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True Brit
Winning the United Kingdom’s favorite singing contest is a challenge for half-Afghani Pasha Trueman. He doesn’t have the best voice, but success would be life-changing. His strategy is simple—he’ll make the British public love him.
Ex-soldier Ed Britten has a different agenda. Winning means he’ll keep a promise made after a deadly Afghan ambush. His voice is his weapon, but he leaves his heart unguarded.
Ed and Pasha’s discovery that the contest isn’t a fair fight calls for creative tactics. Staging a fake love story could bring victory, only there’s more at stake than the prestigious first prize. If winning means surrendering each other, they could both end up losing.
Ex-soldier Ed Britten has a different agenda. Winning means he’ll keep a promise made after a deadly Afghan ambush. His voice is his weapon, but he leaves his heart unguarded.
Ed and Pasha’s discovery that the contest isn’t a fair fight calls for creative tactics. Staging a fake love story could bring victory, only there’s more at stake than the prestigious first prize. If winning means surrendering each other, they could both end up losing.
200 pages, ebook
First published February 18, 2015
34 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
October 20, 2015
trauma, and the art of getting on with it.
i read this during a tough time.
a breakup.
angst and agony and the terrible power of silence.
the works.
so maybe i had trouble focusing, because the beginning confused me. i couldn't sort out what i was "seeing."
but once i did—i don't think i looked up from my ipad for a day and a half except to relieve myself or to stub-out a cigarette.
con riley is one of my all-time favorite authors, so there was already a solid chance this book would work for me. i think she's brilliant, and i think she can write circles around me.
but i wasn't expecting this.
i mean—it's about a reality tv singing competition, for fuck's sake.
but it was beautiful. and fun. and wildly, gorgeously, comprehensively romantic.
someone once said of one of my own stories that it "healed" a thing that had been broken—a thing that had been bothering her for years.
i was in pain. and i needed to have that pain healed.
to go on.
but i was struggling.
how could he do what he's done?
how could he love me if he could just leave
never look back
how can he shut me out without hurting for me like i hurt for him?
less than a stranger.
i was less than an enemy.
how could i be nothing to him?
how could he move on so fast?
yeah.
i know, i know.
the full aria. all day, always in the back of my mind—how. how.
how.
i had no motivation.
i cried all the time.
grief would eat me alive at night, and during the day it would hide behind my bruised eyes to make a liar out of me.
waiting to come out and play.
but this book healed that.
a little.
it really, really did.
the beginning's terrific, after that bit that confused me. i was so excited, and happy to meet these characters, and already invested in them.
and just when i thought it was smooth sailing up the river HEA:
this book broke me wide open, right where i was already hurt.
i learned a thing.
learning it hurt me even worse—but.
but.
i was further down the line.
closer to recovery.
i could feel it. under this renewed pain and the ever-present ache of loss in everything i say and everything i see and everything i hear—a sense of wonder.
of insight.
of wisdom i hadn't had it in me to find by myself.
yes, healing one wound uncovered another.
one that still—so far—hasn't healed yet.
but i don't even know if i'd be this far along without this book and the humor in it and the love in it and the hope in it.
the family.
the family in it.
i'd had a loss.
i didn't know how to go on.
but a character in this book reminded me:
when you have a family... it's easier.
when you have someone to give you a hug, and make fun of bad tv with you, and just... be with you.
when you have dependents.
when you have kids.
when you have to get up, because your babies need you.
i didn't have that.
but my ex did.
and the hurt of this simple understanding cracked me so, so wide it obliterated the old pain, and took its place:
i need a family.
i am not built to be alone.
i am that guy. i need a family.
i need loyal friends and
patient-with-my-foolishness friends and
i need a man to take up all the love left over, all the love i still have to give, and keep it for me.
i was fortunate.
i had some of that.
a friend so loyal she's more like my sister, now.
she made sure.
for a little while, i didn't have to get through it alone.
but him?
...him.
he's never alone.
he has everything.
he has family and tribe and the friends who don't talk to me anymore and
sex
with someone else.
he has things to do.
me, i just had that empty place in my belly i spent all day hunched over—guarding it like i was afraid someone would come slice me open and all the grief inside me would fall out in a rush of glossy dark water.
a rush of loss.
his face reflected back at me, looking away. where his new family was.
some nights i wanted to wade into that stygian river of poison and let it take me down, down, down where the light won't reach, where there's no breath, and no tears, and no hugs, and no sex.
nothing.
nowhere.
at peace, and free of pain, at long last.
but this book brought me back.
again.
picking it up after such a cataclysm was hard.
but the story tugged me close, and then did not let me go.
what was funny before my operatic breakdown was even funnier after.
what was sexy and sweet before i realized how he'd managed
managed to turn away from me without hurting himself—
it was even hotter and even more loving, after.
the story flew right on by; i was in love with everyone; i couldn't wait to find out what happened next; and then, the finale—
oh, man.
oh, man.
so moving.
so, so moving.
bawled like a baby, and i didn't stop for a long time, because holy fuck:
catharsis.
pain too.
but such a sweet, sweet dolor.
and the most satisfying finish i could hope for.
and for just a little while
it wasn't so hard
not to think
about the one who let me go
and took his family with him.
recommended.
i read this during a tough time.
a breakup.
angst and agony and the terrible power of silence.
the works.
so maybe i had trouble focusing, because the beginning confused me. i couldn't sort out what i was "seeing."
but once i did—i don't think i looked up from my ipad for a day and a half except to relieve myself or to stub-out a cigarette.
con riley is one of my all-time favorite authors, so there was already a solid chance this book would work for me. i think she's brilliant, and i think she can write circles around me.
but i wasn't expecting this.
i mean—it's about a reality tv singing competition, for fuck's sake.
but it was beautiful. and fun. and wildly, gorgeously, comprehensively romantic.
someone once said of one of my own stories that it "healed" a thing that had been broken—a thing that had been bothering her for years.
i was in pain. and i needed to have that pain healed.
to go on.
but i was struggling.
how could he do what he's done?
how could he love me if he could just leave
never look back
how can he shut me out without hurting for me like i hurt for him?
less than a stranger.
i was less than an enemy.
how could i be nothing to him?
how could he move on so fast?
yeah.
i know, i know.
the full aria. all day, always in the back of my mind—how. how.
how.
i had no motivation.
i cried all the time.
grief would eat me alive at night, and during the day it would hide behind my bruised eyes to make a liar out of me.
waiting to come out and play.
but this book healed that.
a little.
it really, really did.
the beginning's terrific, after that bit that confused me. i was so excited, and happy to meet these characters, and already invested in them.
and just when i thought it was smooth sailing up the river HEA:
this book broke me wide open, right where i was already hurt.
i learned a thing.
learning it hurt me even worse—but.
but.
i was further down the line.
closer to recovery.
i could feel it. under this renewed pain and the ever-present ache of loss in everything i say and everything i see and everything i hear—a sense of wonder.
of insight.
of wisdom i hadn't had it in me to find by myself.
yes, healing one wound uncovered another.
one that still—so far—hasn't healed yet.
but i don't even know if i'd be this far along without this book and the humor in it and the love in it and the hope in it.
the family.
the family in it.
i'd had a loss.
i didn't know how to go on.
but a character in this book reminded me:
when you have a family... it's easier.
when you have someone to give you a hug, and make fun of bad tv with you, and just... be with you.
when you have dependents.
when you have kids.
when you have to get up, because your babies need you.
i didn't have that.
but my ex did.
and the hurt of this simple understanding cracked me so, so wide it obliterated the old pain, and took its place:
i need a family.
i am not built to be alone.
i am that guy. i need a family.
i need loyal friends and
patient-with-my-foolishness friends and
i need a man to take up all the love left over, all the love i still have to give, and keep it for me.
i was fortunate.
i had some of that.
a friend so loyal she's more like my sister, now.
she made sure.
for a little while, i didn't have to get through it alone.
but him?
...him.
he's never alone.
he has everything.
he has family and tribe and the friends who don't talk to me anymore and
sex
with someone else.
he has things to do.
me, i just had that empty place in my belly i spent all day hunched over—guarding it like i was afraid someone would come slice me open and all the grief inside me would fall out in a rush of glossy dark water.
a rush of loss.
his face reflected back at me, looking away. where his new family was.
some nights i wanted to wade into that stygian river of poison and let it take me down, down, down where the light won't reach, where there's no breath, and no tears, and no hugs, and no sex.
nothing.
nowhere.
at peace, and free of pain, at long last.
but this book brought me back.
again.
picking it up after such a cataclysm was hard.
but the story tugged me close, and then did not let me go.
what was funny before my operatic breakdown was even funnier after.
what was sexy and sweet before i realized how he'd managed
managed to turn away from me without hurting himself—
it was even hotter and even more loving, after.
the story flew right on by; i was in love with everyone; i couldn't wait to find out what happened next; and then, the finale—
oh, man.
oh, man.
so moving.
so, so moving.
bawled like a baby, and i didn't stop for a long time, because holy fuck:
catharsis.
pain too.
but such a sweet, sweet dolor.
and the most satisfying finish i could hope for.
and for just a little while
it wasn't so hard
not to think
about the one who let me go
and took his family with him.
recommended.
March 2, 2015
~3.5 stars~
This is such a beautifully written book. Con Riley has a way of capturing the essence of a situation, the flicker of emotion, the impact of a moment.
