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michverilion 's review for:
How to Die Famous
by Benjamin Dean
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I can’t remember why I chose this book, but it started with a prologue., or two… I’m not a fan of them and don’t think the book needed either to be honest.
The book is told from multiple POVs: Abel, Ryan, Ella and Lucky. Abel is instantly likable as we’re told what he wants and why, so our sympathy initially lies with him as we discover the others.
Straightaway were thrown into the horrors of the other characters lives:Ryan’s stalker and the police not giving a shit. Ella’s horrific mum, and Lucky’s grief and ensuing drinking problems. Yet, Dean manages to write them in a way that despite it being their POV, we see them as the press sees them. He does an amazing job of making the reader question how much to believe the celebrity press and how much is fabricated and created for clicks. Then we get to really know the characters and discover how suffocating their lives are.
In terms of plot there are plenty of twists and turns as Abel tries to find the truth behind his brother’s death. It’s pretty fast moving, but if you’re big into mysteries you may find some of the plot holes, or convenient parts a bit muchand see why the prologue did not live up to its promise. (but I was enjoying it and not questioning that aspect). And I did guess one twisty bit near the beginning. The ending was kind of satisfactory after all the awful things the characters had to endure, and then there was yet another twisty epilogue which leaves the book open to a sequel.
In the end it was a story about an over controlling, coercive industry that does not look after its child stars. Each reader will probably be able to draw some parallels to some real life celebrity. I’m not sure anyone truly got their happy ending. Although I did REALLY want one love story to take off… but alas. All in all I liked it and raced to finish it.
The book is told from multiple POVs: Abel, Ryan, Ella and Lucky. Abel is instantly likable as we’re told what he wants and why, so our sympathy initially lies with him as we discover the others.
Straightaway were thrown into the horrors of the other characters lives:
In terms of plot there are plenty of twists and turns as Abel tries to find the truth behind his brother’s death. It’s pretty fast moving, but if you’re big into mysteries you may find some of the plot holes, or convenient parts a bit much
In the end it was a story about an over controlling, coercive industry that does not look after its child stars. Each reader will probably be able to draw some parallels to some real life celebrity. I’m not sure anyone truly got their happy ending. Although I did REALLY want one love story to take off… but alas. All in all I liked it and raced to finish it.