Thirty-five-year-old Samantha acts without thinking. Her heart is huge while her sense of purpose is small; she's willing to fight for those she lo...
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reviews
Jul 01, 2011
Samantha
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When author Laurel Osterkamp contacted me to coordinate her blog tour, I was excited to work with her and her novel Starring in the Movie of My Life. The synopsis reeled me in quickly, and once I started reading, this novel was very difficult to put down. There are three characters that are followed: Samantha and Nathan Linden, who are husband and wife, and Melody, a teenage student of Nathan’s. When Melody is attacked at a school dance, it is Nathan that plays hero, getting her away from harm.
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Jun 25, 2011
Elsie
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I received a copy of this book many moons ago. Long before I had my grubby little hands on my now, much used Kindle. It was the last paperback I read. Two things about this story caught (and held) my attention. 1. Tense. The book is written in present tense. As a writer, I've been told this is a serious no-no. After reading Ms. Osterkamp's book, I feel compelled to ask the obvious question: why? It is a good story...in any tense. Who died and determined that present tense is passe? Whoever it wa
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Jun 14, 2011
Jennifer
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What I liked:
The author gives us relatable characters. Each character has flaws and that is what makes them real. The two female leads, Samantha and Melody, tell the story. Each chapter alternates between the two points of view. The story works well because of the back and forth. The reader learns things about Samantha and then learns things about Melody. All the while Mr. Linden is somewhere in the middle. The story is about Samantha who is ten years older than her husband. Her h More...
The author gives us relatable characters. Each character has flaws and that is what makes them real. The two female leads, Samantha and Melody, tell the story. Each chapter alternates between the two points of view. The story works well because of the back and forth. The reader learns things about Samantha and then learns things about Melody. All the while Mr. Linden is somewhere in the middle. The story is about Samantha who is ten years older than her husband. Her h More...
Jun 17, 2011
Laura
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This story fluctuates between two female characters points of view. Melody an 18-year old high school senior who is manipliative and seeking attention from others because she lacks that comfort at home, and 35 year old Samantha, who wears her heart on her sleeve and makes rash decesions but the best of intentions. Both of their worlds collide and both have the power to dramatically alter the story of each others lives, but will they do that, or will they make the right decisions for themselves.
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May 07, 2011
Shauna
rated it: 
While there was certainly a hero I was rooting for and an anti-hero that I wasn't, I found myself simultaneously frustrated and sympathizing with both of the main characters in this book, and that made it an extremely satisfying read. Melody was incredibly bright and had enough redeeming qualities that I didn't want to see her slide down the same selfish, self-destructive path as her alcoholic mother. How does a person who has never experienced a healthy relationship with anyone learn how to fos
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Feb 26, 2011
Ashley
rated it:
Laurel Osterkamp’s new novel, Starring in the Movie of My Life, is one of those rare reads I come across where I’m so enthralled from the first page that I can’t stop reading and nothing else gets done until the book is finished.
The novel centers around three people, eighteen year old Melody, cold, calculating, and driven to better her circumstances; Samantha, thirty-five, flighty, generous, but lost and confused about her own life; and twenty-five year old Nate, Melody’s English teach More...
The novel centers around three people, eighteen year old Melody, cold, calculating, and driven to better her circumstances; Samantha, thirty-five, flighty, generous, but lost and confused about her own life; and twenty-five year old Nate, Melody’s English teach More...
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Jul 12, 2011
Len
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The story is almost multi-plotted, with an interesting sub-stories pertaining to each character. It has an efficacious plot in keeping a reader engaged. The story revolves around characters with secrets that are slowly revealed from chapter to chapter.
The creation of a selfish brat Melody is quite impressive that as I was beginning to despise her and her callous, heartless actions, I was so surprised near the end at how much I warmed up to the character. All of a sudden, I disco More...
The creation of a selfish brat Melody is quite impressive that as I was beginning to despise her and her callous, heartless actions, I was so surprised near the end at how much I warmed up to the character. All of a sudden, I disco More...
