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Pop Tart
She was America's sweetheart. Until the love affair ended with a bang…
Young make-up artist Jackie Reilly has always dreamed of making it big in TinselTown, concealing the flaws of the rich and famous. Stuck in a rut with a crazy boss, she thinks her big break will never come - until she meets a girl who guarantees her life will never be the same again…
16-year-old Brooke Parker is bubbly, vivacious, charming - and about to become the world's most famous teenager. A pop singer on the verge of superstardom, Brooke instantly takes a shine to Jackie and draws her into a world of white-stretch limos, screaming fans and invitations to VIP events.
But as Jackie quickly finds out, fame has its dark side. Forced to juggle the various egos of Brooke's entourage - from bitchy stylists to over-eager publicists and a manager that serves his own interests before all else - all preserving the golden girl image of brand Brooke.
Caught in the tight grip of the P.R machine, Brooke starts to rebel, taking Jackie along for the ride. At first her bad girl antics are a blast, earning her even more column inches, but when her heavy partying brings Brooke's demons to the surface she begins to fall apart and soon, she is taking Jackie down with her.
When Jackie is forced to learn the rules of showbusiness the hard way, her friendship with Brooke is put to the ultimate test - will she be yet another casualty of Brooke's increasing quest for fame?
Or can she save herself - and Brooke?
Young make-up artist Jackie Reilly has always dreamed of making it big in TinselTown, concealing the flaws of the rich and famous. Stuck in a rut with a crazy boss, she thinks her big break will never come - until she meets a girl who guarantees her life will never be the same again…
16-year-old Brooke Parker is bubbly, vivacious, charming - and about to become the world's most famous teenager. A pop singer on the verge of superstardom, Brooke instantly takes a shine to Jackie and draws her into a world of white-stretch limos, screaming fans and invitations to VIP events.
But as Jackie quickly finds out, fame has its dark side. Forced to juggle the various egos of Brooke's entourage - from bitchy stylists to over-eager publicists and a manager that serves his own interests before all else - all preserving the golden girl image of brand Brooke.
Caught in the tight grip of the P.R machine, Brooke starts to rebel, taking Jackie along for the ride. At first her bad girl antics are a blast, earning her even more column inches, but when her heavy partying brings Brooke's demons to the surface she begins to fall apart and soon, she is taking Jackie down with her.
When Jackie is forced to learn the rules of showbusiness the hard way, her friendship with Brooke is put to the ultimate test - will she be yet another casualty of Brooke's increasing quest for fame?
Or can she save herself - and Brooke?
390 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2009
7 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 16, 2009
Pop Tart is the debut novel from Kira Coplin and Julianne Kaye. From the back cover it sounds like a very interesting read. A make-up artist, Jackie, is trying to make her way in LA when the chance of a lifetime comes in the form of Brooke Parker, a rising star. They form a firm friendship and Brooke brings Jackie into the life of the rich and famous. Until Brooke starts to rebel…
The cover is gorgeous and the blurb makes the book sounds like a must-read. Also after posting the cover and blurb on the site we got quite a few comments saying how fabulous the novel was.
Unfortunately I’m currently struggling to finish the novel. I’m almost half-way through and nothing of note has really happened. I will carry on for the sake of my review but I have to say it may well take a while… unless I just read it to get it over with which sounds like a good prospect to me right now.
It’s a shame that the novel isn’t living up to the hype as the premise of the story makes it sound like an incredible read and one which, while ficticious, will go behind-the-scenes of what really goes on with a young, famous person. I thought it was going to be a female, younger-ish version of Johnny Be Good (by Paige Toon) but it is nowhere as close to JBG.
On the back cover of the novel it says Brooke Parker is 16. However on page 58 a newscaster reports that Brooke is “just 18 years old”. That is a huge error to slip through the editing process I have to say. And a pretty basic one at that.
I think the first-person style of the novel is all wrong. For a novel with two female characters that are the core of the novel it would have been better written in third-person so we could get Brooke’s perspective rather than just Jackie’s.
Not only that but who on earth uses the word “beat” to describe something that’s “cool”. I have never read that word being used anywhere.
I just can’t get over how much I dislike this novel. The pace is a snail’s one and I know I’m not even half way through but it’s just so difficult to keep reading something this bad. I skim-read the last half of the book and I have to say I didn’t miss much.
The book is repetitive, cliched to the maximum and Brooke is like a younger version of the now-Britney Spears who had a meltdown.
Overall the novel could have been so much more. The blurb on the back made it sound like a must-read until you actually started reading the novel. A very, very poor offering on what was a well-raved about novel.
I hate writing bad reviews but I can’t lie if I hated a novel and unfortunately I hated Pop Tart. Read it at your own peril!
Rating: 1/5
The cover is gorgeous and the blurb makes the book sounds like a must-read. Also after posting the cover and blurb on the site we got quite a few comments saying how fabulous the novel was.
Unfortunately I’m currently struggling to finish the novel. I’m almost half-way through and nothing of note has really happened. I will carry on for the sake of my review but I have to say it may well take a while… unless I just read it to get it over with which sounds like a good prospect to me right now.
It’s a shame that the novel isn’t living up to the hype as the premise of the story makes it sound like an incredible read and one which, while ficticious, will go behind-the-scenes of what really goes on with a young, famous person. I thought it was going to be a female, younger-ish version of Johnny Be Good (by Paige Toon) but it is nowhere as close to JBG.
On the back cover of the novel it says Brooke Parker is 16. However on page 58 a newscaster reports that Brooke is “just 18 years old”. That is a huge error to slip through the editing process I have to say. And a pretty basic one at that.
