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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
fast-paced
A more complicated fake dating to lovers story than usual alongside an exploration of the cruelty of the Hollywood PR machine in relation to women celebrities made for an excellent read
hopeful
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
emotional
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
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
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
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An epic debut! Dazzling, sharp, thought-provoking and completely addicting. This book sucked me in, stressed me out, and had me feeling frustrated, sad and hopeful all at once.
Whitman Tagore is a famous actress battling the Hollywood machine - in order to stay relevant and get the roles she wants and needs, her image and her life is curated by her publicist for maximum appeal. As a woman of color, the stakes are doubly high. Enter Leo Milanowski, her handsome hotel heir event date turned buddy turned PR prop. When Whitman has a problem, Leo is brought in and their (fake) relationship is splattered all over the press. But how long can a fake relationship really last and what happens when real feelings get involved?
This is a love story, yes, but it’s also about finding yourself, the cost of fame, the double standards women (especially women of color, and especially those in the public eye) face, the Hollywood machine, our toxic cultural obsession with gossip, and how to negotiate what really matters when there’s so much on the line and appearances are valued more than the truth.
I came for the story and stayed for the beautiful writing, witty and quick dialogue, fabulous and likable leads, complex side characters and the wild behind-the-scenes look into a micromanaged celebrity life. My jaw was on the floor at points, and it actually made me sad for people in the public eye who have to deal with this incessant bullshit. I also love that the authors are married. A great read if you’re recovering from The Idea of You.
Whitman Tagore is a famous actress battling the Hollywood machine - in order to stay relevant and get the roles she wants and needs, her image and her life is curated by her publicist for maximum appeal. As a woman of color, the stakes are doubly high. Enter Leo Milanowski, her handsome hotel heir event date turned buddy turned PR prop. When Whitman has a problem, Leo is brought in and their (fake) relationship is splattered all over the press. But how long can a fake relationship really last and what happens when real feelings get involved?
This is a love story, yes, but it’s also about finding yourself, the cost of fame, the double standards women (especially women of color, and especially those in the public eye) face, the Hollywood machine, our toxic cultural obsession with gossip, and how to negotiate what really matters when there’s so much on the line and appearances are valued more than the truth.
I came for the story and stayed for the beautiful writing, witty and quick dialogue, fabulous and likable leads, complex side characters and the wild behind-the-scenes look into a micromanaged celebrity life. My jaw was on the floor at points, and it actually made me sad for people in the public eye who have to deal with this incessant bullshit. I also love that the authors are married. A great read if you’re recovering from The Idea of You.
This is the ORIGINAL contemporary romance I've been wanting this year! While The View Was Exhausting follows the "fake lovers/frenemies to lovers" trope, this book also brings an original POV and depth to the genre. Whitman "Win" Tagore is a British Indian actor who has an on again/off again fake relationship with the privileged, white, and independently wealthy British American Leo Milanowski. Win and Leo have a great rapport; they're characters that I adored! The book also has many scenes of the decadent and glamorous life, but the authors also use the book as an exploration of what it means to be a famous woman of color. Win often has to seemingly contend with the weight of the world on her shoulders; the media, Hollywood producers, and her fans want her to be so many things at the same time. She's no stranger to racism in the industry, but she also must make her statements to that end carefully for fear that she will never work in Hollywood again.
Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta have woven together a fun, frothy love story between Win and Leo with a timely and resonant exploration of fame, media, and the immense pressure put on Win as a woman of color in the industry. This is a winner.
Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta have woven together a fun, frothy love story between Win and Leo with a timely and resonant exploration of fame, media, and the immense pressure put on Win as a woman of color in the industry. This is a winner.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes