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Identity
Naya hasn't had the best first year of university - her boyfriend broke up with her, leaving her friendless and pining after him. That is, until she meets Brynn one day at the gym. Brynn is cool and beautiful, and new to the city. Naya is her first friend here. But when Brynn actually turns out to be the famous actress Aviva Jersey in disguise, Naya must decide how much of their friendship is real and how much was just an act. And the longer Naya spends around Aviva, the more of the spotlight she begins to see. But haven't you heard? Fame doesn't always equal happiness, and the spotlight comes at a price.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2020
9 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Bayer
2 books18 followersAlexandra was first published in the eighth grade, and has continued writing ever since! She started writing Identity at age 19, and finished four years later. She majored in English at the University of Toronto, with minors in Spanish and Drama. She also loves to act, sing and song-write, and model. Her favourite "person" happens to be her communicative button-pressing cat, Winter, who has her own following at the handle @akittynamedwinter.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 4, 2020
Alexandra's first book is a story of friendship and relationships lost and new ones found.
In this story, we follow Naya who is struggling to get through her first year in college with a boyfriend who just broke up with her but who she sees every day and a lack of friends to turn to for advice.
Then, she meets Brynn, mysterious and new in town, she first meets Naya one night in the gym.
A friendship strikes up between the two as they share a gym buddy routine but Naya notices something off. It's then that she finds out that Brynn is keeping a secret. Her real name is actually Aviva Jersey, a famous actress, and she's in disguise to keep hidden while she works away from her home in LA.
Can the relationship between the two remain as it with these new realisations on the horizon? But if they can, how much will it change Naya's once ordinary world?
I really enjoyed this book! I'll be posting a full review on my blog in the next coming days so look out for that, but all I have to say is, why did it have to end?! I'm already so excited to read more of Bayer's work!
In this story, we follow Naya who is struggling to get through her first year in college with a boyfriend who just broke up with her but who she sees every day and a lack of friends to turn to for advice.
Then, she meets Brynn, mysterious and new in town, she first meets Naya one night in the gym.
A friendship strikes up between the two as they share a gym buddy routine but Naya notices something off. It's then that she finds out that Brynn is keeping a secret. Her real name is actually Aviva Jersey, a famous actress, and she's in disguise to keep hidden while she works away from her home in LA.
Can the relationship between the two remain as it with these new realisations on the horizon? But if they can, how much will it change Naya's once ordinary world?
I really enjoyed this book! I'll be posting a full review on my blog in the next coming days so look out for that, but all I have to say is, why did it have to end?! I'm already so excited to read more of Bayer's work!
July 1, 2020
I was definitely pulled into this young adult story. We meet Naya, a 19 year old who is struggling with self confidence and a recent break up with who she believes was the love of her life. She meets Brynn and instantly strikes up a friendship. There is a mystery around Brynn which, when is solved, makes the friendship much harder to navigate. She meets Jace who also comes with a mystery of his own. All 3 of these characters had immense chemistry and I enjoyed their interactions with each other, though I did weary of Brynn accusing Naya of the same conflict only to find out she was not the root of the problem. The love story between Jace and Naya is sweet and real for young people to connect with. Their love story was by far my favorite part of this book. It is a young adult book and very easy to read and fall into. I'd give it 4 stars for its unputdownable feel and I would definitely recommend it!
June 1, 2020
WARNING: THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
First and foremost, I am glad that I accepted this book review request from the author. This book is one of those “feel good” books that I may re-read in the future. Naya’s life is somewhat relatable specifically if you have experienced that kind of relationship in real life. When I first read the synopsis, I’ve had a different perspective on the overall plot but almost everything is different from what I’ve expected.
This book is fast-paced which I actually like. The writing style is good that it makes me highlight a lot! Another thing that I like about this book is that it didn’t focus on the love story of Naya but rather it focuses more in the friendship between Aviva and Naya. It makes me wonder how it is to have a friend who will help you move on from a toxic relationship.
Moreover, the main characters are lovable! There are also some parts in this book that might tug your heart and makes you realize things about yourself and your relationships.
“Watching anyone speak with so much passion is fascinating.”
I can completely agree with this! How can you not be fascinated with someone if they speak about something they love to do and you can clearly see the passion in their eyes?
“Because everyone deserves the opportunity to have their dream job.”
I don’t know why but the moment I read this part, I cried a little. This line is so relatable that I remember the bad things I went through just to be where I am right now. I know most of you can also relate to this, we all deserve that opportunity. Thank you to the author, Alexandra, for pointing it out.
On the contrary, the only thing that did not satisfy me is the way Aviva disguises herself. I mean, if she is that famous, a disguise like that is not enough to hide herself specifically from her avid fans. They will recognize her no matter what if they really are that invested in her as a fan. I am saying this because I am an avid fan too, a K-Pop fan for that matter, and I can totally recognize my idol in this type of disguise. Nevertheless, this won’t affect my rating of this book.
I love this book despite my issue with Aviva’s disguise. It may not be a jaw-dropping story but it totally delivers an enjoyable story.
I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for “feel good” books or for “light reading”.
TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of cheating, trust issues, betrayal
Read more on my blog: bookishkimberly.wordpress.com
First and foremost, I am glad that I accepted this book review request from the author. This book is one of those “feel good” books that I may re-read in the future. Naya’s life is somewhat relatable specifically if you have experienced that kind of relationship in real life. When I first read the synopsis, I’ve had a different perspective on the overall plot but almost everything is different from what I’ve expected.
This book is fast-paced which I actually like. The writing style is good that it makes me highlight a lot! Another thing that I like about this book is that it didn’t focus on the love story of Naya but rather it focuses more in the friendship between Aviva and Naya. It makes me wonder how it is to have a friend who will help you move on from a toxic relationship.
Moreover, the main characters are lovable! There are also some parts in this book that might tug your heart and makes you realize things about yourself and your relationships.
“Watching anyone speak with so much passion is fascinating.”
I can completely agree with this! How can you not be fascinated with someone if they speak about something they love to do and you can clearly see the passion in their eyes?
“Because everyone deserves the opportunity to have their dream job.”
I don’t know why but the moment I read this part, I cried a little. This line is so relatable that I remember the bad things I went through just to be where I am right now. I know most of you can also relate to this, we all deserve that opportunity. Thank you to the author, Alexandra, for pointing it out.
On the contrary, the only thing that did not satisfy me is the way Aviva disguises herself. I mean, if she is that famous, a disguise like that is not enough to hide herself specifically from her avid fans. They will recognize her no matter what if they really are that invested in her as a fan. I am saying this because I am an avid fan too, a K-Pop fan for that matter, and I can totally recognize my idol in this type of disguise. Nevertheless, this won’t affect my rating of this book.
I love this book despite my issue with Aviva’s disguise. It may not be a jaw-dropping story but it totally delivers an enjoyable story.
I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for “feel good” books or for “light reading”.
TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of cheating, trust issues, betrayal
Read more on my blog: bookishkimberly.wordpress.com
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2020
This book is exceptional. First book from Alexandra and I can tell she has a bright future in writing. Great job!
June 11, 2020
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is a bittersweet young adult novel which is a change from my current genre. I was asked to review this book by the author’s request. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
The story initially caught my interest but I needed to keep reminding myself of the intended audience. Naya is a 19 year old university student who lives with her parents and brother Connor. As much as I can relate to Naya being a college student living at home, sometimes it get like Naya was in high school. I admired the close family bond although I can’t imagine having a Friday Family Game Night. Her family almost seemed too involved in the activities of Naya’s life as her mother was always reminding her to study and complete assignments. Most freshman university students who lived on campus would develop a more independent personality.
However, this is a sweet novel that will likely resonate with a much younger audience. Naya is a likable character who is dedicated to her studies especially after the breakup with her boyfriend Asher. Naya usually keeps to herself and realizes that most of her friends were tethered to her relationship with Asher. As a way to distract herself, she decides to go to the gym. She never expected to meet someone who would become the significant friend which she greatly desired. So, she is surprised when Brynn initiates a conversation with her at the gym on night.
Naya’s confidence and self esteem improve when she agrees to be Brynn’s “gym buddy”. Although Naya realizes that they both lead very different lives they form an unlikely connection. Brynn is a mystery to Naya with all her vague responses. Eventually, Naya discovers that Brynn is actually Aviva Jersey, a famous actress. Naya isn’t particularly star struck since she’s been developing a friendship with the person regardless of her name. It isn’t long before Naya realizes the complications and misunderstandings which can arise when you are friends with someone whose life is a public stage. There are several unexpected situations a for Naya who also finds that she can get over Asher and open her heart to love again.
This is a story about family and friendship and the challenges most people encounter such as honesty, faith and trust.
This is a bittersweet young adult novel which is a change from my current genre. I was asked to review this book by the author’s request. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
The story initially caught my interest but I needed to keep reminding myself of the intended audience. Naya is a 19 year old university student who lives with her parents and brother Connor. As much as I can relate to Naya being a college student living at home, sometimes it get like Naya was in high school. I admired the close family bond although I can’t imagine having a Friday Family Game Night. Her family almost seemed too involved in the activities of Naya’s life as her mother was always reminding her to study and complete assignments. Most freshman university students who lived on campus would develop a more independent personality.
However, this is a sweet novel that will likely resonate with a much younger audience. Naya is a likable character who is dedicated to her studies especially after the breakup with her boyfriend Asher. Naya usually keeps to herself and realizes that most of her friends were tethered to her relationship with Asher. As a way to distract herself, she decides to go to the gym. She never expected to meet someone who would become the significant friend which she greatly desired. So, she is surprised when Brynn initiates a conversation with her at the gym on night.
Naya’s confidence and self esteem improve when she agrees to be Brynn’s “gym buddy”. Although Naya realizes that they both lead very different lives they form an unlikely connection. Brynn is a mystery to Naya with all her vague responses. Eventually, Naya discovers that Brynn is actually Aviva Jersey, a famous actress. Naya isn’t particularly star struck since she’s been developing a friendship with the person regardless of her name. It isn’t long before Naya realizes the complications and misunderstandings which can arise when you are friends with someone whose life is a public stage. There are several unexpected situations a for Naya who also finds that she can get over Asher and open her heart to love again.
This is a story about family and friendship and the challenges most people encounter such as honesty, faith and trust.
June 5, 2020
Being famous is not all it is cracked up to be, as Naya discovers in the debut novel by Alexandra Bayer, Identity. Since her break up with her boyfriend Asher, Naya's life has been rather lonely at the University of Toronto. She has no close friends and, despite working on the school newspaper, has little interest in the celebrity gossip with which most people her age seem to be obsessed.
Naya's life changes when she makes a new friend at the gym. She feels happier and more confident in herself, which does not go unnoticed by Asher who starts to pay her attention again. Things take a dramatic twist, however, when her new friend reveals she is actually Aviva Jersey, a famous actress. Naya is suddenly caught up in a world where some feel the need to put on a disguise just to experience regular life.
Having come to terms with being friends with a celebrity, Naya learns that just because a person is famous, that doesn't make them less of a real person. Unfortunately, with fame comes attention, often unwanted attention, however, Naya tries to ignore the stares and focus on her new friendship and blossoming relationship with the handsome Jace she met one night when out with Aviva, but she soon learns not everyone can be trusted.
For a first novel, Alexandra Bayer has done exceedingly well, immediately drawing the reader into the story. At times, the writing did not always flow, however, it did not detract from the characters, plot and overall message. Bayer highlights the negative impacts of fame but also reveals actors and actresses love their jobs because they love acting, not for the attention they receive. She also expertly explains anorexia in a concise, honest way - the best I have ever read in a novel.
is a New Adult novel that will resonate with people in their late teens and early twenties, especially those who feel more like outsiders in their friendship groups. There is no "and they all lived happily ever after" ending because life always goes on but true friendship definitely makes the world look brighter no matter who you are.
Naya's life changes when she makes a new friend at the gym. She feels happier and more confident in herself, which does not go unnoticed by Asher who starts to pay her attention again. Things take a dramatic twist, however, when her new friend reveals she is actually Aviva Jersey, a famous actress. Naya is suddenly caught up in a world where some feel the need to put on a disguise just to experience regular life.
Having come to terms with being friends with a celebrity, Naya learns that just because a person is famous, that doesn't make them less of a real person. Unfortunately, with fame comes attention, often unwanted attention, however, Naya tries to ignore the stares and focus on her new friendship and blossoming relationship with the handsome Jace she met one night when out with Aviva, but she soon learns not everyone can be trusted.
For a first novel, Alexandra Bayer has done exceedingly well, immediately drawing the reader into the story. At times, the writing did not always flow, however, it did not detract from the characters, plot and overall message. Bayer highlights the negative impacts of fame but also reveals actors and actresses love their jobs because they love acting, not for the attention they receive. She also expertly explains anorexia in a concise, honest way - the best I have ever read in a novel.
is a New Adult novel that will resonate with people in their late teens and early twenties, especially those who feel more like outsiders in their friendship groups. There is no "and they all lived happily ever after" ending because life always goes on but true friendship definitely makes the world look brighter no matter who you are.
June 30, 2020
A wonderful debut novel, this is a nice feel good book. I enjoyed reading about Naya's journey from somewhat insecure to confident. When we meet Jace the book really picked up for me. I was almost always smiling reading the parts he was in. This book touched on a lot of real life situations, from bad boyfriends, to friendships and the struggles that come with it. It also has a family dynamic and Naya's dumb brother which I seriously think needs some counselling. Naya is still living at home while going to UofT which makes sense because it would save money on rent, however it did make Naya seem a little more juvenile. Of course if she's living at home she has to ask her parents about having people over and stuff, but a curfew and having to get permission to go out with a friend seemed a bit weird to me. I wasn't living at home when I went to university and really enjoyed the freedom of having my own private life, so maybe it's only weird because my experience was different. Regardless I really enjoyed the book, and how fame can affect relationships in peoples lives. The later parts of this book in particular really were feel good, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for that type of book.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Check out my blog Tayside Book Blog
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Check out my blog Tayside Book Blog
July 15, 2020
Fantastic Page-turner
Naya hasn't had the best first year of university - her boyfriend broke up with her, leaving her friendless and pining after him. That is until she meets Brynn one day at the gym. Brynn is cool and beautiful and new to the city. Naya is her first friend here. But when Brynn actually turns out to be the famous actress Aviva Jersey in disguise, Naya must decide how much of their friendship is real and how much was just an act. And the longer Naya spends around Aviva, the more of the spotlight she begins to see. But haven't you heard? Fame doesn't always equal happiness, and the spotlight comes at a price.
A fascinating story with the first-person narrative and distinctive personalities of the characters with an eye for details makes the book more lively.
The friendship between Naya and Brynn easing Naya's loneliness, juggling between two personalities, rollercoaster emotions of Naya, and comparison of normal life with fame world has been beautifully portrayed.
Brilliant story of trust, true love, and genuine friendship with a whirlwind of emotions.
Kudos to the debut author for an incredible book.
Beautiful lines from the book which I loved:
Fame doesn’t make a person better – what they do with their life establishes that.
Fame comes with a lot of drama, that fame is just a label that society places on people.
Naya hasn't had the best first year of university - her boyfriend broke up with her, leaving her friendless and pining after him. That is until she meets Brynn one day at the gym. Brynn is cool and beautiful and new to the city. Naya is her first friend here. But when Brynn actually turns out to be the famous actress Aviva Jersey in disguise, Naya must decide how much of their friendship is real and how much was just an act. And the longer Naya spends around Aviva, the more of the spotlight she begins to see. But haven't you heard? Fame doesn't always equal happiness, and the spotlight comes at a price.
A fascinating story with the first-person narrative and distinctive personalities of the characters with an eye for details makes the book more lively.
The friendship between Naya and Brynn easing Naya's loneliness, juggling between two personalities, rollercoaster emotions of Naya, and comparison of normal life with fame world has been beautifully portrayed.
Brilliant story of trust, true love, and genuine friendship with a whirlwind of emotions.
Kudos to the debut author for an incredible book.
Beautiful lines from the book which I loved:
Fame doesn’t make a person better – what they do with their life establishes that.
Fame comes with a lot of drama, that fame is just a label that society places on people.
October 16, 2020
This story is about Naya, a college student who meets Brynn in a gym. Surprisingly, Brynn is a famous actress and after finding out Naya enters this new world different from what she’s used to.
First, I like Naya's personality, she’s a simple girl, kind that tries her best.
I thought her meeting with Brynn and how their friendship started a little too easy but, well we never know sometimes things like that happen.
This book brings the common problems of fame, the issue of privacy, the whole network, and betrayals.
It’s easy reading and captivating. The characters are simple, and we get to understand them well. I think the plot is also simple, not too much drama. The focus here is more on friendship between them.
I recommend to those who like to read about fame and friendship. I would read more by this author.
I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review: https://wp.me/p9IaSz-8L
First, I like Naya's personality, she’s a simple girl, kind that tries her best.
I thought her meeting with Brynn and how their friendship started a little too easy but, well we never know sometimes things like that happen.
This book brings the common problems of fame, the issue of privacy, the whole network, and betrayals.
It’s easy reading and captivating. The characters are simple, and we get to understand them well. I think the plot is also simple, not too much drama. The focus here is more on friendship between them.
I recommend to those who like to read about fame and friendship. I would read more by this author.
I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review: https://wp.me/p9IaSz-8L
July 2, 2020
This young adult romance was such an easy to follow read. It's simplicity navigating the complexities of relationships -friendships and romantic- will make this an engaging read for young adults to enjoy.
I enjoyed the way the relationships were allowed to blossom naturally. The author did a great job of developing each character and their chemistry. Two of the characters Brynn and Jace both came with a little bit of mystery that young Naya had to choose how to handle all while navigating her first year of college. I think the story moved well with relatable content for its young adult audience. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a well-written story that focuses on friendship, growth, and understanding how to navigate their intro into "adulting".
I enjoyed the way the relationships were allowed to blossom naturally. The author did a great job of developing each character and their chemistry. Two of the characters Brynn and Jace both came with a little bit of mystery that young Naya had to choose how to handle all while navigating her first year of college. I think the story moved well with relatable content for its young adult audience. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a well-written story that focuses on friendship, growth, and understanding how to navigate their intro into "adulting".
July 15, 2020
The author, Alexandra Bayer, sent me a copy of this book in return for an honest review. I love the progression of Naya’s confidence throughout the book and unfortunately guessed someone may interfere with her happiness. It is a great book which looks at the struggles of not only being famous but friends with a famous person. I’m secretly hoping there will be a sequel but time will tell 🤞
August 3, 2020
The characters and character work really made the story. They were sufficiently fleshed out and felt real. Their problems and feelings were more than words on a page. The different relationships in this book were pretty great. Aviva and Naya’s friendship was cute as was the romance between Naya and the love interest introduced. Speaking of relationships, Alexandra Bayer did a good job of writing a subtly toxic relationship. (Naya and Asher).
Read the full review on my blog here:
http://starredpages.com/2020/07/14/bo...
Read the full review on my blog here:
http://starredpages.com/2020/07/14/bo...
July 12, 2020
I am very impressed with Alexandra's first book!
I found the first few chapters a little mundane, mainly because it reminded me of how I am still in university and will be going back back to all this school work that Naya was working on completing during the first few chapters. However, don't get me wrong, this book was extremely enjoyable and face-paced!
Once Naya met Brynn, a mystery began! Who is Brynn? Why is she always running off? Why is her mood shifting so strangely some days? I sped through the rest of the book wanting to find out what would happen next.
I applaud the author for having the premise of this book being based on a friendship, rather than a romance. Of course there is romance involved, but it is not the main plot line. It felt very wholesome. It was nice to see a new friendship form and I thoroughly enjoyed the Naya's character growth. I found Naya relatable.
I quite enjoyed Jace's character. It was a bit of mystery why he was acting a little strangely on a date with Naya, and when the reason why came out, I was surprised. I know I shouldn't have been, considering Brynn's secret, but I was! I quite enjoyed this subplot.
The author brought up some hard topics throughout this story, such as anorexia. She conveyed this disorder very well, which raised my awareness on the issue.
One critique I have is the author mentioned Naya blushing sooo many times throughout the story that I began to get annoyed with Naya blushing so much! Naya must truly hate blushing to mention her dislike for it every other chapter (okay maybe this is an over exaggeration).
Overall, I thoroughly enjoy this book and recommend it for anyone wanting an enjoyable, fast-paced next best read!
I found the first few chapters a little mundane, mainly because it reminded me of how I am still in university and will be going back back to all this school work that Naya was working on completing during the first few chapters. However, don't get me wrong, this book was extremely enjoyable and face-paced!
Once Naya met Brynn, a mystery began! Who is Brynn? Why is she always running off? Why is her mood shifting so strangely some days? I sped through the rest of the book wanting to find out what would happen next.
I applaud the author for having the premise of this book being based on a friendship, rather than a romance. Of course there is romance involved, but it is not the main plot line. It felt very wholesome. It was nice to see a new friendship form and I thoroughly enjoyed the Naya's character growth. I found Naya relatable.
I quite enjoyed Jace's character. It was a bit of mystery why he was acting a little strangely on a date with Naya, and when the reason why came out, I was surprised. I know I shouldn't have been, considering Brynn's secret, but I was! I quite enjoyed this subplot.
The author brought up some hard topics throughout this story, such as anorexia. She conveyed this disorder very well, which raised my awareness on the issue.
One critique I have is the author mentioned Naya blushing sooo many times throughout the story that I began to get annoyed with Naya blushing so much! Naya must truly hate blushing to mention her dislike for it every other chapter (okay maybe this is an over exaggeration).
Overall, I thoroughly enjoy this book and recommend it for anyone wanting an enjoyable, fast-paced next best read!
May 19, 2021
At first I wasn't too sure if Identity would be a novel for me, but it quickly changed my mind and is now one of my favourite books! The reader is struck with curiosity and wanting more from the moment Naya meets Brynn. As the two youth women's friendship strengths, the reader develops a soft spot for them and a desire to see what the girls are going to be faced with next. The read gets a look at celebrity life behind the fame and it's not all as glamorous as its led out to be. Identity is not only a novel of the hardships of friendship and fame, but also a romance. Identity quickly captures the reader's attention and I soon became lost in it to the point that I was unaware of the hours passing in the day. Alexandra Bayer is an extremely talented writer and I hope she will continue writing more novels. I look forward to reading another page-turner of her's like Identity.
November 4, 2025
I was given a copy by the author. Generally I like books that can keep my attention. I was not disappointed this book had me turning pages. I thought this was a great comming of age story.
I actually really enjoyed this book and have passed it on for others to read. Thank you for a great read.
I actually really enjoyed this book and have passed it on for others to read. Thank you for a great read.
July 1, 2021
This was an electronic review copy sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Naya hasn’t had the best first year of University -- her boyfriend broke up with her, leaving her friendless and pining for him. That is until she meets Brynn at the gym. Brynn is cool and beautiful and she’s new to the city and looking for a workout partner. Naya is her first friend here. So when it turns out Brynn is hiding something, Naya will learn what friendship really means.
What I Didn’t Like:
-Naya misses lots of things. There are things in this book that came across as completely obvious, but I spent PAGES waiting for Naya to catch up.
-Age feels off. Naya is 19, attending University. In some ways she fits what I expected coming into this, anticipating a book about a new adult: she drinks, she’s exploring a relationship, and she’s trying to figure out what her future will look like. But in other ways -- the immature fights with her brother, the not being allowed to go out without her room being clean, and the parents pushing the homework--she reads like a young adult. That makes this one a bit awkward since Naya feels like she walking the line between teenager and adult like a drunk person trying to walk a straight line.
-Repetitions. Some of that is important because it helps repeat points for the reader. But if it happens too many times the reader starts to feel like you don’t trust them to remember details. In my opinion, this one went a bit too far with the repetition.
What I Did Like:
-Good twist on what is essentially a romance trope. That “on no, he’s secretly famous” trope was spun around to a friendship here, instead of it being romantically driven. That was fun!
-Focus on relationships. That’s always great! I love a book with relationship drama and I like that this one was more about platonic relationships than romantic ones (although both are in here).
-Realistic depiction of celebrity life. The celebrities in this one are real people and that is the constant point of this book.
Who Should Read This One:
-Older YA readers who want contemporary stories about friendships of all kinds.
My Rating: 3 Stars. This is a good story about friendship, finding yourself, and making your way in the world.
Naya hasn’t had the best first year of University -- her boyfriend broke up with her, leaving her friendless and pining for him. That is until she meets Brynn at the gym. Brynn is cool and beautiful and she’s new to the city and looking for a workout partner. Naya is her first friend here. So when it turns out Brynn is hiding something, Naya will learn what friendship really means.
What I Didn’t Like:
-Naya misses lots of things. There are things in this book that came across as completely obvious, but I spent PAGES waiting for Naya to catch up.
-Age feels off. Naya is 19, attending University. In some ways she fits what I expected coming into this, anticipating a book about a new adult: she drinks, she’s exploring a relationship, and she’s trying to figure out what her future will look like. But in other ways -- the immature fights with her brother, the not being allowed to go out without her room being clean, and the parents pushing the homework--she reads like a young adult. That makes this one a bit awkward since Naya feels like she walking the line between teenager and adult like a drunk person trying to walk a straight line.
-Repetitions. Some of that is important because it helps repeat points for the reader. But if it happens too many times the reader starts to feel like you don’t trust them to remember details. In my opinion, this one went a bit too far with the repetition.
What I Did Like:
-Good twist on what is essentially a romance trope. That “on no, he’s secretly famous” trope was spun around to a friendship here, instead of it being romantically driven. That was fun!
-Focus on relationships. That’s always great! I love a book with relationship drama and I like that this one was more about platonic relationships than romantic ones (although both are in here).
-Realistic depiction of celebrity life. The celebrities in this one are real people and that is the constant point of this book.
Who Should Read This One:
-Older YA readers who want contemporary stories about friendships of all kinds.
My Rating: 3 Stars. This is a good story about friendship, finding yourself, and making your way in the world.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews