Book Review: "Girls On Film (A-List #2)"

Girls On Film is the second book of Zoey Dean's The A-List series, and I have to admit, it's beginning to grow on me - and more than a little.

Previously thin and stereotypical characters are now becoming a bit more fleshed out and 'real', despite their all being of the Hollywood brat variety. Certain amends are made, friendships forged, and bridges even further burned. It's hard to say a whole lot about he storyline of this book without giving away crucial plot points as spoilers, but I must say, also new to the series is the inclusion of Anna's sister Susan; fresh out of rehab - and on a one-way fast track right back in. Things are definitely getting a lot more interesting. I'd really recommend for you all to just read the book, since I don't have a lot of other ways of explaining this one without ruining the element of surprise. This one gets a 4 out of 5 stars - they're getting there!

Book Review: "The A-List"

Having just embarked on the start of a new journey in reading the A-List series by Zoey Dean, I have quite a few things I feel like I need to say about just what I've seen so far in this first book.

It style it's written in is very, very dry. Perhaps this is because of our main character, Anna, being such a goody-goody that this is to reflect her prim and proper upbringing, and perhaps as the series progresses, maybe this will change. Or maybe not. Regardless, it took a while for me to really start feeling 'into' this book, and I have a feeling that this style is why, since the subject matter should have been interesting.

Oh. I should also mention that this thing reads like a trashy reality show. You know the type... The ones with the over-pampered, over-privileged Hollywood princesses acting like spoiled brats just because they can. There's gratuitous sex (well, it's not actually written out, but it's referenced many, many times....but still in that dry, sterile sense that the whole book is), there's cattiness, there's backstabbing, there's drama, you name it. This shit may as well be aired on whatever channel airs Real Housewives of wherever. (I've never actually watched any of those shows, but just from what I've observed from and outsider's point of view, it fits right in with that.) Sure, the catty drama is delicious, but at the same time, it's not very satisfying when you finish the book and go "...that's it?"

The whole story takes place over the course of 3 or 4 days, what's that tell you? (Ironically, I finished the book in just as many.) And yet, there's enough shit-slinging to fill cover-to-cover. Fights over boys. Daddy issues. Abandonment. Dead parents. Celebrity parents. Teen pregnancy. Cheating. Lying. Deceit. It's all here. I'm actually shocked that this book hasn't become a movie or a TV show. It's nothing particularly original, so as a film or show, it would probably tank hard, but that never stopped people like Gossip Girl. (Oh yes, I went there.) I don't know, I wasn't very impressed by this. It's not the most awful book I've ever read, but I can't in good conscience call it good by any stretch. I'm hoping that the rest of the series is better, since I'm going to be reading them anyway. I'm rating this one a 3 out of 5 stars. Fairly mediocre.

Book Review: "Secrets Of My Hollywood Life: There's No Place Like Home"

Well folks, we've officially hit the end of the line in this series. Secrets Of My Hollywood Life: There's No Place Like Home is the sixth, and final, book of the hit series by Jen Calonita. And parts of it are definitely heart-wrenching.

Kaitlin has come a long way since the first book of the series as far as both her life and her career are concerned. But with that also comes the ever-looming realization that she's not in control of her own life, and that if she doesn't make some changes, she never will be. (There's a lot to be learned from this lesson.) Everything around her is changing as well, which makes things that much harder to digest. She's starring on a hit tv series; her mother is pushing her to film not one but TWO films with huge big-name producers; Sky has stolen her personal assistant right out from under her as her new manager; and there's college looming ever-closer as the clock ticks onward. A collapse is imminent. But nobody could ever predict just how, exactly, it would happen.

Much as one can surmise by the cover and the title of the book, there's a heavy influence by The Wizard of Oz. Following a car crash, Kaitlin is thrust into an alternate dimensional version of her life - one where she's not famous and hasn't had the sort of Hollywood upbringing she's always known. Her friends, co-workers, and family are also all vastly different from their real world selves. It takes a realization of self and personal values to help Kaitlin find her way back home.

I have to admit, this isn't how I expected the series to end, but I liked it! (Well, that's to be expected, as I'm a huge Judy Garland fan.) I think it was much-needed to help bring a sense of closure to things, and I can't think of a better way it could have been handle. Major kudos to Jen Calonita for writing such a fabulously entertaining and intriguing series! As always, another huge 5 star review for this book. :)

Book Review: "Secrets Of My Hollywood Life: Broadway Lights"

It's getting very near the end of the run, folks - Broadway Lights is the second the last book in Jen Calonita's Secrets of My Hollywood Life series, and I'm getting kind of bummed about it. I've gotten very attached to these characters over the course of the past month or two when I started reading these - what will ever taken their place? (Then again, I say that every time I hit the end of a series I love.) Regardless, I soaked up every word of this book like a sponge, and not only because of it being so close to the end and loose ends starting to become tied up. I pounced all over it because...

IT'S BASED ON BROADWAY! DUH! :-p

Seriously though, everything about this book held my attention like crazy, and mostly in part because of my love affair with NYC. Sure, it was a little bit of a stereotypical of a view of the world's greatest city, but then again, a lot of stereotypical liberties have been taken as far as the whole views on showbiz throughout the whole series, so I'm not going to dock it down any points for that.

This story takes us through Kaitlin and Austin's first ever lengthy separation, which is heart-wrenching for me to read. Especially with all the jealousy arising from jealousy in the long-distance relationship, it stirred up far too many memories and still-raw emotions of the past within myself to be able to put this book down for long. I HAD to know how it would all end up. (That said, I had expected a little more realistic solution to have arisen, but it is what it is. Que sera sera.) But also, the process of putting together a Broadway production and sharpening it to perfection for the public. This, I have a lot of respect for, given my roots in theatre culture. And there were some completely unpredictable twists and turns along the way as well - I won't give them away, but they were very cool to see!

Overall I'm giving this book yet another big fat 5 out of 5 stars, because it is just divine perfection. :)