Madden handled them with. Divorce. Body image. Relationships, platonic and otherwise. <i>Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell</i> handles a lot of the usual YA themes but the skill with which they're handled is above average.

Highly recommend, especially for anyone feeling nostalgic about theater in a small town. This book was brilliant.

Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 4

Great audio performance and a good story.

This is my second audiobook by this author and narrator combination and I liked it a lot. I have to admit that I liked the author’s debut novel, Anything But Fine a bit better but Take a Bow was still very good.

I haven’t been in high school for over 50 years but I can still remember things that weren’t so great. I really felt for Noah because he felt like he had no friends (doesn’t everyone feel that way at some point?). he things that were done to him at school were very mean and reminiscent of things that happened during my high school years. What he did to get with MagePants69 was a bit extreme but I’m sure that kind of thing has happened in real life. His relationship with his mother and father wasn’t hard to understand and I found it very believable.

I enjoyed Matthew Backer’s audio performance. The voices he did for each character were easy to distinguish and I really loved the ones he did for the characters in the online game that Noah and Eli play together.

<spoiler>Don’t look for an HEA or even and HFN. The reader is left to come to their own conclusion about Noah and Eli’s relationship. That would usually bother me but I think it worked well in this case. </spoiler>

A review copy of the ebook and audiobook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

Content warnings: bullying, body shaming, characters that struggle with their body image, talks of online child endangerment

Ok, so overall, this is a cute story that combines teens that love playing computer RPGs with theatre kids and mixes in a romance. BUT... I really don't like the lying about your identity trope when it carries out for almost 70% of the book (especially with our protagonist knowing they are lying for that same amount of time). While I understand why Noah didn't tell Eli until their hand was forced... there is nothing cute or sweet about one person using a secret connection in order to facilitate a relationship with someone. As much as I liked Noah and Eli together, Eli deserves better and Noah needs to really work on themselves before they are in a relationship with anyone.

The theatre bits were done well and the author's interview at the end of the audiobook thankfully explains why the musical Cats was such a thing (because in the moment I was really questioning it because well, it's Cats). I would have loved to have had more of Noah's sister in the story.

Overall the audiobook performance is expertly done with sound effects that add another layer to the story. Matthew Backer does an excellent job with the narration.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, RB Media, and Recorded Books in exchange for an honest review.

This book really took me by surprise. I didn’t know if it would be my thing, but it actually ended up being really cute! I’m not a fan of the lying trope (aka the entire premise of this book), but I still thought it was a really fun and lighthearted story for the most part. It was exactly the type of book I needed right now, and it was one of those books you just fly through without having to try.

I loved the musical theater portion of it, and the gaming was even entertaining to me, a non-gamer. I thought a lot of the characters were really likable and different. I really loved how each character supported Noah in their own way, and made a point of showing him they cared about him and that he mattered. There were a lot of really sweet moments not only between Noah and Eli, but also between Noah and his mom, Noah and Alex and even Noah and Prisha.

This was just a really sweet story of a boy finding his worth, and learning that there are people who care about him. It really tugged at my heartstrings and I had a great time reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5 rounded up.

This is a salty and sweet coming of age queer high school rom-com. Noah is an avid online gamer who falls in love with his anonymous online gamer bestie! Then he meets said gamer in real life as they’re involved in a local theater production. So begins a plot line of lies with Noah desperate to come clean, but not willing to risk it all.

Sincere thanks to Recorded Books Media and Netgalley for this advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

'Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell' is a pretty quick and sweet read that I feel many will enjoy! it wasn't my favorite book but it had many enjoyable aspects. We get messy queer teens and just a fun plot overall. The main story is centered on a lie but it isn't handled poorly. There's a lot of other things that made the book delightful at times such as the inclusion of theater and gaming. Definitely make sure to check it out if it seems like your thing!

