Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
I read this book in 48 hours. It was slightly addicting. So def like a 4.5. Not THE BEST BOOK EVER, but pretty darn good.
No matter how hard I try, no matter how many diverse reads I dig into, there is something just so comforting about the first type of book that I really fell in love with... the Sarah Dessen-vein "issues" book with a precious romance at the center. I am just mushy and hopeless, I guess.
This one has quite an "issue," too-- it is about Chloe/ Bonnie Baker, one of the oldest siblings from "Baker's Dozen," a fictional reality show about a family with a crap ton of kids. Think "John and Kate Plus 8." But really, do, because the premise is that the show ended when the dad was found cheating with a much younger lady and he left the show (and his family). Bonnie (her real name) attempted suicide in the wake of quite a lot of things that had started when she caught her dad cheating, and the show was canceled. The family moved to California and started fresh. Everything was going so well. Bonnie became Chloe, befriended some amazing girls, grew ultra close with her gay brother Benton (Bennie), and had a crush on hottie loner boy Patrick.
All was well, that is, until her mom and step dad decided to let the cameras back in and bring back the horror that was living a reality television lie.
Chloe/Bonnie struggles to deal with the multiple invasions of privacy, the betrayal of her family (multiple times), and trying to hold on to relationships while the media is hounding you at every moment. All of these struggles seemed so intense, without being melodramatic, and you really wanted to fight for Chloe. She was in such a crappy situation, when all she wanted to do was live a normal life. I think that for all of us who are fascinated with reality television, this book really gives us a good perspective of how invasive and cruel these shows can be to the young children who grow up on them.
Okay, my favorite things about the book include but are not limited to: BENTON BAKER, MY DARLING HEART, Patrick (duh), the reality TV premise, and the writing. In teen books, it is easy to just forget about the writing and just let the plot drift you along, but I did find myself (a few times) stopping to re-read a sentence that really struck me for how true it was to the whole growing- up experience.
AND THE BEST PART OF THIS BOOK IS THE "I LOVE MY BOYFRIEND" T-SHIRT SCENE. I WAS LEGIT HAPPY CRYING SO HARD AT THAT MOMENT. GOSH DANG IT. BENNY + MATT FOREVERRRRRR.
Okay, this is a terrible review, because I talk about how obsessed I was with this book but then don't really tell you why, but you just need to read it. I never thought I would blaze through 300+ pages on one Saturday afternoon, but this book just did it for me. It was so (lest I be totally cheese-tastic) REAL.
RA notes: reality TV, estranged parents/ WORST PARENT AWARD EVER, some drinking, smoking, talk about sex (but healthily). Rebellion/ fighting for what you believe in against parental/authority figures. LGBTQ CHARACTERS THAT MAKE YOU MELT YOU ARE SO HAPPY (but they are secondary, which is a shame. I WANT A BOOK ABOUT BENNY). Some about finishing high school and moving on to college. Creating a new identity. Starting fresh.
No matter how hard I try, no matter how many diverse reads I dig into, there is something just so comforting about the first type of book that I really fell in love with... the Sarah Dessen-vein "issues" book with a precious romance at the center. I am just mushy and hopeless, I guess.
This one has quite an "issue," too-- it is about Chloe/ Bonnie Baker, one of the oldest siblings from "Baker's Dozen," a fictional reality show about a family with a crap ton of kids. Think "John and Kate Plus 8." But really, do, because the premise is that the show ended when the dad was found cheating with a much younger lady and he left the show (and his family). Bonnie (her real name) attempted suicide in the wake of quite a lot of things that had started when she caught her dad cheating, and the show was canceled. The family moved to California and started fresh. Everything was going so well. Bonnie became Chloe, befriended some amazing girls, grew ultra close with her gay brother Benton (Bennie), and had a crush on hottie loner boy Patrick.
All was well, that is, until her mom and step dad decided to let the cameras back in and bring back the horror that was living a reality television lie.
Chloe/Bonnie struggles to deal with the multiple invasions of privacy, the betrayal of her family (multiple times), and trying to hold on to relationships while the media is hounding you at every moment. All of these struggles seemed so intense, without being melodramatic, and you really wanted to fight for Chloe. She was in such a crappy situation, when all she wanted to do was live a normal life. I think that for all of us who are fascinated with reality television, this book really gives us a good perspective of how invasive and cruel these shows can be to the young children who grow up on them.
