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Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss
(Love, Life, and the List #2)
by
Fan favorite author Kasie West delivers an effervescent story about chasing your dreams and following your heart, perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Huntley Fitzpatrick.
Lacey Barnes has dreamed of being an actress for as long as she can remember. So when she gets the opportunity to star in a movie alongside one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, she doesn’t hesitate to acc
...moreGet A Copy
Kindle Edition, 400 pages
Published
February 5th 2019
by HarperTeen
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Start your review of Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss

ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, the only other thing I’ve ever read by Kasie West was the short story of hers in Snow in Love, but I think it is safe to say that I am officially just going to preorder everything she writes from now on, because this sto ...more
“I have to convince audiences everywhere that a zombie loves a zombie hunter. So far, it’s not happening. So far, the only thing future viewers care about is that I’m not someone else.”
Okay, the only other thing I’ve ever read by Kasie West was the short story of hers in Snow in Love, but I think it is safe to say that I am officially just going to preorder everything she writes from now on, because this sto ...more

I started reading Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss on 9/28/2018 and finished it on 10/4/2018. This book is a fantastic read! I like the main character’s easy going personality. The conversations between the characters are full of humor and just happy. It’s interesting to read about an actress’ life, especially the underage ones. I didn’t know fans could follow a movie while they act. I have never run into one. I like reading about another fellow reviewer. I like Lacey’s card games of getting to kn
...more

Sadly, this was not my favorite Kasie West book.
Fame, Fate and the First Kiss is the first Kasie West book I've read that I actively disliked. Usually Kasie strikes a strong balance between the romance and the personal issues in her books, but this one was very bogged down in the romance and I just couldn't connect with it. I love that it takes place on the set of a zombie film that Lacey is costarring in with a well-known actor, but I just couldn't get myself to care about the plot or the chara ...more
Fame, Fate and the First Kiss is the first Kasie West book I've read that I actively disliked. Usually Kasie strikes a strong balance between the romance and the personal issues in her books, but this one was very bogged down in the romance and I just couldn't connect with it. I love that it takes place on the set of a zombie film that Lacey is costarring in with a well-known actor, but I just couldn't get myself to care about the plot or the chara ...more
![destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1614916030p2/15335689.jpg)
All Lacey has ever wanted is to become a successful actress, and she’s done everything she can to get there—working hard, neglecting her social life, and even swearing off love altogether. It seems like her work has paid off when she lands a leading role in a horror film alongside a superstar, until her father’s over-abundance of concern forces her to work with a tutor, Donavan Lake. It seems like Donavan’s presence will only drag her down, until someone begins to sabotage her on set, and the...more

book #4
completed! for the reading rush, under the challenge of: "a book that has five or more words in the title" ✓
a list of things i liked
- the movie set was well written and included enough details that kept me intrigued without making me feel bored
- the romance was so wholesome and sweet
- i LOVE donavan. soft, dark-haired boys, my weakness
- IT WAS SO CUTE
- the writing was super easy and engaging, i sped through it without even realizing
- the friendship, could have had more but not comp ...more
a list of things i liked
- the movie set was well written and included enough details that kept me intrigued without making me feel bored
- the romance was so wholesome and sweet
- i LOVE donavan. soft, dark-haired boys, my weakness
- IT WAS SO CUTE
- the writing was super easy and engaging, i sped through it without even realizing
- the friendship, could have had more but not comp ...more

I will always read a Kasie book. I don’t even read the synopsis.
I liked Lacey and Donovan. They’re both driven and maybe a little stubborn. Their banter was playful and fun. The on set characters were interesting and I especially enjoyed seeing Abby and Cooper again.
Plot wise, it was okay. It was slow and quick moving at the same time. Because Lacey’s day is nearly the same every day, it felt a bit repetitive at parts. The sabotage thread didn’t really work for me. I did like the idea of it an ...more
I liked Lacey and Donovan. They’re both driven and maybe a little stubborn. Their banter was playful and fun. The on set characters were interesting and I especially enjoyed seeing Abby and Cooper again.
Plot wise, it was okay. It was slow and quick moving at the same time. Because Lacey’s day is nearly the same every day, it felt a bit repetitive at parts. The sabotage thread didn’t really work for me. I did like the idea of it an ...more

