Sophie Reads YA: Egmont

2020 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: Dramas of a Teenage Heiress (Hotel Royale #2) by Katy Birchall

10:00

Dramas of a Teenage Heiress
Series: Hotel Royale #2
Author: Katy Birchall
Published September 9th 2018 by Egmont

Goodreads Synopsis
A brand new laugh-out-loud series from rising star Katy Birchall, author of the much-loved It Girl series. Perfect for readers of 10+ and fans of Geek Girl, Super Awkward and channel 4's Derry Girls.

1. If anyone was going to be photographed FIRST holding that handbag, it was going to be Fritz.
2. And if it was a little too big for Fritz, then it was going to be ME.
3. And if it wasn't me, then maybe the Queen or Beyoncé or someone.
4. Whoever it was, it was not going to be gossip columnist Nancy Rose . . .

When a scurrilous journalist writes a very mean article about hotel heiress Flick Royale after 'an unfortunate incident' over a handbag designed for her pet daschund Fritz, she is mortified. Especially when it goes viral! She has to find a way to show the world that she's not the spoilt brat she's been made out to be.

But with not enough followers on even Fritz's Instagram account, let alone her own, she needs to find a bigger crowd to tell the real story to. But how?

Find out in this brilliant sequel in the Hotel Royale series.
Goodreads

Review
I enjoyed the first book in this series, so thought to give book 2, Dramas of a Teenage Heiress, a try. This time around, Flick is facing social media nightmares, when a 'popular' vlogger, Nancy Rose, starts to spread negative messages about her, some of which have a bit of truth in them. This leads to Flick being dropped from the exclusive 50 Heirs to Watch list, and she's distraught. Appearing to save the day is her aunt, who brings with her a reality TV show, who want to film a pilot about Flick's life. Pretty much everyone else is against this, but Flick jumps at the chance, and relishes the attention - especially as ex-best friend Ella has infiltrated her friendship group, seems to want to spend all her time with Cal, and may be spreading bad information about Flick to Nancy Rose. Will the TV show be the making of Flick, or is it another bad idea?

Again, this book was enjoyable, but definitely read young - I definitely don't see how it can be compared to Derry Girls, if I'm being honest. Flick isn't as annoying as she had been in the first book, but there were times I was rolling my eyes at her, and neigh on begging her to give her head a shake - especially when the TV show became involved. Here, she became a bit of a diva and really started to alienate her friends, but she did come to her sense later on. The ending of the book was quite ambiguous, and seeing how it was released a few years ago, I don't think there's going to be a third, so I would've like it to be wrapped up a bit more.

Dates Read:

May 15, 2020

Rating
3 Stars

2019 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Secrets of a Teenage Heiress (Hotel Royale #1) by Katy Birchall

10:00

Secrets of a Teenage Heiress
Series: Hotel Royale #1
Author: Katy Birchall
Published January 11th 2018 by Egmont

Goodreads Synopsis
Flick's family have owned The Royale – one of London's most prestigious hotels – for generations. But Flick isn't that interested. She is interested in the newest guest – superstar celebrity Skylar Chase, and Sky's mega-famous group of friends, including dreamy YouTube star, Ethan Duke. But just as Flick gets the chance to join their glittering squad, she gets grounded following an unfortunate incident involving a prince, a wardrobe and a selfie stick (it could have happened to anyone!). With only her Instagram star pet dachshund, Fritz, for company, will Flick find a way to escape The Royale and join the fame game?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

I can't even really remember being sent this book, but one say I was looking through my shelves for my next read, and spotted this, complete with publicity details inside. Secrets of a Teenage Heiress follows Flick Royale, the daughter of the current owner of The Royale - one of the best hotels in London - as she navigates life as an heiress and as a regular teenager. She wants to be able to be with the most famous guests in the hotel, namely Skylar Chase, but getting close to them isn't without it's own difficulties. Follow a whole series of calamities, Flick is grounded, and forced to help out around the hotel, learning the ropes, which brings her closer to once friend, Cal.

I did enjoy this book, and it was such a fast read, but for me, it read very young. I think it's marketed as YA, but I felt like it was more MG at times. Flick was annoying and bratty when we first met her, but she grew over the course of the book, especially as she came to terms with how lucky she was to live in this hotel, and not to take all the people who work there for granted. Really, the staff in the hotel was more like a family, and Flick definitely seemed to appreciate her privileged position. The friendship group around Flick, not counting mean girl Ella, was really sweet, and seemed natural - especially how close Flick and Grace became.

Dates Read:

May 8-9, 2019

Rating
3 Stars