Book Review: "Secrets of My Hollywood Life"

Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita is the first book in a series by the same title, written for teens. The premise of this first book is essentially a spin on the classic starlet-leading-a-double-life plot. (Think Hannah Montana, without the redneck overtones.) Kaitlin Burke is the hot young star du jour, best known for playing one of the long-running starring roles on the soap opera Family Affair. Since she's been playing the role since she was a toddler, she's never known any semblance of normalcy in her life, ever. She's always craved it and been obsessed with how all the 'normal' kids live, even though most people would kill for the sort of opportunities she's had. Her family has never let her really take so much as a break the entire time she's been on the show, telling her that "vacations are for normal people" and not for stars who want to keep their name in the public conscious.

Naturally, she eventually hits the point of burn out and needs a break. But, where wuold she go? In her obsessive quest for normalcy, she develops a plan that, instead of working non-stop during the soap opera's hiatus, she'll go to school like a normal teenager instead. But how could she, America's #1 'It Girl', go to school without being mobbed and without being placed on a pedestal? Easy. Create another persona. One who's poor, British, can't afford nice clothes, and looks absolutely nothing like her, and adopt a false name and backstory.

All is not well with this plan though. Not only was she offered the audition of a lifetime by her favorite ever film producer/director almost the same day that she hatched this plan, but the media is taking notice of her absence on the typical Hollywood scene. Her co-star, who's always hated her and fought with her like cats and dogs, is planting nasty rumors about her left and right as well. And of course, there's the stress of maintaining the double life and making sure that they in no way whatsoever overlap, and that nobody finds out.

But as you can imagine....she eventually does get found out. And it's not pretty. But, the aftermath is completely unexpected and I didn't even see it coming. I'm very impressed!

Overall, I thought this was a really well-written book. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series! I'm rating this a 5 out of 5 stars. :)