The Backups by Alex de Campi

First, a word from the publisher: “Spending an entire summer on tour as a backup singer for pop star Nika Nitro? What?! That’s the DREAM, right? Especially for Jenni, Lauren, and Maggie, three misfit performing arts students with hopes of making it in the music world. But being twenty feet from fame isn’t easy. Between crushes, constant rehearsals, Nika’s sky-high expectations, and their own insecurities, this dream is starting to feel more like a nightmare. And that’s before they accidentally start a beef with a rival band threatening to reveal a secret that could end Nika’s career. Can this trio of new friends come together to save the tour, or will the Backups be kept out of the spotlight forever?“

What Worked For Me:

The primary cast are women, which is nice to see.
The work also includes LGBTQ representation, though not in the main cast. It’s something.
The messages at the heart of the work, while “corny,” are positive: self-acceptance, honesty, and a what it really means to be a performer.
The art style is consistent, despite the fact that four different artists are credited on the work. That alone is impressive to me, even if the art on offer didn’t really blow me away.
I appreciated the inclusion of “bonus content” (namely, additional outfits for the main cast).

What Didn’t Work For Me:

The work includes a number of romance subplots which take up a fair amount of run-time in the work. This isn’t a bad thing, per se, but it wasn’t really to my taste. I would’ve preferred a story that focused more on the relationships between the main cast.
It felt like the cast became friends really quickly. I understand why this was done; the plot demanded it. I just wish there was a bit more time spent on the development of said friendships.
One of the most interesting plot lines in the work focuses on a secondary character, and thus, doesn’t get as much time in the proverbial spotlight. It’s revealed early on that the pop star the main cast are serving as back-up singers for has vocal nodules and may lose her ability to sing. This lead to questions of authenticity, what it means to be a singer versus a performer, and who a performer should seek to serve.
Folks who don’t like a saccharine sweet ending may be disappointed by this one. Also, the “all hope is lost” moment in the final act of the work stretches credulity. Basically, the main trio piss off a rival band called The Spoils. In retaliation, they break into the stadium where the MCs are performing as backups and delete the pop star’s vocals. This raises so many questions: how did they get there before the show if the MCs were struggling to do so? How did all four of them get backstage with only one tour badge? How did they A) find the system used to play the lip-synced vocals, B) get access to make edits, and C) know how to wreck things up? The more I think about this plot point, the less it makes sense to me.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking for a feel-good story that focuses on music, friendship, and coming of age, The Backups may be worth a look. While the work sidelines some of its most interesting plot lines, it’s still a short, uplifting read. If you don’t expect to much from it (and don’t think too hard about the ending), you’ll probably enjoy this one.

Check it out here.