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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Bit of a slog in the middle when I started to really hate the main character, but genuinely loved the male lead and the end got much better.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
I picked this up, as I liked the title, and I liked the cover - the cover particularly stuck out to me, as I was constantly trying to wipe off the red wine stain from the front cover!
As the other reviewers have gone over the storyline already, I won't delve into it too much. You have Win and Leo, star crossed lovers, with Win using Leo to get some better press as a British Asian actress, trying to get ahead in Hollywood.
I was expecting this to be quite the Jackie Collins bonkbuster, but I was glad that there wasn't as much bonking as I was expecting. There is a genuine friendship and love between Win & Leo. Leo jumps at a moment's notice to help Win out of a bind, and almost to get her some positive press at times.
There are a lot of similarities to those stories that gossip mongers of us will have seen before. It was very reminiscent of the sort of stories you saw in the 50s/60s when gay male actors were in fake relationships with their female co-stars, to avoid controversy and negative, career ending press. We've seen it with the Brad/Jennifer/Angelina love triangle. We've seen it with the reality TVers of today, who have photographers and press on speed dial. And not to mention the publicists pulling the strings of their little puppets behind the scenes. It was quite eye opening and it definitely left me thinking about some of the more "candid" photographs you see in the rags.
I do feel that the storyline does take quite a significant dip in the middle though - the secret that Leo has been keeping (which comes out of nowhere, ready to wreak havoc on their "relationship") I thought would give the storyline a boost. But I feel that the story almost fell apart when Win & Leo weren't together. They are a very likeable couple, but for me, it fell flat here, and took some time to get back up to speed. I did finish it in two days, and I agree that it is the perfect escape from the reality of life today, but I can also see it being read on a beach somewhere, after being picked up in the airport.
To me, if it hadn't said so at the beginning, I would not have realised that this was written by two authors. It was very well written and the voices gelled well together. I just wish the narrative had been a bit better. It is still an enjoyable read, and does make you think about the racism within Hollywood, and the various lengths publicists etc will go to get their starlet in the press and to brush the negativity under the carpet. I am just not confident that it will be taking up permanent space on my shelf.
As the other reviewers have gone over the storyline already, I won't delve into it too much. You have Win and Leo, star crossed lovers, with Win using Leo to get some better press as a British Asian actress, trying to get ahead in Hollywood.
I was expecting this to be quite the Jackie Collins bonkbuster, but I was glad that there wasn't as much bonking as I was expecting. There is a genuine friendship and love between Win & Leo. Leo jumps at a moment's notice to help Win out of a bind, and almost to get her some positive press at times.
There are a lot of similarities to those stories that gossip mongers of us will have seen before. It was very reminiscent of the sort of stories you saw in the 50s/60s when gay male actors were in fake relationships with their female co-stars, to avoid controversy and negative, career ending press. We've seen it with the Brad/Jennifer/Angelina love triangle. We've seen it with the reality TVers of today, who have photographers and press on speed dial. And not to mention the publicists pulling the strings of their little puppets behind the scenes. It was quite eye opening and it definitely left me thinking about some of the more "candid" photographs you see in the rags.
I do feel that the storyline does take quite a significant dip in the middle though - the secret that Leo has been keeping (which comes out of nowhere, ready to wreak havoc on their "relationship") I thought would give the storyline a boost. But I feel that the story almost fell apart when Win & Leo weren't together. They are a very likeable couple, but for me, it fell flat here, and took some time to get back up to speed. I did finish it in two days, and I agree that it is the perfect escape from the reality of life today, but I can also see it being read on a beach somewhere, after being picked up in the airport.
To me, if it hadn't said so at the beginning, I would not have realised that this was written by two authors. It was very well written and the voices gelled well together. I just wish the narrative had been a bit better. It is still an enjoyable read, and does make you think about the racism within Hollywood, and the various lengths publicists etc will go to get their starlet in the press and to brush the negativity under the carpet. I am just not confident that it will be taking up permanent space on my shelf.
I was bored. A 1.5. This was a drag to finish. Win got worse as the book went on, there was no development or backup of their relationship and it was just an empty statement. Leo was purposeless in a bad way and Win just became unbearable and whiny.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A mostly fine, forgettable romance that absolutely loses points for the absurdity of the names of the characters. I mean... Win, Shift, Hae, and Gum? Are you f#%&ing kidding me?
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
A great trashy beach read
emotional
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