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jcarvajal23's review against another edition
3.0
This had potential to be great, but ended up falling short. Even with all the flaws, I was still engaged in the plot. The bad included lacking character development and had the worst case of insta-love I've ever seen. The characters were lacking heart and I didn't connect emotionally. The 1930's Hollywood setting is a strong point and it felt authentic and glamorous. Definitely on the fluffy side, but I still liked it.
rossakamcfreakyd's review against another edition
3.0
This book was fluffy, vapid fun. Set in 1930's Hollywood, it's appropriately name drop-y and has enough gangsters to keep things "edgy." The main character is more than a bit of a Mary-Sue, but without being *overly* obnoxious. There's a love at first sight, love to end all loves relationship that's totally barf-worthy. There's description of sumptuous Old Hollywood fashion. This book hits all of the guilty pleasure points. If you're looking for a deep, gritty novel, this isn't for you.
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
3.0
A young girl witnesses a crime and is promised her wildest dreams if she lies to the police. A rich young man discovers that his father is not who he thought he was and he runs. Their stories run parallel to each other and then converge in Hollywood in the 1930's.
A wanna be starlet, a gangster, a jealous co-star, and a bum who isn't all cross paths in an accidental shooting on set.
I enjoyed the witty dialogue and the behind the scenes look at how a star was created. It was quick, easy read set in an interesting time period.
A wanna be starlet, a gangster, a jealous co-star, and a bum who isn't all cross paths in an accidental shooting on set.
I enjoyed the witty dialogue and the behind the scenes look at how a star was created. It was quick, easy read set in an interesting time period.
carleneinspired's review against another edition
4.0
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Lulu Kelly, once Lucille O'Malley of New York, is given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make something of herself. She's given a one-way ticket to fame and fortune in the glittering lights of Hollywood, as long as she keeps her mouth shut about what she saw. Freddie van der Waals, once a young, handsome heir to a fortune and fiance to a beautiful, vapid girl, has chosen the streets as his home. Jaded by his discoveries of how his family fortune was made Freddie sets off for the west, encountering every bit of bad he never hoped to meet. When their lives intersect by chance in Hollywood they are drawn together, Lulu seeing a bit of herself in him and Freddie seeing an opportunity to do the right thing when his family never has.
I genuinely enjoyed Adam Shankman's Girl About Town, the character driven novel is exciting and historically accurate. With young characters, but a rather serious story line it is geared toward a wide age group of readers. It's mysterious and detailed, offering more than a glimpse at the life of both the rich and the poor, the famous and the forgotten. Unfortunately, Girl About Town lacks a certain jenesequa that would make it just that much more exciting. It's an enjoyable read, but it doesn't stand out among the crowd of other historical fictions. Young Adult fans will likely enjoy this, but a more adult genre reader may find the lose strings a nuisance.
Lulu Kelly, once Lucille O'Malley of New York, is given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make something of herself. She's given a one-way ticket to fame and fortune in the glittering lights of Hollywood, as long as she keeps her mouth shut about what she saw. Freddie van der Waals, once a young, handsome heir to a fortune and fiance to a beautiful, vapid girl, has chosen the streets as his home. Jaded by his discoveries of how his family fortune was made Freddie sets off for the west, encountering every bit of bad he never hoped to meet. When their lives intersect by chance in Hollywood they are drawn together, Lulu seeing a bit of herself in him and Freddie seeing an opportunity to do the right thing when his family never has.
I genuinely enjoyed Adam Shankman's Girl About Town, the character driven novel is exciting and historically accurate. With young characters, but a rather serious story line it is geared toward a wide age group of readers. It's mysterious and detailed, offering more than a glimpse at the life of both the rich and the poor, the famous and the forgotten. Unfortunately, Girl About Town lacks a certain jenesequa that would make it just that much more exciting. It's an enjoyable read, but it doesn't stand out among the crowd of other historical fictions. Young Adult fans will likely enjoy this, but a more adult genre reader may find the lose strings a nuisance.
mcoppadge07's review against another edition
4.0
I was so excited when I found out that I had won this book from a giveaway on The Irish Banana. As soon as I read the synopsis for this book I knew I wanted to read it and I wasn't disappointed.
