Review: Famous in Love (Famous in Love #1) by Rebecca Serle
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Series: Famous in Love #1
Author: Rebecca Serle
Published October 23rd 2014 by Macmillan Children's Books
Goodreads Synopsis
She fell in love with him in the books - now she has the chance to star opposite him in the film . . .
Paige doesn't think she's particularly special, but after getting the starring role in a massive film adaptation of the bestselling Locked trilogy, the rest of the world would disagree. Now she's thrown into the spotlight, and into a world of gossip, rumour and deceit. The only people who know what she's going through are her two male co-stars, and they can't stand the sight of each other. Paige knows it's a mistake to fall in love on the set of a movie, but days of on-screen romance and intensity start to change her mind. The question is, can she keep what happens behind the scenes a secret when the world is watching her every move?
Goodreads
Review
I first read this book not long after it was published last October, and remember really enjoying it. I thought I would reread it before the publication of Truly, Madly, Famously, and enjoyed it just as much the second time around.
In Famous in Love, the main character, Paige, has always dreamed of one day become a proper actress. When she lands the role as the female lead in the film adaptation of a best selling series, it's as if all of her dreams have come true. She is now a recognised name across America, and is set to become a major star. However, this doesn't mean life is now easy and carefree. Paige's male co-stars, Rainer and Jordan, have a log history between them, and are at odds with each other. Paige is drawn inexplicitly to both of them, but can't afford for any behind the scene trouble, lest she ruin her career before it begins.
Paige's character was one I loved reading. She seemed like an honestly real person, with real issues, etc. - the only difference being that she is now famous. Even when filming came to an end, she still couldn't understand that she was an honest to god star, and her life would never be as it was before. She never really changed, personality wise, which I enjoyed. She was just a normal teen girl, who was having feelings for two different guys, and trying to come to terms with these emotions. She had family and friends issues, just like anyone else, and the teen angst was not lacking. Famous in Love was just like any other romantic YA contemporary, set with a Hollywood backdrop, in the best way.
The little interspersed information about Hawaii, and the happenings of Hollywood, and all it entails, helped to spread out the angst. I loved that Serle seems to have really done her research into this topic. She showed that Hollywood isn't all glitz and glammer, rather, it is hard work, and it takes tons of people to create a blockbuster.
The male protagonists were very different from each other. Out of the two my favourite was Jordan, as I felt he more understood Paige, and really wanted to help her through the process of creating a film. Rainer, on the other hand, seemed too old, and too 'star'-y for Paige. He didn't really get her when she wanted to be normal, and I sort of feel as if their relationship was more one sided. To me, Rainer was kind of using Paige for more publicity, etc., and to get one up on Jordan. Whenever Jordan was around, Rainer was really touchy-feeling, and possessive over Paige, and that just wasn't on.
The ending was, for me, a bust. I didn't agree with Paige's choices, but considering it's a trilogy, the angst needed to be set up for future books. I hope Paige comes to her senses in either book 2 or 3, and makes the right decisions. Even saying this, I still really enjoyed Famous in Love. It was just a nice, easy book, with lovable characters, and a realistic storyline/plot. It's a book I don't regret re-reading, and I'm sure I'll probably go back to it in the future and re-read again. I would say contemporary lovers would enjoy this, and I'm so excited that Truly, Madly, Famously is out in October!
Dates Read:
August 10-12, 2015
Rating
4 Stars
August 10-12, 2015
Rating
4 Stars
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