Apr 01, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
Yet another underestimated book. This book was sweet, surprising, and heartwarming. I loved the different viewpoints from both Melody and Sam. Seeing the two different stories meet because of Nate and collide was very interesting. Laurel Osterkamp's writing style works perfectly for this novel.
Starring in the Movie of My Life is about Samantha and Melody. Sam is newly married to Nate Linden, and she soon realizes she still may have feelings for her ex, Collin, even though she's More...
Starring in the Movie of My Life is about Samantha and Melody. Sam is newly married to Nate Linden, and she soon realizes she still may have feelings for her ex, Collin, even though she's More...
Apr 05, 2011
Ashlea
rated it:
I won "Starring in the Movie of My Life" in the First Reads contest and I have to say, I loved it! I didn't want to put it down and finished (because I unfortunately, had to put it down sometimes) it in two days. I loved the main character, Sam and truly felt for her. My favorite part about the book is that it doesn't go where you think it will. It keeps you guessing and ends in a way you wouldn't think but works perfectly. I really, really enjoyed this book - so much so that when I fi
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Jan 03, 2012
Bonnie (Hands and Home Blog)
rated it:
Starring in the Movie of My Life was one of those books that I didn’t want to stop reading once I picked it up. Osterkamp is a beautiful writer and wonderfully captures the essence of the two female leads. Everything from their thought process to word choice feels authentic and accurate for their ages. I was amazed how well she was able to transition between each narrator as well as past and present events; not once did I find myself confused or lost. The pace of this novel was perfect and I qui
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Oct 25, 2011
LAURA KAY
rated it:
Starring in the Movie of My Life, goes back and forth between two females. At the beginning there doesn’t seem to be any connection between the two. Samantha and Melody are two very different characters. Samantha is a 35 year old married woman who works at a video store. She is a great friend, who would do just about anything to help someone out and has a fantastic relationship with her father. She is flawed when it comes to her lack of direction for her future and still seems to carry a torch f
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Jun 30, 2011
Screenplaydiva
rated it:
If you are a fan of women’s fiction from authors such as: Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Weiner, Elizabeth Berg, et al and want to break from dark stories featuring vampires, werewolves and other things that go bump in the night, then I highly recommend STARRING IN THE MOVIE OF MY LIFE by Laurel Osterkamp!
The book is told from two different viewpoints: Samantha “Sam”, a 35-year-old who is has recently married Nathan “Nate”, a 25-year-old high school teacher, and Melody, a 18-year-old high scho More...
The book is told from two different viewpoints: Samantha “Sam”, a 35-year-old who is has recently married Nathan “Nate”, a 25-year-old high school teacher, and Melody, a 18-year-old high scho More...
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Jun 25, 2011
E.B.
rated it:
I received a copy of this book many moons ago. Long before I had my grubby little hands on my now, much used Kindle. It was the last paperback I read. Two things about this story caught (and held) my attention. 1. Tense. The book is written in present tense. As a writer, I've been told this is a serious no-no. After reading Ms. Osterkamp's book, I feel compelled to ask the obvious question: why? It is a good story...in any tense. Who died and determined that present tense is passe? Whoever it wa
More...
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Oct 10, 2011
Kitty
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After reading "Following My Toes" I went quite a while before reading "Starring In The Movie of My Life" I must say that I love the way Laurel Osterkamp writes. She keeps you interested and this is great for a woman that is actually not much of a 'chick lit' type reader. This story read smoothly and had me hooked from the beginning. There is nothing better than a story that involves a love triangle, the suspense of trying to figure out who Nathan will choose keeps you on the
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Aug 20, 2011
Valerie
rated it:
I didn't love the characters in this book, had a hard time finding sympathy for any of them, really, but that made it a better book. Well worth a read.
Mar 01, 2011
Jencey/
rated it:
I finished the book. I liked the book. I will post my review later on my blog. I don't know about a Jodi Picoult/Jennifer Weiner combination. I found the story interesting and it kept my interest.
Jul 30, 2011
I can't believe I forgot I got this one in the mail! Ahhhhhh! It looks amazing! Review upcoming!
Feb 10, 2012
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