I feel like with every new book that I read from Kasie West, I like them less and less. I'm not sure what changed, if it is my reading preference that's changed or the writing is not as good as it has been. Not to say that I didn't enjoy the book - I did, I just wasn't as amazed by this one as I was with my first couple of Kasie's books, like On the Fence and The Distance between us. And I sooo wanted to finally love a book by Kasie again.
What bothered me the most with this book is that it is ...more
What bothered me the most with this book is that it is ...more

SUCH CUTENESS!
Honestly, if you want a quick, fluffy read (especially considering what's going on at the moment), I highly recommend this!
Romance, friendship, mystery, showbusiness, family - it's all here! And it's refreshing that the protagonist and the love interest don't have any stupid misunderstandings. Young adult does this a lot and it puts me off, characters just don't communicate. Lacey and Donovan get on so well and it just takes off from there - trust, support, care. It's nice and ver ...more
Honestly, if you want a quick, fluffy read (especially considering what's going on at the moment), I highly recommend this!
Romance, friendship, mystery, showbusiness, family - it's all here! And it's refreshing that the protagonist and the love interest don't have any stupid misunderstandings. Young adult does this a lot and it puts me off, characters just don't communicate. Lacey and Donovan get on so well and it just takes off from there - trust, support, care. It's nice and ver ...more

May 01, 2019
Brittany
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
clean-reads,
romance,
ya,
thriller-suspense,
coming-of-age,
contemporary,
year-2019,
4-star-reads
4 Stars!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I just adore Kasie West- and her ability to tell a sweet, and heartwarming story! And this one did not disappoint!
In FFFK, we follow Lacey, a 17 year old, pursuing an acting career. She gets her first big break staring in a lead roll for a zombie movie. She is staying with her dad while she works and is having to sort of homeschool while she works on set. She isn't very enthusiastic about having to work on school stuff in her spare time- because the movie is keeping her prett ...more
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I just adore Kasie West- and her ability to tell a sweet, and heartwarming story! And this one did not disappoint!
In FFFK, we follow Lacey, a 17 year old, pursuing an acting career. She gets her first big break staring in a lead roll for a zombie movie. She is staying with her dad while she works and is having to sort of homeschool while she works on set. She isn't very enthusiastic about having to work on school stuff in her spare time- because the movie is keeping her prett ...more

Apr 06, 2020
Aj the Ravenous Reader
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary,
romance,
auto-buy-authors,
physically-owned-books,
easy-read,
lol,
mystery,
young-adult
I may have to agree with Lacey, our main character, on the lack of chemistry. Not just with Grant but with Donavan as well. I'm feeling a little bummed out because chemistry is Kasie West's forte. But it's still enjoyable though. The characters are likable enough, not the usual characters she writes, this time they're actors actually on set and shooting a zombie movie so that is something new. I also liked the two storylines. The actual plot and the one in the zombie movie script. The little mys
...more

Mar 24, 2019
Sharon
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
cute-bantering,
family,
friendship,
ya,
4-stars,
best-of-2019,
likable-heroines,
beautiful-covers,
favorites,
he-s-a-keeper
Here are some of my thoughts:
• Of the 11 books I’ve read from West so far, I’ll say this is definitely in the top 3 somewhere. I’ll probably place it 2nd after FIB.
• I like Lacey. She is bold, friendly, and funny. I already liked her back in Love, Life, and the List as Abby’s new friend. She is not perfect – she can be avoidant of things she don’t want to deal with (schoolwork, her dad), and she can be overly fixated on her career and what the media says (which is quite understandable). However ...more
• Of the 11 books I’ve read from West so far, I’ll say this is definitely in the top 3 somewhere. I’ll probably place it 2nd after FIB.
• I like Lacey. She is bold, friendly, and funny. I already liked her back in Love, Life, and the List as Abby’s new friend. She is not perfect – she can be avoidant of things she don’t want to deal with (schoolwork, her dad), and she can be overly fixated on her career and what the media says (which is quite understandable). However ...more