Okay, my favorite things about the book include but are not limited to: BENTON BAKER, MY DARLING HEART, Patrick (duh), the reality TV premise, and the writing. In teen books, it is easy to just forget about the writing and just let the plot drift you along, but I did find myself (a few times) stopping to re-read a sentence that really struck me for how true it was to the whole growing- up experience.
AND THE BEST PART OF THIS BOOK IS THE "I LOVE MY BOYFRIEND" T-SHIRT SCENE. I WAS LEGIT HAPPY CRYING SO HARD AT THAT MOMENT. GOSH DANG IT. BENNY + MATT FOREVERRRRRR.
Okay, this is a terrible review, because I talk about how obsessed I was with this book but then don't really tell you why, but you just need to read it. I never thought I would blaze through 300+ pages on one Saturday afternoon, but this book just did it for me. It was so (lest I be totally cheese-tastic) REAL.
RA notes: reality TV, estranged parents/ WORST PARENT AWARD EVER, some drinking, smoking, talk about sex (but healthily). Rebellion/ fighting for what you believe in against parental/authority figures. LGBTQ CHARACTERS THAT MAKE YOU MELT YOU ARE SO HAPPY (but they are secondary, which is a shame. I WANT A BOOK ABOUT BENNY). Some about finishing high school and moving on to college. Creating a new identity. Starting fresh.
With what is currently popular on television it's amazing how much I enjoyed this book. The fact that Heather Demetrios used the Trademark symbol after the Baker kids names gives it so much character! Dramatic flair and teenage emotions brings out the struggles that young TV stars go through.
While I'm not an expert on that particular subject, I connected to Chloe (Bonnie*tm). She probably overreacted to a lot of situations, but her anxiety and stress were real and emotional. I'm not going into much detail because the idea of a reality TV show with he in keeping it a secret in High School gives a pretty predictable plot. There are a few surprises, especially the ending, but they are ones that I definitely approve of.
Loved this book, and it was a pretty fast read. It kept me engaged with the characters and the drama was really entertaining. There were flaws, but then what good book doesn't have those! If you can't stand those reality TV shows, or maybe enjoy the drama from them you'll enjoy this read!
While I'm not an expert on that particular subject, I connected to Chloe (Bonnie*tm). She probably overreacted to a lot of situations, but her anxiety and stress were real and emotional. I'm not going into much detail because the idea of a reality TV show with he in keeping it a secret in High School gives a pretty predictable plot. There are a few surprises, especially the ending, but they are ones that I definitely approve of.
Loved this book, and it was a pretty fast read. It kept me engaged with the characters and the drama was really entertaining. There were flaws, but then what good book doesn't have those! If you can't stand those reality TV shows, or maybe enjoy the drama from them you'll enjoy this read!
I finally did it!
It was a long time coming, but I finally finished this book amid all the exams that I had. This novel captured my interest from the very beginning, right from the synopsis. Overall, it was well written, each character well developed and outlined. The main character was very emotionally raw and easy to connect with especially with everything that she was going through. So I enjoyed it. Disappointment fell when we got to this climatic moment in the book. Everything from there kind of took a dip and that's why it's only getting my 4 stars. At some point it started to feel rushed and there were gaps I would have liked filled and questions I would have liked answered. It also became way too mushy taking away the focus from the main theme of the book. anyway, I'd say read it, judge it for yourself. It was sort of worth it.
It was a long time coming, but I finally finished this book amid all the exams that I had. This novel captured my interest from the very beginning, right from the synopsis. Overall, it was well written, each character well developed and outlined. The main character was very emotionally raw and easy to connect with especially with everything that she was going through. So I enjoyed it. Disappointment fell when we got to this climatic moment in the book. Everything from there kind of took a dip and that's why it's only getting my 4 stars. At some point it started to feel rushed and there were gaps I would have liked filled and questions I would have liked answered. It also became way too mushy taking away the focus from the main theme of the book. anyway, I'd say read it, judge it for yourself. It was sort of worth it.
3.5 stars
Chloe Baker spent her entire childhood on television--as Bonnie Baker, one of the beloved stars of Baker's Dozen, the reality tv show that centers around her family. Baker's Dozen has been off the air for four years and Chloe's just had the chance at a normal life when her mother makes a shocking announcement: Baker's Dozen is going back on the air.
