Monday 10 November 2014

Review: Famous in Love by Rebecca Serle

Famous in Love by Rebecca Serle
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Publication Date: October 23rd 2014
My rating: 2 stars


She fell in love with him in the books - now she has the chance to star opposite him in the film . . . Paige doesn't think she's particularly special, but after getting the starring role in a massive film adaptation of the bestselling Locked trilogy, the rest of the world would disagree. Now she's thrown into the spotlight, and into a world of gossip, rumour and deceit. The only people who know what she's going through are her two male co-stars, and they can't stand the sight of each other. Paige knows it's a mistake to fall in love on the set of a movie, but days of on-screen romance and intensity start to change her mind. The question is, can she keep what happens behind the scenes a secret when the world is watching her every move?


Imagine finally getting your chance to shine, after little bit parts, getting that massive role which will thrust you in the limelight. This is what happens to Paige, she ends up auditioning for one of the roles for a book to movie adaption and ends up getting the part. She’s whisked off immediately to Hawaii to start filming, leaving behind her family and best friends and gets to work on set with heart throb actor Rainer. Rainer has been an actor from a young age, so he knows what’s it like, how to deal with fans and having paparazzi constantly buzzing around you, misinterpreting images of you. This is Paige’s first big chance, so she’s not had to deal with this before, but Paige was great, she wasn’t one of those people who let the limelight immediately go to her head. She actually struggled to become the actress that everyone wanted her to be, she felt isolated from everyone else, her best friends were back home doing who knows what and she didn’t really have the confidence in herself, she didn’t realise the reason she was cast was because she was that good.

When it came to the potential love interest I really didn’t know what to think, even though he seemed genuinely nice, I didn’t feel that his feelings for Paige were truly genuine. One minute he would be mucking around with Paige and the next he’d be sharing deep feelings for her. Don’t get me wrong, he was really a nice character, but probably not my favourite character. Then there was the other potential love interest, who I actually was really intrigued about, he wasn’t the big actor everyone loved, but he really kept himself to himself, when he did open up, I was kind of left wanting to know more about him, he was at times down to earth and quite humble, despite this whole different story being created about him. Also when he was around Paige I could feel the tension between them, and the desire they felt for one another that could take them who knows where if they would act upon these feelings!

The love triangle could be tiresome at times, especially when these three characters were together, it did at times bring out the obnoxious side to some characters and so the reason I much preferred it when two characters were together instead. Also I was actually really interested in whole making the movie storyline, I liked learning about everything that went into making a movie in the first place, how it wasn’t as easy as everyone assumed, seeing  photo shoots take place, how lovely it could be away on set. And I even wanted to know what would happen to the characters in the book that made this book to movie adaption happen in the first place (the book series the movie had been was a roaring success, it featured a love triangle, and fans would finally find out, who the character would end up choosing in the final book) but details like these were skipped upon and a love triangle ended up happening on set too!

Serle is certainly one talented author, this story was written beautifully and that is one of the main reasons I ended up reading until the very last page. Famous in Love was not one of my favourite reads maybe because I was expecting a lot more, but ended up being bothered by a few frustrating decisions or actions that some characters made. However I’m still willing to give Serle’s books another go, here’s hoping I’ll end up enjoying them even more.




17 comments:

Melanie said...

Baaaah it's a pity that the love interest didn't really seem like he had actual feelings for the MC! I really hate it when there are romances that aren't even realistic or palpable. Probably not going to be reading this one now.

Lovely review, Rach! <33

Joy said...

Ick. Sounds like a love triangle from hell. Skipping this one for sure. Thanks, Jas!

Anonymous said...

I'm sad to hear this wasn't your kind of read, Jasprit. I was looking forward to reading it but the reviews have managed to push me away. I've grown a lot more okay with love triangles these days, but this sounds terrible. I think I would be infuriated tbh and that's not how I want to feel towards a romance.
Have you read Not in the Script by Amy Finnegan btw? I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a movie/set/celebrity romance kind of book. It was really cute and I think you would enjoy it. :)
Lovely review, Jasprit!

Jess said...

I really enjoyed When You Were Mine by this author so I was really disappointed that I didn't love this more. I wanted more focus on the book to movie side of things too and just got way too frustrated with the love triangle here.

Unknown said...

Well this is interesting
This sounds like a cute and sweet read, although I am not a huge fan of love triangles.
GREAT review, though
Your reader,
Soma R.
http://insomnia-of-books.blogspot.com/

Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...

Ack no more love triangles. I appreciate you steering me away from this one.

Jasprit said...

Oh I actually have a copy of Not in the Script, thanks for the heads up Nick, I shall try and get to my copy soon! :)

Mary @ BookSwarm said...

I wound up DNFing this one once the triangle came into focus but I agree about the writing. Even with the not finishing, I'll pick up another Serle.

Henrietta @ Leisure Reads said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jas! The story does seem interesting although I'm not sure if I'd like the tension among the characters.

Kat C @ Books and Sensibility said...

I don't think I've seen that cover of the book, I usually see the one with blue shoes.

Serle's first book was pretty meh for me, but she seems really nice in person. Her storytelling just felt a little clunky for me. You might like Tamara Weber's Between The Lines books, they are along the lines of this story.

Unknown said...

i loved this book because there was something about it that intrigued me and okay, yeah, I also wanted to know who the book series main character (the one that was being made into a movie) ended up with. Anyway, it was also a bit confusing with the first guy (i already forgot his name), but JOrdan is the second guy if I'm not mistaken right? he was intriguing, I agree.

Anyway, great review as always Jasprit! :)

Faye M. said...

I can totally understand what you mean. Sometimes a book is written beautifully with such lyrical prose, but the characters just frustrate you and it ends up dampening your reading experience. Not sure I'll read this after with that :/

Faye at The Social Potato

Unknown said...

Weeeelll, I definitely will never be going anywhere near this book LOL. That love triangle sounds particularly awful. I'm glad there were a few redeeming qualities for you, Jasprit, but I don't feel bad at all for skipping it. :/

Danielle @ Love at First Page

BookOwl93 said...

Famous in Love caught my attention a few months ago when I first read the synopsis. Just like you, I thought it would be interesting to find out how it really is behind-the-scenes when making a movie (or being in it in other instances). I hope I can read this one someday. I would hope soon, but I never really know when I'll buy a book I want to read :D

Carina Olsen said...

Oh my gosh. This book sounds ALL KINDS OF AWFUL. You are amazing for reading it, lol. <3 Awesome review Jasprit. <3 The cover is stunning. But my god. I would HATE this book. I would hate it beyond words, lol. First. This from the summary: "Paige doesn't think she's particularly special" SERIOUSLY? I am so goddamn sick of characters thinking they are ugly/not pretty/not special, thinking they are nothing. Yet EVERYONE loves them. And everyone is falling in love with them. And ugh. I am not pleased about this, lol (A) ANYWAY. Biggest issue is that love triangle. Seriously? Hah. Not for me at all, lol. But I do love reading your thoughts. <3 thank you for sharing sweetie :)

Lauren @ Love is not a triangle said...

This book is NOT for me, that's for sure. Sorry it didn't really work for you either. But glad you found this author's writing to be strong - if drama filled.

Unknown said...

Sigh. It sounded like such a great premise, but NO THANK YOU. Tiring love triangle (aren't they all) and everything else. I'm glad it wasn't ALL bad for you, but it sounds pretty horrible, which makes me definitely stay away!

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