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Shooting Stars
Everyone agrees that the paparazzi are the scourge of the earth. They're low. They're despicable. They'll do anything for that perfect shot. And yet...how long could you go without your Us Weekly fix?
Meet Josephine Foster, or 'Zo Jo as she's called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo knows that the public-and the stars-have a symbiotic relationship with the paparazzi. She doesn't mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she's sent on a major undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett-teen superstar and the only celebrity who's ever been kind to her-at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat. The money will be enough to pay for Jo's dream: fine portrait photography classes, and maybe even quitting her 'zo gig for good.
Everyone at the retreat wants to know: what Ned's in for? But Jo certainly doesn't know what she's in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment . . .
Meet Josephine Foster, or 'Zo Jo as she's called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo knows that the public-and the stars-have a symbiotic relationship with the paparazzi. She doesn't mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she's sent on a major undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett-teen superstar and the only celebrity who's ever been kind to her-at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat. The money will be enough to pay for Jo's dream: fine portrait photography classes, and maybe even quitting her 'zo gig for good.
Everyone at the retreat wants to know: what Ned's in for? But Jo certainly doesn't know what she's in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment . . .
272 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2012
28 people are currently reading
6342 people want to read
About the author
Allison Rushby
44 books291 followersAllison Rushby adores cities with long, winding histories; wild, overgrown cemeteries; redbrick Victorian museums; foxes; tea; and ivy. She lives in Queensland, Australia.
http://www.allisonrushby.com.
http://www.allisonrushby.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
March 31, 2012
MEEEEEEHHHHH....
Was this bad luck? I think so. My vanillas have gone rancid. I can stop writing this review and copy/paste the one I wrote for The Summer My Life Began.
In this one, we have Josephine, a.k.a. Jo Zo, a 16-year-old paparazz(a). Daughter of a famous paparazzo, student by day, celebrity stalker by night. She's young, tiny and can sneak in where no other photographer can go. When she gets an assignment to stalk the latest teen heartthrob, Ned Hartnett, while he's on retreat/rehab for "mysterious" issues, she just cannot refuse, even if it feels far from ethical. She needs the money to get out of her life as a pap and enroll in a proper photography school.
Unfortunately, the plan to get in, shoot and get out backfires big time. The more she gets to know the sweet Ned, the more she realizes:
- there's something weird about him she just can't put her finger on
- she's loosing her cool and feels definitely attracted to the guy.
When the truth comes up, will Jo Zo be able to renounce her dream and do "the right thing"?
I wish I could tell you this book is terrible, but it's not. I didn't hate it. Worse. I felt very indifferent to it.
It's not boring, it's not awfully written. It's just there's really very little to it. No substance, no depth, no - or very little - character development. I might repeat myself for the 100th time when I say this, but while I like light, fluffy stories, there has to be something in there. Something has to touch me, or amuse me or make me cry or whatever. Nothing is not good at all.
This is the kind of book that if you ask me in 6 months what it was about or the name of the MC, I won't even be able to tell you. So NOT memorable. There are so many more nice vanillas out there you want to read. Skip this one.
Also seen on The Nocturnal Library.
Was this bad luck? I think so. My vanillas have gone rancid. I can stop writing this review and copy/paste the one I wrote for The Summer My Life Began.
In this one, we have Josephine, a.k.a. Jo Zo, a 16-year-old paparazz(a). Daughter of a famous paparazzo, student by day, celebrity stalker by night. She's young, tiny and can sneak in where no other photographer can go. When she gets an assignment to stalk the latest teen heartthrob, Ned Hartnett, while he's on retreat/rehab for "mysterious" issues, she just cannot refuse, even if it feels far from ethical. She needs the money to get out of her life as a pap and enroll in a proper photography school.
Unfortunately, the plan to get in, shoot and get out backfires big time. The more she gets to know the sweet Ned, the more she realizes:
- there's something weird about him she just can't put her finger on
- she's loosing her cool and feels definitely attracted to the guy.
When the truth comes up, will Jo Zo be able to renounce her dream and do "the right thing"?
I wish I could tell you this book is terrible, but it's not. I didn't hate it. Worse. I felt very indifferent to it.
It's not boring, it's not awfully written. It's just there's really very little to it. No substance, no depth, no - or very little - character development. I might repeat myself for the 100th time when I say this, but while I like light, fluffy stories, there has to be something in there. Something has to touch me, or amuse me or make me cry or whatever. Nothing is not good at all.
This is the kind of book that if you ask me in 6 months what it was about or the name of the MC, I won't even be able to tell you. So NOT memorable. There are so many more nice vanillas out there you want to read. Skip this one.
Also seen on The Nocturnal Library.
May 12, 2020
This book as a film: A Discussion.
Or Jo gets hypothetical and reveals far too much about herself.
First Scenario
Mr Harnett, the love interest of this book, would be played by Justin Beiber or one of the lads from One Direction/The Wanted. Their face would be plastered all over the world and they would be trending on Twitter. What? I know, I’m being stupid. One Direction trending on Twitter? Gettouttatown! I would vow never to leave the house/put the TV on/open my eyes until everyone had calmed down and the dust of a thousand pre-teen girls had settled. Um... ok that analogy didn't quite work but you get the gist.
Second Scenario.
Mr Hartnett would be played by Zac Efron. His face would be plastered on the buses and billboards at the train station and I would sneakily look at him when I thought no one was looking and make a mental note to text my best friend and demand that she came with me to see it.
It could go either way.
This book could’ve done the same. This book had the danger of being so ridiculous and cringey and omgursoannoying (see: One Direction) that I would fling it out of the window and vow never to read a book again. That’s right. I would never read a book ever again. If anything could make that happen, the existence of One Direction fanfic would be it.
Or it could be sweet, funny and I would love it in a way similar to the way that you love something that you can’t explain because it’s so different to what you normally love and, with everything considered, you should probably hate it (see: Zac Efron, WHO before everyone gets all giddy is actually nearly two years older than me).
Luckily, this book was the latter. Honestly, I wouldn’t buy it on DVD but every time it was shown on TV on a Sunday afternoon I’d probably watch it and I’d enjoy every minute of it.
I’ve been on a bit of an intense-stint recently so it was good to just read something that was light, cute and fun. I know I’ve said ‘fun’ about a million times but you can really tell that Ms Rushby had lots of it when she wrote this book. Sure this book isn’t going to change your life and it’s not going to challenge you and shock you to your core and yeah, it was pretty easy to guess what was going to happen but I didn’t care. Zo-Jo was a cute heroine, the kissing stuff was lovely and I didn’t find the jokes cringey in the slightest.
Also, I found it hilarious that the main bloke was named Hartnett because it brought back vivid memories of when I was about fifteen and I was obsessed with Josh Hartnett. I know, isn’t that the weirdest crush ever? I was so obsessed with him that wrote a Christmas poem/song about him… I think that is the epitome of Crazy Girl With Crush, right? I’m thinking it was because I am a huge fan The Virgin Suicides, both the book and the film where he plays Trip Fontaine with a dodgy bob. If that’s not the reason, god knows what is.
Anyway, that’s all in the past now and now I have moved on and I mean, I don’t even think about Josh Hartnett anymore…. Unless I have one of my “I’m going to stay in my pjs and watch The Faculty and eat Frosties out of the box” days.
Which, um, never happens.
What was I even saying? Ahh, book review, that’s it.
I don’t know why I liked this book; especially when I’ve strongly disliked books that are the same style. Maybe it just caught me at a good time? Maybe it’s because Ms Rushby’s writing was fresh and funny? Maybe it’s because this book didn’t try and be something it wasn’t? Or maybe it’s because I’m biased that the heroine almost has the same name as me? Or maybe I just have a weakness for books where the hapless heroine meets a Hollywood movie star and shenanigans and kissing ensue.
It’s probably that.
I’ve got a lot of time for shenanigans and kissing.
I try not to call books ‘fluff’ because I find it kind of patronising and dismissive. I always feel you can enjoy a book you wouldn’t normally enjoy without it being classed as ‘fluff’. Except that this book was fluff.
Not the kind that seems to attach itself to black clothing but the edible marshmallowy stuff in a tub that you get from Selfridges.
Sure, if you ate a whole jar of it you would be sick and probably go blind and slightly rabid but a sneakytable teaspoon full when no one’s watching every now and again?
Absolutely.
I received this book from the author.
Or Jo gets hypothetical and reveals far too much about herself.
First Scenario
Mr Harnett, the love interest of this book, would be played by Justin Beiber or one of the lads from One Direction/The Wanted. Their face would be plastered all over the world and they would be trending on Twitter. What? I know, I’m being stupid. One Direction trending on Twitter? Gettouttatown! I would vow never to leave the house/put the TV on/open my eyes until everyone had calmed down and the dust of a thousand pre-teen girls had settled. Um... ok that analogy didn't quite work but you get the gist.
Second Scenario.
Mr Hartnett would be played by Zac Efron. His face would be plastered on the buses and billboards at the train station and I would sneakily look at him when I thought no one was looking and make a mental note to text my best friend and demand that she came with me to see it.
It could go either way.
This book could’ve done the same. This book had the danger of being so ridiculous and cringey and omgursoannoying (see: One Direction) that I would fling it out of the window and vow never to read a book again. That’s right. I would never read a book ever again. If anything could make that happen, the existence of One Direction fanfic would be it.
Or it could be sweet, funny and I would love it in a way similar to the way that you love something that you can’t explain because it’s so different to what you normally love and, with everything considered, you should probably hate it (see: Zac Efron, WHO before everyone gets all giddy is actually nearly two years older than me).
Luckily, this book was the latter. Honestly, I wouldn’t buy it on DVD but every time it was shown on TV on a Sunday afternoon I’d probably watch it and I’d enjoy every minute of it.