This is a well-written and thoughtful contemporary that takes on issues as varied as our current media culture, sibling relationships, and teh search for teenage identity and manages to skillfully weave them together into a compelling narrative. It also includes an utterly charming romance, with an almost too perfect love interest, whose relationship with Chloe/Bonnie is always healthy and filled with sweet moments. The supporting cast of this book is truly well crafted, from Chloe/Bonnie's caring, funny brother Benton to her nightmarish mother. Something Real is over 400 pages, but it feels much shorter as Demetrios crafts an addictive story and well-made plot. She truly makes the reader feel invested in Chloe's fate, outraged at the machinations of her mother and the producer of Baker's Dozen, and connected to each character. (I only docked half a point for the completely unrealistic perfection of Patrick, the love interest. Real boys do not act like that.) Overall, an emotional and satisfying read.
Chloe Baker spent her entire childhood on television--as Bonnie Baker, one of the beloved stars of Baker's Dozen, the reality tv show that centers around her family. Baker's Dozen has been off the air for four years and Chloe's just had the chance at a normal life when her mother makes a shocking announcement: Baker's Dozen is going back on the air.
This is a well-written and thoughtful contemporary that takes on issues as varied as our current media culture, sibling relationships, and teh search for teenage identity and manages to skillfully weave them together into a compelling narrative. It also includes an utterly charming romance, with an almost too perfect love interest, whose relationship with Chloe/Bonnie is always healthy and filled with sweet moments. The supporting cast of this book is truly well crafted, from Chloe/Bonnie's caring, funny brother Benton to her nightmarish mother. Something Real is over 400 pages, but it feels much shorter as Demetrios crafts an addictive story and well-made plot. She truly makes the reader feel invested in Chloe's fate, outraged at the machinations of her mother and the producer of Baker's Dozen, and connected to each character. (I only docked half a point for the completely unrealistic perfection of Patrick, the love interest. Real boys do not act like that.) Overall, an emotional and satisfying read.
Great debut book focusing on the effects of 'exposure', having your life constantly filmed and become a mass consumption, not having a normal life and all.... Love how the author linked the story to Orwell's 1984.
Bonnie sometimes can be unlikeable but she comes off as real and an interesting main character to follow. Sucks to be her, with parents who are totally out of their mind and a dozen siblings around (as an only child myself, I sudder imagining having SO much children in your home. Yiaks.). But who actually steals the spotlight here? BENNY! Every girl wants an awesomely fabulous brother like Benny! Benny benny benny.
And oooh, Patrick. Patrick patrick patrick, perfect perfect perfect! ((He's too good to be true though haha whatever.))
Bonnie sometimes can be unlikeable but she comes off as real and an interesting main character to follow. Sucks to be her, with parents who are totally out of their mind and a dozen siblings around (as an only child myself, I sudder imagining having SO much children in your home. Yiaks.). But who actually steals the spotlight here? BENNY! Every girl wants an awesomely fabulous brother like Benny! Benny benny benny.
And oooh, Patrick. Patrick patrick patrick, perfect perfect perfect! ((He's too good to be true though haha whatever.))
So, fun fact...I used to live down the street from Jon & Kate Plus 8. We didn't know them - we moved in after they were already "famous" and also, we didn't have kids at the time, so we really had nothing in common, anyway. But we did have to drive out of the neighborhood clogged with production vans all the time and deal with frequent random people driving by just to get a look at their house. This book really reminded me of their situation, and I find it hard to imagine Heather Demetrius had any other family in mind while she was writing it. I loved how Chloe/Bonnie's character developed from a panicky pushover to a (still panicky) young adult who can stand up for her own self in the face of immense pressure to do otherwise. Loved the secondary characters of Matt, Benton, and even Lexie towards the end. And a great love story between Chloe and Patrick. One of my favorite YA books this year!
So cute! I loved the concept and you could really feel for Chloe and her want to be normal. Highly recommend to those looking for a fun original contemporary!
You remember, about a year ago, when Kate dragged two of her oldest daughters onto some morning talk show in order to promote God knows what fresh hell? And they spent the entire interview in utter silence? And it was the biggest fuck you they could have ever said to her? And those of us that purposefully do not watch reality tv - especially featuring children - couldn't have been happy for them?
That's this book. This book is one girl finally breaking out from her mother's manipulations and fame-whoring at the expense of her childhood and her life. Somehow Demetrios has written a book that's both light and quick, but still able to tackle the big issues. Namely, what affect does it have on the children forced to participate in the trash that airs on TLC any night of the week?
This is realistic YA at it's strongest.
That's this book. This book is one girl finally breaking out from her mother's manipulations and fame-whoring at the expense of her childhood and her life. Somehow Demetrios has written a book that's both light and quick, but still able to tackle the big issues. Namely, what affect does it have on the children forced to participate in the trash that airs on TLC any night of the week?
This is realistic YA at it's strongest.
Review can also be found at My Midnight Musing
I’m usually very hesitant to pick up a book that focuses on the “celebrity” lifestyle. More often enough I feel like those books either romanticise “celebrity” culture or make is so dramatic it feels fake. That is why I put off reading Something Real for so long and I am kicking myself for that. Heather Demetrios has once again given us a story that highlights the brutality of “reality” television. Here we have Chloe, a seventeen year old who has grown up in the spotlight thanks to her families reality show ‘Baker’s Dozen’. After four years of living a life away from the cameras she finally feels like she can move on from being Bonnie Baker. However, life and her mother have other plans and she is quickly thrown back into the world of chaos, drama and manipulation. This safety net she’s built around herself is shattered and now she has to try and find out how Chloe can still hold on the life she built for herself without the interference of camera.
Chloe is such a wonderful character. I loved following her journey in this book and I while I couldn’t relate to her “reality” situation I could definitely relate to the emotional impact this life has on her. Since living her life in front of the camera one of Chloe’s main struggles in this book is finding her identity. All she wants is the freedom to explore who she is without the cameras. On camera she is Bonnie Baker, a trademark, someone that is being used as a tool for drama, ratings and endorsements. To Chloe, Bonnie is nothing more than a Hollywood production. She hates the cameras and as a child she has been given no choice in the life she’s been handed and the tolls on having the world know every detail of your life, of never having a moment of privacy is definitely affecting Chloe’s mental and emotional state. She can’t confide in her mother because it’s clear that her priority is the show and keeping up appearances and there’s a lot of resentment for that because given the choice between her daughter and the camera, Chloe knows that the cameras always come first.
However, Chloe is not alone and she does have a few people in her life that she can turn to. Her brother, Benny, is her closest confidant and I absolutely loved the dynamic between the two. Like Chloe, Benny has no desire to live life in front of the camera. Benny is her rock. He’s the one that she turns to when she needs a shoulder to cry on or a hand to hold. They have such a beautiful relationship and the bond they have is unbreakable.
We also have Patrick Sheldon. Patrick is the definition of a sweetheart. Chloe and Patrick have essentially been dancing around each other for the past year; both of them unsure as to whether or not the other likes them. Their connection was so adorable and I love their interactions. When Patrick finds out about the show, he does not back down. He stands with Chloe, even when she pushes him away and becomes another person for Chloe to turn to when things get tough. Their relationship was so sweet and you could definitely feel the love between them.
This book explores the dark side of “reality” television and I feel like this story is so relevant to today’s society because people are so obsessed with these shows. This book makes you think about the manipulation and the emotional abuse young kids are put through on these “reality” shows. The lack of privacy, having an entire identity carved out for the show, never being given a moment’s peace and most of all not being given a choice in the matter. I absolutely loved this book. I cried, laughed and cursed the hell out of some people. Most of all Chloe’s journey in finding her own voice and identity was so moving. I couldn’t put the book down.
I’m usually very hesitant to pick up a book that focuses on the “celebrity” lifestyle. More often enough I feel like those books either romanticise “celebrity” culture or make is so dramatic it feels fake. That is why I put off reading Something Real for so long and I am kicking myself for that. Heather Demetrios has once again given us a story that highlights the brutality of “reality” television. Here we have Chloe, a seventeen year old who has grown up in the spotlight thanks to her families reality show ‘Baker’s Dozen’. After four years of living a life away from the cameras she finally feels like she can move on from being Bonnie Baker. However, life and her mother have other plans and she is quickly thrown back into the world of chaos, drama and manipulation. This safety net she’s built around herself is shattered and now she has to try and find out how Chloe can still hold on the life she built for herself without the interference of camera.
