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abbyrosereads's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
amandasbookshelf1992's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
1.5
DNF. It wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Religious bigotry
brookefradd's review
3.0
My most recent selection from Book Sneeze is Starring Me, a fictional young adult novel written by Krista McKee. This book is the follow up to First Date, although each is its own unique story. The characters cross over, but Starring Me is its own story.
Kara is a young, hopeful, wanna be actress who is selected to be one of 10 girls to "audition" for a variety show. The exact details of the show, including the costar, are kept secret from the girls trying out.
The exact details revolve around Chad - the latest winner of an American Idol type show who, after only a year, is already tired of the teen heartthrob lifestyle. When he and his parents are pitched the idea for a variety show, they set some ground rules of their own. Chad's parents insist their son's costar must be a Christian, desiring the girl to be uplifting to his spiritual walk.
For me, the book was only meh. The story line didn't contain twists, turns, or anything surprising/exciting. It was a quick read, and I enjoyed the author's writing style. I think its unfair of me to expect a novel for teens
to be as complex as others I read, but I found the predictability a bit tired.
This book could be a great spring board, however, for the "in the world but not of the world discussion." Should we surround ourselves with Christians lest we be tempted to stray? I don't agree with the position taken by the parents (and presumably the author) but is certainly a topic worth talking about.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Kara is a young, hopeful, wanna be actress who is selected to be one of 10 girls to "audition" for a variety show. The exact details of the show, including the costar, are kept secret from the girls trying out.
The exact details revolve around Chad - the latest winner of an American Idol type show who, after only a year, is already tired of the teen heartthrob lifestyle. When he and his parents are pitched the idea for a variety show, they set some ground rules of their own. Chad's parents insist their son's costar must be a Christian, desiring the girl to be uplifting to his spiritual walk.
For me, the book was only meh. The story line didn't contain twists, turns, or anything surprising/exciting. It was a quick read, and I enjoyed the author's writing style. I think its unfair of me to expect a novel for teens
to be as complex as others I read, but I found the predictability a bit tired.
This book could be a great spring board, however, for the "in the world but not of the world discussion." Should we surround ourselves with Christians lest we be tempted to stray? I don't agree with the position taken by the parents (and presumably the author) but is certainly a topic worth talking about.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
hannahnana73's review
3.0
Rating - 3.5 stars
Kara is def bff worthy material - love her! And Flora too:) I just wish she and Chad got to spend more time with each other - they only met like thrice throughout the book and barely talked and SUPRISEE then ended up a couple!
I loved Flora's anecdotes - the cyanide and aspirin story is one i'll definitely be remembering:)
Kara is def bff worthy material - love her! And Flora too:) I just wish she and Chad got to spend more time with each other - they only met like thrice throughout the book and barely talked and SUPRISEE then ended up a couple!
I loved Flora's anecdotes - the cyanide and aspirin story is one i'll definitely be remembering:)
annaaugustineauthor's review
5.0
Kara McKormick was born to be on the stage. It’s been her dream for as long as she can remember. When she is called back for the role of co host on an all new teen talk show, she is off the walls with excitement. Literally, her family and best friend, Addy, could barely hold her down
Chad Beacon became an overnight popstar sensation once we won America’s Next Star. Now, with his new talk show on a new teen channel, he’s eager to find his co-host. Except for one little problem. His parents insist on her being a Christian. Not that Chad disagrees. But the stress is awful.
When both Chad and Kara meet at Jonathon’s house (which just happens to be the White House), they form a bond. But Chad knows that Kara isn’t a Christian. And if only Chad Beacon could be the star she might be playing opposite!
Starring Me is an amazing sequel to First Date and show what happened after The Book Of Love finished!
♥♥♥
(This review is for both First Date and Starring Me! Just wanted everyone to know!)
Okay, so. These books were so so so SO good! I finished First Date the day I got it. Same for Starring Me. They are both so hard to put down once you start reading them!
Addy and Kara were both so real! I could totally relate to Addy, being angry and frustrated with God when His plans don’t match up to what I want. But, like Addy, ultimately I realize that I am where I am for a reason and God’s not going to just make my problems or my situation disappear.
While I related with Addy, I am much much MUCH more like Kara. I love acting. Though admittedly I’m not as outgoing nor as outspoken. But she was so spunky and fun that I just ended up laughing and crying with her.
I also really liked how these stories are based roughly on Biblical narratives! As my summary says, First Date was based off Esther. I love that story (Veggietales does an amazing parody of it by the way. Great songs) so this book grabbed me thanks to that. Starring Me, however, took some thinking on my part to find the Biblical parallel. I thought Chad’s parents wanting a Christian for the costar sounded familiar and then it hit me. Issac and Rebekah! It’s so cool to see that unfold in the book.
So, my rating? 5 out of 5! For sure! I highly highly HIGHLY recommend these books for a quick, lighthearted read! I will for sure be picking up more of Mrs. McGee’s books in the near future!
Chad Beacon became an overnight popstar sensation once we won America’s Next Star. Now, with his new talk show on a new teen channel, he’s eager to find his co-host. Except for one little problem. His parents insist on her being a Christian. Not that Chad disagrees. But the stress is awful.
When both Chad and Kara meet at Jonathon’s house (which just happens to be the White House), they form a bond. But Chad knows that Kara isn’t a Christian. And if only Chad Beacon could be the star she might be playing opposite!
Starring Me is an amazing sequel to First Date and show what happened after The Book Of Love finished!
♥♥♥
(This review is for both First Date and Starring Me! Just wanted everyone to know!)
Okay, so. These books were so so so SO good! I finished First Date the day I got it. Same for Starring Me. They are both so hard to put down once you start reading them!
Addy and Kara were both so real! I could totally relate to Addy, being angry and frustrated with God when His plans don’t match up to what I want. But, like Addy, ultimately I realize that I am where I am for a reason and God’s not going to just make my problems or my situation disappear.
While I related with Addy, I am much much MUCH more like Kara. I love acting. Though admittedly I’m not as outgoing nor as outspoken. But she was so spunky and fun that I just ended up laughing and crying with her.
I also really liked how these stories are based roughly on Biblical narratives! As my summary says, First Date was based off Esther. I love that story (Veggietales does an amazing parody of it by the way. Great songs) so this book grabbed me thanks to that. Starring Me, however, took some thinking on my part to find the Biblical parallel. I thought Chad’s parents wanting a Christian for the costar sounded familiar and then it hit me. Issac and Rebekah! It’s so cool to see that unfold in the book.
So, my rating? 5 out of 5! For sure! I highly highly HIGHLY recommend these books for a quick, lighthearted read! I will for sure be picking up more of Mrs. McGee’s books in the near future!
inspiretruth's review
4.0
Updated review 2022: Kara McKormick dreams of being a superstar. After competing to go to prom with the President's son, her thirst for acting and television has only increased. Going from audition to audition, Kara is beyond excited when she is invited to compete for a lead role in a new teen variety show that will be co-hosted with a big celebrity; however, God has more in store for Kara than she could ever imagine. A proclaimed atheist, Kara's beliefs will be challenged as she travels to Orlando and encounters people who will show her that Christianity is more than judgment and limitations. Will Kara accept Jesus as her savior and land the role of her dreams, or will everything come crashing down?
Chad Beacon is a national pop star who longs to do more than sing. With a passion for acting, Chad is ready to accept the lead role in a teen variety show; however, his parents are adamant that his co-star be a believer. Sending their assistant to scout the girl's auditioning for the role, Chad must give his future into the Lord's hands, but doubt and anticipation plague his mind as he patiently waits to meet his co-star. Will the right girl be chosen, or will Chad have to turn down the opportunity he's longed for?
“The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.” ~ Krista McGee
Starring Me is a perfect complement to First Date. After meeting Kara and falling in love with her spunky energy, it was awesome to read her story and watch her heart expand as she learned more about God and the Bible for the first time. We are so used to teen books that center on romance, but the way Krista McGee leads with prayer and faith is revolutionary! Influenced by the story of Isaac and Rebecca, there was something so sweet about reading Kara and Chad's perspectives and watching as their journeys unfold before the finale. God wants to meet all of us and have a relationship with each of His children, but not everyone welcomes the love and joy He wants to give. Especially in Hollywood, the entertainment industry is competitive and dirty; nevertheless, through it all, God's light will always shine through!
