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Starring in the Movie of My Life
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 loves, but she's never learned to fight for herself. Eighteen-year-old Melody is cold and calculating, and she's driven by the desire to better herself. As these compelling yet deeply flawed women battle for the affections of twenty-five-year-old Nathan, he becomes increasingly confused and torn between them. Nathan is Melody's English teacher, and after he saves her from being raped, she becomes attached. Melody longs for the affection she's never felt, so she involves people in her self-invented drama, making sure she is at once the star and the director. Meanwhile, Samantha is newly married to Nathan. But Samantha has hang-ups about motherhood and lingering feelings for her ex. To make sense of the world, Sam relates her life to the themes of her favorite movies, while she independently makes a documentary to jump-start her non-existent film career. Stylistically influenced by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Weiner, Starring in the Movie of my Life is told alternately from both Samantha's and Melody's points-of-view and relates two complete yet combined stories about love, acceptance, and redemption. It speaks to our universal desire to be saved by the ones we love, and the monumental effort required tosave ourselves. Laurel Osterkamp's first novel, Following My Toes, published by PMI Books, won the 2008 National Indie Book Award for Excellence (Chick Lit category). She drew on her experiences as a high school film studies and creative writing teacher as she wrote Starring in the Movie of my Life. Currently she lives in Minneapolis with her husband, son, and daughter, and is working on her third novel.
316 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2011
About the author
Laurel Osterkamp
25 books536 followersLaurel Osterkamp is the award-winning author of roughly a dozen novels, such as Favorite Daughters and the #1 Amazon bestseller, Beautiful Little Furies. She is obsessed with writing and doesn't know how to stop. In addition to her novels, she has short fiction published in literary journals all over the web, writes a monthly column for Writer's Fun Zone, and runs her website, laurellit.com, with book reviews, lesson plans, and writing advice.
When she's not writing (which is rare) she's often teaching adult ESL or middle school enrichment classes, going running while listening to audiobooks, or educating her daughter about the OG teen soap opera, Beverly Hills 90210. She lives in Minneapolis with a family who loves to argue, and their cats, who love to hiss at each other. Ramona Quimby is her spirit animal.
Follow her on Instagram @laurel_osterkamp.
When she's not writing (which is rare) she's often teaching adult ESL or middle school enrichment classes, going running while listening to audiobooks, or educating her daughter about the OG teen soap opera, Beverly Hills 90210. She lives in Minneapolis with a family who loves to argue, and their cats, who love to hiss at each other. Ramona Quimby is her spirit animal.
Follow her on Instagram @laurel_osterkamp.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 30, 2011
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 school senior. Sam loves her husband but doesn’t feel confident enough with herself or in her marriage to trust Nate around the young girls at school. However, Nate hasn’t shown any signs that he’s interested in the girls he teaches. He loves being a teacher and he loves his wife.
But deep down, Sam wonders if her feelings really have to do with how she has never gotten over Collin, her first love, who she met in college and now happens to also be her landlord. Talk about awkward! If Sam isn’t worrying about her marriage or her life, she’s trying to help her best friend, Jane, who is adopting a baby. Jane needs her support.
On the other end of the spectrum is Melody. At the beginning of the novel, Melody is attending the prom with her high school crush, Axel. She can’t believe he asked her out and she’s thrilled. But when Axel attacks her outside one of the bathrooms, Nate who is at school steps in and helps her.
Melody feels Nate is her knight in shining armor and becomes quickly infatuated with her teacher. But Melody’s manipulative actions and her yearning for affection start hurting her more than helping. This causes more strain between Sam and Nate…something none of them need.
The world of the novel is realistic and believable. I could easily picture the school, all of the character’s homes, and places where they work or meet up. I felt heartache in all the right places, especially Melody’s home life with her mother. I would definitely not want to live there. It was easy to understand why Melody wants desperately to escape.
Samantha wants more from life than just working at a local movie rental store. She is kind, sweet, and a romantic. She loves the movies. Everything she does she relates to a movie or television – whether it’s the first time Nate calls to rent a movie (Casablanca) or feeling that her life is so mundane that she wishes it were epic like Dawson’s Creek. Ha! As a movie and television fan, I loved the references! In fact, Sam sees her life as a movie. I can definitely relate. Sam feels that she can find whatever it is she’s searching for through her relationships with Nate and Collin, but that isn’t the case. She needs to find what she’s looking for within herself.
The same goes for Melody who is manipulative, cold and calculating. She thinks she can have whatever she wants by people falling for her good looks and charm. I chalked this up to her depressing home life with her single mother who doesn’t give a damn about her and bosses her around constantly. Melody definitely wants a new life, too. She thinks if she can get Nate to fall in love with her then she can leave her crappy world behind. She even tries to control her best friend, Kelsey. But there’s pain in Melody’s life that she’s trying to fill by turning her infatuation with Nate into something that she’s only imagining in her head.
Nate is kind and caring. He wants what’s best for Sam and will do anything to pull their marriage together. He’s also on to Melody, but falls easily into her trap because he’s so good-hearted. He’s symbolic to the story as a means for both women yearning for something different. Collin also comes into the picture and we learn more about his relationship with Sam. I enjoyed the other side characters, as well.
There’s a lot that happens in the story and Osterkamp does a great job with plotting and pacing. STARRING IN THE MOVIE OF MY LIFE features some interesting twists — that I never saw coming — and revealing information about the characters through flashbacks. The story is emotional and intense. There is some trying moments for all the characters. I was glad after everything they go through, STARRING IN THE MOVIE OF MY LIFE ends on a happy note.
I can certainly see why STARRING IN THE MOVIE OF MY LIFE is a 2011 International Book Award (Women’s Fiction and Young Adult Literature) and 2011 Indie Excellence Award Finalist. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Laurel Osterkamp!
The cover I have on my book shows an auditorium at a school with a stage and a screen above it. It’s a nice, simple cover. However, I really like the new cover of the book. I think it fits the book much better and feels more like women’s fiction! The colors are pretty and I love the film strip with the female eye.
Review Posted on my blog, "That's Swell!" and Copyright of Reel Swell Productions.
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 school senior. Sam loves her husband but doesn’t feel confident enough with herself or in her marriage to trust Nate around the young girls at school. However, Nate hasn’t shown any signs that he’s interested in the girls he teaches. He loves being a teacher and he loves his wife.
But deep down, Sam wonders if her feelings really have to do with how she has never gotten over Collin, her first love, who she met in college and now happens to also be her landlord. Talk about awkward! If Sam isn’t worrying about her marriage or her life, she’s trying to help her best friend, Jane, who is adopting a baby. Jane needs her support.
On the other end of the spectrum is Melody. At the beginning of the novel, Melody is attending the prom with her high school crush, Axel. She can’t believe he asked her out and she’s thrilled. But when Axel attacks her outside one of the bathrooms, Nate who is at school steps in and helps her.
Melody feels Nate is her knight in shining armor and becomes quickly infatuated with her teacher. But Melody’s manipulative actions and her yearning for affection start hurting her more than helping. This causes more strain between Sam and Nate…something none of them need.
The world of the novel is realistic and believable. I could easily picture the school, all of the character’s homes, and places where they work or meet up. I felt heartache in all the right places, especially Melody’s home life with her mother. I would definitely not want to live there. It was easy to understand why Melody wants desperately to escape.
Samantha wants more from life than just working at a local movie rental store. She is kind, sweet, and a romantic. She loves the movies. Everything she does she relates to a movie or television – whether it’s the first time Nate calls to rent a movie (Casablanca) or feeling that her life is so mundane that she wishes it were epic like Dawson’s Creek. Ha! As a movie and television fan, I loved the references! In fact, Sam sees her life as a movie. I can definitely relate. Sam feels that she can find whatever it is she’s searching for through her relationships with Nate and Collin, but that isn’t the case. She needs to find what she’s looking for within herself.