I admit I'm not a fan of television reality shows, particularly singing competitions. I tried to sit through an episode of The Voice once and despite shipping Blake and Adam, I gave up after 20 minutes.
True Brit, however, moved beyond the stage. I loved Ed and Pasha's alliance and the play on the title. And the shirts! OMG, I want those shirts!
We get both men's POV, but Pasha's stayed firmly on the surface. In many ways, Ed was a stronger character than Pasha. He was selfless and real, and willing to acknowledge his prejudices.
It took a long while for me to see the true Pasha, the man behind the winks and flirting and attention-whoring, and even then I couldn't always tell how Pasha felt about Ed, even though Ed's feeling for Pasha were obvious early on.
I would have liked a deeper exploration of Pasha's sexuality. Even at 86 percent after their first full sexual encounter, Pasha states:
"Still like boobs . . . But cock's not bad either . . Maybe I'm a little bit gay."
You just fucked a man's arse, Pash. This might be a good time to have a heart-to-heart with your dick.
Ed's mum, Mandy, and Anya were well-rounded secondary characters, and the ending was lovely.
While this wasn't a particularly steamy read and there was a loooong, slow burn between the MCs, the scene in the epilogue was worth the wait.
This is such a beautifully written book. Con Riley has a way of capturing the essence of a situation, the flicker of emotion, the impact of a moment.
I admit I'm not a fan of television reality shows, particularly singing competitions. I tried to sit through an episode of The Voice once and despite shipping Blake and Adam, I gave up after 20 minutes.
True Brit, however, moved beyond the stage. I loved Ed and Pasha's alliance and the play on the title. And the shirts! OMG, I want those shirts!
We get both men's POV, but Pasha's stayed firmly on the surface. In many ways, Ed was a stronger character than Pasha. He was selfless and real, and willing to acknowledge his prejudices.
It took a long while for me to see the true Pasha, the man behind the winks and flirting and attention-whoring, and even then I couldn't always tell how Pasha felt about Ed, even though Ed's feeling for Pasha were obvious early on.
I would have liked a deeper exploration of Pasha's sexuality. Even at 86 percent after their first full sexual encounter, Pasha states:
"Still like boobs . . . But cock's not bad either . . Maybe I'm a little bit gay."
You just fucked a man's arse, Pash. This might be a good time to have a heart-to-heart with your dick.
Ed's mum, Mandy, and Anya were well-rounded secondary characters, and the ending was lovely.
While this wasn't a particularly steamy read and there was a loooong, slow burn between the MCs, the scene in the epilogue was worth the wait.
September 1, 2016
*2.5 stars*
#truebrit #truelove #.... ugh, I just don't give a F anymore...
Honestly, when you listen to this book in audiobook form, the constant saying of the word "hashtag" just eats at your soul after awhile.
Okay, so I just want to say that I'm a BIG Con Riley fan, and I can't pinpoint if it was the book itself or the narration that made me feel a bit "meh" about this one. I've listened to a few books by Matthew Lloyd Davies, and while I think he did a decent job with the voices (even if I kept picturing Eeyore when Ed was talking), there is something about his reading style that bothers me. He is a little sing-songy or something, and it just kept me from taking this book very seriously. Because of that, though this book is pretty low steam, I had a hard time listening to the audio of the sex scenes. They just felt sort of... not real, or something. I don't think I'll listen to this narrator again.
It also doesn't help that I've read a number of fake boyfriend stories recently, even fake boyfriend stories relating to singing competitions (Love Me Tenor). The plot just felt... tired to me, and it was a little bit of a push to get myself to finish.
The book did have some bright moments. It was interesting to get to know Pasha and Ed more and what drove them. I also thought that they had nice chemistry when they were together, though I was confused about Pasha's sexuality as he described it.
I seem to be the only one raining on this parade, so feel free to ignore me. #truereview #sorrynotsorry
*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
February 10, 2015
I’m going to get this out of the way; I love Con Riley’s words. I want to marry them, bring them a scotch when they come home, rub their tired feet and have babies with them. They complete me. They thrill me. They make me laugh and turn me on, sometimes simultaneously and they just soak into my heart making me deliriously happy that I am a reader of romance.
Okay then... so I have a guilty pleasure that I don’t hide and that is my love for two boys in a band that met on a talent show, who are together (you cannot tell me otherwise) and just well, I love them. So knowing that I have this deal with them and that Ed and Pasha are going to meet on a talent show, and stage a romance… I was more than excited to read this. I got a few Larry moments as the boys took that first picture and social media went wild with the hashtagging of it. Ugh. It just hit me in the gut when I realized the title of the book (one of my secret pleasures, when the title “meaning” if you will, is revealed) and Pasha telling Ed to follow his real account, NOT the one controlled BritPop!.. I mean that right there sent every nerve into overdrive and I dove into the rest of the story and finished it in one day.
Told in the dual POV of both Pasha and Ed, we meet the men as they are being interviewed for the opening segments of the popular talent show, BritPop!. The production team wants to pin these two against one another; Ed being ex-Army and Pasha being half Afghani. It seems a natural to make these two enemies and yet they won’t play the game. Not this one at least. When the men overhear a conversation about who will be voted off next week; they decide to play their own game. A simple picture, taken by a cellphone and posted to social media soon has Ed and Pasha upping the stakes in the show and their lives.
I loved the inclusion of social media and shipping. Whether bandmates, or boys on a TV show etc. the idea of being part of a ship is fun and I was all about Ed and Pash… yeah I am too old for this ship but I was on board and prepared to go down with it.
The writing of this story is gorgeous. I have fallen in love with the author’s style and while this differs from some of her other works, what is the same is the depth of emotion. Both Ed and Pash have things in their past they have to deal with and it is why they are in the competition. It fuels them and it makes them fearful but what it gives them is a chance to develop. This story is not one of ease as these two sacrifice so much for themselves, the ones they love, the ones who have wronged them and for one another. But this story is not heavy either. The fierceness of loyalty and family, which for me is a constant theme with this author, is here but these boys, they have fun and Ed… Ed has a dirty mouth. MY LORD the man has a dirty mouth that is such a turn on it made me wanna…
Give me a second would ya? *sigh*
So these two have got themselves in a bit of hot water with the management of the show. They are not too thrilled at his new relationship between two of their contestants and having it be two men, well you know how that goes. But the way Ed and Pash deal with it, was fun and angsty and so romantic. Falling in love with the guys as they see one another as more than a ticket to the finals was beautiful and heartwarming. It wasn’t insta-love, it was true love and nothing could be better than that. Am I right?
I once again, have no idea if I have done the book justice with my review. With such beautiful words on the page filled with intense imagery from the thoughts of a first kiss to the quiet that comes over your soul to finding where you truly belong and to whom. This is going on my favorites shelf.
True Brit is a wonderful story about opening your eyes and seeing what’s right in front of you. It’s about fighting for what’s right no matter the cost and realizing that home really is where the heart is. I adored Ed and Pash’s story; a story full of honest emotion and honest end reactions, regardless of how they began. This is such a perfect book for me.
Okay then... so I have a guilty pleasure that I don’t hide and that is my love for two boys in a band that met on a talent show, who are together (you cannot tell me otherwise) and just well, I love them. So knowing that I have this deal with them and that Ed and Pasha are going to meet on a talent show, and stage a romance… I was more than excited to read this. I got a few Larry moments as the boys took that first picture and social media went wild with the hashtagging of it. Ugh. It just hit me in the gut when I realized the title of the book (one of my secret pleasures, when the title “meaning” if you will, is revealed) and Pasha telling Ed to follow his real account, NOT the one controlled BritPop!.. I mean that right there sent every nerve into overdrive and I dove into the rest of the story and finished it in one day.
Is love ever a bad thing, even it’s only in their imaginations?
Told in the dual POV of both Pasha and Ed, we meet the men as they are being interviewed for the opening segments of the popular talent show, BritPop!. The production team wants to pin these two against one another; Ed being ex-Army and Pasha being half Afghani. It seems a natural to make these two enemies and yet they won’t play the game. Not this one at least. When the men overhear a conversation about who will be voted off next week; they decide to play their own game. A simple picture, taken by a cellphone and posted to social media soon has Ed and Pasha upping the stakes in the show and their lives.
I loved the inclusion of social media and shipping. Whether bandmates, or boys on a TV show etc. the idea of being part of a ship is fun and I was all about Ed and Pash… yeah I am too old for this ship but I was on board and prepared to go down with it.
It doesn’t matter what you thought. Tell me what you see, because with ‘ships’ that’s all that matters. That’s what can save us if you agree to continue.
The writing of this story is gorgeous. I have fallen in love with the author’s style and while this differs from some of her other works, what is the same is the depth of emotion. Both Ed and Pash have things in their past they have to deal with and it is why they are in the competition. It fuels them and it makes them fearful but what it gives them is a chance to develop. This story is not one of ease as these two sacrifice so much for themselves, the ones they love, the ones who have wronged them and for one another. But this story is not heavy either. The fierceness of loyalty and family, which for me is a constant theme with this author, is here but these boys, they have fun and Ed… Ed has a dirty mouth. MY LORD the man has a dirty mouth that is such a turn on it made me wanna…
But right now, Mr. Fuck-me-hardcore-on-my-first-date, you need to shut up and slow down. This isn’t a porno or a contest. It’s real life, and it’s better.
Give me a second would ya? *sigh*
So these two have got themselves in a bit of hot water with the management of the show. They are not too thrilled at his new relationship between two of their contestants and having it be two men, well you know how that goes. But the way Ed and Pash deal with it, was fun and angsty and so romantic. Falling in love with the guys as they see one another as more than a ticket to the finals was beautiful and heartwarming. It wasn’t insta-love, it was true love and nothing could be better than that. Am I right?
Keeping him was the real prize worth holding on to.
I once again, have no idea if I have done the book justice with my review. With such beautiful words on the page filled with intense imagery from the thoughts of a first kiss to the quiet that comes over your soul to finding where you truly belong and to whom. This is going on my favorites shelf.
True Brit is a wonderful story about opening your eyes and seeing what’s right in front of you. It’s about fighting for what’s right no matter the cost and realizing that home really is where the heart is. I adored Ed and Pash’s story; a story full of honest emotion and honest end reactions, regardless of how they began. This is such a perfect book for me.
April 20, 2020
The other day, I needed a hug. And well, our current situation makes that difficult. So I did what I do when I’m feeling needy and turned to my kindle. I have been chasing all the generous book sales flying around and as I was flipping through my latest scores, Con’s named sparkled and called to me. Thank you! Gahhhh! I needed this story and I needed it now. It sucked me in, made me forget and made me smile…which is everything. It’s kind of funny that I don’t watch reality tv shows but I sure do enjoy reading about them. Here we have a UK singing contest and I was smitten from the beginning. It’s not only witty and engaging but filled with exceptional characters. Ed and Pasha quickly stole my heart and I was delighted with the strong secondary cast as well. Top things off with fake boyfriends that fall in love and we have a winner, folks!
I always enjoy Riley’s writing and this was another fine example of how she excels at her craft. The story flowed smoothly at a lovely pace and despite a few nervous moments, I knew I’d be pleased with the ending. There had to be a HEA, it was a must! *gulp* Thank you for not letting me down. The reality tv show was completely unrealistic in it’s ‘reality’ yet utterly believable with how it played out. At least I hope the behind the scenes on air aren’t that awful! I didn’t see the big finale ending the way it did but I was thrilled with it. As the family, friends, and competitors grew in numbers I wondered if I’d lose track of who belonged where. However, they were all so distinct and made their own impression on the story that I didn’t have to worry about that. It’s a singing contest, so obviously everyone wants to win. Both men desperately want to be the last man standing. And as it turns out, there are no losers here. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for more! Well, I could but the epilogue was extremely satisfying! Riley truly knows how to deliver fun romance with a few memorable one-two punches along the way.
Beware of: Opposites attract with slow simmering heat and sexual discoveries catch fire. Pretending seems simple until suddenly…it’s not. And an honored memory brings a future full of love, promise, and hope.
This book is for: If you’re looking for an escape filled with music, courage, and family, settle in for this alluring show that’s bound to leave you cheering #truebrit.
Book UNfunk
I always enjoy Riley’s writing and this was another fine example of how she excels at her craft. The story flowed smoothly at a lovely pace and despite a few nervous moments, I knew I’d be pleased with the ending. There had to be a HEA, it was a must! *gulp* Thank you for not letting me down. The reality tv show was completely unrealistic in it’s ‘reality’ yet utterly believable with how it played out. At least I hope the behind the scenes on air aren’t that awful! I didn’t see the big finale ending the way it did but I was thrilled with it. As the family, friends, and competitors grew in numbers I wondered if I’d lose track of who belonged where. However, they were all so distinct and made their own impression on the story that I didn’t have to worry about that. It’s a singing contest, so obviously everyone wants to win. Both men desperately want to be the last man standing. And as it turns out, there are no losers here. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for more! Well, I could but the epilogue was extremely satisfying! Riley truly knows how to deliver fun romance with a few memorable one-two punches along the way.
Beware of: Opposites attract with slow simmering heat and sexual discoveries catch fire. Pretending seems simple until suddenly…it’s not. And an honored memory brings a future full of love, promise, and hope.
This book is for: If you’re looking for an escape filled with music, courage, and family, settle in for this alluring show that’s bound to leave you cheering #truebrit.
Book UNfunk
February 20, 2015
One word: Gamesmanship
Competition television... an interactive challenge or scripted show? The production team for BritPop! has a plan to maximize viewership and revenue. The first few rounds have gone exactly as planned. Underperforming, minority contestants seem to be falling by the wayside. Thing is, not all the contestants are ready to roll over.
It's a dog eat dog world. Everyone is selling something. A singer isn't just a voice. They're entertainers with an image, a story and in a visual media world the physical is a critical component. Boy does Pash sell it. Ed, not so much.
Pasha, his strategy is gaming the system. Milking and subtle sabotage if necessary to win. He will win.
Ed's strategy is earnestness--True blue, faithful all the way. He's not a front man, but he's driven to win this. He just has no clue what he's doing.
To be honest, I hate these programs on TV. I mean, I'm not a big television viewer to begin with, but the blatant marketing is a turnoff. Only one step up from infomercials and "reality TV", so why did I find the premise even vaguely interesting? Sure is fun to watch all the chess moves without the caterwauling and hype, but it was the quiet, sneak up on you romance that won me.
There is a delicate balance here that takes contentious components and manages to juggle and rearrange them without blowing them up in your face. There's race, religion, and patriotism which are highly relevant issues today that are adroitly handled, and never did it feel preachy or dogmatic; they were organic to the story as a whole.
There's a lot woven in that just makes each chapter fulfilling. Loved the fun twist in this GFY love story. The title made me smile once I got it, great word play. And the end, yeah, perfect without compromise. It's uplifting and romantic without being ridiculous. Oh, and since this is a Riley book, expect a few suckerpunches.
Overall, an unexpected and beautiful romance wrapped in a game of Stratego.
Favorite advice:
~~A copy was provided to me for a No Glitter Blown review~~
~~~Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews~~~~
Competition television... an interactive challenge or scripted show? The production team for BritPop! has a plan to maximize viewership and revenue. The first few rounds have gone exactly as planned. Underperforming, minority contestants seem to be falling by the wayside. Thing is, not all the contestants are ready to roll over.
It's a dog eat dog world. Everyone is selling something. A singer isn't just a voice. They're entertainers with an image, a story and in a visual media world the physical is a critical component. Boy does Pash sell it. Ed, not so much.
Pasha, his strategy is gaming the system. Milking and subtle sabotage if necessary to win. He will win.
Ed's strategy is earnestness--True blue, faithful all the way. He's not a front man, but he's driven to win this. He just has no clue what he's doing.
To be honest, I hate these programs on TV. I mean, I'm not a big television viewer to begin with, but the blatant marketing is a turnoff. Only one step up from infomercials and "reality TV", so why did I find the premise even vaguely interesting? Sure is fun to watch all the chess moves without the caterwauling and hype, but it was the quiet, sneak up on you romance that won me.
There is a delicate balance here that takes contentious components and manages to juggle and rearrange them without blowing them up in your face. There's race, religion, and patriotism which are highly relevant issues today that are adroitly handled, and never did it feel preachy or dogmatic; they were organic to the story as a whole.
There's a lot woven in that just makes each chapter fulfilling. Loved the fun twist in this GFY love story. The title made me smile once I got it, great word play. And the end, yeah, perfect without compromise. It's uplifting and romantic without being ridiculous. Oh, and since this is a Riley book, expect a few suckerpunches.
Overall, an unexpected and beautiful romance wrapped in a game of Stratego.
Favorite advice:
“But right now, Mr. Fuck-me-hardcore-on-my-first-date, you need to shut up and slow down. This isn’t a porno or a contest. It’s real life, and it’s better.”
~~A copy was provided to me for a No Glitter Blown review~~
~~~Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews~~~~
February 18, 2015
I forget, between her releases, just what a fantastic observational writer Con Riley is and what truly inspirational characters she writes. I cried, lots and although I had this pre conceived belief that the subject matter of this novel was not my cup-of-tea, I was hooked from the word go, I suspect, rather like the audiences and fans of the Reality Show that the author here satirizes?
Is the Svengali character really a parody of Simon Cowell? I strongly suspect so and what a nasty piece of work that character is.
Did I empathise with the two main characters? Well, I've already stated that I cried, lots!
Did I skip the full-on sexy bits as I tend to in novels from this genre? No. I read every word and actually enjoyed the fact that the sex furthered the plot, the characters' relationships, and was not just a titillation of graphic acts to keep the readers happy.
So refreshing to read a parent character who is not judgemental and is truly accepting of her son's sexuality and thank you Ms Riley for addressing my pet hate in M/M novels. I noticed, thank you. Cleanliness is next to godliness, to coin a phrase.
A resounding 5 golden star read.
p.s. Thank you Con for the ARC -x-
Is the Svengali character really a parody of Simon Cowell? I strongly suspect so and what a nasty piece of work that character is.
Did I empathise with the two main characters? Well, I've already stated that I cried, lots!
Did I skip the full-on sexy bits as I tend to in novels from this genre? No. I read every word and actually enjoyed the fact that the sex furthered the plot, the characters' relationships, and was not just a titillation of graphic acts to keep the readers happy.
So refreshing to read a parent character who is not judgemental and is truly accepting of her son's sexuality and thank you Ms Riley for addressing my pet hate in M/M novels. I noticed, thank you. Cleanliness is next to godliness, to coin a phrase.
