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I Made Lattes for a Love God
Best friends and not-so-secret Hollywood crushes. A warm, funny read for teens from comedienne, writer and popular radio personality Wendy Harmer.
Description
Elly Pickering has a juicy secret. A secret her PR mum won't let her tell anyone because if the kids at Oldcastle High knew that mega-star Jake Blake (yes, THE Jake Blake, teen sensation and all round heart-throb) was coming to Oldcastle to film his latest movie, they might just explode with excitement.
Elly is determined to get on set and to get more than a glimpse of her Hollywood crush. But now thanks to an unfortunate incident involving a car, a red handbag and the paparazzi, it looks like Elly's lost a lot more than her opportunity to be close to Hollywood royalty. She's lost her dignity, her job and her best friend. How will she ever be able to get everything back to normal?
Description
Elly Pickering has a juicy secret. A secret her PR mum won't let her tell anyone because if the kids at Oldcastle High knew that mega-star Jake Blake (yes, THE Jake Blake, teen sensation and all round heart-throb) was coming to Oldcastle to film his latest movie, they might just explode with excitement.
Elly is determined to get on set and to get more than a glimpse of her Hollywood crush. But now thanks to an unfortunate incident involving a car, a red handbag and the paparazzi, it looks like Elly's lost a lot more than her opportunity to be close to Hollywood royalty. She's lost her dignity, her job and her best friend. How will she ever be able to get everything back to normal?
- GenresYoung Adult
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2012
3 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Harmer
84 books38 followersWendy Harmer is an Australian author, writer, radio show host and comedienne. A former political journalist, Wendy is the author of seven books for adults: It's a Joke, Joyce (1989), Backstage Pass (1991), Love Gone Wrong (1995), So anyway-- : Wendy’s words of wisdom (1997) (a collection of her weekly columns from The Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Weekend Magazine), Farewell My Ovaries (2005), Nagging for Beginners (2006), Love and Punishment (2006), and Roadside Sisters published in April 2009.
Harmer's books have been described as being in the genre of Chick lit. They are popular light novels and very humorous.
Wendy Harmer has also written a series for young readers called the Pearlie in the Park . They are bestsellers in Australia and have been published in ten countries around the world. The animated Pearlie series has screened on Australian TV.
I Lost My Mobile at the Mall (2009) is Wendy's first novel for teens.
She has written for numerous Australian magazines and has been a contributing columnist for Australian Women's Weekly, New Weekly, The Good Weekend and HQ.
Wendy contributed to Marie Claire’s What Women Want in 2002, My Sporting Hero edited by Greg Gowden which was published by Random House Australia and a volume of The Best Ever Sports Writing . . . 200 Years of Sport Writing. She also wrote the libretto for Baz Luhrmann’s Opera Australia production of Lake Lost.
Harmer's books have been described as being in the genre of Chick lit. They are popular light novels and very humorous.
Wendy Harmer has also written a series for young readers called the Pearlie in the Park . They are bestsellers in Australia and have been published in ten countries around the world. The animated Pearlie series has screened on Australian TV.
I Lost My Mobile at the Mall (2009) is Wendy's first novel for teens.
She has written for numerous Australian magazines and has been a contributing columnist for Australian Women's Weekly, New Weekly, The Good Weekend and HQ.
Wendy contributed to Marie Claire’s What Women Want in 2002, My Sporting Hero edited by Greg Gowden which was published by Random House Australia and a volume of The Best Ever Sports Writing . . . 200 Years of Sport Writing. She also wrote the libretto for Baz Luhrmann’s Opera Australia production of Lake Lost.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 7, 2013
Wendy Harmer's latest YA novel hits all the right notes. Her protagonist, Elly (Eleanor) is a girl who has few friends at school since the departure of her best mate, Carmelita, to the farming districts of Queensland. She lives at home with her parents - Mum, who is a strung out and struggling PR agent; Dad, who is a bit of an underdog always playing second fiddle to Mum, but clearly adores her and his children; and Tilly (Matilda), who is eighteen and spreading her wings (right in front of Elly's face). The family relationships are well drawn and I found the interaction between them believable, particularly those between Dad and the girls and the two sisters.
Elly's Mum has been given the biggest break of her PR career. The cast of Monster Squad are coming to the town of Britannia to film the third film in the series, imaginatively titled Monster Squad 3. A cross between Twilight and High School Musical, Monster Squad has a heartthrob star- Jake Blake, whom Elly pines for. When it is revealed that Mum is handling all the publicity for the movie, Elly thinks she has it made and will be hanging out with Jake in no time. Of course, things do not go to plan. First, Elly manages to get her best friend a part in the movie whilst managing to miss out on one herself. Her Mum throws her a lifeline by making Elly her PA. After she manages to get herself thrown off the set on the first day of shooting, things do not look good for Elly. Eventually she ends up working in the catering van with Rosie Di Masi and her cheerful, hard- working parents. Rosie has been the object of derision in Elly's circle and she is dreading working with her, but slowly Rosie reveals herself to be something Elly didn't expect and this is probably my favourite aspect of this story. My only is she making new friends she has to contend with Bianca, the inevitable jealous "popular" girl who is a perpetual fly in Elly's ointment. Couple that with her sister who starts mooning over Jake Blake, Dad who might be having an affair with one of the movie stars and Carmelita who seems to be turning against her and Elly learns a lot about everyone in her life, but especially about herself.
In keeping with my non-spoiler policy I will not reveal much more here, but I will say that things move towards a very satisfactory conclusion, with lots of loose ends tied up and a warm fuzzy feeling as you read the last page.
Suitable for ages 12 and up.
Elly's Mum has been given the biggest break of her PR career. The cast of Monster Squad are coming to the town of Britannia to film the third film in the series, imaginatively titled Monster Squad 3. A cross between Twilight and High School Musical, Monster Squad has a heartthrob star- Jake Blake, whom Elly pines for. When it is revealed that Mum is handling all the publicity for the movie, Elly thinks she has it made and will be hanging out with Jake in no time. Of course, things do not go to plan. First, Elly manages to get her best friend a part in the movie whilst managing to miss out on one herself. Her Mum throws her a lifeline by making Elly her PA. After she manages to get herself thrown off the set on the first day of shooting, things do not look good for Elly. Eventually she ends up working in the catering van with Rosie Di Masi and her cheerful, hard- working parents. Rosie has been the object of derision in Elly's circle and she is dreading working with her, but slowly Rosie reveals herself to be something Elly didn't expect and this is probably my favourite aspect of this story. My only is she making new friends she has to contend with Bianca, the inevitable jealous "popular" girl who is a perpetual fly in Elly's ointment. Couple that with her sister who starts mooning over Jake Blake, Dad who might be having an affair with one of the movie stars and Carmelita who seems to be turning against her and Elly learns a lot about everyone in her life, but especially about herself.
In keeping with my non-spoiler policy I will not reveal much more here, but I will say that things move towards a very satisfactory conclusion, with lots of loose ends tied up and a warm fuzzy feeling as you read the last page.
Suitable for ages 12 and up.
January 7, 2015
Ehhhh.... the novel wasn't terrible and it wasn't amazing either - it was okay.
I think I have read way too many novels that have a really similar plot, including "This is what happy looks like" by Jennifer E. Smith. I am not saying that these plots are boring, they're just getting really repetitive and there needs to be something different that happens to make me really want to continue reading.
Admittedly, the story wasn't completely predictable, but there were some times I found myself just rolling my eyes in a sense that "Of course this is going to happen - it was just a matter of when". The other thing I didn't really like about this book was the conversation. It was written in a really childish manner, like honestly I don't know many fifteen year old girls who speak like that or for that matter anyone... It was a little over the top and just a tad unrealistic.
Enough with the negative now! Honestly it may sound weird but I found my favourite character was Rosie, she was probably one of the few real characters in the novel. I liked how close she was with her parents in the novel and despite having the lowly job of catering, she some how made it seem really fun - she was a really laid back and cute character.
Even though Elly seemed way too over the top and generally excited about life, I liked her determination in the novel. To just keep going despite her friends having positions in the movie, I also liked how she settled for her position in the food van, rather than jumping at an opportunity to be her mother's assistant.
Overall, it was an okay book. Nothing really exciting and haven't read before. I would recommend it if you haven't read many books like this, but if you have it's a little boring.
I think I have read way too many novels that have a really similar plot, including "This is what happy looks like" by Jennifer E. Smith. I am not saying that these plots are boring, they're just getting really repetitive and there needs to be something different that happens to make me really want to continue reading.
Admittedly, the story wasn't completely predictable, but there were some times I found myself just rolling my eyes in a sense that "Of course this is going to happen - it was just a matter of when". The other thing I didn't really like about this book was the conversation. It was written in a really childish manner, like honestly I don't know many fifteen year old girls who speak like that or for that matter anyone... It was a little over the top and just a tad unrealistic.
Enough with the negative now! Honestly it may sound weird but I found my favourite character was Rosie, she was probably one of the few real characters in the novel. I liked how close she was with her parents in the novel and despite having the lowly job of catering, she some how made it seem really fun - she was a really laid back and cute character.
Even though Elly seemed way too over the top and generally excited about life, I liked her determination in the novel. To just keep going despite her friends having positions in the movie, I also liked how she settled for her position in the food van, rather than jumping at an opportunity to be her mother's assistant.
Overall, it was an okay book. Nothing really exciting and haven't read before. I would recommend it if you haven't read many books like this, but if you have it's a little boring.
November 1, 2012
What it's about: Elly Pickering's life is turned upside down when movie star/heart throb Jake Blake is coming to her town to film his latest movie. Elly learns about life, celebrities and most importantly, herself.
What I thought: This is an absolute teeny-bopper book and I LOVED IT! I got myself stuck in a book rut and this was the book to bring me out of it. It is fun, sassy and most importantly, hilarious. Even when the characters are having serious moments, you can't help but giggle a little. This is just a typical teenage girl, with some not so typical problems, making friends, being caught by the paparazzi and making some amazing coleslaw.
If you want something easy and fun, I highly recommend this book!
The Good: This is such an easy read, and the fact that there is no seriousness about it, makes it really enjoyable.
The Bad: I have to admit, Elly really did drive me up the wall. She is such a selfish, self-centred character, for most of the way through the novel.
Rating: 4 Bookstacks
What I thought: This is an absolute teeny-bopper book and I LOVED IT! I got myself stuck in a book rut and this was the book to bring me out of it. It is fun, sassy and most importantly, hilarious. Even when the characters are having serious moments, you can't help but giggle a little. This is just a typical teenage girl, with some not so typical problems, making friends, being caught by the paparazzi and making some amazing coleslaw.
If you want something easy and fun, I highly recommend this book!
The Good: This is such an easy read, and the fact that there is no seriousness about it, makes it really enjoyable.
The Bad: I have to admit, Elly really did drive me up the wall. She is such a selfish, self-centred character, for most of the way through the novel.
Rating: 4 Bookstacks
November 24, 2012
I loved the cover! It got me hooked from the start!!
The book is about a girl called Eleanor Pickering (Elly) who goes to school at Oldcastle High. Her mum is the publicist for the upcoming movie Monster Class 3 which is going to be set at her school and is starring Jake Blake, the 'heartthrob'...
The book goes on as Elly and her sister Tilly, Elly's friends Carmelita and Rosie get up-close and personal with Jake and rumors start, pictures are taken and covers are made on the newspaper...
An awesome book to read, I really enjoyed it : )
The book is about a girl called Eleanor Pickering (Elly) who goes to school at Oldcastle High. Her mum is the publicist for the upcoming movie Monster Class 3 which is going to be set at her school and is starring Jake Blake, the 'heartthrob'...
The book goes on as Elly and her sister Tilly, Elly's friends Carmelita and Rosie get up-close and personal with Jake and rumors start, pictures are taken and covers are made on the newspaper...
An awesome book to read, I really enjoyed it : )
September 23, 2018
Even though the book was funny at times, I found it very childish. The language, the plot and the characters were not as sophisticated as I would have liked. I would recommend this to young readers around the age of 10 or 11.
Not bad, but not good either.
Not bad, but not good either.
January 14, 2019
DNF.
Wish I could get into it, just wasn't doing much for me.
Wish I could get into it, just wasn't doing much for me.
September 17, 2015
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
I Made Lattes for a Love God by Wendy Harmer is a novel that in my opinion is best suited to the younger teenage girl who enjoys gossip, friendship and a whole lot of drama.
I Made Lattes for a Love God sees readers meet Eleanor "Elly" Pickering, a fifteen year old girl who discovers herself in the centre of a media frenzy when her mother lands a job looking after the promotional aspect of a Hollywood movie starring a popular "it" boy and they decide to shoot the film at Elly’s high school. Throw in a bunch of secrets and some paparazzi mayhem and Elly soon finds herself in the deep end without a paddle…..
Wendy Harmer is a well-known Australian comedian. I feel like I’ve grown up seeing her face on tv or hearing her voice on radio, so the chance to read a story by a home-grown talent was really exciting. But in all honesty, I Made Lattes for a Love God probably wasn’t the book for me. I persevered because I can be a stubborn thing and I felt as a review novel I had to finish it, but I didn’t enjoy the story all too much. Was I Made Lattes for a Love God a bad book? Not necessarily, no. It just wasn’t for me. If I’d read it maybe eight or so years ago I may have appreciated it a bit more, but for me at this point in my life, I really struggled.
Heading into I Made Lattes for a Love God I had no idea there was a previous novel called I Lost My Mobile At the Mall featuring Elly. When I realised about three chapters in, I was concerned, but found this didn’t really effect my ability to read and understand what was going on. If anything, I Made Lattes for a Love God is more a companion novel than a strict sequel.
Personally I found the main character Elly to be incredibly difficult to like. I’m not trying to toot my own horn or anything, but I was always mature for my age and as such can’t imagine acting the way Elly acts in this novel. She was immature and childish, and although there was growth in her, it wasn’t enough to redeem her in my eyes.
When a main character is difficult to like, it can really effect the rest of the novel and this was the case for me and I Made Lattes for a Love God. After a new chapters I found myself growing tired of Elly’s friendship and relationship dramas. Everything felt overly dramatic and unnecessary. From interactions with her sister to her reactions to her best friend’s involvement in the movie---I really struggled. Elly seemed vapid and childish and just not someone I enjoyed following.
For me the saving characters were Rosie and Tyler, both of whom I liked but felt we didn’t see enough of. Overall I Made Lattes for a Love God was just a hard book for me to get through and not something I would be quick to recommend.
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
I Made Lattes for a Love God by Wendy Harmer is a novel that in my opinion is best suited to the younger teenage girl who enjoys gossip, friendship and a whole lot of drama.
I Made Lattes for a Love God sees readers meet Eleanor "Elly" Pickering, a fifteen year old girl who discovers herself in the centre of a media frenzy when her mother lands a job looking after the promotional aspect of a Hollywood movie starring a popular "it" boy and they decide to shoot the film at Elly’s high school. Throw in a bunch of secrets and some paparazzi mayhem and Elly soon finds herself in the deep end without a paddle…..
Wendy Harmer is a well-known Australian comedian. I feel like I’ve grown up seeing her face on tv or hearing her voice on radio, so the chance to read a story by a home-grown talent was really exciting. But in all honesty, I Made Lattes for a Love God probably wasn’t the book for me. I persevered because I can be a stubborn thing and I felt as a review novel I had to finish it, but I didn’t enjoy the story all too much. Was I Made Lattes for a Love God a bad book? Not necessarily, no. It just wasn’t for me. If I’d read it maybe eight or so years ago I may have appreciated it a bit more, but for me at this point in my life, I really struggled.
Heading into I Made Lattes for a Love God I had no idea there was a previous novel called I Lost My Mobile At the Mall featuring Elly. When I realised about three chapters in, I was concerned, but found this didn’t really effect my ability to read and understand what was going on. If anything, I Made Lattes for a Love God is more a companion novel than a strict sequel.
Personally I found the main character Elly to be incredibly difficult to like. I’m not trying to toot my own horn or anything, but I was always mature for my age and as such can’t imagine acting the way Elly acts in this novel. She was immature and childish, and although there was growth in her, it wasn’t enough to redeem her in my eyes.
When a main character is difficult to like, it can really effect the rest of the novel and this was the case for me and I Made Lattes for a Love God. After a new chapters I found myself growing tired of Elly’s friendship and relationship dramas. Everything felt overly dramatic and unnecessary. From interactions with her sister to her reactions to her best friend’s involvement in the movie---I really struggled. Elly seemed vapid and childish and just not someone I enjoyed following.
For me the saving characters were Rosie and Tyler, both of whom I liked but felt we didn’t see enough of. Overall I Made Lattes for a Love God was just a hard book for me to get through and not something I would be quick to recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2015
This has got to be one of the cutest, lightest and funniest books I’ve read in a long time!
The characters were honestly extremely immature, but I didn’t care half the time because 1) I vaguely remember myself thinking like them back when I was their age and 2) the layers of drama cause by these girls weren’t annoying in the I’m-going-to-pull-out-my-hair-and-scream kind; it was just amusing. They acted like the teenage girls they are and what they did were understandable. It was also hilarious reading about all the girls screaming, gossiping and fangirling over their latest celebrity crush! It reminded me of all the Beliebers and…well…some One Direction fans at my high school. (And no, I wasn’t one of them) The high-pitched shrieking of excitement and doing everything possible to see their idol in person felt familiar, and I couldn’t help but grin and support Elly and her friend’s wishes!
I Made Lattes for a Love God is a relaxing read; a book you can devour in one sitting after a tiring day at work or after finishing copious amounts of homework. (I read this in between studying for my exams!) It’s an easy read, so don’t think too much when you read this, just enjoy it! J
The characters were honestly extremely immature, but I didn’t care half the time because 1) I vaguely remember myself thinking like them back when I was their age and 2) the layers of drama cause by these girls weren’t annoying in the I’m-going-to-pull-out-my-hair-and-scream kind; it was just amusing. They acted like the teenage girls they are and what they did were understandable. It was also hilarious reading about all the girls screaming, gossiping and fangirling over their latest celebrity crush! It reminded me of all the Beliebers and…well…some One Direction fans at my high school. (And no, I wasn’t one of them) The high-pitched shrieking of excitement and doing everything possible to see their idol in person felt familiar, and I couldn’t help but grin and support Elly and her friend’s wishes!
I Made Lattes for a Love God is a relaxing read; a book you can devour in one sitting after a tiring day at work or after finishing copious amounts of homework. (I read this in between studying for my exams!) It’s an easy read, so don’t think too much when you read this, just enjoy it! J
November 5, 2013
This book is so average.
You either love it or you hate it or you're like me and it just didn't phase you.
I wouldn't say the plot was predictable, but it wasn't mind-blowing.
The characters; shmeh.
The dialogue was occasionally witty.
Good things; it was a bright book. Bubbly, I do think the protagonist was a bit snobby and self-centered but hey, aren't they all?
*EHEM EXCEPT EHEM HAZEL LANCASTER EHEM*
It wasn't an absolute flop but it wasn't a masterpiece.
Would I recommend it? Eeeeeeeeeeeehhhhh........ Not really.
Tam. xx
You either love it or you hate it or you're like me and it just didn't phase you.
I wouldn't say the plot was predictable, but it wasn't mind-blowing.
The characters; shmeh.
The dialogue was occasionally witty.
Good things; it was a bright book. Bubbly, I do think the protagonist was a bit snobby and self-centered but hey, aren't they all?
*EHEM EXCEPT EHEM HAZEL LANCASTER EHEM*
It wasn't an absolute flop but it wasn't a masterpiece.
Would I recommend it? Eeeeeeeeeeeehhhhh........ Not really.
Tam. xx
October 12, 2012
Overall, I MADE LATTES FOR A LOVE GOD is not something I would recommend all too highly but if you enjoy stories that are not too serious and love books with a little bit of glitz and glamour in them, then this book would most definitely be your kind of read. Think L.A. Candy meets of Lola and the Boy Next Door-minus-the-epic-book-awesomeness.
Full review: http://talesoftheinnerbookfanatic.blo...
2.5 stars!
Full review: http://talesoftheinnerbookfanatic.blo...
2.5 stars!
January 1, 2013
I thought it was fantastic!! I love Wendy Harmers' creativity in characters and ability to create such theatrical events in such a reality. Definitely a must read for all teens during school holidays. I couldn't have turned the pages faster!
June 22, 2013
A really funny story that anyone from any age group would love. It is about this girl and all the problems she has to face when her favourite actor comes to their small Aussie town to do a major movie production. Full of laughing it is definitely one to read.
October 27, 2012
review to follow online at http://goodgabblebookreviews.blogspot...
February 17, 2013
Cute. Not amazing, but cute.
January 10, 2013
Worst read of the year so far. (Well, we're only ten days into 2013...). I got up to page 45 and got angry and gave up.
Rant Review to come.
September 1, 2015
one of the funniest books I have ever read...a super quick read full of big fat hilarious jokes ♥
July 11, 2016
This was a fabulous book. The ages 11- 14 would be a good age to read this book as it has mild themes.
Read
January 17, 2017I think this would have been more suited to young YA readers. I couldn't connect with the MC and I was frustrated by the abundance of exclamation marks. This was a DNF for me.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews