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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
ah, i love every single one of her characters she writes.
The premise for this book is so unique!
As soon as I started reading it I was immediately sucked into the story!
I loved the whole reality TV idea and it was really cool to read about what it's like to be on the show when you don't want to be on reality TV.
I loved Bonnie and Benton they were so sarcastic and it made the book very funny!
It was a really cool story line; 13 siblings on a reality TV show with the main character just wanting to be normal!
It reminded me of cheaper by the dozen and yours mine & ours.
*Seriously though the mom in this book was so incredibly selfish it was insane
*Also Chuck! What a gross guy!
I couldn't give this book 5 stars because Bonnie kept running away from her problems at times and it was frustrating. Also at the end I felt like their wasn't much closure between Bonnie and her family and I just wanted to know more!
As soon as I started reading it I was immediately sucked into the story!
I loved the whole reality TV idea and it was really cool to read about what it's like to be on the show when you don't want to be on reality TV.
I loved Bonnie and Benton they were so sarcastic and it made the book very funny!
It was a really cool story line; 13 siblings on a reality TV show with the main character just wanting to be normal!
It reminded me of cheaper by the dozen and yours mine & ours.
*Seriously though the mom in this book was so incredibly selfish it was insane
*Also Chuck! What a gross guy!
I couldn't give this book 5 stars because Bonnie kept running away from her problems at times and it was frustrating. Also at the end I felt like their wasn't much closure between Bonnie and her family and I just wanted to know more!
After reading “I’ll Meet You There,” I thought I’d check out Heather Demetrios’s earlier works. And I am pleased to note, I am not disappointed. I loved “Something Real” almost as much as IMYT. Both books have these intense, deliciously woven plot lines with strong characters that just make you want to keep reading until you’re done.
Seventeen year old Chloe (formally Bonnie) Baker has managed to have a somewhat normal teenage experience since being on her family’s hit reality TV show “Baker’s Dozen” four year ago (think Jon & Kate Plus 8). But when Chloe’s mother-one of the most vile, repulsive characters in YA lit-decides to bring the show back on the air, Chloe‘s almost perfect world is ruined when her troubled past comes back to haunt her. Being back in the spotlight causes her world to fall apart and her relationships with her friends, boyfriend, and even siblings are tested on a whole new level.
I didn’t really expect much going into this book simply because I was worried about it’s authenticity with the plot. As far as I know, Heather Demetrios has never been on a reality TV show, but the way she writes makes you believe she has. I feel like this book is an accurate depiction of what someone who was forced to grow up in the spotlight was like.
The Good:
Voice: I will continue praising books like this one for the voice of their character until I can‘t type anymore. Bonnie sounds like a teenager (the fact that I have to put this in a review is sort of depressing because so many ya authors CANNOT pull this off). Chloe isn’t dumbed down or sounding like a 40 year old trying to sound like a 17 year old. The only thing about Chloe that bothered me was that there were moments where I think she should have been more angry/upset.
Writing Style: I LOVE Heather Demetrios’s writing style. This book hit me in all the right places: happiness, sadness, anger By her words, I really felt bad for the kids, being exploited on TV and all. It got to the point where I was yelling at my Nook. The way she writes sucks you right into the story.
Character Relationships: The dynamic between Chloe and her friends/boyfriend/siblings was phenomenal. Chloe’s romance with Patrick made me squeal in delight multiple times while reading. I loved all their dates, from the late night meet in the park, to their homemade theater. Chloe and Patrick’s relationship was warm and fuzzy and gave me all the right feels.
The Bad:
I’m just nitpicking here, but a lot of the character names had the trademark symbol beside them. I understand why there were in the text but it was just a little annoying at first. But once you get 200 pages in , you don’t even notice them.
Also, if you are going to reference Sex and the City-the greatest TV show of all time-at least make sure to get the character name right. It’s Stanford, NOT Stuart!
---
Overall, this was a fabulous, stay up late reading into the night type of book. There were moments were I actually laughed out loud too and squealed in delight. From the perfect writing style to the juicy plotline, this book demands to be read!
Follow my book review blog!
http://ya-book-reviews-by-ryan.tumblr.com/
Seventeen year old Chloe (formally Bonnie) Baker has managed to have a somewhat normal teenage experience since being on her family’s hit reality TV show “Baker’s Dozen” four year ago (think Jon & Kate Plus 8). But when Chloe’s mother-one of the most vile, repulsive characters in YA lit-decides to bring the show back on the air, Chloe‘s almost perfect world is ruined when her troubled past comes back to haunt her. Being back in the spotlight causes her world to fall apart and her relationships with her friends, boyfriend, and even siblings are tested on a whole new level.
