Art Boss: (Young Adult Fiction, Aspiring Artist Story, Novel for Teens) by Kayla Cagan

Art Boss: (Young Adult Fiction, Aspiring Artist Story, Novel for Teens) Reviews

• 
  Kate Olson

  🎨 LOVED IT | @chroniclebooks #partner
  .
  I adored @kayla_cagan_writer ‘s last book (Piper Perish) and was ecstatic to hear there would be a sequel......and oh my goodness did this live up to and exceed my expectations 😍 While the first book was solidly a high school YA story, this one definitely moves past that as Piper is now graduated and living in NYC, but it remains 100% YA friendly, almost innocent compared to so much gritty YA now.
  .
  A love letter to the city. A love letter to art of all kinds. An ode to Andy Warhol. A feminist coming of age story that will steal the heart of anyone hoping to break out on their own. Deeper than I expected but just as sweet and rambling as I hoped it would be, this novel in journal entries and sketches is a WINNER. Love, love, LOVE.
  .
  NOTE: while this is a sequel, I do think you can read it as a stand-alone given the different setting and so many new characters.
  .
  Thanks a million to @chroniclebooks for this free review copy ❤️
• 
  catherine ♡

  Ooh. Okay. So I didn't know this book was a continuation of Piper Perish, so I will most likely go back and read that. So that may have affected my reading. Overall though, unfortunately, I just didn't connect with this writing style at all.
  
  I was really excited to read this at first - and I love experimental books, so the little drawings and doodles throughout the book were great and I still loved them. But the writing style itself, and the main character was just...annoying It can only be described as peppy. The book was full of "SOOOOOO" and "OMGs" and "ILU!!" as much as I love happiness, one can only take so much before it gets overbearing.
  
  The book was also quite slow and nothing really happened to progress the story until the last quarter of it. So, for someone who was neither invested in the characters nor taken in by the writing style, it just felt like a slog.
• 
  Melanie Biehle

  I didn’t want this book to end! I loved Piper’s enthusiasm and I felt like I was right there with her on artistic adventures. I think I loved Art Boss even more than the first book! ❤️
• 
  Meghan

  I received this book as an advanced reader's copy due to the popularity Piper Perish was to our readers. This was a fascinating companion to the book that I know our young adult reader's will enjoy. Art Boss really puts the reader in perspective on following their dreams and the will of sacrifice the dream causes. A wonderful read that we are giving 5 stars for.
• 
  Barbara

  Picking up where the previous book left off, this one finds budding artist Piper Perish in New York City living the dream she's imagined for much of her life. She's left her family back in Houston and is spending the fall semester working for Carlyle Campbell while she waits for financial aid to start art school in January. But not surprisingly, living in the city is expensive, and even though her job also pays for her rent in a small room, she struggles financially. Being an artist, of course, she starts making art right away, sketching snippets of New York life that catch her eyes, and posting images of them as #NYSeen--clever, that!--and rebuilding the art installation that caught the eyes of Carlyle and Kennedy, his assistant. But her dreams of forming a deep bond with Carlyle and chatting about their artist visions are sadly misplaced since he isn't the warmest person she's ever met, and she eventually realizes that he's using her for her creative ideas and then taking credit for them. Then, too, she is sadly disappointed in Silas, her school mentor and would-be romance, since there are no sparks between them in real life, and he has plenty of issues of his own. Just like the other book, this one is told in a series of dated entries--these start in August and conclude in November--that are often breathless and breezy with mostly short paragraphs followed by occasionally longer ones. There's plenty of humor and self-awareness as well as some cynicism about the established art world and what Piper might have to give up in order to achieve her dreams. Good thing that she has made a good friend in Grace, a poet who lives in the same women's residence and a new supportive love interest. While I enjoyed reading this book, I wish there had been more discussion of how she was keeping herself fed on such a small budget and how she plans to sustain the intense effort she has had to put in just to survive while working multiple jobs and trying to make art. There are so many different types of art that were described here and so much playing the game--doing the work that needs to be done in order to do what someone really wants--that is realistic, but I'm not so sure that I bought the ending when things came together for her so nicely. Still, it's clear to me that any teens who love art and dream of making it big in NYC will adore this book with its many references to cool venues and activities.
• 
  Claire

  This book picks up just after graduation. Piper has to face that her best buds are not going to the the trio that takes New York. She settles into a room in NYC and jumps into her job creating a back drop for a debut clothing designers first show. (No pressure there!)
  All kinds of challenges surface but Piper is plucky and determined to follow this through. Frankly this is a do or die situation. She has to succeed with the show so she has money for college - her parents have had to divert her college fund to her sister's crisis (find out about that in the book Piper Perish)
  A strong follow up- direct self reflective narration as Piper navigates her way in the big city and ink renderings throughout keep the pages turning. There is suspense, but Piper persists.
• 
  Jennifer

  It took me a few chapters to get used to the main character Piper, but I fell in love with the book, and the NYC it portrayed quickly. 5 stars! Note: Turns out this a sequel... so that explains the diving into the main character. beginning. Edit 2: I'm on the train, have a new book ready to go, and I kind of have a major book hangover. I think I'll go back and read the first book. I might even have it! Lol. Edit 3: Didn't have it so I bought it!
• 
  Erika (BookHoarder32)

  Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read early and review.
  Piper's back and she's finally realized her dream of moving to New York. It was fun to hang out with Piper again and follow her as she makes new friends and art in New York. I liked watching her ever-changing relationship with Silas, her school mentor.
  If you enjoyed Piper's journey in the first book and needed more, you'll enjoy this portion of her journey in New York to become an Art Boss.
• 
  Rebecca Balcárcel

  Meet Piper Perish, up close and personal! This first person, journal-style book gives the reader a front row seat to Piper's brain, and that's a fun place to be because she's an artist, a teen finding her way in a new city, and a gal who is discovering that she can make meaning, not just money -- which is good because she has a lot more meaning than money!
  
  Young adults will key into Piper's search for authenticity in the fashion world of New York City. Plus, it's fun to see what everyone is wearing! They'll also celebrate her triumphant assertion of her own identity when she stops letting others use her talents and takes the steering wheel of her own artistic life. The romantic subplot works better than most because the not-the-one guy becomes a friend. Readers may want to check out the book preceding this one, Piper Perish, but it's not required.
  
  For NYC buffs, this book holds a special treat. As Piper explores the city -- from the furniture left on curbs to the Empire State Building to homeless folks to the iconic public library (remember the lions?) -- she sketches and creates a hashtag, #NYSeen, for all the spots she's seen. These come in handy later, but you'll have to read the book to see how!
  
  I enjoyed my peek into Piper's first months in NY, as her initiative and creativity grow and she comes into her own as an adult. Piper's voice is one I'm going to miss now that the book has ended. Her ups and downs are fun to follow because her journal (the book in our hands) keeps her honest. She admits to faults and conflicting feelings as well as confessing her hopes and values. Ultimately, Piper succeeds in matching her insides to her outsides, as she says, bringing the best of herself off the page and into the world.
  
  Recommended!
• 
  Gmr

  ART BOSS...I was happy to see the title phrase in book one, but surprised to see it applied to our girl Piper for book two. Happily surprised, mind you, but still, the shift was unexpected. Anywho, this time around, our fabulous girl Piper is taking on the Big Apple, meeting new friends while holding on to those long bonded with, and figuring out just how to make her art AND her mark in the world! It's not the future she dreamed of, but it's definitely a learning experience and with some fairly notable names to boot! I mean, it's not every day one gets to be involved in New York Fashion Week, am I right? A world of possibilities is at her feet, but the walk is gonna be anything but paved in gold. From creative roadblocks to personal struggles, artistic challenges to dream crushers, it's enough to smash anyone's spirit...but then again, you have to know Piper. She's not the girl to take things lying down...well, for long at least...and she's definitely not one to give up (after a good pep talk, either from herself or her besties)! Suffice it to say, this is one rise to fame you won't want to miss!
  
  
  **ARC received for review
• 
  Joli

  Rating 4.5 out of 5
• 
  Pamela

  Piper Perish has arrived in New York City from Houston a fresh-eyed budding artist under contract to a fashion designer and modern artist who wants her to create seven copies of a piece of her work he saw on the Internet. It has been a dream of hers to move to NYC and become the artist she knows she is destined to be. At first, the City is as entrancing as she dreamed it to be. Then her work for the artist begins in earnest and her own art takes a back seat to her duties as one of his assistants.
  
  This is Cagan’s second book. It’s an outstanding read. Piper Perish is a believable character who tells her story in the form of journal entries over the course of her first couple of months after her arrival in NYC. The writing is excellent and Piper is a believable character. This is a book for readers of any age.
• 
  Jenibelle

  *I received this book as an ARC
  Blog:
  https://timeturnerbookreviews.blogspo...
  
  Art Boss is a stunning and put together sequel to the well known book, Piper Perish. Although I did not read Piper Perish prior to reading this book, I still fully understood the plot of the story. Piper is a young artist, that has a big goal in mind to be successful in her career. Throughout the book, I really admired how well put together her character was, and how determined and motivational she was. I also really like how she has such a good group of friends that she made. Her friends, Grace, Silas, and Joe were all very supportive of her decisions and some of them even put their personal conflicts aside just for her. That right there are true friends. Lastly, I would like to mention that the format of the book was SO fitting for the book. It is written in a journal like format and that just allows the readers to get to know Piper by her perspective. The drawings in this book were also really interesting to look at. They represented the personality of the main character exactly. I really enjoyed this light read!
• 
  Kriz

  What I'll Say About This One Is That It Puts Your Dreams In Perspective And Makes You Think About Following And Achieving Them. Dreams And Goals Require Sacrifice. And Piper's Journey Through The Fashion Industry Of New York Is Definitely A Great Example Of The Hard Work You Have To Be Willing To Make To Achieve Success.
  
  #PiperPerish #ArtBoss #KaylaCagan
• 
  Abby

  I would give this book a 3.5 stars. I liked getting to see Piper’s new friends that she meets in New York. I also thought that seeing her transition from Texas to New York was interesting. One thing that really bothered me about this book is how slow it is. Not much happens until the last third of the book, so it was a slow read for me and hard to get into. The plot is not very complex or original, but the characters were what made me enjoy this. I also was not a fan of the writing, because it was very informal and yet not how people really speak. It gives Piper an immature and naive voice, which does kind of fit her character, but she is way more capable and talented than her thoughts when writing in her journal show. I did like getting to see some of her sketches in the book, and I thought that it added a lot to be able to see a rough sketch of what she was describing.
  
  **I received an advanced ebook copy of this book from the publisher for review via NetGalley**
• 
  Tara Weiss

  My New York is not your New York. Not my idea, I attribute it to Colson Whitehead. But it is extremely important to consider this theory because the most realistic part of this book was when Silas says to Piper, "You got your New York legs." People who aren't native to NYC do not keep pace when walking and Piper learns to keep up. Things move fast and so do the people. So fast that this book's innocence is really missing part of the key ingredient to adjusting to the pace of Manhattan. For me, this reads as a naive fantasy of the city. It is the kind of story that conjures illusions of what it means to become a New Yorker.
  But, still, you do fall in love with Piper Perish and root for her to succeed.
  
• 
  The Blonde Bookworm

  I LOVED Piper Perish so I was really excited when Chronicle sent me a copy of Art Boss. I was so excited to see where Piper's career would take her in New York! unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me. I felt like Piper's character was a little more annoying than I remembered and I felt like she complained a lot. I wasn't a huge fan of the other characters either. The drama between Piper and the other characters felt a little forced and silly.
  
  All in all, it was entertaining enough, but it just didn't keep my attention. I think if Piper's character was toned down a little, I might have enjoyed it more. Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.
  
  2.5/5
• 
  Danielle

  Art Boss is the sequel to Piper Perish. I actually have not read Piper Perish but the premise of Art Boss intrigued me. Unfortunately, I just could not get into this novel. I didn't like the format of Piper writing in a journal. It felt a bit disjointed and hard to understand what was happening. The story just didn't engage me and I ended up not finishing the novel.
  
  *I received a free copy from Netgalley*
• 
  Cortney LaScola Hornyak - The Bookworm Myrtle Beach

  I was thrilled when I found out that Piper Perish was getting a sequel... I loved the first book, and I especially loved Piper!
  
  Art Boss was good, but I missed the characters from the first one. Her parents, her friends, even Marli (ugh)... Piper definitely belongs in NY, but the sequel was just missing some of the magic that the first one had.
  
  I really hope that more of Piper's story is on the horizon!
• 
  Amy

  I tried 3 times with this book. It just didn't resonate for me. The blurbs and some reviews indicated that it wasn't essential to read the first book, but I felt there was far too much, especially in the beginning, that I missed from book one. Though I read a lot of YA, am an artist, and love NYC, I'm not the target audience for this book.
  
  Thanks to the publisher and LibraryThing early reviewers program for my copy.
• 
  Shelby

  *i was sent an e arc in exchange for an honest review.* all opinions are my own.
  I really did not like this one. From the beginning I disliked Piper. I found her naïve and not relatable at all. Then we met Silas and something about him bothered me instantly. I didn’t like the way he treated Piper at all. Overall would not recommend unfortunately.
• 
  Joan

  Loved it! Thank you Goodreads for the opportunity to read this book. While I didn’t read the first book it really wasn’t a problem. I feel this is a stand alone story. I will however now make sure to read the first book. This is given me a new writer to look forward to reading.
• 
  BAYA Librarian

  Piper Perish’s dreams have finally come true: she’s living in New York while interning for an artist and is beyond excited to start art school in a few months. Only, things aren’t quite as perfect as she thought they’d be. She misses her family, her room is tiny, her financial aid is in jeopardy, and her
  boss doesn’t care about Piper’s artistic vision. In diary style entries, the novel follows Piper over the course of her first few months in NYC as she makes new friends, learns how to support herself, and make art that matters.
  
  Art Boss is the sequel to the novel Piper Perish, but can easily be understood and enjoyed by someone who hasn’t read the first book. Although it is centered on post high school life, it still has YA appeal. Piper learns to think for herself and believe in her own art even when her boss
  doesn’t. She struggles to support herself financially and learns how to seek support from friends and loved ones. Piper is a relatable main character who makes mistakes and learns to pick herself up. Although not the main story, the novel does deal with activism as Piper incorporates
  environmentalism into her art.
  
  Art Boss is an excellent book to recommend to teens dealing with anxiety about their futures or
  trying to prepare for post high school life. It is also perfect for reluctant readers as the diary entries
  (interspersed with Piper’s art) makes it a simpler read. In terms of diversity, there are some minor
  LGBTQ+ characters, but the majority of the main characters are white. There is a romance sub-plot
  that doesn’t go beyond kissing and there is no violent or triggering material, making this novel
  suitable for teens of all ages. Art Boss is perfect for fans of From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya
  Menon or The Big F by Maggie Ann Martin.
• 
  Nash

  "New york is everything i thought it would be and nothing i expected"- Piper
  
  I love this book with my entire life, and the author as well. Been reading this since it came out in October. Didn't finish it sooner cause i felt too overwhelmed/depressed to actually pick up any book and read it all the way through. But this baby didn't miss a beat. Everytime that i opened this one up and felt motivated enough to continue, it felt like a soothing balm to my soul. I felt like i could understand/identify with Piper and that just made me smile every time.
  
  Not really necessary to read the first book, Piper Perish, if you don't wish to since your essentially reading somebody's journal. A slice of life kind of thing? But man, do yourself a favor and pick that one up too. Seeing the growth of the main character and how she holds her own and is just such a bad-ass fem is such a pleasure. Liked this one more than the last one, and I'm hoping that's what also happens when the next book comes out!
  
  These are my fresh off finishing this book thoughts. I recieved an ARC copy of this book as a giveaway prize from the author but i just felt like sharing this story and how much i love it/has helped me creatively with the world so i highlighted a few quotes. Annotated a bit and left that ARC at a little free library for someone to pick up and get to love "Piper Paris" *wink, wink*- as much as i do... this is a review of a full finished copy i purchased myself.
• 
  Dot

  This book absolutely does work as a standalone, no matter what other reviewers say - I didn't know it was a sequel until after I'd finished it. Although I did wonder why the situations with Marli, Kit, and Enzo weren't fleshed out, the novel is about a young woman pursuing an art career in New York, and that's where the emphasis is. Enough of Piper's backstory was given that we knew she had a past, and people she kept in touch with from back home, and that was plenty.
  
  I liked that this was a realistic Cinderella story - Piper's plucked off the internet to assist a reasonably famous modern artist, but she isn't catapulted into stardom, and she squarely faces the non-glamorous reality of having an art career (including the need to wash dishes in a café). I'd highly recommend this to teens who dream of being artists, and frankly to anyone who wants to read a book about an ambitious young woman who isn't motivated by a search for romance.
• 
  Juan Manuel Sarmiento

  El primer libro cubría casi un año en la vida de la protagonista, mientras que en Art Boss sólo se cubre de septiembre a noviembre, mientras su creativa y su iniciativa van evolucionando y ella misma va madurando como adulta. La voz de Piper es refrescante y ayuda a aligerar la trama, y todo lo que le pasa es divertido de seguir porque su forma de escribir en el diario es honesta y divertida. En su diario puede volcar su frustración, sus errores, sus sentimientos encontrados, y también sus recompensas, esperanzas y valores.
  
  Piper es capaz de alinear su interior con su exterior y sacar a flote lo mejor de sí misma, arrancándose de las páginas para plasmarse en el mundo.
  Reseña completa, el 14 de Noviembre en
  THE BEST READ YET BLOG
• 
  J.H. Diehl

  Piper's ebullient voice sweeps you forward as she discovers New York City, and the city discovers her. Her #NYSeen posts are a brilliant trope for this coming-of-age story of an eighteen-year-old aspiring artist who's just left Houston and is on her own in New York. Piper takes big bites out the Big Apple, and of course it bites back. Cagan captures the energy, exuberance, up and downs of young Piper Perish, at a time when everything from the MET's galleries to the smallest discarded cup in the street serves as inspiration, and a way to connect, to the city, to what art is, and to the palette and promise of the future.
  
• 
  Gina Perry

  I absolutely loved Piper Perish so I was thrilled to jump into her world again. Kayla brilliantly captures the energy and voice of a 19 year old young artist in NYC for the first time. The language is on point for a YA and the addition of sketches throughout seems absolutely critical. I also applaud her ability to accurately and naturally talk about art in the voice of that particular character. The story balances nicely between Piper's work ambition, the building of friendships, and a side of romance.
• 
  Bree | alibraryforone

  DNF'd
  
  This book is said to be a standalone novel, or it also can be read as a companion novel, but that is not true. If you haven’t read Cagan's other book, Piper Perish, you are dropped into a world where you have no idea what's going on. A true standalone novel doesn’t account for you having read the author's other works. For most of what I read of the book I had no idea how or why or what was going on. And since I haven’t read Piper Perish, I feel that I cannot accurately review this book, and that reading farther in will only serve to confuse me further.