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Branded Hearts #1
Not in the Script
Charlie Evans leads an ordinary life. Boring in fact, by many people's standards. So, when she unexpectedly finds herself tutoring a student on set at Pinewood Studios, the last thing she imagines is that the lead actress is none other than a global superstar, Robyn White. The same Robyn White her three closest friends have lusted after since they first met back at university a decade-and-a-half ago.
Robyn White might be renowned for her enormous smile on the red carpet and her happy-go-lucky attitude, however, it’s all a well-constructed front. Behind the façade is a woman who struggles to fit in, not least because she has a secret, one which on-set tutor Charlie Evans threatens to expose.
With tensions rising all around them, will Charlie and Robyn's attraction reach blockbuster heights or be discarded on the cutting room floor?
Robyn White might be renowned for her enormous smile on the red carpet and her happy-go-lucky attitude, however, it’s all a well-constructed front. Behind the façade is a woman who struggles to fit in, not least because she has a secret, one which on-set tutor Charlie Evans threatens to expose.
With tensions rising all around them, will Charlie and Robyn's attraction reach blockbuster heights or be discarded on the cutting room floor?
224 pages, Hardcover
Published September 25, 2021
183 people are currently reading
447 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
July 24, 2024
**'Anytime you try to tell a story, make it as linear and sequential as possible. Never forget that the hardest part of telling a story is not really the storytelling, it's most definitely the thinking/ideas..'
Okay read!
This story was kinda nice one minute (literally), okay the next, cliches & meh an array of times -- then pretentiously dull in the end.
Okay read!
This story was kinda nice one minute (literally), okay the next, cliches & meh an array of times -- then pretentiously dull in the end.
February 21, 2022
Celebrity trope.
This book is on Kindle Unlimited. The storyline is typical. We have a famous Hollywood actress who's closeted because her manager told her to stay in the closet and we have a non-celebrity who has access to the film set. A romance blossoms... and I wouldn't have minded the typical romance storyline because the celebrity trope is my thing and I love most of them. But for half the book, Robyn and Charlie have minimal interaction, and even then, not all the conversations between them are polite, but they are suddenly all over each other. Okay. Granted, the first make-out session was really hot and passionate but there wasn't much of a build-up leading to it. The characters, particularly the actress, Robyn, also has really poor communication skills, so she comes off sounding hot and cold all the time, confusing poor Charlie.
This is a debut and it's part of a series where subsequent books will focus on Charlie's friends. I think the series has potential and I fully intend to continue reading when the rest of the books are out, but the author needs to do a more thorough check on typos.
This book is on Kindle Unlimited. The storyline is typical. We have a famous Hollywood actress who's closeted because her manager told her to stay in the closet and we have a non-celebrity who has access to the film set. A romance blossoms... and I wouldn't have minded the typical romance storyline because the celebrity trope is my thing and I love most of them. But for half the book, Robyn and Charlie have minimal interaction, and even then, not all the conversations between them are polite, but they are suddenly all over each other. Okay. Granted, the first make-out session was really hot and passionate but there wasn't much of a build-up leading to it. The characters, particularly the actress, Robyn, also has really poor communication skills, so she comes off sounding hot and cold all the time, confusing poor Charlie.
This is a debut and it's part of a series where subsequent books will focus on Charlie's friends. I think the series has potential and I fully intend to continue reading when the rest of the books are out, but the author needs to do a more thorough check on typos.
July 30, 2021
I must admit that I didn’t know what I got myself into when I picked up Not in the Script. I like the blurb and all the characters in the book; femmes MCs who are both in the 30s - closeted A lister actress (Robyn) & an English teacher (Charlie), great friendship and support among 4 wonderful friends who met while in Uni. And not forgetting a supportive twin sister. Yes, there were mistakes (spelling, grammar, names) but it wasn’t a deal-breaker for me. I knew what the author was trying to drive at.
4 ⭐️ read for me…. Cos I just needed the sweetness and angst, and I got it from Not in the Script 😊
4 ⭐️ read for me…. Cos I just needed the sweetness and angst, and I got it from Not in the Script 😊
August 4, 2021
This story is painfully pedestrian with the trivial elevated to special status. Like, the "banter" between the friends was tagged as heartwarming teasing when it was mostly just banal. That first friends conversation that should have served to engage the reader in the friend group was, instead, shallow exposition. Only tagged as if there had been actual byplay. Example:
There's a disconnect between the tagging and the actual interactions is what I'm saying. Which made it hard to buy the characterization so when Charlie arrived at the production location and has very busy organizing-type people fawning over her I felt completely unmoored from anything relatable or interesting and had to stop.
And it's not helped by the interior design being such a mess. Line spacing appears random and there's no marker for new paragraph beyond the period of the previous so you have to actually make judgement calls when a paragraph ends. And scene jumps aren't differentiated at all; they're just a new paragraph.
It's a mess. Which is sad because the blurb sounded interesting and the cover doesn't suck. So the author did two things right, at any rate.
“I’m two minutes late joining the party, and you three are already bickering. Nice to see some things never change,” Jenna’s sarcastic tone jibed.Leaving aside that a tone somehow managed to jibe, it's just kind of . . . flat.
There's a disconnect between the tagging and the actual interactions is what I'm saying. Which made it hard to buy the characterization so when Charlie arrived at the production location and has very busy organizing-type people fawning over her I felt completely unmoored from anything relatable or interesting and had to stop.
And it's not helped by the interior design being such a mess. Line spacing appears random and there's no marker for new paragraph beyond the period of the previous so you have to actually make judgement calls when a paragraph ends. And scene jumps aren't differentiated at all; they're just a new paragraph.