I think the first-person style of the novel is all wrong. For a novel with two female characters that are the core of the novel it would have been better written in third-person so we could get Brooke’s perspective rather than just Jackie’s.
Not only that but who on earth uses the word “beat” to describe something that’s “cool”. I have never read that word being used anywhere.
I just can’t get over how much I dislike this novel. The pace is a snail’s one and I know I’m not even half way through but it’s just so difficult to keep reading something this bad. I skim-read the last half of the book and I have to say I didn’t miss much.
The book is repetitive, cliched to the maximum and Brooke is like a younger version of the now-Britney Spears who had a meltdown.
Overall the novel could have been so much more. The blurb on the back made it sound like a must-read until you actually started reading the novel. A very, very poor offering on what was a well-raved about novel.
I hate writing bad reviews but I can’t lie if I hated a novel and unfortunately I hated Pop Tart. Read it at your own peril!
Rating: 1/5
January 25, 2012
This is a story of shallow, empty, plastic people in a shallow, empty, plastic world. So it's no real surprise that the book itself is shallow, empty and plastic: little more than a fictionalised description of celebrity lifestyle.
In Pop Tart, characters come and go, each more ghastly than the last and none of them with any depth to make the reader care two hoots what happens to them.
Kira Coplin - who I presume is the chief writer - seems to assume that, since everyone knows who these people are REALLY supposed to be, she doesn't have to develop her characters. But tragedy requires something important to have been destroyed or potential wasted and Brit… - sorry, "Brooke" - is such an empty vessel that her collapse only inspires indifference.
Nor does it make much sense because the writing is so weak. Coplin is a journalist and her style doesn't go beyond the 2000-word celebrity write-up, where the readers are assumed to know about the characters and the story already. By the end of the book, when some emotional depth was needed, I almost felt sorry for her as she grasped at platitudes to rescue her floundering prose. I don't like to be harsh, but these authors cannot write fiction and shouldn't try again.
Like a real pop tart, this book is unpleasantly sticky and unsatisfying. But if you like junk-food-literature, ignore my one star and gorge yourself. But it'll make you fat.
In Pop Tart, characters come and go, each more ghastly than the last and none of them with any depth to make the reader care two hoots what happens to them.
Kira Coplin - who I presume is the chief writer - seems to assume that, since everyone knows who these people are REALLY supposed to be, she doesn't have to develop her characters. But tragedy requires something important to have been destroyed or potential wasted and Brit… - sorry, "Brooke" - is such an empty vessel that her collapse only inspires indifference.
Nor does it make much sense because the writing is so weak. Coplin is a journalist and her style doesn't go beyond the 2000-word celebrity write-up, where the readers are assumed to know about the characters and the story already. By the end of the book, when some emotional depth was needed, I almost felt sorry for her as she grasped at platitudes to rescue her floundering prose. I don't like to be harsh, but these authors cannot write fiction and shouldn't try again.
Like a real pop tart, this book is unpleasantly sticky and unsatisfying. But if you like junk-food-literature, ignore my one star and gorge yourself. But it'll make you fat.
July 23, 2009
Unmemorable. The best parts of the book are the quotes before each chapter.
November 3, 2009
Was not too into this novel, which in spite of its many inside-baseball-references to teen pop idols very closely resembling the Jonas Brothers and Britney Spears (names are changed in the book to avoid lawsuits, I'm guessing), isn't too juicy or relavatory about why celebs have such messed-up lives.
October 4, 2010
I know it's not really a good review considering I read 4 chapters, but 4 chapters was seriously enough.
January 4, 2016
Like the eponymous toaster pastry, POP TART is full of empty calories and no discernible nutritional value, but if you are in the mood for a brainless read I've certainly read worse.
POP TART is a barely veiled roman-a-clef about Britney Spears. Here, Britney is called Brooke (get it? They both start with "B!"), while Justin Timberlake is Jesse (ooh! Starts with "J"!). The authors leave off their naming device when it comes to Christina Aguilera, choosing instead a character names that rhymes ("Jessica Radar.") Meanwhile, read Fred Durst for Lou Jersey, and Paris Hilton for Alexis Young.
The book told through the first person viewpoint of Jackie, an aspiring - well, we're not quite sure to what she aspires other than to be an LA someone. She drifts into makeup because it's there, and it is as a make-up artist that she is hired to be part of Brit- I mean, Brooke's team during her first tour, backing up a barely disguised N*SYNC. Brooke and Jackie become fast friends, primarily, it seems, because Brooke has no other females around her age in her proximity. Jackie does like Brooke's unspoiled demeanor and refreshing candor, but as this is a "rise to stardom" book, Brooke doesn't stay unspoiled for long.
The problems with the book are:
A) Britney Spears' life truly is a case of real life eclipsing what suspension of disbelief allows in fiction. Thus, any attempt to fictionalize her life pales when next to the real world pop star.
and
B) Jackie is very amorphous. We don't know what she wants; and her ultimate career choice comes out of left field. The authors have a bad case of not wanting to make their heroine look TOO bad, and thus don't go far enough either on the temptation or resistance to temptation side. Ultimately, it is this lack of a strong narrator that makes the book ultimately forgettable.
POP TART is a good beach read, but don't expect the contents to stay with you for more than an hour and so. And if eaten too quickly & too often, runs the risk of increasing brain flab.
POP TART is a barely veiled roman-a-clef about Britney Spears. Here, Britney is called Brooke (get it? They both start with "B!"), while Justin Timberlake is Jesse (ooh! Starts with "J"!). The authors leave off their naming device when it comes to Christina Aguilera, choosing instead a character names that rhymes ("Jessica Radar.") Meanwhile, read Fred Durst for Lou Jersey, and Paris Hilton for Alexis Young.
The book told through the first person viewpoint of Jackie, an aspiring - well, we're not quite sure to what she aspires other than to be an LA someone. She drifts into makeup because it's there, and it is as a make-up artist that she is hired to be part of Brit- I mean, Brooke's team during her first tour, backing up a barely disguised N*SYNC. Brooke and Jackie become fast friends, primarily, it seems, because Brooke has no other females around her age in her proximity. Jackie does like Brooke's unspoiled demeanor and refreshing candor, but as this is a "rise to stardom" book, Brooke doesn't stay unspoiled for long.
The problems with the book are:
A) Britney Spears' life truly is a case of real life eclipsing what suspension of disbelief allows in fiction. Thus, any attempt to fictionalize her life pales when next to the real world pop star.
and
B) Jackie is very amorphous. We don't know what she wants; and her ultimate career choice comes out of left field. The authors have a bad case of not wanting to make their heroine look TOO bad, and thus don't go far enough either on the temptation or resistance to temptation side. Ultimately, it is this lack of a strong narrator that makes the book ultimately forgettable.
POP TART is a good beach read, but don't expect the contents to stay with you for more than an hour and so. And if eaten too quickly & too often, runs the risk of increasing brain flab.
September 10, 2016
No es un libro que vaya a gustar a todo el mundo, eso está claro, pero a mí me ha encantado.
Empezar a leer y sentirme tan identificada con la protagonista me hizo sonreír bastante. Cierto es que cuando empieza su nueva vida me distancié mucho de ella, pero a pesar de ciertas decisiones que toma, junto al personaje de T-Roc, es de mis favoritos.
La música que más escucho es pop y este libro te adentra en las bambalinas de ese mundo. Hay cosas que ya se saben y otras hacen replantearte cómo debe ser realmente la vida de algunos cantantes que te gustan. Aunque tenga muchas ventajas ese mundo, también es cierto que hay un lado oscuro y es jodido pasar por ello. No todo es tan bonito ni banal.
Lo he leído bastante rápido y se agradece, el sentir que más rato al día me apetece coger un libro hace que retome con más ganas la lectura. Y sí, de vez en cuando es necesario un libro más fresco.
Así que por mi parte, encantada con Pop Star ♥
Empezar a leer y sentirme tan identificada con la protagonista me hizo sonreír bastante. Cierto es que cuando empieza su nueva vida me distancié mucho de ella, pero a pesar de ciertas decisiones que toma, junto al personaje de T-Roc, es de mis favoritos.
La música que más escucho es pop y este libro te adentra en las bambalinas de ese mundo. Hay cosas que ya se saben y otras hacen replantearte cómo debe ser realmente la vida de algunos cantantes que te gustan. Aunque tenga muchas ventajas ese mundo, también es cierto que hay un lado oscuro y es jodido pasar por ello. No todo es tan bonito ni banal.
Lo he leído bastante rápido y se agradece, el sentir que más rato al día me apetece coger un libro hace que retome con más ganas la lectura. Y sí, de vez en cuando es necesario un libro más fresco.
Así que por mi parte, encantada con Pop Star ♥
November 15, 2016
Pop tart was a rare book to me, it was book I could not finish. I was unable to finish it for the simple reason that when I added this to my tbr a good 4 years ago it would have been the perfect book for me. I was determined to one day get round to the book and the day finally came and I realised that my reading style and taste has changed dramatically. I think I would have fully loved this book 4 years ago, but today it was a little too dramatic for my liking. The plot follows a budding make-up artist when on her first day on a set the star she is working on decides that she loves her look and wants her to be her artist. This is where my first problem lay where everything felt a little too lucky and it just didn’t feel realistic. I also thought the star was to dramatic and I just couldn’t enjoy reading her. I did however find the protagonist to be a good insight into this crazy world and did enjoy her perspective but it wasn’t enough to compel me to reach the end of the novel.
August 31, 2022
Hace una década, siendo una lectora de 17 años me encontré en un gran remate de libros un ejemplar de Pop Star, y siendo una adolescente que diariamente revisaba blogs de chismes de celebridades inmediatamente el ejemplar llamó mi atención, la portada era llamativa, la trama descrita en la contraportada prometía darte una visión bien interna sobre el mundo de la cultura popular y en general prometía ser una novela increíble y vertiginosa…Lamentablemente al empezar a leer me pareció entonces que el libro no cumpliría con su promesa, por lo que quedé estancada en la página 40, creí entonces que tal vez era por que no era capaz de empatizar con una protagonista que vivía sus tempranos veintes, así que simplemente abandoné la lectura con la esperanza de retomarla en un futuro cuando tal vez conectara mejor con los personajes, y bueno han pasado 10 años, supere la marca de los “Early 20’s” y heme aquí, aún sin poder identificarme ni un poquito con Jackie alias la protagonista de la novela.
Pero bueno, sin más preámbulo hablemos sobre Pop Star.
La historia nos relata a partir de la visión de Jackie, una maquillista amateur, el ascenso y desplomo de la joven promesa del pop Brooke Parker.
En mi opinión la historia tiene mucho potencial, sin embargo el abordaje deja mucho que desear ya que habla de temas que son muy serios, pero sin tomarlos con una pizca de seriedad haciendo de la historia algo plana y completamente superflua en donde pareciese que es más importante nombrar las marcas que visten personajes irrelevantes, así como la descripción de los extravagantes escenarios antes que desarrollar a los personajes principales.
Siendo principalmente mi mayor problema con la novela Jackie O’Reilly, la protagonista, cuya línea de desarrollo va de: Joven adulta malcriada, irresponsable y sangrona, a sangrona, irresponsable e interesada y finaliza con sangrona nunca se disculpa, no obtiene consecuencias reales y se sale con la suya, mientras que con Brooke me parece que sigue una línea mucho más interesante en donde pasa de ser una chica sencilla y feliz a convertirse en esta persona manipuladora, solitaria y sumamente triste en una industria que parece únicamente tener tiempo para realizar montajes ridículos sobre su persona siendo deshumanizada en su totalidad, su desarrollo lamentablemente fue terriblemente desperdiciado en un libro cuyo fin es más acorde a la cultura del “Flex” que realmente al de una obra literaria que valga la pena leer.
Por ultimo quiero agregar que aunque me queda claro que la novela fue escrita entre 2008-2009 y que por tanto no existía la misma conversación que existe hoy día con respecto a los temas de salud mental, excesos y los problemas que acarrean la fama a una temprana edad, la novela sigue quedando mucho a deber ya que creo fervientemente que uno de los elementos que nuestra generación ansia es conocer a fondo los sentimientos más profundos de los protagonistas, ya que es solo a través de la empatía y la solidaridad que somos capaces de conectar con los mismos y en ese aspecto Pop Star falla colosalmente ya que se pareciese las autoras se rehusaron completamente en desarrollar a Jackie.
La novela termina siendo entonces una decepción total en mi opinión, ya que pareciera a veces que aspira a ser una especie de “El Gran Gatsby” sin embargo falla su misión al carecer completamente de corazón, y da como resultado un libro larguísimo, difícil de terminar y sobre todo sumamente superficial.
Pero bueno, sin más preámbulo hablemos sobre Pop Star.
La historia nos relata a partir de la visión de Jackie, una maquillista amateur, el ascenso y desplomo de la joven promesa del pop Brooke Parker.
En mi opinión la historia tiene mucho potencial, sin embargo el abordaje deja mucho que desear ya que habla de temas que son muy serios, pero sin tomarlos con una pizca de seriedad haciendo de la historia algo plana y completamente superflua en donde pareciese que es más importante nombrar las marcas que visten personajes irrelevantes, así como la descripción de los extravagantes escenarios antes que desarrollar a los personajes principales.
Siendo principalmente mi mayor problema con la novela Jackie O’Reilly, la protagonista, cuya línea de desarrollo va de: Joven adulta malcriada, irresponsable y sangrona, a sangrona, irresponsable e interesada y finaliza con sangrona nunca se disculpa, no obtiene consecuencias reales y se sale con la suya, mientras que con Brooke me parece que sigue una línea mucho más interesante en donde pasa de ser una chica sencilla y feliz a convertirse en esta persona manipuladora, solitaria y sumamente triste en una industria que parece únicamente tener tiempo para realizar montajes ridículos sobre su persona siendo deshumanizada en su totalidad, su desarrollo lamentablemente fue terriblemente desperdiciado en un libro cuyo fin es más acorde a la cultura del “Flex” que realmente al de una obra literaria que valga la pena leer.
Por ultimo quiero agregar que aunque me queda claro que la novela fue escrita entre 2008-2009 y que por tanto no existía la misma conversación que existe hoy día con respecto a los temas de salud mental, excesos y los problemas que acarrean la fama a una temprana edad, la novela sigue quedando mucho a deber ya que creo fervientemente que uno de los elementos que nuestra generación ansia es conocer a fondo los sentimientos más profundos de los protagonistas, ya que es solo a través de la empatía y la solidaridad que somos capaces de conectar con los mismos y en ese aspecto Pop Star falla colosalmente ya que se pareciese las autoras se rehusaron completamente en desarrollar a Jackie.
La novela termina siendo entonces una decepción total en mi opinión, ya que pareciera a veces que aspira a ser una especie de “El Gran Gatsby” sin embargo falla su misión al carecer completamente de corazón, y da como resultado un libro larguísimo, difícil de terminar y sobre todo sumamente superficial.
April 4, 2021
Esta es una historia de personas plásticas, vacías y superficiales en un mundo plástico vacío y superficial. Así que no es de extrañar que el libro en sí sea superficial, vacío y plástico: poco más que una descripción ficticia del estilo de vida de las celebridades.
En Pop Tart, los personajes van y vienen, cada uno más espantoso que el anterior y ninguno de ellos con la profundidad necesaria para hacer que al lector le importe lo que les suceda.
Kira Coplin, quien supongo que es la escritora principal, parece asumir que, dado que todos saben quiénes son REALMENTE se supone que son estas personas, no tiene que desarrollar sus personajes. Pero la tragedia requiere que algo importante haya sido destruido o potencialmente desperdiciado y Brit… - lo siento, "Brooke" - es un recipiente tan vacío que su colapso solo inspira indiferencia.
En Pop Tart, los personajes van y vienen, cada uno más espantoso que el anterior y ninguno de ellos con la profundidad necesaria para hacer que al lector le importe lo que les suceda.
Kira Coplin, quien supongo que es la escritora principal, parece asumir que, dado que todos saben quiénes son REALMENTE se supone que son estas personas, no tiene que desarrollar sus personajes. Pero la tragedia requiere que algo importante haya sido destruido o potencialmente desperdiciado y Brit… - lo siento, "Brooke" - es un recipiente tan vacío que su colapso solo inspira indiferencia.
April 21, 2024
Malo – Sin historia.
En la próxima depuración de librero este sale. Pero no quise sacarlo sin haberlo leído, me siento culpable por comprarlo y ni siquiera leerlo.
Confieso que en su momento lo compre por su portada. (Hace mucho tiempo)
La verdad me obligaba a leer un capitulo diario para terminarlo.
Protagonista floja, historia sin objetivo. Realmente sentí que quería mostrar más la vida de Hollywood que contar una historia que valiera la pena, cortaban y o saltaban a otras escenas sin un buen hilo conductor.
De un momento a otro llego la fama – Sin una buena historia atrás.
Está de más decir que se colgaron de la historia de Britney desde un punto de vista superficial. Lo único que hizo fue abrir mi curiosidad por leer la historia pero narrada por ella – Anotaré su libro.
En la próxima depuración de librero este sale. Pero no quise sacarlo sin haberlo leído, me siento culpable por comprarlo y ni siquiera leerlo.
Confieso que en su momento lo compre por su portada. (Hace mucho tiempo)
La verdad me obligaba a leer un capitulo diario para terminarlo.
Protagonista floja, historia sin objetivo. Realmente sentí que quería mostrar más la vida de Hollywood que contar una historia que valiera la pena, cortaban y o saltaban a otras escenas sin un buen hilo conductor.
De un momento a otro llego la fama – Sin una buena historia atrás.
Está de más decir que se colgaron de la historia de Britney desde un punto de vista superficial. Lo único que hizo fue abrir mi curiosidad por leer la historia pero narrada por ella – Anotaré su libro.
December 27, 2025
I just wanted to finish it more than anything. It’s not a style of book I normally read. The ending was ridiculous. Nobody goes to the hospital via ambulance for exhaustion and they surely don’t admit you. If Brooke had the team she had, she’d be getting better care prior to the hospital. The story spirals with bad decisions and non relatable experiences. The story was too many pages for this kind of tale. Unnecessary details, specifically how much time they put into that necklace Jackie was gifted only to lose it early on and never hear about it again. Plus the romance between David and Jackie was immature and short-lived.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2024
Honestly I couldn't wait to finish this book. I thought it would give me a nostalgic early 00s feel but could not resonate with any of the characters. Seemed to jump from one thing to another, as scatty as the American sweetheart Brooke herself. Unfortunately not a book for me.
Also to add, I picked this up from my workplace free library. Thankfully I didn't waste any more there.
Also to add, I picked this up from my workplace free library. Thankfully I didn't waste any more there.
January 28, 2022
i enjoyed this book about a new pop music sensation it has been done before but it was more specific and did keep me interested jackie collins always goes on about the sex as well which can get a bit tedious
February 8, 2023
Para mí, este es un buen ejemplo de no juzgar un libro por su portada, parece que será una historia adolescente sin chiste pero la verdad es que es un poco turbia, y aunque el final no me gustó mucho, creo que fue bastante real.
February 28, 2018
Algo simple, un mensaje trillado pero suficientemente frívolo para leerlo cuando no quieres romperte la cabeza con una lectura demasiado densa.
May 16, 2018
A bit too cliched but it’s a simple read
May 29, 2019
A fun read with a look into the ultra-famous.
May 12, 2022
Really enjoyed this. Was trashy fun and a real page turner.
Wish the ending had a little more though ! Plus I struggled to like Jackie or Brooke.
Overall did really enjoy it though
Wish the ending had a little more though ! Plus I struggled to like Jackie or Brooke.
Overall did really enjoy it though
June 7, 2014
Originally posted on Soph Reviews
Kira Coplin and Julianne Kaye’s novel Pop Tart is the story of an aspiring makeup artist, Jackie O’Reilly, who befriends a rising young pop star, Brooke Parker, after a one off job as her makeup artist. The story follows Jackie and Brooke through the highs and lows of their new found fame and the love, heartache, friendships and fallouts that come along with it.
Although on the surface this appears to be nothing more than a story of a newly famous pop star and her tag-a-long makeup artist discovering the problems of the paparazzi, beneath the superficial Hollywood story are some real life lessons and relatable circumstances. It was those life lessons, and the way they were so seamlessly slipped into the story, that made me like this book.
It terms of the story, I have read better. It was very repetitive and I felt as though I was simply reading about party after party, concert after concert, boy after boy. However, the characters were, for me, what made the story. The relationship between Jackie and Brooke, although at times slightly strange, was heart warming. The way their relationship was written made me genuinely feel for both characters through the good and bad.
I was not greatly impressed by the way the romantic relationships were portrayed throughout the book. While Brooke and Jesse’s breakup should have been, I feel, a hard-hitting, emotional moment, I was rather unaffected by it. I did not feel that their relationship had been explored and built up enough before being torn down.
Another disappointment was the ending. I felt as though the story was leading to a great climax but instead seemed to build up before fizzling out. It seemed as though parts of the story and relationships between characters were not so much tied up neatly but rather came to a confusing, abrupt and messy end.
Overall, I was not a huge fan of the basic story of the book but the characters, life lessons and relatable circumstances made it an enjoyable read. It was more of an easy, beach read than anything else so I would recommend it if you are not looking for anything too complex or hard to follow.
(PS Another old review, new ones coming soon!)
Kira Coplin and Julianne Kaye’s novel Pop Tart is the story of an aspiring makeup artist, Jackie O’Reilly, who befriends a rising young pop star, Brooke Parker, after a one off job as her makeup artist. The story follows Jackie and Brooke through the highs and lows of their new found fame and the love, heartache, friendships and fallouts that come along with it.
Although on the surface this appears to be nothing more than a story of a newly famous pop star and her tag-a-long makeup artist discovering the problems of the paparazzi, beneath the superficial Hollywood story are some real life lessons and relatable circumstances. It was those life lessons, and the way they were so seamlessly slipped into the story, that made me like this book.
It terms of the story, I have read better. It was very repetitive and I felt as though I was simply reading about party after party, concert after concert, boy after boy. However, the characters were, for me, what made the story. The relationship between Jackie and Brooke, although at times slightly strange, was heart warming. The way their relationship was written made me genuinely feel for both characters through the good and bad.
I was not greatly impressed by the way the romantic relationships were portrayed throughout the book. While Brooke and Jesse’s breakup should have been, I feel, a hard-hitting, emotional moment, I was rather unaffected by it. I did not feel that their relationship had been explored and built up enough before being torn down.
Another disappointment was the ending. I felt as though the story was leading to a great climax but instead seemed to build up before fizzling out. It seemed as though parts of the story and relationships between characters were not so much tied up neatly but rather came to a confusing, abrupt and messy end.
Overall, I was not a huge fan of the basic story of the book but the characters, life lessons and relatable circumstances made it an enjoyable read. It was more of an easy, beach read than anything else so I would recommend it if you are not looking for anything too complex or hard to follow.
(PS Another old review, new ones coming soon!)
September 10, 2013
I thought this book was actually a pretty decent read. This may have gotten bad reviews, but it's not as bad as it's made out to be. People say that the book is shallow with no substance, but it's about the celebrity world, what do you expect? The novel is about a young girl, Jackie O'Reilly who is trying to carve herself a career in Hollywood. She has many ambitions; acting and music, but then she decides that she wants to become a make-up artist and luckily bags herself a job being make-up artist to rising teen star, Brooke Parker. She finds herself drawn into Brooke's world of wild parties, drugs and rock'n'roll.
I think the book depicts the shallow and superificial world of celebrity and the huge amount of pressure that comes with being a world famous superstar. The characters are likeable and lack a little depth. Jackie is likeable enough and Brooke is the sweet but dumb girl next door type. You find yourself going easy on Brooke as she's really just a little lost child who is too young and vulnerable for fame. I can understand how many young stars have break downs like Lindsay Lohan and Miley Cyrus. I liked T-Roc the bodyguard; I thought that he was the most funny and genuine character in the novel. I have to admit that some parts were a little bland and didn't pull me in as much as they could of had. I felt towards the end it got a little dull, but on the whole it was a really interesting and entertaining read and it was well written. Some of the parts were quite gripping and there was a lot of drama and wild parties which kept me on my toes. I liked the budding romance between Jackie and David.
This book reminded me a lot of the Devil Wears Prada. I definitely think that this book should be made into a film; I can really see it being made into one. Despite some off key bits in the novel, it was generally good and I felt drawn into Brooke's boy dilemmas and crazy parties. I don't know what else could have really been expected from this book. It really is a good read.
Grade: B+
I think the book depicts the shallow and superificial world of celebrity and the huge amount of pressure that comes with being a world famous superstar. The characters are likeable and lack a little depth. Jackie is likeable enough and Brooke is the sweet but dumb girl next door type. You find yourself going easy on Brooke as she's really just a little lost child who is too young and vulnerable for fame. I can understand how many young stars have break downs like Lindsay Lohan and Miley Cyrus. I liked T-Roc the bodyguard; I thought that he was the most funny and genuine character in the novel. I have to admit that some parts were a little bland and didn't pull me in as much as they could of had. I felt towards the end it got a little dull, but on the whole it was a really interesting and entertaining read and it was well written. Some of the parts were quite gripping and there was a lot of drama and wild parties which kept me on my toes. I liked the budding romance between Jackie and David.
This book reminded me a lot of the Devil Wears Prada. I definitely think that this book should be made into a film; I can really see it being made into one. Despite some off key bits in the novel, it was generally good and I felt drawn into Brooke's boy dilemmas and crazy parties. I don't know what else could have really been expected from this book. It really is a good read.
Grade: B+
November 3, 2012
A behind-the-scenes of the music business story with a make up artist as the narrator may seem shallow and silly to some, but I found it intriguing (even though I knew from the start that Brooke would not be my cup of tea as far as music is concerned).
I love the European cover and the synopsis caught my attention as well, though it was obvious that the book wouldn't be a breakthrough masterpiece of the genre, let alone literature itself. However, I think the story has little to do with what's shown to potential readers in the summary. Steve certainly lived for Brooke's success and the money he could make off her, but he never came came across as manipulative to me.
"She was America's sweetheart until the love affair turned sour." - When the love affair turned sour, she didn't seem as heartbroken and wrecked as I suppose she was supposed to be perceived. I understand that everything that happens at the end is a consequence of the break up, among many other things but the synopsis really seems exaggerated and inaccurate to me.
In my opinion, the book would be better if it contained Brooke's POV, too, so that we could see how she was feeling and coping with fame and compare it with what Jackie observed. Jackie was Brooke's only real friend in the polished Hollywood world, but it's still different than actually being the one who's constantly talked about and watched by the entire world.
The ending was kind of strange and left the story unfinished for me, which I know could have been intentional, but I'd really like to know what happened with Jackie and David or how Brooke got our of her trouble, how she coped with Jackie leaving. If I were in her state, my best friend bailing out on me really wouldn't help.
I didn't have to force myself to read it but it's definitely not a very good book, even for a simple chick-lit. 2/5
I love the European cover and the synopsis caught my attention as well, though it was obvious that the book wouldn't be a breakthrough masterpiece of the genre, let alone literature itself. However, I think the story has little to do with what's shown to potential readers in the summary. Steve certainly lived for Brooke's success and the money he could make off her, but he never came came across as manipulative to me.
"She was America's sweetheart until the love affair turned sour." - When the love affair turned sour, she didn't seem as heartbroken and wrecked as I suppose she was supposed to be perceived. I understand that everything that happens at the end is a consequence of the break up, among many other things but the synopsis really seems exaggerated and inaccurate to me.
In my opinion, the book would be better if it contained Brooke's POV, too, so that we could see how she was feeling and coping with fame and compare it with what Jackie observed. Jackie was Brooke's only real friend in the polished Hollywood world, but it's still different than actually being the one who's constantly talked about and watched by the entire world.
The ending was kind of strange and left the story unfinished for me, which I know could have been intentional, but I'd really like to know what happened with Jackie and David or how Brooke got our of her trouble, how she coped with Jackie leaving. If I were in her state, my best friend bailing out on me really wouldn't help.
I didn't have to force myself to read it but it's definitely not a very good book, even for a simple chick-lit. 2/5
February 22, 2015
I had high hopes for this book. The back cover made it sound interesting but once I got into the story, I realized that the authors took pretty much all the InTouch and US Weekly magazine articles about Britney Spears' life and turned it into a book. I can't believe that it took two authors to produce this book. They didn't bother to change much about Brooke's life (notice that even the first letter of their names are the same?), Brooke's from the South, Brooke goes on tour as a boy band's opening act, Brooke is dating a guy in the boy band (whose name is Jesse-quite similar to Justin Timberlake), she's has a pop rival similar to Christina Aguilera...the list goes on. They even lift the facts that Brooke loves fairies and vanilla candles, facts that any Britney fan can recall Britney talking about circa 2000. I guess I wouldn't be bothered as much if the two authors has shown a little effort to make Brooke her own person and not a carbon copy of someone real. It would have made more sense for them just to write a tell-all biography about Britney herself.
So that rant's over and I have to say that Jackie, who is supposed to be the main character, isn't really that great either. I didn't really care for her character. She can't stand what Brooke has become when she's messed up on drugs and alcohol but she doesn't discourage either and seems more than willing to accompany her at the parties. Overall, Jackie comes off a little to whiny and unlikable to me. I wasn't pulling for Jackie to find a great guy or succeed in her job, which is bad when you feel you can't root for the main character.
The book was just a disappoint to me and I've already put it in my pile to donate or garage sale.
So that rant's over and I have to say that Jackie, who is supposed to be the main character, isn't really that great either. I didn't really care for her character. She can't stand what Brooke has become when she's messed up on drugs and alcohol but she doesn't discourage either and seems more than willing to accompany her at the parties. Overall, Jackie comes off a little to whiny and unlikable to me. I wasn't pulling for Jackie to find a great guy or succeed in her job, which is bad when you feel you can't root for the main character.
The book was just a disappoint to me and I've already put it in my pile to donate or garage sale.
January 3, 2010
The book is written from the point of view of Jackie O'Reilly, who has lived in Hollywood all her life. Through a twist of fate, she ends up make-up artist and friend to up-and-coming star Brooke Parker.
Jackie quickly becomes eaten up in the drama of Hollywood and Brooke's life merges as her own.
Jackie is developed wonderfully. She's a someone following her dreams, which is all anyone really wants to do. It begins with Jackie...she talks about all her hopes and dreams. As she lands the job with Brooke, we can see how her life merges with Brooke's, while she makes no time for herself, though we do get small glimpses of her character from time to time. Then at the end, Jackie's life becomes her own again. Best of all, she's not perfect and she comes across as perfectly human in the choices and mistakes she makes. Towards the end of the book, you really get to sympathise with the character...you're sad when she's sad...that sort of thing.
Brooke...it's hard to see which parts of her are genuine and which are fake, even from Jackie's point of view, just as it is with real celebrities. Her love life is a mess and she ends up on a downward spiral. The sad story of countless teen sensations.
The dialogue is excellent. The authors have fun writing different accents. All the characters are well rounded and fun to read about.
The ending is bittersweet. I wanted a happy ending for Jackie and Brooke, but this book stays true to life and doesn't give us one.
Overall, if you like reading all the gossip on celebrities, you will definitely enjoy this book. Not absolutely the best book I've ever read, but worth ploughing through.
Jackie quickly becomes eaten up in the drama of Hollywood and Brooke's life merges as her own.
Jackie is developed wonderfully. She's a someone following her dreams, which is all anyone really wants to do. It begins with Jackie...she talks about all her hopes and dreams. As she lands the job with Brooke, we can see how her life merges with Brooke's, while she makes no time for herself, though we do get small glimpses of her character from time to time. Then at the end, Jackie's life becomes her own again. Best of all, she's not perfect and she comes across as perfectly human in the choices and mistakes she makes. Towards the end of the book, you really get to sympathise with the character...you're sad when she's sad...that sort of thing.
Brooke...it's hard to see which parts of her are genuine and which are fake, even from Jackie's point of view, just as it is with real celebrities. Her love life is a mess and she ends up on a downward spiral. The sad story of countless teen sensations.
The dialogue is excellent. The authors have fun writing different accents. All the characters are well rounded and fun to read about.
The ending is bittersweet. I wanted a happy ending for Jackie and Brooke, but this book stays true to life and doesn't give us one.
Overall, if you like reading all the gossip on celebrities, you will definitely enjoy this book. Not absolutely the best book I've ever read, but worth ploughing through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2013
POP TART took me two weeks to read as I kept putting it down, until I felt strong enough to fore another chapter upon my poor eyes...
To be honest; the only reason I bought this is because, like most people, I used to daydream about being rich and famous, so wanted to get a sense of what the world, daily life, and people who work for & generally mill around the Hollywood set are like. So I'll give this a star for the glimpse we do get into the lives of the other half.
Even though I did get a peek into the life behind the lens of a superstar, there still wasn't anything in the story to hold my interest for more then two chapters at a time.