I'm going to be honest it took me a little while to get into this book. At about 30% into the book is when I really got hooked. I think it was the POV alternating between chapters that stalled me. At first I wasn't a big fan of Lulu's and I usually only got a page or two into her chapter before I kind of lost interest. She was a little wimpy I guess. She didn't really take control of her life and was letting everyone else dictate what she did and that drove me crazy. Happily she got a backbone and while still having a few moments of falling back to her old ways she always bounced back. I LOVED Freddie. I looked forward to his chapters and what was happening with him. He just seemed like a really great guy even with all that was going on in his life.
Then the magic happened and their stories collided and that's when I couldn't stop reading I just had to know what happened! As the pages dwindled and the story picked up I was concerned with how it would end. But for me it had the perfect ending. And I was totally surprised by it!!! I wasn't left with questions or thinking there was any loose ends.
It's not a 5 star just because of how long it took me to get interested in it. It took me 3 weeks to finish it and that's not normal for me. It was almost a sad DNF but I'm so happy I kept on reading. :)
I'm going to be honest it took me a little while to get into this book. At about 30% into the book is when I really got hooked. I think it was the POV alternating between chapters that stalled me. At first I wasn't a big fan of Lulu's and I usually only got a page or two into her chapter before I kind of lost interest. She was a little wimpy I guess. She didn't really take control of her life and was letting everyone else dictate what she did and that drove me crazy. Happily she got a backbone and while still having a few moments of falling back to her old ways she always bounced back. I LOVED Freddie. I looked forward to his chapters and what was happening with him. He just seemed like a really great guy even with all that was going on in his life.
Then the magic happened and their stories collided and that's when I couldn't stop reading I just had to know what happened! As the pages dwindled and the story picked up I was concerned with how it would end. But for me it had the perfect ending. And I was totally surprised by it!!! I wasn't left with questions or thinking there was any loose ends.
It's not a 5 star just because of how long it took me to get interested in it. It took me 3 weeks to finish it and that's not normal for me. It was almost a sad DNF but I'm so happy I kept on reading. :)
originally_olivia's review against another edition
4.0
I adore this book. While it's not on my favorites list I still think it beautifully written. It may seem predictable but the end is thoughtful and sneaky and bound to surprise you. While it's not the biggest page turner, it's a wonderful period piece full of love and mystery and greed.
hsquared's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted so much to like this: a mystery set in 1930's Hollywood. Unfortunately, I found the plot predictable, the characters flat, and the dialogue hokey.
nataliesboooks's review against another edition
2.0
While I thought the premise was interesting enough, I never really warmed to the main character. How can she be happy as the up and coming starlet knowing that the only reason she got there was because of the mafia?
Freddie I liked better as a character because he was kind of the opposite of Lulu - he realized where his money came from and turned his back on it.
There were also a lot of loose ends that were never really explained which always bugs me in a book.
The author is primarily a screenwriter and director. I think I would have liked this a lot more if it had been a movie.
Freddie I liked better as a character because he was kind of the opposite of Lulu - he realized where his money came from and turned his back on it.
There were also a lot of loose ends that were never really explained which always bugs me in a book.
The author is primarily a screenwriter and director. I think I would have liked this a lot more if it had been a movie.
aloyacano's review against another edition
4.0
I did not think I would like this book, but I was wrong. The story was atypical for YA and the story felt like a black and white movie from the "golden age" of film. I think some people might get turned off by the silliness of the plot, but it fit the tone of the book and ultimately added to the appeal.
reniareads's review against another edition
3.0
To be honest it wasn't as enjoyable as I thought it would be. Somethings felt forced or boring.
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