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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
This was a book that I found myself constantly having to put down because I was getting too worked up. It wasn't anything wrong with the book that was frustrating me, it intentionally frustrating, it was the shitty situations the MC was forced into that were frustrating. I felt connected to Chloe almost immediately because we were angry in solidarity at how shitty everything from her mother to MetaReel was.
Character-wise, I am so jealous of Chloe for getting to surround herself with her friends. Tessa and Mer were amazing. Benny was perfect (I don't know if I'd rather have him be my brother or my best friend). And Patrick... Patrick was just a dreamboat. I really appreciated that there wasn't that much friend drama in this. There have been hordes of contemporaries where once one aspect of the MC's life falls apart, so does everything else. Not that those books aren't great or don't have their place, but I really loved that throughout the entire book Chloe had Tessa, Mer, Patrick, Benny, and Matt behind her, supporting her and reminding her that they were there for her (regardless of whether or not she would take their help). I do wish we'd gotten to see a little bit more of Benny and Matt's relationship, but that's mostly just cause what we DID see of them was absolutely adorable.
I'm torn as to whether or not I wish we'd gotten to get to know Chloe's siblings more. On one hand they're clearly extremely important to her and a big part of her life. On the other hand... that's A LOT of characters to remember and care about. The one sibling we did get to know fairly well (apart from Benny of course) was Lex. Oh Lex... I started the book not quite hating Lex... but I wasn't exactly her biggest fan. I ended the book with Lex being one of my favorite characters. I don't know if I would want to be her friend, but I definitely respect her. I was a little worried in the beginning of the book about Chloe's slut-shaming of Lex, and while there were a number of times that I felt like were kind of cringy in that respect, for the most part it didn't feel like it ever got too bad. And her behavior was definitely explained and justified in a subtle, yet effective way.
My one issue was that I felt like there were a number of plot points that weren't quite wrapped up. I don't mean that in the "everything's left open ended cause life goes on" kind of way. The end felt like a very distinct ending/new beginning, but there were just some strands that didn't quite get tied off (mainly the plot lines with Melinda Greenberg and Chuck's threats).
Overall I loved this book. Tbh part of that is definitely because I may or may not kind of enjoy getting really fired about about things that make me angry... But overall this had a really good balance of characters you can't help but love, characters you love to hate, and a compelling plot that gives a sneak peak behind the scenes of a world that's so good at faking being real.
(Update: I just found out that there's a sequel/spin off and it focuses on Lexie and it's on Wattpad and I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS)
Character-wise, I am so jealous of Chloe for getting to surround herself with her friends. Tessa and Mer were amazing. Benny was perfect (I don't know if I'd rather have him be my brother or my best friend). And Patrick... Patrick was just a dreamboat. I really appreciated that there wasn't that much friend drama in this. There have been hordes of contemporaries where once one aspect of the MC's life falls apart, so does everything else. Not that those books aren't great or don't have their place, but I really loved that throughout the entire book Chloe had Tessa, Mer, Patrick, Benny, and Matt behind her, supporting her and reminding her that they were there for her (regardless of whether or not she would take their help). I do wish we'd gotten to see a little bit more of Benny and Matt's relationship, but that's mostly just cause what we DID see of them was absolutely adorable.
I'm torn as to whether or not I wish we'd gotten to get to know Chloe's siblings more. On one hand they're clearly extremely important to her and a big part of her life. On the other hand... that's A LOT of characters to remember and care about. The one sibling we did get to know fairly well (apart from Benny of course) was Lex. Oh Lex... I started the book not quite hating Lex... but I wasn't exactly her biggest fan. I ended the book with Lex being one of my favorite characters. I don't know if I would want to be her friend, but I definitely respect her. I was a little worried in the beginning of the book about Chloe's slut-shaming of Lex, and while there were a number of times that I felt like were kind of cringy in that respect, for the most part it didn't feel like it ever got too bad. And her behavior was definitely explained and justified in a subtle, yet effective way.
My one issue was that I felt like there were a number of plot points that weren't quite wrapped up. I don't mean that in the "everything's left open ended cause life goes on" kind of way. The end felt like a very distinct ending/new beginning, but there were just some strands that didn't quite get tied off (mainly the plot lines with Melinda Greenberg and Chuck's threats).
Overall I loved this book. Tbh part of that is definitely because I may or may not kind of enjoy getting really fired about about things that make me angry... But overall this had a really good balance of characters you can't help but love, characters you love to hate, and a compelling plot that gives a sneak peak behind the scenes of a world that's so good at faking being real.
(Update: I just found out that there's a sequel/spin off and it focuses on Lexie and it's on Wattpad and I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS)
I'd probably give this a 3.5 if that was available as an option.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
**This review may contain slight spoilers**
Review can also be found on The Bookish Raven
The main reason I was attracted to this book was because the premise seemed so interesting. A family who's life has been filmed from the day their first daughter was born? Hell yes. I was interested to see how the author would explore the way this affected the lives of the children in the family and the world around them. And Heather Demetrios definitely did not disappoint. The story felt, despite the somewhat-outrageous circumstances, so real and it even found a way to be relatable to its readers- which is no easy feat with this kind of story.
The writing is my favourite aspect of this book. It made me feel things. I was frustrated for Chloe (the name Bonnie takes to try and disassociate herself from her previous life on TV) and felt terrible for her for what she was going through - especially the scenes with her mother and Chuck. I was happy for her when good things happened to her and cheered her on at the end of the book. I felt like I was almost living through Chloe's life and everything that was going on. Heather Demetrios' writing was spot on here. It made the story come to life. I could see everything clearly in my mind.
Second, I loved the characters. Benny, Lexie, and Patrick were definitely my favourites. The characters were all very well-formed and I could more or less differentiate them in my mind (some of the less-mentioned Baker kids where a little more difficult, though). The main characters made the story even more real because they were pretty fleshed out - you can understand their motives in actions quite clearly without being info-dumped with their backstory.
I also really enjoyed the execution of this concept. The basic reality-TV-show-family theme turned into a discution about privacy and mental illness. The way that being thrust in the spotlight unwillingy aided in the development of Chloe's depression, anxiety attacks and suicide attempt mirrored the way that people are constantly thrust in the public eye through social media can affect their well-being. It also made a link to the way today's media blurs the lines of privacy. I especially enjoyed the comparison to George Orwell's 1984. Something Real surprisingly provides a commentary on the way privacy is infringed today in the name of celebrity. It's something that delighted me about this book.
Finally, Benny and Matt's story was absolutely perfect. Their relationship was adorable and the way Heather Demetrios portrayed their coming out was really great. Their worries, dreams and hopes were so realistic. I was almost whooping with happiness for them at the end. The fact that Heather Demetrios portrayed the way a gay relationship could also be affected in this type of situation only made it more interesting to read. The relationships were all well-developped; the way Chloe and Lexie's relationship evolved, Chloe's ever-supportive friends, Tessa and Meredith and, of course, Chloe and Patrick. I loved it all!
There really isn't much I can say I disliked about this book. The ending is really what I had the most difficulty with. It's not that it wasn't good - I liked it and it was satisfactory - but, because it ended with Chloe and Patrick literally driving off into the sunset (sunrise), it wrapped up all too neatly. But I still felt like there were some loose threads. We get no explanation or apology from Chloe's mother for having been so horrible to her and Benny, and a few other things. In my opinion, the ending was a bit too happy and perfect. However, it was still a nice ending that was enjoyable, even if it was a little bit too neat and tidy.
Something Real is a pleasant book about a girl trying to discover who she is when she's lived her entire life under the eye of a camera. The characters and relationships are well-developed and the writing makes all the scenes come to life on the page. The added commentary on today's society's views on privacy and media makes it a novel that is both fun and thought-inducing. I recommend it to anyone who's looking for a fun and interesting contemporary novel with a unique storyline. This is definitely one of my new favourite books!
This is a great debut by Heather Demetrios and I am now even more anxiously awaiting her next book [b:I'll Meet You There|21469068|I'll Meet You There|Heather Demetrios|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403897439s/21469068.jpg|24893471], which releases on February 3rd!!
**This review may contain slight spoilers**
Review can also be found on The Bookish Raven
The main reason I was attracted to this book was because the premise seemed so interesting. A family who's life has been filmed from the day their first daughter was born? Hell yes. I was interested to see how the author would explore the way this affected the lives of the children in the family and the world around them. And Heather Demetrios definitely did not disappoint. The story felt, despite the somewhat-outrageous circumstances, so real and it even found a way to be relatable to its readers- which is no easy feat with this kind of story.
The writing is my favourite aspect of this book. It made me feel things. I was frustrated for Chloe (the name Bonnie takes to try and disassociate herself from her previous life on TV) and felt terrible for her for what she was going through - especially the scenes with her mother and Chuck. I was happy for her when good things happened to her and cheered her on at the end of the book. I felt like I was almost living through Chloe's life and everything that was going on. Heather Demetrios' writing was spot on here. It made the story come to life. I could see everything clearly in my mind.
Second, I loved the characters. Benny, Lexie, and Patrick were definitely my favourites. The characters were all very well-formed and I could more or less differentiate them in my mind (some of the less-mentioned Baker kids where a little more difficult, though). The main characters made the story even more real because they were pretty fleshed out - you can understand their motives in actions quite clearly without being info-dumped with their backstory.
I also really enjoyed the execution of this concept. The basic reality-TV-show-family theme turned into a discution about privacy and mental illness. The way that being thrust in the spotlight unwillingy aided in the development of Chloe's depression, anxiety attacks and suicide attempt mirrored the way that people are constantly thrust in the public eye through social media can affect their well-being. It also made a link to the way today's media blurs the lines of privacy. I especially enjoyed the comparison to George Orwell's 1984. Something Real surprisingly provides a commentary on the way privacy is infringed today in the name of celebrity. It's something that delighted me about this book.
Finally, Benny and Matt's story was absolutely perfect. Their relationship was adorable and the way Heather Demetrios portrayed their coming out was really great. Their worries, dreams and hopes were so realistic. I was almost whooping with happiness for them at the end. The fact that Heather Demetrios portrayed the way a gay relationship could also be affected in this type of situation only made it more interesting to read. The relationships were all well-developped; the way Chloe and Lexie's relationship evolved, Chloe's ever-supportive friends, Tessa and Meredith and, of course, Chloe and Patrick. I loved it all!
There really isn't much I can say I disliked about this book. The ending is really what I had the most difficulty with. It's not that it wasn't good - I liked it and it was satisfactory - but, because it ended with Chloe and Patrick literally driving off into the sunset (sunrise), it wrapped up all too neatly. But I still felt like there were some loose threads. We get no explanation or apology from Chloe's mother for having been so horrible to her and Benny, and a few other things. In my opinion, the ending was a bit too happy and perfect. However, it was still a nice ending that was enjoyable, even if it was a little bit too neat and tidy.
Something Real is a pleasant book about a girl trying to discover who she is when she's lived her entire life under the eye of a camera. The characters and relationships are well-developed and the writing makes all the scenes come to life on the page. The added commentary on today's society's views on privacy and media makes it a novel that is both fun and thought-inducing. I recommend it to anyone who's looking for a fun and interesting contemporary novel with a unique storyline. This is definitely one of my new favourite books!
This is a great debut by Heather Demetrios and I am now even more anxiously awaiting her next book [b:I'll Meet You There|21469068|I'll Meet You There|Heather Demetrios|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403897439s/21469068.jpg|24893471], which releases on February 3rd!!
A fun read about the realities of being a child TV star. I loved the LGBT rep, but I thought the MC's love interest was too perfect. Devoured it in one sitting!
I can't say enough good things about this book. A love interest (not a triangle) who genuinely treats the protagonist well, a compelling family drama, LBGTQA characters, a great voice...loved it. Looking forward to more from Heather.
Something Real or Something "Reel" which I think it should be called was a great read. Demetrios really gave a well rounded look into the lives of reality TV and child star. This book covers so many topics that are interesting on a whole, privacy, child abuse, homosexuality etc. I loved the protagonist, yes there are some instances where I get a little fed-up but then I remember she is a teenager and she is doing what is expected.
A great read
A great read
And this is why I can't watch reality TV.
Basically this is like if Cheaper by the Dozen was filmed by cameramen and not all of the characters were quite as perfect as the Steve Martin movie. Gosh, did I really hate the mom, Chuck, and Kirk. I'm glad not all of the adults were made out to be villains, though.
Not 5 stars because I think some parts were rushed and glossed over/tied up a little too neatly.
Basically this is like if Cheaper by the Dozen was filmed by cameramen and not all of the characters were quite as perfect as the Steve Martin movie. Gosh, did I really hate the mom, Chuck, and Kirk. I'm glad not all of the adults were made out to be villains, though.
Not 5 stars because I think some parts were rushed and glossed over/tied up a little too neatly.