A resounding 5 golden star read.
p.s. Thank you Con for the ARC -x-
May 23, 2021
#TrueBrit followed by #TrueLove
Well, what can I say?? I absolutely loved it...such a departure from Con’s usual style of story, but in a very good way. Minimal angst compared to usual, lots of laughs, unexplored ST which you could feel simmering beneath the surface, her brilliant way with words, almost painting the actual scene in your head so that you sort of felt you were actually in the studio rehearsing Britpop! with Ed, Pasha, Anya and the Boyband who shall remain nameless, but Crabbe, Goyle and Draco works for me!! 5 stars
Diverse characters usually make for an interesting read, and you really couldn’t get much more diverse than Ed and Pasha. Ed, an army veteran at 30, who had done 2 tours of Afghanistan and had had such an horrific experience the last time he shipped out that he refused to re-up and was honourably discharged [I’ll leave you to discover why, but it plays a CRUCIAL part in the story]. Honourable, quiet and reserved but possessing an amazing voice and an extremely hot bod, he had a very special reason to get to the final of the singing competition.
Pasha, on the other hand, had his own heart-breaking story to tell, but was pretending to be the life and soul of the party, not so good at the singing BUT played to his strengths, and that was working the crowd in the studio and the voting public at large. He was all for using the social media, Twitter and whatever else he could to boost his votes, and played the gay card for all it was worth.
We had an archetypal pantomime villain in the shape of the producer of the series Gerry Hanson, whose cologne and foul smelling cigars, and disgustingly bigoted comments would have had anyone, let alone me, reaching for his neck with their hands 🤬🤬🤬. He had already decided that the Boyband would win the competition, and when Ed overhears him and his assistant discussing what they will do to fake the voting, and get rid of the remaining contestants, decides to bring Pasha in on his plan. The two of them then work out a strategy to win the cash prize...they’ll ‘fall in love’ and the audience will be so delighted for them, they won’t allow them to get voted off, but playing games and telling lies can potentially lead to people’s hearts being broken....
They then start a game of one-upmanship with the studio and the organisers of the competition, which they are determined to win BUT for wildly differing reasons, AND of course, the organisers are equally determined that they WON'T win. Ethnic minorities of any persuasion, whether it be colour, race or sexual orientation are just booted off, no questions asked, stories twisted and lies told without regret.
The secondary characters were also really good, especially Anya, Ed’s mum and Mandy and little Joe, and I must also give a shout out here to Charlie, the studio technician for his help at the end of the story which resulted in the competition being won by the person that most deserved it, and yes, I had a big grin and watery eyes at the end of the read.
Am I a reality TV fan?? Definitely not. Britpop! sounded like the devil spawn of X Factor and Big Brother [neither of which I’ve watched, but Gerry Hanson MUST be based on Simon Cowell surely??]. I don’t regard STRICTLY COME DANCING as a reality TV prog, more a NATIONAL INSTITUTION, and I certainly have no problems with that 😁😁😁.
Many thanks Con for the ARC, and congratulations, it’s a winner!!
Well, what can I say?? I absolutely loved it...such a departure from Con’s usual style of story, but in a very good way. Minimal angst compared to usual, lots of laughs, unexplored ST which you could feel simmering beneath the surface, her brilliant way with words, almost painting the actual scene in your head so that you sort of felt you were actually in the studio rehearsing Britpop! with Ed, Pasha, Anya and the Boyband who shall remain nameless, but Crabbe, Goyle and Draco works for me!! 5 stars
Diverse characters usually make for an interesting read, and you really couldn’t get much more diverse than Ed and Pasha. Ed, an army veteran at 30, who had done 2 tours of Afghanistan and had had such an horrific experience the last time he shipped out that he refused to re-up and was honourably discharged [I’ll leave you to discover why, but it plays a CRUCIAL part in the story]. Honourable, quiet and reserved but possessing an amazing voice and an extremely hot bod, he had a very special reason to get to the final of the singing competition.
Pasha, on the other hand, had his own heart-breaking story to tell, but was pretending to be the life and soul of the party, not so good at the singing BUT played to his strengths, and that was working the crowd in the studio and the voting public at large. He was all for using the social media, Twitter and whatever else he could to boost his votes, and played the gay card for all it was worth.
We had an archetypal pantomime villain in the shape of the producer of the series Gerry Hanson, whose cologne and foul smelling cigars, and disgustingly bigoted comments would have had anyone, let alone me, reaching for his neck with their hands 🤬🤬🤬. He had already decided that the Boyband would win the competition, and when Ed overhears him and his assistant discussing what they will do to fake the voting, and get rid of the remaining contestants, decides to bring Pasha in on his plan. The two of them then work out a strategy to win the cash prize...they’ll ‘fall in love’ and the audience will be so delighted for them, they won’t allow them to get voted off, but playing games and telling lies can potentially lead to people’s hearts being broken....
They then start a game of one-upmanship with the studio and the organisers of the competition, which they are determined to win BUT for wildly differing reasons, AND of course, the organisers are equally determined that they WON'T win. Ethnic minorities of any persuasion, whether it be colour, race or sexual orientation are just booted off, no questions asked, stories twisted and lies told without regret.
The secondary characters were also really good, especially Anya, Ed’s mum and Mandy and little Joe, and I must also give a shout out here to Charlie, the studio technician for his help at the end of the story which resulted in the competition being won by the person that most deserved it, and yes, I had a big grin and watery eyes at the end of the read.
Am I a reality TV fan?? Definitely not. Britpop! sounded like the devil spawn of X Factor and Big Brother [neither of which I’ve watched, but Gerry Hanson MUST be based on Simon Cowell surely??]. I don’t regard STRICTLY COME DANCING as a reality TV prog, more a NATIONAL INSTITUTION, and I certainly have no problems with that 😁😁😁.
Many thanks Con for the ARC, and congratulations, it’s a winner!!
September 22, 2016
Solid 4 Stars for me!
I recently added another Con Riley book to my TBR which reminded me I had this one that I needed to read so...
Why not?
And I actually really liked it. Kind of hit or miss amongst my Goodreads friends so I wasn't sure what to expect.
I liked the premise, the reality show atmosphere. It was different. I'm not always a fan of the pretend boyfriend trope. But it worked here.
I was shocked Pasha wasn't gay. Shocked I tell you. He had no problems pretending he was in to Ed. That aspect of the story made me pause a bit I suppose. But I quickly forgot about it.
Not much steam here. But I was engaged in the story. That says a lot about the writing I think.
A good solid read this one was. And now I'm looking forward to the other book I added.
I recently added another Con Riley book to my TBR which reminded me I had this one that I needed to read so...
Why not?
And I actually really liked it. Kind of hit or miss amongst my Goodreads friends so I wasn't sure what to expect.
I liked the premise, the reality show atmosphere. It was different. I'm not always a fan of the pretend boyfriend trope. But it worked here.
I was shocked Pasha wasn't gay. Shocked I tell you. He had no problems pretending he was in to Ed. That aspect of the story made me pause a bit I suppose. But I quickly forgot about it.
Not much steam here. But I was engaged in the story. That says a lot about the writing I think.
A good solid read this one was. And now I'm looking forward to the other book I added.
March 16, 2015
Love 'em or hate 'em, reality music shows are now a staple part of the entertainment business so I was intrigued to see how Con Riley would approach the subject, as all the books I've read from her up to now have been very moving and emotionally charged. The 'fake boyfriend' concept and its setting had me thinking this would be more of a 'popcorn' read, but actually what I got was a sweet, gentle, slow burn romance with a lot more 'heart and soul' than I was expecting and I guess that's testament to Con's writing skills in bringing two very warm and endearing characters to life in Pasha and Ed.
I found myself genuinely liking these two guys, and if Britpop! was a real show, I'd definitely have rooted for both of them...even more so if like the public in this story, I'd been sucked into their pretend romance too. Why they decide to concoct their #TrueBrit/#TrueLove story is all part of the behind the scenes drama starring a nasty Cowell-esque character who in true bad guy mode is working to his own agenda, fuelling the sub plot unfolding outside of Pasha and Ed's growing romance. But the part I enjoyed the most, was watching what started out as make believe turn to the truth as the two of them chased fame and fortune but found love instead. With a little twist thrown in around Pasha and Ed's roles in their romantic deception, which took me a bit by surprise.
The beginning of the book was more about the workings of the show and getting to know the two main characters…setting the scene. Complete opposites, Pasha is the lively, full of fun, cheeky contestant. All about using the social networks to get himself more into the public eye, he's the one who might not be the best singer in the competition but his likability factor and personality is his winning card; whereas steady, solid Ed has the amazing voice, but tends to disappear into the background because of his quieter more sedate nature.
An ex soldier, discharged after a tragedy in Afghanistan; the TV company had hoped pitting Ed against Pasha because of his half Aghani heritage would cause some high drama for the show, but even though there's no particular love lost between them at the beginning, that type of animosity doesn't cross either of their minds, so as far as the management are concerned if they're not playing the game it's time for them to go...but Pasha Trueman desperately wants to win for reasons of his own and he knows that despite his quieter persona, Ed Britten has just as strong a motivation for wanting to get to the finals as him. He decides it's time for them to create some publicity of their own, so he comes up with the idea for operation "#TrueBrit" and from then on its its a case of may the best man...girl...or boy band win!...