Chloe is such a wonderful character. I loved following her journey in this book and I while I couldn’t relate to her “reality” situation I could definitely relate to the emotional impact this life has on her. Since living her life in front of the camera one of Chloe’s main struggles in this book is finding her identity. All she wants is the freedom to explore who she is without the cameras. On camera she is Bonnie Baker, a trademark, someone that is being used as a tool for drama, ratings and endorsements. To Chloe, Bonnie is nothing more than a Hollywood production. She hates the cameras and as a child she has been given no choice in the life she’s been handed and the tolls on having the world know every detail of your life, of never having a moment of privacy is definitely affecting Chloe’s mental and emotional state. She can’t confide in her mother because it’s clear that her priority is the show and keeping up appearances and there’s a lot of resentment for that because given the choice between her daughter and the camera, Chloe knows that the cameras always come first.
However, Chloe is not alone and she does have a few people in her life that she can turn to. Her brother, Benny, is her closest confidant and I absolutely loved the dynamic between the two. Like Chloe, Benny has no desire to live life in front of the camera. Benny is her rock. He’s the one that she turns to when she needs a shoulder to cry on or a hand to hold. They have such a beautiful relationship and the bond they have is unbreakable.
We also have Patrick Sheldon. Patrick is the definition of a sweetheart. Chloe and Patrick have essentially been dancing around each other for the past year; both of them unsure as to whether or not the other likes them. Their connection was so adorable and I love their interactions. When Patrick finds out about the show, he does not back down. He stands with Chloe, even when she pushes him away and becomes another person for Chloe to turn to when things get tough. Their relationship was so sweet and you could definitely feel the love between them.
This book explores the dark side of “reality” television and I feel like this story is so relevant to today’s society because people are so obsessed with these shows. This book makes you think about the manipulation and the emotional abuse young kids are put through on these “reality” shows. The lack of privacy, having an entire identity carved out for the show, never being given a moment’s peace and most of all not being given a choice in the matter. I absolutely loved this book. I cried, laughed and cursed the hell out of some people. Most of all Chloe’s journey in finding her own voice and identity was so moving. I couldn’t put the book down.
OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK!
Going into it I thought I would really enjoy it because it seemed like it would be a cute/fluffy contemporary read that would be great for the summertimes. I DID NOT EXPECT TO LOVE IT THIS MUCH!
Heather Demetrios has a great writing style that's funny and witty and makes her characters believable. I had the kind of feels when reading this book that I had when I read Fangirl (by Rainbow Rowell) which is one of my all time favorites.
I really loved that this book had great relationships in it between the main character Chloe/Bonnie (if you read it, you'll understand why she has two names) and her brother Benton, as well as between Chloe/Bonnie and her love interest Patrick (who is just oh so charming and adorable and really really cool).
I also really loved that this had deeper issues rooted in Chloe herself and her relationship with her parents, specifically her mother. I felt like this was a such a social commentary on reality television, specifically shows like John and Kate Plus 8, AND I find it extremely relevant right now considering there was just a "where are they now" type special about Kate and the kids. This book kind of shows the horrors of what it's like to grow up on camera with the whole world watching. It was just really interesting. I loved it because I thought it was really cute while at the same time it pointed out things in pop culture that we might take for granted, such as the idea of a normal life vs one where you're raised starring on reality television.
Something Real was just a really great novel and I loved it!
Going into it I thought I would really enjoy it because it seemed like it would be a cute/fluffy contemporary read that would be great for the summertimes. I DID NOT EXPECT TO LOVE IT THIS MUCH!
Heather Demetrios has a great writing style that's funny and witty and makes her characters believable. I had the kind of feels when reading this book that I had when I read Fangirl (by Rainbow Rowell) which is one of my all time favorites.
I really loved that this book had great relationships in it between the main character Chloe/Bonnie (if you read it, you'll understand why she has two names) and her brother Benton, as well as between Chloe/Bonnie and her love interest Patrick (who is just oh so charming and adorable and really really cool).
I also really loved that this had deeper issues rooted in Chloe herself and her relationship with her parents, specifically her mother. I felt like this was a such a social commentary on reality television, specifically shows like John and Kate Plus 8, AND I find it extremely relevant right now considering there was just a "where are they now" type special about Kate and the kids. This book kind of shows the horrors of what it's like to grow up on camera with the whole world watching. It was just really interesting. I loved it because I thought it was really cute while at the same time it pointed out things in pop culture that we might take for granted, such as the idea of a normal life vs one where you're raised starring on reality television.
Something Real was just a really great novel and I loved it!