Scan barcode
miloblue's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really thought i’d dislike this one. It’s all about Hollywood teen heartthrobs, soapy shows and vibes, and a lot of shit that i genuinely don’t care about AT ALL. Having said that, as is often the case with Dahlia Adler’s books, i ended up enjoying it a lot more than i thought.
For me it was like a bag of halloween candy, though… I needed to kinda pace myself, and was definitely feeling a little nauseous and gross at times while reading it. Which turned out to be part of the enjoyment factor.
For me it was like a bag of halloween candy, though… I needed to kinda pace myself, and was definitely feeling a little nauseous and gross at times while reading it. Which turned out to be part of the enjoyment factor.
erinarkin20's review against another edition
4.0
Behind the Scenes by Dahlia Adler was a quick and sweet YA romance. Adler explores Hollywood life and what really is “normal” as well as some deeper family issues. I really enjoyed this one and found myself unable to put it down until I found out how things ended.
Ally is a “normal” teen who just happens to have a best friend (Van) in the “business”. Van just got the lead role in the new teen drama Daylight Falls and despite the fact that she is becoming more popular, she continues to have a solid friendship with Ally. This was one of the pieces of the story that I really loved. It is clear these friends have very different upbringings and backgrounds but despite that, they are able to support and rely on each other.
As things are changing for Van, Ally is also facing some changes. Her family is facing some serious challenges and at the same time, Ally is trying to come up with a way to fulfill her dream of attending Columbia University. She has the grades but she now has to come up with a plan for tuition. As a result, Van proposes Ally become her assistant (paid) and continues to do whatever she can to help Ally get money. This includes offering her up as a French tutor to Liam…which Ally accepts.
Liam is definitely a swoony guy and he has had a very different life than Ally. Again, despite that, he and Ally start to become close and eventually end up dating. Sounds great right?? Well…at the same time, Van’s agent decides it would be great publicity if Van and Liam became a thing and because she thinks it is best for Van’s career, Ally agrees with the plan. Here is where things start to go downhill for these characters.
Obviously it is hard on Ally to never get to go out with her boyfriend. What she doesn’t realize (or see) is just how hard it is for Van and Liam as well. I get it though…she always felt like a bit of an outsider and she always felt insecure as to why Liam was with her. Add to this the fact that she starts to question Van’s motives and loyalty and I am sure you can see where this is headed. I will say, based on how close these friends were supposed to be, I found it odd that Ally wouldn’t have spoken to Van immediately to share her concerns.
As the story progresses, these characters hit some rough patches but there are also some good patches for them all. I can’t give everything away but I thought Liam was the perfect love interest and there is a good mix of angst, friendship, swoons, and funny stuff to keep me entertained. If you are looking for a quick and fun read, definitely check this one out.
Thank you to Edelweiss & Spencer Hill for the review copy.
Ally is a “normal” teen who just happens to have a best friend (Van) in the “business”. Van just got the lead role in the new teen drama Daylight Falls and despite the fact that she is becoming more popular, she continues to have a solid friendship with Ally. This was one of the pieces of the story that I really loved. It is clear these friends have very different upbringings and backgrounds but despite that, they are able to support and rely on each other.
As things are changing for Van, Ally is also facing some changes. Her family is facing some serious challenges and at the same time, Ally is trying to come up with a way to fulfill her dream of attending Columbia University. She has the grades but she now has to come up with a plan for tuition. As a result, Van proposes Ally become her assistant (paid) and continues to do whatever she can to help Ally get money. This includes offering her up as a French tutor to Liam…which Ally accepts.
Liam is definitely a swoony guy and he has had a very different life than Ally. Again, despite that, he and Ally start to become close and eventually end up dating. Sounds great right?? Well…at the same time, Van’s agent decides it would be great publicity if Van and Liam became a thing and because she thinks it is best for Van’s career, Ally agrees with the plan. Here is where things start to go downhill for these characters.
Obviously it is hard on Ally to never get to go out with her boyfriend. What she doesn’t realize (or see) is just how hard it is for Van and Liam as well. I get it though…she always felt like a bit of an outsider and she always felt insecure as to why Liam was with her. Add to this the fact that she starts to question Van’s motives and loyalty and I am sure you can see where this is headed. I will say, based on how close these friends were supposed to be, I found it odd that Ally wouldn’t have spoken to Van immediately to share her concerns.
As the story progresses, these characters hit some rough patches but there are also some good patches for them all. I can’t give everything away but I thought Liam was the perfect love interest and there is a good mix of angst, friendship, swoons, and funny stuff to keep me entertained. If you are looking for a quick and fun read, definitely check this one out.
Thank you to Edelweiss & Spencer Hill for the review copy.
lynnlovegreen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Found the Dahlia Adler debut! I really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at making television shows, and the romance was really well done. Highly recommend this, especially if you're a fan of this brilliant writer.
kaylakaotik's review against another edition
5.0
This is my first book by Dahlia Adler, but I'm positive it won't be my last.
Behind the Scenes was a great book. It was full of the things that I love about YA books. It was adorable, funny, a little dramatic, swoon worthy, and perfectly teenager-y. All those things with an interesting plot and well developed characters? Yeah, I know! Books like this are rare.
If you're looking for a really good YA book, look no further. This is one you need to pick up. And, it gets better. This is the first in a series (and I'm lucky enough to have been approved for the second book on Netgalley)! Under the Lights is set to be published on June 30, 2015. Until then, pick up Behind the Scenes!
Behind the Scenes was a great book. It was full of the things that I love about YA books. It was adorable, funny, a little dramatic, swoon worthy, and perfectly teenager-y. All those things with an interesting plot and well developed characters? Yeah, I know! Books like this are rare.
If you're looking for a really good YA book, look no further. This is one you need to pick up. And, it gets better. This is the first in a series (and I'm lucky enough to have been approved for the second book on Netgalley)! Under the Lights is set to be published on June 30, 2015. Until then, pick up Behind the Scenes!
clem_mathieu's review against another edition
3.0
I was due to read a YA contemporary and this one really helped my book slump. It took me a bit to get into the storyline and the romance, but I liked all the main characters and the added elements of family, career and showbizz were fun to see. My main critique was that Ally often got into this persona of lying and being bitchy as a defense mechanism and I wasn't here for it. It felt like manipulation a bit and could've been avoided.
becloseau's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
jrv45's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
sometimesleelynnreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5