It's a mess. Which is sad because the blurb sounded interesting and the cover doesn't suck. So the author did two things right, at any rate.
June 1, 2022
A good celebrity romance in audio
This is Ms. Morrison’s debut novel and part of the Branded Hearts series. A typical romance between a celebrity and an ordinary person.
Robyn White is a world-famous actress who is filming in England. Charlie Evans is a secondary school teacher who is hired as an on-set tutor for Robyn’s young co-star. After a bumpy start, both women feel a mutual attraction which might pose a threat to Robyn’s career.
Celebrity romances are always fun to read maybe because they open the door to a glamorous and exclusive world unknown to most of us. This story brings light to film production in the UK and the difficulties of attempting a career change, especially for beautiful, young women in the film industry.
It is increasingly more difficult to create stories with closeted protagonists and make them realistic, especially if they are set in 2022 in the more liberal parts of the world. I personally struggled a bit with Robyn’s life decisions as I found them hard to believe at parts. On the other hand, I loved the way the author describes Robyn’s anxiety and how behind a well-practiced on-screen persona, there’s a human being who struggles with many aspects of her personal and professional life. It gave Robyn’s character depth and made her human and easy to empathise with.
Sara Vonn narrates this audiobook and it’s my first time listening to her. I haven’t seen other audiobooks narrated by Ms. Vonn so I assume she’s at the beginning of her career. Sapphic fiction listeners are spoilt for choice of talented and experienced narrators and the differences are noticeable. But, overall, Ms. Vonn did a good job and made it entertaining to listen to. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Length: 10 hours and 35 minutes
Audiobook code provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is Ms. Morrison’s debut novel and part of the Branded Hearts series. A typical romance between a celebrity and an ordinary person.
Robyn White is a world-famous actress who is filming in England. Charlie Evans is a secondary school teacher who is hired as an on-set tutor for Robyn’s young co-star. After a bumpy start, both women feel a mutual attraction which might pose a threat to Robyn’s career.
Celebrity romances are always fun to read maybe because they open the door to a glamorous and exclusive world unknown to most of us. This story brings light to film production in the UK and the difficulties of attempting a career change, especially for beautiful, young women in the film industry.
It is increasingly more difficult to create stories with closeted protagonists and make them realistic, especially if they are set in 2022 in the more liberal parts of the world. I personally struggled a bit with Robyn’s life decisions as I found them hard to believe at parts. On the other hand, I loved the way the author describes Robyn’s anxiety and how behind a well-practiced on-screen persona, there’s a human being who struggles with many aspects of her personal and professional life. It gave Robyn’s character depth and made her human and easy to empathise with.
Sara Vonn narrates this audiobook and it’s my first time listening to her. I haven’t seen other audiobooks narrated by Ms. Vonn so I assume she’s at the beginning of her career. Sapphic fiction listeners are spoilt for choice of talented and experienced narrators and the differences are noticeable. But, overall, Ms. Vonn did a good job and made it entertaining to listen to. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Length: 10 hours and 35 minutes
Audiobook code provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2023
4 stars
I mean, I hate miscommunication, which was a recurring thing here, but I liked the book anyways. Especially the characters. Main or secondary.
As impulsive and non-communicative as they sometimes were, they were fun to read about.
I mean, I hate miscommunication, which was a recurring thing here, but I liked the book anyways. Especially the characters. Main or secondary.
As impulsive and non-communicative as they sometimes were, they were fun to read about.
July 19, 2021
When Charlie is told to accompany one of her high-school-age students so that she can be tutored for 3 months on a movie set, it's the last thing she wants to do. But her 3 best friends are ecstatic that she'll be meeting the famous Robyn White, who's starring in the movie. Robyn doesn't realize she's been set up to star in a film where no one wants her and she's gutted by the initial frosty reception she receives, so much so that she's rude on two occasions when meeting Charlie. Yet, there's an intense physical attraction that neither can deny.
This is a long book, and yet it held my interest. It's a roller coaster ride for sure, maybe with one too many ups and downs. The book could have used a careful proofreader who would have found and corrected a number of errors. And the book could have used an American beta reader who would have corrected some of Robyn's dialogue (she would never call a movie theater "the cinema").
Whether or not the author intended, this book is an homage to the great and likely the best celebrity romance, And Playing the Role of Herself, down to the fact that both celebrities are named Robyn (Ward in the former, and White in this book). And while I'm on the subject of names, why is a woman whose patrilineal family is Italian named White without any explanation? Sapphic romance authors need to stop giving their MCs fashionable and unusual first names and the most bland, WASPy last names. Was it too difficult to call her Robyn Rossini?
So yeah, some problems, but yet still highly recommended for those of us who love this trope.
This is a long book, and yet it held my interest. It's a roller coaster ride for sure, maybe with one too many ups and downs. The book could have used a careful proofreader who would have found and corrected a number of errors. And the book could have used an American beta reader who would have corrected some of Robyn's dialogue (she would never call a movie theater "the cinema").
Whether or not the author intended, this book is an homage to the great and likely the best celebrity romance, And Playing the Role of Herself, down to the fact that both celebrities are named Robyn (Ward in the former, and White in this book). And while I'm on the subject of names, why is a woman whose patrilineal family is Italian named White without any explanation? Sapphic romance authors need to stop giving their MCs fashionable and unusual first names and the most bland, WASPy last names. Was it too difficult to call her Robyn Rossini?
So yeah, some problems, but yet still highly recommended for those of us who love this trope.
December 13, 2021
We all know the story by now and know this first book by K.E. Morrison has some errors. I, myself, wouldn't write a story about an English teacher because the grammar and structure of the book better be top-notch, and this book (author's first - sorry!) is just silly with the repeated descriptions and grammatical mistakes. I don't think I've ever deducted points for ending a sentence with a preposition so I shouldn't start now. By the way, is K.E. Morrison really English?
Attraction based on the appearance of the other character bothers me. Especially endless talk of Charlie's blue eyes with a sliver of silver around the iris which kept popping up. One might as well say that Charlie had the best ass Robin had ever seen. Romances in my life had something besides just the woman's appearance. It could've been a myriad of other bits and pieces that made up the person.
I bailed on this one at 60% because everything was so saccharine sweet to that 60%. I knew there were going to be troubles ahead which provide the back and forth drama that is so often seen in f/f. I'm done with something silly occurring and then the pursuit of romance has to do a restart.
Points have been given to some realistic depictions of Robyn's anxiety and anxiety attacks as well as her trying to stop them on her own. I haven't felt anxious for a while, but the descriptions of coping with anxiety rang true to me and I was really pulled in for those moments.
I would love to be surprised with f/f's that was "wow" and had some real depth to them. This ain't it but could be perfect as a beach read.
Attraction based on the appearance of the other character bothers me. Especially endless talk of Charlie's blue eyes with a sliver of silver around the iris which kept popping up. One might as well say that Charlie had the best ass Robin had ever seen. Romances in my life had something besides just the woman's appearance. It could've been a myriad of other bits and pieces that made up the person.
I bailed on this one at 60% because everything was so saccharine sweet to that 60%. I knew there were going to be troubles ahead which provide the back and forth drama that is so often seen in f/f. I'm done with something silly occurring and then the pursuit of romance has to do a restart.
Points have been given to some realistic depictions of Robyn's anxiety and anxiety attacks as well as her trying to stop them on her own. I haven't felt anxious for a while, but the descriptions of coping with anxiety rang true to me and I was really pulled in for those moments.
I would love to be surprised with f/f's that was "wow" and had some real depth to them. This ain't it but could be perfect as a beach read.
June 30, 2021
Honestly I loved this book. Only thing that really bothered me was all the spelling mistakes and mistaking of the names when it was supposed to be someone else. Fortunately, the wording made it easier to understand who they meant. It was annoying, but the story is great and heartwarming if you just push through it.
June 16, 2023
3.5 stars – I beyond adore the friendship between Charlie, Jenna, Lauren, and Naomi!
I just read my first K.E. Morrison book and enjoyed many parts of it, except, unfortunately, the romance aspect. The story of "Not in the Script" revolves around Charlie Evans, a teacher who finds herself on a filming set where she meets Robyn White, a globally renowned actress whom she and her other three best friends have admired for over a decade. I really liked the first third of the story. Morrison vividly captured the workings both outside and inside of a film production. I was completely absorbed during this part of the narrative. It was also during this part that Morrison introduced the friendship between Charlie and her three best friends, Lauren, Naomi, and Jenna, whose stories will be explored in their own books. Jen is the protagonist in Book 2, but I am particularly excited to read Lauren's story, as her backstory intrigues me the most. However, I am also looking forward to delving into Jen's story because she demonstrated her incredible sass as a friend and journalist in this book. The dynamic among these four women was incredibly compelling and entertaining! They—as a quartet—are undoubtedly the heart and dramatic core of the book, and I expect them to remain so throughout the series.
The protagonists of this book, Robyn and Charlie, each possesses characteristics that resonated with me, particularly Robyn's journey toward making peace with her own sexuality. However, while the two women have good chemistry, I felt that the development of their feelings for each other was not well-plotted. It felt rushed, as though I had missed something crucial between their initial interactions and the two-thirds mark of the story. Consequently, I found myself skimming through their intimate scenes. Moreover, the extensive and repetitive inner musings of both characters dragged the story for me.
In summary, I was not as invested in the romantic storyline as I had hoped to be. Nonetheless, the supporting cast, including the quartet of friends, Robyn's twin sister, and a few members of Hollywood's show business industry, added delightful and tense moments to the story, keeping me entertained until the very end.
P.S. I don't think the models on the book cover did justice to the author's vivid descriptions of Robyn and Charlie.
I just read my first K.E. Morrison book and enjoyed many parts of it, except, unfortunately, the romance aspect. The story of "Not in the Script" revolves around Charlie Evans, a teacher who finds herself on a filming set where she meets Robyn White, a globally renowned actress whom she and her other three best friends have admired for over a decade. I really liked the first third of the story. Morrison vividly captured the workings both outside and inside of a film production. I was completely absorbed during this part of the narrative. It was also during this part that Morrison introduced the friendship between Charlie and her three best friends, Lauren, Naomi, and Jenna, whose stories will be explored in their own books. Jen is the protagonist in Book 2, but I am particularly excited to read Lauren's story, as her backstory intrigues me the most. However, I am also looking forward to delving into Jen's story because she demonstrated her incredible sass as a friend and journalist in this book. The dynamic among these four women was incredibly compelling and entertaining! They—as a quartet—are undoubtedly the heart and dramatic core of the book, and I expect them to remain so throughout the series.
The protagonists of this book, Robyn and Charlie, each possesses characteristics that resonated with me, particularly Robyn's journey toward making peace with her own sexuality. However, while the two women have good chemistry, I felt that the development of their feelings for each other was not well-plotted. It felt rushed, as though I had missed something crucial between their initial interactions and the two-thirds mark of the story. Consequently, I found myself skimming through their intimate scenes. Moreover, the extensive and repetitive inner musings of both characters dragged the story for me.
In summary, I was not as invested in the romantic storyline as I had hoped to be. Nonetheless, the supporting cast, including the quartet of friends, Robyn's twin sister, and a few members of Hollywood's show business industry, added delightful and tense moments to the story, keeping me entertained until the very end.
