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atamano's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
annabananadel's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
"there is nothing just about you."
Bought this book earlier this year and it's been bumming me out that it's been sitting on my TBR for that long already so I decided, finally, to grab it and read it at the start of August. For some reason, it took me a while to finish this book just because I was not being pulled to reading it. Imagine I was on a vacation and I wasn't able to dent it so hard during the trip, that's already speaking a lot. Story-wise, it was a whirlwind, both in a good way and in a bad way. In a good way, because that's how the story is intended. In a bad way, because it was a then and now kind of book set-up and sometimes some Then chapters does not correlate with the Now chapters. I was lost at some point in the story wherein, I was confused what really happened between the two of them. In my opinion, it could have been solved simply by talking about it. But little adults like us don't immediately talk to solve a problem and that's how a book is made up.
To be honest, it's a love and hate relationship for me for the both MCs. I didn't love them but I also didn't hate them. I'm just there listening on how their stories unfold and I'm just existing as a reader. Somehow I didn't feel anything positive when I was reading this book? If that makes sense?
On the positive side, I understand why it's on the pricier side of the books, the physical quality is dead on, the best I've ever held on my hands. I'm also happy that I've read this because I don't have to look at my TBR again and see this on my unread pile. :3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
meaghanslibrary's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Hmm I’m between a 4.75 and a 5 I think I have to give it a five though because I couldn’t put it down. I started this book just wanting to read it before I went to bed and ended up staying up till 4am finishing the book. (Coming back months later dropping this to a 4.75 because I honestly don’t remember the plot of this book.)
The chapters are all very short which helped with the pace of the book and kept it engaging.
It’s a very basic book kind of similar celebrity falls in love with common person like the book “Romantic Comedy.” I realized that is the content I like!
I liked the artistic choices to shift timelines and incorporate articles and blog posts throughout. Kind of reminded me of Carrie Soto is Back in that way. If you’re looking for a feel good read highly recommend!
The chapters are all very short which helped with the pace of the book and kept it engaging.
It’s a very basic book kind of similar celebrity falls in love with common person like the book “Romantic Comedy.” I realized that is the content I like!
I liked the artistic choices to shift timelines and incorporate articles and blog posts throughout. Kind of reminded me of Carrie Soto is Back in that way. If you’re looking for a feel good read highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Gaslighting, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Death of parent and Toxic relationship
colyforniaroll's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed this book! The format switching from the pair meeting 10 years in the past to the present day reckoning of that event (the interview), interspersed with faux magazine articles/blog posts, made me burn through the pages and was a fun way to tell the story. It reminded me of a Beach Read by Emily Henry and Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi combo, mixed into a fluffy LA romance.
Even though there are aspects that feel totally out of the realm of believability, like the fact that in total they only spent 6 days together over the course of 10 years, the romance made sense in a weird, Hollywood way. Like, it's a story about an actor and a writer, of course it's going to be romanticized and exaggerated. That's what felt new and fun for me with this one.
The second-chance romance aspect was fulfilling to read in large part because of the more mature themes touched on throughout Chani & Gabe's respective careers (alcoholism, emotional manipulation from a marriage, imposter syndrome, familial loss), so the end result (and the two steamy scenes) were so rewarding. There could have been a bit more banter between the two for my taste, but the descriptors and how Elissa wrote Chani's thought processes made up for that.
It was a refreshing read to add for any romance reader's list, I would recommend!
Quick pros: fun setting (the Hollywood aspect) / epilogue is short, sweet, & not cringey / great side characters who give off Martin Short in "Only Murders in the Building" vibes aka Ollie
Even though there are aspects that feel totally out of the realm of believability, like the fact that in total they only spent 6 days together over the course of 10 years, the romance made sense in a weird, Hollywood way. Like, it's a story about an actor and a writer, of course it's going to be romanticized and exaggerated. That's what felt new and fun for me with this one.
The second-chance romance aspect was fulfilling to read in large part because of the more mature themes touched on throughout Chani & Gabe's respective careers (alcoholism, emotional manipulation from a marriage, imposter syndrome, familial loss), so the end result (and the two steamy scenes) were so rewarding. There could have been a bit more banter between the two for my taste, but the descriptors and how Elissa wrote Chani's thought processes made up for that.
It was a refreshing read to add for any romance reader's list, I would recommend!
Quick pros: fun setting (the Hollywood aspect) / epilogue is short, sweet, & not cringey / great side characters who give off Martin Short in "Only Murders in the Building" vibes aka Ollie
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Alcoholism
Minor: Gaslighting
ashleyw2021's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism and Gaslighting
laurenkimoto's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I spent half of this book enjoying it and half of it hating it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Car accident
lucyyvonne54's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Minor: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting
lucyrudd's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Death
leighannebfd3b's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Gaslighting
Minor: Grief, Car accident, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
decklededgess's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trigger warnings: alcohol addition, alcohol and drug mention, slut shaming, sexual harassment, infidelity, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, death of family member, car accident, sexual content
A mix of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and How To Fake It In Hollywood, this was a delightful novel about a missed connection and a second chance given ten years later.
Chani is a writer who got to profile the first American Bond which leads to the explosive success of both their careers. Ten years later she gets asked to do another profile on him as he attempts to resurrect his career after conflict and rehab.
Right from the get go, you experience the weight of their relationship. Despite Chani being the pov you see through most of the book, Gabe is a looming influence throughout the book, in the flashbacks and in their present timeline. The book really hammered in that their lives were intertwined. This gave you the incredible experience of being a spectator to their lives through the articles interspersed throughout and also get the insider scoop through Chani's timelines. You get to question their lives and speculate about their relationship while also getting a lot of insider information. It creates this really intriguing dramatic irony of knowing what the public doesn't know while also knowing what perhaps Chani and Gabe weren't privy to about outside opinions on them.
I loved how strategically the story was constructed. News excerpts and flashbacks were not tossed in willy nilly for funsies. Every piece of story provided fed into the next level of development in the story. You built sympathy for the characters before you even knew what pain they were going to experience, making the low points in the book personally painful for you as the reader.
I also really enjoyed how many full circle moments the book provided. Earlier throwaway lines that the characters and even the reader would overlook were given a moment of reprise with a significantly altered a deeper meaning than before. This punctuated the emotional moments in the book beautifully, providing depth to emotional moments without saying much.
This book is a masterclass in stating and withholding just the right amount of information to keep you pondering the story past its conclusion without feeling like you were cut short on a clean ending.
Incredible.
A mix of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and How To Fake It In Hollywood, this was a delightful novel about a missed connection and a second chance given ten years later.
Chani is a writer who got to profile the first American Bond which leads to the explosive success of both their careers. Ten years later she gets asked to do another profile on him as he attempts to resurrect his career after conflict and rehab.
Right from the get go, you experience the weight of their relationship. Despite Chani being the pov you see through most of the book, Gabe is a looming influence throughout the book, in the flashbacks and in their present timeline. The book really hammered in that their lives were intertwined. This gave you the incredible experience of being a spectator to their lives through the articles interspersed throughout and also get the insider scoop through Chani's timelines. You get to question their lives and speculate about their relationship while also getting a lot of insider information. It creates this really intriguing dramatic irony of knowing what the public doesn't know while also knowing what perhaps Chani and Gabe weren't privy to about outside opinions on them.
I loved how strategically the story was constructed. News excerpts and flashbacks were not tossed in willy nilly for funsies. Every piece of story provided fed into the next level of development in the story. You built sympathy for the characters before you even knew what pain they were going to experience, making the low points in the book personally painful for you as the reader.
I also really enjoyed how many full circle moments the book provided. Earlier throwaway lines that the characters and even the reader would overlook were given a moment of reprise with a significantly altered a deeper meaning than before. This punctuated the emotional moments in the book beautifully, providing depth to emotional moments without saying much.
This book is a masterclass in stating and withholding just the right amount of information to keep you pondering the story past its conclusion without feeling like you were cut short on a clean ending.
Incredible.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Gaslighting, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship