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sungmemoonstruck 's review for:
Something Real
by Heather Demetrios
3.5 stars
Chloe Baker spent her entire childhood on television--as Bonnie Baker, one of the beloved stars of Baker's Dozen, the reality tv show that centers around her family. Baker's Dozen has been off the air for four years and Chloe's just had the chance at a normal life when her mother makes a shocking announcement: Baker's Dozen is going back on the air.
This is a well-written and thoughtful contemporary that takes on issues as varied as our current media culture, sibling relationships, and teh search for teenage identity and manages to skillfully weave them together into a compelling narrative. It also includes an utterly charming romance, with an almost too perfect love interest, whose relationship with Chloe/Bonnie is always healthy and filled with sweet moments. The supporting cast of this book is truly well crafted, from Chloe/Bonnie's caring, funny brother Benton to her nightmarish mother. Something Real is over 400 pages, but it feels much shorter as Demetrios crafts an addictive story and well-made plot. She truly makes the reader feel invested in Chloe's fate, outraged at the machinations of her mother and the producer of Baker's Dozen, and connected to each character. (I only docked half a point for the completely unrealistic perfection of Patrick, the love interest. Real boys do not act like that.) Overall, an emotional and satisfying read.
Chloe Baker spent her entire childhood on television--as Bonnie Baker, one of the beloved stars of Baker's Dozen, the reality tv show that centers around her family. Baker's Dozen has been off the air for four years and Chloe's just had the chance at a normal life when her mother makes a shocking announcement: Baker's Dozen is going back on the air.
This is a well-written and thoughtful contemporary that takes on issues as varied as our current media culture, sibling relationships, and teh search for teenage identity and manages to skillfully weave them together into a compelling narrative. It also includes an utterly charming romance, with an almost too perfect love interest, whose relationship with Chloe/Bonnie is always healthy and filled with sweet moments. The supporting cast of this book is truly well crafted, from Chloe/Bonnie's caring, funny brother Benton to her nightmarish mother. Something Real is over 400 pages, but it feels much shorter as Demetrios crafts an addictive story and well-made plot. She truly makes the reader feel invested in Chloe's fate, outraged at the machinations of her mother and the producer of Baker's Dozen, and connected to each character. (I only docked half a point for the completely unrealistic perfection of Patrick, the love interest. Real boys do not act like that.) Overall, an emotional and satisfying read.