The same goes for Melody who is manipulative, cold and calculating. She thinks she can have whatever she wants by people falling for her good looks and charm. I chalked this up to her depressing home life with her single mother who doesn’t give a damn about her and bosses her around constantly. Melody definitely wants a new life, too. She thinks if she can get Nate to fall in love with her then she can leave her crappy world behind. She even tries to control her best friend, Kelsey. But there’s pain in Melody’s life that she’s trying to fill by turning her infatuation with Nate into something that she’s only imagining in her head.
Nate is kind and caring. He wants what’s best for Sam and will do anything to pull their marriage together. He’s also on to Melody, but falls easily into her trap because he’s so good-hearted. He’s symbolic to the story as a means for both women yearning for something different. Collin also comes into the picture and we learn more about his relationship with Sam. I enjoyed the other side characters, as well.
There’s a lot that happens in the story and Osterkamp does a great job with plotting and pacing. STARRING IN THE MOVIE OF MY LIFE features some interesting twists — that I never saw coming — and revealing information about the characters through flashbacks. The story is emotional and intense. There is some trying moments for all the characters. I was glad after everything they go through, STARRING IN THE MOVIE OF MY LIFE ends on a happy note.
I can certainly see why STARRING IN THE MOVIE OF MY LIFE is a 2011 International Book Award (Women’s Fiction and Young Adult Literature) and 2011 Indie Excellence Award Finalist. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Laurel Osterkamp!
The cover I have on my book shows an auditorium at a school with a stage and a screen above it. It’s a nice, simple cover. However, I really like the new cover of the book. I think it fits the book much better and feels more like women’s fiction! The colors are pretty and I love the film strip with the female eye.
Review Posted on my blog, "That's Swell!" and Copyright of Reel Swell Productions.
July 6, 2012
MICHELLE'S REVIEW:
RATING: 3.75 HUMAN NATURE STARS!!
Starring In The Movie Of My Life, was not at all what I was expecting. This book is a rollercoaster of emotions for me. I think it is well written, and I don’t want to deter anybody from reading it, as it is very well written, but I had a hard time with Melody’s character.
I do realise and understand that she was written to be this manipulative piece of work. She almost redeemed herself in my eyes at the end...almost. I realise she is only eighteen and her mother is a piece of work and a terrible role model, but, I just thought the girl was just too full on . For a girl of this age to decide to make a bet with her mum that if she could break up a marriage, then her mum would allow her to go to college. Melody manipulates everybody around her, she is on a mission to destroy more than one life.
This book alternates Melody’s chapter and then Samantha’s chapter. I did not enjoy Melody’s chapters. This could be excellent writing on Laurel’s behalf as she made me loathe, beyond, loathe the girl. She just did not sit well with me. Kudos to Laurel for making me feel this deep emotion for her character. I can always find good in the bad, but this girl is a rotten tomato. I have zip sympathy for her and quite frankly Carter should be running as far and as fast as his legs will take him.
Samantha is thirty five and her husband Nathan Linden is twenty five years old, so she has a bag of insecurities over her shoulder, banging away. Would they have been ok in their marriage if Melody hadn’t have zeroed in........ possibly not. But who knows?
Collin is the ex of Samantha and he lives upstairs in the apartment building he manages that his family owns. He isn’t short of a dollar. Does he spend it wisely??? He has a very addictive nature and as this story unfolds, his life prior to Samantha marrying Nathan starts to be revealed to the reader. We find how much Sam and Collin had, and how much of their relationship was very destructive for years.
Sam has a good heart but at the age of thirty five, she has far from got herself sorted and settled. She works at Bravo Video , while hubby Nate is a school teacher. This is where Melody can dangle herself until her “How to get a guy to leave his significant other for you” , plan works.
Melody uses her friend Kelsey, she manipulates and destroys. She was written well for me to feel such loathing for her. I do despise this type of personality, maybe, that is my problem with this book as I know somebody who is the queen of manipulation and has been such a thorn in my side for many, many years.
There is a side story going on within the Melody, Nate and Samantha sandwich. Samantha is being selfless and helping out her friends Jane and Jake. Things aren’t going swimmingly there either.
This story is quite intense and sometimes I had to come up for air as these characters get their fair share of grief and burden. I had a hard time trying to decide who I should feel sorry for and who shouldn’t have let themselves be taken in. But at the end of it all, we are all only human and we are flawed. We make mistakes and we ask for forgiveness. It takes a certain type of person to forgive a sack full of baggage, but sometimes it is worth hanging in there , even if the journey is very , very rocky.
Sometimes it takes some of us in life a lot longer to get to their happy ending. There is a lot of grief , heartache and mistakes we must make along the way to finally find it.
RATING: 3.75 HUMAN NATURE STARS!!
Starring In The Movie Of My Life, was not at all what I was expecting. This book is a rollercoaster of emotions for me. I think it is well written, and I don’t want to deter anybody from reading it, as it is very well written, but I had a hard time with Melody’s character.
I do realise and understand that she was written to be this manipulative piece of work. She almost redeemed herself in my eyes at the end...almost. I realise she is only eighteen and her mother is a piece of work and a terrible role model, but, I just thought the girl was just too full on . For a girl of this age to decide to make a bet with her mum that if she could break up a marriage, then her mum would allow her to go to college. Melody manipulates everybody around her, she is on a mission to destroy more than one life.
This book alternates Melody’s chapter and then Samantha’s chapter. I did not enjoy Melody’s chapters. This could be excellent writing on Laurel’s behalf as she made me loathe, beyond, loathe the girl. She just did not sit well with me. Kudos to Laurel for making me feel this deep emotion for her character. I can always find good in the bad, but this girl is a rotten tomato. I have zip sympathy for her and quite frankly Carter should be running as far and as fast as his legs will take him.
Samantha is thirty five and her husband Nathan Linden is twenty five years old, so she has a bag of insecurities over her shoulder, banging away. Would they have been ok in their marriage if Melody hadn’t have zeroed in........ possibly not. But who knows?
Collin is the ex of Samantha and he lives upstairs in the apartment building he manages that his family owns. He isn’t short of a dollar. Does he spend it wisely??? He has a very addictive nature and as this story unfolds, his life prior to Samantha marrying Nathan starts to be revealed to the reader. We find how much Sam and Collin had, and how much of their relationship was very destructive for years.
Sam has a good heart but at the age of thirty five, she has far from got herself sorted and settled. She works at Bravo Video , while hubby Nate is a school teacher. This is where Melody can dangle herself until her “How to get a guy to leave his significant other for you” , plan works.
Melody uses her friend Kelsey, she manipulates and destroys. She was written well for me to feel such loathing for her. I do despise this type of personality, maybe, that is my problem with this book as I know somebody who is the queen of manipulation and has been such a thorn in my side for many, many years.
There is a side story going on within the Melody, Nate and Samantha sandwich. Samantha is being selfless and helping out her friends Jane and Jake. Things aren’t going swimmingly there either.
This story is quite intense and sometimes I had to come up for air as these characters get their fair share of grief and burden. I had a hard time trying to decide who I should feel sorry for and who shouldn’t have let themselves be taken in. But at the end of it all, we are all only human and we are flawed. We make mistakes and we ask for forgiveness. It takes a certain type of person to forgive a sack full of baggage, but sometimes it is worth hanging in there , even if the journey is very , very rocky.
Sometimes it takes some of us in life a lot longer to get to their happy ending. There is a lot of grief , heartache and mistakes we must make along the way to finally find it.
February 20, 2011
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 teacher and Samantha’s husband.
Nate saves Melody from being raped, and she turns her affections to him, creating her own real-life drama in which she stars in order to find the attention and affection she’s never felt from anyone else. Meanwhile, though Samantha loves her new husband, she still hung up on her ex, and confused about potentially becoming a mother. She relates to life through movies she’s seen, and after making an impetuous decision to support a friend, Samantha begins work on a documentary in which she truly is one of the stars. As Melody and Samantha both battle for Nate, he finds himself torn between the two of them.
The story narration alternates between Melody and Samantha. This works very well. It allows the reader to understand the motivations and emotions of both characters. I found myself really not liking Melody. After all, she’s self-centered, manipulative, and doesn’t care that she’s trying to destroy a marriage. I also found myself feeling a bit sorry for Melody. She learned manipulation from her mother, who only relates to Melody in terms of what Melody can do for her. And towards the end of the story, we see Melody evolving, growing. I don’t want to give away anything, but Melody does learn to see things from points of view other than her own, realizing that while she may be the star in the movie of her life, sometimes the rest of the cast is valuable.