It boils down to the fact that we've all read this story before in papers and rag mags all over the world; the authors are telling the Britney Spears story, in the guise of a 'fictional' novel.
It seems lazy to me that two people wrote this, but made very little attempt in dressing up the fact that they've copied Ms Spears' life and have basically bundled a bunch of magazine articles together and called it a day.
Take various tabloid stories + change the names of the people involved = Pop Tart.
To be honest; the only reason I bought this is because, like most people, I used to daydream about being rich and famous, so wanted to get a sense of what the world, daily life, and people who work for & generally mill around the Hollywood set are like. So I'll give this a star for the glimpse we do get into the lives of the other half.
Even though I did get a peek into the life behind the lens of a superstar, there still wasn't anything in the story to hold my interest for more then two chapters at a time.
It boils down to the fact that we've all read this story before in papers and rag mags all over the world; the authors are telling the Britney Spears story, in the guise of a 'fictional' novel.
It seems lazy to me that two people wrote this, but made very little attempt in dressing up the fact that they've copied Ms Spears' life and have basically bundled a bunch of magazine articles together and called it a day.
Take various tabloid stories + change the names of the people involved = Pop Tart.
November 3, 2015
Now I understand some previous reviewers opinion of this being "trashy" but I hate to say this book is exactly what it describes itself as being! I read some heavy thrillers and every now and then like a good chick lit. No I'm not a mad celeb fan, but yes I can appreciate this book for what it is. Yes it is a trashy novel, but thats what makes it enjoyable. There are a quite a few people I would imagine that like this sort of book for exactly that reason. Brooke Parker is ayoung teen on the verge of superstardom. Jackie O'Reilly is a budding make-up artist whos life clashes with Brooks. Together they reach the dizzying heights of superstardom and both get drawn into the murky and catty world of showbiz. If you read this book for what it is, and make no comparisons to real life celebrities it is an enjoyable read. When I read a book I like to switch off and absorb myself in the world of the author. This book enabled me to do exactly that and I enjoyed the book a lot. Yes I can see why some people wouldnt enjoy but if you are looking for a book that is half chick flick and half celeb world then this is the one for you.
May 13, 2012
I was very disappointed by this book, I think I'm being lenient with a single-star rating, .5 star maybe. When I first heard about this book I was very excited, I still love YA and the aspect of a Hollywood makeup artist intrigued me. Unfortunately there is not much makeup-astistry going on and the entire time I was reading I was constantly reminded of everything I had learned about Britney spears and Christina aguilera when I was 12 (therefore routinely sidetracked into obsessing about WHY I remember details about pop singers I haven't given a second thought to in a decade when I can hardly piece together the events in my life ten days ago). I would NOT recommend this book to anyone, it's just that terrible. I wouldn't have even wasted my time finishing this sludge had I not been on a 28 hour train trip to LA without a backup book to read. Each page I had to force myself to continue, I felt fooled by the marketing of this book, it's nothing more than a poor attempt at retelling Britney's beginning as a pop star. Unoriginal. Slow. Depthless. Waste of time.
September 8, 2012
I wanted to like this book. It is a thinly-veiled story of Britney Spears and her rise to fame, relationship with Justin and rivalry Christina, then ultimately her downfall. The beginning of the story was difficult to get into, but since I brought this book to work to read during my lunch hours I had some days where I had nothing else to read, so I kept going. The middle of the book finally picked up and the story was in full swing. This made it more tolerable and I found myself wondering what aspect of Britney's life they were going to comment on next. Then out of nowhere the ending happened very abruptly and became preachy on the naive ways of Britney...errr..I mean Brook, the ways of Hollywood and how above it all Jackie is. The thing that kept annoying me the most was how in one sentence a character is in one place (like a lobby of a hotel) and all of a sudden the next sentence they are somewhere else (poof now I'm out by the pool!) What just happened?!?! How did you get by the pool so fast?!?! Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
June 7, 2013
Well, I've read a fair few trashy novels in my time, and this one definitely falls under that category. Jackie, a naive young make-up artist is sent to work for Brooke Parker, a teen singing sensation who is bright and sweet on the outside but is inwardly rebelling against her bubble-gum image. Brooke starts spiralling out of control, and getting Jackie into trouble, too.
The sad thing is, this is reminiscent of a lot of young celebrities these days - we've seen people like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, who found fame at a young age, make total car crashes of their lives. The characters in the story are shallow, and the book overall is mediocre, but it paints a grim reality of the world we live in today.
The sad thing is, this is reminiscent of a lot of young celebrities these days - we've seen people like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, who found fame at a young age, make total car crashes of their lives. The characters in the story are shallow, and the book overall is mediocre, but it paints a grim reality of the world we live in today.
October 15, 2015
This book is such a disappointment because it could've been something great. There's so much potential for this kind of plot, it could be scandalous, juicy, and exciting. Instead, Pop Tart is a tasteless, plotless mess.
One of the biggest issues with this book is the writing. The two authors don't gel. Their writing styles clash and this makes the book painful to read.
I forced myself to read the book and the ending was super disappointing. It felt rushed, like the authors couldn't wait to get over with the book.
A lack lustre novel, I wouldn't recommend Pop Tart. What could have been an entertaining read is ruined by bad writing, lack of creativity, and poor humour.
One of the biggest issues with this book is the writing. The two authors don't gel. Their writing styles clash and this makes the book painful to read.
I forced myself to read the book and the ending was super disappointing. It felt rushed, like the authors couldn't wait to get over with the book.
A lack lustre novel, I wouldn't recommend Pop Tart. What could have been an entertaining read is ruined by bad writing, lack of creativity, and poor humour.
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