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bitchie's review
2.0
I had heard a lot of good things about this author, so I decided to check her out. I picked this one, because I needed a character named Dana.
I have to say, I was totally let down by this one. TOO much stuff happened to these people, and it was just totally unrealistic. This woman went from an overweight unhappy housewife to a divorced bestselling author with 3 books out, very well known and famous, a trialathon runner, Maxim cover model, and actress, in just a year. They hired her to do the lead role in a movie that started shooting in just a week.
She had a bomb delivered to her door, was shot at by a crazy fan, had more crazy fans attack her at the movies, had yet another crazy fan break into her house with the intention of killing her husband and kids and raping her, was paid 15 million dollars for her second movie, was stalked by reporters and papparazi, got pregnant with twins the first time she slept with her new guy, in spite of having her tubes done, and the list goes on.
And then there's the character names. The main character was Dana, her assistant was Deana. On one page there were Eric, Rick, and Nick. Dana's maiden name was O'shea, and the guy wants to write about a vampire named Shea.
Dana was the best writer (and seriously, how many authors do you know who's faces are SOOO well known, just a year after they get published? Yeah, not many), the best actress, the hottest woman, best friend, best mother, best wife, ever. When people talk about Mary Sue characters, this is what they are talking about.
From the reviews I've seen, this is not a fair representation of this author's work, I seem to have picked one of her lowest rated books for my first try, so I will be looking for something else by this author. I've give her one more go, just because all my friends seem to love her.
I have to say, I was totally let down by this one. TOO much stuff happened to these people, and it was just totally unrealistic. This woman went from an overweight unhappy housewife to a divorced bestselling author with 3 books out, very well known and famous, a trialathon runner, Maxim cover model, and actress, in just a year. They hired her to do the lead role in a movie that started shooting in just a week.
She had a bomb delivered to her door, was shot at by a crazy fan, had more crazy fans attack her at the movies, had yet another crazy fan break into her house with the intention of killing her husband and kids and raping her, was paid 15 million dollars for her second movie, was stalked by reporters and papparazi, got pregnant with twins the first time she slept with her new guy, in spite of having her tubes done, and the list goes on.
And then there's the character names. The main character was Dana, her assistant was Deana. On one page there were Eric, Rick, and Nick. Dana's maiden name was O'shea, and the guy wants to write about a vampire named Shea.
Dana was the best writer (and seriously, how many authors do you know who's faces are SOOO well known, just a year after they get published? Yeah, not many), the best actress, the hottest woman, best friend, best mother, best wife, ever. When people talk about Mary Sue characters, this is what they are talking about.
From the reviews I've seen, this is not a fair representation of this author's work, I seem to have picked one of her lowest rated books for my first try, so I will be looking for something else by this author. I've give her one more go, just because all my friends seem to love her.
katyanaish's review against another edition
4.0
***3.5***
Okay, yes, I am devouring Mathewson's backlist. I haven't been writing reviews, which is bad of me, but I'd like to start this one with a general statement on this author's books (this is the third I've read... first two being books 1 and 2 of the Neighbors from Hell series... which were freaking hilarious):
While they would definitely benefit from a review by a copy editor (I'm guessing this editor is self-publishing these), I am really enjoying the books. The characters are fun and genuine, and the Neighbors from Hell series is just utterly hilarious yet still touching.
Okay, so about this book in particular... I was slightly disappointed about the general plotline, only because it was a combo of super straightforward (and the h/h hook up so early on that I had to double-check my kindle to see if this was a short story) and weirdly repeating on stuff. There was dramatic celebrity-fueled incident after incident after incident, caused by tearful declarations of love and steadfastness by our h/h. These weren't things that strained their relationship and/or caused friction between them: they were pretty unshakable in their devotion to each other.
Which made this book more a book about how to have a family in the bizarro-land of extreme celebrity. And that was okay - it played well - but it wasn't what I was expecting, and at times it felt a hair repetitious. I mean, it took them a reeeeeaaaaaaalllllllly long time to be all "hey, yo, maybe we should hire some security." Gee, you think? But the kids were cute, and the h/h were great and cute with each other and the kids. So I'm not complaining much. :)
Re-read July 2017
Not much to say, on the re-read, that is different from my original review. I enjoyed it, but it would really benefit from an editor and copyeditor. The events were a bit repetitious ... and Dana was a bit of a Mary Sue - she was perfectly perfect in every perfect way, and perfect at everything she attempts to do. Take up acting? No problem, she's a natural. Shy girl who is self-conscious... and is literally described in this book (by the media) as the most perfect beauty in the world. Our girl gets a movie deal off her first book, has men's magazines begging for her to pose, is the best mom in the known universe, a lead acting role handed to her within like... one month on a movie set, and she also runs (and wins) triathlons in her spare time.
I like Dana, and I like Edward. But I'll admit I rolled my eyes more than a time or two at her perfection.
Okay, yes, I am devouring Mathewson's backlist. I haven't been writing reviews, which is bad of me, but I'd like to start this one with a general statement on this author's books (this is the third I've read... first two being books 1 and 2 of the Neighbors from Hell series... which were freaking hilarious):
While they would definitely benefit from a review by a copy editor (I'm guessing this editor is self-publishing these), I am really enjoying the books. The characters are fun and genuine, and the Neighbors from Hell series is just utterly hilarious yet still touching.
Okay, so about this book in particular... I was slightly disappointed about the general plotline, only because it was a combo of super straightforward (and the h/h hook up so early on that I had to double-check my kindle to see if this was a short story) and weirdly repeating on stuff. There was dramatic celebrity-fueled incident after incident after incident, caused by tearful declarations of love and steadfastness by our h/h. These weren't things that strained their relationship and/or caused friction between them: they were pretty unshakable in their devotion to each other.
Which made this book more a book about how to have a family in the bizarro-land of extreme celebrity. And that was okay - it played well - but it wasn't what I was expecting, and at times it felt a hair repetitious. I mean, it took them a reeeeeaaaaaaalllllllly long time to be all "hey, yo, maybe we should hire some security." Gee, you think? But the kids were cute, and the h/h were great and cute with each other and the kids. So I'm not complaining much. :)
Re-read July 2017
Not much to say, on the re-read, that is different from my original review. I enjoyed it, but it would really benefit from an editor and copyeditor. The events were a bit repetitious ... and Dana was a bit of a Mary Sue - she was perfectly perfect in every perfect way, and perfect at everything she attempts to do. Take up acting? No problem, she's a natural. Shy girl who is self-conscious... and is literally described in this book (by the media) as the most perfect beauty in the world. Our girl gets a movie deal off her first book, has men's magazines begging for her to pose, is the best mom in the known universe, a lead acting role handed to her within like... one month on a movie set, and she also runs (and wins) triathlons in her spare time.
I like Dana, and I like Edward. But I'll admit I rolled my eyes more than a time or two at her perfection.
missanthropyknits's review against another edition
3.0
Lacking in plot, but after all the heavy I've had lately, some light and fluffy was nice. R.L. Mathewson books are always good for a giggle.
anaday89's review
5.0
Absolutely love R.L's work, I have read several of her books and they seem to keep getting better! This one is especially a great one!
sim_96's review
There are no words to describe this book! I loved it from the get go and literally didn't put it down until I finished it..... It was so good, the comedy, the drama, the romance, the action and even the heartache made this book a great read. The characters are all great and Edward is now number one on my wishlist for men! He is just so kind, caring, funny, romantic, sensitive and sweet, he is the ideal man!
rachaelann33's review
2.0
Dnf...
I feel so bad saying this because I love this author and her other books, but this book was just so hard to read.
The characters barely had a story that built their charachters separately or together, something that seemed an issue for someone one second, they were doing find the next day.
She went from shy author to an actress in a split second with no training or even an audition.
It felt like every 2 chapters there would be a random threat or accident chucked in just to make the book longer... I made it to 80 percent but I just couldn't finish it.
We went from bombs to guns, to fake sex tapes, to teenagers kicking a pregnant woman in public, all in the space of like 10 chapters.
I feel so bad saying this because I love this author and her other books, but this book was just so hard to read.
The characters barely had a story that built their charachters separately or together, something that seemed an issue for someone one second, they were doing find the next day.
She went from shy author to an actress in a split second with no training or even an audition.
It felt like every 2 chapters there would be a random threat or accident chucked in just to make the book longer... I made it to 80 percent but I just couldn't finish it.
We went from bombs to guns, to fake sex tapes, to teenagers kicking a pregnant woman in public, all in the space of like 10 chapters.
kingsqueen27's review
3.0
This entire book felt like a speeding train. The storyline progressed way to quickly and there is not enough character development. I understand that the author wanted to fit in all of their dangerous encounters with fans, but I felt like I couldn't catch my breath as the story kept speeding along.
whatcha_listening_to's review
3.0
I would give this a 3.5 stars if I could. I liked it, it was a fun read, sad and serious at times. But it was kind of jumpy and new character names got added in a lot which was confusing. Over all good read. :)