Samantha, too, is flawed, although in different ways than Melody. She’s sort of fallen into her life, never taking big chances and going after what might be the best thing for her. Part of this is the pull of her ex, for whom she still has lingering, albeit conflicting feelings. Things start happening, though, when Samantha impulsively volunteers an enormous favor to her best friend and is forced to confront her past, her commitment to her marriage, and what is best for her in the long run.
Throughout the book, I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. I couldn’t wait to turn the page, yet at the same time, I sort of dreaded it. I cared enough about all the characters that I didn’t want to see anything irreparable happen to them. I didn’t want Melody to “win” because I didn’t like the way she was manipulating so many people. But at the same time, I didn’t want her to become so damaged there was no hope for her redemption. Similarly, at times I wanted to shake Samantha so she’d have to face her past. We all have to do that at some point. We’re just running aimlessly until we do it. And we won’t be happy, be able to forge our true path until we do it.
Without giving away anything, I think Osterkamp wraps up the story nicely. It’s a satisfying ending, although not what I expected at the beginning of the book. I’ll definitely be reading more of Laurel Osterkamp.
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 teacher and Samantha’s husband.
Nate saves Melody from being raped, and she turns her affections to him, creating her own real-life drama in which she stars in order to find the attention and affection she’s never felt from anyone else. Meanwhile, though Samantha loves her new husband, she still hung up on her ex, and confused about potentially becoming a mother. She relates to life through movies she’s seen, and after making an impetuous decision to support a friend, Samantha begins work on a documentary in which she truly is one of the stars. As Melody and Samantha both battle for Nate, he finds himself torn between the two of them.
The story narration alternates between Melody and Samantha. This works very well. It allows the reader to understand the motivations and emotions of both characters. I found myself really not liking Melody. After all, she’s self-centered, manipulative, and doesn’t care that she’s trying to destroy a marriage. I also found myself feeling a bit sorry for Melody. She learned manipulation from her mother, who only relates to Melody in terms of what Melody can do for her. And towards the end of the story, we see Melody evolving, growing. I don’t want to give away anything, but Melody does learn to see things from points of view other than her own, realizing that while she may be the star in the movie of her life, sometimes the rest of the cast is valuable.
Samantha, too, is flawed, although in different ways than Melody. She’s sort of fallen into her life, never taking big chances and going after what might be the best thing for her. Part of this is the pull of her ex, for whom she still has lingering, albeit conflicting feelings. Things start happening, though, when Samantha impulsively volunteers an enormous favor to her best friend and is forced to confront her past, her commitment to her marriage, and what is best for her in the long run.
Throughout the book, I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. I couldn’t wait to turn the page, yet at the same time, I sort of dreaded it. I cared enough about all the characters that I didn’t want to see anything irreparable happen to them. I didn’t want Melody to “win” because I didn’t like the way she was manipulating so many people. But at the same time, I didn’t want her to become so damaged there was no hope for her redemption. Similarly, at times I wanted to shake Samantha so she’d have to face her past. We all have to do that at some point. We’re just running aimlessly until we do it. And we won’t be happy, be able to forge our true path until we do it.
Without giving away anything, I think Osterkamp wraps up the story nicely. It’s a satisfying ending, although not what I expected at the beginning of the book. I’ll definitely be reading more of Laurel Osterkamp.
June 19, 2012
Samantha is married to Nathan Linden. She is also 10 years older than Nathan. Melody is 18 years old and a senior in high school. Nathan Linden is her teacher. Melody falls for Nathan or
"Mr. L," after he saves her from being raped at a school dance. This is the story of their lives, and is told from alternating points of view between Samantha and Melody, each telling their own story. Samantha has her own issues, but she is very likable. She is still insecure in her relationship with Nathan, and the age difference bothers her, even if she won't admit it. On top of that, there are secrets about her past she hasn't told him about either, one being that Collin, the manager of the apartment complex they live in, is also her ex-husband. If that's not bad enough, Samantha still has feelings for Collin, even if she won't admit it. Melody on the other hand is extremely manipulative. She has grown up in a broken home with an alcoholic mother who has given her little if any affection. Melody plots and plans, and doesn't care who she hurts in the process, as long as she gets what she wants......and she wants Nathan Linden.
I enjoyed this book. It was interesting hearing the story told from both Samantha and Melody's point of view. I liked Samantha, despite her hangups, she is a really good person, though quite impulsive. She harbors a lot of guilt from mistakes and situations in her past and she desperately tries to earn redemption for her mistakes. I really did not like Melody much. I felt sorry for her, but she was very conniving, even using her best friend to help her achieve her "5-step plan" to get Mr. Linden, and when that doesn't work out, she turns downright evil in her attempt at revenge. I was glad to see that she developed a conscience near the end of the book and did the right thing, and she had started to make better choices. I kind of felt sorry for Nathan, he kind of got the short end of the stick in everything. I really did like Collin, who despite everything that had happened, still loved Sam. I found their relationship both amusing and romantic. The characters in the book deal with real life issues, some of which are very difficult, and they all go through the process of growing and changing, as life's circumstances mold and shape them. Starring in the Movie of My Life was a very enjoyable read and it ended very well. The characters were believable and well written, and the issues they deal with are issues that most people can relate to in some way. I enjoyed Laurel Osterkamp's writing and look forward to reading more of her novels.
"Mr. L," after he saves her from being raped at a school dance. This is the story of their lives, and is told from alternating points of view between Samantha and Melody, each telling their own story. Samantha has her own issues, but she is very likable. She is still insecure in her relationship with Nathan, and the age difference bothers her, even if she won't admit it. On top of that, there are secrets about her past she hasn't told him about either, one being that Collin, the manager of the apartment complex they live in, is also her ex-husband. If that's not bad enough, Samantha still has feelings for Collin, even if she won't admit it. Melody on the other hand is extremely manipulative. She has grown up in a broken home with an alcoholic mother who has given her little if any affection. Melody plots and plans, and doesn't care who she hurts in the process, as long as she gets what she wants......and she wants Nathan Linden.
I enjoyed this book. It was interesting hearing the story told from both Samantha and Melody's point of view. I liked Samantha, despite her hangups, she is a really good person, though quite impulsive. She harbors a lot of guilt from mistakes and situations in her past and she desperately tries to earn redemption for her mistakes. I really did not like Melody much. I felt sorry for her, but she was very conniving, even using her best friend to help her achieve her "5-step plan" to get Mr. Linden, and when that doesn't work out, she turns downright evil in her attempt at revenge. I was glad to see that she developed a conscience near the end of the book and did the right thing, and she had started to make better choices. I kind of felt sorry for Nathan, he kind of got the short end of the stick in everything. I really did like Collin, who despite everything that had happened, still loved Sam. I found their relationship both amusing and romantic. The characters in the book deal with real life issues, some of which are very difficult, and they all go through the process of growing and changing, as life's circumstances mold and shape them. Starring in the Movie of My Life was a very enjoyable read and it ended very well. The characters were believable and well written, and the issues they deal with are issues that most people can relate to in some way. I enjoyed Laurel Osterkamp's writing and look forward to reading more of her novels.
July 1, 2011
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. After that incident, Melody clings to the fact that she will get Nathan to leave Samantha for her, and through a very eerie and calculating plan, it looks like it just may work. Samantha begins to question all the time Nathan spends with Melody, going to her house for dinners and staying late to help her at school. When Samantha’s ex keeps popping up in her life, Samantha can’t help but still be drawn to him, because of what they have been through in their past and because she is feeling ignored by her husband. The complicated drama of the three lives comes to a head when Melody takes her devious plan one step too far, and a serious crisis happens in Samantha’s family.