I didn’t really expect much going into this book simply because I was worried about it’s authenticity with the plot. As far as I know, Heather Demetrios has never been on a reality TV show, but the way she writes makes you believe she has. I feel like this book is an accurate depiction of what someone who was forced to grow up in the spotlight was like.
The Good:
Voice: I will continue praising books like this one for the voice of their character until I can‘t type anymore. Bonnie sounds like a teenager (the fact that I have to put this in a review is sort of depressing because so many ya authors CANNOT pull this off). Chloe isn’t dumbed down or sounding like a 40 year old trying to sound like a 17 year old. The only thing about Chloe that bothered me was that there were moments where I think she should have been more angry/upset.
Writing Style: I LOVE Heather Demetrios’s writing style. This book hit me in all the right places: happiness, sadness, anger By her words, I really felt bad for the kids, being exploited on TV and all. It got to the point where I was yelling at my Nook. The way she writes sucks you right into the story.
Character Relationships: The dynamic between Chloe and her friends/boyfriend/siblings was phenomenal. Chloe’s romance with Patrick made me squeal in delight multiple times while reading. I loved all their dates, from the late night meet in the park, to their homemade theater. Chloe and Patrick’s relationship was warm and fuzzy and gave me all the right feels.
The Bad:
I’m just nitpicking here, but a lot of the character names had the trademark symbol beside them. I understand why there were in the text but it was just a little annoying at first. But once you get 200 pages in , you don’t even notice them.
Also, if you are going to reference Sex and the City-the greatest TV show of all time-at least make sure to get the character name right. It’s Stanford, NOT Stuart!
---
Overall, this was a fabulous, stay up late reading into the night type of book. There were moments were I actually laughed out loud too and squealed in delight. From the perfect writing style to the juicy plotline, this book demands to be read!
Follow my book review blog!
http://ya-book-reviews-by-ryan.tumblr.com/
I was worried about reading one of Demetrios' other books after I'll Meet You There becoming one of my very favorite movies, but it didn't disappoint! I thought it was really well done in terms of logistics and mechanics- a lot of times when books feature fame or the Hollywood machine, I generally find myself going, no that wouldn't happen, no that's not something that's true, but this was written in a way that even if there were a couple ~very small~ things I'd say, nah that's not totally believable, I could make the leap because it wasn't asking anything crazy from me.
I love Patrick, WOW he's awesome, and so was Benny and Matt. I was happy to see Chloe come into her own. I think I got a littttttle sick of the full on LOVE fest between her and Patrick, and I thought that their conflict got fixed a little too easily, but I'm happy most of the conflict hinged on her family and the show rather than on relationship drama.
A solid read! I really REALLY want to get I'll Meet You There again though, because wow, that really did a number on me.
I love Patrick, WOW he's awesome, and so was Benny and Matt. I was happy to see Chloe come into her own. I think I got a littttttle sick of the full on LOVE fest between her and Patrick, and I thought that their conflict got fixed a little too easily, but I'm happy most of the conflict hinged on her family and the show rather than on relationship drama.
A solid read! I really REALLY want to get I'll Meet You There again though, because wow, that really did a number on me.
The Good
Great Concept – Chloe (or BonnieTM ) Baker grew up on a reality TV show. From birth to age 13 she lived on camera. It’s well executed to show how not real reality television is from all of Bonnie’s clothing on the show being selected by someone else, to reshooting certain scenes for product placement.
Sibling relationship/friendships - I enjoyed Chloe’s relationship with her brother Benton (Benny). Most of her siblings don’t get much time in the book (there are 12 of them), but Chloe and Benny and fun together and supportive when they both really need some emotional support due to the show. The friends Chloe made at school during the year before the show went back on the air are supportive when I REALLY needed her to have some.
The Bad
One dimensional villains – It’s hard imagine a mother being as insensitive her daughter’s emotional trauma as Beth seems to be. And the show’s producer Chuck is evil. Neither of these are deal killers for the book because they are both totally possible – just unbelievably frustrating.
Review on Blog
http://goingforgoldilocks.blogspot.com/2015/03/something-real-by-heather-demetrios.html
Great Concept – Chloe (or BonnieTM ) Baker grew up on a reality TV show. From birth to age 13 she lived on camera. It’s well executed to show how not real reality television is from all of Bonnie’s clothing on the show being selected by someone else, to reshooting certain scenes for product placement.