For rest of review follow Link: http://bit.ly/1EpzAv8
I found myself genuinely liking these two guys, and if Britpop! was a real show, I'd definitely have rooted for both of them...even more so if like the public in this story, I'd been sucked into their pretend romance too. Why they decide to concoct their #TrueBrit/#TrueLove story is all part of the behind the scenes drama starring a nasty Cowell-esque character who in true bad guy mode is working to his own agenda, fuelling the sub plot unfolding outside of Pasha and Ed's growing romance. But the part I enjoyed the most, was watching what started out as make believe turn to the truth as the two of them chased fame and fortune but found love instead. With a little twist thrown in around Pasha and Ed's roles in their romantic deception, which took me a bit by surprise.
The beginning of the book was more about the workings of the show and getting to know the two main characters…setting the scene. Complete opposites, Pasha is the lively, full of fun, cheeky contestant. All about using the social networks to get himself more into the public eye, he's the one who might not be the best singer in the competition but his likability factor and personality is his winning card; whereas steady, solid Ed has the amazing voice, but tends to disappear into the background because of his quieter more sedate nature.
An ex soldier, discharged after a tragedy in Afghanistan; the TV company had hoped pitting Ed against Pasha because of his half Aghani heritage would cause some high drama for the show, but even though there's no particular love lost between them at the beginning, that type of animosity doesn't cross either of their minds, so as far as the management are concerned if they're not playing the game it's time for them to go...but Pasha Trueman desperately wants to win for reasons of his own and he knows that despite his quieter persona, Ed Britten has just as strong a motivation for wanting to get to the finals as him. He decides it's time for them to create some publicity of their own, so he comes up with the idea for operation "#TrueBrit" and from then on its its a case of may the best man...girl...or boy band win!...
For rest of review follow Link: http://bit.ly/1EpzAv8
March 15, 2015
4.5 Stars rounded up.
BR with Evil Kat is a Glitter Pirate.
So, this morning I got a tweet from Kat saying that she was ready to talk about this. And, so we did, and this is part of the exchange:
Kat: #TrueBritFOREVERRRRRR!
Gaby: #TrueBrit #TrueLove Muahaha
Kat:I bet you're grinning just from writing those hashtags
Gaby: I am. I'd take a pic and show you but morning me is scary. Grinning like an idiot. Bet you are too.
Kat: Totally and I'm unapoligetic about it. :D
Thing is we pretty much have been like this since we finished the book.
True Brit tells the story of Ed and Pasha. Ed is an ex soldier that lost his best friend in an ambush in Afghanistan. Pasha was born in Britain, but he's half Afghani. So, for starters this is a win for me because I really like (and look for) books that include diverse characters. And Pasha was written in a great way.
Anyway. Ed and Pasha are both contestants in the reality show BritPop!, which is a singing thingy (I'm so elocuent, I can't even). Obviously both Pasha and Ed want to get the first place. Each one of them for their very own and personal reasons: Ed wants to sing a song that Steve (his friend who died in the ambush) wrote, and Pasha wants to win and take the price home. One day they find out that things are not going as expected and they are forced to do something about it, and realize that if they work together they double their chances.. Give the public what they want... :P.
I loved Ed and Pash's relationship. I loved the chemistry between them even in their "enemies"-im-going-to-win-this-and-you won´t phase. I loved how their relationship grew to a nice friendship, where attraction was obvious, until they fell for each other. I ADORED when they fell and I craved each little touch, and whisper. I found out that a simple "Hi" could make me melt.
The book is beautifully written, but the dialogues are kept simple. It's the simplicity of the interactions between Pash and Ed that sold me the story. The lines are not overdone, there's no mad ass wording, and over the top love declarations. You just see two boys falling for each other. Two people that, like Kat said, found each other and love in the most unexpected place, and had to work through it.
The female characters are awesome. Mandy, Steve's wife is amazing. I loved to see how Ed's close friendship wasn't only with Steve, but with Steve's wife (Mandy), as well. Anya, one of the contestants was amazing, too. I loved how strong of a girl she was, and how mature she looked despite her young age. I loved how supportive she was and the risks she took for what she believed in. Ed's mom was what beautiful. Supportive beyond belief.
Now, about Steve. This is another point that I enjoyed. When I first started reading I was under the impression that for Ed this was like a love lost/found kind of thing, that Ed had been in love with Steve, or at least very attracted to his best friend, but then I realized that it wasn't like that. Ed and Steve had been friends since they were kids. Their friendship was strong, and Con Riley chose to keep it like that. I appreciate that. I appreciate that this book showed that an openly gay man can be best friends with a straight man and not meaning that the gay guy wants to fuck straight guy's brains out. It was beautiful, and refreshing, and she managed to bring to life, in some way, someone that had been dead even before the book started.
So this was a great read, a great comfort read. I was amazed to see that the book caught me from page one, and that I actually enjoyed a book that featured a reality show in it, because I normally have problems with those. I loved that the characters are strong and well defined on their own, and that the background stories are so interesting, and yes, painful, but the book wasn't centered in that, and that was great because it made it much less angsty. Actually, I can't say that this book is angsty at all.
Very nice read! :) I'm definitely looking forward to read more by Con Riley!
I tried to avoid any spoilers, and I think I did... Haha.. I hope i did. Read this when you need something happy and comforting.
BR with Evil Kat is a Glitter Pirate.
So, this morning I got a tweet from Kat saying that she was ready to talk about this. And, so we did, and this is part of the exchange:
Kat: #TrueBritFOREVERRRRRR!
Gaby: #TrueBrit #TrueLove Muahaha
Kat:I bet you're grinning just from writing those hashtags
Gaby: I am. I'd take a pic and show you but morning me is scary. Grinning like an idiot. Bet you are too.
Kat: Totally and I'm unapoligetic about it. :D
Thing is we pretty much have been like this since we finished the book.
True Brit tells the story of Ed and Pasha. Ed is an ex soldier that lost his best friend in an ambush in Afghanistan. Pasha was born in Britain, but he's half Afghani. So, for starters this is a win for me because I really like (and look for) books that include diverse characters. And Pasha was written in a great way.
Anyway. Ed and Pasha are both contestants in the reality show BritPop!, which is a singing thingy (I'm so elocuent, I can't even). Obviously both Pasha and Ed want to get the first place. Each one of them for their very own and personal reasons: Ed wants to sing a song that Steve (his friend who died in the ambush) wrote, and Pasha wants to win and take the price home. One day they find out that things are not going as expected and they are forced to do something about it, and realize that if they work together they double their chances.. Give the public what they want... :P.
I loved Ed and Pash's relationship. I loved the chemistry between them even in their "enemies"-im-going-to-win-this-and-you won´t phase. I loved how their relationship grew to a nice friendship, where attraction was obvious, until they fell for each other. I ADORED when they fell and I craved each little touch, and whisper. I found out that a simple "Hi" could make me melt.
The book is beautifully written, but the dialogues are kept simple. It's the simplicity of the interactions between Pash and Ed that sold me the story. The lines are not overdone, there's no mad ass wording, and over the top love declarations. You just see two boys falling for each other. Two people that, like Kat said, found each other and love in the most unexpected place, and had to work through it.
The female characters are awesome. Mandy, Steve's wife is amazing. I loved to see how Ed's close friendship wasn't only with Steve, but with Steve's wife (Mandy), as well. Anya, one of the contestants was amazing, too. I loved how strong of a girl she was, and how mature she looked despite her young age. I loved how supportive she was and the risks she took for what she believed in. Ed's mom was what beautiful. Supportive beyond belief.
Now, about Steve. This is another point that I enjoyed. When I first started reading I was under the impression that for Ed this was like a love lost/found kind of thing, that Ed had been in love with Steve, or at least very attracted to his best friend, but then I realized that it wasn't like that. Ed and Steve had been friends since they were kids. Their friendship was strong, and Con Riley chose to keep it like that. I appreciate that. I appreciate that this book showed that an openly gay man can be best friends with a straight man and not meaning that the gay guy wants to fuck straight guy's brains out. It was beautiful, and refreshing, and she managed to bring to life, in some way, someone that had been dead even before the book started.
So this was a great read, a great comfort read. I was amazed to see that the book caught me from page one, and that I actually enjoyed a book that featured a reality show in it, because I normally have problems with those. I loved that the characters are strong and well defined on their own, and that the background stories are so interesting, and yes, painful, but the book wasn't centered in that, and that was great because it made it much less angsty. Actually, I can't say that this book is angsty at all.
Very nice read! :) I'm definitely looking forward to read more by Con Riley!
I tried to avoid any spoilers, and I think I did... Haha.. I hope i did. Read this when you need something happy and comforting.
April 13, 2015
Definitely a departure from all the other Con Riley books I've read, this one is on the lighter side. I'm not the biggest reality TV fan, but I have enjoyed several books set in that world (Catch My Breath and Husband Material) and will add this to that list.
Ed and Pasha never would have crossed paths had it not been for their places on a British singing competition, and as the show progresses and the men realize that the powers that be are orchestrating the voting and getting ready to cast them off, the two men form a tentative plan to stay in the running revolving around a potential romance between them leaked to social media. As the are they or aren't they speculation heats up and those who are running the show feel they are losing control, the two men also have to wonder are they or aren't they and decide what sacrifices they are willing to make in order to win.
There are some well written secondary characters and there is a slow burn as the men first develop a tentative friendship based on their plan. While Ed's character is clearly defined from the start, it takes a while before we really get to know Pasha. Their main competition, Anya, turns out to be a surprising bright spot and ally along with Ed's mom and another old friend from his hometown. So much lighter on the angst and drama than previous Con Riley books, but just as well written and enjoyable.
Ed and Pasha never would have crossed paths had it not been for their places on a British singing competition, and as the show progresses and the men realize that the powers that be are orchestrating the voting and getting ready to cast them off, the two men form a tentative plan to stay in the running revolving around a potential romance between them leaked to social media. As the are they or aren't they speculation heats up and those who are running the show feel they are losing control, the two men also have to wonder are they or aren't they and decide what sacrifices they are willing to make in order to win.
There are some well written secondary characters and there is a slow burn as the men first develop a tentative friendship based on their plan. While Ed's character is clearly defined from the start, it takes a while before we really get to know Pasha. Their main competition, Anya, turns out to be a surprising bright spot and ally along with Ed's mom and another old friend from his hometown. So much lighter on the angst and drama than previous Con Riley books, but just as well written and enjoyable.
May 23, 2021
I'd forgotten how much I love this book
For some reason I don't seem to have written a review the first time I read this.
So I've just read it again because Ed and Pasha are making guest appearances in the new series which Con is writing and I wanted to remind myself of how much I love their story.
It all starts as a bit of trickery you see. An attempt to out manipulate the machinations of a horrible TV producer on a reality TV singing show.
But what starts as a hashtag really does bring #TrueLove to #TrueBrit and Ed and Pasha's lives change forever.
There's so much to celebrate with this romance. The casting, a Cornish ex-soldier with a half-Afghani British lad who has always had to fight to find his place in the world.
A solid cast of secondary characters and a real sense of identity in the setting. The prospect for more to come in the wider Cornish connected world.
But most of all, it's a celebration of just how incredibly well Con Riley finds what makes people tick and turns that into believable love stories that make your heart sing.
PS Dominic's book is still hopefully coming sometime 😁
For some reason I don't seem to have written a review the first time I read this.
So I've just read it again because Ed and Pasha are making guest appearances in the new series which Con is writing and I wanted to remind myself of how much I love their story.
It all starts as a bit of trickery you see. An attempt to out manipulate the machinations of a horrible TV producer on a reality TV singing show.
But what starts as a hashtag really does bring #TrueLove to #TrueBrit and Ed and Pasha's lives change forever.
There's so much to celebrate with this romance. The casting, a Cornish ex-soldier with a half-Afghani British lad who has always had to fight to find his place in the world.
A solid cast of secondary characters and a real sense of identity in the setting. The prospect for more to come in the wider Cornish connected world.
But most of all, it's a celebration of just how incredibly well Con Riley finds what makes people tick and turns that into believable love stories that make your heart sing.
PS Dominic's book is still hopefully coming sometime 😁
December 3, 2017
Two stars? Three? Two and a half?
This book had me on a seesaw. Didn't like it, liked it, didn't like it liked it. Maybe it was because I was tired, or maybe the plot and the characters failed to truly hook me.
Pasha took awhile to warm to up. I’m not sure I still like him. Much about him was an act. Ed was a bit more likeable, but he also didn’t grab me.
This is a GFY story. I felt tension at times, but sometimes it dropped. Man, I feel like this review makes no sense and I’m rambling. Read the blurb and then decide if you want to read a book that I kinda liked, but would never consider reading again.
This is my second Con Riley book. I’m thinking this Author isn’t for me. Unless one of my GR friends highly recommends another by this author, I think this will be my last. Too bad, the cover and blurb were promising.
This book had me on a seesaw. Didn't like it, liked it, didn't like it liked it. Maybe it was because I was tired, or maybe the plot and the characters failed to truly hook me.
Pasha took awhile to warm to up. I’m not sure I still like him. Much about him was an act. Ed was a bit more likeable, but he also didn’t grab me.
This is a GFY story. I felt tension at times, but sometimes it dropped. Man, I feel like this review makes no sense and I’m rambling. Read the blurb and then decide if you want to read a book that I kinda liked, but would never consider reading again.
This is my second Con Riley book. I’m thinking this Author isn’t for me. Unless one of my GR friends highly recommends another by this author, I think this will be my last. Too bad, the cover and blurb were promising.
January 29, 2015
With True Brit, her first self-published novel, Con Riley makes quite a departure from her previous novels which often had a melancholy overall tone and were primarily about loss and pain.
There are some moments in this novel too that deal with the pain from losing someone dear, but the true departure is in the overriding theme of this book, a book about friendships, about perseverance in the face of adversity, and a book about finding that what you never expected.
When Ed and Pasha meet, they are both contestants on a British talent show, and facing possible elimination. Pasha, intent on winning at all cost for reasons not immediately clear, discovers that the contest may be rigged (big surprise there) and devises a plan to stay with the show by pretending that he and Ed are a couple. Reluctant but for his own reasons, Ed agrees to the ruse.
As Ed and Pash(a) grow unavoidably closer, that what was pretense becomes more real than either of them anticipated. It catches them by surprise as much as it throws them off track, and they are faced with tough choices.
There is some great banter, some humor, but there were times when I held my breath to see what would happen next. Through it all, there is genuine emotion.
The story is wonderfully paced, believable in its plot progression, and for someone as cynical as me realistic enough to believe the developing relationship.
The author painted a complete picture for both Ed and Pash, giving them their own sets of idiosyncrasies, their own sets of reasons for acting the way they do, and their own goals for the competition.
She also created a fabulous character in Anya, making her someone who despite being only 16 can see beyond the fallacies of youth, and recognize the big picture.
She created a hateful and very unlikable villain, and gave the characters what it took to defeat him.
The book, throughout its ups and downs, is ultimately hopeful. The characters are willing to learn, willing to listen, and willing to do what it takes to succeed. Even if their ideas of success changes along the way.
A superb performance from one of my favorite authors. I really liked how themes from fandom (shipping) and social media (hashtags, videos, Twitter etc) were included to make this story feel relevant in today's culture.
Highly recommended at 4.5 stars. I urge you to click the pre-order button as soon as you can.
I will leave you with this quote:
** I received a free copy of this book in a pre-publication status. A positive review was not promised in return. **
There are some moments in this novel too that deal with the pain from losing someone dear, but the true departure is in the overriding theme of this book, a book about friendships, about perseverance in the face of adversity, and a book about finding that what you never expected.
When Ed and Pasha meet, they are both contestants on a British talent show, and facing possible elimination. Pasha, intent on winning at all cost for reasons not immediately clear, discovers that the contest may be rigged (big surprise there) and devises a plan to stay with the show by pretending that he and Ed are a couple. Reluctant but for his own reasons, Ed agrees to the ruse.
As Ed and Pash(a) grow unavoidably closer, that what was pretense becomes more real than either of them anticipated. It catches them by surprise as much as it throws them off track, and they are faced with tough choices.
There is some great banter, some humor, but there were times when I held my breath to see what would happen next. Through it all, there is genuine emotion.
The story is wonderfully paced, believable in its plot progression, and for someone as cynical as me realistic enough to believe the developing relationship.
The author painted a complete picture for both Ed and Pash, giving them their own sets of idiosyncrasies, their own sets of reasons for acting the way they do, and their own goals for the competition.
She also created a fabulous character in Anya, making her someone who despite being only 16 can see beyond the fallacies of youth, and recognize the big picture.
She created a hateful and very unlikable villain, and gave the characters what it took to defeat him.
The book, throughout its ups and downs, is ultimately hopeful. The characters are willing to learn, willing to listen, and willing to do what it takes to succeed. Even if their ideas of success changes along the way.
A superb performance from one of my favorite authors. I really liked how themes from fandom (shipping) and social media (hashtags, videos, Twitter etc) were included to make this story feel relevant in today's culture.
Highly recommended at 4.5 stars. I urge you to click the pre-order button as soon as you can.
I will leave you with this quote:
The view was hazy without his glasses, but Pasha could see what was outside clearly in his mind's eye.
Seagulls would soar overhead in the morning, and they'd both be here to watch them.
** I received a free copy of this book in a pre-publication status. A positive review was not promised in return. **
May 4, 2016
Charlie hummed as if considering. “I’ll do what you ask if you tell me one thing.”
“Name it.”
“Tell me the truth.” Charlie drew in a quick breath that was audible. “Is #TrueBrit for real?”
Pasha Trueman and Ed Britten both want to make it to the final of BritPop!, England’s newest reality singing competition. Ed because he wants to sing a song written by his best friend-–who died while serving with Ed in Afghanistan-–and Pasha because he wants to prove something to himself, as well as to his family. But there is very little ‘reality’ running around this reality show, and the show’s producers are all set to send both Ed and Pasha packing, well before the final. After overhearing a conversation telling them this, Pasha comes up with a mad scheme to get the public on their side, and stick it to the producers who seem determined to wipe out their chances at success: they’re going to pretend to be lovers.
And yeah, Pasha is pretty sure that Ed is straight-–and that he hates Pasha-–but the ends must. They only have to play up their epic love story to the internet, there doesn’t need to be any real loving going on for team #TrueBrit. A perfect plan, really-–only nothing ever does go according to plan when Pasha’s around.
I really hate reality tv. I hate how fake it is, how plastic and shallow everyone becomes. I dislike the manufactured fights, the even more manufactured ‘love,’ and the audacity of calling any of it ‘real.’ I just really really hate reality tv.
And during that first chapter? God, I hated Pasha. I was cursing my rotten luck for having picked up this book. I knew what it was about, and still I asked to review it. Why would I do this to myself? (Well, the fact that I really love some of the author’s other works probably played a role in that). Pasha was all the fake smiles, all the vapid, two-dimensional, Ken-doll-esc blandness that I loathe about reality tv.
I was honestly thinking about walking away. I didn’t know if I could do 200 pages of this and not go insane.
But then the cameras went off(ish), and in walks Ed. And my god, something clicked. Strong, relisant, fight till the last breath, and yet still unimposing…Ed sparks something on the pages that is real amongst so much ‘reality.’ And when Pasha is with Ed…then I start to see past the mask that Pasha is wearing. And when you see the man behind all the veneer, you can’t help but fall in love.
Even when they as still playing at love, hamming it up for the crowds and the votes, there is nothing fake about it. There is such chemistry between them. I would not call this love at first sight, but when they finally let down their guards, it is like falling in love is as easy as breathing. It may take them a while to see it, but it is right there on the page and it is a bit mesmerizing.
It was rather stunning how quickly I went from not-liking to loving this book. The characters are very well done, and while there is a certain someone who deserves to have his (still lit) cigar shoved up where the sun don’t shine, I had a lot of fun discovering these guys. Ed’s family is great, and Anya was pretty damn awesome. The boy band, however, I would call massive dicks, except that is probably vastly overrating their packages by a large margin.
This was a very fun book, with some great characters, and one awesome love story. I had a blast reading it, and was pretty happy with how the competition ended. It seemed fitting. But if you want to know who wins, you’ll just have to read the story. I don’t think you will end up regretting it.
#TrueBrit is #TrueLove
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
February 9, 2015
For my honest and true view of this book, please read …MORE
Goodreads TOS-compliant review (I think, let me know when they tell us what the rules are):
"The book I just read is about two (or three) lovely people, written in beautiful language, by a very good and prolific author. I liked it very, very much.
It is for sale on Amazon.”
DISCLAIMER: My reviews now all have this pretty face, so that all and everyone on Goodreads can stay happy and beatific. I’ll let you know if I change my mind. See the real review above for my thoughts on this book.
Goodreads TOS-compliant review (I think, let me know when they tell us what the rules are):
"The book I just read is about two (or three) lovely people, written in beautiful language, by a very good and prolific author. I liked it very, very much.
It is for sale on Amazon.”
DISCLAIMER: My reviews now all have this pretty face, so that all and everyone on Goodreads can stay happy and beatific. I’ll let you know if I change my mind. See the real review above for my thoughts on this book.
January 13, 2016
This gif is a fair and accurate representation of my physical being while I was reading this book and also how I've been since I've finished it.
Because I'm lazy, I'm just going to link you all to the fantabulous review of my buddy reader and fellow Evil Disney Princess, Gaby, which you can find over here.
dnf
March 31, 2015DNF @57%
I tried. Twice. Couldn’t get into the story.
It’s probably just me. It seems I can’t enjoy contemporary romance lately – no matter the different plots, too often I feel like I’m reading the same book.
February 21, 2015
3.75 stars for the story, 5 stars for the cover.
I'm not gonna lie: at first I felt very blah about TrueBrit and was thinking I might have to dnf. The first 30% or so of the book was pretty clunky, and the very beginning was too abrupt, to the point where I felt the need to scroll back to make sure I hadn't missed a few pages. I was not feeling it and thought that the book could've done with another good editing.
Next thing I knew, I was 45% or so in and I was loving it and loving the characters. I don't know exactly when this segue happened, but it did. I even read it in about 3 hours, but hey, it wasn't even 200 pages so why not?
I still feel the book was a bit too short for the storyline, and that the beginning could have used some reworking. For example, I felt that I really got to "know" Ed and what made him tick but Pasha was a bit glossed over. More story could have been devoted to finding out about his home life and what it was like for him growing up. We were shown Ed's life but many parts of Pasha's were glossed over. The author gave us little teasing glimpses with promises of more to come, but they never panned out. I felt that lack, which is why I felt the book should have been longer.
I also felt that more could have been said about the whole GFY aspect. I mean, one minute I was sure Pasha was gay, the next he was maybe bisexual but maybe not.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading about Pasha and Ed. I think TrueBrit had the potential to be a 5 star read for me but it didn't quite hit the mark. I wanted it to, though!
I'm not gonna lie: at first I felt very blah about TrueBrit and was thinking I might have to dnf. The first 30% or so of the book was pretty clunky, and the very beginning was too abrupt, to the point where I felt the need to scroll back to make sure I hadn't missed a few pages. I was not feeling it and thought that the book could've done with another good editing.
Next thing I knew, I was 45% or so in and I was loving it and loving the characters. I don't know exactly when this segue happened, but it did. I even read it in about 3 hours, but hey, it wasn't even 200 pages so why not?
I still feel the book was a bit too short for the storyline, and that the beginning could have used some reworking. For example, I felt that I really got to "know" Ed and what made him tick but Pasha was a bit glossed over. More story could have been devoted to finding out about his home life and what it was like for him growing up. We were shown Ed's life but many parts of Pasha's were glossed over. The author gave us little teasing glimpses with promises of more to come, but they never panned out. I felt that lack, which is why I felt the book should have been longer.
I also felt that more could have been said about the whole GFY aspect. I mean, one minute I was sure Pasha was gay, the next he was maybe bisexual but maybe not.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading about Pasha and Ed. I think TrueBrit had the potential to be a 5 star read for me but it didn't quite hit the mark. I wanted it to, though!
December 24, 2015
Why exactly I thought this would be a fluffy read, I just don't know. Oh, because it was about one of those call-in television singing contest shows. That's why. But with Con Riley, it seems, it's never as simple as that.
I loved this so much. It was about moving on and finding happiness after loss.
It was also about prejudice.
It reminded me of once, a couple of years back, when I was staying at a hotel. I remember late one night standing behind an old man who kept pressing the poor front desk clerk with "What are you?" questions. A staggeringly beautiful kid (26 maybe) who I had been unable to keep my eyes off of the entire time I had been there. He told the old man he was half Persian, obviously afraid to say he was Iranian. It broke my heart.
This story was not at all predictable. The things I thought I saw coming were never what actually came. There is a maturity to Con Riley's writing, a wisdom to it. There is a moral without being preachy, and I find it wonderful.
I loved this so much. It was about moving on and finding happiness after loss.
It was also about prejudice.
It reminded me of once, a couple of years back, when I was staying at a hotel. I remember late one night standing behind an old man who kept pressing the poor front desk clerk with "What are you?" questions. A staggeringly beautiful kid (26 maybe) who I had been unable to keep my eyes off of the entire time I had been there. He told the old man he was half Persian, obviously afraid to say he was Iranian. It broke my heart.
This story was not at all predictable. The things I thought I saw coming were never what actually came. There is a maturity to Con Riley's writing, a wisdom to it. There is a moral without being preachy, and I find it wonderful.
December 8, 2024
This was pretty good. Loved the reality tv singing competition setting. A bit unsure on the authors writing style - so much happens off page.
March 2, 2015
3.75 STARS
Since I couldn't decide whether this one should be 3.5 or 4 stars.
This was a really great story. Like I was thinking when I read how Ed and Pasha looked like, I thought this could have been a Ziam (Zayn/Liam) fan fic. Anyway, I loved Ed and Pasha. At first, I was annoyed with Pasha's attitude but I finally understood why he was like that. Ed, on the other hand, was very interesting and intriguing. I loved him from the start.
This story was about two guys in a singing competition at first but then, it turned out to be something more.
This was somehow a pretend boyfriend turned real boyfriend trope. And I loved it. Although, I was confused for a long while if this book was a GFY/OFY and who was the character who's GFY/OFY. I was kind of confused but it was fine. As my GR good friend Dani said, it was open for any interpretation.
I hated the management. Especially Geri. I wanted to kick his face so bad every time he spoke in the story.
Also, the best part of this was every time they said, "Hi." to each other. It felt so real and I even got butterflies in my stomach every time it happened! It felt so intimate!
Steve, Mandy, the baby and Ed's mum, I loved everything about them.
Overall, this was a good book to read. Not perfect but it was worth reading.
Since I couldn't decide whether this one should be 3.5 or 4 stars.
This was a really great story. Like I was thinking when I read how Ed and Pasha looked like, I thought this could have been a Ziam (Zayn/Liam) fan fic. Anyway, I loved Ed and Pasha. At first, I was annoyed with Pasha's attitude but I finally understood why he was like that. Ed, on the other hand, was very interesting and intriguing. I loved him from the start.
This story was about two guys in a singing competition at first but then, it turned out to be something more.
This was somehow a pretend boyfriend turned real boyfriend trope. And I loved it. Although, I was confused for a long while if this book was a GFY/OFY and who was the character who's GFY/OFY. I was kind of confused but it was fine. As my GR good friend Dani said, it was open for any interpretation.
I hated the management. Especially Geri. I wanted to kick his face so bad every time he spoke in the story.