3.5 Stars rounding up to 4

I recommend you read this book if you enjoyed Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall or Unnecessary Drama by Nina Kenwood

~ Synopsis from Goodreads~
Noah is in love with his online best friend. Which is a huge problem, for the following reasons:
1. His crush has no idea.
2. Noah only knows him as his gaming avatar.
3. There’s zero chance they’ll ever meet in real life.
So, when Noah sees an opportunity to secretly meet his crush, he takes it. Even if that means joining the local theatre production of Chicago.

~ Review ~
Sometimes you just want to get swept up in a cute and light romance story and this book was exactly that. It was a really easy read and also great to listen to (I did both). It was predictable and the story was rather straightforward but that doesn’t bother me too much in a YA romance. I have a love of musical theatre so I was sold as soon as I read Chicago in the blurb and the gaming references made my inner nerd sing.

I was a bit hesitant to read a book based around a lie, especially when it comes to relationships. Some scenes made me feel a bit ick, but overall I think Madden wrote it well and the resolution was believable.

Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is a charming and entertaining story that celebrates the joy of gaming, community theater, and the importance of being true to oneself. The protagonist, Noah, is a talented young gamer who joins a community theater production in the hopes of finally meeting his online crush, MagePants69. The illustrations are lively and engaging, capturing the excitement and energy of both the gaming and theatrical worlds. The writing is witty and humorous, making the reader root for Noah as he navigates this new and unexpected challenge.

The story also explores the complexities of online relationships and the power of community. The themes of love, acceptance, and self-discovery are expertly woven throughout the narrative, making the reader root for Noah as he navigates the ups and downs of this new and exciting adventure. And as Noah's secrets start to come to light after the debut performance, he must confront the importance of being honest and standing up for himself.

This is a must-read for young gamers, theater enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates the bond between a parent and child. It's also a sweet and funny story that will leave a smile on your face and a love of the arts in your heart.

I will post a more in depth review on Goodreads because this is already archived now, but what a cute story! I picked this one up because I loved Anything But Fine, and Madden did not disappoint!

"I feel like a star. As in, a literal star. One that's about to burst into a supernova at any second. Because we finally got it right. Noah Mitchell and Elijah Callaghan. Two real-life boys and a first kiss that actually happened."

Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell follows queer Ballarat teenager, Noah Mitchell. Unfortunately, he's in love with MagePants69, the online gaming partner he's never met. But then MagePants69 slips up and mentions rehearsals, Noah realises he's referring to the local production of Chicago his mum stars in that needs extra cast members. So Noah (who's never performed in his life), joins the musical, meets Elijah a.k.a MagePants69 and is determined to make him fall in love with him before revealing his online identity.

I really enjoyed Tobias Madden's debut novel, Anything But Fine, so I was so excited to read Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell. I ended up mostly listening to the audio and WOW, Matthew Backer is absolutely fantastic 👏🏻.

Now, Noah certainly spun himself a web of lies! Waiting for the metaphorical shoe to drop did make me nervous, but the journey was very enjoyable and his character growth was great. There was also a lot of depth, from Noah's relationship with his mum to his relationship with Eli to his role in the musical to his body image struggles to him finally standing up to his old friends/current nemeses.

At its core, the book is about so much more than just love, which I personally love! It's also about family (particularly parental relationships), friends and finding that sense of community in an unlikely place. And while I'm not always a fan of an open-ended conclusion, it did work in this instance.

So if you enjoy Anything But Fine or are just looking for the next best Aussie YA novel, do yourself a favour and read Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell.

Thanks to RB Media and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

I definitely enjoyed having the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. I expected this to be more of a romcom just based on the cover, but it’s deeper than that and I can appreciate it.

This is so close to being a catfish story - it almost reminds of an episode of that show from back in the day. While it isn’t quite that far and the “catfish” didn’t have malicious intent (like in the episode I’m thinking of), it’s pretty clear that’s what it happening.

Even so, I found this story to be everywhere and nowhere all at once but in a good way. It was like following along in Noah’s brain - and it gave an interesting insight into the character and his motives for his actions.

Definitely enjoyed. Definitely recommend. Huge thanks to NetGalley for this one!

I enjoyed this book so much! It had so many aspects that kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept wanting to read more because I wanted to see more of the romance, I needed to know what happened with Noah's ex-friends, and I was constantly on edge about when Eli would find out about Noah's big secret. This book had so many reasons for me to keep coming back for more.
I loved Noah and Eli's relationship online and IRL, even though my heart hurt every time Noah lied to Eli, especially online. Even though Noah made a lot of poor decisions, I still couldn't help but love his character. I loved Eli too. There were so many great characters and then there were some that I just wanted to strangle! When you read the book I'm sure you'll know who I'm talking about.
Something I really appreciated and enjoyed was the fact that the author went into detail about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the musical so I felt like I was part of the show. I also liked the gaming aspect. Pretty much I enjoyed the whole story, including the ending! The ending was a mix of emotions but I thought it was perfect!
I can't wait to see what Tobias Madden comes up with next!

audio specific: I loved the narrator so much! one of my favorite narrators! It was perfect. I really liked that they included sounds for the notifications for the online messaging conversations and when characters made phone calls it actually sounded like one voice was being heard over the phone. It added a whole new aspect to the listening experience.

content warning: bullying, body shaming/body image, infidelity

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this book, though maybe not quite as much as I enjoyed Madden's first book. Overall, I felt like there was just too much happening in this, it felt rather chaotic; there were at least three storylines going on, and it was just about much.

As I didn't go to high school (home schooled), I can't speak to what it would be like for someone in Noah's position (with being bullied), but it seemed a bit extreme? I know there was all of this background stuff that had happened, but I was surprised that he would put up with so much.

And I felt a bit weird about him lying so much to Eli. I know things kind of got out of hand, but also, yikes?

I did really like how the book ended. Obviously we had the third act conflict and I really like how it was all handled and resolved.

Overall, a decent book, but not a standout for me.

Thank you to Recorded Books Media and Netgalley for this ALC.

When Noah has the opportunity to meet his online crush IRL, he jumps on it even though he knows his friend isn't supposed to meet him. But trying to keep his online roleplaying life separate from his IRL acting life is harder than he thought...and his romance might just fall apart along with the rest of his life.

I....had problems with this book. It is compelling and I like the writing and the plot, but...
Okay what I mainly had issues with was that this relationship was hella toxic and I feel like it was romanticized. There are obviously problems that they talk about...but so much of the toxicity isn't addressed or it is addressed badly. For example, Eli tries to push Noah to drink when he is uncomfortable. Later, instead of having a discussion about it, Noah says he doesn't want to talk about it and they just move on and never address it again! I feel like the toxic aspects of this relationship really needed to be addressed more in the book.. I also didn't like the ending because of spoiler reasons so I won't say.

Anyway.. Yeah. Mainly think this was really problematic with the romanticizing of such a toxic relationship.

CW: divorce, infidelity, lying, stalking (kind of?), bullying, toxic relationship

Audiobook Review - Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is a fantastic contemporary YA novel. The characters are diverse and realistic. Readers will relate to the characters and cheer for Noah as he navigates friendships, both virtual and IRL, relationships, and family. This audiobook (and the physical book) belong in all YA collections.

Take A Bow, Noah Mitchell is about a teenage gay boy who would love nothing more than to stay in his own space playing video games with his online bestie. Except he doesnt know any real details about his online friend except that he's a fellow gay boy in his town. When his friend let's it slip that he got home from rehearsal, Noah takes a huge gamble that his friend is in the same rehearsal of Chicago that his mom is the leading role in.

The absolute last thing Noah wanted to do when his mom suggested it, was join the cast, but once he things MagePants69 could be there, he jumps onboard immediately.

Noah has a problem with the truth. He had a negative experience that leads to bullying and the loss of friends so he decides that he's not gonna tell Eli about their online friendship. As you can expect, this gets MESSY very fast.