Review from 2014: LOVED IT! It complimented First Date so well!! And it helped me want to draw closer to God :) thanks Krista for writing such an amazing book
Chad Beacon is a national pop star who longs to do more than sing. With a passion for acting, Chad is ready to accept the lead role in a teen variety show; however, his parents are adamant that his co-star be a believer. Sending their assistant to scout the girl's auditioning for the role, Chad must give his future into the Lord's hands, but doubt and anticipation plague his mind as he patiently waits to meet his co-star. Will the right girl be chosen, or will Chad have to turn down the opportunity he's longed for?
“The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.” ~ Krista McGee
Starring Me is a perfect complement to First Date. After meeting Kara and falling in love with her spunky energy, it was awesome to read her story and watch her heart expand as she learned more about God and the Bible for the first time. We are so used to teen books that center on romance, but the way Krista McGee leads with prayer and faith is revolutionary! Influenced by the story of Isaac and Rebecca, there was something so sweet about reading Kara and Chad's perspectives and watching as their journeys unfold before the finale. God wants to meet all of us and have a relationship with each of His children, but not everyone welcomes the love and joy He wants to give. Especially in Hollywood, the entertainment industry is competitive and dirty; nevertheless, through it all, God's light will always shine through!
Review from 2014: LOVED IT! It complimented First Date so well!! And it helped me want to draw closer to God :) thanks Krista for writing such an amazing book
brendaclay's review
2.0
I received a copy of this book from Booksneeze. The titular "me" is Kara McKormick, a spunky New Yorker and aspiring actress who recently had her big break on a dating reality show. After making it to the final auditions for an exciting new SNL-type sketch comedy, Kara goes to Orlando to live with the other finalists and be filmed during the elimination process. Around the same time, through friends, she meets Chad Beacon - teenage heartthrob and reigning American Idol America's Next Star. Although sparks fly, their busy careers and faith differences prevent a relationship from developing.
Unbeknownst to Kara, if she wins the role on the comedy show, Chad will be her costar. Chad's parents won't allow him to work closely with a non-Christian girl, so they've set up the finalist competition in order to weed out "God's choice" for him. They install their longtime housekeeper, Flora, to serve as housemother and make the final selection. Kara quickly emerges as Flora's frontrunner, but what about the fact that she's not a Christian? Will other events in Kara's life bring her to faith and lead to a storybook ending?
Starring Me is written fairly well, with some enjoyable characters (especially Kara's family) and decent pacing. But I have to be honest: it consistently made me cringe. If you're part of the homeschooling and/or patriarchy movement, you'll like it. But as a thirtysomething woman who's bothered by fundie I Kissed Dating Goodbye philosophies, I had to walk away from it several times. In general, the whole book is about as subtle and nuanced as a ton of bricks, with an unrealistic ABC Family Original Movie quality. There are definitely worse things out there for Christian teenagers to be reading, but I think I would have raised an eyebrow at this book even as a teenager.
I did bump my rating up to three stars after discovering that Starring Me is a sequel. The first book, First Date, is about the reality show where Kara met her best friend Addy. To me, the overall context of the story makes more sense and is better fleshed out if it's not a standalone.
Unbeknownst to Kara, if she wins the role on the comedy show, Chad will be her costar. Chad's parents won't allow him to work closely with a non-Christian girl, so they've set up the finalist competition in order to weed out "God's choice" for him. They install their longtime housekeeper, Flora, to serve as housemother and make the final selection. Kara quickly emerges as Flora's frontrunner, but what about the fact that she's not a Christian? Will other events in Kara's life bring her to faith and lead to a storybook ending?
Starring Me is written fairly well, with some enjoyable characters (especially Kara's family) and decent pacing. But I have to be honest: it consistently made me cringe. If you're part of the homeschooling and/or patriarchy movement, you'll like it. But as a thirtysomething woman who's bothered by fundie I Kissed Dating Goodbye philosophies, I had to walk away from it several times. In general, the whole book is about as subtle and nuanced as a ton of bricks, with an unrealistic ABC Family Original Movie quality. There are definitely worse things out there for Christian teenagers to be reading, but I think I would have raised an eyebrow at this book even as a teenager.