Sibling relationship/friendships - I enjoyed Chloe’s relationship with her brother Benton (Benny). Most of her siblings don’t get much time in the book (there are 12 of them), but Chloe and Benny and fun together and supportive when they both really need some emotional support due to the show. The friends Chloe made at school during the year before the show went back on the air are supportive when I REALLY needed her to have some.
The Bad
One dimensional villains – It’s hard imagine a mother being as insensitive her daughter’s emotional trauma as Beth seems to be. And the show’s producer Chuck is evil. Neither of these are deal killers for the book because they are both totally possible – just unbelievably frustrating.
Review on Blog
http://goingforgoldilocks.blogspot.com/2015/03/something-real-by-heather-demetrios.html
I can't even put into words how amazing this book was. Just so spot on perfection and beauty. Love, love, love.
As usual, review to come. But as it stands, this was a really outstanding book. Great characters and plot.
The Duggars meets Kate Plus 8. Bonnie aka Chloe comes from a family of 13. They've been on the air since before Bonnie was born. They ended the show when Bonnie was 13 and now at 17 the cameras are coming back. Bonnie has to deal with the fall out of having her mother betray her after she was promised no more cameras.
The book chapters are numbered as seasons. So "season 17 episode 1/2/3/etc". It is how Bonnie counts her age. She isn't 17 years old, she's in the 17th season of Baker's Dozen, the show about her family.
I liked Bonnie and Benton a lot. Their relationship was so cute and for them not having been the twins (his twin is Lexie) they had a stronger relationship than the other siblings. I didn't get why they went to a different high school than Lexie and finally about halfway through the book the author mentions Lexie goes to a performing arts high school, while Bonnie and Benton go to the public one. The other 10 siblings are mentioned here and there.
I felt Beth, Bonnie's mom, was very much like Kate, from Kate Plus 8. She was saying the show was to benefit the kids, but really it was all about her. She wouldn't listen to Bonnie when she said she didn't like being on the show because she didn't want to damage the family rep by showing that the show was harming her kids more than doing good.
All in all this was a great book about the dangers of being on camera your whole life. Reality TV is fun to watch, but at what price?
The book chapters are numbered as seasons. So "season 17 episode 1/2/3/etc". It is how Bonnie counts her age. She isn't 17 years old, she's in the 17th season of Baker's Dozen, the show about her family.
I liked Bonnie and Benton a lot. Their relationship was so cute and for them not having been the twins (his twin is Lexie) they had a stronger relationship than the other siblings. I didn't get why they went to a different high school than Lexie and finally about halfway through the book the author mentions Lexie goes to a performing arts high school, while Bonnie and Benton go to the public one. The other 10 siblings are mentioned here and there.
I felt Beth, Bonnie's mom, was very much like Kate, from Kate Plus 8. She was saying the show was to benefit the kids, but really it was all about her. She wouldn't listen to Bonnie when she said she didn't like being on the show because she didn't want to damage the family rep by showing that the show was harming her kids more than doing good.
All in all this was a great book about the dangers of being on camera your whole life. Reality TV is fun to watch, but at what price?
I really enjoyed this novel mainly because of the plot, it was interesting and something I haven't seen done (or done well) before. It is an interesting look at how far people will go to make money and keep the fame they are used to. The character I hated the most had to be the mother because she forces Chloe and the family to be apart of this reality tv show even when it ends up hurting them. Plus the novel 1984 is mentioned because of the idea of big brother filming you all the time and it connects with what Chloe has been through her entire life.
It was cool how the author put trade mark symbols on the names to stress how commercialized the whole family had become.
The main character, Chloe (who hates being called the trade-marked name Bonnie) is so amazing. She has made mistakes in the past but as the book goes on it is clear why she did what she did (no spoilers) and how the reality show and her parents are to blame. The romance was great because it built up over the course of the novel and I found it to be cute in a good way. :) (and the love interest Patrick was an awesome guy)
I recommend checking this novel out, it was hard for me to put it down!
It was cool how the author put trade mark symbols on the names to stress how commercialized the whole family had become.
The main character, Chloe (who hates being called the trade-marked name Bonnie) is so amazing. She has made mistakes in the past but as the book goes on it is clear why she did what she did (no spoilers) and how the reality show and her parents are to blame. The romance was great because it built up over the course of the novel and I found it to be cute in a good way. :) (and the love interest Patrick was an awesome guy)
I recommend checking this novel out, it was hard for me to put it down!
FIRST THOUGHTS:
Real rating? 4.75. This book is just REALLY good. It tackled the idea of what it must be like for young kids/teens to grow up in the spotlight, especially one as invasive as Baker's Dozen. My heart went out to Bonnie, Benton and their siblings as their lives get turned upside down! The ensuing craziness, the enduring relationships, the story -- all definitely worth a read.
REVIEW:
Something Real was absolutely riveting. It was impossible to set down after I'd started, so I read it all in one sitting. The story is infused with equal amounts dramatics and heart, mirroring the intensity of an actual reality TV show.
Reading Something Real inspired further reflection about what it's really like to be on a reality TV show. The pressures outlined, the invasiveness of having the cameras in your face for every.single.moment, the pseudo-celebrity status that makes it hard to form relationships -- all these things are just top of the list of cons of being a reality TV star. Of course, there are undeniable perks too -- the money, the fame, and the opportunities that come with the reputation. But really, Something Real felt like a true look into that aspect of the entertainment industry, with highs, lows and everything in between that viewers at home might not necessarily see.
Bonnie (also known as Chloe) is easy to empathize with. She's finally settling into a life where she feels free to be herself, form friendships and even entertain the idea of romance. But all that is upended when her mother decides to put their family on the air again. Bonnie/Chloe's struggle with being on camera again, and what that means for her life, is really heartfelt. Readers get the sense that she feels trapped, exploited and used. No doubt, I was rooting for her to find a way out of it -- without hurting anyone, of course.
Bonnie/Chloe has solid familial support from her older brother Benton, who understands her plight and wishes for the same freedom she wants. Otherwise, her siblings are basically barely around (which is understandable, as there are too many to account for at all times), and her mother, stepdad and dad are the worst. The love and support she ought to be getting from them, she winds up getting from her friends Tessa, Meredith and Matt (who prove that they're awesome with the lengths they go to protect and help her and Benton), and Patrick (a boy who loves Bonnie/Chloe for who she is, and not just what she's portrayed to be on TV).
The fact of the matter is, Bonnie/Chloe winds up getting exactly what the title declares by the end of her story: something real. Even though the book didn't show the full consequences of her actions, it did end on a note that felt true to what would happen. Something Real could not have concluded any better, leaving the rest of Bonnie/Chloe's life up to the reader's imagination. It might be early on in the year, but I can definitely say this was one of the best books I've read so far!
{If you liked this review, check out Alexa Loves Books for more!}
Real rating? 4.75. This book is just REALLY good. It tackled the idea of what it must be like for young kids/teens to grow up in the spotlight, especially one as invasive as Baker's Dozen. My heart went out to Bonnie, Benton and their siblings as their lives get turned upside down! The ensuing craziness, the enduring relationships, the story -- all definitely worth a read.
REVIEW:
Something Real was absolutely riveting. It was impossible to set down after I'd started, so I read it all in one sitting. The story is infused with equal amounts dramatics and heart, mirroring the intensity of an actual reality TV show.
Reading Something Real inspired further reflection about what it's really like to be on a reality TV show. The pressures outlined, the invasiveness of having the cameras in your face for every.single.moment, the pseudo-celebrity status that makes it hard to form relationships -- all these things are just top of the list of cons of being a reality TV star. Of course, there are undeniable perks too -- the money, the fame, and the opportunities that come with the reputation. But really, Something Real felt like a true look into that aspect of the entertainment industry, with highs, lows and everything in between that viewers at home might not necessarily see.
Bonnie (also known as Chloe) is easy to empathize with. She's finally settling into a life where she feels free to be herself, form friendships and even entertain the idea of romance. But all that is upended when her mother decides to put their family on the air again. Bonnie/Chloe's struggle with being on camera again, and what that means for her life, is really heartfelt. Readers get the sense that she feels trapped, exploited and used. No doubt, I was rooting for her to find a way out of it -- without hurting anyone, of course.
Bonnie/Chloe has solid familial support from her older brother Benton, who understands her plight and wishes for the same freedom she wants. Otherwise, her siblings are basically barely around (which is understandable, as there are too many to account for at all times), and her mother, stepdad and dad are the worst. The love and support she ought to be getting from them, she winds up getting from her friends Tessa, Meredith and Matt (who prove that they're awesome with the lengths they go to protect and help her and Benton), and Patrick (a boy who loves Bonnie/Chloe for who she is, and not just what she's portrayed to be on TV).
The fact of the matter is, Bonnie/Chloe winds up getting exactly what the title declares by the end of her story: something real. Even though the book didn't show the full consequences of her actions, it did end on a note that felt true to what would happen. Something Real could not have concluded any better, leaving the rest of Bonnie/Chloe's life up to the reader's imagination. It might be early on in the year, but I can definitely say this was one of the best books I've read so far!
{If you liked this review, check out Alexa Loves Books for more!}