I’ve been on a bit of an intense-stint recently so it was good to just read something that was light, cute and fun. I know I’ve said ‘fun’ about a million times but you can really tell that Ms Rushby had lots of it when she wrote this book. Sure this book isn’t going to change your life and it’s not going to challenge you and shock you to your core and yeah, it was pretty easy to guess what was going to happen but I didn’t care. Zo-Jo was a cute heroine, the kissing stuff was lovely and I didn’t find the jokes cringey in the slightest.
Also, I found it hilarious that the main bloke was named Hartnett because it brought back vivid memories of when I was about fifteen and I was obsessed with Josh Hartnett. I know, isn’t that the weirdest crush ever? I was so obsessed with him that wrote a Christmas poem/song about him… I think that is the epitome of Crazy Girl With Crush, right? I’m thinking it was because I am a huge fan The Virgin Suicides, both the book and the film where he plays Trip Fontaine with a dodgy bob. If that’s not the reason, god knows what is.
Anyway, that’s all in the past now and now I have moved on and I mean, I don’t even think about Josh Hartnett anymore…. Unless I have one of my “I’m going to stay in my pjs and watch The Faculty and eat Frosties out of the box” days.
Which, um, never happens.
What was I even saying? Ahh, book review, that’s it.
I don’t know why I liked this book; especially when I’ve strongly disliked books that are the same style. Maybe it just caught me at a good time? Maybe it’s because Ms Rushby’s writing was fresh and funny? Maybe it’s because this book didn’t try and be something it wasn’t? Or maybe it’s because I’m biased that the heroine almost has the same name as me? Or maybe I just have a weakness for books where the hapless heroine meets a Hollywood movie star and shenanigans and kissing ensue.
It’s probably that.
I’ve got a lot of time for shenanigans and kissing.
I try not to call books ‘fluff’ because I find it kind of patronising and dismissive. I always feel you can enjoy a book you wouldn’t normally enjoy without it being classed as ‘fluff’. Except that this book was fluff.
Not the kind that seems to attach itself to black clothing but the edible marshmallowy stuff in a tub that you get from Selfridges.
Sure, if you ate a whole jar of it you would be sick and probably go blind and slightly rabid but a sneaky
Absolutely.
I received this book from the author.
August 7, 2012
¡Bueeeeeeeeeeeeeeno! ¿Cómo va el verano? Yo estoy aislada del mundo en medio del campo *suspiro*. A ver cómo hago esta reseña, os aquí dejo el argumento:
Josephine 'Zo Jo' Taylor es una chica que dieciséis años que trabaja como paparazzi con el fin de conseguir dinero para pagarse un curso de fotografía seria. Así que cuando le ofrecen una suculenta suma a cambio de un sucio trabajo de 'espía infiltrado' en un centro de rehabilitación no puede negarse aún cuando el objetivo es fotografiar a Ned, el popular cantante y escritor que también resulta ser el único famoso que Jo respeta. Sin embargo, la cantidad de dinero es tan tentadora...
Es interesante como Jo cuenta cómo creció siendo paparazzi y cómo llegó a ser como es. Jo trabaja como paparazzi para conseguir dinero para un curso de fotografía normal, ya que serlo no le gusta mucho. Su padre también es uno muy importante que casi nunca está en casa, así que vive sola, con su prima de vecina. Cuando le ofrecen una cifra enorme de dinero no puede resistirse, ya que quiere salir del negocio y el dinero le permitiría pagarse las clases.
Me gustó mucho Jo, ¡fue un buen personaje! Es muy astuta... Eso me encantó, la chica no es nada tonta, y a medida que la novela pasa ella se da cuenta de que merece algo mejor.
Hablemos del personaje masculino, el señor Hartnett (Ya entenderéis eso cuando leaís el libro... JE) Me encantó, es muy dulce, esa manera de preocuparse por su familia... aish, me gustó mucho.
Otro personaje que me gustó fue Wendy, la prima de Jo :3
Le doy 4 estrellas, me ha gustado. Una lectura fresca con la que pasar un buen rato sobre un tema inexplorado en la literatura juvenil.
Josephine 'Zo Jo' Taylor es una chica que dieciséis años que trabaja como paparazzi con el fin de conseguir dinero para pagarse un curso de fotografía seria. Así que cuando le ofrecen una suculenta suma a cambio de un sucio trabajo de 'espía infiltrado' en un centro de rehabilitación no puede negarse aún cuando el objetivo es fotografiar a Ned, el popular cantante y escritor que también resulta ser el único famoso que Jo respeta. Sin embargo, la cantidad de dinero es tan tentadora...
Es interesante como Jo cuenta cómo creció siendo paparazzi y cómo llegó a ser como es. Jo trabaja como paparazzi para conseguir dinero para un curso de fotografía normal, ya que serlo no le gusta mucho. Su padre también es uno muy importante que casi nunca está en casa, así que vive sola, con su prima de vecina. Cuando le ofrecen una cifra enorme de dinero no puede resistirse, ya que quiere salir del negocio y el dinero le permitiría pagarse las clases.
Me gustó mucho Jo, ¡fue un buen personaje! Es muy astuta... Eso me encantó, la chica no es nada tonta, y a medida que la novela pasa ella se da cuenta de que merece algo mejor.
Hablemos del personaje masculino, el señor Hartnett (Ya entenderéis eso cuando leaís el libro... JE) Me encantó, es muy dulce, esa manera de preocuparse por su familia... aish, me gustó mucho.
Otro personaje que me gustó fue Wendy, la prima de Jo :3
Le doy 4 estrellas, me ha gustado. Una lectura fresca con la que pasar un buen rato sobre un tema inexplorado en la literatura juvenil.
December 20, 2019
I thought it would be a boring teenage novel, but glad on interesting plot twist from the middle towards the end. Enjoyable lite reading.
March 11, 2012
Josephine Foster or Zo Jo. The best pint-sized photographer of them all.
She is a sixteen year-old paparazzo. She loves the rush of snapping elusive shots of celebrities and because of her age and size, she's able to go to places and get the pictures no else can. She takes her job to another level by accepting a job that requires her to enter a retreat facility to keep an eye and get pictures of the famous singer and teen sensation Ned Hartnett, but she ends up discovering more about him than she expected. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.
Sharp. Funny. Charming and Light-hearted.
Shooting stars is a very entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable read. With its good storyline, wonderful characters and emotionally engaging plot, this book definitely swept me off my feet. It gives us an idea on what's behind the life of a paparazzo-it even gives us some of their juciest secrets.
Jo is a very engaging character. She really has a big-heart toward people around her and other things. I really liked how the retreat affects her life as she knows more about herself. As the story progress, Jo also shows a great amount of growing up. The romance in this story is sweet and refreshing.
I really really loved the twist about half-way of the book! I really didn't see that one coming up! But it made the other half of the sotry more interesting.
This story is full of heart-warming moments, humor, sweet-teenage romance and real-life problems. A very fulfilling story and satisfying ending!
She is a sixteen year-old paparazzo. She loves the rush of snapping elusive shots of celebrities and because of her age and size, she's able to go to places and get the pictures no else can. She takes her job to another level by accepting a job that requires her to enter a retreat facility to keep an eye and get pictures of the famous singer and teen sensation Ned Hartnett, but she ends up discovering more about him than she expected. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.
Sharp. Funny. Charming and Light-hearted.
Shooting stars is a very entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable read. With its good storyline, wonderful characters and emotionally engaging plot, this book definitely swept me off my feet. It gives us an idea on what's behind the life of a paparazzo-it even gives us some of their juciest secrets.
Jo is a very engaging character. She really has a big-heart toward people around her and other things. I really liked how the retreat affects her life as she knows more about herself. As the story progress, Jo also shows a great amount of growing up. The romance in this story is sweet and refreshing.
I really really loved the twist about half-way of the book! I really didn't see that one coming up! But it made the other half of the sotry more interesting.
This story is full of heart-warming moments, humor, sweet-teenage romance and real-life problems. A very fulfilling story and satisfying ending!
January 7, 2012
I love the idea for this book - it's so unique! The cover is adorable too. I've never read anything about papparazi before, and it's so far away from my own life, but it sounds really interesting to read about. And while I did love the plot, I thought the characters and writing were lacking, and felt somewhat removed from the whole story.
Even though the idea is great, the plot sounds pretty predictable. It's the kind of plot where you think you have it all figured out before you even start the book - Jo is going to want to expose Ned but develops feelings for him, there's a big fall-out when Ned either finds out about Jo or she confesses, but in the end Jo gives up her papparazi gig and they're together and happy in the end. Right? Wrong. The plot is totally different than I'd expected, in a good way. There are some crazy plot twists I never would have seen coming, and there's lots of layers to the story. I love how different the plot is from what I'd expected, and the crazy plot twists are fun to read about. The plot is great - it's what I liked best about Shooting Stars!
I loved reading about all the papparazi-stuff. Cameras hidden in iPods and sun glasses, selling your pictures to magazines, getting into events to take pictures of stars... It's all so far from my own life, but fascinating to read about. It's a world I know nothing about, and it was lots of fun to get to find out what life is like for a papparazo.
Jo is an okay character. Like I said, I liked reading about her papparazo-adventures, but other than that, there's not all that much to her. I liked her and she's easy to relate to, for the most part, but I didn't feel like I really got to know her. Aside from the papparazi- and photography-stuff, she doesn't have much of a personality. I can't explain it - she just felt like a very bland character to me; theres nothing special about her personality, and I don't feel like I really got to know her. There's something we find out about her towards the end of the book that cuold have made her a more interesting character, but that issue is never really explored.
I did not like the secondary characters at all. They're all very bland and I had trouble even remembering who's who. Ned is sweet but nothing special, and I didn't feel any sparks between him and Jo. I found their relationship kind of boring and couldn't feel their chemistry. Jo's roommate, whose name I can't remember (sorry - this is what happens when I don't feel for the characters), has an interesting story, but the reader never gets to know enough about her struggles. The same goes for the rest of the kids at the resort - I really would have liked to know more about Seth, Hoodie Boy, etc. I think this set-up had a lot of potential, with about ten kids who all have some kind of issue, but the execution is lacking, in my opinion. I never feel like I got to know Jo's dad and her friend back in LA, either. Wendy is the only character who has any real personality, in my opinion.
I did enjoy Shooting Stars, somewhat. The plot is great and keeps you turning the pages. Still, I felt somewhat removed from the story because I found the characters one-dimensional and bland. If you're looking for a quick, fun read with a unique and interesting plot, though, you should give Shooting Stars a try.
Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...
Even though the idea is great, the plot sounds pretty predictable. It's the kind of plot where you think you have it all figured out before you even start the book - Jo is going to want to expose Ned but develops feelings for him, there's a big fall-out when Ned either finds out about Jo or she confesses, but in the end Jo gives up her papparazi gig and they're together and happy in the end. Right? Wrong. The plot is totally different than I'd expected, in a good way. There are some crazy plot twists I never would have seen coming, and there's lots of layers to the story. I love how different the plot is from what I'd expected, and the crazy plot twists are fun to read about. The plot is great - it's what I liked best about Shooting Stars!
I loved reading about all the papparazi-stuff. Cameras hidden in iPods and sun glasses, selling your pictures to magazines, getting into events to take pictures of stars... It's all so far from my own life, but fascinating to read about. It's a world I know nothing about, and it was lots of fun to get to find out what life is like for a papparazo.
Jo is an okay character. Like I said, I liked reading about her papparazo-adventures, but other than that, there's not all that much to her. I liked her and she's easy to relate to, for the most part, but I didn't feel like I really got to know her. Aside from the papparazi- and photography-stuff, she doesn't have much of a personality. I can't explain it - she just felt like a very bland character to me; theres nothing special about her personality, and I don't feel like I really got to know her. There's something we find out about her towards the end of the book that cuold have made her a more interesting character, but that issue is never really explored.
I did not like the secondary characters at all. They're all very bland and I had trouble even remembering who's who. Ned is sweet but nothing special, and I didn't feel any sparks between him and Jo. I found their relationship kind of boring and couldn't feel their chemistry. Jo's roommate, whose name I can't remember (sorry - this is what happens when I don't feel for the characters), has an interesting story, but the reader never gets to know enough about her struggles. The same goes for the rest of the kids at the resort - I really would have liked to know more about Seth, Hoodie Boy, etc. I think this set-up had a lot of potential, with about ten kids who all have some kind of issue, but the execution is lacking, in my opinion. I never feel like I got to know Jo's dad and her friend back in LA, either. Wendy is the only character who has any real personality, in my opinion.
I did enjoy Shooting Stars, somewhat. The plot is great and keeps you turning the pages. Still, I felt somewhat removed from the story because I found the characters one-dimensional and bland. If you're looking for a quick, fun read with a unique and interesting plot, though, you should give Shooting Stars a try.
Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...
June 18, 2012
I'm going to briefly share my thoughts on this book. I'm not very eloquent when it comes to writing reviews!
Anyway, first things first - if you can ignore some of the farfetchedness of the main character's situation, you'll probably like this book. The main character, Josephine (or 'Zo Jo'), is a 16-year-old paparazzo from LA, who basically lives independently whilst her Aussie dad is working in Japan. She gets a job to go undercover at a retreat in Boston in order to snap pictures of Ned Hartnett, teen singer and heart-throb. What Jo discovers about Ned (and also about herself) is the main focus of the book.
If you can suspend some disbelief that a SIXTEEN-year-old flies by herself to Boston, and normally runs around LA like a mad woman 'papping', and needs thousands of money to save to get into Photography school so she can stop falling asleep in high school... then you will find Shooting Stars to be a fun, light-hearted and easy read.
When I first started reading I was thinking, "this is so unrealistic... I don't believe ANY of this" but then when I just took it by face-value, I began to really like it. I loved the main character, Jo. She was feisty and pint-sized, and even though she was a paparazzo, she had a big heart. I also love the Ned Hartnett character. We find out something very delicious about him which I will not speak of here, but I thought it added a nice twist.
Funnily enough, I was expecting a huge blow-up between Jo and Ned, which never came. I was thinking "he's going to find out about her, and get really angry, and I'm going to be annoyed reading about their argument and wait until they make up again" (because yes, sometimes I get sick of fights/tension in books) so it was REALLY refreshing to find that never happened! Hooray! I think a fight between the characters would have stunted the pace of the book.
Wasn't this supposed to be a 'short' review? So to summarise, ignore the obvious flaws, and you've got yourself an extremely quick and entertaining read, with cool characters and a unique situation, and a nice ending.
Anyway, first things first - if you can ignore some of the farfetchedness of the main character's situation, you'll probably like this book. The main character, Josephine (or 'Zo Jo'), is a 16-year-old paparazzo from LA, who basically lives independently whilst her Aussie dad is working in Japan. She gets a job to go undercover at a retreat in Boston in order to snap pictures of Ned Hartnett, teen singer and heart-throb. What Jo discovers about Ned (and also about herself) is the main focus of the book.
If you can suspend some disbelief that a SIXTEEN-year-old flies by herself to Boston, and normally runs around LA like a mad woman 'papping', and needs thousands of money to save to get into Photography school so she can stop falling asleep in high school... then you will find Shooting Stars to be a fun, light-hearted and easy read.
When I first started reading I was thinking, "this is so unrealistic... I don't believe ANY of this" but then when I just took it by face-value, I began to really like it. I loved the main character, Jo. She was feisty and pint-sized, and even though she was a paparazzo, she had a big heart. I also love the Ned Hartnett character. We find out something very delicious about him which I will not speak of here, but I thought it added a nice twist.
Funnily enough, I was expecting a huge blow-up between Jo and Ned, which never came. I was thinking "he's going to find out about her, and get really angry, and I'm going to be annoyed reading about their argument and wait until they make up again" (because yes, sometimes I get sick of fights/tension in books) so it was REALLY refreshing to find that never happened! Hooray! I think a fight between the characters would have stunted the pace of the book.
Wasn't this supposed to be a 'short' review? So to summarise, ignore the obvious flaws, and you've got yourself an extremely quick and entertaining read, with cool characters and a unique situation, and a nice ending.
February 21, 2012
How often do you get to read a book about paparazzi? A 16 years old girl paparazzo? I would say never. After reading the synopsis, my first reaction was this should be interesting. And it was. Very interesting, indeed. I loved it. It was a fun, easy, quick contemporary book--I was able to read it in one day.
Josephine or Jo is a very likable character. I really like her. She’s quirky, fun, and sweet girl with a goal to be a professional portrait photographer. She might not always like what she does, but she needs the money to go to college. Taking celebrities picture isn’t as dirty as her new job, a job that will cover the money she needs to go to the school she wants to go; going to rehab facility for undercover on a teenage celebrity, Ned Hartnett. A celebrity she has a crush on and has met before… even though he doesn’t remember her.
I liked Ned (if you read the book, you know who I’m really talking about). He’s nice. The romance between Jo and Ned is okay. The reason why I gave this book 4.5 instead of 5 was the romance. I didn’t hate but I didn’t love it either. It was okay. I didn’t jump up and down for it.
I thought Shooting Stars would be a typical contemporary book, and after reading a couple of chapters … I thought I figured it all out. Boy was I wrong! Shooting Stars surprised me with a twist I didn’t expect at all. I’m always good at figuring books really quickly, but not with this book. The twist was the icing on the cake. I didn’t know what to expect from it, so I just kept reading in awe.
Overall, Allison Rushby debut novel was amazing. I really liked the plot. It gives readers to a view in the life of a paparazzi; their work seems to take all of their time. The pace was good. I would recommend this book for EVERYONE.
Rating: 4.5/ 5
Josephine or Jo is a very likable character. I really like her. She’s quirky, fun, and sweet girl with a goal to be a professional portrait photographer. She might not always like what she does, but she needs the money to go to college. Taking celebrities picture isn’t as dirty as her new job, a job that will cover the money she needs to go to the school she wants to go; going to rehab facility for undercover on a teenage celebrity, Ned Hartnett. A celebrity she has a crush on and has met before… even though he doesn’t remember her.
I liked Ned (if you read the book, you know who I’m really talking about). He’s nice. The romance between Jo and Ned is okay. The reason why I gave this book 4.5 instead of 5 was the romance. I didn’t hate but I didn’t love it either. It was okay. I didn’t jump up and down for it.
I thought Shooting Stars would be a typical contemporary book, and after reading a couple of chapters … I thought I figured it all out. Boy was I wrong! Shooting Stars surprised me with a twist I didn’t expect at all. I’m always good at figuring books really quickly, but not with this book. The twist was the icing on the cake. I didn’t know what to expect from it, so I just kept reading in awe.
Overall, Allison Rushby debut novel was amazing. I really liked the plot. It gives readers to a view in the life of a paparazzi; their work seems to take all of their time. The pace was good. I would recommend this book for EVERYONE.
Rating: 4.5/ 5
May 15, 2015
Shooting Stars empieza un poco flojo, al principio ni fu ni fa, estaba bien, entretenía y no es una lectura pesada. Sin embargo, a mitad del libro, la trama da un giro que te quedas "¿Que quéééééé?" Así que por eso se lleva un par de puntos extras.
Los personajes que gustaron mucho y ni de coña me esperaba lo de Ned. Jake me ha caído genial, no es el típico prota ni nada. Peeeero la relación entre los dos, aunque es muy cute, me ha faltado algo en el final. Como siempre con estos libros ughhhh. Eso sí, es divertido y en algunas partes no pude evitar reír a carcajadas. Como con esto:
JAJAJA no lo puedo remediar xD
Los personajes que gustaron mucho y ni de coña me esperaba lo de Ned. Jake me ha caído genial, no es el típico prota ni nada. Peeeero la relación entre los dos, aunque es muy cute, me ha faltado algo en el final. Como siempre con estos libros ughhhh. Eso sí, es divertido y en algunas partes no pude evitar reír a carcajadas. Como con esto:
"Estoy tan enojado. Conmigo mismo. Con mis padres. Con mi hermano. Con el mundo." Se echa a llorar y una especie de estrangulación, al mismo tiempo. Y entonces la cosa más asombrosa ocurre... esta extraña y al azar burbuja de mocos accidentalmente, sale de su nariz.
JAJAJA no lo puedo remediar xD
May 24, 2012
Now I have this little thing that stops me from completely, one hundred percent, enjoying a heck of a lot of books that I pick up. No matter how lovely, astonishing, heart-breaking or mind-blowing they are, if they have even a slightly dodgy premise, then I just can't let THE FEELINGS completely takeover. This is especially the case with contemporary YA - I have to buy into it to fully invest in it, if you get what my drift.
So, when I read the synopsis for Shooting Stars, my sceptical muscle began to flex. Teenage paparazzo? Really? REALLY? I thought, no matter how skillful the plot and the writing, that I was going to have a few problems with this one.
Well, I'm pleased to say that, thanks to a rather wonderful main character, I got over that particular hurdle pretty quickly. In fact their wasn't really a hurdle to get over. So I was running with it all the way. (sorry). I really loved little Zo Jo. As well as wrongly assuming she was not going to cut the mustard in terms of a convincing character, I also assumed she would be intensely annoying. I guess I should stop making assumptions (it makes an ass out of...ok, I'll stop now). She had a lovely wisecracking, cynical edge, balanced with a sweet nature and she really worked. I am now very sure the streets of LA are teeming with tiny little wheeling and dealing paparazzi, god love 'em.
Her voice was brilliant. It reminded me of an old fashioned gumshoe detective trying to crack a case wide open -
"There wasn't a code of conduct and some people liked to play rough. Especially the full-timers; they hated the part-timers who liked to pap outside of their day jobs, even if their day job was school. I was new, I was female and I was a kid. Let's just say no one was splitting their lunch-box Twinkie with me."
There was a nice little dollop of romance too. My only complaint would be that I would have preferred a little more in terms of sizzle - there wasn't quite enough kissing for my liking, but the lip-locking that did take place was more than satisfactory.
A couple of surprises here - the first I won't mention, because, well, it's a surprise and shall remain so. The second surprise won't get me shot for spoiler-spilling (I hope) - the story takes an unexpected serious turn and starts to explore some deeper issues that you wouldn't necessarily expect from a book with such a light-hearted tone. I welcome angst with open arms on most occasions, and this didn't change here. I just felt that once Jo's big reveal had been revealed, everything was a bit rushed after. I would have maybe liked to see more time at the retreat and just a little more more exploration of Jo's issues. Although, saying that, the ending does provide the reader and the character with a satisfactory sort of closure.
I just have to mention, how brilliantly the way her relationship with her father was written. A strong example of hands-off parenting, if ever there was one, but there was still a very strong impression of a loving relationship and mutual respect. Writing from my own perspective, this is a very convincing father-child dynamic and was very well done.
I really enjoyed Shooting Stars - a light-hearted, romantic read with surprising hidden depths. And a magnificent main character. And I now know I have a real problem spelling paparazzo (that just took me three attempts).
I was sent this copy for review by the author
So, when I read the synopsis for Shooting Stars, my sceptical muscle began to flex. Teenage paparazzo? Really? REALLY? I thought, no matter how skillful the plot and the writing, that I was going to have a few problems with this one.
Well, I'm pleased to say that, thanks to a rather wonderful main character, I got over that particular hurdle pretty quickly. In fact their wasn't really a hurdle to get over. So I was running with it all the way. (sorry). I really loved little Zo Jo. As well as wrongly assuming she was not going to cut the mustard in terms of a convincing character, I also assumed she would be intensely annoying. I guess I should stop making assumptions (it makes an ass out of...ok, I'll stop now). She had a lovely wisecracking, cynical edge, balanced with a sweet nature and she really worked. I am now very sure the streets of LA are teeming with tiny little wheeling and dealing paparazzi, god love 'em.
Her voice was brilliant. It reminded me of an old fashioned gumshoe detective trying to crack a case wide open -
"There wasn't a code of conduct and some people liked to play rough. Especially the full-timers; they hated the part-timers who liked to pap outside of their day jobs, even if their day job was school. I was new, I was female and I was a kid. Let's just say no one was splitting their lunch-box Twinkie with me."
There was a nice little dollop of romance too. My only complaint would be that I would have preferred a little more in terms of sizzle - there wasn't quite enough kissing for my liking, but the lip-locking that did take place was more than satisfactory.
A couple of surprises here - the first I won't mention, because, well, it's a surprise and shall remain so. The second surprise won't get me shot for spoiler-spilling (I hope) - the story takes an unexpected serious turn and starts to explore some deeper issues that you wouldn't necessarily expect from a book with such a light-hearted tone. I welcome angst with open arms on most occasions, and this didn't change here. I just felt that once Jo's big reveal had been revealed, everything was a bit rushed after. I would have maybe liked to see more time at the retreat and just a little more more exploration of Jo's issues. Although, saying that, the ending does provide the reader and the character with a satisfactory sort of closure.
I just have to mention, how brilliantly the way her relationship with her father was written. A strong example of hands-off parenting, if ever there was one, but there was still a very strong impression of a loving relationship and mutual respect. Writing from my own perspective, this is a very convincing father-child dynamic and was very well done.
I really enjoyed Shooting Stars - a light-hearted, romantic read with surprising hidden depths. And a magnificent main character. And I now know I have a real problem spelling paparazzo (that just took me three attempts).
I was sent this copy for review by the author
May 7, 2012
While having a hard time getting into one book (to the point where I didn't read for about 3 days. *Gasp!*), I decided maybe I just needed to read something else and kind of start over. This was the book I chose (mostly because it's the shortest of the three I had to pick from). And it was kind of cute and fluffy.
It plays out a lot like a rom-com. Jo lives in LA where she takes pictures of celebrities for quite a bit of money. Only one celebrity has ever been nice to her and that was Ned Hatchett. Now, she's being hired to take pictures of him at a "retreat" where he's being treated for something unknown. Can Jo betray the respect she has for Ned to show the world his most vulnerable moments?
Jo is very snarky, something I really appreciate. It's always more fun when the characters can see the irony in their situations. The story is pretty interesting while Jo's on her mission. It's funny and somewhat deep, but still fluffy and cute.
Yes, there is an insane amount of luck in the story. Like Jo happens to be picked for just about the only job she'd ever regret doing. And Ned happens to be really nice to her. And more things that I can't say without spoiling things. But it's like a rom-com, as I said. We read these fluffy books for the happy endings, not to read something that could have happened in our world. We're reading to escape that. Or at least I know I am.
So while some slam it for being fluffy or whatever, I just want to say that yes, it is fluffy and unrealistic, but it's still a cute and easy read. If you're a fan of rom-coms like Raise Your Voice (starring Hilary Duff), then you'll probably like this.
It plays out a lot like a rom-com. Jo lives in LA where she takes pictures of celebrities for quite a bit of money. Only one celebrity has ever been nice to her and that was Ned Hatchett. Now, she's being hired to take pictures of him at a "retreat" where he's being treated for something unknown. Can Jo betray the respect she has for Ned to show the world his most vulnerable moments?
Jo is very snarky, something I really appreciate. It's always more fun when the characters can see the irony in their situations. The story is pretty interesting while Jo's on her mission. It's funny and somewhat deep, but still fluffy and cute.
Yes, there is an insane amount of luck in the story. Like Jo happens to be picked for just about the only job she'd ever regret doing. And Ned happens to be really nice to her. And more things that I can't say without spoiling things. But it's like a rom-com, as I said. We read these fluffy books for the happy endings, not to read something that could have happened in our world. We're reading to escape that. Or at least I know I am.
So while some slam it for being fluffy or whatever, I just want to say that yes, it is fluffy and unrealistic, but it's still a cute and easy read. If you're a fan of rom-coms like Raise Your Voice (starring Hilary Duff), then you'll probably like this.
April 14, 2012
I liked this book--it was cute and fun, but not fluffy.
Jo is a 16-year-old paparazzo, using her small stature and innocent looks to get her in to take pictures of high-profile celebrities. Her father is famous among his paparazzi peers, and though she's temporarily following in his footsteps, her real dream is to be a portrait photographer. An unexpected assignment to track and photograph a teen heartthrob in a retreat-like rehab would provide the funds she needs to pay for school and an awesome study program. But when she learns her target is Ned Hartnett, the only celebrity who's ever really been nice to her, she has a slight crisis of conscience. Much of this book is Jo dealing with that conscience. I don't want to spoil too much, but I'll say there was a little swoon.
I didn't really like Jo's character. She annoyed me, and I couldn't really identify with her. Not because she's a teenage photographer--but because she seems to be so motivated by money. She says she needs money so many times throughout the book, but I don't get it. Her dad is successful and is out of the country working throughout most of the book. She has thousands of dollars worth of equipment, yet she says she has to work all hours of the night. The girl is sixteen. Getting past that, I liked the book, and many of the characters, including her roommate and Ned. It's a quick read from a debut author, and I'm looking forward to what Rushby gives us next.
