Author: Dahlia Adler
Publication Date: June 24th 2014
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~
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High school senior Ally Duncan's best friend may be the Vanessa Park - star of TV's hottest new teen drama - but Ally's not interested in following in her BFF's Hollywood footsteps. In fact, the only thing Ally's ever really wanted is to go to Columbia and study abroad in Paris. But when her father's mounting medical bills threaten to stop her dream in its tracks, Ally nabs a position as Van's on-set assistant to get the cash she needs.
Spending the extra time with Van turns out to be fun, and getting to know her sexy co-star Liam is an added bonus. But when the actors' publicist arranges for Van and Liam to "date" for the tabloids just after he and Ally share their first kiss, Ally will have to decide exactly what role she's capable of playing in their world of make believe. If she can't play by Hollywood's rules, she may lose her best friend, her dream future, and her first shot at love.
Spending the extra time with Van turns out to be fun, and getting to know her sexy co-star Liam is an added bonus. But when the actors' publicist arranges for Van and Liam to "date" for the tabloids just after he and Ally share their first kiss, Ally will have to decide exactly what role she's capable of playing in their world of make believe. If she can't play by Hollywood's rules, she may lose her best friend, her dream future, and her first shot at love.
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Behind the Scenes is what I thought Jennifer E Smith's This is What Happy Looks Like would be, not that I didn't like This is What Happy Looks Like, it was fun and light, and I did really enjoy it. But, Behind the Scenes is everything I wanted it to be. And the best part? It wasn't clichéd. Okay, it was at certain points but it never seemed like it.
Okay, I felt it was a little awkward in the beginning because you hadn't gotten to know the characters yet and suddenly they have this whole personality already there- which is awesome- just an adjustment. But, I felt the same as that with Sarah Rees Brenna's Unspoken when I first read that. Which, is actually a good comparison because the characters are pretty awesome and the way Kami and Angela's interactions give the sense of reality. It's how best friends work, how they just get each other and it was exactly like that with Ally and Van.
Speaking of, our MC, Ally is just so freaking awesome that I want to be her best friend. She's devoted to being a good friend to Van while staying out of the Hollywood glitz and glam, she's level headed, witty, and a little insecure, especially when it comes to Liam even if she won't admit it, because she doesn't act like it. But, there's only so much you can cope with, and she is coping with a lot, but she keeps herself together.
Oh, Liam Holloway, while he had his flaws- I do wish we had more insight on how he felt everything- while it was happening and not after, and maybe some drama could've been avoided and there would have been more kissing scenes. Yes, I know, Behind the Scenes wouldn't have been as good as it was without the drama, and realistically speaking it would've turned too Disney if it had. I would hate to see him with anyone else but Ally, but damn. Can he be real, pretty pretty please? I kind of love him. Okay, I disliked him a little at certain points because it's not just all on Ally, but even then, I still kind of loved him
Behind the Scenes is what I thought Jennifer E Smith's This is What Happy Looks Like would be, not that I didn't like This is What Happy Looks Like, it was fun and light, and I did really enjoy it. But, Behind the Scenes is everything I wanted it to be. And the best part? It wasn't clichéd. Okay, it was at certain points but it never seemed like it.
We'll all read ones like it, and sure there are a ton of
films that follow the same structure as Behind the Scenes, it's not a new
concept, but the difference? It was done right. And halle-fricking-llujah. It
took the cliché moments, the tropes and made it into something that acknowledged
the cichés but didn't ruin it..
Characters are everything to me,
if we don't get along or don't click and it doesn't work, sorry, you can be the
most interesting concept in the world and I still wouldn't like you all that
much. Characters bring the story to life, and if they don't bring the story to
life, it's just words on paper. Luckily, you didn't get that here. The
characters were realistically flawed and they make mistakes and things get
messy and of course when things get messy people get hurt, it's just how things
work. Behind the Scenes went where it should have, it wasn't scared to get mean
for us, and I loved it for that too. Okay, I felt it was a little awkward in the beginning because you hadn't gotten to know the characters yet and suddenly they have this whole personality already there- which is awesome- just an adjustment. But, I felt the same as that with Sarah Rees Brenna's Unspoken when I first read that. Which, is actually a good comparison because the characters are pretty awesome and the way Kami and Angela's interactions give the sense of reality. It's how best friends work, how they just get each other and it was exactly like that with Ally and Van.
Speaking of, our MC, Ally is just so freaking awesome that I want to be her best friend. She's devoted to being a good friend to Van while staying out of the Hollywood glitz and glam, she's level headed, witty, and a little insecure, especially when it comes to Liam even if she won't admit it, because she doesn't act like it. But, there's only so much you can cope with, and she is coping with a lot, but she keeps herself together.
Oh, Liam Holloway, while he had his flaws- I do wish we had more insight on how he felt everything- while it was happening and not after, and maybe some drama could've been avoided and there would have been more kissing scenes. Yes, I know, Behind the Scenes wouldn't have been as good as it was without the drama, and realistically speaking it would've turned too Disney if it had. I would hate to see him with anyone else but Ally, but damn. Can he be real, pretty pretty please? I kind of love him. Okay, I disliked him a little at certain points because it's not just all on Ally, but even then, I still kind of loved him
Behind the Scenes has realistically flawed characters that
come to life in a way people to. With an insight into the glitz and not so glam
world of fame and celebrities, it's a story of friendship, first love and
fighting through.
Rating: 4.5/5
