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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
3.5Stars.
#famous is your classic cute & fluffy with every wonderful romcom cliche thrown in and I happily gobbled it all up.
Two reasons for this:
1. I love the writing style.
2. The character building was done really well.
Now, we all know if those two things are in place, I will forgive shortcomings of any kind.
The good news there aren't many. It's fluffy and there isn't a lot of substance to it somehow. But that's it and frankly I enjoy a swoony cute story even if it doesn't throw loads of depth at me.
The storyline is predictable but still entertaining.
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the online fame thing in the beginning. But very quickly I changed my mind. I actually think that Gagnon did a good job highlighting the situation. I think there is plenty of cyber-bullying going on and also that we all kinda crave the positive attention social networks can give us. (grant you some more than others...)
All of this however was deemed insignificant due to super cute moments and a really swoony boy. I adore both MCs and enjoyed both of their POVs. Kyle is the classic cute and sweet boy, who also is totally clueless when it comes to females and I totally adore him. Favorite thing about the book.
Rachel feels real with her insecurities and her worries and problems, I didn't much like her in the beginning, she felt to snarky and mean, but as we get to know her, we get to see a different side to her and I got where she was coming from.
The mean girls, however important they are - I do think they are important to the story and it was a way to add depth to it- felt too over the top and too cliche, which kinda ruined their purpose. Then there is Emma. She is your classic "nice"girl, who isn't actually that nice and will use her popularity to get what she wants. I actually know girls like that and in that I really liked the way Gagnon wrote her. But then she went a pulled a move that was a tad to movie for my taste.
I read this in one sitting. So clearly I was captivated by it and I guess this sounds not too positive. But seriously I did love this book. The above are only the reasons why this is "only" 3.5Stars.
It is well written, cute, swoony and definitely a super enjoyable book!
#famous is your classic cute & fluffy with every wonderful romcom cliche thrown in and I happily gobbled it all up.
Two reasons for this:
1. I love the writing style.
2. The character building was done really well.
Now, we all know if those two things are in place, I will forgive shortcomings of any kind.
The good news there aren't many. It's fluffy and there isn't a lot of substance to it somehow. But that's it and frankly I enjoy a swoony cute story even if it doesn't throw loads of depth at me.
The storyline is predictable but still entertaining.
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the online fame thing in the beginning. But very quickly I changed my mind. I actually think that Gagnon did a good job highlighting the situation. I think there is plenty of cyber-bullying going on and also that we all kinda crave the positive attention social networks can give us. (grant you some more than others...)
All of this however was deemed insignificant due to super cute moments and a really swoony boy. I adore both MCs and enjoyed both of their POVs. Kyle is the classic cute and sweet boy, who also is totally clueless when it comes to females and I totally adore him. Favorite thing about the book.
Rachel feels real with her insecurities and her worries and problems, I didn't much like her in the beginning, she felt to snarky and mean, but as we get to know her, we get to see a different side to her and I got where she was coming from.
The mean girls, however important they are - I do think they are important to the story and it was a way to add depth to it- felt too over the top and too cliche, which kinda ruined their purpose. Then there is Emma. She is your classic "nice"girl, who isn't actually that nice and will use her popularity to get what she wants. I actually know girls like that and in that I really liked the way Gagnon wrote her. But then she went a pulled a move that was a tad to movie for my taste.
I read this in one sitting. So clearly I was captivated by it and I guess this sounds not too positive. But seriously I did love this book. The above are only the reasons why this is "only" 3.5Stars.
It is well written, cute, swoony and definitely a super enjoyable book!
Despite some annoyances, #famous was heart-warming contemporary candy, but I probably won't end up remembering much about it. The only important and developed characters were the two main leads; the side characters were swept under the rug and the best friend character didn't go through much change. It's one of those 'enjoy it in the moment books,' and sometimes that's exactly what I need.
Very pleasantly surprised how much I liked this. Once it hit the "Oh NO! What's he going to do?" point I couldn't put it down.
Emma, mean girl with depth and explanation. I felt so bad for her given her situation and it's clear why she did went the way she did. She's an antagonist for the later half of the book, but the sympathy never went away and it's much better than most mean girl depictions. That said, I do wish it reflected more on how even "the good guy" Kyle boiled her down to her "hotness" and she's pigeonholed.
I really liked Mo. At first I wasn't sure why her and Rachel were friends given how much Rachel ragged on her and they were at odds. But Rachel finally listens and Mo gets to say her piece and it makes sense. Mo is totally the pushy supportive friend looking out for your best, even if it scares the piss out of you.
I will sheepishly admit, I really, really identified with Rachel. I was on the verge of tears in public when the whole pity date thing when down. OUCH! I am really glad the narrative got changed and things worked out for the best. But I still think she should've written that feminist piece on the death threats and hate from women she received and Mo keeping her from White Feminist territory.
I was not aware of the Alex from Target story until reading other reviews of the book.
Emma, mean girl with depth and explanation. I felt so bad for her given her situation and it's clear why she did went the way she did. She's an antagonist for the later half of the book, but the sympathy never went away and it's much better than most mean girl depictions. That said, I do wish it reflected more on how even "the good guy" Kyle boiled her down to her "hotness" and she's pigeonholed.