Jo is a 16-year-old paparazzo, using her small stature and innocent looks to get her in to take pictures of high-profile celebrities. Her father is famous among his paparazzi peers, and though she's temporarily following in his footsteps, her real dream is to be a portrait photographer. An unexpected assignment to track and photograph a teen heartthrob in a retreat-like rehab would provide the funds she needs to pay for school and an awesome study program. But when she learns her target is Ned Hartnett, the only celebrity who's ever really been nice to her, she has a slight crisis of conscience. Much of this book is Jo dealing with that conscience. I don't want to spoil too much, but I'll say there was a little swoon.
I didn't really like Jo's character. She annoyed me, and I couldn't really identify with her. Not because she's a teenage photographer--but because she seems to be so motivated by money. She says she needs money so many times throughout the book, but I don't get it. Her dad is successful and is out of the country working throughout most of the book. She has thousands of dollars worth of equipment, yet she says she has to work all hours of the night. The girl is sixteen. Getting past that, I liked the book, and many of the characters, including her roommate and Ned. It's a quick read from a debut author, and I'm looking forward to what Rushby gives us next.
March 31, 2012
After reading the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to read it. For sure, this book did not disappoint me.
What I loved most about this book is the plot line. You have a great character who life is about to change through simply seeing things from a whole other view. I really adore how with each new chapter, Jo view is changed from what she thought she knew. She gains so much knowledge not only about herself but about others around her.
I adored the characters. The main character Jo, did so much growing up before the readers eyes. I admire her selflessness in what she had to do. Even if it meant giving up the one thing she wanted. The minor characters played a bigger part than what I thought. I am very happy that even the minor characters played a bog role in the end.
The love interest is one that will surprise the readers. The switch that caught me by surprised was a very good idea! I did not see that coming at me at ALL! Totally made me gasp, but nicely done. Once I settled into the book again, I was taken away by the love that grew between them.
Shooting Stars provides a wonderful story with true love. Capturing the romantic essence mixed with great writing, the reader can fall into the book easily. Shooting Stars is an light-hearted story that anyone can read.
What I loved most about this book is the plot line. You have a great character who life is about to change through simply seeing things from a whole other view. I really adore how with each new chapter, Jo view is changed from what she thought she knew. She gains so much knowledge not only about herself but about others around her.
I adored the characters. The main character Jo, did so much growing up before the readers eyes. I admire her selflessness in what she had to do. Even if it meant giving up the one thing she wanted. The minor characters played a bigger part than what I thought. I am very happy that even the minor characters played a bog role in the end.
The love interest is one that will surprise the readers. The switch that caught me by surprised was a very good idea! I did not see that coming at me at ALL! Totally made me gasp, but nicely done. Once I settled into the book again, I was taken away by the love that grew between them.
Shooting Stars provides a wonderful story with true love. Capturing the romantic essence mixed with great writing, the reader can fall into the book easily. Shooting Stars is an light-hearted story that anyone can read.
May 28, 2012
Ever get the feeling that you aren't doing the right thing? But you continue to do it anyway? That is what happens when Jo gets the biggest job she could ever get. She has to spy on the super hot singer Ned Hartnett.
Her father is a paparazzi and so is she. Because of her small stature the fact that she is 16, Jo can do things none of the other paparazzi can do. She can get into small places, pretend that she is a child, and really do anything.
Reasons I didn't like this book:
Jo's life seemed like a fairytale. Her dad leaves her alone in an apartment in LA most of the time with only her cousin to look after her. And even her cousin is gone a lot because she is an airline hostess person. She meets the stars and ends up falling in love with the Ned. And then Ned falls in love with her. She hangs out with people that are way older than her, somehow passes all of her classes when she sleeps more than anything in school. Her father doesn't think she will ever be able to fulfill her dream of getting out of the paparazzi business.
Reasons I liked this book:
Jo and Ned fall in love. She is able to be a paparazzi and have her father's support. The friends that she makes when she is undercover.
As you can see, there is more to dislike than like. But it was an okay book.
Her father is a paparazzi and so is she. Because of her small stature the fact that she is 16, Jo can do things none of the other paparazzi can do. She can get into small places, pretend that she is a child, and really do anything.
Reasons I didn't like this book:
Jo's life seemed like a fairytale. Her dad leaves her alone in an apartment in LA most of the time with only her cousin to look after her. And even her cousin is gone a lot because she is an airline hostess person. She meets the stars and ends up falling in love with the Ned. And then Ned falls in love with her. She hangs out with people that are way older than her, somehow passes all of her classes when she sleeps more than anything in school. Her father doesn't think she will ever be able to fulfill her dream of getting out of the paparazzi business.
Reasons I liked this book:
Jo and Ned fall in love. She is able to be a paparazzi and have her father's support. The friends that she makes when she is undercover.
As you can see, there is more to dislike than like. But it was an okay book.
March 4, 2018
Malo. Bastaaaante malo. Escritura mediocre, historia original pero mal llevada, línea de tiempo patas para arriba, personajes inconclusos, malos diálogos, insta-love, demasiado corto, etc.
June 25, 2022
This was actually so cute! I really enjoyed this storyline and I think Jo was a great character, especially when she realised that hurting someone for greed was wrong.
October 15, 2018
The short version of how I feel about the book and my review told through emojis: 🤔😬😱🤔🤔🤔😂😂😂🙈🙈🙈❤️️🤔😬😍🙈💖❤️️👏
The long version of how I feel about the book and my review told through actual words:
I'm taking my Sunday pretty easy because I spent all of yesterday being busy and physically exhausting myself. Also, I have a headache. Shooting Stars was one of the first physical books I've read in a long time since I've grown fond of ebooks.
Honestly, I had a lot of doubts going into the book about how the plot would unfold because I was unsure of how Ned and Jo's potential relationship would survive because of a secret/betrayal as big as Jo's. I did NOT see that plot twist coming and am kinda relieved that the author thought creatively.
I have so much Asian pride over Jo being half-Japanese because Jo's strong, funny, and clever. Also #WeNeedDiverseBooks. Jo is independent and knows what she wants in life. I love photography with a burning passion, and I was so proud of Jo for pursuing what she thought was her passion.
I love that Ms. Allison Rushby wrote about something so controversial as paparazzi and the role they pose in ethics and fame. Paparazzi is undoubtedly one of the most controversial topics in today's atmosphere, and I love that she shows the vulnerable side of paparazzi.
I like that mental health was a central topic of the book since there is a strong stigma about speaking of mental health today that shouldn't exist. I love how open-minded Jake is on mental health and how understanding he is both over Ned and Jo's mother.
I read Shooting Stars in less than three hours because it was a short, sweet, and satisfying read. If you're looking for a "vanilla" book with a cute love story, then Shooting Stars is the book for you.
Happy Sunday! Hope your day is going well. And if it isn't, I hope that tomorrow or sometime in the near future, it gets better. Because I promise that it will. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon.
with love,
Reenie
💋
The long version of how I feel about the book and my review told through actual words:
I'm taking my Sunday pretty easy because I spent all of yesterday being busy and physically exhausting myself. Also, I have a headache. Shooting Stars was one of the first physical books I've read in a long time since I've grown fond of ebooks.
Honestly, I had a lot of doubts going into the book about how the plot would unfold because I was unsure of how Ned and Jo's potential relationship would survive because of a secret/betrayal as big as Jo's. I did NOT see that plot twist coming and am kinda relieved that the author thought creatively.
I have so much Asian pride over Jo being half-Japanese because Jo's strong, funny, and clever. Also #WeNeedDiverseBooks. Jo is independent and knows what she wants in life. I love photography with a burning passion, and I was so proud of Jo for pursuing what she thought was her passion.
I love that Ms. Allison Rushby wrote about something so controversial as paparazzi and the role they pose in ethics and fame. Paparazzi is undoubtedly one of the most controversial topics in today's atmosphere, and I love that she shows the vulnerable side of paparazzi.
I like that mental health was a central topic of the book since there is a strong stigma about speaking of mental health today that shouldn't exist. I love how open-minded Jake is on mental health and how understanding he is both over Ned and Jo's mother.
I read Shooting Stars in less than three hours because it was a short, sweet, and satisfying read. If you're looking for a "vanilla" book with a cute love story, then Shooting Stars is the book for you.
Happy Sunday! Hope your day is going well. And if it isn't, I hope that tomorrow or sometime in the near future, it gets better. Because I promise that it will. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon.
with love,
Reenie
💋
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2012
Review first posted at Bewitched Bookworms
The synopsis something that totally drew me in. Sounds like a girls fantasy falling in love with a real Hollywood Star. And since I really love more and more to read cute YA contemporary books I was eager to pick it up.
Zo Jo – little girl Big Shot!
Jo is cute – she’s a half Japanese young girl whose father is a famous paparazzi. Jo also loves her camera and she absolutely loves to photograph – it’s her passion! And in order to finance an expensive art school she steps in her fathers foot steps and is one of the youngest paparazzi ever. And quite successful too! So when she’s offered this amazing opportunity to go undercover and lurk after the famous singer Ned Hartnett she’s all in – specially considering that she would finally have all the money she’d need for her school..
I really liked Jo as a character – she was quick, smart and cute and just about to discover her own values in life. She’s determined to go for what she wants – meaning going to this art school! For this dream she’d do anything! But the real question is – how far? And we accompany her on this journey of discovering herself and her limits.
A Story about discovering what is right!
Besides the fact that the synopsis sound like a cute love story it’s not the main focus of the story. It’s much more about what is right, what is wrong and where are the grey zones. Also it is about growing up making your own choices and figure our how to deal wich choices that were wrong in the first place. Jo finds herself in an unbearable situation and she has to make decisions that might go against her big dream but in the end, might be the right ones. We follow her journey of discovering this.
Ned Harnett – dream of every Teenage girl – with issues.
Ned is the love interest here and needless to say he’s very girls dream. Über talented musician at the age of 16 already super famous. Think Britney Spears meets Justin Beaver. Sort of. Ned is cute but we lack to really understand him fully. In the beginning of the story he’s just a shadow and we are not really getting to know him. This changes in the last part and I really begun liking him, yet I failed to fully connect with him.
Lack of real conflict.
My only complain about the story was that all turned out too picture-perfect. The story was lacking real conflict and while reading I thought it wouldn’t hurt to add some drama to get the story more emotional. If there was conflict it was just barely touched and over before we could explore it more. I was sitting on the edge waiting for something to happen that would challenge Jo emotionally but there wasn’t
Bottom Line
Very cute story, with a nice plot and a cute set of characters. The lack of drama or conflict made the story lacking a bit and it felt like it only scratched the surface. However, I enjoyed reading it and I truly think it would be perfect for a younger reader
The synopsis something that totally drew me in. Sounds like a girls fantasy falling in love with a real Hollywood Star. And since I really love more and more to read cute YA contemporary books I was eager to pick it up.
Zo Jo – little girl Big Shot!
Jo is cute – she’s a half Japanese young girl whose father is a famous paparazzi. Jo also loves her camera and she absolutely loves to photograph – it’s her passion! And in order to finance an expensive art school she steps in her fathers foot steps and is one of the youngest paparazzi ever. And quite successful too! So when she’s offered this amazing opportunity to go undercover and lurk after the famous singer Ned Hartnett she’s all in – specially considering that she would finally have all the money she’d need for her school..
I really liked Jo as a character – she was quick, smart and cute and just about to discover her own values in life. She’s determined to go for what she wants – meaning going to this art school! For this dream she’d do anything! But the real question is – how far? And we accompany her on this journey of discovering herself and her limits.
A Story about discovering what is right!
Besides the fact that the synopsis sound like a cute love story it’s not the main focus of the story. It’s much more about what is right, what is wrong and where are the grey zones. Also it is about growing up making your own choices and figure our how to deal wich choices that were wrong in the first place. Jo finds herself in an unbearable situation and she has to make decisions that might go against her big dream but in the end, might be the right ones. We follow her journey of discovering this.
Ned Harnett – dream of every Teenage girl – with issues.
Ned is the love interest here and needless to say he’s very girls dream. Über talented musician at the age of 16 already super famous. Think Britney Spears meets Justin Beaver. Sort of. Ned is cute but we lack to really understand him fully. In the beginning of the story he’s just a shadow and we are not really getting to know him. This changes in the last part and I really begun liking him, yet I failed to fully connect with him.
Lack of real conflict.
My only complain about the story was that all turned out too picture-perfect. The story was lacking real conflict and while reading I thought it wouldn’t hurt to add some drama to get the story more emotional. If there was conflict it was just barely touched and over before we could explore it more. I was sitting on the edge waiting for something to happen that would challenge Jo emotionally but there wasn’t
Bottom Line
Very cute story, with a nice plot and a cute set of characters. The lack of drama or conflict made the story lacking a bit and it felt like it only scratched the surface. However, I enjoyed reading it and I truly think it would be perfect for a younger reader
February 4, 2012
Sometimes I just need a fun, light, contemporary read and that is just what Shooting Stars was. Allison Rushby's newest young adult release was an entertaining read that left me eager to grab my camera and scamper off to Hollywood and try to get some great shots. The title is a perfect fit for this book, I love how creative it is. I enjoyed this book and while it was at times predictable, I still found myself smiling at the end. Shooting Stars will certainly appeal to a wide-range of readers and this copy (which I borrowed from my teacher) has rarely been on the shelf for long.
To begin with, Josephine Foster is a spitfire character. The daughter of an Australian paparazzo father and Japanese mother, Jo hasn't led an easy life. Her mother is gone and she has been raised by her father who is rarely home, but when he is he is usually sending her out to snap pictures related to his latest tip. Zo Jo has been a successful pap so far and enjoys what she does, especially the cash benefits.
I have to admit one of my guilty pleasures is gobbling down the latest US Weekly or In Touch magazine. I love looking at pictures of "celebs in the wild" or dressed to the nines. It's a lot of fun and it was great to see how things are for those actually snapping the pictures. Paps are usually portrayed very negatively, so Jo's story told the other side of things. I think it would be fun, for at least a day, to run around LA following different tips of celebrities on the move. Of course the book did not just focus on Jo's photography.
When Jo gets a huge job- go to a private rehab retreat in Massachusetts and find out why teen superstar Ned Harnett is really there- she has no idea what is going to happen. It was a lot of fun seeing how Jo navigated the center and learned a lot not only about the other people at the center, but about herself.
I liked getting to know the different characters in the book, although they weren't as developed as I would have hoped. Jo was a great main character and I definitely connected with her, but some of the others fell a little flat.
The plot was predictable at times, but there were some big, unexpected twists towards the middle of the book that kept me that much more invested in the story. The romance was sweet and although I never entirely felt the "spark", they were a cute couple.
Shooting Stars was just the book I was looking for and while it was not as fantastic as I might have hoped, it was still a fun read that I will recommend.
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
To begin with, Josephine Foster is a spitfire character. The daughter of an Australian paparazzo father and Japanese mother, Jo hasn't led an easy life. Her mother is gone and she has been raised by her father who is rarely home, but when he is he is usually sending her out to snap pictures related to his latest tip. Zo Jo has been a successful pap so far and enjoys what she does, especially the cash benefits.
I have to admit one of my guilty pleasures is gobbling down the latest US Weekly or In Touch magazine. I love looking at pictures of "celebs in the wild" or dressed to the nines. It's a lot of fun and it was great to see how things are for those actually snapping the pictures. Paps are usually portrayed very negatively, so Jo's story told the other side of things. I think it would be fun, for at least a day, to run around LA following different tips of celebrities on the move. Of course the book did not just focus on Jo's photography.
When Jo gets a huge job- go to a private rehab retreat in Massachusetts and find out why teen superstar Ned Harnett is really there- she has no idea what is going to happen. It was a lot of fun seeing how Jo navigated the center and learned a lot not only about the other people at the center, but about herself.
I liked getting to know the different characters in the book, although they weren't as developed as I would have hoped. Jo was a great main character and I definitely connected with her, but some of the others fell a little flat.
The plot was predictable at times, but there were some big, unexpected twists towards the middle of the book that kept me that much more invested in the story. The romance was sweet and although I never entirely felt the "spark", they were a cute couple.
Shooting Stars was just the book I was looking for and while it was not as fantastic as I might have hoped, it was still a fun read that I will recommend.
Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
September 30, 2012
Zo Jo is a young paparazzo in the making and taking incriminating/embarrassing pictures of the famous and infamous is in her blood. Her dad is a paparazzo and is oh so proud that his daughter has her finger poised on the camera trigger.
But Zo Jo wants more.
Zo Jo watches life through a camera lens. At the moment it's a pap one but her ultimate dream is to observe and take snap shots of life through an adjustable lens as a portrait photographer.
Cash is tight so when she gets offered a highly well paid pap job Zo Jo accepts. But something nags her at the back of her mind. Is following a famous star into a retreat for people who need some time crossing the line?
The moral compass of a pap has never pointed north but Zo Jo has done a pretty good job of not making it point completely south. That is until this job. It will blow morals and compass away, but will buy her her dream.
Looking at everyone else's flaws and embarrassing moments through her faux ipod camera, the tables are ironically turned on her when she accepts the job. Now slowly and subconsciously she's examining he own conscience through that very lens. Pap has been her life for a longtime but was she denying something? Paying so much attention to the stills she takes of others, she never thought to stop and examine the snap shots of her own life.
As Zo Jo clics away she has to make some decisions and choices that were clear cut for me. But it was interesting seeing things from the point of view of the pap, and a teenage one at that. They made her face reality, mature and decide who she wanted to be, not as a job but a breathing feeling human being. Sometimes you have to step away from the lens and see life through your own eyes.
And if that life might include the gorgeous teenage star Ned Hartnett, stepping away from he camera might just be worth it.
Allison Rushby wrote a steady paced novel that definitely threw me some curve balls that I did not see coming. They smacked me head on and left me with my mouth hanging wide open.
Shooting Stars was a deceptive book, appearing a light hearted easy read when actually it had hidden depths and twists. This was a really great read that I very much enjoyed and will most certainly be reading again.
You can take stills and capture moments on camera but you can't always read into someone's heart through a glass lens.
March 31, 2012
"Shooting Stars" was a cute story about an aspiring teen paparazzi who's asked to take on a job photographing one of the hottest current teen stars, and ends up stepping into more than she bargained for. Jo, also known as Zo Jo, takes on her biggest job yet under her employer when she's asked to follow Ned Harnett to a retreat, all while keeping her true identity under wraps. But Jo's not the only one trying to stay incognito, as she gets to know Ned in more ways than one - what he is and what he's not. Ned becomes more than a target to Jo, but actually a person, and that complicates her ability to take the pictures she needs to take. But in the meantime, Jo learns a bit more than she expects from the people at the retreat, about herself and where the future of her pap campaigns will lead.
The number of revelations and twists within the story felt genuine and allowed me to connect to the characters. Though if I had one issue while reading "Shooting Stars", it had to be the overemphasis throughout the story of Jo's actions being wrong. I understood the story's motives in doing that, but there were places where it felt a bit repetitive. I think the author does a nice job of showing Jo's guilt in spurts, but perhaps didn't need to use it as often as she did about the pap job. However, there are some pains that Jo has beneath the surface that I thought were nice character reflections/touches, and I liked the honesty in that. I don't know how I felt about the wrap up at the end because it seemed a bit quick in closure to most of the characters in the story, but I think it was needed given the progression. I probably would've appreciated a little more depth/background from the supporting characters to even out the read for me, but I enjoyed watching the interactions between them.
It's really a simple read to breeze through, and I think younger members of the YA/teen audience will find something to like in it.
Overall score: 3/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Bloomsbury Children's Books/Walker Children's Books.
The number of revelations and twists within the story felt genuine and allowed me to connect to the characters. Though if I had one issue while reading "Shooting Stars", it had to be the overemphasis throughout the story of Jo's actions being wrong. I understood the story's motives in doing that, but there were places where it felt a bit repetitive. I think the author does a nice job of showing Jo's guilt in spurts, but perhaps didn't need to use it as often as she did about the pap job. However, there are some pains that Jo has beneath the surface that I thought were nice character reflections/touches, and I liked the honesty in that. I don't know how I felt about the wrap up at the end because it seemed a bit quick in closure to most of the characters in the story, but I think it was needed given the progression. I probably would've appreciated a little more depth/background from the supporting characters to even out the read for me, but I enjoyed watching the interactions between them.
It's really a simple read to breeze through, and I think younger members of the YA/teen audience will find something to like in it.
Overall score: 3/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Bloomsbury Children's Books/Walker Children's Books.
March 4, 2012
Sharp, funny and witty, 'Shooting Stars' is an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable read. Have you ever imagined what the life of a paparazzo is really like - well you can find out all their juicy secrets here. This book will definitely appeal to those who are obsessed with celebrities and the world of entertainment, for which I would definitely include myself!
Jo is a sixteen year old paparazzo, following in the footsteps of her father. She loves the rush of snapping that elusive shot and because of her age she's able to go places and get photos that no one else can get. She agrees to enter a retreat to get pictures of singer and teen sensation Ned Hartnett but she ends up discovering a lot more about Ned and herself, than she bargained for. Jo is an engaging and sharply perceptive central character and narrator. I warmed to her straight away and although she keeps her feelings buried deep inside, she has a big heart. I really liked the way that Jo actually ended up learning things about herself during the retreat which helped her to decide about her own future. There was a tremendous amount of growth in her as a character which I enjoyed.
There were some great secondary characters in the book too, including Jo's paparazzo friend Mannie, her air-hostess cousin Wendy and various others like Katrina and Seth who she meets at the retreat. The latter two are also working on rebuilding their lives after personal difficulties and tragedies but it was nice to see that Jo made some real friendships through her experience.
I loved the twist that Allison Rushby drops into the book about half-way through. I have to say that I didn't guess it at all but it made the second part of the story even more interesting as Jo has to try and find a solution for the mess she's got herself into!
'Shooting Stars' is a fun read with a cute boy, a sassy heroine and an engaging storyline. I for one, will never look at celebrity snaps in magazines in the same way again. Don't wait, go out and pick this book up now!
Jo is a sixteen year old paparazzo, following in the footsteps of her father. She loves the rush of snapping that elusive shot and because of her age she's able to go places and get photos that no one else can get. She agrees to enter a retreat to get pictures of singer and teen sensation Ned Hartnett but she ends up discovering a lot more about Ned and herself, than she bargained for. Jo is an engaging and sharply perceptive central character and narrator. I warmed to her straight away and although she keeps her feelings buried deep inside, she has a big heart. I really liked the way that Jo actually ended up learning things about herself during the retreat which helped her to decide about her own future. There was a tremendous amount of growth in her as a character which I enjoyed.
There were some great secondary characters in the book too, including Jo's paparazzo friend Mannie, her air-hostess cousin Wendy and various others like Katrina and Seth who she meets at the retreat. The latter two are also working on rebuilding their lives after personal difficulties and tragedies but it was nice to see that Jo made some real friendships through her experience.
I loved the twist that Allison Rushby drops into the book about half-way through. I have to say that I didn't guess it at all but it made the second part of the story even more interesting as Jo has to try and find a solution for the mess she's got herself into!
'Shooting Stars' is a fun read with a cute boy, a sassy heroine and an engaging storyline. I for one, will never look at celebrity snaps in magazines in the same way again. Don't wait, go out and pick this book up now!
January 31, 2012
Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she is called in the biz, is a member of the paparazzi. She is 16 and has a distinct advantage over her competition: she is short and can pass for 11 years old. She is able to get into places that no one else can by pretending to be a young girl looking for her mom, or a young girl playing on her Ipod.
Zo Jo has been given a way out of her paparazzi ways: Snap a few pictures of a young singer at a retreat and hand them off to an editor. Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong, She feels awful about invading this young man's privacy, but she needs the money. She goes on an emotional rollercoaster ride while fighting with her conscience. This star, Ned Hartnett, is not your average, steal the spotlight kind of celebrity. He is a real person that she can't get out of her head. Why can't she just take the pictures and get out? Life would be much less complicated if she wasn't falling in love with her target...
I loved this book. It is 265 pages and I was able to finish it in one afternoon. This story is cute and it gives a different perspective to the paparazzi. You always think of these people as "soul stealers", people who will do anything to get paid. Zo Jo isn't like that. She is doing a job she is good at until she saves enough money to go to photography school. I love the fact that she is easy to relate to. She has a hard time sorting through her thoughts and feelings and deciding on whom she can and cannot trust.
There were parts of this book that had me laughing out loud and parts where I was silently cheering for Jo and trying to tell her what to do! The book had a great ending and did not leave any questions unanswered, which I loved...
This book is a wonderful debut novel by Allison Rushby and it will be the perfect addition to my 8th grade classroom library. If you are in need of a good, cute, clean book, this is the book for you! You will not be disappointed.
Zo Jo has been given a way out of her paparazzi ways: Snap a few pictures of a young singer at a retreat and hand them off to an editor. Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong, She feels awful about invading this young man's privacy, but she needs the money. She goes on an emotional rollercoaster ride while fighting with her conscience. This star, Ned Hartnett, is not your average, steal the spotlight kind of celebrity. He is a real person that she can't get out of her head. Why can't she just take the pictures and get out? Life would be much less complicated if she wasn't falling in love with her target...
I loved this book. It is 265 pages and I was able to finish it in one afternoon. This story is cute and it gives a different perspective to the paparazzi. You always think of these people as "soul stealers", people who will do anything to get paid. Zo Jo isn't like that. She is doing a job she is good at until she saves enough money to go to photography school. I love the fact that she is easy to relate to. She has a hard time sorting through her thoughts and feelings and deciding on whom she can and cannot trust.
There were parts of this book that had me laughing out loud and parts where I was silently cheering for Jo and trying to tell her what to do! The book had a great ending and did not leave any questions unanswered, which I loved...
This book is a wonderful debut novel by Allison Rushby and it will be the perfect addition to my 8th grade classroom library. If you are in need of a good, cute, clean book, this is the book for you! You will not be disappointed.
October 1, 2014
This book- although it does have some traditional chick lot cliches- it's was incredibly interesting. One of the big reveals I figured out but not right away, and the paparazzo angle was pure brilliance. It was fresh and interesting. Usually chick lit would be about the star and the normal girl, but the star and the paparazzo is so amazing because its different.
Plot
Jo is an average teenage girl, expect that she looks way you get than her age and she is one of the best paparazzo in LA. Being a paparazzo like her dad isn't Jo's dream. She wants to be a portrait photographer and earning money from papping is way more than you make at a Burger King. A new job comes up and it's absolutely despicable worse than anything Jo has ever done and anything she wants to do, but with the money she'd make... It just might be worth it. Follow Jo as she struggles with right and wrong, and finds herself in a place she never thought she would.
Characters
Jo or "Zo Jo"
Jo is a paparazzo who just wants to be a portrait photographer, but with the money you can make papping it may just be worth it in order to get her in an amazing art program and keep her school counselor off her back who thinks she is going to drop out of school due to her falling grades and falling asleep during class from all the late nights papping.
Ned
Ned is a famous singer who is one of the only stars who has been nice to Jo since she has been papping. However there is more to Ned than meets the eye, and when an opportunity of a lifetime to get some pictures of him in the most disposable way arises, Jo hesitates.
Overall
Overall, I found this book cute, interesting, and a fresh new read that you will love. The angle is different and entertaining. I loved the book, and if you are looking for a lighthearted cute novel with the struggles of knowing right from wrong, the conniving world of Hollywood, and a bit of romance than Shooting Stars is the novel for you.
Plot
Jo is an average teenage girl, expect that she looks way you get than her age and she is one of the best paparazzo in LA. Being a paparazzo like her dad isn't Jo's dream. She wants to be a portrait photographer and earning money from papping is way more than you make at a Burger King. A new job comes up and it's absolutely despicable worse than anything Jo has ever done and anything she wants to do, but with the money she'd make... It just might be worth it. Follow Jo as she struggles with right and wrong, and finds herself in a place she never thought she would.
Characters
Jo or "Zo Jo"
Jo is a paparazzo who just wants to be a portrait photographer, but with the money you can make papping it may just be worth it in order to get her in an amazing art program and keep her school counselor off her back who thinks she is going to drop out of school due to her falling grades and falling asleep during class from all the late nights papping.
Ned
Ned is a famous singer who is one of the only stars who has been nice to Jo since she has been papping. However there is more to Ned than meets the eye, and when an opportunity of a lifetime to get some pictures of him in the most disposable way arises, Jo hesitates.
Overall
Overall, I found this book cute, interesting, and a fresh new read that you will love. The angle is different and entertaining. I loved the book, and if you are looking for a lighthearted cute novel with the struggles of knowing right from wrong, the conniving world of Hollywood, and a bit of romance than Shooting Stars is the novel for you.
December 30, 2014
La historia es bastante dulce. Quizás mucho azúcar en el final, los conflictos se resolvieron demasiado rápido ni hubo una gran dosis de drama o profundidad (como dije antes, vario en cuanto al nivel de drama y "azúcar" en los libros, a veces quiero más, a veces menos), pero me gustó de todas formas. Aunque me imagino a Jo más grande de lo que es, que 16 es muy chica (o yo soy muy vieja (?))
