My Life as a Star: A Romantic Comedy

by Ruth Kaufman

After finally quitting her radio station account executive day job, Marla Goldberg pursues her dream of being a working actress in Chicago. As a tap dancing zucchini, she meets hot, famous movie director Scott Sampson.

Scott, aka Great Scott, finds himself falling for quirky, smart Marla despite his vow to never date or trust another actress. The pressures of their profession and the glaring public eye threaten to tear them apart as she learns be careful what you wish for when her career and feelings for him skyrocket.

300 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2018

About the author

Ruth Kaufman is a Chicago author, on-camera and voiceover actor and storyteller with a J.D. and a Master’s in Radio/TV. She loves peanut butter and chocolate milkshakes, singing in a symphony chorus and going to the theatre.

Learn more at ruthkaufman.com (where you can sign up for her newsletter) and ruthtalks.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RuthKaufman or Facebook:Ruth Kaufman Author & Actress.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎬The director or the man: which does aspiring actress Marla covet more?😕
July 25, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍4.5 stars💕🌟
Great mix of humor, romance and zaniness, with forty-something heroine Marla living her acting dream and learning the off-set aspects of fame are, in fact, not all they're cracked up to be and annoying as all get-out! Marla is such a real women, with romantic dreams despite past heartbreak, self-image worries and a curiosity that trips her up BIG time.

Although there were parts that just frustrated me, particularly Marla's unsupportive family, I thought the story was fun, flirty and well-written. Marla's unfortunate encounters with DT and a foot-fancying dermatologist add some side drama as she attempts to pursue her career and determine how she fits in the Great Scott's life. And even sister Linda, the coldest, most unsympathetic member of Marla's family (despite her extensive wardrobe loaning potential), has her positive moments. Scott, the hero, is a bit of an ambivalent jerk, but Marla is the voice of the novel and the true star; she wouldn't be as lovable if he had treated her better throughout. So, I forgave him (sort of) for Marla's sake:-)

This is my first time reading a book by the author and, based on the enjoyment I got out of it, I look forward to reading more of Ruth Kaufman's work.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Jenifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be careful what you wish for...

What's that saying? "Fame, ain't it a b!tch." Yep. Marla is finding out the hard way.

Ruth Kaufman's dedication at the beginning of this book says it all: "For everyone that wants to feel special." Everyone wants that 'one in a million' feeling, that 'plucked from obscurity' moment, their 'Courtney Cox pulled on stage by Bruce Springsteen' moment. After stewing away in the land of extras and bit parts in regional ads, Marla finally gets her shot at an actual role in a feature film in a very 'right place at the right time' moment. Every actor's dream! But it also comes with every actor's nightmare: The Paparazzi. Learning to deal with that is actually harder than winning an Oscar.

This book was great! It was a lot of ups and a lot of downs but all in all it was worth the ride.
Marla's 'voice' is conversational to the reader but not in an annoying way that some authors try to pull off. She does make lists a lot (1); 1a); 2); etc) but once you get her personality, it just rolls. She does a lot of debating back and forth in her head of what should be or she wants to be said. If you read too fast you may skip the one key word to delineate between her head and the actual scene.
I love that, in true Marla fashion, there a two separate epilogues! One for 'The Romantic' & one for 'The Realists.'

Great read!!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fun read - a funny romance that will have you laughing as Marla Goldberg tries to become a star. This is the second book about Marla - the first was My Life as an Extra. I haven't read it but enjoyed My Life as a Star so much that I plan to order it.

As the story opens, Marla is dressed up as a zucchini who tap dances for a commercial shoot in Chicago. It's so hot and miserable in the costume that she begins to question her quest to become a star but the entire episode is hilarious and sets the stage for the rest of the story. The commercial is being done by a famous Hollywood director and as Marla and Scott get to know each other better, sparks begin to fly. Will Marla be successful in her quest? Will the tabloid romance between Marla and Scott become real and bring happiness to them? Or will the attention from the tabloids tear them apart? Read this fun book to find out the answers to these questions and more.

This would be a great summer read - it's fun and relaxing and will cause laughter!

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Heidi J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you a realist or a romantic?

42-year-old Marla Goldberg from My Life as an Extra continues her pursuit of fame and fortune as an actress in this second book. When she lands a part in her first national TV commercial as a tap dancing zucchini in a produce kick line, life hands her a golden opportunity to advance her career and maybe even discover the love of her life.

Movie direct Scott Sampson, a.k.a. ‘Great Scott,’ has sizzling Ian Somerhalder blue eyes, perfect Viggo Mortensen chin, Johnny Depp’s aura of sexy mystery, an English accent more scrumptious than Benedict Cumberbatch’s, and a smile that even at a distance can pierce like Cupid’s arrow.

But is success all it’s cracked up to be? Is Scott?

Spunky, humorous, and determined, Marla is an appealing heroine who keeps readers turning pages.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. In my opinion this is the story of a woman's journey to self discovery. After her divorce, Marla decides to persue her dream of becoming a famous actress, she will get her wish in a most unexpected way. Somtimes hysterically funny, her sister and friends stage an intevention, and sometimes sad, she falls for one of Hollywood's most famous directors, and is rejected by him repeatedly. These events will have Marla understanding the expression "be careful what you wish for, you just might get it".
Unexpected twists in the plot, and beautifully well written characters, I think this is a must read!

I am voluntarily leaving an honest and non-incentivized review of this book.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Hidden Gems and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is a fun story about the rise of a star and the effect the media can have. The story is very enjoyable and definitely has its funny moments.

There is a strong chemistry between the main characters and some sparks. My Life as a Star did spike on the heat meter a couple of times. The events were quite the roller coaster ride of emotions.

I would love to have read the hero's perspective in this story.

[Patricia Baxes · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at becoming a star...or how to avoid the crazy rags that “tell all” but don’t. Kaufman gives us an interesting storyline; characters you live to hate; enough craziness to to keep your head spinning; and an HEA that doesn’t really feel like an HEA. The craziness makes this book work! (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and am still shaking my head...get a copy today!)

[Barrie Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a unique read. It tells the day in the life of a star. There was not a protagonist or something similar to create an issue in the book. Because of this, the book was flat and boring at times. There is kind of a HEA...the reader has two happy endings to read to decide which is a better ending....weird. The romance was flat as it was on and off and neither character seemed fully invested.

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read.

[Kimkbries · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I would have liked this story more than I did. I really enjoyed Marla but I was so disappointed in Scott. I felt the relationship was one sided until the very end. I enjoyed Marla’s journey and her fight to get her HEA.

[Cherie Melbourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Life as a Star

I enjoyed this story much more than the first in the series. I like Marla, she's honesty in a dishonest world that she chooses to be in. There are some funny moments that had me shaking my head, especially Peter The Great! lol
Marla's family were something else, entertaining and also frustrating.
I think Scott and Marla's HEA is what worked for them, yet Marla deserved her life partner. Just my thought.