Review: Idol by Kristen Callihan

idolIdol
(VIP, #1)
By: Kristen Callihan
Publisher: Self-published
Published: June 7, 2016
Genre: Romance
Rating:

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Libby

I found Killian drunk and sprawled out on my lawn like some lost prince. With the face of a god and the arrogance to match, the pest won’t leave. Sexy, charming, and just a little bit dirty, he’s slowly wearing me down, making me crave more.

He could be mine if I dare to claim him. Problem is, the world thinks he’s theirs. How do you keep an idol when everyone is intent on taking him away?

Killian

As lead singer for the biggest rock band in the world, I lived a life of dreams. It all fell apart with one fateful decision. Now everything is in shambles.

Until Liberty. She’s grouchy, a recluse—and kind of cute. Scratch that. When I get my hands on her, she is scorching hot and more addictive than all the fans who’ve screamed my name.

The world is clamoring for me to get back on stage, but I’m not willing to leave her. I’ve got to find a way to coax the hermit from her shell and keep her with me. Because, with Libby, everything has changed. Everything.

 

 

My thoughts…

Libby finds some drunk dude sprawled out on her lawn and she’s pissed. Not only did his motorcycle tear up her lawn, but he is covered in vomit as well. So, she sprays him with her hose. This just get worse when the next morning she finds out that he’s her new neighbor. A neighbor who refuses to give her space and is always inserting himself into her life. Pretty the soon the two of them become close and that’s when the bomb drops and Libby finds out that her “lawn bum” is none other than Killian James, lead singer of one of the hottest rock bands out.

I honestly thought the majority of this book was going to be Killian and Libby in their little hideaway but that wasn’t the case. Time flew by while they were getting to know each other. One minute they were just meeting and the next it was stated that they’d known each other for two months. I was a little shocked at the time jump to be honest. I felt like I didn’t get enough time with the two of them as they connected and formed their bond. Which is probably why I didn’t feel myself gravitating to their romance as much as I thought I would have. I mean, half of the story is of Libby going on tour with Killian and his band, and I just didn’t fully feel the connection and drive between the two of them that would cause that leap. I really wish there was more of their story before they jumped into the limelight.

I did like all the behind the scenes while on tour though. Between Libby barfing her guts out before shows, the adrenaline rush they experience at the end, how they just jam out on the bus for hours after a show’s completion, I was fascinated by it all. It was interesting to also see the personas that they present to the public versus how all the guys acts behind doors. I really liked getting to see the band do what they do instead of it just being a book about Killian living in his hideaway house in the middle of nowhere. I liked that we got a lot of time to see the other side of him as well as getting to watch Libby grow and become more confident.

While I did enjoy the story, I didn’t fully connect with the characters. I enjoyed everyone in the story but I just didn’t feel Libby and Killian’s deep connection. It just felt a bit superficial and rushed. Like I said before, I would have liked a bit more time of them getting to know each other before the story switched gears. One minute Libby was this hellcat and the next she was a smitten kitten. I just wish I had more time to see the progression from being complete stranger to being so in love that you pack up your things and hop on a tour bus with a bunch of strangers. We get a snippet of the next book in the series and it deals with the monotone tour manager who is pretty much stone-faced the entire time in this book. It would be interesting to see what he’s like behind closed doors.

 

Favorite quote…

“A man who names his hairstyle after another man isn’t much of a man.”

 

 

Meet the author…

callihanKristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a RITA winner and three-time nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

 

 

7 Thoughts on “Review: Idol by Kristen Callihan

  1. Seems like an interesting story. I like books about rockstars and regular girls falling in love. Too bad you didn’t connect with the characters, but glad you liked it somewhat. Thanks for your honest review 🙂

  2. This is like coachella with a happy ending lol

    Didn’t she release a rocker romance a while back too? I’ll stick to her Darkest London for now

  3. I wondered about this one, I do <3 rock star books and that cover is nice. I'm not fond of time jumps like that though.

  4. I feel like I would like this but I need to connect with the characters so I am conflicted.

  5. I know how you feel, Kristen, having the characters develop this great relationship off-page. It ruins my ability to really connect with them as well and if I can’t connect with the MCs, what’s the point, really? I’m happy you enjoyed the story despite a lack of connection with Libby and Killian. Will you continue the series?

  6. Time jumps like that are hard. I always feel like I’m missing out on bits too when that happens :/

  7. I’ve been considering this one because I want to find an NA I really love, but after reading this review, it definitely sounds like this isn’t the one, haha. That time jump would annoy me, too, because then you’re really missing out on development!

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