Me encantó la pequeña mención de la relación entre Ned y Jake, como la describe. Incluso me imagine las tomas que hizo Jo de ese momento, seguro habrían sido preciosas <3
Debo admitir que me tomó por sorpresa que Ned no fuera Ned! Me había olvidado del detalle de la operación. En fin, eso me sorprendió. O soy una mala lectora que se olvida de los detalles importantes, y/o que la sorprenden fácilmente.
¡Me hubiese gustado leer un poquito más de Jake! De sus ambiciones y demás cosas. Saber un poquito más de los hermanos Hartnett, y de la compleja relación con su padre.
Como digo, el "conflicto" se resolvió... rápido. Y la relación entre Jo y su padre podría haber sido más difícil. Tampoco profundiza en la relación de Michael Hartnett y sus hijos, buscando conseguir publicidad a través de ambos, etc, etc. *Yo buscando drama y lágrimas* No obstante, no por eso fue malo, al libro se lo disfruta de todas formas.
Por otro lado, los paparazzi también tienen sentimientos (?)Eh, que lo considero uno de mis posibles trabajos en el futuro. Yo también soy chiquitita, solo necesito ser ingeniosa (?) Me agrada la visión de Jo acerca de ellos. Ni negativa ni positiva, sino real o verosímil.
No lo considero un libro extraordinario, particularmente memorable o que sí o sí debas leerlo (lo siento, pequeño), pero es una compañía simpática, pasas un buen rato. A eso van las tres estrellas, quizás dos y media. I don't know, no soy buena para calificar.
Me encantó la pequeña mención de la relación entre Ned y Jake, como la describe. Incluso me imagine las tomas que hizo Jo de ese momento, seguro habrían sido preciosas <3
Debo admitir que me tomó por sorpresa que Ned no fuera Ned! Me había olvidado del detalle de la operación. En fin, eso me sorprendió. O soy una mala lectora que se olvida de los detalles importantes, y/o que la sorprenden fácilmente.
¡Me hubiese gustado leer un poquito más de Jake! De sus ambiciones y demás cosas. Saber un poquito más de los hermanos Hartnett, y de la compleja relación con su padre.
Como digo, el "conflicto" se resolvió... rápido. Y la relación entre Jo y su padre podría haber sido más difícil. Tampoco profundiza en la relación de Michael Hartnett y sus hijos, buscando conseguir publicidad a través de ambos, etc, etc. *Yo buscando drama y lágrimas* No obstante, no por eso fue malo, al libro se lo disfruta de todas formas.
Por otro lado, los paparazzi también tienen sentimientos (?)
No lo considero un libro extraordinario, particularmente memorable o que sí o sí debas leerlo (lo siento, pequeño), pero es una compañía simpática, pasas un buen rato. A eso van las tres estrellas, quizás dos y media. I don't know, no soy buena para calificar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 5, 2012Shooting Stars is really the best of both worlds when it comes to books. It's all sorts of cute and adorable and entertaining but still successfully tells an emotional story. I was thoroughly charmed by the quirky characters and genuinely interested in the plot at the same time.
I could totally see this as a DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie) and I mean that in the best way possible. It's so upbeat and lighthearted and it seemed like I was always smiling, but it never felt too cheesy because it had an authentic seriousness when the story called for it.
I loved the cast of characters. Jo - even though she agrees to do something extraordinarily despicable - was such a fun protagonist to follow. She's snarky, easily annoyed and I found myself laughing at her inner monologue quite a bit. But what I admired most is that there is an underlying progression to her character as she attends the rehabilitation retreat. When we're first introduced to her, her opinions on what is right/wrong is very blurred. I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, but I was really glad that the rehabilitation retreat served a larger purpose than the "sneaky papparazi" aspect to the plot.
And I always appreciate a book that can surprise me. There is a large plot twist that I definitely was not expecting. It's not random and it's absolutely beneficial to the story. I love that the author was able to shock me like that.
Overall, Shooting Stars is what I call a "get happy" book; a light, fun novel that you can trust to make you smile. I definitely recommend this to contemporary lovers and anybody in need of a great pick-me-up!
I could totally see this as a DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie) and I mean that in the best way possible. It's so upbeat and lighthearted and it seemed like I was always smiling, but it never felt too cheesy because it had an authentic seriousness when the story called for it.
I loved the cast of characters. Jo - even though she agrees to do something extraordinarily despicable - was such a fun protagonist to follow. She's snarky, easily annoyed and I found myself laughing at her inner monologue quite a bit. But what I admired most is that there is an underlying progression to her character as she attends the rehabilitation retreat. When we're first introduced to her, her opinions on what is right/wrong is very blurred. I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, but I was really glad that the rehabilitation retreat served a larger purpose than the "sneaky papparazi" aspect to the plot.
And I always appreciate a book that can surprise me. There is a large plot twist that I definitely was not expecting. It's not random and it's absolutely beneficial to the story. I love that the author was able to shock me like that.
Overall, Shooting Stars is what I call a "get happy" book; a light, fun novel that you can trust to make you smile. I definitely recommend this to contemporary lovers and anybody in need of a great pick-me-up!
March 6, 2012
This book wasn't awful, but it was quite cliche. I liked the main character, but some of the solutions to her problems were so obvious I wanted to scream. She wasn't a big fan of thinking rationally, and her "solution" to the biggest problem she had was a solution I had thought up pages earlier.
It felt really unrealistic, too. How many teenagers are paparazzi? I know, she's the only one, but it was strange. And who in their right mind would leave their kid home alone most of the time with just a cousin living next door? A cousin who works as a flight attendant and is seldom there herself?
I did like the romance, though. Not too overdone, like a lot I've read. And the minor characters were really fleshed out - they had stories and lives and personalities. Well done. I cared for them at times more than I cared for Jo.
This book, in my opinion, would be better suited for a middle grade audience, but it was marketed as young adult. As a teen, I didn't like it very much, but I can see how other people (especially those younger than me) would. I can envision this as a gateway to YA for some younger readers, and I hope that's what it becomes.
This review was also posted on my blog.
It felt really unrealistic, too. How many teenagers are paparazzi? I know, she's the only one, but it was strange. And who in their right mind would leave their kid home alone most of the time with just a cousin living next door? A cousin who works as a flight attendant and is seldom there herself?
I did like the romance, though. Not too overdone, like a lot I've read. And the minor characters were really fleshed out - they had stories and lives and personalities. Well done. I cared for them at times more than I cared for Jo.
This book, in my opinion, would be better suited for a middle grade audience, but it was marketed as young adult. As a teen, I didn't like it very much, but I can see how other people (especially those younger than me) would. I can envision this as a gateway to YA for some younger readers, and I hope that's what it becomes.
This review was also posted on my blog.
February 28, 2012
Shooting Stars is a quick, fun read with a unique concept and unexpected twists. I truly enjoyed reading this one.
It makes me quite happy when I think I know how a story might turn out, and it doesn't. If I think I know what the unexpected twist is going to be, and it's not what I thought at all. Yet, I was still completely happy with the story and how it ended. Shooting Stars is one of those stories. There's so many fun moments and fantastic morals throughout this book. It has a unique concept where our main character Jo is a paparazzi. And, we also get to see some celeb life. Combine all that with a coming of age story, some romance, and even some laughs and you get yourself a fun, enjoyable story.
Also, I loved taking the journey and growing with all of these characters. They all grow in their own way and all come to realize things about themselves. Even family seems to play an important role in both of our main characters. And, family is important me, so I loved that aspect.
Overall, I think this book covers such a wide age group that readers all across the board will enjoy. If you're looking for a fun, quick read... Shooting Stars is it!
It makes me quite happy when I think I know how a story might turn out, and it doesn't. If I think I know what the unexpected twist is going to be, and it's not what I thought at all. Yet, I was still completely happy with the story and how it ended. Shooting Stars is one of those stories. There's so many fun moments and fantastic morals throughout this book. It has a unique concept where our main character Jo is a paparazzi. And, we also get to see some celeb life. Combine all that with a coming of age story, some romance, and even some laughs and you get yourself a fun, enjoyable story.
Also, I loved taking the journey and growing with all of these characters. They all grow in their own way and all come to realize things about themselves. Even family seems to play an important role in both of our main characters. And, family is important me, so I loved that aspect.
Overall, I think this book covers such a wide age group that readers all across the board will enjoy. If you're looking for a fun, quick read... Shooting Stars is it!
September 24, 2019
I was good but did not reach my expectations. I found this book that said like this book that I liked and that gave me high expectations . At
one point I found myself reading the exact same paragraph over again later in the book . Could be better. But still it is good if you aren't that picky with books
one point I found myself reading the exact same paragraph over again later in the book . Could be better. But still it is good if you aren't that picky with books
April 26, 2012
This book was a fun read. It turned out to be more than I expected. I thought it would be mostly light, but it touched on some tough subjects like mental health.
Jo was a paparazzo at the young age of sixteen. Being short and small, she could sneak into places the older paps couldn't get into. It was a fun behind-the-scenes of the paparazzi life. I assumed all paparazzi were pushy and greedy, but this showed another side of their story.
I really liked Jo. Her ethical struggles and life story were so interesting. I loved the little romance going on. I wish I could tell you about my favorite scene, but I don't want to give anything away! It may have something to do with swimming laps in a pool, that's all I'm going to say.
A quick, fun, thought-provoking read.
See Content Ratings on my blog review. Clean Teen Fiction
Jo was a paparazzo at the young age of sixteen. Being short and small, she could sneak into places the older paps couldn't get into. It was a fun behind-the-scenes of the paparazzi life. I assumed all paparazzi were pushy and greedy, but this showed another side of their story.
I really liked Jo. Her ethical struggles and life story were so interesting. I loved the little romance going on. I wish I could tell you about my favorite scene, but I don't want to give anything away! It may have something to do with swimming laps in a pool, that's all I'm going to say.
A quick, fun, thought-provoking read.
See Content Ratings on my blog review. Clean Teen Fiction
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