Mar 31, 2019
Maggie ☘
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
amazing-reads,
contemporary-na
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss had the kind of Kasie West magic I've been missing for some time now in her more recent works. With this newest book, I feel like the magic is back.
I'm not going to lie, I didn't expect too much from this book. Especially since this book follows a character we first got to meet in Love, Life, and the List - Lacey was the former MC's friend. I think I had this stigma in my head because Love, Life, and the List is, alongside with Lucky in Love, my least favourite KW ...more
I'm not going to lie, I didn't expect too much from this book. Especially since this book follows a character we first got to meet in Love, Life, and the List - Lacey was the former MC's friend. I think I had this stigma in my head because Love, Life, and the List is, alongside with Lucky in Love, my least favourite KW ...more


Reviews like this can also be found on my blog, Vicariously & Voraciously
Aspiring actress Lacey has landed herself gig costarring with one of the hottest actors in Hollywood. But she can’t seem to get chemistry with him right on screen. Meanwhile someone seems to be sabotaging her success on set and she also has to juggle her overbearing dad who hires a tutor just to helper her get her homework done. She can’t seem to catch a break like the one she got when she landed the role.
The Story-
Oh my go ...more

What a novel! Can you believe this is my first Kasie West book? I know, crazy! Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The writing was descriptive and flowed perfectly from sentence to sentence. I especially enjoyed the sections of the movie.
Thanks to HarperTeen for sending me an eGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Goodreads | Blog | Pinterest | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram ...more
Thanks to HarperTeen for sending me an eGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Goodreads | Blog | Pinterest | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram ...more

RATING: 4/5
e-ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Lacey Barnes has dreamed of being an actress for as long as she can remember. So, when she gets the opportunity to star in a movie alongside one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, she doesn’t hesitate to accept the part. Lacey quickly learns that life in the spotlight isn’t as picture-perfect as she imagined. With her entire future riding on this movie, Lacey knows she can’t afford to get sidetracked by anything. Specially not a ...more
e-ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Lacey Barnes has dreamed of being an actress for as long as she can remember. So, when she gets the opportunity to star in a movie alongside one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, she doesn’t hesitate to accept the part. Lacey quickly learns that life in the spotlight isn’t as picture-perfect as she imagined. With her entire future riding on this movie, Lacey knows she can’t afford to get sidetracked by anything. Specially not a ...more

this has become my new favorite kasie west book! ☻ i definitely liked it a lot better than life, love and the list (see my review here) because the mc, despite always worrying about not connecting enough with her co-lead in the movie she's starring in, actually has a lot of chemistry with her romantic interest.
...more

3 stars
It’s been a minute since I read a Kasie West novel, she’s my YA guilty pleasure. Since the pandemic began I haven’t had much of a mind for reading, but I’ve been able to listen to audiobooks on my commute to work and that’s exactly what I did with this book. I actually really liked this book, the first 75% of it or so was a 4 star read for me. But then the last 30 minutes or so of listening, everything was extremely rushed and outcomes were so unsatisfying. I felt this book was a lot of ...more
It’s been a minute since I read a Kasie West novel, she’s my YA guilty pleasure. Since the pandemic began I haven’t had much of a mind for reading, but I’ve been able to listen to audiobooks on my commute to work and that’s exactly what I did with this book. I actually really liked this book, the first 75% of it or so was a 4 star read for me. But then the last 30 minutes or so of listening, everything was extremely rushed and outcomes were so unsatisfying. I felt this book was a lot of ...more

Nov 30, 2018
Mlpmom (Book Reviewer)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kindle-books,
arc-book-read
Such a cute story! Full review to come closer to release date.
*EDITED TO ADD REVIEW*
Is there anything better than an adorable read in front of the fire place on a cool winter-y afternoon?
Nope, I believe not.
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss, like most West books, was just so much fun. So cute and sweet and just the right thing to escape for a couple of hours and be left, by the very last page, with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart.
Classic West with all the feels, friendships, and ...more
*EDITED TO ADD REVIEW*
Is there anything better than an adorable read in front of the fire place on a cool winter-y afternoon?
Nope, I believe not.
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss, like most West books, was just so much fun. So cute and sweet and just the right thing to escape for a couple of hours and be left, by the very last page, with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart.
Classic West with all the feels, friendships, and ...more

I adore Kasie West books because they are cute and lighthearted stories that are a breath a fresh air after reading too many intense and overdramatic or big world building fantasy books. Sometimes avid readers have to have these types of books to enjoy quickly. This one is about a teen that is starting out as an actress. There is some mystery, light drama, friendship and cute romance.
My quick and simple overall: adorable, quick read.
My quick and simple overall: adorable, quick read.

RTC? Maybe?
Anyways, Kasie West writes the best worse contemporary books ever and I'm a stan. ...more
Anyways, Kasie West writes the best worse contemporary books ever and I'm a stan. ...more

Book #4 for the reading rush:
Read a book that has five or more words in the title: ✓
3.5
that was cute but i wasn’t totally invested rip. but can we talk about Donavan!? soft soft boy ♥
buddy read with may (the only person i'd buddy read kasie west with ♥) ...more
3.5
that was cute but i wasn’t totally invested rip. but can we talk about Donavan!? soft soft boy ♥
buddy read with may (the only person i'd buddy read kasie west with ♥) ...more

Dec 31, 2018
Tiffany (Read By Tiffany)
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
own-arc,
read-in-2018
FULL REVIEW: https://readbytiffany.wordpress.com/2...
Kasie West is definitely one of my favorite authors, and her books are always super feel-good, soft, and fluffy. As much as I love her books, this one wasn't up to par to her other releases like The Fill-In Boyfriend or P.S. I Like You. It was definitely still an enjoyable read, and I really grew to love the main characters. However, the writing and development of the story felt a bit muddled and messy. I wouldn't say that this is her best b ...more
Kasie West is definitely one of my favorite authors, and her books are always super feel-good, soft, and fluffy. As much as I love her books, this one wasn't up to par to her other releases like The Fill-In Boyfriend or P.S. I Like You. It was definitely still an enjoyable read, and I really grew to love the main characters. However, the writing and development of the story felt a bit muddled and messy. I wouldn't say that this is her best b ...more

This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
MY THOUGHTS
Kasie West is an auto-buy author for me. Even though the books she writes don't always become a favorite of mine, I can always count on a feel-good contemporary romance from her. While this book was an enjoyable read, it did not make the favorites list.
Our main character, Lacey, has just gotten her first lead movie role in an independent zombie movie (based on a book). So far, she hasn't gotten the best publicity. Her co-sta ...more
MY THOUGHTS
Kasie West is an auto-buy author for me. Even though the books she writes don't always become a favorite of mine, I can always count on a feel-good contemporary romance from her. While this book was an enjoyable read, it did not make the favorites list.
Our main character, Lacey, has just gotten her first lead movie role in an independent zombie movie (based on a book). So far, she hasn't gotten the best publicity. Her co-sta ...more

Aug 06, 2018
. (not active on this account stop adding me)
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
netgalley-and-edelweiss,
arcs
2.5 stars ✧
review also on my blog
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss follows Lacey, a new, seventeen-year-old actress, as she stars in a zombie film opposite a renowned actor, named Grant. Since signing onto this film, she’s had a rift with her father, who wants her to focus on school and not get caught up in show business. Her father ends up hiring a tutor from the local school, who happens to be an entertainment (a.k.a. f ...more
ARC kindly provided by Harper Teen in exchange for an honest review.
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss follows Lacey, a new, seventeen-year-old actress, as she stars in a zombie film opposite a renowned actor, named Grant. Since signing onto this film, she’s had a rift with her father, who wants her to focus on school and not get caught up in show business. Her father ends up hiring a tutor from the local school, who happens to be an entertainment (a.k.a. f ...more

Dec 19, 2018
Alexa
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
friends-with-arcs,
read-in-2018
Whenever I crack open a Kasie West novel, I expect to have warm, fuzzy feelings - and that certainly happened with FAME, FATE AND THE FIRST KISS. It honestly read a lot like a DCOM or a teen rom-com, and since I tend to be a sucker for those types of stories, I thought this one was quite enjoyable. The main couple were quite cute to read about, and I enjoyed the secondary characters (and cameos) a ton. If you enjoy these types of tales or want a read that's on the lighter side, definitely check
...more

