mbarnes9's review against another edition
5.0
I devoured this book in one sitting. It was compelling enough to keep me reading for hours straight. If a book doesn’t have anything exciting happening it will usually lose my attention fast, so this book did the trick.
prashannasubedi's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
whatsarahread's review against another edition
4.0
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Famous in Love is the kind of book I just adore; sweet and fun, allows me to daydream…escape. I don’t know about you, but there have been plenty of times when I have wondered what it would be like to be plucked out of my perfectly ordinary (and wonderful) life and set into a completely different life filled with celebrities, luxury and exotic places.
I really enjoyed losing myself in the fantasy of the story of a girl who feels out-of-place and awkward, and watch her get thrust into the glamorous and often times crazy celebrity life. She finds a friend in Rainer, the super-famous and super-swoony young actor and they form an immediate friendship. Rainer can’t help be taken with Paige – he appreciates that she’s down to earth and the fact that she’s unjaded by Hollywood, unassuming and real. Rainer takes her under his wing to support her and help her navigate the new world she finds herself in.
Rainer’s character is a real treat, he’s kind, thoughtful, flirty and sweet, but Serle keeps the reader on its toes as she subtly shows us the differences between Rainer and Paige. Rebecca Serle really crafted a compelling parallel between these two and as soon as we get comfortable with that narrative, we’re introduced to Jordan. The resident “bad boy”, who has a complicated history with Rainer and a Hollywood gossip back story that could be more than meets the eye. Jordan is the total opposite of Rainer; he’s private, quiet and keeps to himself. Serle gives us two totally different swoony guys in this book and she made it really hard to pick just one.
I’m going to be honest with you, I reallllly wanted to hate the potential of a love triangle in this story. That’s not saying I’m anti-triangle, I honestly don’t mind them, but I was so firmly invested in my OTP for this book and then all of a sudden something happened and it threw my whole world into a frenzy. Ok, maybe not my whole world, but it definitely threw me for a loop. Even when I finished the book I wasn’t so sure about the ending. Buuuut, then I thought about it for a while and realized that, wouldn’t you know, it actually works really well for the plot and I was totally on board!
Serle gives us a fantastic cliff-hanger at the end; Paige is at a tipping point in her career and she needs to make decisions that will shape the next few years of her life. Will she go the safe and easy route or will she take a chance with the unknown? It’s a difficult choice that involves heavy sacrifice and this development creates a great shift in the plot. I can’t wait to see where book two takes Paige, Rainer and Jordan.
Famous in Love is the kind of book I just adore; sweet and fun, allows me to daydream…escape. I don’t know about you, but there have been plenty of times when I have wondered what it would be like to be plucked out of my perfectly ordinary (and wonderful) life and set into a completely different life filled with celebrities, luxury and exotic places.
I really enjoyed losing myself in the fantasy of the story of a girl who feels out-of-place and awkward, and watch her get thrust into the glamorous and often times crazy celebrity life. She finds a friend in Rainer, the super-famous and super-swoony young actor and they form an immediate friendship. Rainer can’t help be taken with Paige – he appreciates that she’s down to earth and the fact that she’s unjaded by Hollywood, unassuming and real. Rainer takes her under his wing to support her and help her navigate the new world she finds herself in.
Rainer’s character is a real treat, he’s kind, thoughtful, flirty and sweet, but Serle keeps the reader on its toes as she subtly shows us the differences between Rainer and Paige. Rebecca Serle really crafted a compelling parallel between these two and as soon as we get comfortable with that narrative, we’re introduced to Jordan. The resident “bad boy”, who has a complicated history with Rainer and a Hollywood gossip back story that could be more than meets the eye. Jordan is the total opposite of Rainer; he’s private, quiet and keeps to himself. Serle gives us two totally different swoony guys in this book and she made it really hard to pick just one.
I’m going to be honest with you, I reallllly wanted to hate the potential of a love triangle in this story. That’s not saying I’m anti-triangle, I honestly don’t mind them, but I was so firmly invested in my OTP for this book and then all of a sudden something happened and it threw my whole world into a frenzy. Ok, maybe not my whole world, but it definitely threw me for a loop. Even when I finished the book I wasn’t so sure about the ending. Buuuut, then I thought about it for a while and realized that, wouldn’t you know, it actually works really well for the plot and I was totally on board!
Serle gives us a fantastic cliff-hanger at the end; Paige is at a tipping point in her career and she needs to make decisions that will shape the next few years of her life. Will she go the safe and easy route or will she take a chance with the unknown? It’s a difficult choice that involves heavy sacrifice and this development creates a great shift in the plot. I can’t wait to see where book two takes Paige, Rainer and Jordan.
skyhazzard's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a fun quick read. I would have like to see what happened between her audition and being on set instead of instantly getting there. Also would have liked to know a little more about this book that the movie she's in was based on, she was always just like I won't spoil you, spoil me girl I wanna know.
It was a little frustrating at times with Paige and these two boys. "I have feelings for you but I also have feeling for you. I choose this one but oh I miss the other. I've made my decision, jk changed my mind." Girl you shoulda stuck with your choice, it would have been better for all of you in the end. Idk maybe everything will work out.
Kinda hoping we get to meet this Britney that was mentioned in the book and get more of Jordan and Rainer's relationship in the next one.
It was a little frustrating at times with Paige and these two boys. "I have feelings for you but I also have feeling for you. I choose this one but oh I miss the other. I've made my decision, jk changed my mind." Girl you shoulda stuck with your choice, it would have been better for all of you in the end. Idk maybe everything will work out.