If the lying trope isn't for you, I suggest you skip this one, but I ended up really enjoying it. I adored the ending and the realistic nature of it.

Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is the best of YA. It's messy and chaotic and full of drama, just like teenagers are. It's also full of new love and first times and future hope. Now don't get me wrong, you're gonna be screaming at Noah to just tell the truth, and you're gonna think Eli is overreacting, and you're gonna be so mad at the secondary characters for being over the top bullies, but you're also gonna be there for the moment that Noah learns his lesson and Eli learns to take a chance and the secondary characters get a stern talking to.

A note for the audiobook:
PLEASE please stop having narrators say the full email or phone number every time their character communicates via email or text. It's so annoying and rips you right out of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I will first just give kudos the narrator who did a wonderful job. Onto the content: Noah Mitchell has no friends. Literally, not one. Unless you count someone he met playing a video game. He knows this person lives somewhat near him and he knows the person is a gay boy but knows not much else because the mystery boy is not allowed to give out a single piece of personal information or his mother will stop him from gaming permanently. This is something both boys take seriously. Noah's mom is in a local production of the musical "Chicago" and she has been trying her best to get him to join her in the ensemble. His mother is a character. I didn't care for her much and as a mother myself, I cringed at how she talked to and treated her son. When Noah's gamer friend starts being late for their scheduled gaming sessions because he is doing some kind of extracurricular activity, the timing seems to line up almost exactly the same time Noah's mom returns from Chicago rehearsals. All of a sudden Noah is quite on board to join the Chicago cast. The book takes a bit of a rough turn as Noah is dealing with bullying and the loss of his once friends, as well as with the relationships to his mother and father. Noah is awkward as heck and it comes across in this book. I just felt bad for this guy. However, Noah decides to lie to the face of the boy he suspects is his gamer friend, even as Noah and the other actor grow closer and closer. This book was good but it did have one of my biggest annoyances as a reader. It had a huge crisis that came apart solely because the narrator kept secrets he should have never kept. Or just generally ridiculously bad communication between characters. Still I liked where the book and characters stood once they resolved their issues. I would be interested in reading more books from this author and I always enjoy stories with good representation.

Link to Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5169717359

Rep: gay mc, gay li, queer scs, POC scs

This is a cute coming of age romance book. Noah plays an online mmorpg with a friend he’s never met before, who he actually has a crush on. His mom is in a musical and tries to convince Noah to join. When he puts pieces of information together, he suspects his online friend is in it, so he joins to be able to find out who he is and get to know him in real life, maybe even become boyfriends. Sounds like a great plan, nothing can go wrong, right?

I like to play video games and I have multiple online friends, so I really liked that aspect and it resonated with me. I don’t have a crush on any of them, but I do know what its like to have online friends and having lots of discussions with them. I haven’t ever been in a musical, but I liked those elements.

It was cute getting to see Noah and Eli talk online and then seeing their friendship grow in person as well. It’s one of those books where you watch the main character make bad decisions, lie and dig their own grave, where you just wanna yell at them to do the right thing. You know by the end shit will hit the fan and it will all blow up in their face. Where they have so many opportunities to come clean yet don’t. So many books have this trope, but I suppose it’s to show that no one is perfect and sometimes we go through a mess to learn and grow in the end of it all.

Noah’s mom was really annoying and self centered. I was just waiting for Noah to stand up for himself and tell her off lol but I hate confrontations so I don’t blame him for staying silent so long. Even after they talk, I still wasn’t a fan of her, after everything that happened.

The narrator did a good job. I also liked the extra chimes and effects they added for texts and whatnot. The cover is also really nice.

I liked the author interview at the end. They mentioned that a few characters from his previous book are in this one. I read that book months ago, so I didn’t even realize 😅 I really like this concept though! It’s a nice Easter egg for fans of his.

Overall, I’d recommend this to anyone who likes video games, musicals and coming of age stories.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book