Synopsis

From New York Times Bestseller Alessandra Torre comes a romance about two celebrities who can’t stand – or stay away from – each other.There was a lot I did to get to this point, to get 42 million followers. Some of it I was proud of, most of it I wasn’t.

There was a group of us, all internet celebrities, and everyone wanted in, which is how six of us ended up living in this mansion, a camera always on, the public always watching. Two months and eight carefully scripted MTV episodes that would get us more of the three F’s we were desperately chasing.

Fame. Fortune. Followers.

I knew my role. I was Emma, the unlikeable one. The dark villain with the devious smile. The package of dynamite that would blow up any chance of peaceful living and harmony.

Cash knew his role. He was the good guy. The lovable one. The one that everyone, even the darkest cast member of them all, would fall in love with.

They were supposed to just be roles.
None of it was supposed to be real.

My heart didn’t get that memo.

Available on Amazon and in KindeUnlimited!
Start Reading: smarturl.it/FList

Review

4,5 “read in one day” stars

“I didn’t deserve this. I’d stolen a dead man’s phone. I owed Amy twelve dollars from takeout three days ago. I’d faked a doctor’s note to get an extra paid sick day at work. I hadn’t done anything in my life which warranted this sort of blessing, and I cried because the hope it gave me was terrifying.”

I read this book in one day and it had not happened to me in months!

Reading at that quote above, I realize that I had forgotten how Alessandra always pulls me into her characters story right from the start. I had somehow forgotten this talent of her. She gives us enough menial and gritty details about their quicks and flaws to make us empathize and instantly connect with them.

Emma was just an ordinary girl who had been insecure her whole life. With bad teeth she’s been bullied and mocked, never helping her to gain confidence. With no special education, no special talent, she survives working as a clerk at a hotel when fortune will smile on her.

With one more million on her bank account she’ll go on the long road to becoming a celebrity.

Her encounter long ago at a party with Cash Mitchell, golden boy in Hollywood will deeply affect her life goal. She wants to be seen. She wants to be famous, to matter to other people.

Only…she will take a questionable road, often trashing other famous people. Smart with a sharp tongue, she’ll soon become an influencer.

I really loved how Alessandra explains How to get famous 101. It’s cynical yet radical and realistic.

“Here’s what we have.” He took the empty sugar packets and lined them up in a row in front of his cup. “We have money. We have fame. We have celebrity.” He stabbed each packet as he spoke. “And then we have talent.” He moved the fourth packet away from the others. “Talent is something I can’t teach you. You either have it, or you don’t, and there’s a big difference between pretending to be something you aren’t—which is something that we all do every single day—and acting out a role on camera. So let’s talk about these other things. Money, fame, and celebrity. Those, I can get you, but it’s going to require that you trust me implicitly and give me a full year.”

The question is: when is it enough? When are you famous enough? And did it bring you really what you were looking for? What are you ready to do for fame?

All these are recurring questions in the storyline. Very pertinent question in these days of social media influencer.

Aside the “becoming famous” storyline, you of course have an “enemies to lover” trope.

It was really gleeful to witness Emma and Cash’s interaction.

“She wasn’t here because of a crush or a desire to know me. She was here for a press mention, which meant that Hollywood had eaten my Cinderella and spit out this put-together blonde carbon copy.”

Their harsh comments, the hard comebacks that could never mask their underlying mutual attraction.

Cash was the classic “good guy” with a higher level of hotness and some skeleton in his closet.

While he played the blighted white knight, Emma had the bad girl role. I even confess that in the beginning, Emma seemed shallow and unpleasant.

“Some women were made to be loved. I was made to be hated.”

But the more we get to know her, the more we see what she DOES and not just stop at what she SAY, the more I wanted to befriend her and root for her.  She hid a golden heart under her unfriendly public personae.

It was really a very enjoyable read. The one I so needed in these weird times. It’s enlightening, fun, thoughtful under a seemingly shallow veneer and so in tune with today’s social media society!

Read it, I promise you’ll have a wonderful time!

Have you read Alessandra’s books? Do you love books about fame?

Thansk for reading!

Sophie