Also, the best part of this was every time they said, "Hi." to each other. It felt so real and I even got butterflies in my stomach every time it happened! It felt so intimate!
Steve, Mandy, the baby and Ed's mum, I loved everything about them.
Overall, this was a good book to read. Not perfect but it was worth reading.
"With a family to come home to, focusing on the living made complete sense."
October 10, 2025
I've always meant to go back and read Ed and Pasha's story but I kept forgetting!
I enjoyed this so much and it was really nostalgic that they were in a singing contest - reminded me of when I was on a school trip in London and saw the Pop Idol bus for Gareth Gates and got a pin badge bribing me for my support 😂😂😂
Pasha and Ed are interesting character's and I thought the twist about how they each identify was done well and I didn't see it coming for Pasha at all...
Happy to have filled in a gap in the Con Riley story universe timeline - I *think* that I've read everything now...
*
*
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HRCYED2: Last 10 Years
I enjoyed this so much and it was really nostalgic that they were in a singing contest - reminded me of when I was on a school trip in London and saw the Pop Idol bus for Gareth Gates and got a pin badge bribing me for my support 😂😂😂
Pasha and Ed are interesting character's and I thought the twist about how they each identify was done well and I didn't see it coming for Pasha at all...
Happy to have filled in a gap in the Con Riley story universe timeline - I *think* that I've read everything now...
*
*
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HRCYED2: Last 10 Years
April 29, 2015
Este libro confirma que no hacen falta tramas excesivamente complejas ni una redacción rebuscada para construir un libro magnífico. Simple, intenso, real, muy dulce, y con una profunda reflexión sobre los sueños, las penas, las mochilas que cargamos, las heridas de la vida y lo que vale de verdad para cada uno de nosotros. Gracias por otra magnífica sugerencia, bella invadida.
January 29, 2016
4.25 Stars
I really enjoyed this take of an American Idol in Great Britain kind of story. I liked the concept, drama and especially the love story, it was definitely unlike anything I've read.
I really enjoyed this take of an American Idol in Great Britain kind of story. I liked the concept, drama and especially the love story, it was definitely unlike anything I've read.
October 3, 2017
3.5 stars
A little background : this book was generously given by the author to me with a note "it dealt with the run up to the Brexit vote, if inexplicitly. At that time, I truly believed that Britain would come to its senses, so it's an optimistic book about difference and diversity that plays with ideas questioning just what makes a 'True Brit.'
I thought that optimism did show in the story -- two unlikely pairing of a London-born/half-Afghani with an ex-soldier who decide to fake a relationship to stay in a singing competition, when they discover that the management plans to boot them out of the show early.
It's pretty much a resist movement or challenging the authority, IMHO, but in a peaceful loving way, by sailing a #TrueBrit ship across the fans of the show.
It was sweet -- and I admit I had tears in my eyes during . I also appreciated that this book is low steam all the way -- even if Pasha is a virgin when it comes to relationship with men, but this doesn't turn into one of those "let's teach the virgin the joy of gay sex" plot.
And I thought Riley's prose to be beautiful.
BUT I am also not a very big fan of fake relationship in the reality show universe. I already think that those reality shows are fake anyway, so this feels like DOUBLE deceptions ... even if Ed and Pasha end up truly as a couple.
A little background : this book was generously given by the author to me with a note "it dealt with the run up to the Brexit vote, if inexplicitly. At that time, I truly believed that Britain would come to its senses, so it's an optimistic book about difference and diversity that plays with ideas questioning just what makes a 'True Brit.'
I thought that optimism did show in the story -- two unlikely pairing of a London-born/half-Afghani with an ex-soldier who decide to fake a relationship to stay in a singing competition, when they discover that the management plans to boot them out of the show early.
It's pretty much a resist movement or challenging the authority, IMHO, but in a peaceful loving way, by sailing a #TrueBrit ship across the fans of the show.
It was sweet -- and I admit I had tears in my eyes during . I also appreciated that this book is low steam all the way -- even if Pasha is a virgin when it comes to relationship with men, but this doesn't turn into one of those "let's teach the virgin the joy of gay sex" plot.
And I thought Riley's prose to be beautiful.
BUT I am also not a very big fan of fake relationship in the reality show universe. I already think that those reality shows are fake anyway, so this feels like DOUBLE deceptions ... even if Ed and Pasha end up truly as a couple.
March 5, 2015
Full Review on Prism Book Alliance
Con Riley’s writing is so smooth, shifting rhythm in concert with the emotion and mood of her characters. Her dialogue is spot on and it was already sucking me in by chapter three. I was intrigued by both Pasha and Ed, their motivations and past experiences, and what brought them to this competition. Riley makes it look so easy, creating these connections between her characters to which I then make my own.
When I next looked up, I was a third of the way through this book! Thoroughly enjoying myself, to say the very least. Despite what could be called a too perfect set up when looking from the outside in, it does provide a fun, humorous and conflict-rich backdrop for this story. Pasha and Ed quickly realize that, by working together, their odds of success rise. From this blooms many a pitfall and opportunity for misunderstanding, but we’re not dealing with spring chickens here, at least not in terms of life experience. They head most of these off at the pass. I also like the added ingredient of trying to outsmart those who would prefer see them fail at their endeavor.
Ed and Pasha are well matched, complimenting each other in opposing ways. They also share traits like determination, intelligence and the ability to blush.
Know what’s fun? A fabulous “sticking it to the man” attitude that winds its way into this plan of Pasha and Ed’s. They discover parts of the producers’ grand plan. What they do in response, I’ll leave that for you to explore. ;)
Oh, also, a vunderbar component, if not completely obvious, is a declaration of equality for all. Which, of course, is worthy of such open treatment. I may have pumped my fist.
Natural. Just like life. That’s the kind of story Con Riley writes and that’s what we have here. Small gestures that speak with the volume turned up to eleven, surprising guffaws at awkward moments that lead to giggling, and needy fumbling during a first kiss.
And then the emotion hits, full force. It’s not sappy or overwrought. Just like every other part of this story, it’s real in its imperfections, change, and growth. More grinning from me, I tells ya. More heart and more heat for one and all. Where would it all lead? If I get much more specific, it’ll give things away.
Though, I do know one destination without a doubt: this is getting added to my comfort reads shelf. I’ll definitely read it again, and maybe again, and then once more. I loved getting the inside scoop on this beginning for Pasha and Ed and feeling complete satisfaction from a complete story. I easily and happily recommend this one. :)
Con Riley’s writing is so smooth, shifting rhythm in concert with the emotion and mood of her characters. Her dialogue is spot on and it was already sucking me in by chapter three. I was intrigued by both Pasha and Ed, their motivations and past experiences, and what brought them to this competition. Riley makes it look so easy, creating these connections between her characters to which I then make my own.
When I next looked up, I was a third of the way through this book! Thoroughly enjoying myself, to say the very least. Despite what could be called a too perfect set up when looking from the outside in, it does provide a fun, humorous and conflict-rich backdrop for this story. Pasha and Ed quickly realize that, by working together, their odds of success rise. From this blooms many a pitfall and opportunity for misunderstanding, but we’re not dealing with spring chickens here, at least not in terms of life experience. They head most of these off at the pass. I also like the added ingredient of trying to outsmart those who would prefer see them fail at their endeavor.
Ed and Pasha are well matched, complimenting each other in opposing ways. They also share traits like determination, intelligence and the ability to blush.
Know what’s fun? A fabulous “sticking it to the man” attitude that winds its way into this plan of Pasha and Ed’s. They discover parts of the producers’ grand plan. What they do in response, I’ll leave that for you to explore. ;)
Oh, also, a vunderbar component, if not completely obvious, is a declaration of equality for all. Which, of course, is worthy of such open treatment. I may have pumped my fist.
Natural. Just like life. That’s the kind of story Con Riley writes and that’s what we have here. Small gestures that speak with the volume turned up to eleven, surprising guffaws at awkward moments that lead to giggling, and needy fumbling during a first kiss.
And then the emotion hits, full force. It’s not sappy or overwrought. Just like every other part of this story, it’s real in its imperfections, change, and growth. More grinning from me, I tells ya. More heart and more heat for one and all. Where would it all lead? If I get much more specific, it’ll give things away.
Though, I do know one destination without a doubt: this is getting added to my comfort reads shelf. I’ll definitely read it again, and maybe again, and then once more. I loved getting the inside scoop on this beginning for Pasha and Ed and feeling complete satisfaction from a complete story. I easily and happily recommend this one. :)
February 19, 2015
Awesome story, epic ending and great epilogue! If I could give more than 5 stars I would. Pasha and Ed is my new favorite couple.
What else? "Pretend boyfriends" was a perfect beginning for me *_* Almost all secondary characters were likeable. Loved every little detail that made story more powerful. Love the cover very much <3
Worth reading and re-reading!
What else? "Pretend boyfriends" was a perfect beginning for me *_* Almost all secondary characters were likeable. Loved every little detail that made story more powerful. Love the cover very much <3
Worth reading and re-reading!
February 22, 2015
4.5 stars
I had trouble during the first chapter, but then the story flowed along quite nicely. In the end the epilogue could have been a few pages shorter. But that's most probably just me.
I had trouble during the first chapter, but then the story flowed along quite nicely. In the end the epilogue could have been a few pages shorter. But that's most probably just me.
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