This book was super cute. I really enjoyed it!
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss is a Young Adult contemporary romance. It is the second book in a set of three standalone books with crossover characters. The first book was Abby's story in Love, Life, and the List.
This book can 100% be read as a standalone. Abby has a small part in this book. But you don't need to know anything about Love, Life, and the List to enjoy this book. I actually have read Love, Life, and the List, but had no idea while read ...more
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss is a Young Adult contemporary romance. It is the second book in a set of three standalone books with crossover characters. The first book was Abby's story in Love, Life, and the List.
This book can 100% be read as a standalone. Abby has a small part in this book. But you don't need to know anything about Love, Life, and the List to enjoy this book. I actually have read Love, Life, and the List, but had no idea while read ...more

Dec 05, 2018
Danielle (Life of a Literary Nerd)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary,
arcs
Another Kasie West book, another good time.
I love Kasie's books because they are just so much fun and I can get fully lost in them. They're the pinacle of having a good time. Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss was no different. We follow Lacey Barnes as she's set to start alongside a major Hollywood heartthrob in her breakout role. There's an adorable romance, onset drama, and tentative friendships that develop organically. I do think I liked Love, Life, and the List a bit more, but this was still a ...more
I love Kasie's books because they are just so much fun and I can get fully lost in them. They're the pinacle of having a good time. Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss was no different. We follow Lacey Barnes as she's set to start alongside a major Hollywood heartthrob in her breakout role. There's an adorable romance, onset drama, and tentative friendships that develop organically. I do think I liked Love, Life, and the List a bit more, but this was still a ...more

I adore Kasie West... seriously. FRTC

4.5 stars.
This relationship may even rival Abby and Cooper. Not the story, but the relationship. The book ended too abruptly for my taste, but otherwise it was good!
This relationship may even rival Abby and Cooper. Not the story, but the relationship. The book ended too abruptly for my taste, but otherwise it was good!

Companion book to... actually, it doesn't even matter. This is basically a standalone. And a nice one!
Lacey wants to be a famous actress and she's worked hard for it, staying away from boys and any distractions. She's even said goodbye to her mother, siblings and best friend to move in with her father in LA to work in the movie that could be her career changer.While trying to balance life with her father, pressure from working with a popular actor and sessions with her tutor to keep up with scho ...more
Lacey wants to be a famous actress and she's worked hard for it, staying away from boys and any distractions. She's even said goodbye to her mother, siblings and best friend to move in with her father in LA to work in the movie that could be her career changer.While trying to balance life with her father, pressure from working with a popular actor and sessions with her tutor to keep up with scho ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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YA Buddy Readers'...: Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss (Love, Life, and the List #2) by Kasie West - Starting August 9th 2020 | 18 | 13 | Aug 14, 2020 07:49PM | |
Čteme anglicky: Letní čtení 2019 - Fame, Fate and the First Kiss | 1 | 13 | May 23, 2019 06:49AM | |
Young Adult Conte...: #5 Fame, Fate and the First Kiss by Kasie West | 9 | 28 | Apr 22, 2019 07:46PM |
I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels are: PIVOT POINT and its sequel SPLIT SECOND. And my contemporary novels: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND, PS I LIKE YOU, BY YOUR SIDE, LUCKY IN LOVE, LOVE LIFE and the LIST, LISTEN TO YOUR HEART, FAME FATE and the FIRST KISS, MAYBE THIS TIME, and MOMENT OF TRUTH. My agent is t
...more
Other books in the series
Love, Life, and the List
(3 books)
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“People need to hear hard things sometimes to push them to be better.”
—
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“Why entertainment?” I asked. “Why do you like to write reviews?”
“I love stories. I love watching them play out and trying to guess the endings. I love being surprised and learning new things about people or about myself.”
“And then you love saying how it could’ve been done so much better?”
He laughed, a soft, deep laugh that made my stomach flutter. “Or how it was done well. Don’t forget I do write good reviews too.”
—
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More quotes…
“I love stories. I love watching them play out and trying to guess the endings. I love being surprised and learning new things about people or about myself.”
“And then you love saying how it could’ve been done so much better?”
He laughed, a soft, deep laugh that made my stomach flutter. “Or how it was done well. Don’t forget I do write good reviews too.”