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The Road to Her
Sparks fly when twenty-year-old Holly Croft, star of the UK soap Portobello Road, meets Elise Manford, the actress who’s going to play her on-screen love interest in the soap’s first ever lesbian storyline.
Enigmatic Elise’s super-confident attitude and unwelcome advice drives Holly to distraction at first, but as fans go wild over the storyline, and the pair start to spend more and more time together, Holly begins to see another side to her costar. Liking what she sees, Holly slowly finds herself falling in love, but can she ignore her growing attraction to Elise when the lines between fact and fiction begin to blur?
Enigmatic Elise’s super-confident attitude and unwelcome advice drives Holly to distraction at first, but as fans go wild over the storyline, and the pair start to spend more and more time together, Holly begins to see another side to her costar. Liking what she sees, Holly slowly finds herself falling in love, but can she ignore her growing attraction to Elise when the lines between fact and fiction begin to blur?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2013
8 people are currently reading
529 people want to read
About the author
K.E. Payne
9 books52 followersKE Payne was born in Bath, the English city, not the tub, and after leaving school she worked for the British government for fifteen years, which probably sounds a lot more exciting than it really was.
Fed up with spending her days moving paperwork around her desk and making models of the Taj Mahal out of paperclips, she packed it all in to go to university in Bristol and graduated as a mature student in 2006 with a degree in linguistics and history.
After graduating, she worked at a university in the Midlands for a while, again moving all that paperwork around, before finally leaving to embark on her dream career as a writer.
She moved to the idyllic English countryside in 2007 where she now lives and works happily surrounded by dogs and guinea pigs.
Fed up with spending her days moving paperwork around her desk and making models of the Taj Mahal out of paperclips, she packed it all in to go to university in Bristol and graduated as a mature student in 2006 with a degree in linguistics and history.
After graduating, she worked at a university in the Midlands for a while, again moving all that paperwork around, before finally leaving to embark on her dream career as a writer.
She moved to the idyllic English countryside in 2007 where she now lives and works happily surrounded by dogs and guinea pigs.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 14, 2020
“That’s what makes love so amazing. Because it’s so bloody random. It gets you when you least expect it, and no matter what you do to try to ignore it, you can’t.”
Holly and Elise play love interests on-screen and fall for each other off-screen too. Only they are both in the closet. Elise (the love interest) tries to ignore her feelings after Holly's love-confession which creates tons of angst till she eventually gives in. But still she's always terrified of someone finding them out and that puts a strain on their relationship.
Elise's behaviour (though somewhat understandable) really angered me. This book started out light and breezy and then we are near the end and suddenly me and Holly are crying over Elise. A large portion of it was focused on Elise's coming to terms with her sexuality.
Holly and Elise play love interests on-screen and fall for each other off-screen too. Only they are both in the closet. Elise (the love interest) tries to ignore her feelings after Holly's love-confession which creates tons of angst till she eventually gives in. But still she's always terrified of someone finding them out and that puts a strain on their relationship.
Elise's behaviour (though somewhat understandable) really angered me. This book started out light and breezy and then we are near the end and suddenly me and Holly are crying over Elise. A large portion of it was focused on Elise's coming to terms with her sexuality.
October 16, 2017
This is a story of a young British actress who falls for her co-star, who has been recently added to the cast as a lesbian love interest. Jasmin, whatever her name is, is an actress and she falls for this other actress who initially insults and intimidates her, but because she is so hawt still dominates Jasmin's thoughts. Having the girl pick up a guy at the bar and claim to sleep with him only adds to Jasmine's desire for her. The dialogue reads like middle-school and I could only make it to the 50% mark. This isn't a review so much as a note to myself not to pick this up in a year's time having forgotten what it's about.
August 10, 2016
This is a story about a very difficult coming out of one of the MC's, one late teens the other early twenties. I didn't really care for either of the MC's. I thought they were both too childish. Bella was the one I found interesting. :o}
August 19, 2013
Thank you Netgalley and K.E. Payne for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So imagine yourself as a somewhat closeted lesbian and develop feelings for a girl whom you're not sure has the same feelings for you. Add onto that a prominent existence as a soap opera star and being in the public eye. It's hard enough being gay for some people but to be a celebrity when you don't know how coming out of the closet will be accepted just makes it that much tougher... especially for Holly, our main character. She meets Elise who happens to be her lesbian love interest on the soap opera she's been acting on for years.
