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Absolutely True Lies
A fledgling entertainment writer stumbles into the gig of a lifetime writing a teenage pop star's memoir and soon realizes that the young celebrity's squeaky-clean image is purely a work of fiction.
Struggling writer Holly Gracin is on the verge of moving back home to upstate New York when she gets hired to write the memoirs of eighteen-year-old Daisy Mae Dixson, a former Nickelodeon child star who has moved seamlessly into both blockbuster movies and pop music.
Holly quickly realizes that Daisy's wholesome public image is purely a work of fiction, as Holly finds herself trailing the star as she travels around the world on yachts, gets stalked by paparazzi, and sneaks out of five-star hotels in the dead of night.
As Holly struggles to write a flattering portrait of a teenage millionaire who only eats "nightshades" and treats her employees like slaves, Daisy has a public meltdown - and suddenly, her book is the cornerstone of resurrecting her image. But working at all hours trailing a pop star has taken its toll, and Holly must decide if becoming the ultimate insider is worth losing a starring role in her own life.
Fun, juicy, and inspired by Rachel Stuhler's own stranger-than-fiction experiences as a celebrity ghost writer, Absolutely True Lies is an entertaining look at how the lifestyles of the rich and famous aren't always what they seem.
Struggling writer Holly Gracin is on the verge of moving back home to upstate New York when she gets hired to write the memoirs of eighteen-year-old Daisy Mae Dixson, a former Nickelodeon child star who has moved seamlessly into both blockbuster movies and pop music.
Holly quickly realizes that Daisy's wholesome public image is purely a work of fiction, as Holly finds herself trailing the star as she travels around the world on yachts, gets stalked by paparazzi, and sneaks out of five-star hotels in the dead of night.
As Holly struggles to write a flattering portrait of a teenage millionaire who only eats "nightshades" and treats her employees like slaves, Daisy has a public meltdown - and suddenly, her book is the cornerstone of resurrecting her image. But working at all hours trailing a pop star has taken its toll, and Holly must decide if becoming the ultimate insider is worth losing a starring role in her own life.
Fun, juicy, and inspired by Rachel Stuhler's own stranger-than-fiction experiences as a celebrity ghost writer, Absolutely True Lies is an entertaining look at how the lifestyles of the rich and famous aren't always what they seem.
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2015
About the author
Rachel Stuhler
6 books29 followersRachel Stuhler grew up in Rochester, NY, so obsessed with movies and books that she spent as little time as possible in the real world. In her late teens, this obsession led her first to New York as a terrible production assistant and then to Los Angeles, where she spent four years working as a script supervisor (and pining after writing jobs) until one day an actor told her, “If you think you can do it better yourself, just do it.”
Within a year, Rachel had sold TV movies to Lifetime and Hallmark and because she doesn’t know when to quit, began dreaming of writing a novel. After forcing countless crew members, family, and friends to read manuscripts, Rachel came to write Absolutely True Lies. She continues to work on TV movies and plot her next move in world domination, or reading about world domination, which is more fun and a lot less work.
Within a year, Rachel had sold TV movies to Lifetime and Hallmark and because she doesn’t know when to quit, began dreaming of writing a novel. After forcing countless crew members, family, and friends to read manuscripts, Rachel came to write Absolutely True Lies. She continues to work on TV movies and plot her next move in world domination, or reading about world domination, which is more fun and a lot less work.
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May 16, 2015
Read on the WondrousBooks blog.
To be honest, I have very mixed feelings about this book. There were many things I liked about it, but there were also many things that I didn't or didn't want to.
Judging by the cover, I thought Absolutely True Lies was going to be a romance/chick-lit. I don't think it's either of those things. Yes, there are elements of both, but that's not all there is to this book. On the contrary, despite its sugary look, I found this book somewhat thought-provoking, it's clearly so if you but look under the events and think about their actual meaning.
Absolutely True Lies tells the story of a failed journalist who is hired to ghost-write the autobiography of a teen starlet, only to realize that the glamorous life is not at all what it seems to be from the outside.
As far as I see it, this entire novel is comprised of three different stories/levels: 1. Holly as a person, 2. Holly's love life, 3. Daisy's personality and lifestyle.
1. Holly is a somewhat funny narrator, even though most of the humor comes from her lack of luck, skills and the unfortunate events which happen to her. At times she is quite sarcastic and at others she is whiny and harder to like. Overall, I think Holly is a very ambiguous character. The author certainly wants to make you like her and feel like she's just another normal person, someone you can identify with. She is certainly not a character knowingly written as sometimes hard to like. I can see why people can find her funny and even charming as a person, but I want to shed light on some of the reasons because of which I had problems liking her.
- She is highly self pitying. She moans and cries about how hard and bad her life is and how bad everyone is treating her. But it's actually she who acts strange and makes it hard for people to want to help her. She goes on and on about what she doesn't like about herself and about her life, but does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, I mean NOTHING, to change it. She lets everyone walk all over her and doesn't say a word, only to curse them and cry about it to her friends later.
- She is such a lazy slob it's sometimes revolting. The character actually revels in explaining how filthy she is, how long it has been since she last took a shower, how many days it has taken since she hasn't been out of bed, not to mention the argument she has with her boyfriend in which he tells her not to leave her dirty clothes all over his apartment and she is so proud of herself for proving that she doesn't care that her clothes from three days ago are crumpled in a corner in his apartment. She also goes on and on about how she wants to loose a couple of pounds and yet she keeps on eating enough to feed the entire population of China.
Also she does her job so sloppily, she explains how she hasn't done a thing more than what has been required of her for her job, she has constantly declined job opportunities, only to later moan about how poor she is, and when she is hired to write Daisy's book, all she does is think about guys and walk around telling everyone who'd listen about how she's been cheated out of her salary, when she has done nothing to deserve it. She is a total underachiever and that's obvious by the fact that the only success she has in her career is mostly due to chance and luck. As she puts it very clearly herself, she lives in an arrested development and even has the nerve to complain about it, despite it being her own doing.
2. Holly's love life. Despite everything I said above, there were moments when I liked Holly as a person, as I already said. But from the way the other characters, as well as she herself, describe her, she is supposed to be quite unattractive. Yet she seems like quite the guy-magnet. I don't see how it's possible for two wildly attractive and successful men to fall for a woman who everyone describes as overweight, badly dressed and unkempt, but if you say it's possible... I'm not a fan of eugenics or something like that, but I do think that people should take care of their appearance, if not for the world, at least so that they themselves feel a bit better.
Also, to mention the fact that the two main males, Vaughn and Ben, were somewhat interchangeable, even though they are supposedly very different from one another. They sort of treated her similarly, accept for the end, and they were acting somewhat similarly, despite Holly trying to prove that that's not true.
3. Daisy. In Daisy's entire story I saw many things that are wrong about our society. I really don't want to think that the celebrities everyone is looking up to are these damaged junkie narcissists, but that's probably exactly what they are. But it's not just their personalities that make me question the values of our world, it's the way they manipulate the opinion of people and also just how easy it is for society to be manipulated. Just how easy it is for people to love and hate and obsess with a person they don't know and to change their opinion about that person. I fear that we are puppets to celebrities and their plots to win more fame and money as much as we are puppets to governments and politicians. And this "ruling class" of rich assholes uses us like a herd of sheep to make themselves feel better, to start feuds with other celebrities, get richer and destroy other people's lives. Imagine what dull and naive creatures we are if we allow ourselves to be influenced by the likes of the Kardashians, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and that whole lot, to waste our money on magazines, bags, pens and whatever they sell with their faces on it, to use our precious lives to stalk them on the internet, to follow them on social media, to discuss their fake lives and to keep them rich and famous.
And here are some of the Daisy's of our world, you know - the ruined ones.
Fame, people. Everybody wants it, do you?
To be honest, I have very mixed feelings about this book. There were many things I liked about it, but there were also many things that I didn't or didn't want to.
Judging by the cover, I thought Absolutely True Lies was going to be a romance/chick-lit. I don't think it's either of those things. Yes, there are elements of both, but that's not all there is to this book. On the contrary, despite its sugary look, I found this book somewhat thought-provoking, it's clearly so if you but look under the events and think about their actual meaning.
Absolutely True Lies tells the story of a failed journalist who is hired to ghost-write the autobiography of a teen starlet, only to realize that the glamorous life is not at all what it seems to be from the outside.
As far as I see it, this entire novel is comprised of three different stories/levels: 1. Holly as a person, 2. Holly's love life, 3. Daisy's personality and lifestyle.
1. Holly is a somewhat funny narrator, even though most of the humor comes from her lack of luck, skills and the unfortunate events which happen to her. At times she is quite sarcastic and at others she is whiny and harder to like. Overall, I think Holly is a very ambiguous character. The author certainly wants to make you like her and feel like she's just another normal person, someone you can identify with. She is certainly not a character knowingly written as sometimes hard to like. I can see why people can find her funny and even charming as a person, but I want to shed light on some of the reasons because of which I had problems liking her.
- She is highly self pitying. She moans and cries about how hard and bad her life is and how bad everyone is treating her. But it's actually she who acts strange and makes it hard for people to want to help her. She goes on and on about what she doesn't like about herself and about her life, but does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, I mean NOTHING, to change it. She lets everyone walk all over her and doesn't say a word, only to curse them and cry about it to her friends later.
- She is such a lazy slob it's sometimes revolting. The character actually revels in explaining how filthy she is, how long it has been since she last took a shower, how many days it has taken since she hasn't been out of bed, not to mention the argument she has with her boyfriend in which he tells her not to leave her dirty clothes all over his apartment and she is so proud of herself for proving that she doesn't care that her clothes from three days ago are crumpled in a corner in his apartment. She also goes on and on about how she wants to loose a couple of pounds and yet she keeps on eating enough to feed the entire population of China.
Also she does her job so sloppily, she explains how she hasn't done a thing more than what has been required of her for her job, she has constantly declined job opportunities, only to later moan about how poor she is, and when she is hired to write Daisy's book, all she does is think about guys and walk around telling everyone who'd listen about how she's been cheated out of her salary, when she has done nothing to deserve it. She is a total underachiever and that's obvious by the fact that the only success she has in her career is mostly due to chance and luck. As she puts it very clearly herself, she lives in an arrested development and even has the nerve to complain about it, despite it being her own doing.
"I was twenty-five years old and I didn't own an iron or a fork. I was living in some state of arrested development, and only when everything started to shift under my feet did I finally see my life for what it was. It was depressing as hell."
2. Holly's love life. Despite everything I said above, there were moments when I liked Holly as a person, as I already said. But from the way the other characters, as well as she herself, describe her, she is supposed to be quite unattractive. Yet she seems like quite the guy-magnet. I don't see how it's possible for two wildly attractive and successful men to fall for a woman who everyone describes as overweight, badly dressed and unkempt, but if you say it's possible... I'm not a fan of eugenics or something like that, but I do think that people should take care of their appearance, if not for the world, at least so that they themselves feel a bit better.
Also, to mention the fact that the two main males, Vaughn and Ben, were somewhat interchangeable, even though they are supposedly very different from one another. They sort of treated her similarly, accept for the end, and they were acting somewhat similarly, despite Holly trying to prove that that's not true.
3. Daisy. In Daisy's entire story I saw many things that are wrong about our society. I really don't want to think that the celebrities everyone is looking up to are these damaged junkie narcissists, but that's probably exactly what they are. But it's not just their personalities that make me question the values of our world, it's the way they manipulate the opinion of people and also just how easy it is for society to be manipulated. Just how easy it is for people to love and hate and obsess with a person they don't know and to change their opinion about that person. I fear that we are puppets to celebrities and their plots to win more fame and money as much as we are puppets to governments and politicians. And this "ruling class" of rich assholes uses us like a herd of sheep to make themselves feel better, to start feuds with other celebrities, get richer and destroy other people's lives. Imagine what dull and naive creatures we are if we allow ourselves to be influenced by the likes of the Kardashians, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and that whole lot, to waste our money on magazines, bags, pens and whatever they sell with their faces on it, to use our precious lives to stalk them on the internet, to follow them on social media, to discuss their fake lives and to keep them rich and famous.
And here are some of the Daisy's of our world, you know - the ruined ones.
Fame, people. Everybody wants it, do you?
June 3, 2015
This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog Review
I'll admit it. I read trashy celeb magazines. I complain that I can't get away from the Kardashians (they are seriously everywhere). I listen EW Radio. Pretty much I have this love/hate relationship with celebrity gossip (and also myself for kind of loving all that trash). So how how the hell does any of this information relate to Absolutely True Lies??? Well, its what drew me to the book.
We get to see Holly, struggling writer, living in LA get the gig of a lifetime - ghost writing the autobiography for teen sensation Daisy Mae Dixon. Holly finds out the behind the scenes of the Hollywood life can be glamorous but also harsh and unfair. She sees Daisy being treated like 3 year old by her manager, notices her father is never around, takes the brunt of some demeaning comments from Daisy and her staff, deals with less than ideal working circumstances and has to work through the star's major meltdown. With all of this going on and nothing but vapid tidbits from Daisy Holly wonders if she will ever be able to write a real autobiography. While all this is going on we do get treated to some romance for Holly.
Holly was relatable. She was insecure but not ridiculously so. She is struggling not just with her career but her life. She has a really great friend in Camille, who I loved because she was honest and all about the tough love. She doesn't put up with Holly's pity me, my life sucks attitude and tells her to suck it up and go get what you want. But as I found out, in LA when you have LA friends in the biz you don't get to see them all that often because they are are on set and doing shoots and what not. Therefore Holly has way too much free time (and not enough Camille in my opinion). And a cat. You can see the beginnings of Crazy Cat Lady forming. Fortunately, once she starts her new job she does start down a path of growth and self realization, especially pertaining to her worth as a writer and a person. But it takes a realistic path and isn't overnight.
Daisy is the Nick Jr. star de jour. And what nobody knows is she is a hot mess. Like think of every type of teen star downfall and she probably suffered from it. And she was kind of mean. I totally cringed at some of the stuff that came out of her mouth, especially when it was directed to her staff and Holly. I will say I think Holly handled herself very well given the situation.
Then there was the romance, which was kind of sort of a love triangle. But not in an obnoxious way, I swear. She meets both guys, Vaughn and Ben on her job with Daisy. Neither is insta-lovey (praise the lord). She knows she has chemistry with both but isn't sure if either is even and option or possibility. One seems to be very non committal. The other too good to be true. I liked her interactions with both because Holly is fun, funny and a little quirky an she was very herself with both.
Overall, I really like how the book flowed. Once I got a little ways in, I flew through it. I thought the whole concept, ghostwriting and following around a starlet, was interesting and fun. The ending was really fulfilling for me. I was happy for Holly. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend especially for a summer read.
For more reviews visit Rebel Mommy Book Blog
I'll admit it. I read trashy celeb magazines. I complain that I can't get away from the Kardashians (they are seriously everywhere). I listen EW Radio. Pretty much I have this love/hate relationship with celebrity gossip (and also myself for kind of loving all that trash). So how how the hell does any of this information relate to Absolutely True Lies??? Well, its what drew me to the book.
We get to see Holly, struggling writer, living in LA get the gig of a lifetime - ghost writing the autobiography for teen sensation Daisy Mae Dixon. Holly finds out the behind the scenes of the Hollywood life can be glamorous but also harsh and unfair. She sees Daisy being treated like 3 year old by her manager, notices her father is never around, takes the brunt of some demeaning comments from Daisy and her staff, deals with less than ideal working circumstances and has to work through the star's major meltdown. With all of this going on and nothing but vapid tidbits from Daisy Holly wonders if she will ever be able to write a real autobiography. While all this is going on we do get treated to some romance for Holly.
Holly was relatable. She was insecure but not ridiculously so. She is struggling not just with her career but her life. She has a really great friend in Camille, who I loved because she was honest and all about the tough love. She doesn't put up with Holly's pity me, my life sucks attitude and tells her to suck it up and go get what you want. But as I found out, in LA when you have LA friends in the biz you don't get to see them all that often because they are are on set and doing shoots and what not. Therefore Holly has way too much free time (and not enough Camille in my opinion). And a cat. You can see the beginnings of Crazy Cat Lady forming. Fortunately, once she starts her new job she does start down a path of growth and self realization, especially pertaining to her worth as a writer and a person. But it takes a realistic path and isn't overnight.
Daisy is the Nick Jr. star de jour. And what nobody knows is she is a hot mess. Like think of every type of teen star downfall and she probably suffered from it. And she was kind of mean. I totally cringed at some of the stuff that came out of her mouth, especially when it was directed to her staff and Holly. I will say I think Holly handled herself very well given the situation.
Then there was the romance, which was kind of sort of a love triangle. But not in an obnoxious way, I swear. She meets both guys, Vaughn and Ben on her job with Daisy. Neither is insta-lovey (praise the lord). She knows she has chemistry with both but isn't sure if either is even and option or possibility. One seems to be very non committal. The other too good to be true. I liked her interactions with both because Holly is fun, funny and a little quirky an she was very herself with both.
Overall, I really like how the book flowed. Once I got a little ways in, I flew through it. I thought the whole concept, ghostwriting and following around a starlet, was interesting and fun. The ending was really fulfilling for me. I was happy for Holly. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend especially for a summer read.
For more reviews visit Rebel Mommy Book Blog
May 24, 2015
When I saw Absolutely True Lies on Netgalley, I knew this was a book I was going to enjoy. I love books about celebrities – don’t we all, though? There’s something about getting a glimpse into their Hollyweird world that is just so compelling. Especially when the celebrity in question is a young starlet. They have the most interesting lives, and the most crazy, power-obsessed parents. Such is the case with Absolutely True Lies when young writer Holly Gracin ends up tasked with the job of writing Daisy Mae Dixson’s memoirs, all before her birthday.
What I love more than books about celebrities is books about books, and writers, and especially ghost writers. It’s such a taboo subject – the Internet was in uproar when it was revealed Zoella had a ghostwriter (and I was in uproar, too, because I dimly thought she wrote it herself; but I got over it). We clearly expect out celebrities to write their own bloody books!
Absolutely True Lies was a riot of a read. It was just bonkers at times, as well. Holly is very much thrown into the deep end with regards to ghostwriting a book, and just being thrown into the Hollyweird world; a world where 17-year-old’s run the world, and manager’s hang up the phone before actually telling you where the hell to go. It’s just like nothing you’d expect from “normal” people, ya know? And that’s what made it so entertaining as Holly tried to navigate this weird and new world.
It was exactly the type of read I needed. And it had the added bonus of a very nice romance, at first I was all team Vaughn but he was kind of a douche, which is always disappointing, then Ben stole my heart. And all the while Holly was still trying to write Daisy’s memoirs – falling in love, in lust; travelling to Rome, to Miami, it was a whirlwind book, and I just never knew where Holly was going to end up next. It was such a fantastic, entertaining read. I didn’t want it to end, and I quite liked that there was a hint at the end, of a sequel. Pretty please, Rachel? I have no had my fill of Holly Garcin. I loved her so much!
What I love more than books about celebrities is books about books, and writers, and especially ghost writers. It’s such a taboo subject – the Internet was in uproar when it was revealed Zoella had a ghostwriter (and I was in uproar, too, because I dimly thought she wrote it herself; but I got over it). We clearly expect out celebrities to write their own bloody books!
Absolutely True Lies was a riot of a read. It was just bonkers at times, as well. Holly is very much thrown into the deep end with regards to ghostwriting a book, and just being thrown into the Hollyweird world; a world where 17-year-old’s run the world, and manager’s hang up the phone before actually telling you where the hell to go. It’s just like nothing you’d expect from “normal” people, ya know? And that’s what made it so entertaining as Holly tried to navigate this weird and new world.
It was exactly the type of read I needed. And it had the added bonus of a very nice romance, at first I was all team Vaughn but he was kind of a douche, which is always disappointing, then Ben stole my heart. And all the while Holly was still trying to write Daisy’s memoirs – falling in love, in lust; travelling to Rome, to Miami, it was a whirlwind book, and I just never knew where Holly was going to end up next. It was such a fantastic, entertaining read. I didn’t want it to end, and I quite liked that there was a hint at the end, of a sequel. Pretty please, Rachel? I have no had my fill of Holly Garcin. I loved her so much!
May 28, 2015
This review can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
I couldn’t wait to start this one once I was accepted the copy! Not only would it contribute to my 2015 reading challenge but it was also an author who had been a ghostwriter writing about someone who ends up being a ghostwriter. How cool is that? It’s not a job I have ever considered but if I am wanting to be a writer it is always interesting to think about other jobs which could involve just that as well – writing.
I thought this one also had an interesting portrayal of celebrity life. Holly is thrust into the world of glamour almost without asking because all she wants is a job which can make sure she gets the rent paid by the end of the month and enough for her to survive off of as well. I don’t know how accurate the idea of celebrity life in this one was, and how much Stuhler based this off of her own experiences, but it did seem like it could be very realistic. It seems so glamorous, but in reality there were cracks in the vision as well. It seemed like if you weren’t popular enough, then you could easily be left behind. And it never really mattered what was wrong with Daisy the main character mentally or physically – she was almost like a puppet sometimes. If she did enough for everyone to get their paycheck then they were happy enough. I felt like few people actually cared about her.
As well as that, the amount of money they earned for doing little things was astounding O.o Once again, I am not sure how realistic that was but I would believe it, and it was pretty shocking. I can’t imagine people having to do so little to get so much money! They really did throw it around unknowingly.
But as always, everything comes at a price. There were quite a few characters in this book and finding out who could really be trusted seemed to be a running theme here. People you could’ve sworn were good and genuine ended up not being so. It was hard to see who was there for the money and who was there for Daisy. Sometimes the people who weren’t really there to support her made me feel irrevocably sad. She deserved better than that :(
Holly was a nice character. She was just a small town person trying to get by. When she enters into the celeb life, no matter how badly she gets treated and by who she always tries to get back on her feet again. And all through the novel, no matter what Daisy might do you can see that she is someone who is actually there for her. I have to admire that quality about that. She does seem to moan quite a bit, but that is only within context because I would be grumpy if the people I was working for always seemed to be jetting off without telling her. So I was able to accept that.
I liked reading about all the characters. They all seemed very realistic. Daisy most of all, and she was the one we were able to see the most about. Faith, her mother was also quite important in the story as well. Jamieson always seemed a bit cruel and like he was using the family for their money. I don’t wait to dive too much into the characters in fear of giving away who was there for what reason.
There was a love triangle in this one. First of all Holly meets Vaughn, one of the geeky producers who is kind to her. And a while into the story she meets Ben, a very good looking furnisher for the set. I felt like the love triangle was a bit predictable in my opinion. Once again, this one was largely based on trust. She was trying to find out who would be there for her the most when it came to the point when she would really need it.
Overall, a nice, very well written book. I’m not sure what the ‘more’ was that I was looking for, but I did feel like something was holding it back from being four stars. It was interesting to learn about the ghost writing experience though.
I couldn’t wait to start this one once I was accepted the copy! Not only would it contribute to my 2015 reading challenge but it was also an author who had been a ghostwriter writing about someone who ends up being a ghostwriter. How cool is that? It’s not a job I have ever considered but if I am wanting to be a writer it is always interesting to think about other jobs which could involve just that as well – writing.
I thought this one also had an interesting portrayal of celebrity life. Holly is thrust into the world of glamour almost without asking because all she wants is a job which can make sure she gets the rent paid by the end of the month and enough for her to survive off of as well. I don’t know how accurate the idea of celebrity life in this one was, and how much Stuhler based this off of her own experiences, but it did seem like it could be very realistic. It seems so glamorous, but in reality there were cracks in the vision as well. It seemed like if you weren’t popular enough, then you could easily be left behind. And it never really mattered what was wrong with Daisy the main character mentally or physically – she was almost like a puppet sometimes. If she did enough for everyone to get their paycheck then they were happy enough. I felt like few people actually cared about her.
As well as that, the amount of money they earned for doing little things was astounding O.o Once again, I am not sure how realistic that was but I would believe it, and it was pretty shocking. I can’t imagine people having to do so little to get so much money! They really did throw it around unknowingly.
But as always, everything comes at a price. There were quite a few characters in this book and finding out who could really be trusted seemed to be a running theme here. People you could’ve sworn were good and genuine ended up not being so. It was hard to see who was there for the money and who was there for Daisy. Sometimes the people who weren’t really there to support her made me feel irrevocably sad. She deserved better than that :(
Holly was a nice character. She was just a small town person trying to get by. When she enters into the celeb life, no matter how badly she gets treated and by who she always tries to get back on her feet again. And all through the novel, no matter what Daisy might do you can see that she is someone who is actually there for her. I have to admire that quality about that. She does seem to moan quite a bit, but that is only within context because I would be grumpy if the people I was working for always seemed to be jetting off without telling her. So I was able to accept that.
I liked reading about all the characters. They all seemed very realistic. Daisy most of all, and she was the one we were able to see the most about. Faith, her mother was also quite important in the story as well. Jamieson always seemed a bit cruel and like he was using the family for their money. I don’t wait to dive too much into the characters in fear of giving away who was there for what reason.
There was a love triangle in this one. First of all Holly meets Vaughn, one of the geeky producers who is kind to her. And a while into the story she meets Ben, a very good looking furnisher for the set. I felt like the love triangle was a bit predictable in my opinion. Once again, this one was largely based on trust. She was trying to find out who would be there for her the most when it came to the point when she would really need it.
Overall, a nice, very well written book. I’m not sure what the ‘more’ was that I was looking for, but I did feel like something was holding it back from being four stars. It was interesting to learn about the ghost writing experience though.
February 9, 2016
3.5 stars. When a Goodreads friend recommended this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. I've been reading and reviewing more speculative fiction for the website that I blog for, so I'm usually knee deep in aliens, dragons, and some times some amalgam of the two. It's been a while since I sat down with a light fluffy, contemporary book and just enjoyed it for what it was worth. Admittedly, I love my speculative fiction, but I've missed reading contemporary fiction. So, when I saw this was available for grabs through NetGalley and I'd added to my TBR pile, I requested it.
We follow a fledgling entertainment reporter, Holly Gracin, who after finding herself out of work takes on the job of ghostwriting the autobiography of one of the world's biggest teen stars, Daisy Mae Dixson, a girl who kind of makes me think of Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears back during the height of their stardom.
In the beginning, Daisy Mae presents herself as a good Christian country girl, but Holly soon learns better as she gets caught up in the whirlwind of Daisy's real life. I don't regret one minute of reading this book. It was a light, fast read. Very engaging, cute, and humorous. Despite how ranty I can come off, I'm a sucker for romance and cute books, okay. This definitely fit that for me. I found Holly very likable, and even I liked the hint of romance that started budding between her and Vaughn AT FIRST, which brings me to my next point.
Two things that bothered me about this book was how the romance turned into a love triangle. Holly was presented with this really cool dude who's geeky like she is and they share so much in common. Then, out of nowhere we get Ben, who's so devastatingly handsome and perfect and humble and likes Holly and has noticed her ALL THIS TIME (but somehow she didn't notice him, go figure, even though he's like all kinds of cute and looks nothing like the rest of the guys she's been around on the set) and can do like a million things and showing her a good time and slightly warning her that Vaughn isn't as great as he seems.
Suddenly, we start getting gross monster Vaughn being all snooty, jealous, and peculiar, and I'm like, "This is crazy." The book is nearly over and suddenly we get this love triangle, but I liked Ben in the end, too. I still thought it was awesome how things were going with Vaughn before he became the devil, but eh...
Secondly, I didn't really care for the ending as a whole. It left me so deflated. All this drama, all this craziness, all this mess for some contrived reasoning that probably could've been handled better with lawyers than Daisy Mae going full renegade in the book. Yet, I still mostly liked this book. It made a fun, great summer read.
We follow a fledgling entertainment reporter, Holly Gracin, who after finding herself out of work takes on the job of ghostwriting the autobiography of one of the world's biggest teen stars, Daisy Mae Dixson, a girl who kind of makes me think of Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears back during the height of their stardom.
In the beginning, Daisy Mae presents herself as a good Christian country girl, but Holly soon learns better as she gets caught up in the whirlwind of Daisy's real life. I don't regret one minute of reading this book. It was a light, fast read. Very engaging, cute, and humorous. Despite how ranty I can come off, I'm a sucker for romance and cute books, okay. This definitely fit that for me. I found Holly very likable, and even I liked the hint of romance that started budding between her and Vaughn AT FIRST, which brings me to my next point.
Two things that bothered me about this book was how the romance turned into a love triangle. Holly was presented with this really cool dude who's geeky like she is and they share so much in common. Then, out of nowhere we get Ben, who's so devastatingly handsome and perfect and humble and likes Holly and has noticed her ALL THIS TIME (but somehow she didn't notice him, go figure, even though he's like all kinds of cute and looks nothing like the rest of the guys she's been around on the set) and can do like a million things and showing her a good time and slightly warning her that Vaughn isn't as great as he seems.
Suddenly, we start getting gross monster Vaughn being all snooty, jealous, and peculiar, and I'm like, "This is crazy." The book is nearly over and suddenly we get this love triangle, but I liked Ben in the end, too. I still thought it was awesome how things were going with Vaughn before he became the devil, but eh...
Secondly, I didn't really care for the ending as a whole. It left me so deflated. All this drama, all this craziness, all this mess for some contrived reasoning that probably could've been handled better with lawyers than Daisy Mae going full renegade in the book. Yet, I still mostly liked this book. It made a fun, great summer read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2017
Wow, what a surprise. Absolutely True Lies isn't what I expected in the least. I thought I would be getting some light, fluffy chic-lit read, and while yes it was a bit like that, it was also full of wit and glamour. I feel like we've gotten a front row seat behind the scenes of what Hollywood truly is; it's messy and not at all as glamorous as they want us to believe. So why should you read this book? Well because it's about Hollywood for one! Plus no character is what they seem. For me as the reader, I couldn't tell who I was to trust and who not to trust. One moment you'd be like okay I can see myself liking this particular character and then bam! They do something to clout your judgment. It was like that throughout the novel. Just a fair warning.
The story follows Holly, a writer down on her luck when the magazine she writes for shuts down. With barely any money to her name, Holly finally finds a lucky break when her uncle gives her name to the agent of Americas sweetheart, Daisy Mae Dixson. Daisy Mae is the girl every girl wants to be, who every boy wants, and has her own hit TV show on Nickelodeon. She has the reputation of saving herself until marriage...she has the purity ring to prove it! Her family life is great, the girl has the world in the palm of her hand. Yes, her life is seemingly perfect. Except for one minor thing: IT'S NOT PERFECT ALL. Holly is about to find out first hand that nothing and no one is what they seem. Oh yeah, Holly is supposed to write Daisy's autobiography!
When I first started reading this, I thought okay, here's another Hollywood centered book. One that will probably be about a nobody girl who just so happens to "fall" into fame. There she'll meet the big wigs and possibly fall in love with an actor. Maybe her new best friend will be like the Taylor Swift of the novel. I could go on and on. I love Hollywood books, okay so I may be obsessed with them. But one thing I absolutely love, is that they're predictable. Absolutely True Lies isn't predictable at all! I'm so glad that I was able to see Hollywood in what I believe is pretty realistic. I'm sure as somebody famous, you can't trust anyone. You can't go anywhere with the paparazzi following your every move. It would be so tiring! I can't say I have dreamed about being rich and famous but at the end of the day, I like my anonymity.
Holly thinks she doesn't like anonymity until the world finally sits up and takes notice. Of course the only reason they follow her is because they want something from her. Plus, she part of Daisy's entourage, so it would only make sense that they want the dirt! And believe me, Holly has a bunch! Juicy details that would ruin little miss perfect's career. I'm getting off track here, the book isn't really about getting information and selling it to the highest bidder. Holly is trying to tell the life story of Daisy, but Daisy and her camp have made it very difficult indeed.
My anxiety was up a lot throughout the book. Especially anytime Holly and money came into the picture. Holly isn't exactly the richest person and she depends on the money she's making from writing the book. But there are dishonest and greedy people out there, so there are times that I have no idea how Holly is going to make it. The girl is tough though, and I immensely enjoyed reading her story.
Overall, if you're up for some fun, I suggest this book. While there is romance, it was more on the back burner. I still think anyone will appreciate it though! I definitely look forward to more books from the author. And on a side note, the main character was a little too judgy for my liking but she makes up for it in the end which I liked. It's always nice to see character growth and in this case, it was an A plus.
*Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a review copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The story follows Holly, a writer down on her luck when the magazine she writes for shuts down. With barely any money to her name, Holly finally finds a lucky break when her uncle gives her name to the agent of Americas sweetheart, Daisy Mae Dixson. Daisy Mae is the girl every girl wants to be, who every boy wants, and has her own hit TV show on Nickelodeon. She has the reputation of saving herself until marriage...she has the purity ring to prove it! Her family life is great, the girl has the world in the palm of her hand. Yes, her life is seemingly perfect. Except for one minor thing: IT'S NOT PERFECT ALL. Holly is about to find out first hand that nothing and no one is what they seem. Oh yeah, Holly is supposed to write Daisy's autobiography!
When I first started reading this, I thought okay, here's another Hollywood centered book. One that will probably be about a nobody girl who just so happens to "fall" into fame. There she'll meet the big wigs and possibly fall in love with an actor. Maybe her new best friend will be like the Taylor Swift of the novel. I could go on and on. I love Hollywood books, okay so I may be obsessed with them. But one thing I absolutely love, is that they're predictable. Absolutely True Lies isn't predictable at all! I'm so glad that I was able to see Hollywood in what I believe is pretty realistic. I'm sure as somebody famous, you can't trust anyone. You can't go anywhere with the paparazzi following your every move. It would be so tiring! I can't say I have dreamed about being rich and famous but at the end of the day, I like my anonymity.
Holly thinks she doesn't like anonymity until the world finally sits up and takes notice. Of course the only reason they follow her is because they want something from her. Plus, she part of Daisy's entourage, so it would only make sense that they want the dirt! And believe me, Holly has a bunch! Juicy details that would ruin little miss perfect's career. I'm getting off track here, the book isn't really about getting information and selling it to the highest bidder. Holly is trying to tell the life story of Daisy, but Daisy and her camp have made it very difficult indeed.
My anxiety was up a lot throughout the book. Especially anytime Holly and money came into the picture. Holly isn't exactly the richest person and she depends on the money she's making from writing the book. But there are dishonest and greedy people out there, so there are times that I have no idea how Holly is going to make it. The girl is tough though, and I immensely enjoyed reading her story.
Overall, if you're up for some fun, I suggest this book. While there is romance, it was more on the back burner. I still think anyone will appreciate it though! I definitely look forward to more books from the author. And on a side note, the main character was a little too judgy for my liking but she makes up for it in the end which I liked. It's always nice to see character growth and in this case, it was an A plus.
*Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a review copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 26, 2015
Oh, so this is what Hollywood looked and felt like… It felt so weird…
When Holly is commissioned to write the autobiography of a young talented teen sensation, she thinks this would end the drought that plagues her career as a writer/entertainment reporter. But lo and behold! Things aren’t’ really the same, not exactly the same way she has envisioned it. Daisy Mae Dixson is a girl full of drama, animosity, angst and lies.. In front of the camera, Daisy is as sweet as honey, but behind the lens, she’s a very meased up junkie. Add her manager and mother to the mix, she’s the evil witch incarnate.
Holly, for the lack of better judgment, was naive and guileless when it came to being a celebrity or being close to one. Her awkwardness with her new job, combined with her “trying hard to impress” attitude resulted to a lot of mishaps, miscommunications, misunderstandings and mayhem. Her lack of love life however, went into overdrive, when she met Ben and Vaughn. Two opposite poles, one seemed almost too good to be true, and the other was “what-you-see-is-what-you-get”.
I enjoyed reading this book, primarily because it showed me what life is behind the scenes. Daisy Mae Dixon reminded me a lot of Lindsey Lohan and Miley Cyrus. Absolutely True Lies showed the darker side of showbizness. While this book does not generalize Hollywood, it helped show how celebs behave in their own home, how they treat their family, how they deal with paparazzi and how to take matters into their own dirty hands. Being a ghostwriter is also a hot topic these days, so Holly Gracin really interested me. She may just have gotten the best job in the world, and what she learned about her subjects were worth tenfold.
Secrets, deceits, betrayals, lies. Regardless of the negativity that these factors bring, this book made sure I was entertained, educated and engaged. Thumbs up to Rachel Stuhler for a job superbly done! She’s got the skills and talent every Holly Gracin is dreaming about.
NOTE: I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Holly is commissioned to write the autobiography of a young talented teen sensation, she thinks this would end the drought that plagues her career as a writer/entertainment reporter. But lo and behold! Things aren’t’ really the same, not exactly the same way she has envisioned it. Daisy Mae Dixson is a girl full of drama, animosity, angst and lies.. In front of the camera, Daisy is as sweet as honey, but behind the lens, she’s a very meased up junkie. Add her manager and mother to the mix, she’s the evil witch incarnate.
Holly, for the lack of better judgment, was naive and guileless when it came to being a celebrity or being close to one. Her awkwardness with her new job, combined with her “trying hard to impress” attitude resulted to a lot of mishaps, miscommunications, misunderstandings and mayhem. Her lack of love life however, went into overdrive, when she met Ben and Vaughn. Two opposite poles, one seemed almost too good to be true, and the other was “what-you-see-is-what-you-get”.
I enjoyed reading this book, primarily because it showed me what life is behind the scenes. Daisy Mae Dixon reminded me a lot of Lindsey Lohan and Miley Cyrus. Absolutely True Lies showed the darker side of showbizness. While this book does not generalize Hollywood, it helped show how celebs behave in their own home, how they treat their family, how they deal with paparazzi and how to take matters into their own dirty hands. Being a ghostwriter is also a hot topic these days, so Holly Gracin really interested me. She may just have gotten the best job in the world, and what she learned about her subjects were worth tenfold.
Secrets, deceits, betrayals, lies. Regardless of the negativity that these factors bring, this book made sure I was entertained, educated and engaged. Thumbs up to Rachel Stuhler for a job superbly done! She’s got the skills and talent every Holly Gracin is dreaming about.
NOTE: I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2015
Oh my God! This book was fantastic! I literally read it in 24 hours and the times I had to put it down to deal with life all I could think about was this book. I really loved Holly, even though her stubbornness and immaturity annoyed me. I wanted her to speak up and say what she meant and mean what she said and the book was really her journey to do that.
The characters were so complex! For these Hollywood types who aren't very deep there was finally some insight into their sociopathic ways. I was addicted and I wasn't sure Holly was going to get out unscathed (though she was very dramatic about it herself).
My favorite thing about this book? The twists. Seriously. I just can't. It was jaw dropping amazing and closed the book begging that it wasn't over! Did I just get a book hangover for a book not solely based on romance? Shocking!
This has opened my horizons to how much I really can love a Contemporary. Women's fiction always has its connections to me but I find a lot of the stories stereotypical and in some ways anti feminist (I have to search for a great one!). This book was perfect for strong women and made me proud. I can't say anything but I loved this book!
I gave this book 5 stars because I'm still stuck on it. I want more, not for closure just because I enjoyed the journey tremendously. I recommend this book to YA lovers and New Adult lovers because there are definitely lessons to be learned.
Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler. Touchstone (May 26, 2015). 352 pages. Fiction: New Adult/Contemporary. I received a copy of this book from the publishing company. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book!
The characters were so complex! For these Hollywood types who aren't very deep there was finally some insight into their sociopathic ways. I was addicted and I wasn't sure Holly was going to get out unscathed (though she was very dramatic about it herself).
My favorite thing about this book? The twists. Seriously. I just can't. It was jaw dropping amazing and closed the book begging that it wasn't over! Did I just get a book hangover for a book not solely based on romance? Shocking!
This has opened my horizons to how much I really can love a Contemporary. Women's fiction always has its connections to me but I find a lot of the stories stereotypical and in some ways anti feminist (I have to search for a great one!). This book was perfect for strong women and made me proud. I can't say anything but I loved this book!
I gave this book 5 stars because I'm still stuck on it. I want more, not for closure just because I enjoyed the journey tremendously. I recommend this book to YA lovers and New Adult lovers because there are definitely lessons to be learned.
Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler. Touchstone (May 26, 2015). 352 pages. Fiction: New Adult/Contemporary. I received a copy of this book from the publishing company. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book!
August 3, 2015
I received a review copy
Oh my, my, my, what an excellent summer read! This was a blast to dive into, and the journey we take with Holly is one filled with laughs, head-scratching moments, outrage and so much more. It was fun to note that the book is inspired by the author’s true life as a celebrity ghost-writer, which I think caused my eyebrows to raise so many more times knowing a kernel of what I was reading might have some truth behind it. Holly was such a likeable character, instantly relatable, and the supporting cast members (though not as relatable) were a hoot to read about. I escaped to the fast and fabulous lane while reading and suggest you do the same!
4.5 stars
Oh my, my, my, what an excellent summer read! This was a blast to dive into, and the journey we take with Holly is one filled with laughs, head-scratching moments, outrage and so much more. It was fun to note that the book is inspired by the author’s true life as a celebrity ghost-writer, which I think caused my eyebrows to raise so many more times knowing a kernel of what I was reading might have some truth behind it. Holly was such a likeable character, instantly relatable, and the supporting cast members (though not as relatable) were a hoot to read about. I escaped to the fast and fabulous lane while reading and suggest you do the same!
4.5 stars
May 12, 2016
Have you ever known someone who's always going off about how everyone is stupid, incompetent, immoral, corrupt, fake, basically everyone she encounters is terrible and worthy of her derision? And you kind of smile and nod while really you are thinking she is the terrible one and you can't wait to escape this conversation? That's who this narrator is. Casts herself as Only Sane Man but is really Worst Person Ever.
September 12, 2015
Delightfully surprising!!!!!
*goodreads first reads review*
*goodreads first reads review*
June 25, 2020
Super fun, laugh-out-loud funny window into a world of terrible, terrible people. I am currently in a lot of physical pain and I just needed something to take my mind off of my own agony and this was exactly the medicine I needed. So much drama and dysfunction! So deliciously petty! But you care, because the poor protagonist is just trying to survive in this tank of sharks in human form. Satisfying to the last twist.
May 22, 2015
This review first appeared on www.atnumber11.com
Absolutely True Lies is the debut novel by Rachel Stuhler. It takes us behind the glossy mirage of Hollywood, teen starlets, and the puppet masters that control their strings.
Holly Gracin is a struggling twenty something year old magazine writer, who finds herself jobless and almost penniless after her beloved magazine is shut down. That is, until a family contact gets her the gig of a lifetime, ghostwriting child star Daisy Mae Dixsons’s memoir. Daisy saccharine smile comes with a squeaky clean image…except, as Holly soon realises, it’s all completely fabricated. Writing the memoir allows her to see past the facade, and gives a glimpse into the ones nearest and dearest to the starlet, including her controlling mother Faith, crazy manager Jamie and her ever absent father Deacon.
Holly finds herself a fish out of water, routinely pushing past paps who previously wouldn’t have given her the time of day, going along to appearances with Daisy and her crew, and being whisked away on last minute adventures. While she has unfettered access to Daisy, Holly grows increasingly frustrated when attempting to put pen to paper. Daisy and her entourage are happy to divulge, just not about anything that Holly can actually use, as she needs to portray Daisy as a devout, sweet and well mannered teen in line with her image – practically the antithesis of what Holly witnesses on a daily basis. I especially loved the short snippets from the memoir at the beginning of each chapter, providing a small taste for what the chapter will hold, however completely at odds with how it all unfolds in real life.
While getting to glimpse first hand the trappings of fame and wealth, Holly finds that not everyone has Daisy’s best interests at heart. This comes to light when Daisy, her team and the entire production crew for the show descend on Rome to shoot a two part special. Holly finds her own life also gets a little more complicated, unwittingly finding herself in a love triangle of sorts.
This is a fun, quick read with the underlying message that all that glitters is not always gold. Suhler obviously knows the inner operations of Hollywood first hand, and this is evident in the novel. From Daisy herself tipping off the paps, to the manager who just can’t seem to put the client’s well being ahead of his own paycheck, and the production staff who would do anything to get into the ‘right’ events to rub shoulders with the ‘right’ people, it’s all here.
I enjoyed this debut, and would recommend it to anyone who likes behind-the-scenes glimpses into the lives of the rich and famous. I especially loved the parts set in Rome, and felt the novel really picked up from there.
Absolutely True Lies is available from May 26 at all bookstores or you can purchase it direct from Amazon. Thanks to the publisher Touchstone for providing me with an advanced copy.
Check out the full review at http://www.atnumber11.com/2015/05/boo...
Absolutely True Lies is the debut novel by Rachel Stuhler. It takes us behind the glossy mirage of Hollywood, teen starlets, and the puppet masters that control their strings.
Holly Gracin is a struggling twenty something year old magazine writer, who finds herself jobless and almost penniless after her beloved magazine is shut down. That is, until a family contact gets her the gig of a lifetime, ghostwriting child star Daisy Mae Dixsons’s memoir. Daisy saccharine smile comes with a squeaky clean image…except, as Holly soon realises, it’s all completely fabricated. Writing the memoir allows her to see past the facade, and gives a glimpse into the ones nearest and dearest to the starlet, including her controlling mother Faith, crazy manager Jamie and her ever absent father Deacon.
Holly finds herself a fish out of water, routinely pushing past paps who previously wouldn’t have given her the time of day, going along to appearances with Daisy and her crew, and being whisked away on last minute adventures. While she has unfettered access to Daisy, Holly grows increasingly frustrated when attempting to put pen to paper. Daisy and her entourage are happy to divulge, just not about anything that Holly can actually use, as she needs to portray Daisy as a devout, sweet and well mannered teen in line with her image – practically the antithesis of what Holly witnesses on a daily basis. I especially loved the short snippets from the memoir at the beginning of each chapter, providing a small taste for what the chapter will hold, however completely at odds with how it all unfolds in real life.
While getting to glimpse first hand the trappings of fame and wealth, Holly finds that not everyone has Daisy’s best interests at heart. This comes to light when Daisy, her team and the entire production crew for the show descend on Rome to shoot a two part special. Holly finds her own life also gets a little more complicated, unwittingly finding herself in a love triangle of sorts.
This is a fun, quick read with the underlying message that all that glitters is not always gold. Suhler obviously knows the inner operations of Hollywood first hand, and this is evident in the novel. From Daisy herself tipping off the paps, to the manager who just can’t seem to put the client’s well being ahead of his own paycheck, and the production staff who would do anything to get into the ‘right’ events to rub shoulders with the ‘right’ people, it’s all here.
I enjoyed this debut, and would recommend it to anyone who likes behind-the-scenes glimpses into the lives of the rich and famous. I especially loved the parts set in Rome, and felt the novel really picked up from there.
Absolutely True Lies is available from May 26 at all bookstores or you can purchase it direct from Amazon. Thanks to the publisher Touchstone for providing me with an advanced copy.
Check out the full review at http://www.atnumber11.com/2015/05/boo...
August 2, 2015
REVIEW: ABSOLUTELY TRUE LIES by Rachel Stuhler
The evening before I read ABSOLUTELY TRUE LIES, I saw an article postulating the reasons why journalists should keep on keeping on with the never-ending story cycle concerning a certain totally-publicized celebrity blended family. That article stayed on my mind as I perused Rachel Stuhler' s novel of a can't-get-a-break aspiring novelist from the Northeast, living in L.A. because "Hollywood is where it's at," writing features for a nearly-no-name monthly rag. Holly loses her job, then stumbles into what seems like glorious possibility: ghost-writing the memoirs of an outgrown child star. Well, as practically everyone over the age of four knows, Hollywood publicity has been spinning falsehoods since the advent of silent films, and no one is about to start truth-telling now [at least not in an authorized biography].
The evening before I read ABSOLUTELY TRUE LIES, I saw an article postulating the reasons why journalists should keep on keeping on with the never-ending story cycle concerning a certain totally-publicized celebrity blended family. That article stayed on my mind as I perused Rachel Stuhler' s novel of a can't-get-a-break aspiring novelist from the Northeast, living in L.A. because "Hollywood is where it's at," writing features for a nearly-no-name monthly rag. Holly loses her job, then stumbles into what seems like glorious possibility: ghost-writing the memoirs of an outgrown child star. Well, as practically everyone over the age of four knows, Hollywood publicity has been spinning falsehoods since the advent of silent films, and no one is about to start truth-telling now [at least not in an authorized biography].
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2015
This book is insanely fun! Holly is a very engaging character and her sarcastic sense of humor made me laugh out loud many times.
I liked Daisy, too, although she's definitely out of touch with reality. (She seems sort of like an early Britney Spears, circa her first year or so of fame, or possibly Jessica Simpson---remember when she sang?) She's sweet but kind of dumb...although, of course, we quickly learn neither of those things are exactly true.
This book is really fun and the kind of book that is absolutely perfect for a beach vacation.
Recommended.
I liked Daisy, too, although she's definitely out of touch with reality. (She seems sort of like an early Britney Spears, circa her first year or so of fame, or possibly Jessica Simpson---remember when she sang?) She's sweet but kind of dumb...although, of course, we quickly learn neither of those things are exactly true.
This book is really fun and the kind of book that is absolutely perfect for a beach vacation.
Recommended.
February 7, 2016
This book seems so superficial for the first half of it but now I've warmed up to the concept, especially after the ending gave me new things to think about. The ending gave me a strong appreciation for the main character after what happened to her in Rome with (spoilers!). I definitely wouldn't mind reading another book about Holly, even after she got her happy ending. Although, if another book IS written with Holly, I will be livid if Ben is out of the picture. The sweet, gentle man cannot be taken for granted!
January 10, 2016
I found this book hard to put down. The story line was very interesting and I loved the fictional "behind the scenes of a celebrity" aspect. The complications of the main character, Holly, were realistic in the way that she had a hard time getting by with little money and no job. I enjoyed the suspense of the romance part. Will she choose Vaughn or Ben as her boyfriend? This is a fantastic book because each chapter left you wondering what will happen next or how that move will impact Daisy's life now. It gives you a realistic sneak peak of how real celebrities may be living their lives.
November 13, 2015
This is my first time to reading from Rachel Stuhler. Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler is boring and slowing because it didn't caught me attention. It is well written and well concept in this book. I have give this book and author 3 stars.
February 12, 2015
I witty bit of fluff as we get a ringside seat to the carnival of a young celebrity's life. Holly is hired to ghostwrite a memoir and learns soooo much more than she planned to in the process.
April 10, 2015
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Review will be up on May 26
Review will be up on May 26
November 19, 2015
I surprised myself with this. It was a far stretch from my usual reading, but it was well written and clever with an interesting and surprising finish. Good, fun read
January 8, 2021
I have the oddest sense that I've read this before, but it was only published in 2015 and I've been obsessively tracking my reading since long before that. It might just be that I recently reread Me Times Three, which has some similar moments of seeing how the Other Half live and realising that it's a whole lot of gilt and not a lot of substance.
In any case...that's much of what Holly finds out here. Out of a job and out of money when the struggling publication she works for folds, she jumps at the chance to ghostwrite a Hollywood darling's memoir. Daisy is an actress and singer with a squeaky-clean Christian-values image...but, of course, all is not what it seems.
I enjoyed reading this (quick and fun) but also found it to be a bit uneven. Holly's world-weary 'nowadays' comments strike me as a bit odd for someone who is 1) only in her mid-twenties and 2) supposed to be an entertainment writer who is, shall we say, hip to the trends. Faith is kind of a fascinating character—layers, not all of them flattering to her, but in an intentional/fun to read way—but Daisy was a lot harder to get a handle on. I don't know Hollywood at all, but I had a hard time imagining how this girl so rarely seems aware of other people's needs, is paid thousands upon thousands of dollars to show up at exclusive clubs, is happiest wearing short shorts and a bra and not much else...and yet is considered the squeaky-clean princess of Hollywood. (Plus, whiplash at the end.)
The other thing: not fond of the cheap shots. 'Autistic' is used as an insult (279); a character is sent to jail for statutory rape, and the underage girl involved doesn't make it into some kind of American Idol show because she has a 'skanky vibe' (332). It's a throwaway thing, but I could write a very long Women's Studies paper about that paragraph.
So...had its moments, but leaves me with reservations.
In any case...that's much of what Holly finds out here. Out of a job and out of money when the struggling publication she works for folds, she jumps at the chance to ghostwrite a Hollywood darling's memoir. Daisy is an actress and singer with a squeaky-clean Christian-values image...but, of course, all is not what it seems.
I enjoyed reading this (quick and fun) but also found it to be a bit uneven. Holly's world-weary 'nowadays' comments strike me as a bit odd for someone who is 1) only in her mid-twenties and 2) supposed to be an entertainment writer who is, shall we say, hip to the trends. Faith is kind of a fascinating character—layers, not all of them flattering to her, but in an intentional/fun to read way—but Daisy was a lot harder to get a handle on. I don't know Hollywood at all, but I had a hard time imagining how this girl so rarely seems aware of other people's needs, is paid thousands upon thousands of dollars to show up at exclusive clubs, is happiest wearing short shorts and a bra and not much else...and yet is considered the squeaky-clean princess of Hollywood. (Plus, whiplash at the end.)
The other thing: not fond of the cheap shots. 'Autistic' is used as an insult (279); a character is sent to jail for statutory rape, and the underage girl involved doesn't make it into some kind of American Idol show because she has a 'skanky vibe' (332). It's a throwaway thing, but I could write a very long Women's Studies paper about that paragraph.
So...had its moments, but leaves me with reservations.
July 16, 2018
Struggling writer Holly Gracin is hired to write a memoir of former Nickelodeon child star that has skyrocketed to Uber celebrity status. As she’s thrown in to the life of this teen superstar, Holly struggles to write a memoir that matches her innocent public persona.
I absolutely loved this book! Great, juicy, fun summer read. Think young Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan or Miley Cyrus and their Bubble Gum sweet totally fabricated public personas. As child stars having to trust agents, family & support crew and everyone just wants a piece of the pie. This is a fictional piece that could’ve easily been based on “Absolutely True Lies” 😉
I absolutely loved this book! Great, juicy, fun summer read. Think young Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan or Miley Cyrus and their Bubble Gum sweet totally fabricated public personas. As child stars having to trust agents, family & support crew and everyone just wants a piece of the pie. This is a fictional piece that could’ve easily been based on “Absolutely True Lies” 😉
February 23, 2021
All The TEA 🍵 the Drama, the inside view on celebrity and being possessed by the Fame demon and being use to the high life where everything is handed to you. This novel is the scoop! This book has all the drama for you AND yo mama. I loved every minute of it! You really root for Holly and you just want her to live her best life, in spite of all the chaos that surrounds her.
Fake it to make it in La La Land.
“there’s only so much a good person can take”
Fake it to make it in La La Land.
“there’s only so much a good person can take”
September 14, 2017
I randomly picked this book up at the library after reading the back cover. This is Rachel Stuhler's first book. Holly takes a job as a ghost writer for a young celebrity. It kept my interest with the different characters and I laughed out loud a few times.
April 11, 2019
A bit repetitive throughout but a decent story. This would be great for a beach read (and the cover design helps, too).
March 2, 2026
insane. Just the way I like em
July 21, 2024
I wanted this to be more like Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I was also disappointed in some "out of touch" terminology used by the author, such as describing someone sitting cross-legged as "Indian-style." This wasn't published that long ago either. I would have rated it higher.
March 12, 2017
DNF PAGE 170
A narrator doesn't have to be likable, but they do have to be relatable. And Holly is perhaps the most obnoxious, self-righteous character for literally no reason at all. Watching her judge literally everyone while being all high and mighty about the fact she still eats sweets and GOD will she not stop!!!!!! makes me wanna throw my book across the room.
Blegh. Bad. Bad. Bad.
A narrator doesn't have to be likable, but they do have to be relatable. And Holly is perhaps the most obnoxious, self-righteous character for literally no reason at all. Watching her judge literally everyone while being all high and mighty about the fact she still eats sweets and GOD will she not stop!!!!!! makes me wanna throw my book across the room.
Blegh. Bad. Bad. Bad.
December 21, 2015
Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler gives you the feel of actually seeing things behind the curtain. If you ever wondered what the lives of celebrities are like, this book definitely does that. Fact or fiction, I’m sure that the antics that happened in Absolutely True Lies does (or did) happen, at one time or another. In fact, reading some of the antics that happened in this book sounded vaguely familiar! I’ll also tell you this, I could easily picture this book as a movie, with a “Devil Wears Prada” vibe.
Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler follows main character, Holly Gracin, a struggling writer who is waiting for her opportunity to shine. Fortunately for her, it just happens to fall into her lap. She gets hired to write the autobiography of child/teen star, Daisy Mae Dixon. Knowing that this could be the one that could make or break her career, Holly doesn’t hesitate to accept the job. Little did she know what the “job” actually entails!
At Holly’s first meeting with the Dixon’s, Daisy and her mother bring on the Southern charm, and Holly is unable to resist. With promises of a big payout, and a chance to rub shoulders with the “in-crowd” of Hollywood, Holly is aware that things are about to change for her.
And change they did! Holly gets a little taste of just how “fun” being part of the entourage of a celebrity can be. Passing out on the dance floor at a new club because of her constricting shapeware and lack of sustenance ends up coming out in the tabloids as Holly being Daisy’s pregnant cousin. And the drama that leads up to Holly actually finding out that she got dubbed that title was pretty hilarious. Again, I can totally imagine the scene in the restaurant playing out on the big screen.
As Holly delves deeper and deeper into the real life of Daisy Mae Dixon, the fog is lifted from Holly’s eyes and she is actually knee deep in lies, deceit, manipulation, and a pretty much a heartless game of chess. And don’t think that the drama only revolves around the teen star? Oh no, dear readers…Holly gets herself into quite of a pickle herself! Two men, romantic Rome setting, crazed teen star, shmarmy manager…you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Told in the point of view of Holly, it really helped me feel like I, too, was part of the story. Living the crazy life that Holly has had to endure for months. The highs and lows. Although I did really enjoy Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler, there were points in the book where I just couldn’t stand the main character, Holly. She seemed way to, way to, way to innocent at times, but then at other points, she can be wise beyond her years. In a word, I found her rather simple most of the time.
I liked the twist that author, Rachel Stuhler, put in the end. It did leave me with some “ahhhh’s”, and made that book that more enjoyable. It almost gave me a “The Usual Suspect” moment, where I had to comb back through my memory, as Holly did, and find those “ah-ha” scenes. I rather enjoyed that the author included bits and pieces of the autobiography that Holly is writing, in the beginning of each chapter.
If you enjoy reading tabloids or surf through the celebrity sites on the internet, I would definitely recommend Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler. Maybe your jonsing for a career in writing autobiographies for stars? Check this out. It’ll open your eyes to life of a celebrity (even if this is a work of fiction).
Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler follows main character, Holly Gracin, a struggling writer who is waiting for her opportunity to shine. Fortunately for her, it just happens to fall into her lap. She gets hired to write the autobiography of child/teen star, Daisy Mae Dixon. Knowing that this could be the one that could make or break her career, Holly doesn’t hesitate to accept the job. Little did she know what the “job” actually entails!
At Holly’s first meeting with the Dixon’s, Daisy and her mother bring on the Southern charm, and Holly is unable to resist. With promises of a big payout, and a chance to rub shoulders with the “in-crowd” of Hollywood, Holly is aware that things are about to change for her.
And change they did! Holly gets a little taste of just how “fun” being part of the entourage of a celebrity can be. Passing out on the dance floor at a new club because of her constricting shapeware and lack of sustenance ends up coming out in the tabloids as Holly being Daisy’s pregnant cousin. And the drama that leads up to Holly actually finding out that she got dubbed that title was pretty hilarious. Again, I can totally imagine the scene in the restaurant playing out on the big screen.
As Holly delves deeper and deeper into the real life of Daisy Mae Dixon, the fog is lifted from Holly’s eyes and she is actually knee deep in lies, deceit, manipulation, and a pretty much a heartless game of chess. And don’t think that the drama only revolves around the teen star? Oh no, dear readers…Holly gets herself into quite of a pickle herself! Two men, romantic Rome setting, crazed teen star, shmarmy manager…you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Told in the point of view of Holly, it really helped me feel like I, too, was part of the story. Living the crazy life that Holly has had to endure for months. The highs and lows. Although I did really enjoy Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler, there were points in the book where I just couldn’t stand the main character, Holly. She seemed way to, way to, way to innocent at times, but then at other points, she can be wise beyond her years. In a word, I found her rather simple most of the time.
I liked the twist that author, Rachel Stuhler, put in the end. It did leave me with some “ahhhh’s”, and made that book that more enjoyable. It almost gave me a “The Usual Suspect” moment, where I had to comb back through my memory, as Holly did, and find those “ah-ha” scenes. I rather enjoyed that the author included bits and pieces of the autobiography that Holly is writing, in the beginning of each chapter.
If you enjoy reading tabloids or surf through the celebrity sites on the internet, I would definitely recommend Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler. Maybe your jonsing for a career in writing autobiographies for stars? Check this out. It’ll open your eyes to life of a celebrity (even if this is a work of fiction).
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