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Starstruck #3
Rising Star
Who wouldn't want to house sit for a smoking hot movie star? The one woman he asked to do it.
Alice Carlisle has problems.
Her sociology Ph.D. dissertation is going nowhere, she's about to lose the TV extra job that's been paying her bills, and her roommate is kicking her out. She needs to find a new place to live ASAP, so she can focus on finally finishing her doctorate.
Enter Griffin, one of Hollywood's rising stars, who offers to let her move into his guest room if she'll dog sit for him. Four months rent free in a nice house with an adorable dog is an offer Alice can't turn down--even if she has major qualms about her movie star roommate.
Griffin Beach has it all.
He's gorgeous, newly jacked, and poised to make the leap from TV show regular to box office superstar. Until his dog sitter bails, leaving him desperate to find someone he trusts to look after his precious fur baby.
Someone like Alice, the extra who's never seemed to like him but loves his dog. Griffin has his doubts about the arrangement, but living with Alice opens his eyes to how empty his workaholic lifestyle has become. The more time they spend together, the more he realizes she might be exactly what he needs in his life.
Can Alice let her guard down and learn to trust again? Can Griffin stop trying to please everyone else long enough to show her how he feels? Will they get their Hollywood happy ending? Or will their love story bomb at the box office?
RISING STAR is a standalone story set in the same universe as FALLEN STAR, featuring a brand new couple with their own happy ending. The books in this series can be read in any order.
Alice Carlisle has problems.
Her sociology Ph.D. dissertation is going nowhere, she's about to lose the TV extra job that's been paying her bills, and her roommate is kicking her out. She needs to find a new place to live ASAP, so she can focus on finally finishing her doctorate.
Enter Griffin, one of Hollywood's rising stars, who offers to let her move into his guest room if she'll dog sit for him. Four months rent free in a nice house with an adorable dog is an offer Alice can't turn down--even if she has major qualms about her movie star roommate.
Griffin Beach has it all.
He's gorgeous, newly jacked, and poised to make the leap from TV show regular to box office superstar. Until his dog sitter bails, leaving him desperate to find someone he trusts to look after his precious fur baby.
Someone like Alice, the extra who's never seemed to like him but loves his dog. Griffin has his doubts about the arrangement, but living with Alice opens his eyes to how empty his workaholic lifestyle has become. The more time they spend together, the more he realizes she might be exactly what he needs in his life.
Can Alice let her guard down and learn to trust again? Can Griffin stop trying to please everyone else long enough to show her how he feels? Will they get their Hollywood happy ending? Or will their love story bomb at the box office?
RISING STAR is a standalone story set in the same universe as FALLEN STAR, featuring a brand new couple with their own happy ending. The books in this series can be read in any order.
322 pages, ebook
First published November 8, 2018
432 people are currently reading
1298 people want to read
About the author
Susannah Nix
60 books1,863 followersSusannah Nix is a RITA® Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of rom-coms and contemporary romances who lives in Texas with her husband. On the rare occasions she's not writing, she can be found reading, knitting, lifting weights, drinking wine, or obsessively watching Ted Lasso on repeat to stave off existential angst.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
November 7, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It’s not exactly the light ‘celebrity romance’ you expect, and I enjoyed that thoroughly. This is my first Susannah Nix novel but it will certainly not be my last.
The main story does revolve around Alice and Griffin but there is a side plot with regard of Alice which is quite a sensitive social issue these days and it is very well presented. I don’t want to say too much not to spoil the plot, but I believe Susannah did a fantastic job showing Alice ways of thinking, you can really immerge yourself in the situation and get into her head. This is real talent here. Kudos to you Mrs Nix!
Alice shows both her weakness and strength, it gives her much more dimension, it makes her real.
I also like how the side situation that Alice is going through is somehow voluntarily (or not) affecting her relationship with Griffin.
Also You don’t see the usual side of the ‘celebrity romance’. You get to see the sides that ‘sucks’ when you are a celebrity – the constant diet, the struggle to keep a body which is unrealistic, the rules you have to follow etc…
I love also that it was not instant-love, they grew accustomed to each other, it was progressive.
This story really has it all. It made me laugh out loud (I loooove dairy people that book did hit its mark), it made me ache, made me angry, made me smile blissfully and sometimes made me teary.
In Conclusion: There is nothing I disliked in this story and whilst there is a lot of Celebrity romance novel out there, this one is is really different by both the seriousness of the side pot and the angle under which this relationship is explored. I would strongly recommend this novel.
Stars 4/5
The main story does revolve around Alice and Griffin but there is a side plot with regard of Alice which is quite a sensitive social issue these days and it is very well presented. I don’t want to say too much not to spoil the plot, but I believe Susannah did a fantastic job showing Alice ways of thinking, you can really immerge yourself in the situation and get into her head. This is real talent here. Kudos to you Mrs Nix!
Alice shows both her weakness and strength, it gives her much more dimension, it makes her real.
I also like how the side situation that Alice is going through is somehow voluntarily (or not) affecting her relationship with Griffin.
Also You don’t see the usual side of the ‘celebrity romance’. You get to see the sides that ‘sucks’ when you are a celebrity – the constant diet, the struggle to keep a body which is unrealistic, the rules you have to follow etc…
I love also that it was not instant-love, they grew accustomed to each other, it was progressive.
This story really has it all. It made me laugh out loud (I loooove dairy people that book did hit its mark), it made me ache, made me angry, made me smile blissfully and sometimes made me teary.
In Conclusion: There is nothing I disliked in this story and whilst there is a lot of Celebrity romance novel out there, this one is is really different by both the seriousness of the side pot and the angle under which this relationship is explored. I would strongly recommend this novel.
Stars 4/5
November 2, 2018
Rising Star (Starstruck) by Susannah Nix
The appeal of Rising Star for me hinged heavily on Alice. Alice is a character that readers can see pieces of themselves in. Nix created a character that was fascinating not because she lost her heart to a movie star, but because she stayed true to herself while doing it. Susannah Nix dared to show how awkward can be beautiful. Rising Star is right at the head of class when it comes to empowerment and that's a message that never gets old.
The appeal of Rising Star for me hinged heavily on Alice. Alice is a character that readers can see pieces of themselves in. Nix created a character that was fascinating not because she lost her heart to a movie star, but because she stayed true to herself while doing it. Susannah Nix dared to show how awkward can be beautiful. Rising Star is right at the head of class when it comes to empowerment and that's a message that never gets old.
December 2, 2018
I have loved all of Susannah Nix’s books and I can say with confidence: this is her best work yet. The story enveloped me from page one and I could not get enough of it.
Rising Star centers around Alice the extra/PhD student and Griffin the actor. It’s a begrudging friends-to-lovers romance, in that it takes Alice a little while to warm up to Griffin. They barely know each other when Griffin asks Alice to dogsit for him while he’s on location in Atlanta and because she has to get out of her current apartment, they end up living together for a few weeks.
Alice and Griffin’s relationship flowed so naturally from work acquaintances to more, even as they struggled to keep their feelings private. Griffin, because Alice is his employee and he doesn’t want her to think he’s taking advantage of her. Alice, because she’s leery of men’s intentions at first and then she has no idea where she stands with him. There was so much angsty goodness as they moved closer to one another until finally fireworks exploded.
They were so good for another and so good together! Fantastic chemistry and it was fun to see Nix write steamier scenes. (Her Chemistry Lessons series is closed door.)
I loved all the behind-the-scenes of Hollywood life and what it’s like to be an actor, as well as an extra. (Griffin is on an intense diet throughout the story so take caution if this is an issue for you.) I also extremely related to the difficulties of Alice’s housing search; I got similar Craigslist results when searching for a place to live in San Francisco. There were so many great details for both Alice and Griffin and the character growth rang true as a result.
The story explores sexual harassment and power dynamics in powerful ways. Alice has neglected her research for several months due to inappropriate advances from a professor and feels like she has no recourse but to drop out of the program once her advisor returns. I really appreciate how Nix handled the realities of sexual harassment in academia. Again and again, Alice is told her response is up to her, that she’s not responsible for what the professor did or what he might do in the future. There’s no right or wrong answer and in this way, Alice regains some agency in the situation.
As someone who was sexually harassed at work many years ago, I could not help but reflect on my own experience and I felt very empowered by way of Alice’s story but I recognize reading about this topic may dredge up traumatic memories for others, particularly if they had no one to speak up for them or if harassment led to something even worse. It’s such a helpless feeling when a man abuses his power like that, particularly when it seems victims have little to no recourse, and I suspect more stories will cover this ground in the wake of the #metoo movement. We’ll be better for it.
CW: sexual harassment (primarily in the past, no physical assault or abuse), celebrity diet/diet culture
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Rising Star centers around Alice the extra/PhD student and Griffin the actor. It’s a begrudging friends-to-lovers romance, in that it takes Alice a little while to warm up to Griffin. They barely know each other when Griffin asks Alice to dogsit for him while he’s on location in Atlanta and because she has to get out of her current apartment, they end up living together for a few weeks.
Alice and Griffin’s relationship flowed so naturally from work acquaintances to more, even as they struggled to keep their feelings private. Griffin, because Alice is his employee and he doesn’t want her to think he’s taking advantage of her. Alice, because she’s leery of men’s intentions at first and then she has no idea where she stands with him. There was so much angsty goodness as they moved closer to one another until finally fireworks exploded.
They were so good for another and so good together! Fantastic chemistry and it was fun to see Nix write steamier scenes. (Her Chemistry Lessons series is closed door.)
I loved all the behind-the-scenes of Hollywood life and what it’s like to be an actor, as well as an extra. (Griffin is on an intense diet throughout the story so take caution if this is an issue for you.) I also extremely related to the difficulties of Alice’s housing search; I got similar Craigslist results when searching for a place to live in San Francisco. There were so many great details for both Alice and Griffin and the character growth rang true as a result.
The story explores sexual harassment and power dynamics in powerful ways. Alice has neglected her research for several months due to inappropriate advances from a professor and feels like she has no recourse but to drop out of the program once her advisor returns. I really appreciate how Nix handled the realities of sexual harassment in academia. Again and again, Alice is told her response is up to her, that she’s not responsible for what the professor did or what he might do in the future. There’s no right or wrong answer and in this way, Alice regains some agency in the situation.
As someone who was sexually harassed at work many years ago, I could not help but reflect on my own experience and I felt very empowered by way of Alice’s story but I recognize reading about this topic may dredge up traumatic memories for others, particularly if they had no one to speak up for them or if harassment led to something even worse. It’s such a helpless feeling when a man abuses his power like that, particularly when it seems victims have little to no recourse, and I suspect more stories will cover this ground in the wake of the #metoo movement. We’ll be better for it.
CW: sexual harassment (primarily in the past, no physical assault or abuse), celebrity diet/diet culture
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2018
I adored all three of the books in Ms. Nix's previous "Chemistry Lessons" series, so I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of her latest effort, "Rising Star," ever since the day it was announced. (To say that I was thrilled to be chosen to read and review an advance copy is something of an understatement.) Thankfully, "Rising Star" not only lived up to my expectations, it exceeded them.
I loved this book and its characters. Griffin, the hero, was super likeable and down to Earth, despite the fact that he was well on his way to becoming a major movie star. I liked that Ms. Nix gave us the "behind the scenes" view of what his life as an actor was really like, with the strict diet and workouts necessary to maintain his muscular physique as well as glimpses of the downsides of fame, such as the loss of privacy in his relationships and the struggles with difficult directors and co-stars. She was able to show that acting really is a job like any other, despite its glamorous reputation, and requires sacrifice from those who want to be successful. It was easy to understand Alice's misgivings about entering into a relationship with Griffin based on the challenges associated with his job.
Alice's story arc was also very well-written and timely given the emergence of the #metoo movement. I particularly liked that it wasn't all wrapped up neatly at the end of the story. Unfortunately, I think that's a sad reflection of our current reality, and I really related with Alice's struggle to decide how to handle the situation and its potential implications for others.
Overall, I highly recommend "Rising Star" and hope to see several of the secondary characters featured in future books (particularly Kimberleigh and Griffin's actor friend who visited from Vancouver). Griffin and Alice were an incredibly likeable couple and I loved rooting them on to an HEA!
*Ebook provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book and its characters. Griffin, the hero, was super likeable and down to Earth, despite the fact that he was well on his way to becoming a major movie star. I liked that Ms. Nix gave us the "behind the scenes" view of what his life as an actor was really like, with the strict diet and workouts necessary to maintain his muscular physique as well as glimpses of the downsides of fame, such as the loss of privacy in his relationships and the struggles with difficult directors and co-stars. She was able to show that acting really is a job like any other, despite its glamorous reputation, and requires sacrifice from those who want to be successful. It was easy to understand Alice's misgivings about entering into a relationship with Griffin based on the challenges associated with his job.
Alice's story arc was also very well-written and timely given the emergence of the #metoo movement. I particularly liked that it wasn't all wrapped up neatly at the end of the story. Unfortunately, I think that's a sad reflection of our current reality, and I really related with Alice's struggle to decide how to handle the situation and its potential implications for others.
Overall, I highly recommend "Rising Star" and hope to see several of the secondary characters featured in future books (particularly Kimberleigh and Griffin's actor friend who visited from Vancouver). Griffin and Alice were an incredibly likeable couple and I loved rooting them on to an HEA!
*Ebook provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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February 4, 2022
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November 10, 2018
I’m not even sure where to start with this book. There are so many amazing things going on in it – some good, some unpleasant, all of them highly emotional. Alice and Griffin are so adorably awkward with each other. As painful as it sometimes is to watch, it’s also a thing of beauty. Alice is every girl who’s ever been caught in a situation she didn’t know how to get out of. One she had a hand in creating but wasn’t entirely of her own making. Griffin is sweet and charming, but oh so bumbling. He occasionally behaves like a butt-head, but, well, he’s human. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us with the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
November 25, 2022
A slower paced book, totally satisfying.
May 12, 2022
Fabulous
Well paced
Slow burn
Witty
Deliciously funny and characters well done
I have discovers another fav author
Well paced
Slow burn
Witty
Deliciously funny and characters well done
I have discovers another fav author
November 12, 2018
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kimberlyfaye reads.
Rising Star was the perfect read-in-one-sitting kind of romance. I mean that literally, too. I knocked it out in about two and a half hours and couldn’t think of doing anything else until I finished it. It was the perfect mash-up of the friends to lovers and famous person/regular person tropes. I smiled like a fool through a good portion of the book, enjoying the banter, swoons and feels.
Is it ok to say I just flat-out adored Alice and Griffin both? She was very relatable, with flaws and everything. Rising Star was just as much about her finding herself, moving past situations that held her back in the future and moving forward as it was about Griffin’s career. And Griffin? *swoony sigh* He wasn’t exactly perfect, but who is? I loved how much more real his imperfections made him. I also appreciated that while it was obvious he had a playboy/womanizing past, we never saw it. I’m pretty sure that made him a lot more likable to me.
Despite their differences, everything about Alice and Griffin just fit. It felt right. I wouldn’t exactly call their romance a slow burn, but it was one that built over time. In fact, I think I enjoyed their somewhat unlikely friendship just as much as I enjoyed the romance. They seemed to be just exactly what the other needed, which made their relationship that much more satisfying. Sure, there were some bumps along the way but that’s to be expected. Rising Star didn’t pummel my feels, but it did catch me off guard with emotions a couple times. I enjoy when that happens.
I’ve been a fan of Susannah Nix since I read the first two books in her Chemistry Lessons series earlier this year. I was excited to see this new book and I’m even happier that it’s actually the first book in a new series. I adore her writing, characters and storytelling, and I especially appreciate how she brings timely and important real life issues into the plot. She has a way of tackling them without being too overwhelming, while still making the reader think.
In short, Rising Star was fantastic. I can’t wait for more in this series. If regular person/famous person romances are your jam, look no further. This one has to be on your TBR.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Rising Star was the perfect read-in-one-sitting kind of romance. I mean that literally, too. I knocked it out in about two and a half hours and couldn’t think of doing anything else until I finished it. It was the perfect mash-up of the friends to lovers and famous person/regular person tropes. I smiled like a fool through a good portion of the book, enjoying the banter, swoons and feels.
Is it ok to say I just flat-out adored Alice and Griffin both? She was very relatable, with flaws and everything. Rising Star was just as much about her finding herself, moving past situations that held her back in the future and moving forward as it was about Griffin’s career. And Griffin? *swoony sigh* He wasn’t exactly perfect, but who is? I loved how much more real his imperfections made him. I also appreciated that while it was obvious he had a playboy/womanizing past, we never saw it. I’m pretty sure that made him a lot more likable to me.
Despite their differences, everything about Alice and Griffin just fit. It felt right. I wouldn’t exactly call their romance a slow burn, but it was one that built over time. In fact, I think I enjoyed their somewhat unlikely friendship just as much as I enjoyed the romance. They seemed to be just exactly what the other needed, which made their relationship that much more satisfying. Sure, there were some bumps along the way but that’s to be expected. Rising Star didn’t pummel my feels, but it did catch me off guard with emotions a couple times. I enjoy when that happens.
I’ve been a fan of Susannah Nix since I read the first two books in her Chemistry Lessons series earlier this year. I was excited to see this new book and I’m even happier that it’s actually the first book in a new series. I adore her writing, characters and storytelling, and I especially appreciate how she brings timely and important real life issues into the plot. She has a way of tackling them without being too overwhelming, while still making the reader think.
In short, Rising Star was fantastic. I can’t wait for more in this series. If regular person/famous person romances are your jam, look no further. This one has to be on your TBR.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
July 16, 2024
I enjoyed this one more at the beginning than the end. It had so many elements in it that I love… celebrity, a woman in academia getting her PhD, a cute dog, some forced proximity. I didn’t get enough of the romance though. The set up is fun. He’s an upcoming film star while she is trying to earn some extra money while finishing her PhD. She ends up as an extra on the tv show he’s on. They’ve always been friendly so when she tells him she is in search of somewhere to stay it’s the perfect fix for his hunt for a dog sitter while he’ll be out of town filming a movie. They end up as roommates for a month before he leaves and they become closer friends and are teetering on the edge of something more. But then he leaves and there’s some conflict that carries over to when he’s back. There wasn’t enough of them actually together for me to enjoy. Maybe if it were a little bit longer to add in some more of that fluff I would have rated it higher.
🐶 includes a dog
🎬 celebrity
🏡 roommates
dual POV
3.5/5 stars ⭐️
1/5 spice level 🌶️
🐶 includes a dog
🎬 celebrity
🏡 roommates
dual POV
3.5/5 stars ⭐️
1/5 spice level 🌶️
October 31, 2018
I need to begin that I love, love, love Alice's character. She went through a horrible event that no woman should have to endure but sadly is completely accepted in academia and many other professions. Why does our society attack the woman that is involved with sexual harassment and sexual assault? She did nothing wrong!?! But yet, she is the one who is put under a looking glass from how she dresses to her sexual partners to her dating life! Yet, the man that committed the crime is not!?! Ok, I'm off my soapbox. I just had to get that off my chest. Yes, it all does pertain to the book since this is what Alice had to endure and Griffin helped her work through those emotions.
Also check out the excerpt of the book here
Alice Carlisle is in a rut. She should be finishing off her PhD dissertation, instead she's working as an extra on a television show and avoiding her roommate since said roommate wants her to move out. Not until one of the show's front runners, Griffin Beach starts to show an interest does her luck begin to change. Interest in having Alice as his dog sitter and house sitter while he's filming in Atlanta after the show ends. Alice moves in before he leaves since she lovely roommate wanted her out immediately to move his new boyfriend in. Alice and Griffin begin a friendship and an odd flirtation before Griffin leaves. What starts out as a business relationship becomes much more complicated.
Griffin is an up and coming star. He's slated to start in three movie roles after his sitcom ends. He's never really had a roommate before preferring his solitude and privacy. He gets very little of both recently since he's becoming more popular and famous with each role he accepts. The movie of a lifetime is turning out to be a complete disaster. He was looking forward to working with this director, but the man is a complete tool. Griffin fears that this will be the director's first flop that spells trouble for Griffin's career as well. He enters a fake relationship with his co-star to save the movie. This fake relationship comes at a price for him--Alice.
Griffin gave Alice the strength to tell her adviser the truth behind why Alice stopped working on her dissertation. A weight lifted off her shoulders by sharing this information. It also gave Alice the motivation to return to working on the dissertation. Once Alice can see the final light of her work--she has complications--named Griffin. Griffin returns from Atlanta. She can't wait to see him until she finds out about his fake relationship. She thought they were at least friends--friends tell each other when they are in a relationship, right?
Both Alice and Griffin want more than a friendship. Can Alice find a way to accept the pitfalls of Griffin's occupation? Can Griffin find a way to protect Alice from the paps? Will they find a way to be together even though they each have issues with their occupations?
Also check out the excerpt of the book here
Alice Carlisle is in a rut. She should be finishing off her PhD dissertation, instead she's working as an extra on a television show and avoiding her roommate since said roommate wants her to move out. Not until one of the show's front runners, Griffin Beach starts to show an interest does her luck begin to change. Interest in having Alice as his dog sitter and house sitter while he's filming in Atlanta after the show ends. Alice moves in before he leaves since she lovely roommate wanted her out immediately to move his new boyfriend in. Alice and Griffin begin a friendship and an odd flirtation before Griffin leaves. What starts out as a business relationship becomes much more complicated.
Griffin is an up and coming star. He's slated to start in three movie roles after his sitcom ends. He's never really had a roommate before preferring his solitude and privacy. He gets very little of both recently since he's becoming more popular and famous with each role he accepts. The movie of a lifetime is turning out to be a complete disaster. He was looking forward to working with this director, but the man is a complete tool. Griffin fears that this will be the director's first flop that spells trouble for Griffin's career as well. He enters a fake relationship with his co-star to save the movie. This fake relationship comes at a price for him--Alice.
Griffin gave Alice the strength to tell her adviser the truth behind why Alice stopped working on her dissertation. A weight lifted off her shoulders by sharing this information. It also gave Alice the motivation to return to working on the dissertation. Once Alice can see the final light of her work--she has complications--named Griffin. Griffin returns from Atlanta. She can't wait to see him until she finds out about his fake relationship. She thought they were at least friends--friends tell each other when they are in a relationship, right?
Both Alice and Griffin want more than a friendship. Can Alice find a way to accept the pitfalls of Griffin's occupation? Can Griffin find a way to protect Alice from the paps? Will they find a way to be together even though they each have issues with their occupations?
November 8, 2018
Rising Star is my first Susannah Nix story.
I truly enjoyed Alice and Griffin’s story. It is a sweet love story with great character development.
In the beginning their careers are not uncommon but the more I read the more their stories unfolded; there was so much more.
There were scenes that made me giggle, swoon and frown. Several great secondary characters that would make fantastic future stories.
If you are looking for a sweet love story with a bit of angst, here ya go!
Reviewed by Becky for JoandIsaLoveBooks
I truly enjoyed Alice and Griffin’s story. It is a sweet love story with great character development.
In the beginning their careers are not uncommon but the more I read the more their stories unfolded; there was so much more.
There were scenes that made me giggle, swoon and frown. Several great secondary characters that would make fantastic future stories.
If you are looking for a sweet love story with a bit of angst, here ya go!
Reviewed by Becky for JoandIsaLoveBooks
January 13, 2019
This was my first Susannah Nix novel but it will NOT be the last. I really enjoyed this one - the story of a PhD student (and part-time extra on a TV show) and an actor from that TV show. The growth of their relationship from work acquaintances to friends to more was really well done. There is also a fantastic exploration of sexual harassment that was built into the story quite effectively.
November 8, 2018
You know when you find that perfect book that makes you feel a part of the storyline due to palpable protagonists and a well developed plot? Well I found it in Susanna Nix' Rising Star.
It is a sweet and intriguing story filled with thrilling moments, heartwrenching scenes and a beautiful HEA.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book. And I loved the story!
It is a sweet and intriguing story filled with thrilling moments, heartwrenching scenes and a beautiful HEA.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book. And I loved the story!
May 15, 2020
Nix managed to find the best balance between sweet and spicy in this Hollywood romance. Typically, I'm not one for rockstar and movie star romances because inevitably I'll think someone is a piece of trash. Thankfully, Nix proved me wrong. Both characters were fallible and yet endearing with some serious lonesome pine happening in some parts. There was a fair amount of miscommunication and/or complete LACK thereof but I still seriously loved Alice and Griffin's story.
Overall, I really enjoyed it and now I want to circle back and read the first Starstruck book!
Overall, I really enjoyed it and now I want to circle back and read the first Starstruck book!
February 19, 2020
Enjoyable romance with two very believable characters. Griffin was a insecure, nervous film star and Alice a quiet, insecure Phd student who had been subjected to sexual harassment. Kudos to the author for writing a clever, intelligent woman who knows her own weaknesses. Alice was neither a wimp, nor one of those appalling women who are described as 'sassy' (aka - rude and obnoxious)
Griffin was also a delight - there was a lovely scene near the start where he has to cover Alice's body with his own and it was beautifully written. I have no real idea about the world of film-making but there was nothing in the book that made me go - wtf?
My only real quibble was the sex. Yes, it was well-written, but somehow it seemed at odds with the rest of the book. I don't know why, but it jarred with me.
Four stars. I liked the characters and the way the sexual harassment was dealt with. Some lovely touches in the story. (and for once the dog didn't take over the book!)
(This is part of a series, but to be honest, I would rather read more about Alice and Griffin than have further books that focus on secondary characters.)
Griffin was also a delight - there was a lovely scene near the start where he has to cover Alice's body with his own and it was beautifully written. I have no real idea about the world of film-making but there was nothing in the book that made me go - wtf?
My only real quibble was the sex. Yes, it was well-written, but somehow it seemed at odds with the rest of the book. I don't know why, but it jarred with me.
Four stars. I liked the characters and the way the sexual harassment was dealt with. Some lovely touches in the story. (and for once the dog didn't take over the book!)
(This is part of a series, but to be honest, I would rather read more about Alice and Griffin than have further books that focus on secondary characters.)
January 8, 2020
Hero treats heroine like his dirty little secret while publicly fake dating is co star. He makes heroine feel like shit when she expresses that she doesn’t like the fake dating.
They can’t go out because it would ruin his publicity if he is caught with “another woman”.
Heroine has no backbone. She just keeps dating him even when he comes back home with lipstick on his mouth from his costar and smells like her perfume. (Didn’t sleep with costar, but they had to make their dating look real for the media so kissing and lots of touching).
Hero’s concern is his career. He never does “break up” with costar yet when heroine breaks up with him because shit he did. She takes him back after receiving no real apology. His fake relationship with costar just fizzles our.
He doesn’t make a big romantic gesture of choosing heroine over career or himself. He’s just a shallow piece of shit to be honest.
Also, did I mention he was a manwhore...
They can’t go out because it would ruin his publicity if he is caught with “another woman”.
Heroine has no backbone. She just keeps dating him even when he comes back home with lipstick on his mouth from his costar and smells like her perfume. (Didn’t sleep with costar, but they had to make their dating look real for the media so kissing and lots of touching).
Hero’s concern is his career. He never does “break up” with costar yet when heroine breaks up with him because shit he did. She takes him back after receiving no real apology. His fake relationship with costar just fizzles our.
He doesn’t make a big romantic gesture of choosing heroine over career or himself. He’s just a shallow piece of shit to be honest.
Also, did I mention he was a manwhore...
December 28, 2018
Rising Star by Susannah Nix is a sweet romance book that has a wonderful storyline. It is a romantic tale that is fun, cute and written. I loved the easy relationship and banter between the main characters who I loved loved loved. They both have well imagined backgrounds and strengths and vulnerabilities as well. It is a bit of an emotional read as it hits on a tough subject but Susannah handled it well. Alice is caring and smart and a beautiful soul and on her way to a Ph.D but that doesn’t pay the bills, yet. Griffin is on his way to stardom and offers Alice an answer to her problem. Trust is hard for her but she says yes and that is when things change between the two but he holds all the power to take it all away. That was when I wanted to smack him. Don’t miss out on this sweet romance story.
March 27, 2019
2.5 stars
I truly have a soft spot for celebrity romances, so bear in mind that it might have influenced my rating. but honestly, even with that. It was kind of bland.
I truly have a soft spot for celebrity romances, so bear in mind that it might have influenced my rating. but honestly, even with that. It was kind of bland.
July 11, 2019
Sooooooooooo boring. I’m actually proud of myself for finishing it.
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January 21, 2020
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4 stars — I absolutely LOVED the first 70% of this book. It made me swoon, it gave me the awww’s, it just fulfilled something I was looking for. The last 30% wasn’t bad or anything, it just took a turn towards probably the more realistic, and I don’t think I was in the right mood for that. The problem with celebrity romances is that there is the fairytale, and then there’s the reality…and I will admit, I tend to want more fairytale than reality. 😛
Which is not to say this book didn’t deliver some reality in other ways. I really enjoyed the subplot of Alice’s dealing with sexual harassment…which sounds really bad, but I mean enjoyed in that I thought it was dealt with really well. I loved that her story was a bit more subtle, because I think we mostly get shown extreme cases, but the subtle ones that make women uncomfortable are just as important, and just as damaging. I really think that story needed to be told. And it made her trust issues very valid (not to mention leftovers from her childhood).
I liked Alice a lot, even if I sometimes didn’t agree with her decisions and assessments. I think she provided a valid perspective of a “normal” to the Hollywood lifestyle. I appreciated what she was dealing with trying to figure out what she truly wanted to do with her life, and how hard it was to get to that PhD finish line.
Griffin had some wonderfully swoony moments, but also some super douchey moments, and I feel like I didn’t quite get the growth I was looking for from him. He laments his self-absorption, but he doesn’t seem to try to dive deep and figure out if it’s something he wants to change, and how to go about doing it. I wanted better from him in the end. I mean, I wanted better from both of them, but mostly I wanted him to be a bit more thoughtful of it all.
Their friendship to more was absolutely sweet and swoony and sexy. I loved the relationship they developed, and how they connected with one another. I loved how their chemistry came out once they got brave enough to admit what they wanted. But I hated the way that celebrity isolated them, and made some parts so toxic. I don’t know how I feel about their chances…since it took a realistic turn, I wouldn’t have minded knowing some of those hardships, and a bit more of how they handled it. *shrugs* Greedy.
There wasn’t a lot of secondary cast in this one. I think that’s what made it so hard for both of them, because they didn’t have many other people to rely on. I mean, Alice sort of had Rachel, and that got better later, but it was a bummer not to see any other relationships/friendships for either of them.
So yeah. I’m almost thinking maybe even 3.5 rounded up…but meh, I really loved that first 70%.
4 stars — I absolutely LOVED the first 70% of this book. It made me swoon, it gave me the awww’s, it just fulfilled something I was looking for. The last 30% wasn’t bad or anything, it just took a turn towards probably the more realistic, and I don’t think I was in the right mood for that. The problem with celebrity romances is that there is the fairytale, and then there’s the reality…and I will admit, I tend to want more fairytale than reality. 😛
Which is not to say this book didn’t deliver some reality in other ways. I really enjoyed the subplot of Alice’s dealing with sexual harassment…which sounds really bad, but I mean enjoyed in that I thought it was dealt with really well. I loved that her story was a bit more subtle, because I think we mostly get shown extreme cases, but the subtle ones that make women uncomfortable are just as important, and just as damaging. I really think that story needed to be told. And it made her trust issues very valid (not to mention leftovers from her childhood).
I liked Alice a lot, even if I sometimes didn’t agree with her decisions and assessments. I think she provided a valid perspective of a “normal” to the Hollywood lifestyle. I appreciated what she was dealing with trying to figure out what she truly wanted to do with her life, and how hard it was to get to that PhD finish line.
Griffin had some wonderfully swoony moments, but also some super douchey moments, and I feel like I didn’t quite get the growth I was looking for from him. He laments his self-absorption, but he doesn’t seem to try to dive deep and figure out if it’s something he wants to change, and how to go about doing it. I wanted better from him in the end. I mean, I wanted better from both of them, but mostly I wanted him to be a bit more thoughtful of it all.
Their friendship to more was absolutely sweet and swoony and sexy. I loved the relationship they developed, and how they connected with one another. I loved how their chemistry came out once they got brave enough to admit what they wanted. But I hated the way that celebrity isolated them, and made some parts so toxic. I don’t know how I feel about their chances…since it took a realistic turn, I wouldn’t have minded knowing some of those hardships, and a bit more of how they handled it. *shrugs* Greedy.
There wasn’t a lot of secondary cast in this one. I think that’s what made it so hard for both of them, because they didn’t have many other people to rely on. I mean, Alice sort of had Rachel, and that got better later, but it was a bummer not to see any other relationships/friendships for either of them.
So yeah. I’m almost thinking maybe even 3.5 rounded up…but meh, I really loved that first 70%.
November 12, 2018
I love Hollywood romances and this one in particular because I found that the characters were so relatable to real life. Instead of having a super famous Hollywood actor, Griffin is making his way up, at the moment starring as a doctor in a TV series. Alice is a post-graduate student, working to finishing her thesis for a doctoral degree in Social Studies. She’s supplementing her scholarship working as an extra in the same series as Griffin. Due to the pecking order in the set, the “extras” don’t mix with the talent, but Griffin has a precious little dog, Taco, and Alice loves the little guy.
When Griffin is called away to film a movie, he decides to leave Taco home and hires Alice to doggy sit in his house. This was fantastic because Alice had just been ousted from her apartment so her roommate could move his boyfriend in.
Griffin was a ladies man but he was getting tired of the scene. He was looking forward to finding someone who would treat him as a normal person. When Alice moves into his house, he finds that instead of clinging, she kept a distance. She was friendly but distant. Naturally he was intrigued but he went away to film his movie. This was a great move by the author because it allowed the characters to be friends and get closer slowly. Their push and pull and the awkwardness of their meetings was very cute.
I liked that both characters had issues to overcome that seemed like real life. Griffin was still subjected to his agent’s instructions, which rested mostly on fake romances and manipulating the public’s perception of the actor. Alice had problems pursuing the completion of her dissertation because of the undesired attentions of an attending professor. As a couple they were a great fit, but as a public couple they were not made in heaven. It was an entertaining read, and I liked the glimpse I got of a lower level of Hollywood echelons.
When Griffin is called away to film a movie, he decides to leave Taco home and hires Alice to doggy sit in his house. This was fantastic because Alice had just been ousted from her apartment so her roommate could move his boyfriend in.
Griffin was a ladies man but he was getting tired of the scene. He was looking forward to finding someone who would treat him as a normal person. When Alice moves into his house, he finds that instead of clinging, she kept a distance. She was friendly but distant. Naturally he was intrigued but he went away to film his movie. This was a great move by the author because it allowed the characters to be friends and get closer slowly. Their push and pull and the awkwardness of their meetings was very cute.
I liked that both characters had issues to overcome that seemed like real life. Griffin was still subjected to his agent’s instructions, which rested mostly on fake romances and manipulating the public’s perception of the actor. Alice had problems pursuing the completion of her dissertation because of the undesired attentions of an attending professor. As a couple they were a great fit, but as a public couple they were not made in heaven. It was an entertaining read, and I liked the glimpse I got of a lower level of Hollywood echelons.
January 5, 2019
Rising Star by Susannah Nix is the first book in her new Star struck series. The book follows Alice, a sociology student trying to complete her dissertation and gain the PhD that she’s been working on for the last five years. As if that wasn’t stressful enough her roommate needs her to move out, so he’s boyfriend can move in, and her job as a background extra on the show Las Vegas General, is finished as it wraps up its final season. Now Alice is basically homeless with no income and a looming dissertation dead line fast approaching. Thankfully in walks the up and coming actor Griffin, who’s been playing the smoking hot doctor on LA General, and in desperate need of a dog and house sitter while he films the latest blockbuster hit in Atlanta.
Rising Star was a cute, fluffy, enjoyable romance, in the way that all well written romances are. It has the perfect moment when the two main characters realise that what they’ve been looking for has been in front of them all along; as well as the right amount of angst and cheesiness. Susannah Nix also tackles more serious issues of the #metoo and TIME’S UP in the field of academics, that is vastly underrepresented in popular culture. Alice was a very believable character as she faced these issues, and her demeanour to sweep it all under the rug, rather than face social and academic backlash is incredibly relevant. Many young women are scared to speak up, or undervalue themselves when something terrible like this happens. And just as Susannah made clear in her novel, none of this is ever ok. It’s your body, and your choice.
This novel was very inspiring, as well as a cute romantic-comedy novel, that I really did enjoy. Overall I gave it 4/5 stars.
Rising Star was a cute, fluffy, enjoyable romance, in the way that all well written romances are. It has the perfect moment when the two main characters realise that what they’ve been looking for has been in front of them all along; as well as the right amount of angst and cheesiness. Susannah Nix also tackles more serious issues of the #metoo and TIME’S UP in the field of academics, that is vastly underrepresented in popular culture. Alice was a very believable character as she faced these issues, and her demeanour to sweep it all under the rug, rather than face social and academic backlash is incredibly relevant. Many young women are scared to speak up, or undervalue themselves when something terrible like this happens. And just as Susannah made clear in her novel, none of this is ever ok. It’s your body, and your choice.
This novel was very inspiring, as well as a cute romantic-comedy novel, that I really did enjoy. Overall I gave it 4/5 stars.
November 9, 2018
💚When roomies find romance, what could possibly go wrong?!😟😦😕
November 8, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍👍 Great romance with a protagonists I really cared about. I love author Susannah Nix's romances. The women are smart, I mean really academically brainy. In Rising Star, she highlights two great social issues of our time all while weaving a lovely romance.
Heroine Alice has faced sexual harassment from an advising professor as she works toward her doctorate in sociology and it has affected her academic work and her ability to trust men in general. Hero Griffin is a dreamy-looking actor with lots of short-term relationships behind him, but he is anything but aggressive in his interactions with Alice and allows a supportive, friendly relationship to build slowly as they learn about the pasts that make them so compatible. While supportive, he waits for Alice to come up with her own solution to the toxic situation that is keeping her from progress on her degree.
Social networks and their crushing power to intimidate are also front and center as Alice learns how hard it is to have a private life in the orbit of a celebrity and how hateful some followers and fans can be in their faceless posts. Unfortunately, this part of the story is all too realistic.
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written and timely story, right down to the Taco (a certain fellow's rescue terrier and the deus ex machina that initially brings Alice and Griffin together). I eagerly anticipated this book and was not disappointed. Now, Ms. Nix, when is your next coming?!:-)
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
November 8, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍👍 Great romance with a protagonists I really cared about. I love author Susannah Nix's romances. The women are smart, I mean really academically brainy. In Rising Star, she highlights two great social issues of our time all while weaving a lovely romance.
Heroine Alice has faced sexual harassment from an advising professor as she works toward her doctorate in sociology and it has affected her academic work and her ability to trust men in general. Hero Griffin is a dreamy-looking actor with lots of short-term relationships behind him, but he is anything but aggressive in his interactions with Alice and allows a supportive, friendly relationship to build slowly as they learn about the pasts that make them so compatible. While supportive, he waits for Alice to come up with her own solution to the toxic situation that is keeping her from progress on her degree.
Social networks and their crushing power to intimidate are also front and center as Alice learns how hard it is to have a private life in the orbit of a celebrity and how hateful some followers and fans can be in their faceless posts. Unfortunately, this part of the story is all too realistic.
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written and timely story, right down to the Taco (a certain fellow's rescue terrier and the deus ex machina that initially brings Alice and Griffin together). I eagerly anticipated this book and was not disappointed. Now, Ms. Nix, when is your next coming?!:-)
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
December 15, 2018
Rising Star
By: Susannah Nix
5 out of 5 stars
The story Rising Star by Susannah Nix is a wonderful romance book that I loved reading. It not only has a wonderful storyline it also has two main characters that I grew to love with each chapter that I read. Alice Carlisle is a woman that is caring and intelligent. She is also about to lose the job that is paying her bills and having to find a new place to live, immediately. She has a wonderful personality and a good heart. She does have trust issues and at times believes herself to be broken. She finds herself saying yes when Griffin Beach asks her to dog sit for him after the dog sitter he hired bails on him. It is the answer to her current problems. Griffin Beach is trying to break out of TV and onto the big screen. He is not one that has had success with relationships in the past because he always puts his work first. These two both are attracted to each other. They both feel the pull between them. They both have feelings/emotions for each other. Will a relationship between them work? Will they get an HEA? Read this story to find out. Alice and Griffin are two characters that I found myself rooting for and wanted them to find happiness. I enjoyed reading about the bantering that went back and forth between them. The story is written in such a way that I felt the emotions of the characters and mine went up and down when theirs did. I also enjoyed reading about some of the additional characters that are introduced. I liked reading about the part that they play in the book and also their interactions with Alice and Griffin. Don’t miss out on an absolutely wonderful romance story that you won’t want to put down until you have finished the final page.
By: Susannah Nix
5 out of 5 stars
The story Rising Star by Susannah Nix is a wonderful romance book that I loved reading. It not only has a wonderful storyline it also has two main characters that I grew to love with each chapter that I read. Alice Carlisle is a woman that is caring and intelligent. She is also about to lose the job that is paying her bills and having to find a new place to live, immediately. She has a wonderful personality and a good heart. She does have trust issues and at times believes herself to be broken. She finds herself saying yes when Griffin Beach asks her to dog sit for him after the dog sitter he hired bails on him. It is the answer to her current problems. Griffin Beach is trying to break out of TV and onto the big screen. He is not one that has had success with relationships in the past because he always puts his work first. These two both are attracted to each other. They both feel the pull between them. They both have feelings/emotions for each other. Will a relationship between them work? Will they get an HEA? Read this story to find out. Alice and Griffin are two characters that I found myself rooting for and wanted them to find happiness. I enjoyed reading about the bantering that went back and forth between them. The story is written in such a way that I felt the emotions of the characters and mine went up and down when theirs did. I also enjoyed reading about some of the additional characters that are introduced. I liked reading about the part that they play in the book and also their interactions with Alice and Griffin. Don’t miss out on an absolutely wonderful romance story that you won’t want to put down until you have finished the final page.
November 8, 2018
I fell in love with Susannah Nix’s work when I read REMEDIAL ROCKET SCIENCE, and her book of short stories, I & LOVE & YOU, sealed the deal for me.
Nix’s latest book, RISING STAR, is another winner, and everything I hoped. Her characters are so deeply human. They struggle things most people have been consumed by at one point or another in their lives: with money or finding a place to live before their lease is up; they worry about jobs, and if they measure up. One of the most appealing things about the gorgeous, movie star hero, Griffin Beach, (whose last name is not actually Beach) was the miserable diet he’s stuck on, and the way he internalizes his anxiety about his career and the things he’s given up to keep it afloat. It reminded me, in a way of reading a biography of Cary Grant and that incredible quote: “Everybody wants to be Cary Grant. I want to be Cary Grant.”
The hero comes in a pretty package, and sure that’s helps, but it’s the pain and the longing of a real human being underneath that you fall in love with. It’s a brilliant book, with some truly fresh moments. Both Alice and Griffin face significant choices and challenges in their careers, and I loved the way Nix handled these without resorting to flashy, implausible sacrifices and victories. Unexpectedly, one of my favorite parts of the book (besides the delicious, swoon-inducing love scenes) turned out to be Alice’s Ph.D. advisor, and the advice she gives Alice about handling a sexual harassment complaint. I think her wise, compassionate words may be the part I remember longest.
Nix’s latest book, RISING STAR, is another winner, and everything I hoped. Her characters are so deeply human. They struggle things most people have been consumed by at one point or another in their lives: with money or finding a place to live before their lease is up; they worry about jobs, and if they measure up. One of the most appealing things about the gorgeous, movie star hero, Griffin Beach, (whose last name is not actually Beach) was the miserable diet he’s stuck on, and the way he internalizes his anxiety about his career and the things he’s given up to keep it afloat. It reminded me, in a way of reading a biography of Cary Grant and that incredible quote: “Everybody wants to be Cary Grant. I want to be Cary Grant.”
The hero comes in a pretty package, and sure that’s helps, but it’s the pain and the longing of a real human being underneath that you fall in love with. It’s a brilliant book, with some truly fresh moments. Both Alice and Griffin face significant choices and challenges in their careers, and I loved the way Nix handled these without resorting to flashy, implausible sacrifices and victories. Unexpectedly, one of my favorite parts of the book (besides the delicious, swoon-inducing love scenes) turned out to be Alice’s Ph.D. advisor, and the advice she gives Alice about handling a sexual harassment complaint. I think her wise, compassionate words may be the part I remember longest.
December 29, 2018
Rising Star is the first book that I have read by Susannah Nix and if this book is anything to go by, it won’t be the last of her books that I’ll read.
As well as being a great romance novel, Susannah Nix tackles the sensitive subject of sexual harassment and she does it really well.
TV extra and PhD student Alice Carlisle is going through a hard time. She’s struggling with her PhD due to the unwanted attention she’s getting from one of her tutors. Her tv extra job is coming to an end and her flatmate wants her out.
Rising star Griffin Beach has a predicament, he needs a dog sitter while he’s away making his new film. Who better to do the job than Alice, an extra on his tv show who adores his dog, although he’s pretty sure that she doesn’t like him.
I really loved both of these characters. In particular I loved how Alice dealt with the issue of unwanted attention from Dr Gilchrist. This issue was handled so well by the author. The insights into what is going through Alice’s head give you so much love and empathy for her character. Griffin is such a sweet guy and him and Alice are so awkward around each other at first as they both try to deny their growing attraction to each other. Although, being a guy, he does make a few mistakes, but hey, we can’t all be perfect.
This is a book that I would definitely recommend to others.
As well as being a great romance novel, Susannah Nix tackles the sensitive subject of sexual harassment and she does it really well.
TV extra and PhD student Alice Carlisle is going through a hard time. She’s struggling with her PhD due to the unwanted attention she’s getting from one of her tutors. Her tv extra job is coming to an end and her flatmate wants her out.
Rising star Griffin Beach has a predicament, he needs a dog sitter while he’s away making his new film. Who better to do the job than Alice, an extra on his tv show who adores his dog, although he’s pretty sure that she doesn’t like him.
I really loved both of these characters. In particular I loved how Alice dealt with the issue of unwanted attention from Dr Gilchrist. This issue was handled so well by the author. The insights into what is going through Alice’s head give you so much love and empathy for her character. Griffin is such a sweet guy and him and Alice are so awkward around each other at first as they both try to deny their growing attraction to each other. Although, being a guy, he does make a few mistakes, but hey, we can’t all be perfect.
This is a book that I would definitely recommend to others.
November 9, 2018
Engaging characters: a sweet and funny read
Book 1 of the Starstruck series, this was only my second book by this author and I was still a little unsure just what to expect. I’d loved the previous book that I’d read and I tend to like Hollywood stories so I was eager to dive into this.
I thought the author did a great job with Alice and Griffin; they each had well-crafted backgrounds and nicely detailed story arcs and I liked how down to earth they both were, each with strengths and vulnerabilities,. Alice’s storyline was very topical, and handled in a realistic way, while we got a good feel for some of the downsides of being an up-and-coming star through Griffin’s eyes. A slow burn romance, I loved that they became friends first before moving on to anything more.
While I really loved most of the book as I watched their relationship develop, the story did drag for me me a bit at one point when I wanted to smack some sense into Griffin, lol. But it says something about how emotionally invested I was in the story., and I did feel for both these characters.
With engaging characters, this was a sweet and funny read, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. 4.5 stars
B2B Kelly
Book 1 of the Starstruck series, this was only my second book by this author and I was still a little unsure just what to expect. I’d loved the previous book that I’d read and I tend to like Hollywood stories so I was eager to dive into this.
I thought the author did a great job with Alice and Griffin; they each had well-crafted backgrounds and nicely detailed story arcs and I liked how down to earth they both were, each with strengths and vulnerabilities,. Alice’s storyline was very topical, and handled in a realistic way, while we got a good feel for some of the downsides of being an up-and-coming star through Griffin’s eyes. A slow burn romance, I loved that they became friends first before moving on to anything more.
While I really loved most of the book as I watched their relationship develop, the story did drag for me me a bit at one point when I wanted to smack some sense into Griffin, lol. But it says something about how emotionally invested I was in the story., and I did feel for both these characters.
With engaging characters, this was a sweet and funny read, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. 4.5 stars
B2B Kelly
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