This is a love story that has all the twists and turns of just about any romantic interlude but add in that Elise is not about to be outed now that she's famous. Heck, we don't even know that Elise is gay and have to read further to get the whole story. The feelings and the wistfulness that Holly has for Elise grow and develop until the ending.
I enjoyed this book a great deal but only gave it four stars because it was a little predictable. The ending is positive but it seems a little idealic that everything ends as it does. However, it's still well written and the characters develop nicely. There are times when you wonder "will she or won't she?"
If you want a coming out story that gives you insight into the world of twenty-something lesbian life in England then pick up this book. It's a nice read and will make you feel good in the end.
So imagine yourself as a somewhat closeted lesbian and develop feelings for a girl whom you're not sure has the same feelings for you. Add onto that a prominent existence as a soap opera star and being in the public eye. It's hard enough being gay for some people but to be a celebrity when you don't know how coming out of the closet will be accepted just makes it that much tougher... especially for Holly, our main character. She meets Elise who happens to be her lesbian love interest on the soap opera she's been acting on for years.
This is a love story that has all the twists and turns of just about any romantic interlude but add in that Elise is not about to be outed now that she's famous. Heck, we don't even know that Elise is gay and have to read further to get the whole story. The feelings and the wistfulness that Holly has for Elise grow and develop until the ending.
I enjoyed this book a great deal but only gave it four stars because it was a little predictable. The ending is positive but it seems a little idealic that everything ends as it does. However, it's still well written and the characters develop nicely. There are times when you wonder "will she or won't she?"
If you want a coming out story that gives you insight into the world of twenty-something lesbian life in England then pick up this book. It's a nice read and will make you feel good in the end.
June 12, 2023
this is just one shenanigan followed by another, again and again. the MC is can be incredibly immature, acts holier than thou and is just a pain sometimes. and the next chapter she's a pretty reasonable person.
kinda want to give it 2 stars just for the chicanery, but its good enough for three
kinda want to give it 2 stars just for the chicanery, but its good enough for three
February 17, 2014
I've seen a few other novels by Payne about, but I've always been hesitant to pick them up. Why? Not because of the genre, that's for sure - I love books that tackle difficult and quite controversial topics, which all of hers do do. However, the reviews I have skimmed over have never been too good. Despite this, The Road to Her caught my eye, and I couldn't help but try it. It actually left me pleasantly surprised.
Holly Croft is a star of the soap opera Portobello Road, and has been for the last eight years of her life. However, the directors and writers believe that her character, Jasmine, deserves some time in the limelight, so they create a new storyline for her: Jasmine will be a lesbian. Enter Elise, the actress cast to play Jasmine's on-screen love interest. But it isn't just Jasmine who is developing an attraction to the new girl - Holly begins to find that she can't get Elise off her mind, and soon falls in love - but can she convince Elise to give it a go?
Love love loved both of the characters of Holly and Elise. I did at times feel that Elise character-slid, constantly changing between being very clingy and very cold towards Holly. However, the chemistry between the two was undeniably strong, so I'll let the character problem go. On a whole, Holly was an enjoyable narrative to read from, and I felt like I could connect with her easily, something key with books dealing with this topic.
The storyline was pretty good. Not always as gripping as I first thought it'd be - I mean, I can't be the only person who has wondered what it would be like to star in a television show, right? I wanted to get a feel of what life on set was like, and I think that fell a bit short. A lot of the scenes between Jasmine and Casey - Elise's character - were only mentioned, and I feel like that was a key part to miss out. I was also disappointed that for most of the book it was that familiar teen angst of she-loves-me-she-loves-me-not-she-loves-me, with the plot just revolving around Holly chasing Elise. After a while, it did get a bit tedious.
However, although this book was set on a television set, I think a main focus of the story was about coming to terms with your sexuality. Although she wasn't the main character, Elise's journey towards accepting that she did like women was eye-opening, and something I think a lot of people can learn from for a variety of reasons.
Despite provoking some serious eye-rolls and the writing being quite mediocre, I liked The Road to Her a lot. It was a quick, easy read, and it did leave you with positive fuzzies at the end! If you like the LGBT genre or are just curious and want to know more, than give this book a try.
Holly Croft is a star of the soap opera Portobello Road, and has been for the last eight years of her life. However, the directors and writers believe that her character, Jasmine, deserves some time in the limelight, so they create a new storyline for her: Jasmine will be a lesbian. Enter Elise, the actress cast to play Jasmine's on-screen love interest. But it isn't just Jasmine who is developing an attraction to the new girl - Holly begins to find that she can't get Elise off her mind, and soon falls in love - but can she convince Elise to give it a go?
Love love loved both of the characters of Holly and Elise. I did at times feel that Elise character-slid, constantly changing between being very clingy and very cold towards Holly. However, the chemistry between the two was undeniably strong, so I'll let the character problem go. On a whole, Holly was an enjoyable narrative to read from, and I felt like I could connect with her easily, something key with books dealing with this topic.
The storyline was pretty good. Not always as gripping as I first thought it'd be - I mean, I can't be the only person who has wondered what it would be like to star in a television show, right? I wanted to get a feel of what life on set was like, and I think that fell a bit short. A lot of the scenes between Jasmine and Casey - Elise's character - were only mentioned, and I feel like that was a key part to miss out. I was also disappointed that for most of the book it was that familiar teen angst of she-loves-me-she-loves-me-not-she-loves-me, with the plot just revolving around Holly chasing Elise. After a while, it did get a bit tedious.
However, although this book was set on a television set, I think a main focus of the story was about coming to terms with your sexuality. Although she wasn't the main character, Elise's journey towards accepting that she did like women was eye-opening, and something I think a lot of people can learn from for a variety of reasons.
Despite provoking some serious eye-rolls and the writing being quite mediocre, I liked The Road to Her a lot. It was a quick, easy read, and it did leave you with positive fuzzies at the end! If you like the LGBT genre or are just curious and want to know more, than give this book a try.
August 21, 2013
Previously reviewed at The Good, the Bad and the Unread:
While soap actors do feature from time to time in novels, romance or otherwise, it’s usually the divas that we get to see: the fading star who’ll do anything to clutch on to the last tatters of fame, or those at top of their career, who are considered TV Royalty and have an attitude to match. Thus, it is very refreshing to meet one as a protagonist, who’s on her way to the top and yet has a refreshingly down-to-earth outlook on life. Admittedly, her love-interest (on-screen as well as off) starts off as a bit of a diva, but the road to true love never runs smooth, and all that.
Holly was a child star. She’s been a mainstay of a teatime teen soap for eight years, and she loves the series and her fellow cast members. Her one serious relationship ended when her girlfriend went travelling and fell for the daughter of the family she was staying with. So now she’s happily single and excited to learn that her character is to be at the centre of Portobello Road’s first lesbian storyline.
Elise joins the show to play Holly’s love interest. A year younger than Holly, she’s spent the past year and a bit trying out for roles in L.A., and so seems very sophisticated at first, especially when she criticises Holly’s acting and ruffles a few feathers. And she dates boys. Boys on the cast, boys she meets in nightclubs, lots of boys. When she and Holly finally get together, Elise doesn’t want anyone to know, not even Holly’s best friend – and on-screen mother – Bella, who has been a mother figure to all the younger cast members since forever.
Not only that, Elise doesn’t want to be seen in public with Holly at all. No clubbing, no shopping, no going rowing together. Definitely no borrowing each other’s clothes. None of the things they did when they were just friends is safe now, because one of their fans (and their fans do seem rather cute: smushing the names of characters and actresses together adorably, and making sweet fanvids that the girls then watch together) should happen to see them and guess their secret.
Eventually Holly gets sick of the deception. She was never particularly out about her sexuality, but she doesn’t like deception either. And it’s what Elise does to get her back that really makes this into a top grade for me. I can so see it happening, and I’m sure all their cute, adorable fans loved them for it too. A real feel-good story that’s right on the boundary of Young Adult and New Adult.
While soap actors do feature from time to time in novels, romance or otherwise, it’s usually the divas that we get to see: the fading star who’ll do anything to clutch on to the last tatters of fame, or those at top of their career, who are considered TV Royalty and have an attitude to match. Thus, it is very refreshing to meet one as a protagonist, who’s on her way to the top and yet has a refreshingly down-to-earth outlook on life. Admittedly, her love-interest (on-screen as well as off) starts off as a bit of a diva, but the road to true love never runs smooth, and all that.
Holly was a child star. She’s been a mainstay of a teatime teen soap for eight years, and she loves the series and her fellow cast members. Her one serious relationship ended when her girlfriend went travelling and fell for the daughter of the family she was staying with. So now she’s happily single and excited to learn that her character is to be at the centre of Portobello Road’s first lesbian storyline.
Elise joins the show to play Holly’s love interest. A year younger than Holly, she’s spent the past year and a bit trying out for roles in L.A., and so seems very sophisticated at first, especially when she criticises Holly’s acting and ruffles a few feathers. And she dates boys. Boys on the cast, boys she meets in nightclubs, lots of boys. When she and Holly finally get together, Elise doesn’t want anyone to know, not even Holly’s best friend – and on-screen mother – Bella, who has been a mother figure to all the younger cast members since forever.
Not only that, Elise doesn’t want to be seen in public with Holly at all. No clubbing, no shopping, no going rowing together. Definitely no borrowing each other’s clothes. None of the things they did when they were just friends is safe now, because one of their fans (and their fans do seem rather cute: smushing the names of characters and actresses together adorably, and making sweet fanvids that the girls then watch together) should happen to see them and guess their secret.
Eventually Holly gets sick of the deception. She was never particularly out about her sexuality, but she doesn’t like deception either. And it’s what Elise does to get her back that really makes this into a top grade for me. I can so see it happening, and I’m sure all their cute, adorable fans loved them for it too. A real feel-good story that’s right on the boundary of Young Adult and New Adult.
July 7, 2015
An enticing premise that falls short. I enjoyed K. E. Payne's 365 Days, but this one suffers from poor line editing and underdevelopment. The characters are strong, and there is the occasional lovely turn of phrase -- e.g., "A fine rain was falling. Spots of water gathered silently on the windowpane, pausing for a moment before pooling together, then quickly slithering down the glass." But those moments weren't frequent enough. I wished I could delete 90% of the adverbs and every instance of the narrator telling, rather than showing, her emotions -- and then spent those words developing the soap opera parts of the story.
February 19, 2018
I like Holly, I really do. But Elise, God Almighty. She's the very description of what's wrong with the Kardashians.
Also the fact that Holly did not noticed how Elise kisses tasted like semen is just beyond me. well she liked her because she's “hawt”. And who fucks with a man named Stig anyway and a co-worker Bobby? Cant be too surprised if Elise have a designer $1000 mouthwash. what a slutty piece of bitch.
this book is a torture (thanks to elise) but im still reading it because of Holly
still page 150, barely there.
Also the fact that Holly did not noticed how Elise kisses tasted like semen is just beyond me. well she liked her because she's “hawt”. And who fucks with a man named Stig anyway and a co-worker Bobby? Cant be too surprised if Elise have a designer $1000 mouthwash. what a slutty piece of bitch.
this book is a torture (thanks to elise) but im still reading it because of Holly
still page 150, barely there.
October 9, 2025
okay a few things. first of all i liked the mc but i should have listened to the reviews cuz elise PISSED ME AWF it was lowk so toxic and holly didn’t deserve her at all. but im glad it worked out in the end. it was good i liked it and it was cute but not great
October 30, 2023
Cute little romance. Celebrities falling in love trope, but well done.
August 4, 2013
(nb: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley)
Your name is Holly Croft. You’re a twenty-year-old actress on “Portobello Road,” a hugely popular evening soap opera. One day, the producers call you in for a conference, and they tell you they’re writing a new story arc. Your character, Jasmine, will find a new love interest named Casey.
Now imagine that Casey is also a girl, played by a stunning actress named Elise Manford. The new romance thrills the show’s fans, and there’s chemistry galore between you and your new costar.
Now imagine you’ve really fallen for her. You get jealous when Elise goes out with men. You yearn to spend time with her, to be more than friends. And you’re crushed when she tells you she’s “not like that.”
This is the basic crux of KE Payne’s new novel, “The Road to Her.”
Jasmine and Casey become one of the hottest couples on TV—Jasey, everyone calls them. Girls write to the studio, talking about how Jasey has helped them with their own lives, and the show’s ratings thrive. Conflict rules Holly’s life, though. Her ex-girlfriend, Grace, is moving back from Spain (two years after she dumped Holly), but Holly only has eyes for Elise. Holly grows increasingly frustrated, because she senses Elise’s feelings reciprocate her own, despite her protestations otherwise.
One night, after a long and boozy party, Holly’s wish seems to be coming true. How perfect would that be? Or how much might it shatter her heart?
“The Road to Her” is a cool romance novel. It takes us behind the scenes of a soap opera, with all the on-set bustle and insanity. Holly and Elise are both well-drawn and believable. Holly leads with her heart. For Elise, her career is everything. This, of course, leads to conflict between the two. Even as Jasey thrives on-screen, the two actresses are at loggerheads about how to proceed once the camera is off.
Perhaps ironically, “The Road to Her” feels soap-operatic as it proceeds. Some of the dialogue between Holly and Elise has that television melodrama ring to it. Hey, if you speak those lines at work five or six days a week, maybe they spill over into your real life as well.
The pacing works well, and the romantic climax (God, that phrase sounds inappropriate) satisfies.
One of the best features of “The Road to Her” is how author KE Payne deals with the two actresses’ relationship, and the LGBT double-standard they face. The whole Jasey arc on “Portobello Road” draws huge audience approval, and nobody bats an eye. If Holly and Elise as real-life stars were to come-out as a couple, the tabloids could destroy them. Lesbian romance is fine when it’s fiction, but in real life? There remains a stigma attached to it. At the bottom-line, do Holly and Elise have enough courage to live their private lives the way their characters do before millions of nightly viewers? Or could this sad duality wreck their careers?
It’s an interesting question Ms. Payne grapples with here, and the reader can only hope the couple’s personal strength ultimately mimics their alter-egos’.
Recommended
Your name is Holly Croft. You’re a twenty-year-old actress on “Portobello Road,” a hugely popular evening soap opera. One day, the producers call you in for a conference, and they tell you they’re writing a new story arc. Your character, Jasmine, will find a new love interest named Casey.
Now imagine that Casey is also a girl, played by a stunning actress named Elise Manford. The new romance thrills the show’s fans, and there’s chemistry galore between you and your new costar.
Now imagine you’ve really fallen for her. You get jealous when Elise goes out with men. You yearn to spend time with her, to be more than friends. And you’re crushed when she tells you she’s “not like that.”
This is the basic crux of KE Payne’s new novel, “The Road to Her.”
Jasmine and Casey become one of the hottest couples on TV—Jasey, everyone calls them. Girls write to the studio, talking about how Jasey has helped them with their own lives, and the show’s ratings thrive. Conflict rules Holly’s life, though. Her ex-girlfriend, Grace, is moving back from Spain (two years after she dumped Holly), but Holly only has eyes for Elise. Holly grows increasingly frustrated, because she senses Elise’s feelings reciprocate her own, despite her protestations otherwise.
One night, after a long and boozy party, Holly’s wish seems to be coming true. How perfect would that be? Or how much might it shatter her heart?
“The Road to Her” is a cool romance novel. It takes us behind the scenes of a soap opera, with all the on-set bustle and insanity. Holly and Elise are both well-drawn and believable. Holly leads with her heart. For Elise, her career is everything. This, of course, leads to conflict between the two. Even as Jasey thrives on-screen, the two actresses are at loggerheads about how to proceed once the camera is off.
Perhaps ironically, “The Road to Her” feels soap-operatic as it proceeds. Some of the dialogue between Holly and Elise has that television melodrama ring to it. Hey, if you speak those lines at work five or six days a week, maybe they spill over into your real life as well.
The pacing works well, and the romantic climax (God, that phrase sounds inappropriate) satisfies.
One of the best features of “The Road to Her” is how author KE Payne deals with the two actresses’ relationship, and the LGBT double-standard they face. The whole Jasey arc on “Portobello Road” draws huge audience approval, and nobody bats an eye. If Holly and Elise as real-life stars were to come-out as a couple, the tabloids could destroy them. Lesbian romance is fine when it’s fiction, but in real life? There remains a stigma attached to it. At the bottom-line, do Holly and Elise have enough courage to live their private lives the way their characters do before millions of nightly viewers? Or could this sad duality wreck their careers?
It’s an interesting question Ms. Payne grapples with here, and the reader can only hope the couple’s personal strength ultimately mimics their alter-egos’.
Recommended
July 8, 2013
Twenty year old Holly Croft, star of Portobello Road, a UK soap, is currently single after being dumped by her lover two years previously. When Holly learns that her role in Portobello Road is going to be expanded to include a lesbian love interest for her character Jasmine, she’s in a state of hype and excitement. When Holly meets Elise Manford, the actress who will be playing her lover, Casey, she doesn’t get off to a very good start with her. Elise is a bit of a live wire. She oozes confidence and gets under Holly’s skin with her unwelcome advice.
The first ever lesbian storyline on Portobello Road is a big hit with the soaps fans. Holly and Elise find themselves spending more time together reading through scripts and generally being seen in public to keep the flames burning and public interest running high.
It’s not long before Holly finds herself falling in love with Elise. Unfortunately for Holly, Elise appears to all intents and purposes to be straight. As much as Holly tries to push the real life attraction back, the tenuous line between real life attraction and life on the set between Jasmine and Casey blurs, making it hard to distinguish between fact and fiction.
I have to confess, this is the first book I’ve read from KE Payne. I don’t read many young adult books. But having read this one and thoroughly enjoyed it, this is about to change. This is a beautifully written book that can be enjoyed by any of us, regardless of age. In fact, once I started it, I couldn’t put it down and read right through to the end.
KE Payne has written a wonderful, heart warming story of love, unrequited love, betrayal, self discovery and coming out. She has also giving us a first hand insight into life on a television soap opera. From the dialogue, it was very easy to immerse myself in the story amongst the characters.
The two main characters, Holly and Elise are as different as chalk and cheese on the outside, but inside, not so different. They both have their own hang ups and secrets. I really felt for Holly, whilst at the same time feeling I could give Elise a good slap. The interaction between them both is superbly written. Both off screen and on screen. There is a wealth of different friends and colleagues backing the main characters up and moving the story forward at a nice pace.
Personally, I’d love to see more of these characters and more of the soap, Portobello Road.
The first ever lesbian storyline on Portobello Road is a big hit with the soaps fans. Holly and Elise find themselves spending more time together reading through scripts and generally being seen in public to keep the flames burning and public interest running high.
It’s not long before Holly finds herself falling in love with Elise. Unfortunately for Holly, Elise appears to all intents and purposes to be straight. As much as Holly tries to push the real life attraction back, the tenuous line between real life attraction and life on the set between Jasmine and Casey blurs, making it hard to distinguish between fact and fiction.
I have to confess, this is the first book I’ve read from KE Payne. I don’t read many young adult books. But having read this one and thoroughly enjoyed it, this is about to change. This is a beautifully written book that can be enjoyed by any of us, regardless of age. In fact, once I started it, I couldn’t put it down and read right through to the end.
KE Payne has written a wonderful, heart warming story of love, unrequited love, betrayal, self discovery and coming out. She has also giving us a first hand insight into life on a television soap opera. From the dialogue, it was very easy to immerse myself in the story amongst the characters.
The two main characters, Holly and Elise are as different as chalk and cheese on the outside, but inside, not so different. They both have their own hang ups and secrets. I really felt for Holly, whilst at the same time feeling I could give Elise a good slap. The interaction between them both is superbly written. Both off screen and on screen. There is a wealth of different friends and colleagues backing the main characters up and moving the story forward at a nice pace.
Personally, I’d love to see more of these characters and more of the soap, Portobello Road.
July 15, 2015
A typical Lesbian Fiction romance book. This one takes place around the fictional TV show in the UK entitled Portobello Road. They are going to add a Lesbian relationship story to the show. They bring in the actress named Elise to play the newcomer Casey. While on the show it's an actress named Holly who has played her character Jasmine for eight years who gets to be the other half of 'Jasey' as it gets called. Of course, the TV show scenes/characters aren't the main thrust of the book, but the relationship that blossoms between Elise and Holly and the twists and turns and such that happen there.
To start with the good I really, really liked the character of Holly. I thought that the author balanced her seeming naivete with realness. Not to mention, I just liked her for some reason. She seemed normal, and grounded, and... likeable.
On the other hand, although I get why Elise was portrayed that way, she was, even by the end of the book I still didn't like her much. As with other parts of the story her characterization seemed a little off. Also in places the description or dialogue seemed clunky too. And, sometimes the narrative just felt like it was the same conversations playing in different physical places over and over.
But, then there was Bella, she was one of the secondary characters that wasn't cutout like and she was awesome! I liked her character so much that I sort of wanted to see way more of her, her family, her kids, even her cats. She was just such a vibrant character who jumped off the page at me.
Overall it was a good book that was mostly enjoyable and with some bright spots because of the characters.
I got this advanced galley through Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books hoping that I would review it. (Yeah, duh! Course I would...)
To start with the good I really, really liked the character of Holly. I thought that the author balanced her seeming naivete with realness. Not to mention, I just liked her for some reason. She seemed normal, and grounded, and... likeable.
On the other hand, although I get why Elise was portrayed that way, she was, even by the end of the book I still didn't like her much. As with other parts of the story her characterization seemed a little off. Also in places the description or dialogue seemed clunky too. And, sometimes the narrative just felt like it was the same conversations playing in different physical places over and over.
But, then there was Bella, she was one of the secondary characters that wasn't cutout like and she was awesome! I liked her character so much that I sort of wanted to see way more of her, her family, her kids, even her cats. She was just such a vibrant character who jumped off the page at me.
Overall it was a good book that was mostly enjoyable and with some bright spots because of the characters.
I got this advanced galley through Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books hoping that I would review it. (Yeah, duh! Course I would...)
December 10, 2019
Life starts to imitate television when two actors meet and sparks fly off and on the set in KE Payne's The Road To Her.
Holly is a well-known actor on a soap opera and has been on the show for eight years (since she was 12). She is comfortable with her sexuality though not "out of the closet" and has been in long-term relationships. Enter Elise, fresh from a long-term visit to the United States, an upstart brought in to be Holly's character's new love interest and to stir up controversy and interest in the soap opera. Elise stirs up all of those things in Holly herself and inadvertently and unknowingly stirs these things up in Elise who up until this point has always thought of herself as heterosexual.
Two young girls falling in love, one who is secure in her position in life and with her own sexuality and one coming to a new job, experiencing new things, but has more experience with the world in general. Sparks do fly and I have to admit that I might be "too adult" to understand the severe insecurity that Holly goes through. The story is told through Holly's viewpoint, but it would have been nice to see how Elise came to her end conclusion's as everything seemed a little to pat. There are things that as an adult would be warning signs that are just accepted in the end and that "true love will prevail". (laugh) Maybe I am just to old to be reading this type of romance.
#PGSex #YoungAdultRomance #YoungAdultLesbianRomance #LesbianRomance #KEPayne #TheRoadToHer #3Stars #PhoebesRainbowWorld #FlippingRainbows
August 27, 2013
Lovely pacing. Sometimes I find that novels of this genre lose their steam and deteriorate into overly detailed schmaltz once the two main characters resolve their romantic tension halfway through the book, and this was not at all the case with The Road to Her. It kept up the conflict and tension throughout the novel, and though some of the characters' actions had me cringing for them, it was because of their seemingly-poor-yet-sadly-realistic choices, not because their choices were unrealistic.
I also enjoyed that the two characters were fleshed out, and not just two dimensional stereotypes. That really kept the tension high, and my interest in the plot high, throughout the novel. I would recommend this to any fans of the genre.
I also enjoyed that the two characters were fleshed out, and not just two dimensional stereotypes. That really kept the tension high, and my interest in the plot high, throughout the novel. I would recommend this to any fans of the genre.
October 24, 2013
Super fast thoughts before full review
Why was Holly so selfish? She really seemed like a selfish diva. She had no problem with her and Grace being in the closet, but makes a federal case out of it when Elise wants the same thing? Hypocrite much?
So it loses a full star for annoying diva/selfish heroine, but not bad as lesbian romance goes. It's not like the lesbian romantica genre has piles if titles to choose from.
Why was Holly so selfish? She really seemed like a selfish diva. She had no problem with her and Grace being in the closet, but makes a federal case out of it when Elise wants the same thing? Hypocrite much?
So it loses a full star for annoying diva/selfish heroine, but not bad as lesbian romance goes. It's not like the lesbian romantica genre has piles if titles to choose from.
September 24, 2015
Just about YA, this is pretty fair game for those looking for queer romances. It's the simple story of two actresses whose characters are embroiled in a queer storyline on an evening soap in the UK. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who - if anyone - these actresses are. Believe me, I came up with a list of potentials...
I really enjoyed this as light, fun reading. The romance isn't too angsty and the trials and tribulations of the couple aren't damaging enough to put me off.
I really enjoyed this as light, fun reading. The romance isn't too angsty and the trials and tribulations of the couple aren't damaging enough to put me off.
August 25, 2013
Although it was predictable I thoroughly enjoyed the ride!
December 6, 2013
I liked it... really easy read. Likeable characters, likeable story.
October 16, 2015
My rating is 3.5 stars.
I found that my opinion of the characters and book went up and down as I read. The characters were a bit immature though I should expect that for 19 - 20 year olds.
I found that my opinion of the characters and book went up and down as I read. The characters were a bit immature though I should expect that for 19 - 20 year olds.
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