This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Headline
Publication Date: April 2, 2013

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

In all actuality, I have next to nothing to say about This is What Happy Looks Like. Sure, it was super cute and sweet, but it wasn't much more than that. It was an ultimately forgettable, fluffy kind of book. Which is totally okay, because I've been in a really fluffy mood lately.

Ellie and Graham were both okay kind of characters, but nothing really stood out about them. It was fun to read the alternating points of view, and to see how two completely different people handle their lives, but the reality is that neither of them was very unique.

I liked the romantic tone of the story, but I feel like most of it was just filler. There wasn't any real angst to speak of, and the story kind of trotted along on one hind foot. The ending was super sweet, but this is really all I've got. It reminds me of one of those chick flicks that are okay, but just don't live up to their full potential.

All in all, it was a cute read, but I didn't love love it like I hoped I would.
 

Love? Maybe by Heather Hepler

Love? Maybe by Heather Hepler
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Dial Books
Publication Date: January 5, 2012

Just because Piper's birthday is on Valentine's Day does not mean she's a romantic. In fact, after watching her father and then her stepfather leave, she's pretty sure she doesn't believe in love at all. Then her friends concoct a plan to find them all Valentine's dates, and somehow Piper finds herself with the most popular guy in school. But true love never follows a plan, and a string of heartfelt gifts from a secret admirer has Piper wondering if she might be with the wrong guy.

In this heartwarming romance, true love is more than a maybe - and it might be closer than you think.

Love? Maybe was the perfect embodiment of what I've come to expect from Heather Hepler: fluff. She writes some of the fluffiest and cutest books, but I just can't really connect with her characters or her storylines. It was predictable as all get out, but ultimately forgettable.

I wanted Piper and Charlie to be together. I thought that they would be absolutely adorable together, and I was just waiting for that romance to happen - but I feel like I really didn't get real romance with this one. It was sweet, that's for sure; but I felt no chemistry between them.

Piper was an okay sort of character, but like I said before... I just can't connect with these characters. I did, however, like Charlie. He was a sweet guy, and truly lit up every scene that he was in, but he just wasn't in the book enough. Truly, I wanted to see more of him.

This book was completely full of predictability - and not really the good kind. The predictable that made me just want to have a long serious talk with Piper. She... she's just super dense. All in all, Love? Maybe was an okay read - I even enjoyed it, but it was ultimately forgettable.

Click to Subscribe by L.M. Augustine

Click to Subscribe by L.M. Augustine
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Self-published
Publication Date: May 9, 2013

1,135,789. That’s how many subscribers sixteen-year-old West Ryder has on his web vlog series. But he only has eyes for one of them.

As one of the internet’s most prestigious video bloggers, West talks about high school relationships under the name “Sam Green.” As far as he knows, no one from school, not even his best friend, Cat, has seen his videos. But the highlight of the whole thing is Harper Knight, who comments every day at exactly 2:02 in the afternoon. He doesn’t know anything about her aside from the occasional deep philosophical messaging on why pizza tastes so delicious, but as stupid as it sounds, he might be falling for her. So when they finally agree to meet in real life, West’s hope for romance seems more and more in reach. But that all changes as soon as he arrives at their meeting spot and sees Cat walking toward him, wearing the same “I *heart* Sam Green t-shirt.

To his alarm, West realizes he is falling in love with the best friend who has always been a sister to him.

The only reason that I'm giving this book three-point-five stars is because it's not deep deep deep. Enjoyment level, it's probably four, but as far as a deep premise, it's more like a three. But in spite of that, it's a really good read that's fun and fluffy.

West is such a funny, dorky, teenage character. I loved getting to read through his eyes, and I loved how he was able to poke fun at himself. He's just so dense, though! Ergh...I can't believe he can be best friends with Cat, and be talking to this "Harper" girl and never connect them together...I mean, wow. You think you know somebody and then...BOOM. Turns out they love you and you never even noticed. That is what I call being dense, y'all. Not only is he just dense, turns out that he's also kind of a jerk. Once he finds out that Harper is really his best friend (...) he freaks out. I can understand that, but he kind of led her along. Probably unknowingly, but still.

On the other end of the spectrum, Cat was awesome. I thought it was so adorable how she fell in love with her best friend, and I totally liked their chemistry together. I was mentally kicking West throughout the book, I'll have you know. I loved the little snatches of background that we get through her stories, and that she seems to be fighting for "them".

All in all, Click to Subscribe was a really, really cute read. I loved the romance between the two lead characters, and the ending was everything that I had hoped it would be.

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: May 28, 2013

Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams' heart. She fell for her best friend's boyfriend and long story short: he's excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life.

Enter her parents' plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now. Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he's just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem's walls and heal her broken heart?

The easiest way for me to describe Unbreak My Heart is that it was uninspired. I liked it okay, but I didn't feel like it really pushed any boundaries or tried hard enough to be something different. It was just an okay kind of book.

Our main character, Clem, didn't really do anything for me. I was really hoping that she would be this deep, emotional-type girl, but I found that most of the emotions that she experienced went from anger to guilt to sadness and back again. She just wasn't who I hoped she would be. She was honest and I'm glad that we got to see her story, but I was hoping for more.

Speaking of her story, it seemed to be very long and drawn out. It seemed like we were only getting bits at a time, and while that can be fun, in this case it just made me want to get to the bottom of the mystery so I could stop obsessing over it! OMG, I really hate it when I obsess about something that really doesn't matter like that. I mean, it matters, but it would have been better if we could have gotten more of the story at one time, instead of making it this big ordeal.

I have to say, though, it did mesh really well in a past and present type way, which was nice. What else was nice, you ask? Well, the romance between James and Clem was actually very cute, but it can adequately be described as nice, which is a bit disappointing. I don't really see it going anywhere, to tell you the truth, which is kind of saddening.

All in all, Unbreak My Heart was an alright kind of read that I liked okay, but it didn't wow me.

V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram

V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Blue Fields
Publication Date: December 11, 2012

When Val Jensen gets dumped for her decision to stay a virgin until marriage, the nasty breakup goes viral on YouTube, making her the latest internet sensation.

After days of ridicule from her peers, Val starts a school-wide campaign to rally support for her cause. She meant to make a statement, but she never dreamed the entire nation would get caught up in the controversy.

As if becoming nationally recognized as “Virgin Val” isn’t enough, Val’s already hectic life starts to spin wildly out of control when bad boy Kyle Hamilton, lead singer for the hit rock band Tralse, decides to take her abstinence as a personal challenge.

How can a girl stay true to herself when this year’s Sexiest Man Alive is doing everything in his power to win her over?

V is for Virgin didn't make the huge impression on me that I thought it would. I did like it, but it left a little to be desired. To get things straight, I really liked the goal that Val was working towards-- a world where a girl wasn't afraid to be a virgin, or to be abstinent (and she didn't only have girls, there were boys too) without religious reasons. I thought that she was working to make something that was probably very embarrassing to her something good. Which was very selfless of her and all, and I really liked the idea, but I didn't think that the way it was handled was very realistic.

Who knows, maybe I'll be proved wrong, but I think that Val would have been attacked a lot more than verbally. I'm sure that there would be physical attacks too. It's not a pretty thought, but just think about it. A self-professed virgin who becomes famous for being a virgin and supporting the right to be one, while selling lots of jewelry. Doesn't it just sound like she's setting herself up for something bad to happen? I can just imagine. We live in a twisted world.

But back to Val. She was very sweet and kind, but I don't feel like I really got to know her throughout the book. She was really deep, I know that much, but who was she really? I wanted more development on her part, and I had hoped that she would be a stronger character, who I wouldn't doubt. But sometimes, I did doubt her.