Kinda hoping we get to meet this Britney that was mentioned in the book and get more of Jordan and Rainer's relationship in the next one.
malaynachang's review against another edition
2.0
MY OPINION: **
I am a HUGE fan of the TV series (though I really have to finish season 2). To be completely honest, maybe I shouldn't have started with the TV show (but to be fair, I had no idea it was based on a book. Maybe if I had known, I wouldn't have had such high expectations and it would have been different.
But in my opinion, the TV show is better.
There was NOTHING necessarily WRONG about this book. I think that the writing was not below average, if not a little simplistic, and the characters were likable and relatable, two things I try to look for when reading. So do I have a reason for the two-star rating??
Not really, no.
Something about it didn't click with me, whether it was a couple of scenes or, and I apologize in advance because this isn't the author's fault in the slightest, changes from the TV shows. I did get to know more of the characters by reading instead of watching and I learned more about Paige who definitely became a lot more interesting in the book. But all in all, it just wasn't my favorite.
Rainer Devon (swoon!) was definitely a dreamboat. However, I didn't ship him with Paige. GASP. I definitely should have. I always ship the main characters. But somehow I liked Jordan better (despite him not being a love interest of Paige's in the show). I don't know why but something about their romance felt forced and I feel like I would have liked it better if they had stayed friends. ANOTHER GASP
Jordan Wilder. While I am not used to seeing so much of him in the show, I definitely liked him and shipped him with Paige. In the second book, I hope their ship isn't entirely sunk. I LOVE JORDAN. He is sweet and brave and even if he is a little snarky, he has VERY GOOD REASONS to be. He's romantic and he's Paige's perfect opposite.
Jake (can't remember his last name...). Jake wasn't a love interest like in the TV show but instead stayed her best friend. I don't really like Jake in the show mostly because I ship Paige with Rainer in the TV show but I think that Jake became even more distant in this book. We learn that "he and Paige kissed once or twice" but ultimately they're just friends. I would have liked to see more chemistry between him and Paige though I do understand the whole distance/moving on idea.
Cassandra. She didn't strike me as best-friend material and I couldn't help but dislike her. I think both Paige and Cassandra overreacted about things.
ENDING
*SPOILERS*
I know there's a little more of the story in the second book but from what we know, it's Raige (beautiful ship name). I do plan on reading the rest of the story and seeing what happens but the whole concept of the book vs the TV show was a little different.
I would recommend this book to readers looking for a quick romance about famous people!
Main Character: Paige
Sidekick(s): Rainer, Jordan, Jake, Cassandra, etc
Villain(s): Confusion, misunderstanding, etc
Realistic Fiction Elements: This book was all very real to life
I am a HUGE fan of the TV series (though I really have to finish season 2). To be completely honest, maybe I shouldn't have started with the TV show (but to be fair, I had no idea it was based on a book. Maybe if I had known, I wouldn't have had such high expectations and it would have been different.
But in my opinion, the TV show is better.
There was NOTHING necessarily WRONG about this book. I think that the writing was not below average, if not a little simplistic, and the characters were likable and relatable, two things I try to look for when reading. So do I have a reason for the two-star rating??
Not really, no.
Something about it didn't click with me, whether it was a couple of scenes or, and I apologize in advance because this isn't the author's fault in the slightest, changes from the TV shows. I did get to know more of the characters by reading instead of watching and I learned more about Paige who definitely became a lot more interesting in the book. But all in all, it just wasn't my favorite.
Rainer Devon (swoon!) was definitely a dreamboat. However, I didn't ship him with Paige. GASP. I definitely should have. I always ship the main characters. But somehow I liked Jordan better (despite him not being a love interest of Paige's in the show). I don't know why but something about their romance felt forced and I feel like I would have liked it better if they had stayed friends. ANOTHER GASP
Jordan Wilder. While I am not used to seeing so much of him in the show, I definitely liked him and shipped him with Paige. In the second book, I hope their ship isn't entirely sunk. I LOVE JORDAN. He is sweet and brave and even if he is a little snarky, he has VERY GOOD REASONS to be. He's romantic and he's Paige's perfect opposite.
Jake (can't remember his last name...). Jake wasn't a love interest like in the TV show but instead stayed her best friend. I don't really like Jake in the show mostly because I ship Paige with Rainer in the TV show but I think that Jake became even more distant in this book. We learn that "he and Paige kissed once or twice" but ultimately they're just friends.
Spoiler
He and Cassandra?? Not sure how I felt about that.Cassandra. She didn't strike me as best-friend material and I couldn't help but dislike her. I think both Paige and Cassandra overreacted about things.
ENDING
*SPOILERS*
I know there's a little more of the story in the second book but from what we know, it's Raige (beautiful ship name). I do plan on reading the rest of the story and seeing what happens but the whole concept of the book vs the TV show was a little different.
I would recommend this book to readers looking for a quick romance about famous people!
Main Character: Paige
Sidekick(s): Rainer, Jordan, Jake, Cassandra, etc
Villain(s): Confusion, misunderstanding, etc
Realistic Fiction Elements: This book was all very real to life
sarahreadsinin's review against another edition
4.0
I found this gem at the dollar store!
Cute young adult romance about a love triangle. Not a great literary work, but enjoyable and fun.
Cute young adult romance about a love triangle. Not a great literary work, but enjoyable and fun.
ashleysonlin's review against another edition
1.0
This was literally the biggest trainwreck and I'm so confused as to why I didn't DNF it.
jessicajades's review against another edition
4.0
SOOO cute! Famous in Love is everything I want in a cutesy YA, reading as an adult. A love triangle, BFFs, a niche setting. Loved every bit of this book, can't wait to read the next in the series!