I loved how Osterkamp blended the character’s lives so seamlessly throughout the pages. While I could never agree with what Melody was doing, it was easy to see why she acted that way, with her complicated family drama going on behind the scenes. This is a great love story, very deep and complicated and messy, but very real. The drama is there from the start, and the story lines will keep you on your toes throughout. The only thing I wished that were different was the ending left me a little unsettled with Nathan’s character. I felt like he really got the short end of the stick throughout, and there was really no happy ending, or really even any sort of ending for him. He just drifted off while Melody and Samantha got the closure. But other than that, I loved this book and highly recommend Starring in the Movie of My Life.
I loved how Osterkamp blended the character’s lives so seamlessly throughout the pages. While I could never agree with what Melody was doing, it was easy to see why she acted that way, with her complicated family drama going on behind the scenes. This is a great love story, very deep and complicated and messy, but very real. The drama is there from the start, and the story lines will keep you on your toes throughout. The only thing I wished that were different was the ending left me a little unsettled with Nathan’s character. I felt like he really got the short end of the stick throughout, and there was really no happy ending, or really even any sort of ending for him. He just drifted off while Melody and Samantha got the closure. But other than that, I loved this book and highly recommend Starring in the Movie of My Life.
June 26, 2012
This novel was purely excellent! I really enjoyed reading it. Throughout, I was thinking how this story was going to go; I was in the middle, and found this story to be unpredictable, which I liked, because this will make you turn the pages that much faster for more. There were many things I liked in this story, and one was definitely the films, which is of course a huge part in the characters, especially in Samantha's life. I just loved how different lovable films were referenced here. It was just wonderful, how they integrated in Sam's life, and how they can be seen as either a coping mechanism or just seen for the love of it, as studying/watching film is a passion; something I can relate with. So any movie lovers out there, I think this would be a good read for you.
I think the story in general was very well written, and the characters were greatly developed. There's eighteen year old Melody who is manipulative, oh yes, very manipulative. At times I felt sorry for her, I really did, but then she does some nasty things, where I went back to disliking her. Samantha on the other side is thirty-five, and I would she say has lived and experienced more in her life, and I really liked reading her point of view. This story also includes Melody's point of view, of which I found intriguing, I must say. Osterkamp does a wonderful job distinguishing the voices, from a teenage girl to a married woman. I also found there to be realistic situations here, and how they can be relatable to others. The other characters, Nathan seems to be a genuine type of person, young, and ambitious in his career, but.... There was also Samantha's ex Collin, whom I thought was a complicated but fixable person, as he and Samantha have known each so long, but seem to still not work things out. Through helpful flashbacks, we read their rocky relationship. All in all, this was just quite wonderful, and yes, this is a novel I really Recommend!
I think the story in general was very well written, and the characters were greatly developed. There's eighteen year old Melody who is manipulative, oh yes, very manipulative. At times I felt sorry for her, I really did, but then she does some nasty things, where I went back to disliking her. Samantha on the other side is thirty-five, and I would she say has lived and experienced more in her life, and I really liked reading her point of view. This story also includes Melody's point of view, of which I found intriguing, I must say. Osterkamp does a wonderful job distinguishing the voices, from a teenage girl to a married woman. I also found there to be realistic situations here, and how they can be relatable to others. The other characters, Nathan seems to be a genuine type of person, young, and ambitious in his career, but.... There was also Samantha's ex Collin, whom I thought was a complicated but fixable person, as he and Samantha have known each so long, but seem to still not work things out. Through helpful flashbacks, we read their rocky relationship. All in all, this was just quite wonderful, and yes, this is a novel I really Recommend!
June 17, 2011
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.
I honestly really enjoyed this story, I had a love-hate relationship with Melody because of her malipliative and cold acts that she commits against others including her best friend Kelsey. I did sympathize with her though because of the horrible home live she had to deal with, and i'm sorry but anyone with a mother like hers is point to have emotional problems for sure.
Samantha I had more compassion for, I was rooting for her and her ex, Collin honestly. I liked their relationship and although they had some rough patches in their past, I still could feel their deep-rooted connection.
Laurel has a beautiful writing style, it was fun, sad, and entertaining the whole way through. I got super-invested in the story and didn't want to put it down most of the time, because I simply had to know which way the story was going, and what was going to happen next. If you like chick-lit and contemporary dramas, I would definitely recommend this book to you, it was entertaining from start to finish.
I honestly really enjoyed this story, I had a love-hate relationship with Melody because of her malipliative and cold acts that she commits against others including her best friend Kelsey. I did sympathize with her though because of the horrible home live she had to deal with, and i'm sorry but anyone with a mother like hers is point to have emotional problems for sure.
Samantha I had more compassion for, I was rooting for her and her ex, Collin honestly. I liked their relationship and although they had some rough patches in their past, I still could feel their deep-rooted connection.
Laurel has a beautiful writing style, it was fun, sad, and entertaining the whole way through. I got super-invested in the story and didn't want to put it down most of the time, because I simply had to know which way the story was going, and what was going to happen next. If you like chick-lit and contemporary dramas, I would definitely recommend this book to you, it was entertaining from start to finish.
June 26, 2011
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 was, they were WRONG!!!! (So wrong, that I bet if you read it, it didn't even catch your attention) 2. The flipping story line. I like this in a story. When it's done correctly, it keeps the reader engaged at a level that a straight, one person point of view book, cannot.
This is a good book. Not your typical 'chick-lit' fluff...whatever that is. It deals with some tough issues, and it throws in some interesting twists. Samantha makes some interesting choices. in some ways, I believe she is more complex than Melody. I had a bit of trouble with Samantha's mother/father/their twisted relationship issues, but that's me.
Right now the Kindle edition is $2.99 & the paperback comes in at under six bucks! Quite a good deal for a solid read. Get your copy today & weigh in on a rising star, before she jets off into the Milky Way.
This is a good book. Not your typical 'chick-lit' fluff...whatever that is. It deals with some tough issues, and it throws in some interesting twists. Samantha makes some interesting choices. in some ways, I believe she is more complex than Melody. I had a bit of trouble with Samantha's mother/father/their twisted relationship issues, but that's me.
Right now the Kindle edition is $2.99 & the paperback comes in at under six bucks! Quite a good deal for a solid read. Get your copy today & weigh in on a rising star, before she jets off into the Milky Way.
June 26, 2011
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 was, they were WRONG!!!! (So wrong, that I bet if you read it, it didn't even catch your attention) 2. The flipping story line. I like this in a story. When it's done correctly, it keeps the reader engaged at a level that a straight, one person point of view book, cannot.
This is a good book. Not your typical 'chick-lit' fluff...whatever that is. It deals with some tough issues, and it throws in some interesting twists. Samantha makes some interesting choices. in some ways, I believe she is more complex than Melody. I had a bit of trouble with Samantha's mother/father/their twisted relationship issues, but that's me.
Right now the Kindle edition is $2.99 & the paperback comes in at under six bucks! Quite a good deal for a solid read. Get your copy today & weigh in on a rising star, before she jets off into the Milky Way.
This is a good book. Not your typical 'chick-lit' fluff...whatever that is. It deals with some tough issues, and it throws in some interesting twists. Samantha makes some interesting choices. in some ways, I believe she is more complex than Melody. I had a bit of trouble with Samantha's mother/father/their twisted relationship issues, but that's me.
Right now the Kindle edition is $2.99 & the paperback comes in at under six bucks! Quite a good deal for a solid read. Get your copy today & weigh in on a rising star, before she jets off into the Milky Way.
October 10, 2011
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 edge and you feel genuinely sorry for both the women involved.
Definitely recommend this book to all the women out there, you'll love Laurel's style and seek out more of her novels. She is a rare talent in Indie Authors today!
Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud / http://www.greatmindsliterarycommunit...
Definitely recommend this book to all the women out there, you'll love Laurel's style and seek out more of her novels. She is a rare talent in Indie Authors today!
Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud / http://www.greatmindsliterarycommunit...
July 6, 2012
RATING: 3.75 HUMAN NATURE STARS!!
Starring In The Movie Of My Life, was not at all what I was expecting. This book is a rollercoaster of emotions for me. I think it is well written, and I don’t want to deter anybody from reading it, as it is very well written, but I had a hard time with Melody’s character.
I do realise and understand that she was written to be this manipulative piece of work. She almost redeemed herself in my eyes at the end...almost. I realise she is only eighteen and her mother is a piece of work and a terrible role model, but, I just thought the girl was just too full on . For a girl of this age to decide to make a bet with her mum that if she could break up a marriage, then her mum would allow her to go to college. Melody manipulates everybody around her, she is on a mission to destroy more than one life.
This book alternates Melody’s chapter and then Samantha’s chapter. I did not enjoy Melody’s chapters. This could be excellent writing on Laurel’s behalf as she made me loathe, beyond, loathe the girl. She just did not sit well with me. Kudos to Laurel for making me feel this deep emotion for her character. I can always find good in the bad, but this girl is a rotten tomato. I have zip sympathy for her and quite frankly Carter should be running as far and as fast as his legs will take him.
Samantha is thirty five and her husband Nathan Linden is twenty five years old, so she has a bag of insecurities over her shoulder, banging away. Would they have been ok in their marriage if Melody hadn’t have zeroed in........ possibly not. But who knows?
Collin is the ex of Samantha and he lives upstairs in the apartment building he manages that his family owns. He isn’t short of a dollar. Does he spend it wisely??? He has a very addictive nature and as this story unfolds, his life prior to Samantha marrying Nathan starts to be revealed to the reader. We find how much Sam and Collin had, and how much of their relationship was very destructive for years.
Sam has a good heart but at the age of thirty five, she has far from got herself sorted and settled. She works at Bravo Video , while hubby Nate is a school teacher. This is where Melody can dangle herself until her “How to get a guy to leave his significant other for you” , plan works.
Melody uses her friend Kelsey, she manipulates and destroys. She was written well for me to feel such loathing for her. I do despise this type of personality, maybe, that is my problem with this book as I know somebody who is the queen of manipulation and has been such a thorn in my side for many, many years.
There is a side story going on within the Melody, Nate and Samantha sandwich. Samantha is being selfless and helping out her friends Jane and Jake. Things aren’t going swimmingly there either.
This story is quite intense and sometimes I had to come up for air as these characters get their fair share of grief and burden. I had a hard time trying to decide who I should feel sorry for and who shouldn’t have let themselves be taken in. But at the end of it all, we are all only human and we are flawed. We make mistakes and we ask for forgiveness. It takes a certain type of person to forgive a sack full of baggage, but sometimes it is worth hanging in there , even if the journey is very , very rocky.
Sometimes it takes some of us in life a lot longer to get to their happy ending. There is a lot of grief , heartache and mistakes we must make along the way to finally find it.
Starring In The Movie Of My Life, was not at all what I was expecting. This book is a rollercoaster of emotions for me. I think it is well written, and I don’t want to deter anybody from reading it, as it is very well written, but I had a hard time with Melody’s character.
I do realise and understand that she was written to be this manipulative piece of work. She almost redeemed herself in my eyes at the end...almost. I realise she is only eighteen and her mother is a piece of work and a terrible role model, but, I just thought the girl was just too full on . For a girl of this age to decide to make a bet with her mum that if she could break up a marriage, then her mum would allow her to go to college. Melody manipulates everybody around her, she is on a mission to destroy more than one life.
This book alternates Melody’s chapter and then Samantha’s chapter. I did not enjoy Melody’s chapters. This could be excellent writing on Laurel’s behalf as she made me loathe, beyond, loathe the girl. She just did not sit well with me. Kudos to Laurel for making me feel this deep emotion for her character. I can always find good in the bad, but this girl is a rotten tomato. I have zip sympathy for her and quite frankly Carter should be running as far and as fast as his legs will take him.
Samantha is thirty five and her husband Nathan Linden is twenty five years old, so she has a bag of insecurities over her shoulder, banging away. Would they have been ok in their marriage if Melody hadn’t have zeroed in........ possibly not. But who knows?
Collin is the ex of Samantha and he lives upstairs in the apartment building he manages that his family owns. He isn’t short of a dollar. Does he spend it wisely??? He has a very addictive nature and as this story unfolds, his life prior to Samantha marrying Nathan starts to be revealed to the reader. We find how much Sam and Collin had, and how much of their relationship was very destructive for years.
Sam has a good heart but at the age of thirty five, she has far from got herself sorted and settled. She works at Bravo Video , while hubby Nate is a school teacher. This is where Melody can dangle herself until her “How to get a guy to leave his significant other for you” , plan works.
Melody uses her friend Kelsey, she manipulates and destroys. She was written well for me to feel such loathing for her. I do despise this type of personality, maybe, that is my problem with this book as I know somebody who is the queen of manipulation and has been such a thorn in my side for many, many years.
There is a side story going on within the Melody, Nate and Samantha sandwich. Samantha is being selfless and helping out her friends Jane and Jake. Things aren’t going swimmingly there either.
This story is quite intense and sometimes I had to come up for air as these characters get their fair share of grief and burden. I had a hard time trying to decide who I should feel sorry for and who shouldn’t have let themselves be taken in. But at the end of it all, we are all only human and we are flawed. We make mistakes and we ask for forgiveness. It takes a certain type of person to forgive a sack full of baggage, but sometimes it is worth hanging in there , even if the journey is very , very rocky.
Sometimes it takes some of us in life a lot longer to get to their happy ending. There is a lot of grief , heartache and mistakes we must make along the way to finally find it.
October 8, 2022
This story centers around two women. Samantha is a 35 year old with a good heart, but next to no ambition, and a lot of hang ups. She's never had a career, has had a disastrous on-off relationship with her ex, Collin, for many years, and still seems to be hung up on him, despite her growing denial that she's not. She doesn't want to be a mother but is newly pregnant... as a surrogate for her best friend about which she is making her first film.
Melody is a cold manipulative 18 year old high school senior with a careless mother and a lot of hang ups of her own. What Sam and Melody have in common is Nathan, Sam's new 25 year old husband, and Melody's English teacher. Melody has become oddly attached and obsessed with Nate after he saves her from being raped at a dance at the high school, and schemes to get him to leave Sam for him. While Sam loves Nate, there is still that lingering doubt about Collin, who also happens to manage their apartment building.
The story is told in alternating chapters between Melody and Samantha. Both of these women are deeply flawed but striving for love, redemption, and acceptance... it just happens to be from the same man.
This story was so unexpected. I thought it was going to be light and fluffy, which is totally a good thing, but it was dark and serious, an even better thing in the right circumstances. These were the right circumstances.
These characters and their issues were so... I don't even know... wild? Intense? Fascinating? Yes, let's go with fascinating. I was sucked into their stories from the very first page in which Melody is nearly raped then rescued by Nate. For me, Melody was a difficult character, in that she was a total jerk and a master manipulator, and I didn't like her, yet, my heart went out to her... sometimes. Even though I didn't like her, I was captivated by her nonsense, total disregard for other people, and sense of entitlement.
Sam was also frustrating in the sense that she has no idea what she wants, acts on total impulse, and lacks ambition. But I liked her. She was a good person and I felt a lot of sympathy for her. Her chapters are interesting because they flash a lot from past to present so that we end up getting the back story on her and her ex, Collin, while also seeing her present life with Nate.
What's funny is that while I was reading Melody's chapters, I couldn't wait to get back to Sam's story, and when I was reading Sam's chapters, I couldn't wait to get back to Melody's story. That's how great this book was; I was totally captivated by both characters and raced through the pages to get to the next chapter.
Not only was the story line SO. GOOD. The writing was, too. Laurel writes in a slow, subtle, quiet way. It's hard to explain, but it's excellent and realistic, from both viewpoints.
I loved this book and I am now dying to read Laurel's first novel, Following My Toes. I've been really lucky lately, in that my last few reads have been amazing (especially this one, and Exposure by Therese Fowler). Don't let the female protags scare you off if you're not into women's lit or chick lit. In fact, I would say this book is not chick lit. This book has wide appeal, and is a great read for all fans of contemporary fiction and drama. I highly recommend it.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Melody is a cold manipulative 18 year old high school senior with a careless mother and a lot of hang ups of her own. What Sam and Melody have in common is Nathan, Sam's new 25 year old husband, and Melody's English teacher. Melody has become oddly attached and obsessed with Nate after he saves her from being raped at a dance at the high school, and schemes to get him to leave Sam for him. While Sam loves Nate, there is still that lingering doubt about Collin, who also happens to manage their apartment building.
The story is told in alternating chapters between Melody and Samantha. Both of these women are deeply flawed but striving for love, redemption, and acceptance... it just happens to be from the same man.
This story was so unexpected. I thought it was going to be light and fluffy, which is totally a good thing, but it was dark and serious, an even better thing in the right circumstances. These were the right circumstances.
These characters and their issues were so... I don't even know... wild? Intense? Fascinating? Yes, let's go with fascinating. I was sucked into their stories from the very first page in which Melody is nearly raped then rescued by Nate. For me, Melody was a difficult character, in that she was a total jerk and a master manipulator, and I didn't like her, yet, my heart went out to her... sometimes. Even though I didn't like her, I was captivated by her nonsense, total disregard for other people, and sense of entitlement.
Sam was also frustrating in the sense that she has no idea what she wants, acts on total impulse, and lacks ambition. But I liked her. She was a good person and I felt a lot of sympathy for her. Her chapters are interesting because they flash a lot from past to present so that we end up getting the back story on her and her ex, Collin, while also seeing her present life with Nate.
What's funny is that while I was reading Melody's chapters, I couldn't wait to get back to Sam's story, and when I was reading Sam's chapters, I couldn't wait to get back to Melody's story. That's how great this book was; I was totally captivated by both characters and raced through the pages to get to the next chapter.
Not only was the story line SO. GOOD. The writing was, too. Laurel writes in a slow, subtle, quiet way. It's hard to explain, but it's excellent and realistic, from both viewpoints.
I loved this book and I am now dying to read Laurel's first novel, Following My Toes. I've been really lucky lately, in that my last few reads have been amazing (especially this one, and Exposure by Therese Fowler). Don't let the female protags scare you off if you're not into women's lit or chick lit. In fact, I would say this book is not chick lit. This book has wide appeal, and is a great read for all fans of contemporary fiction and drama. I highly recommend it.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2012
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 quickly became engrossed in the novel and tied up in the complications of these character’s lives.
In my opinion one sign of a great novel, or a great author, is the ability to create characters that not only force me to care about them, but make me forget that this is a work of fiction. They need to feel real and authentic for me to completely lose myself and the fact that Osterkamp was able to do this so well puts her at the top of my list of favorite authors from 2011. Melody was a villain; a manipulative, immature and selfish villain who was also raised by a manipulative, immature and selfish mother who provided her with no moral compass. As the novel went on I went from hating Melody to feeling sad for her and the path that her life taken. Sam was also one of those characters who I started off disliking. She seemed so lost and aimless, two qualities that I do not usually appreciate in a main character. As the novel moved on and I got to know her and her past a little better I actually started to appreciate her more. My favorite parts of the novel involving Sam were the flashbacks into her past – it made the person she was in the present make so much more sense.
The way that Osterkamp tied the two storylines together was brilliant and I truly was not expecting to find so much depth and emotion based on the book description. This book is about so much more than a high school girl trying to get her young teacher to fall in love with her. Not only does she write about Melody’s obsession with her teacher, but readers are also given a glimpse into the past that caused Melody to behave the way she did. I loved how Melody grew as a person towards the end of the novel and was really happy with the direction that she was headed in. I wasn’t as thrilled with Sam’s ending, it felt a little obvious and I think I would have preferred to see Sam standing on her own two feet for once. It started to look as though she was moving in the direction of becoming a stronger, more confidant woman and I felt like the ending diminished that a little bit.
Starring in the Movie of my Life is a truly engaging read that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys dramas with well fleshed out characters and storylines. The narration from multiple points of view was done extremely well and really allowed the readers to get inside the heads of these two very different women. It was impossible to not become engrossed in their stories and root for a happy ending for each of them.
I received a review copy of Starring in the Movie of my Life from the author (thank you!!!) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars, originally posted on www.handsandhome.ca
In my opinion one sign of a great novel, or a great author, is the ability to create characters that not only force me to care about them, but make me forget that this is a work of fiction. They need to feel real and authentic for me to completely lose myself and the fact that Osterkamp was able to do this so well puts her at the top of my list of favorite authors from 2011. Melody was a villain; a manipulative, immature and selfish villain who was also raised by a manipulative, immature and selfish mother who provided her with no moral compass. As the novel went on I went from hating Melody to feeling sad for her and the path that her life taken. Sam was also one of those characters who I started off disliking. She seemed so lost and aimless, two qualities that I do not usually appreciate in a main character. As the novel moved on and I got to know her and her past a little better I actually started to appreciate her more. My favorite parts of the novel involving Sam were the flashbacks into her past – it made the person she was in the present make so much more sense.
The way that Osterkamp tied the two storylines together was brilliant and I truly was not expecting to find so much depth and emotion based on the book description. This book is about so much more than a high school girl trying to get her young teacher to fall in love with her. Not only does she write about Melody’s obsession with her teacher, but readers are also given a glimpse into the past that caused Melody to behave the way she did. I loved how Melody grew as a person towards the end of the novel and was really happy with the direction that she was headed in. I wasn’t as thrilled with Sam’s ending, it felt a little obvious and I think I would have preferred to see Sam standing on her own two feet for once. It started to look as though she was moving in the direction of becoming a stronger, more confidant woman and I felt like the ending diminished that a little bit.
Starring in the Movie of my Life is a truly engaging read that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys dramas with well fleshed out characters and storylines. The narration from multiple points of view was done extremely well and really allowed the readers to get inside the heads of these two very different women. It was impossible to not become engrossed in their stories and root for a happy ending for each of them.
I received a review copy of Starring in the Movie of my Life from the author (thank you!!!) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars, originally posted on www.handsandhome.ca
June 14, 2011
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 husband is a high school teacher who being a nice guy saves Melody from being attacked. That one event sets the story in motion. While each character is living their role in life they are also moving the story along through their thoughts and emotions. Samantha is married but still has an attachment to her ex, Collin. Melody is a senior with a not so good home life. The reader understands the characters motivations and information is given to the reader at just the right time. Just when I would start to question something the answer was there. The author tied everything up quite nicely to give the reader a satisfying ending. I liked that there were references to movies but they did not take away from the story. Sometimes a movie was part of a past memory that was being told. For example, Samantha recalls the first time she met Collin. It was at a showing of When Harry Met Sally. Sometimes in the story Samantha makes comparisons to what is happening in her life to what happens in the same situations in movies. The story made me think about how we all are starring in the role of a lifetime. Our lives are our roles. We can make the story of our lives anything we want by the choices that are made and that is just what each character learns throughout the book.
What I didn’t like:
I was secondhand embarrassed while reading some of the book. It’s when someone is doing something they should be embarrassed about but they aren’t but you feel embarrassed for them. That is how I felt about Melody a lot of the time. Even though Melody is a teenager I felt that what she was doing was over the top. I understand that her actions were what made the story work but I just wanted to knock some sense into the girl. I didn’t like the character of Nate Linden. He seemed to me to be a push over. It was like he had no control over his life and just let things happen to him. I actually started rooting for Samantha’s ex Collin. Even with his flaws he was more endearing to me than Nate Linden.
This book was one of my first summer reads and I was not disappointed. It had a great story line with great characters. I actually left the book thinking about my life and where I am at. That’s what the characters in the book did at the end. After the fall out they stepped back, looked at life and made the necessary changes to get where they wanted.
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 husband is a high school teacher who being a nice guy saves Melody from being attacked. That one event sets the story in motion. While each character is living their role in life they are also moving the story along through their thoughts and emotions. Samantha is married but still has an attachment to her ex, Collin. Melody is a senior with a not so good home life. The reader understands the characters motivations and information is given to the reader at just the right time. Just when I would start to question something the answer was there. The author tied everything up quite nicely to give the reader a satisfying ending. I liked that there were references to movies but they did not take away from the story. Sometimes a movie was part of a past memory that was being told. For example, Samantha recalls the first time she met Collin. It was at a showing of When Harry Met Sally. Sometimes in the story Samantha makes comparisons to what is happening in her life to what happens in the same situations in movies. The story made me think about how we all are starring in the role of a lifetime. Our lives are our roles. We can make the story of our lives anything we want by the choices that are made and that is just what each character learns throughout the book.
What I didn’t like:
I was secondhand embarrassed while reading some of the book. It’s when someone is doing something they should be embarrassed about but they aren’t but you feel embarrassed for them. That is how I felt about Melody a lot of the time. Even though Melody is a teenager I felt that what she was doing was over the top. I understand that her actions were what made the story work but I just wanted to knock some sense into the girl. I didn’t like the character of Nate Linden. He seemed to me to be a push over. It was like he had no control over his life and just let things happen to him. I actually started rooting for Samantha’s ex Collin. Even with his flaws he was more endearing to me than Nate Linden.
This book was one of my first summer reads and I was not disappointed. It had a great story line with great characters. I actually left the book thinking about my life and where I am at. That’s what the characters in the book did at the end. After the fall out they stepped back, looked at life and made the necessary changes to get where they wanted.
August 12, 2016
Of Unputdownable Mothers & Flicks
Starring in the Movie of My Life by Laurel Osterkamp is a sparkling book. Matter of fact, I didn’t want this coming of age story to end. The novel is about Melody and Samantha who travel through high school and proto-adulthood duking it out, conniving, and dreaming, their loves and lives coming together at pivotal points in the story, influenced by an older generation before choosing their own ways. There are surprises on every page, I'm not kidding, events I never would have predicted, and yet they were spot on and made the book unforgettable for me. The story is told against a cinematic backdrop that I loved and the tone and writing are perfect, mirroring and creating mood.
The structure of the story is a real beauty with a unique build, a game-changer like Gehry architecture, but I had a hard time deciding who the main character is, although why I bothered is beyond me. I settled for two. Both Melody and Samantha—and let’s not forget their mothers—have starring roles, but it’s Samantha—Sam, the almost-mother, the film-buff—who owns the story’s heartbeat and who thinks of life in terms of the flicks she’s seen or watches during the book.
Having two main characters gives Starring in the Movie of My Life a greater resonance and depth. First it’s Samantha’s turn to tell the story, then it’s Melody’s. Sometimes we get the same information but from two different points of view. And the stories of these women intertwine as well as entertain. There are other players who change, too—Nathan and Collin, for instance—and I liked them both immensely as well as Sam’s mother who makes a cameo later on in the novel. Oh yes, the story’s about mothers, too, and what they do to us and how we, despite our best efforts, mirror them. Or do we?
I could go on, but Laurel Osterkamp is a major storyteller who’s not afraid of themes and change and having good characters do nasty things. So if you love an unputdownable story, one that sticks to your brain and changes you, you won’t want to miss this read.
Starring in the Movie of My Life by Laurel Osterkamp is a sparkling book. Matter of fact, I didn’t want this coming of age story to end. The novel is about Melody and Samantha who travel through high school and proto-adulthood duking it out, conniving, and dreaming, their loves and lives coming together at pivotal points in the story, influenced by an older generation before choosing their own ways. There are surprises on every page, I'm not kidding, events I never would have predicted, and yet they were spot on and made the book unforgettable for me. The story is told against a cinematic backdrop that I loved and the tone and writing are perfect, mirroring and creating mood.
The structure of the story is a real beauty with a unique build, a game-changer like Gehry architecture, but I had a hard time deciding who the main character is, although why I bothered is beyond me. I settled for two. Both Melody and Samantha—and let’s not forget their mothers—have starring roles, but it’s Samantha—Sam, the almost-mother, the film-buff—who owns the story’s heartbeat and who thinks of life in terms of the flicks she’s seen or watches during the book.
Having two main characters gives Starring in the Movie of My Life a greater resonance and depth. First it’s Samantha’s turn to tell the story, then it’s Melody’s. Sometimes we get the same information but from two different points of view. And the stories of these women intertwine as well as entertain. There are other players who change, too—Nathan and Collin, for instance—and I liked them both immensely as well as Sam’s mother who makes a cameo later on in the novel. Oh yes, the story’s about mothers, too, and what they do to us and how we, despite our best efforts, mirror them. Or do we?
I could go on, but Laurel Osterkamp is a major storyteller who’s not afraid of themes and change and having good characters do nasty things. So if you love an unputdownable story, one that sticks to your brain and changes you, you won’t want to miss this read.
October 25, 2011
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 for her ex-boyfriend, Collin-who just happens to be the manager of the apartment complex where her and her husband live.
Melody is a high school senior looking to escape her reality. Melody doesn’t have much going on in the friend department. The one friend she has is Kelsey and Melody really is more interested in using her ‘friend’ than being a friend. Her relationship with her mother is dysfunctional to say the least and as the novel progresses the more manipulative Melody becomes.
These two stories collide one night during a high school dance when Melody is almost raped. Her teacher Mr. Linden comes to Melody’s rescue and she now has her heart set on attaining him. The only problem is, he is married to Samantha. Melody doesn’t seem to think that is going to be much of a problem once she enacts her five point plan to make him hers. As Melody chips away at making Nate Linden hers, Samantha is going through her own real life drama with her friend in an accident and her dad with a medical issue. Sam’s distractions and baggage makes Melody’s plan all the more easier to implement.
Starring in the Movie of My Life is a story of flawed characters looking to find happiness in their not so perfect lives. The book has dark moments and witty, fun moments. I never really connected to any of the main characters, but I could emphasize with their struggles. I loved how all the characters in the novel have flaws even one that I was expecting. Even the end was unexpected, in my mind. I didn’t always know where the story was going to go and I found it refreshing. Let’s be honest that is how real life works!
Melody is a high school senior looking to escape her reality. Melody doesn’t have much going on in the friend department. The one friend she has is Kelsey and Melody really is more interested in using her ‘friend’ than being a friend. Her relationship with her mother is dysfunctional to say the least and as the novel progresses the more manipulative Melody becomes.
These two stories collide one night during a high school dance when Melody is almost raped. Her teacher Mr. Linden comes to Melody’s rescue and she now has her heart set on attaining him. The only problem is, he is married to Samantha. Melody doesn’t seem to think that is going to be much of a problem once she enacts her five point plan to make him hers. As Melody chips away at making Nate Linden hers, Samantha is going through her own real life drama with her friend in an accident and her dad with a medical issue. Sam’s distractions and baggage makes Melody’s plan all the more easier to implement.
Starring in the Movie of My Life is a story of flawed characters looking to find happiness in their not so perfect lives. The book has dark moments and witty, fun moments. I never really connected to any of the main characters, but I could emphasize with their struggles. I loved how all the characters in the novel have flaws even one that I was expecting. Even the end was unexpected, in my mind. I didn’t always know where the story was going to go and I found it refreshing. Let’s be honest that is how real life works!
November 19, 2013
This is my second time reading Laurel Osterkamp. I read her latest novel, The Holdout, earlier this year and I really enjoyed it (Read my review of The Holdout here). Laurel kindly offered me the chance to review any of her previous novels and I'm so happy that I chose Starring in the Movie of My Life. This book was great and I could not put it down!
I liked Samantha from the very first pages of the book. Melody, well, that was a different story. While I felt badly for Melody's difficult home life, I had a hard time identifying with her. She was so cold, calculating, and practically unfeeling. At times I thought she might actually be a sociopath!
Samantha and Melody find themselves connected by their relationships with Nathan. Samantha and Nathan are married and Nathan is Melody's high school English teacher. Melody devises this plan to make Nathan fall in love with her, and starts to manipulate him and those around her. Meanwhile, Samantha is trying to find her way as an adult and make peace with her past.
This book was so engaging. The characters were very well-developed and the plot was full of emotional drama. I started and finished Starring in the Movie of My Life in a day. There was no way I was going to wait to see how the story ended.
Osterkamp uses the alternating points-of-view narration style and it worked perfectly for this story. I almost wish Nathan would have had his own chapters, but adding a third perspective can slow a book down, in my opinion.
Besides the love story and the drama Melody loves to create, another theme of this book was surrogate motherhood. I loved that element of the story! It added another layer of depth to the plot and made me fall even more in love with Samantha's character.
I was so happy with how the story ended. It wasn't the perfect ending I had envisioned, but it was so appropriate for this book, and realistic without being depressing. I really enjoyed Starring in the Movie of My Life and look forward to reading more from Laurel Osterkamp!
I liked Samantha from the very first pages of the book. Melody, well, that was a different story. While I felt badly for Melody's difficult home life, I had a hard time identifying with her. She was so cold, calculating, and practically unfeeling. At times I thought she might actually be a sociopath!
Samantha and Melody find themselves connected by their relationships with Nathan. Samantha and Nathan are married and Nathan is Melody's high school English teacher. Melody devises this plan to make Nathan fall in love with her, and starts to manipulate him and those around her. Meanwhile, Samantha is trying to find her way as an adult and make peace with her past.
This book was so engaging. The characters were very well-developed and the plot was full of emotional drama. I started and finished Starring in the Movie of My Life in a day. There was no way I was going to wait to see how the story ended.
Osterkamp uses the alternating points-of-view narration style and it worked perfectly for this story. I almost wish Nathan would have had his own chapters, but adding a third perspective can slow a book down, in my opinion.
Besides the love story and the drama Melody loves to create, another theme of this book was surrogate motherhood. I loved that element of the story! It added another layer of depth to the plot and made me fall even more in love with Samantha's character.
I was so happy with how the story ended. It wasn't the perfect ending I had envisioned, but it was so appropriate for this book, and realistic without being depressing. I really enjoyed Starring in the Movie of My Life and look forward to reading more from Laurel Osterkamp!
July 25, 2012
Starring in the Movie of My Life is one frustrating read, but in a good way. The alternating story between Samantha and Melody definitely keeps the story interesting. What was most compelling about this book for me was that I was able to both hate and feel sorry for a character at the same time. Melody wasn’t a character I rooted for, but I also understood how she became who she was and felt sorry for her. I found Samantha likable in the beginning for being lost. My favorite parts were finding out about Samantha’s past. I really liked her connection with her ex and loved finding out more about her life.
Osterkemp writes a story that is much deeper than what I initially thought. The story isn’t just a basic love story, but more about what happens when we decide to take certain paths in life. Showing that all our life comes down to are the choices we make. Though the characters did grow towards the end, I can’t say they all redeemed themselves after all that they put other people through. However, the fact that there were very flawed characters is what really added depth to the author’s writing.
Starring in the Movie of My Life is for anyone who enjoys a story with really thoroughly fleshed out characters. The alternating character point of view makes for a really interesting read that really lets a reader jump into the female mind. If you’re looking for a story that is throughly engrossing, even when somewhat frustrating, this Laurel Osterkamp novel is definitely worth checking out. Thanks to the author and SupaGurl Tours for providing me a copy for review!
Osterkemp writes a story that is much deeper than what I initially thought. The story isn’t just a basic love story, but more about what happens when we decide to take certain paths in life. Showing that all our life comes down to are the choices we make. Though the characters did grow towards the end, I can’t say they all redeemed themselves after all that they put other people through. However, the fact that there were very flawed characters is what really added depth to the author’s writing.
Starring in the Movie of My Life is for anyone who enjoys a story with really thoroughly fleshed out characters. The alternating character point of view makes for a really interesting read that really lets a reader jump into the female mind. If you’re looking for a story that is throughly engrossing, even when somewhat frustrating, this Laurel Osterkamp novel is definitely worth checking out. Thanks to the author and SupaGurl Tours for providing me a copy for review!
April 29, 2015
The title caught my attention but the story held it from the first chapter. Written in an unusual way, the author tells an intertwining story of two women. Melody is an 18 year old high school student who wants to go to college and get out of the unhappy "movie" of her life. But she also longs for affection. She sets out to get it by manipulating a teacher who shows her kindness. She is convinced that she can get him to leave his wife. Melody is an arrogant, unloved, confused daughter of an equally flawed mother who encourages her in this endeavor simply to prove a point. When Melody's actions destroy the career of the teacher she loses far more than she gains but her mother has a plan. Samantha, the wife of the young teacher, has her own issues including ambivalence about the relationship with her husband and her former husband. She hold plenty of secrets that threaten to destroy her and her relationship. But she is seeking purpose and meaning to her life. She sets out to realize this by helping a friend fulfill her dreams. The book is filled with characters with personal drama. There are some very touching moments and others that will make you angry. A good story will do that. The flow was a little confusing until I settled into the authors writing style. In my opinion the book is a well told story of longing, disappointment, personal turmoil, forgiveness and finally hope. I enjoyed it.
April 2, 2011
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 married. Nate saved Melody from being raped. She has an unstable mother who makes a bet with Melody that if she can get Mr. Linden, her English teacher, to leave his wife for her, Melody's mother will let her go to college. Melody soon begins plotting to get her teacher to fall for her.
I greatly enjoyed this book, and hope to see more of Laurel Osterkemp.
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 married. Nate saved Melody from being raped. She has an unstable mother who makes a bet with Melody that if she can get Mr. Linden, her English teacher, to leave his wife for her, Melody's mother will let her go to college. Melody soon begins plotting to get her teacher to fall for her.
I greatly enjoyed this book, and hope to see more of Laurel Osterkemp.
July 12, 2011
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 discovered that after all, she had a good heart. I found myself changing my mind completely about Melody.
In the story, Sam and Melody needed redemption. In the end, however, I think it was Nathan who needed to be redeemed. I felt sorry for him. He seemed to be the victim of it all and did not deserve any of it. He was a good man and was manipulated by not just Melody, but also Sam in my view. Whilst I loved Sam at first, in the end I couldn't understand what she was doing - making the story even more riveting and interesting.
There were typo errors which distracted my reading but over all, with intriguing characters, combined with well-woven, dark, murky, and sometimes even perplexing secrets within the storyline, I can say this is a good book.
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 discovered that after all, she had a good heart. I found myself changing my mind completely about Melody.
In the story, Sam and Melody needed redemption. In the end, however, I think it was Nathan who needed to be redeemed. I felt sorry for him. He seemed to be the victim of it all and did not deserve any of it. He was a good man and was manipulated by not just Melody, but also Sam in my view. Whilst I loved Sam at first, in the end I couldn't understand what she was doing - making the story even more riveting and interesting.
There were typo errors which distracted my reading but over all, with intriguing characters, combined with well-woven, dark, murky, and sometimes even perplexing secrets within the storyline, I can say this is a good book.
May 7, 2011
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 foster one? Sam was easy to love and had a generous soul but she was in a state of arrested development floating along, making impulsive decisions without introspection. This is an engaging tale of self-discovery and growth from both perspectives.
After reading the book, I recommended it to my book club because both women were such compelling well-drawn characters, and everyone enjoyed the read!! I highly recommend reading "Starring in the Movie of My Life".
After reading the book, I recommended it to my book club because both women were such compelling well-drawn characters, and everyone enjoyed the read!! I highly recommend reading "Starring in the Movie of My Life".
April 5, 2011
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 finished it I went out and bought Laurel Osterkamp's first novel "Following My Toes" and loved it too!
June 3, 2013
I read the blurb for this book and thought it sounded like something I wouldn't enjoy. I resisted buying it for quite a while, but I had loved several other books by this author and finally succumbed to its call. This book was not what I was expecting at all, with a storyline that went places I had not imagined. Ms Osterkamp's writing had me turning pages for more, rather than setting the book aside. I was completely won over by the realistic characters and their complex motivations, all revealed through the mature and accomplished writing of the author. Loved it.
March 1, 2011
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.
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July 7, 2011Read our Review:
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Want to Read
July 30, 2011I can't believe I forgot I got this one in the mail! Ahhhhhh! It looks amazing! Review upcoming!
August 20, 2011
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.
September 14, 2013
Solid writing and nice style made it entertaining, but the plot was fairly predictable.
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