Review: Map to the Stars by Jen Malone

Map to the Stars
by Jen Malone
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: July 14, 2015
Genre: YA Romance
Rating:

Author Jen Malone draws on her real-life experiences as a movie studio publicist to bring you an insider peek at love, Hollywood-style.

The California dream was supposed to give seventeen-year-old Annie Shelton a fresh start far removed from her dad’s unusual betrayal. But when things don’t go according to plan in La La Land, Annie’s mom snags a last-minute gig as makeup artist to a teen movie idol and finagles a spot for her daughter on his European promotional tour.

Down-to-earth Annie would rather fangirl architectural sights than an arrogant A-lister. That is, until behind-the-scenes Graham Cabot turns out to be more sweetly vulnerable than she could have imagined.

Too bad falling for a poster boy isn’t all red carpets and star treatment, especially when you factor in obnoxious fans, an overprotective assistant, a stage mom/manager, and a beefy bodyguard.

But it isn’t until the paparazzi make an appearance that things get really sticky…

 

 

My thoughts…

Map to the Stars is a cute YA romance but it’s heavy on the cliches. Annie’s mom gets a gig as a make-up artist for Graham Cabot, a teen movie star, as he goes on his movie premiere tour. Annie tags along as her mother’s assistant and pretty soon there’s a romance between Annie and Graham.

I think for me, I just didn’t care for the insta-love, the publicist getting between them, the back and forth of “I love you but you’re not good for my career,” and the fact that I just wasn’t feeling their relationship. I mean, it kind of felt like he liked Annie because she was the only teenage girl in his entourage. It seemed like once he figured out she wasn’t a teeny bopper stalking him, he was all over her. That is, except when out in public or when his handler was around, or when his handler told him he had to be a player, or when they decided Graham needed to be gay to keep his popularity. I mean, really?! I just felt like it got to be a bit much. I think I would have enjoyed this one more if the drama was toned down a lot, Graham wasn’t sure a follower and did everything his handler/publicist told him to do, and just went with his gut.

Favorite quote…

It should be noted that trying to determine if an actor is lying is a bit like trying to get the “It’s a Small World” song out of your head after a visit to Disney: next to impossible.

 

 

10 Thoughts on “Review: Map to the Stars by Jen Malone

  1. That doesn’t sound fun at all but I do like that quote.

    For What It’s Worth

  2. Awesome quote. Now I just hope I don’t have “Small World” going around in my head all day!

  3. I can see why you said too many cliches. That doesn’t sound too great. I don’t read YA anyway.

  4. Ehhh this one doesn’t sound good for me.

  5. Interesting blog! Visiting from #getsocial17

  6. That quote is great! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your review. #getsocial17

  7. Thank’s for the review and favorite quote.
    #GetSocial17

  8. Debbie Haupt on 13 June, 2017 at 11:33 am said:

    Thanks for sharing
    #getsocial17

  9. I could see myself reading this 🙂
    It has been ages since I read a YA fic

  10. It sounds like a nice YA book, but that’s too bad it was too heavy on the drama and you didn’t feel their romance.

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