[Review] Famous in Love by Rebecca Serle

Famous in Love by Rebecca Serle

Rating: 3.5 stars

Series: Famous in Love #1

Release Date: October 21st 2014

Goodreads synopsis:

The romantic story of a girl who gets plucked from obscurity to star in the next major feature film franchise based on a book and the ensuing love triangles she gets entangled in on—-and off screen. 
Meet Paige Townsen, Rainer Devon, and Jordan Wilder…
When Paige Townsen, a young unknown, gets cast in the movie adaptation of a blockbuster book series, her life changes practically overnight. Within a month, Paige has traded the quiet streets of her hometown for a crowded movie set on the shores of Maui, and is spending quality time with her co-star Rainer Devon, one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive. But when troubled star Jordan Wilder lands the role of the other point in the movie’s famous love triangle, Paige’s crazy new life gets even crazier.
In this coming-of-age romance inspired by the kind of celeb hookups that get clever nicknames and a million page views, Paige must figure out who she is – and who she wants – while the whole world watches.

Famous in Love is a modern day rags-to-riches tale that focuses on the lives of celebrity/actor heartthrobs and crushes - and the drama that comes along with their luxury.

I liked this more than I expected. It was a quick, one-day read. The average girl to next big celeb star reminded me of Meg Cabot's Airhead. Minus the life swapping. 

Paige Townsen, average teenager, is suddenly thrust into the spotlight when she wins the role of the heroine for the next big book to movie adaptation. And her costars/love interests are the hottest guys in film. Turns out, her love interests in the movie might just be her love interests in real life.

The first half of the book (almost said movie!), was perhaps the best part of the story. Paige narrates and introduces us to all the important people in her life, and we see her relationships with them progress as the book goes on. My favorite scenes had to be with her, Jake, and Cassandra - the strong friendship they shared reminded me of my friendships, and how Paige has to grow up and realize that even if the dynamic of the friendship changes, they'll still be friends. One scene in particular - Paige finding out that Cassandra and Jake got together, and then everything feeling so unfamiliar yet familiar to her, made me tear up on my train ride home from school! (You know how odd it must look to tear up on a train?) It was genuine friendship - no one was jealous, and everyone still cares for each other after all that has happened. I miss friendships like this in YA contemporary, because you usually end up with backstabbing best friends and jealousy these days. 

Learning about the process of movie making (like a behind the scenes almost) - was informative and unexpected. Never knew about underage acting laws, or the nude but actually clothed scenes in movies. Or even how they made blood look realistic. I loved by the end of the movie filming, it was very familial and nice to know they became closer. Wyatt certainly was never easy on Paige, and I'm glad to know that Paige matured over the course of the novel/movie into a more mature starting actress. 

Now what I didn't like started to show in the second half of the novel. The romance. We have Rainer, the blonde flirtatious type (playboy personality, even) and Jordan, the bad boy who isn't really a bad boy. And they have a conflicted past together over an ex of Rainer's. A plus, before I continue onto the romance, is that Serle didn't go over the top when describing their attractiveness. Surprising, since they're actors, and you'd expect to read a ton about their gorgeous features, but it wasn't overdone. The romance, on the other hand, and I feel bad about saying this a lot in my reviews, but both of them going for Paige? Really? 

Rainer, okay, more believable why he went for her. He knew her longer, she was unlike his ex, she was different and innocent, and he's a flirt and all that. I can buy it, if only for a bit. The chemistry was still a bit iffy. I'm still convinced he would just use her. But Jordan, a few encounters and scenes together and you're suddenly head over heels for her? How? I mean, you guys have similar interests and all, but it was rushed. Weren't you against him in the first place because of Rainer? The latter of the novel was a back-and-forth of Rainer and Jordan, who will Paige choose, I can't be with you, etc.

It was a twist, however, that the novel ended the way it did. It's pretty obvious she likes who she likes, and I wonder how things will turn out in the sequel, Truly Madly Famously. If you're looking for romantic and innocent YA with teen heartthrobs, then this is the book for you.