I did bump my rating up to three stars after discovering that Starring Me is a sequel. The first book, First Date, is about the reality show where Kara met her best friend Addy. To me, the overall context of the story makes more sense and is better fleshed out if it's not a standalone.
cupcakegirly's review
4.0
**GIVEAWAY ON MY BLOG** http://jenuinecupcakes.blogspot.com/2012/07/starring-me-by-krista-mcgee.html
4.5 STARS!
Thank you to Thomas Nelson who provided me with a e-galley.
Starring Me is a fun, refreshing read about a girl as feisty as her red hair, a cute boy and the chance of a lifetime. This story is loosely based on the biblical story of Issac and Rebekah and is a companion novel to McGee's debut, First Date, (where we first meet Kara).
Kara McCormick was born to perform and while she didn't win the boy on The Book of Love, she came away with an even better prize in her new best friend Addy. The girls have a lot in common but the one thing they don't share is Addy's belief in God. Kara doesn't see the need for Him in her life even though she's seen Him work in Addy's. All that changes when Kara gets the chance to audition for a new teen sketch comedy show, convinced it's her ticket to making her dreams come true. When things don't go as smoothly as she expected, she'll discover that God works in our lives whether we acknowledge Him or not. Kara also gets a lesson about what's really important and the meaning of real love - the kind that's all consuming and never ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kara! She's straightforward, selfless and laugh-out-loud funny. She shows integrity and an openness to what Addy and several others have to say. There's a sweetness to the friendship she develops with Chad and parents of younger readers have nothing to worry about. The idea of courtship; not dating until you're serious about finding a lifelong partner is addressed with Kara and Addy discussing the pros and cons of bouncing from one relationship to the next.
Krista McGee is one of the few Christian authors I've found who is able to share a message of love, forgiveness and grace without sounding preachy or cheesy. McGee's characters are believable and relateable. I'm a Christian and I don't enjoy reading stories where everything is over the top or with characters who are too "perfect".
There's also a Q&A in the back for small groups or book club discussions.
4.5 STARS!
Thank you to Thomas Nelson who provided me with a e-galley.
Starring Me is a fun, refreshing read about a girl as feisty as her red hair, a cute boy and the chance of a lifetime. This story is loosely based on the biblical story of Issac and Rebekah and is a companion novel to McGee's debut, First Date, (where we first meet Kara).
Kara McCormick was born to perform and while she didn't win the boy on The Book of Love, she came away with an even better prize in her new best friend Addy. The girls have a lot in common but the one thing they don't share is Addy's belief in God. Kara doesn't see the need for Him in her life even though she's seen Him work in Addy's. All that changes when Kara gets the chance to audition for a new teen sketch comedy show, convinced it's her ticket to making her dreams come true. When things don't go as smoothly as she expected, she'll discover that God works in our lives whether we acknowledge Him or not. Kara also gets a lesson about what's really important and the meaning of real love - the kind that's all consuming and never ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kara! She's straightforward, selfless and laugh-out-loud funny. She shows integrity and an openness to what Addy and several others have to say. There's a sweetness to the friendship she develops with Chad and parents of younger readers have nothing to worry about. The idea of courtship; not dating until you're serious about finding a lifelong partner is addressed with Kara and Addy discussing the pros and cons of bouncing from one relationship to the next.
Krista McGee is one of the few Christian authors I've found who is able to share a message of love, forgiveness and grace without sounding preachy or cheesy. McGee's characters are believable and relateable. I'm a Christian and I don't enjoy reading stories where everything is over the top or with characters who are too "perfect".
There's also a Q&A in the back for small groups or book club discussions.
melmo2610's review
5.0
This book is as amazing as it's predecessor "First Date." This book picks up not long after FD and is about Kara who was a central character in FD. Kara who does not have a relationship with God is picked to be part off month long audition for a new show with a major star who is not being named until the actress role is cast. The young man who is to be the co-star and his family want to pick the girl so they devise a month long audition process with a family friend as chaperone to make sure the right girl is cast. I love the way Kara's journey about a relationship with Christ is woven into the storyline. It makes for a great read!
I love this book. It has a lot of humorous scenes in it and I love the interactions of the characters. I can't wait for Krista McGee's next book!
I love this book. It has a lot of humorous scenes in it and I love the interactions of the characters. I can't wait for Krista McGee's next book!