I really liked Mo. At first I wasn't sure why her and Rachel were friends given how much Rachel ragged on her and they were at odds. But Rachel finally listens and Mo gets to say her piece and it makes sense. Mo is totally the pushy supportive friend looking out for your best, even if it scares the piss out of you.
I will sheepishly admit, I really, really identified with Rachel. I was on the verge of tears in public when the whole pity date thing when down. OUCH! I am really glad the narrative got changed and things worked out for the best. But I still think she should've written that feminist piece on the death threats and hate from women she received and Mo keeping her from White Feminist territory.
I was not aware of the Alex from Target story until reading other reviews of the book.
Biggest dumpster-fire of a book I’ve ever read. I am s c r e a m i n g.
A cute story but so predictable. The most unique thing about it was the main character. I was really disappointed that the author went with such cliche plot devices. A fun read, but nothing amazing.
This book caught my eye for no reason other than it sounded like a cute romance that was once a meme. I remember Alex from Target, and I laughed when I heard this was inspired by that.
It was an interesting story. I listened to this on audiobook, and while the male narrator was not the best, the female kept me interested.
This is the kind of story that will get dated very quickly, and the main characters were infuriating.
"I never realized how beautiful she was, and now I just want to kiss her."
"Oh, he kissed me but did he MEAN it?"
Paraphrasing here, but that's basically how both protagonists' thought processes went.
Where am I going with this?
It was cute, but in all honesty, it wasn't something I would have sat and read through. I most likely would have put it down after the third fry joke.
It was an interesting story. I listened to this on audiobook, and while the male narrator was not the best, the female kept me interested.
This is the kind of story that will get dated very quickly, and the main characters were infuriating.
"I never realized how beautiful she was, and now I just want to kiss her."
"Oh, he kissed me but did he MEAN it?"
Paraphrasing here, but that's basically how both protagonists' thought processes went.
Where am I going with this?
It was cute, but in all honesty, it wasn't something I would have sat and read through. I most likely would have put it down after the third fry joke.
I'm kind of meh about this book. The premise hooked me enough to read, but the boy's voice reminded me of a mastercard commercial (for everything else there's...). Exactly the same cadence to all his "humorous" asides. It kind of got off putting towards the end.
But the thing that really bugged me is how whimsical she tried to make bullying. Kids get cyber bullied and wind up in a dark space and so many commit suicide. And this has this "oh everything is just so funny and swell" vibe. Girls who are tormented like Rachel was at the beginning of this book don't usually take it quite so well.
But the thing that really bugged me is how whimsical she tried to make bullying. Kids get cyber bullied and wind up in a dark space and so many commit suicide. And this has this "oh everything is just so funny and swell" vibe. Girls who are tormented like Rachel was at the beginning of this book don't usually take it quite so well.
Debut author Jilly Gagnon's young adult novel is a teen romance with a modern flair. Told in alternating perspectives, Kyle and Rachel's story is the result of what happens in the age of viral videos and photos mixes with teenage crushes. While the premise was cute, the writing quality and the characterization was not up to snuff and I wanted more depth and eloquence.
Rachel has had a crush on Kyle for quite a long time. When she surreptitiously snaps a picture of him while he was work and posts it on Flit, a social networking site, she doesn’t expect anyone except for her best friend, Mo, to see it. In a matter of hours, the photo goes viral, making Kyle an instant celebrity and Rachel want to hide. The cyberbullies come out in droves but Kyle is there to speak up for her. When the Laura Show comes calling, both agree to a series on her show. But before they know it, they’re falling for each other. Is it all for the cameras or could Kyle really be falling for Rachel?
I had a really hard time with the character voice. The things Kyle said and thought did not sound like that of an 18-year old boy. ("What in Pete's name is going on?", BFFLs, and "Quadruple crap"—just to name a few) The dialogue was extremely hokey and stilted. It made me cringe several times because it just didn't sound natural.
The writing style was problematic for me as well, with the author often using the same word choices within a few sentences. It seemed really repetitive. The writing needed to be much more polished and refined. For example,
"The whole thing that been . . . terrifying. It had been kinda terrifying, all of them staring at me . . . ."
"Two girls had been lying in wait." And a few sentences later, "Something worth lying in wait to photograph."
In the novel, Rachel is a teen who struggles with her self-esteem. I mean, what teenage girl doesn't have self-doubt or self-esteem issues at some point? But Rachel's constant mutterings about how Kyle couldn't possibly want her, how weird she is, or show she's not as pretty as other girls was repetitive and unnecessary. I think readers would get the point and understand Rachel without the constant verbal reminder that she feels that way.
The writing lacked the nuance and eloquence that look for in books. I think young readers who don't read for character voice and writing style like I do might find enjoyment in the plot. I didn't enjoy this book at all because I didn't care about the characters and the quality of writing was poor.
* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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★★UPCOMING BOOK RELEASES★★
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DNF at page 270
I can't go on. The writing is just not my cup of tea and the characters are just so.. unlikeable and meh. Also, the overuse of colons annoys the heck out of me.
I can't go on. The writing is just not my cup of tea and the characters are just so.. unlikeable and meh. Also, the overuse of colons annoys the heck out of me.