Just like I doubted Kyle. At first, he seemed like a really nice, if crude, guy. But as the story progressed, I realized how much of a jerk he could be. I did kind of thing that the blog was sweet, but I also realized how hurtful that must have been for Val, which sucked. Then, when I thought there was going to be a moment of truth and their relationship was going to turn around and be adorable, well, it turns out that Kyle is a huge disappointment in that department. I was lost to him from that point, I tell you.

The storyline was okay, but I wasn't exactly wowed at how it went, unfortunately. It didn't progress very well, and I really don't think that it went anywhere to speak of, except to the end. Which the ending was cute, but still. I was disappointed in the way things went.  It gets three stars for enjoyable reading, though.

Unmaking Hunter Kennedy by Anne Eliot

Unmaking Hunter Kennedy by Anne Eliot
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Butterfly Books, LLC
Publication Date: October 17, 2012

After a car accident--an event he considers a prank gone bad--pop star, Hunter Kennedy is forced to hide out with his aunt in small-town Colorado. He’s supposed to rest, heal his scars and attend high school in disguise until the press dies down. But he only wants to get back to work.

Worse, the girl who’s been assigned to make him over into a geek is a major geek herself. Vere Roth is a chattering pixie, a blushing tornado and a complete social disaster. He’s never met a girl who’s never-been-kissed, believes in romance and thinks Hunter’s a 'nice' guy.

Funny thing is...Hunter is nice around Vere because she’s his first real friend. He also can’t seem to stop sharing his secrets or keep her out of his heart. Knowing he’d never deserve a girl as sweet as Vere, he resigns himself to the friend zone, and helps his new bestie with her own makeover.

She tortures him daily for ridiculous guy advice on how to snag her life-long crush. A guy Hunter thinks is totally wrong for Vere, and sadly, one who has taken note of Vere’s transformation.

When Vere asks her best friend for some kissing advice, Hunter can’t resist...

And that’s when things get out of control...

I've been wanting to read Unmaking Hunter Kennedy for a while, so when I saw it on Amazon for an awesome deal, of course I bought it! Turns out that it wasn't a bad book at all-- I really liked it. Of course, the romance was fairly predictable, but it never was boring. It was adorable.

Hunter and Vere were so perfect together-- you just have to love the classic "celebrity falls in love with normal girl" storyline, which was done remarkably well in this one. Hunter was such a jerk at first, but as the book goes on, we get to see more and more of who he is and he starts to really come out of his shell. He really is a funny and sweet guy. By the end he really is a fabulous! I loved seeing the character development from him. And Vere?

Well, she was so clueless that it was ridiculous, but I really think that it was a huge part of her charm. She just wouldn't be herself without the innocence and the blushing and the anxiety. It is such a huge part of her, but it was wonderful to see those traits through Hunter's eyes. The alternating points of view really added good development on both of their parts and made it so fun to read! They had such great chemistry-- I was totally rooting for him from the very beginning. And not just in the physical part (because that didn't happen (even kissing) til very late in that book) but in the conversational part. I was never bored with their dialogue, actually just the opposite. Most of the time it was laugh out loud funny! Seriously, best cute relationship growth ever.

All in all, Unmaking Hunter Kennedy is one of the best romantic books I've read in a long time. I really recommend it as a sweet, fun romance.

Spelling Troubles by Frank Cammuso

Spelling Troubles by Frank Cammuso
Series: The Misadventures of Salem Hyde, #1
Source: Publisher for Review
Publisher: Abrams
Publication Date: October 1, 2012

Salem Hyde just isn’t like other kids. For one thing, she’s stubborn, independent, and impulsive. For another, she’s a witch. Salem acts first and thinks later—which means most of her thinking involves coming up with excuses!

Good thing she’s been assigned an animal companion, Lord Percival J. Whamsford III. This over-anxious cat doesn’t like Salem calling him "Whammy,” and Salem doesn’t like listening to his long-winded explanations as to why she shouldn’t do something . . . like enter the class spelling bee.

Salem knows she can beat all her classmates at spells, no problem. Too late, she realizes the competition is about spelling words, not magic. And there’s nothing like a misspelled spell to cause all kinds of havoc!

All of my thoughts on Spelling Trouble are really short, but I think that's okay, because it's really short. So anyway, let's get started.

To tell you the truth, I didn't really like Spelling Trouble. It was cute, yes. But...it didn't have anything else going for it, and on top of that I'm way too old for it anyway-- but I believe that a good book (no matter what age group it's for) is a good book. So. I read it. And it disappointed me immensely. I felt like it was too convoluted-- it was very hard for me to focus on it and follow the story.

It was also way too short, and the comics left a little to be desired. But on the plus side, I've heard that the final version will be printed in colored ink! All in all, Spelling Trouble was very sweet, but it just didn't click with me as a good children's book. I encourage you to give it a shot, though!

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Bluefields
Publication Date: May 4, 2013

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

When I started The Avery Shaw Experiment, I really had no idea what to expect. A few of my favorite bloggers had read it and liked it, so I decided to give it a shot, because it looked seriously cute. Turns out that it was adorable in every way imaginable! Grayson and Avery ended up being so cute together-- you don't even know yet. Pretty soon into the book I was laughing and seriously cheering them on. They were very likable as a couple, so I just couldn't help but swoon over almost every one of their interactions.

Grayson was so, so, so...hott. I loved him, I truly did. I always found myself racing to the next chapter through his point of view, then thoroughly devouring it so that I could move onto the next and the next. The Avery Shaw Experiment would be crazy comfort reading, let me tell you! Anywho, back to my favorite boy, Grayson. Everything that he did just managed to dig me into a hole deeper and deeper with my crush...fictionally, of course... he was just sweet and kind and protective! Seriously. Let me share an oh-so-smexy quotes.

*SPOILERY* I always looked at her as sort of a pesky little sister, but all that changed the day my brother dumped her. Why, you ask? Let me put it this way: When a girl lets you be the one to hold her as her entire world falls apart, even though you're ass naked, it changes the way you see her.*SPOILERISH QUOTE END*

The scene that he kind of describes, well, it made me guffaw out loud. I found myself laughing a lot during this book, which was really nice. Some of the crude jokes were a little much, but they totally had me smiling throughout the book.

On to Avery, who is, of course, the main character. I really enjoyed her chapters too, but I think that Grayson shall remain my favorite. BUT. Avery was still a fun character to read about, and I liked her insights on everything. She seemed to be completely honest with herself, and just so down to earth and sweet. I'm so sad that she had to fall for Aiden (duh, we're curing a broken heart here, y'all) who really was a jerk. I think I kind of hate him, to tell you the truth.

But I love all of the secondary characters. Libby was so quirky and weird and hilarious, and all of the other science geeks were great too. I also enjoyed Grayson's friends. All in all, The Avery Shaw Experiment really is an awesome book. I totally recommend it!

Gone Fishing by Tamera Will Wissinger

Gone Fishing by Tamera Will Wissinger
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Publication Date: March 5, 2013

Using a wide variety of poetic forms – quatrains, ballads, iambic meter, rhyming lists, concrete poetry, tercets and free verse –this debut author tells the story of a nine-year-old boy’s day of fishing. Sibling rivalry, the bond between father and son, the excitement – and difficulty -- of fishing all add up to a day of adventure any child would want to experience.

Matthew Cordell illuminates this novel-in-verse throughout with his energetic black-and-white line drawings.

While each poem can be read and enjoyed on its own, the poems work together to create a story arc with conflict, crisis, resolution and character growth.

The back matter of this book equips the reader with a Poet's Tackle Box of tools and definitions for understanding the various poetic forms the author uses in this story.

I thought it would be fun
                                     to write a poetic review of this one
It's not something I usually do,
                                              but I thought that it could be like a gift to you
My poetry really isn't the best,
                                              but you can rest assured that what follows won't be a huge mess.
Gone Fishing was a fun little book,
                                                      a welcome change from my little funk.
It was better than I'd expected it to be,
                                                           something new quite definitely.
Sam and Lucy were oh so sweet
                                                 even if they argued constantly.
Each poem is told through different eyes
                                                             and each and every one has a new disguise.
New fonts and voices, styles galore,
                                                      fun and games, and a whole lot more.
Sadness and pain, anger and forgiveness,
                                                              each is wrapped up like a cute little ribbon.
To tell the truth, it's just a bit of fun,
                                                     and even if you don't read it I'll tell no one.

So, what did you guys think? I'm really not a very good poet, but I tried. ;P

Lula Bell on Geekdom, Freakdom and the Challenges of Bad Hair by C.C. Payne

Lula Bell on Geekdom, Freakdom and the Challenges of Bad Hair by C.C. Payne
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Self-published
Publication Date: October 2, 2012

While Lula Bell Bonner tries desperately to fit in by not standing out, her wise and irrepressible Grandma Bernice says: Let your light shine! It's Grandma Bernice who provides the joy that balances Lula Bell's difficult school life, but when this balance is upended, when Kali Keele turns up the heat on her cruel teasing, and when the talent show? that she should NEVER have signed up for - is about to happen, how in the world can Lula Bell cope? This funny, heartfelt novel exploring friendship, family, and forgiveness, introduces an unforgettable hero, lost in the wilderness of 5th grade, searching for her own shining light.

Lula Bell was exactly what I expected as a MG contemporary-- a sweet, younger girl who's going through some issues but is soldiering on. Lula Bell was an awesome main character perfectly innocent and nice enough to imagine her well. I think I was a bit like her, honestly. But I didn't have the grandma that she has-- Grandma Bernice was my favorite part. She was so wacky and out there, but she also had some honest and true things to say about people.

Her words of wisdom were definitely worth listening too, and I enjoyed her voice. I missed her too, after she was gone. The way that Lula dealt with her grief was believable too. I think at that young, well, you understand what's happened but the long term effects really don't happen for a long time. Then it all comes crumbling down.

I liked Lula's friend Alan, but it seemed like she really didn't treat him very well, honestly. He was always a friend to her, and always great, but when it suits her she drops him. Every time. But I think that she grew enough through the book that it won't be happening again. Lula Bell is so hard for me to review. Because even though I liked it, nothing really happened inside the book. I mean, stuff happened but it had a very slow and southern honey feel to it...all in all, it was a good story, but I can't say that I'll read it again or that it was something special, you know?

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Series: Keeper of the Lost Cities, #1
Source: Bought
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: October 2, 2012

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath—someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain.

Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known.

Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come “home.”
There are secrets buried deep in Sophie’s memory—secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans—that other people desperately want. Would even kill for.

In this page-turning debut, Shannon Messenger creates a riveting story where one girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first.

Keeper of the Lost Cities was an odd change for me. As you guys know, I'm really more of a contemporary gal, even in MG. But I tried it, because it looked interesting-- admit it, that cover is so adorable. It looks kind of like a mix of City of Ember and I don't know, something else that I can't remember right now.

It was completely different, though. Keeper of the Lost Cities was about the elves, which I thought was a unique idea. I liked the capitalization on all of the powers of the elves and the lost cities, but I felt like there was more potential that wasn't really carried out. Not very much has been done with elves, and the author had the power to really make them her own, but she didn't really. Fortunately though, the plot kept me interested.

It was very slow in the beginning-- the first two-hundred pages were the slowest, because nothing was really happening. I mean, things were happening of course, but it was all happening so slowly that it was hard to pay attention. Fortunately, it picked up around the middle, where it became interesting and fast enough to keep me glued to the pages.

I liked our main character, Sophie. She seemed like a really sweet kid and she was pretty funny, but she wasn't all that remarkable. She could have had more development, but I look forward to reading more about her-- she has some great potential ahead of her. All in all, Keeper of the Lost Cities may not have been all that I had hoped, but that doesn't meant that it was terrible. It sounds like I liked it less than I did.

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
Series: N/A
Source: Bought
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: September 4, 2012

According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object-an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas-it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking-er, focusing on-Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.

In this sweet story of first love, Lindsey Leavitt seamlessly balances heartfelt family moments, spot-on sarcastic humor, and a budding young romance.

Nothing creates a buzz like an Executive Deluxe day planner.

I knew exactly what to expect when I started this: I was expecting cute, romantic fluff that's basically there as a filler. What I got was so much more. There was romance, and yes it was adorable. But there was also self-discovery and pain, as well as just general life.

I liked Payton, she was a good main character. I feel like I can relate to her; even if I don't know what it's like to have a sick parent. She handled it okay, though, I think. She was really funny and sarcastic, and I liked that she had actual feelings, as opposed to some flat character from other books that I could mention.

I liked that she found a focus object through such a ridiculous thing-- it was great. Now I will take a moment to say something about her focus object, Sean Griswold's head. SEAN. He was such a sweetheart-- just one of those boys that you want to hug the life out of, you know? (Well, I want him to live but you get the picture, right?) He was the perfect guy to kind of balance Payton out.

Their romance was adorable. So unsure and cute and I never wanted the adorbs to end! My only real issue with this book was that it follows the formula for a romantic comedy down to the T. You know what I mean. But I did like that every character had a purpose, and a unique personality.

All in all, Sean Griswold's Head is the perfect beach read-- except it doesn't involve any beach. Otherwise, it meets all the other requirements-- sweet and cute, with a dash of romance.

Girl Stays in the Picture by Melissa De La Cruz

Girl Stays in the Picture by Melissa De La Cruz
Series: Girl, #1
Source: Bought
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: June 2, 2009

Devon (one name only) is the most famous singer/actress in the country, and she is on location filming her newest blockbuster in the South of France. While there, she forms a bond with the director’s daughter—the hottest thing in Hollywood since she has recently lost two hundred pounds—who is learning to enjoy being young, rich, and famous. Devon also befriends Casey, a small-town girl who is an assistant to Devon’s biggest rival. Together, the three of them hit the best clubs, the beach, the Cannes film festival, and anyplace else where there is fun to be had.

As far as Devon was concerned, there was only one way to arrive in Saint-Tropez: on board a magnificent seventy-five-foot yacht.

Girl Stays in the Picture was a fun and fluffy read. Now that's not really true-- it was fun and fluffy, but it was also a tad bit serious at times. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would-- I was worried that this would be a meh read.

I was wrong. It may have been light and fluffy, but on a rainy day this was exactly what I needed to cheer me up. My only real issue with this book is that it's part of a series, and ends on a cliffhanger. Normally, this wouldn't be such a big deal, except this book was released in 2009 and freaking goodreads doesn't show a sequel in the works. o.O

I'm actually having problems writing this review-- I don't really know what to say!

I liked Casey, Livia and Devon. I can't really pick a favorite, but I definitely relate to Casey more, because I'm a small town southern girl too. The difference between me and her is that I can't stand it when people talk down to me. Everyone puts their britches on one leg at a time, and you? Well, you're not better than me, just like I'm no better than you.

As a result, I hate it when anyone talks down to anything. And poor Casey just got the brunt of all of that, and I just...wanted to beat her boss to death. I'm not normally a violent person. But I wanted to. I have to move on, because I feel a rant bubbling up inside.

I loved the inside look at fame. It doesn't seem to be near as glam as everyone makes it out to be, and it was interesting to see what Devon, Casey and Livia all thought about it, and how they handled it. I also loved the sweet romances that were intermingled into the book. They were just too cute.

All in all, I enjoyed Girl Stays in the Picture and I'd love to see a sequel.