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A review by mostlyshanti
Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler
4.0
This novel was really fun. I loved the character development and the way the author dealt with the Hollywood aspect. Also, it was cute.
My main problem with it would be that I basically knew the plot once I had read the blurb and the first three chapters. I knew that SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER. I'm not saying there wasn't tension-- there was-- but the way things were gonna play out was pretty obvious imo.
So Under the Lights has dual narration. I think it worked really well; I was never confused about who was narrating, mostly because the writing voices were perfect. Vanessa was awesome. I liked learning more about her relationship with her family, as they were just dismissed as 'bad' in Behind the Scenes. Her need for love and friendship, but also independence, made her narrative really appealing. Her love of acting really shone through, as well as her uncertainty and need for escape. As she grew to accept herself and her sexuality, I liked her more and more. Also, her relationship with Josh was awesome. Josh was my favourite, I must say. He was funny and crass, but he felt really real? I love how the 'reality' TV appearance made him question what he wanted out of life, and how he wasn't afraid to tell it like it was. I personally didn't approve of his lifestyle; but I loved his realisation that maybe everything he was doing wasn't best forhis liver himself, his friendships and his family. His ending was perfect. Also his relationship with Vanessa was everything.
I also loved the Hollywood aspect of this story. I know nothing about a)LA b) films c) the film business or d) Hollywood. I mean, I mostly watch animated movies. But Under the Lights felt really well researched, with the faux relationships, agents, obscene wealth et. cetera. I think Adler really addressed the problematic aspects of the industry well, while explaining how it works, not infodumping, and not ignoring the appeal. I really liked that aspect of the book. I also thought it tied in wonderfully with the title: the pressure of being; under the lights' and having the public scrutinise your every move. The character of Holly showed this aspect of the novel really well. (and how many times did you say really in this review, Shanti?)
So that was Under the Lights: a fast read with lots of diversity about Hollywood, friendship and characters. yeah, a lot of books are about characters. My brain is dead
My main problem with it would be that I basically knew the plot once I had read the blurb and the first three chapters. I knew that SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER. I'm not saying there wasn't tension-- there was-- but the way things were gonna play out was pretty obvious imo.
So Under the Lights has dual narration. I think it worked really well; I was never confused about who was narrating, mostly because the writing voices were perfect. Vanessa was awesome. I liked learning more about her relationship with her family, as they were just dismissed as 'bad' in Behind the Scenes. Her need for love and friendship, but also independence, made her narrative really appealing. Her love of acting really shone through, as well as her uncertainty and need for escape. As she grew to accept herself and her sexuality, I liked her more and more. Also, her relationship with Josh was awesome. Josh was my favourite, I must say. He was funny and crass, but he felt really real? I love how the 'reality' TV appearance made him question what he wanted out of life, and how he wasn't afraid to tell it like it was. I personally didn't approve of his lifestyle; but I loved his realisation that maybe everything he was doing wasn't best for
I also loved the Hollywood aspect of this story. I know nothing about a)LA b) films c) the film business or d) Hollywood. I mean, I mostly watch animated movies. But Under the Lights felt really well researched, with the faux relationships, agents, obscene wealth et. cetera. I think Adler really addressed the problematic aspects of the industry well, while explaining how it works, not infodumping, and not ignoring the appeal. I really liked that aspect of the book. I also thought it tied in wonderfully with the title: the pressure of being; under the lights' and having the public scrutinise your every move. The character of Holly showed this aspect of the novel really well. (and how many times did you say really in this review, Shanti?)
So that was Under the Lights: a fast read with lots of diversity about Hollywood, friendship and characters.