P.S. I don't think the models on the book cover did justice to the author's vivid descriptions of Robyn and Charlie.
September 20, 2023
How to explain this? This book is really good but sometimes I felt that I was given too many details when I didn’t need it. There were parts that I was waiting for more, but I didn’t get it but other occasions where I thought, why do I need this piece of info? Don’t get me wrong, I liked it, it was just a glitch that I had.
Both MCs are very good descripted, and you even get a great scoop about the friends of one of the MCs.
I’m really waiting for Lauren’s book.
Both MCs are very good descripted, and you even get a great scoop about the friends of one of the MCs.
I’m really waiting for Lauren’s book.
July 14, 2021
Who doesn't want a friendship like this? 4 friends who stay in touch over video calls once a week and are there for each other.
I enjoyed this celebrity romance a lot.
Jae's SRC
character is a teacher
book starts with the first day of a new job
set in a country you don't live (UK)
new to you author
I enjoyed this celebrity romance a lot.
Jae's SRC
character is a teacher
book starts with the first day of a new job
set in a country you don't live (UK)
new to you author
January 28, 2022
Really good and fantastic start to a new series. Loved the characters and am really forward to hearing the others stories - will have to be superb to trump Charlie and Robyn.
May 14, 2023
Ok so it took me a long time to get onto this book. I started another book and put this one down. Just was slow. But in the end as a lesbian I love a good lesbian love story so it was worth it.
August 17, 2021
If the numerous grammatical and spelling errors don’t bother you, then you may enjoy this book. Unfortunately, they bothered me a lot. Especially in a book about an English teacher who loves to talk about grammar. There were also a lot of layout issues – random text characters and different leading (space between lines) in some paragraphs.
I’m also not a fan of romances where there’s a lot of unnecessary angst caused by interfering villains and stupid misunderstandings. And there’s a fair bit of that here.
Given these issues I'm surprised I finished the book. But I did, because the story was interesting enough to pull me back into it. If the author would just take this to an editor to fix up the grammatical errors and typos, and if it were properly formatted this would be a decent book.
I’m also not a fan of romances where there’s a lot of unnecessary angst caused by interfering villains and stupid misunderstandings. And there’s a fair bit of that here.
Given these issues I'm surprised I finished the book. But I did, because the story was interesting enough to pull me back into it. If the author would just take this to an editor to fix up the grammatical errors and typos, and if it were properly formatted this would be a decent book.
May 20, 2022
Not in the Script is a self-published book that was first released in 2021 as a Kindle Unlimited selection. Last month it was made available as an audiobook by Audible. Sara Vonn, a first-time narrator for Audible, performs the narration.
This classic celebrity romance is typical for stories in this trope, but it’s fun just the same. The storyline is simple. Robyn White is an A-list Hollywood actress and Charlie Evans is a high school English teacher. The two women orbit in two completely different worlds until they are brought together on the set of Robyn’s new film. Both are there to work, one as the lead actress and the other as a private teacher for a teenage actress in the movie. Sparks fly quickly between the two likable characters and of course the inevitable happens; they fall in love. There’s only one problem though, Robyn is not out to the world at large.
The story is cute, but it is a bit predictable. Yet, most celebrity romances are, so that isn’t a turn-off. It ticks all the boxes, and that’s the important part. Not in the Script gives you a hot, closeted celebrity, a sweet and beautiful “regular” girl, an insta-attraction with serious chemistry, some well-oiled romantic tension and on-set drama. Blend all of that together and you have an entertaining romance that readers love to devour.
Final remarks…
This is a classic celebrity romance in just about every way. If you are one that enjoys this trope, then gear up, this one is for you. You’ll no doubt be entertained by the storyline. Take note though; the narration does require a bit of patience. Vonn’s voice is pleasant enough, but her performance does come across a bit flat at times. However, once you fall into the story, you don’t pay too much attention to it.
Strengths…
Cute
Fun
Likable characters
Entertaining
This classic celebrity romance is typical for stories in this trope, but it’s fun just the same. The storyline is simple. Robyn White is an A-list Hollywood actress and Charlie Evans is a high school English teacher. The two women orbit in two completely different worlds until they are brought together on the set of Robyn’s new film. Both are there to work, one as the lead actress and the other as a private teacher for a teenage actress in the movie. Sparks fly quickly between the two likable characters and of course the inevitable happens; they fall in love. There’s only one problem though, Robyn is not out to the world at large.
The story is cute, but it is a bit predictable. Yet, most celebrity romances are, so that isn’t a turn-off. It ticks all the boxes, and that’s the important part. Not in the Script gives you a hot, closeted celebrity, a sweet and beautiful “regular” girl, an insta-attraction with serious chemistry, some well-oiled romantic tension and on-set drama. Blend all of that together and you have an entertaining romance that readers love to devour.
Final remarks…
This is a classic celebrity romance in just about every way. If you are one that enjoys this trope, then gear up, this one is for you. You’ll no doubt be entertained by the storyline. Take note though; the narration does require a bit of patience. Vonn’s voice is pleasant enough, but her performance does come across a bit flat at times. However, once you fall into the story, you don’t pay too much attention to it.
Strengths…
Cute
Fun
Likable characters
Entertaining
December 27, 2021
Honestly I would give it 4 stars but... f*ck it I'll give it 5 JFC!! I LOVED IT KFSKFIKD
me: jeez i hate clichés
the book: an actress and a teacher fall in love
me: OMG AN ACTRESS AND A TEACHER FALL IN LOVE😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭💜👄💜👄💜👄💜💜👄💜
perfect match of fluffiness mixed with a little bit of drama to make it spicyyyyy~
For real I wouldn't ask for anything else to end this 2021. I'm so very muchie looking forward to the next three books of this quadruology lmao
Let's go Jenna
me: jeez i hate clichés
the book: an actress and a teacher fall in love
me: OMG AN ACTRESS AND A TEACHER FALL IN LOVE😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭💜👄💜👄💜👄💜💜👄💜
perfect match of fluffiness mixed with a little bit of drama to make it spicyyyyy~
For real I wouldn't ask for anything else to end this 2021. I'm so very muchie looking forward to the next three books of this quadruology lmao
Let's go Jenna
May 17, 2022
Enticing adventure
Another one bite the dust of sapphic greatness, I'm such a sucker for suspenseful sultry sexy sapphic storyline & I enjoyed this one immesely...👍keep doing what I do & I'll keep reading..
Another one bite the dust of sapphic greatness, I'm such a sucker for suspenseful sultry sexy sapphic storyline & I enjoyed this one immesely...👍keep doing what I do & I'll keep reading..
July 26, 2021
Generic love at first sight type of story
The story is nice: nothing too spectacular nor abhorrent. It goes from 0 to 100 very quickly and the relationship develops seemingly from no where. Just that they can’t seem to stop thinking about each other’s eyes.
The good:
Liked the characters a lot. Each character had their own personality and was written in a way where the writing conveyed their individual voice.
My criticism (take it with a grain of salt) to the author:
1. Consider beta readers and employing an editor.
There are multiple sentences that are incomplete and should utilize italics or other forms of grammar.
Name swaps appear very frequently throughout the book and it causes the reader to re read the section just to make sure they read it correctly.
There were no indentations at all. I felt as if I read a big wall of text. Indentations are important to utilize for conversations and different idea points.
2. Writing style?
Sentences could be more reader friendly. The story is written in a way where everything is very descriptive and could be shortened. There were times I was reading a sentence and thought it could’ve ended or be re written to be shorter but still convey the same thing.
The author uses the phrase: “a look passed across (insert character name)‘s face.” Quite a bit through the story. Please indicate what kind of look, cause I was thinking “ is it sad? Happy? Distraught? Frustrated?” So yeah just a peeve I had when reading the book.
3. Elongated tangents
So… the book is structured in a way where, as an example, in chapter 4 lets say, there’s a problem, then in chapter 5, they spend the entire chapter talking about said problem. Normally I wouldn’t have qualms about this but nothing happens in the following chapters. In the following chapter that is used to talk about the problem chapter, there are elongated tangents interspersed throughout the chapter. It felt as if the author used those tangents to pad the word count.
Overall: the story is fine, it’s nothing to write home about but it’s a fun read. I would pick this up to support this author because I’m sure the author will come back stronger and have better fundamentals and a professionally edited book next time.
The story is nice: nothing too spectacular nor abhorrent. It goes from 0 to 100 very quickly and the relationship develops seemingly from no where. Just that they can’t seem to stop thinking about each other’s eyes.
The good:
Liked the characters a lot. Each character had their own personality and was written in a way where the writing conveyed their individual voice.
My criticism (take it with a grain of salt) to the author:
1. Consider beta readers and employing an editor.
There are multiple sentences that are incomplete and should utilize italics or other forms of grammar.
Name swaps appear very frequently throughout the book and it causes the reader to re read the section just to make sure they read it correctly.
There were no indentations at all. I felt as if I read a big wall of text. Indentations are important to utilize for conversations and different idea points.
2. Writing style?
Sentences could be more reader friendly. The story is written in a way where everything is very descriptive and could be shortened. There were times I was reading a sentence and thought it could’ve ended or be re written to be shorter but still convey the same thing.
The author uses the phrase: “a look passed across (insert character name)‘s face.” Quite a bit through the story. Please indicate what kind of look, cause I was thinking “ is it sad? Happy? Distraught? Frustrated?” So yeah just a peeve I had when reading the book.
3. Elongated tangents
So… the book is structured in a way where, as an example, in chapter 4 lets say, there’s a problem, then in chapter 5, they spend the entire chapter talking about said problem. Normally I wouldn’t have qualms about this but nothing happens in the following chapters. In the following chapter that is used to talk about the problem chapter, there are elongated tangents interspersed throughout the chapter. It felt as if the author used those tangents to pad the word count.
Overall: the story is fine, it’s nothing to write home about but it’s a fun read. I would pick this up to support this author because I’m sure the author will come back stronger and have better fundamentals and a professionally edited book next time.
July 9, 2021
This is a very nice story with two well worked out characters. It is just unfortunate, that the editing was a bit sloppy, especially in the first part.
Since I know all too well how things slip by you, when you try to edit your own work I still wanted to give 4.5 stars, rounded up to five. The story is just too cute and the idea quite original.
Since I know all too well how things slip by you, when you try to edit your own work I still wanted to give 4.5 stars, rounded up to five. The story is just too cute and the idea quite original.
December 16, 2021
Plot: The book starts with Charlie getting told that she will be privately tutoring one of her students while the student works on a film. While there Charlie has a couple negative interactions with Robyn. Robyn was under a lot of stress and lashed out but later apologizes. The main characters don’t have a real conversation until over 40% of the way through the book.
Chemistry quickly builds between the characters. They have a couple more misunderstandings but are able to work through them and start a happy relationship. They have one last big hurdle to deal with but are finally able to settle into their HEA.
I think there were several scenes that were left out that could have made the book stronger like: Them dealing with the public, Robyn actually firing her manager, Charlie returning to her normal school when everyone knows she is dating Robyn. The scene of them figuring out the final misunderstanding between them also needed work. They just are a couple again and act like they never felt the heartbreak that they did. I get that they still want to be together but those emotions don’t just disappear.
Characterization: Robyn is famous and talented but struggles with feelings of inadequacy. She is naturally an anxious person and has lots of coping mechanisms to deal with her stress. She has lived an isolated life and loves her family deeply.
Charlie is calm and kind. She really tries to understand why people do the things they do and is usually unable to get mad at people who take advantage of her because she empathizes with them too much.
Writing: This was written in third person perspective. This author had really awesome, well developed main characters as well as Charlie’s group of friends. All other characters were pretty one dimensional. The bad guy was bad, the snobby homophobe co-star was snobby and homophobic. The plot also needed some depth. The main characters fall for similar dumb misunderstandings over and over. They communicate so well that it just seems forced that they all of a sudden they assume the worst when it is convenient for the plot.
I’m really excited for this series and this author. I think this was a good first book with lots of room for improvement and characters that are so fun to read about.
Chemistry quickly builds between the characters. They have a couple more misunderstandings but are able to work through them and start a happy relationship. They have one last big hurdle to deal with but are finally able to settle into their HEA.
I think there were several scenes that were left out that could have made the book stronger like: Them dealing with the public, Robyn actually firing her manager, Charlie returning to her normal school when everyone knows she is dating Robyn. The scene of them figuring out the final misunderstanding between them also needed work. They just are a couple again and act like they never felt the heartbreak that they did. I get that they still want to be together but those emotions don’t just disappear.
Characterization: Robyn is famous and talented but struggles with feelings of inadequacy. She is naturally an anxious person and has lots of coping mechanisms to deal with her stress. She has lived an isolated life and loves her family deeply.
Charlie is calm and kind. She really tries to understand why people do the things they do and is usually unable to get mad at people who take advantage of her because she empathizes with them too much.
Writing: This was written in third person perspective. This author had really awesome, well developed main characters as well as Charlie’s group of friends. All other characters were pretty one dimensional. The bad guy was bad, the snobby homophobe co-star was snobby and homophobic. The plot also needed some depth. The main characters fall for similar dumb misunderstandings over and over. They communicate so well that it just seems forced that they all of a sudden they assume the worst when it is convenient for the plot.
I’m really excited for this series and this author. I think this was a good first book with lots of room for improvement and characters that are so fun to read about.
March 10, 2023
Such a disappointing read. From the synopsis, i thought this book would be up my alley but it was so bland and pretty horrible to read.
Charlie and robyn don't act like 40 year olds at all, which makes it weird to read.
There were so many situations where a misunderstanding had caused them to separate that i wanted to scream. Why couldn't they communicate like two adults?
Charlie and robyn also felt one dimensional, there was no depth to what they were doing and i felt bored by their interactions.
The plot was also horrendous, i expected to be pulled into the world of acting and celebrity life but i wasn't at all. The producers, actors, directors etc..
I felt played no part in the story. Like yes there was a grp of friends, mel, racheal etc, but they felt so normal, there was no distinctive personality in there and their roles in the production of the show wasn't even written in the book
mel was just obsessively speculating robyn's sexuality which i found weird, like that was her character trait. There was too many ppl that their personalities all felt the same.
Also charlie's friend grp is no better, their conversations were not funny and i didn't care abt them. They werw all obsessed with robyn and basically felt like that was the only thing they talked about.
Charlie and robyn also got together really fast. robyn was like im going to come out and ur gonna be in the spotlight and i was so confused as to why they were going so fast?
The plot was too simple, the manager which i knew was gonna do smth bad literally created a fcking misunderstanding, and i hated it.
Urgh i wasted my time on this book just to feel annoyed.
At least the writing was bearable , but i was definitely skimming some lines
1.5 stars.
Charlie and robyn don't act like 40 year olds at all, which makes it weird to read.
There were so many situations where a misunderstanding had caused them to separate that i wanted to scream. Why couldn't they communicate like two adults?
Charlie and robyn also felt one dimensional, there was no depth to what they were doing and i felt bored by their interactions.
The plot was also horrendous, i expected to be pulled into the world of acting and celebrity life but i wasn't at all. The producers, actors, directors etc..
I felt played no part in the story. Like yes there was a grp of friends, mel, racheal etc, but they felt so normal, there was no distinctive personality in there and their roles in the production of the show wasn't even written in the book
mel was just obsessively speculating robyn's sexuality which i found weird, like that was her character trait. There was too many ppl that their personalities all felt the same.
Also charlie's friend grp is no better, their conversations were not funny and i didn't care abt them. They werw all obsessed with robyn and basically felt like that was the only thing they talked about.
Charlie and robyn also got together really fast. robyn was like im going to come out and ur gonna be in the spotlight and i was so confused as to why they were going so fast?
The plot was too simple, the manager which i knew was gonna do smth bad literally created a fcking misunderstanding, and i hated it.
Urgh i wasted my time on this book just to feel annoyed.
At least the writing was bearable , but i was definitely skimming some lines
1.5 stars.
September 27, 2024
While 3 stars seem a bit low for this book it's the best I could give it with a clear conscience. This was such a mixed bag for me. One of the reasons I even started reading romance novels was because I was tired of the overuse of misunderstandings to drag out a story. Though the first few annoyed me severely while they were happening, I got over them as soon as the interaction passed. That last misunderstanding with David was the last straw for me. The whole thing was so stupid and GLARINGLY obvious I wanted to turn the audiobook off and forget I ever read it. If not for the fact that I got to that part with an hour left in the workday when I got to that point, I would've started a new story right then. Jenna's save and resulting ploy were about to redeem it when the story just ends and skips to the epilogue. I was looking forward to the interview and seeing David fall but got NO PAYOFF after suffering through that insufferable A-hole all book. Compounded by the fact that the leads barely had any deep conversations turned a great ride in more of a pile up. I mean Robyn never even told Charlie about her anxiety which is obviously a huge part of her. I listened to the audiobook while at work which made it much more bearable but I know i never would've made it past the David mess if I had read the book.
August 6, 2021
Overall I found this book enjoyable. I liked the cast of characters, though I found Charlie frustrating. Charlie's group of friends were fun and Robyn's sister was great. I thought the angle with Robyn walking into a situation where no one wanted her there and everyone resented her added some nice flavor. I enjoyed all the pop culture references, particularly Robyn's trick for calming herself down lol.
Things I liked less... Other reviewers have already pointed out the proofing and formatting issues that made this book more difficult to read smoothly, so I won't harp on that. I found myself rolling my eyes real hard at Charlie's hyper-dramatic overreactions to every rough spot with Robyn, especially as they became increasingly hysterical each time. Her reaction to the last "conflict" just felt stupid to me. Like, first, you seriously believed that??? And second, wow did she just flip out and hardly try at all to figure out what happened. Your phone call doesn't go through, and you just give up and run away like that??? Charlie was supposedly the calm, logical, level-headed one of her friend group but you literally never see her handling anything calmly. Another thing: I liked Lucy, but once she serves her purpose of being how Charlie and Robyn meet she basically disappears. Lots of missed potential there IMO.
This is the author's first book, so it's pretty decent considering that. I liked it enough that I will likely give her next book in this series a chance.
Things I liked less... Other reviewers have already pointed out the proofing and formatting issues that made this book more difficult to read smoothly, so I won't harp on that. I found myself rolling my eyes real hard at Charlie's hyper-dramatic overreactions to every rough spot with Robyn, especially as they became increasingly hysterical each time. Her reaction to the last "conflict" just felt stupid to me. Like, first, you seriously believed that??? And second, wow did she just flip out and hardly try at all to figure out what happened. Your phone call doesn't go through, and you just give up and run away like that??? Charlie was supposedly the calm, logical, level-headed one of her friend group but you literally never see her handling anything calmly. Another thing: I liked Lucy, but once she serves her purpose of being how Charlie and Robyn meet she basically disappears. Lots of missed potential there IMO.
This is the author's first book, so it's pretty decent considering that. I liked it enough that I will likely give her next book in this series a chance.
September 4, 2021
Looking forward to the second installment.
I enjoyed this story very much and am looking forward to the next installment. I'm giving the story four stars and the technical aspects a two and a half. Now, a note to K.E. Morrison. Please get a new editor and copy writer. If you have to, read the final version yourself before it's available to the public. This book is full of mistakes, and I do mean full. Not one or two, many. Names are interchanged, words are dropped or added for no reason, and spacing changes. In addition I think the story would have benefited from one less "misunderstanding" and more at the end on the forthcoming article and revenge. MS. Morrison is talented at conveying humor, which I think must be hard secondary to some books I've read. I think that humor would have played well with additional story about the traitor. (I'm trying not to blow any of the plot here!) The story really did wrap up to quickly and not realistically. Can you imagine the feelings after the kitchen table revelations? That did an injustice to romance lovers.
All that said, this book is good enough to wade through the mistakes. I sincerely hope these problems are corrected and the next volume reaches a bit higher. I can't wait for more.
I enjoyed this story very much and am looking forward to the next installment. I'm giving the story four stars and the technical aspects a two and a half. Now, a note to K.E. Morrison. Please get a new editor and copy writer. If you have to, read the final version yourself before it's available to the public. This book is full of mistakes, and I do mean full. Not one or two, many. Names are interchanged, words are dropped or added for no reason, and spacing changes. In addition I think the story would have benefited from one less "misunderstanding" and more at the end on the forthcoming article and revenge. MS. Morrison is talented at conveying humor, which I think must be hard secondary to some books I've read. I think that humor would have played well with additional story about the traitor. (I'm trying not to blow any of the plot here!) The story really did wrap up to quickly and not realistically. Can you imagine the feelings after the kitchen table revelations? That did an injustice to romance lovers.
All that said, this book is good enough to wade through the mistakes. I sincerely hope these problems are corrected and the next volume reaches a bit higher. I can't wait for more.
May 10, 2023
Sweet book with great friends!
When one of Charlie's high school students lands a part in a new movie, she is told by the headmistress that she will accompany her as her teacher on set. Not happy at first because of leaving her other students, she slowly changes her mind after she gets to know the lead actress, global superstar, Robyn.
Although Robyn has a huge fan base, including Charlie's friends, and projects as a happy, friendly, hard worker, she really struggles to fit in. As a closeted Hollywood star, the only person who can settle her anxiety is her twin Kate, until she begins to fall for Charlie. Robyn has also been badly manipulated by her manager who sister Kate has never trusted.
It's a cute romance with quite a bit of angst, but Charlie's wonderful group of friends came through when it was needed the most. I have two complaints which lowered my rating. 1) I thought the story was about a couple of college kids based on the very cute, but young cover, not women in their thirties. 2) There were so many editing mistakes, mainly missing words. It really could use another round of proofreading! However, I really did enjoy the story and look forward to reading the next about Jenna, the journalist!
When one of Charlie's high school students lands a part in a new movie, she is told by the headmistress that she will accompany her as her teacher on set. Not happy at first because of leaving her other students, she slowly changes her mind after she gets to know the lead actress, global superstar, Robyn.
Although Robyn has a huge fan base, including Charlie's friends, and projects as a happy, friendly, hard worker, she really struggles to fit in. As a closeted Hollywood star, the only person who can settle her anxiety is her twin Kate, until she begins to fall for Charlie. Robyn has also been badly manipulated by her manager who sister Kate has never trusted.
It's a cute romance with quite a bit of angst, but Charlie's wonderful group of friends came through when it was needed the most. I have two complaints which lowered my rating. 1) I thought the story was about a couple of college kids based on the very cute, but young cover, not women in their thirties. 2) There were so many editing mistakes, mainly missing words. It really could use another round of proofreading! However, I really did enjoy the story and look forward to reading the next about Jenna, the journalist!
September 18, 2021
Decent story with some glaring technical errors.
As always with my reviews I like to preface that I do have a degree in creative writing so I can lean towards the more critical side.
I wanted to give this book a higher rating because it was actually a very good story and did keep me engaged. There were some minor pacing problems especially around the middle. The characters were all engaging and felt deep and complex though.
I only rated this a 3 instead of a 4 or because of many technical ais technical errors in the book. On multiple occasions I found misspelled words, repeated phrases, meaningless symbols inserted randomly, or places where it seemed obvious the author had placed the wrong name in a sentence. On top of this, the formatting had blocks of paragraph that lasted for pages with no indentation or breaks that made it very hard for the eyes to keep track of where you were. All in all, this book should have been thoroughly edited and formatted for Kindle before being released.
All in all though, technical errors aside, this book was still thoroughly enjoyable and I will probably check out other books by the same author if I see any.
As always with my reviews I like to preface that I do have a degree in creative writing so I can lean towards the more critical side.
I wanted to give this book a higher rating because it was actually a very good story and did keep me engaged. There were some minor pacing problems especially around the middle. The characters were all engaging and felt deep and complex though.
I only rated this a 3 instead of a 4 or because of many technical ais technical errors in the book. On multiple occasions I found misspelled words, repeated phrases, meaningless symbols inserted randomly, or places where it seemed obvious the author had placed the wrong name in a sentence. On top of this, the formatting had blocks of paragraph that lasted for pages with no indentation or breaks that made it very hard for the eyes to keep track of where you were. All in all, this book should have been thoroughly edited and formatted for Kindle before being released.
All in all though, technical errors aside, this book was still thoroughly enjoyable and I will probably check out other books by the same author if I see any.
May 7, 2022
I'm quite surprised with the high rating this book got.
Robyn and Charlie had this insta love connection that was just shoved into the readers face. And the conflict at the end? I am aware that a lot of romance novels use the lack of communication as a way to introduce conflict, but this was poorly accomplished. This is where I'm at right now in the book and I had to come here to write my review.
The author tended to give expositions, which I guess was meant to provide the readers with enough information about each characters. Conversations/banter with the main characters' friends felt forced and was just meant to 'tell' the reader about how supportive everyone was.
There are also a number of editing mistakes that are so blaring that it took me out of the story.
I am still hooked in the sense that I want to know how it all ends, but I'm struggling to finish this book. So I guess I will be skimming.
Robyn and Charlie had this insta love connection that was just shoved into the readers face. And the conflict at the end? I am aware that a lot of romance novels use the lack of communication as a way to introduce conflict, but this was poorly accomplished. This is where I'm at right now in the book and I had to come here to write my review.
The author tended to give expositions, which I guess was meant to provide the readers with enough information about each characters. Conversations/banter with the main characters' friends felt forced and was just meant to 'tell' the reader about how supportive everyone was.
There are also a number of editing mistakes that are so blaring that it took me out of the story.
I am still hooked in the sense that I want to know how it all ends, but I'm struggling to finish this book. So I guess I will be skimming.
July 17, 2022
The Cover is misleading—these are professional women in their mid-thirties
Having grown up in Southern California, I’m a sucker for stories with actresses and this romance is between a star and a high school English teacher in Britain. I enjoyed the story, but I have a few criticisms. I agree with others that there were too many instances of miscommunication. Plus a few plot holes. How did Robyn get nominated for an Oscar when her romantic interest was like “cardboard,” which should have killed any scene? It was unreal that Robyn was able to move about without especially to an apartment without being followed or recognized. What about Lucy’s future? A development editor should have made sure the epilogue cleared these and a few others up. I enjoyed Robyn and her sister, Kate, who I hope we’ll see again. I do look forward to the three friends getting their own romances next.
Having grown up in Southern California, I’m a sucker for stories with actresses and this romance is between a star and a high school English teacher in Britain. I enjoyed the story, but I have a few criticisms. I agree with others that there were too many instances of miscommunication. Plus a few plot holes. How did Robyn get nominated for an Oscar when her romantic interest was like “cardboard,” which should have killed any scene? It was unreal that Robyn was able to move about without especially to an apartment without being followed or recognized. What about Lucy’s future? A development editor should have made sure the epilogue cleared these and a few others up. I enjoyed Robyn and her sister, Kate, who I hope we’ll see again. I do look forward to the three friends getting their own romances next.
February 1, 2023
4 stars from me. While I enjoyed this book, it's nothing that hasn't been done before. Celebrity falls for a regular working class type. I really liked both main characters and sub-characters in this book, especially Lauren & Kate (great support characters, literally). Some of the angst felt a little forced at times, but nothing too bad. I wish we had more details of what happened at the end of the story. Since there's a one year time jump, we don't get much. Maybe the sequels (assuming they're still coming out... pun intended) will enlighten us a little more. I would have liked the backstory of Charlie's family that's hinted at the end of the story, how Lucy's career is going, David's comeuppance, etc... but again, I suppose that's still to come. Still though, great first novel. I'm hoping Jenna's story gets released sooner rather than later.
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