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Secrets of My Hollywood Life #1
Secrets of My Hollywood Life
For fans of The Princess Diaries and Famous in Love, an engrossing look behind the velvet ropes of stardom from a former Teen People Senior Editor who has seen it all.
What if your picture was taped inside teenage boys' lockers across America, your closets were bursting with never-worn designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your "good girl" status?
It's a glamorous life, but 16-year-old Kaitlin Burke, co-star of one of the hottest shows on TV, is exhausted from the pressures of her fame. So she decides to spend two months undercover as an ordinary high school student. But could it be that real life high school is just as harsh as cutthroat Hollywood??
Don't miss the first book in the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series from Jen Calonita, author of the Fairy Tale Reform School series.
What if your picture was taped inside teenage boys' lockers across America, your closets were bursting with never-worn designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your "good girl" status?
It's a glamorous life, but 16-year-old Kaitlin Burke, co-star of one of the hottest shows on TV, is exhausted from the pressures of her fame. So she decides to spend two months undercover as an ordinary high school student. But could it be that real life high school is just as harsh as cutthroat Hollywood??
Don't miss the first book in the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series from Jen Calonita, author of the Fairy Tale Reform School series.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Jen Calonita
73 books3,771 followersHi Goodreads!
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).
I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!
I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.
I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.
I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!
xo
Jen
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).
I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!
I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.
I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.
I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!
xo
Jen
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 631 reviews
December 23, 2008
242pp. Park Avenue, New York.
Little,Brown and Company. $7.99
ISBN: 978-0-316-15443-7
“What if? Your picture was taped inside teenage boys' lockers across America, your closets were bursting with never-worn designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your "good girl" status?”
The quote above was how this book, Secrets of the Hollywood by Jen Calonita grabbed my attention, I' m pretty sure it pulled yours too. You will really gobble this one up. The narrator is Kaitlin Burke, one of the hottest teen celebrities in town who stars in an OC type prime time soap. Calonita sold me on the idea that Kaitlin life, though more glamorous, has some of the same problems any typical teenager has. Exhausted, Kaitlin is tired from all the expectations of her parents and her attempts to please them. So, she cooks up a plan to get the break she wants, a very interesting one too. Fans of Meg Cabot’s Princess Diaries or Ann Brashares’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants will totally love this one.
16 year old Kaitlin Burke has been on the same nighttime soap -- Family Affair -- for the past twelve years. In between interviews, press junkets, trips abroad, and other smaller parts, she's had to deal with her mother who seems to be living her own life through that of her daughters, and her lifetime enemy, Sky Mackenzie. Kailtin has everything, from friendship to enemy, love to hate, career to school and every single problem a teenager faces. But she never gives up.
Sounds grim, doesn’t it? Nope, it’s pretty interesting. A fantastic author like Calonita includes interesting plots that brings you to a whole different world – filled with love, hate, friendship, betrayal and family, better yet, it contains humor too.
As times flies, Kaitlin realizes that there's more to life than being on Teen People's list of hottest young stars, Sure, there's an audition for a new movie by hot director Hutch Adams that she'd love to land, but she's also supremely fatigued. Working nearly nonstop for twelve years has comes to the end of the line, when Kaitlin has cooked up the perfect plan to take a break over hiatus-- she'll attend Clark Hall, not as Kaitlin Burke, BUT as regular student Rachel Rogers, a girl from London visiting the U.S. for two months.
Absorbing and extraordinary, Kaitlin, or should I say Rachel, will experience everything for the first time. Behind the Gucci bags, Abercrombie & Fitch, and more, Kailtin is just a typical teenager, overcoming obstacles she faces one step at a time, with a helping hand of her extremely bad temper makes things even more exciting!
Just when she thought everything is going along according to plan, rumors start to spreads and as her double life is threatened by exposure, Kaitlin will have to learn what's really important in life-- true friends and family, whether they know her as Kaitlin or Rachel; the belief in herself as an actress; and the blessing and curse that is the media.
From this book, I learned that no matter what happens, your family will still be by your side, even if it’s a selfish act, they will still stand by you and they got your back, just like Kailtin’s parents, they helped her went through the bad times.
This fascinating book kept surprises around every corner and I never knew what was coming. Along with the problems that most teenagers faced, you will devour it in no time. Not everything is as great as Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or Nicole Richie would like us to believe, but it sure is filled with excitement!
Little,Brown and Company. $7.99
ISBN: 978-0-316-15443-7
“What if? Your picture was taped inside teenage boys' lockers across America, your closets were bursting with never-worn designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your "good girl" status?”
The quote above was how this book, Secrets of the Hollywood by Jen Calonita grabbed my attention, I' m pretty sure it pulled yours too. You will really gobble this one up. The narrator is Kaitlin Burke, one of the hottest teen celebrities in town who stars in an OC type prime time soap. Calonita sold me on the idea that Kaitlin life, though more glamorous, has some of the same problems any typical teenager has. Exhausted, Kaitlin is tired from all the expectations of her parents and her attempts to please them. So, she cooks up a plan to get the break she wants, a very interesting one too. Fans of Meg Cabot’s Princess Diaries or Ann Brashares’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants will totally love this one.
16 year old Kaitlin Burke has been on the same nighttime soap -- Family Affair -- for the past twelve years. In between interviews, press junkets, trips abroad, and other smaller parts, she's had to deal with her mother who seems to be living her own life through that of her daughters, and her lifetime enemy, Sky Mackenzie. Kailtin has everything, from friendship to enemy, love to hate, career to school and every single problem a teenager faces. But she never gives up.
Sounds grim, doesn’t it? Nope, it’s pretty interesting. A fantastic author like Calonita includes interesting plots that brings you to a whole different world – filled with love, hate, friendship, betrayal and family, better yet, it contains humor too.
As times flies, Kaitlin realizes that there's more to life than being on Teen People's list of hottest young stars, Sure, there's an audition for a new movie by hot director Hutch Adams that she'd love to land, but she's also supremely fatigued. Working nearly nonstop for twelve years has comes to the end of the line, when Kaitlin has cooked up the perfect plan to take a break over hiatus-- she'll attend Clark Hall, not as Kaitlin Burke, BUT as regular student Rachel Rogers, a girl from London visiting the U.S. for two months.
Absorbing and extraordinary, Kaitlin, or should I say Rachel, will experience everything for the first time. Behind the Gucci bags, Abercrombie & Fitch, and more, Kailtin is just a typical teenager, overcoming obstacles she faces one step at a time, with a helping hand of her extremely bad temper makes things even more exciting!
Just when she thought everything is going along according to plan, rumors start to spreads and as her double life is threatened by exposure, Kaitlin will have to learn what's really important in life-- true friends and family, whether they know her as Kaitlin or Rachel; the belief in herself as an actress; and the blessing and curse that is the media.
From this book, I learned that no matter what happens, your family will still be by your side, even if it’s a selfish act, they will still stand by you and they got your back, just like Kailtin’s parents, they helped her went through the bad times.
This fascinating book kept surprises around every corner and I never knew what was coming. Along with the problems that most teenagers faced, you will devour it in no time. Not everything is as great as Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or Nicole Richie would like us to believe, but it sure is filled with excitement!
January 12, 2016
3.5
What if...Your picture was taped inside teenage boys' lockers across America, your closets were bursting with never-worn designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your "good girl" status? Would you still consider yourself sane?
Of course not. Allow me the pleasure to introduce to you Kaitlin Burke, 16-year-old soap opera star and one of Hollywood's and America's favorite teens. Kaitlin is a star on the soap opera Family Affair and gets to live the glamorous life of a Hollywood actress.....with a few catches.
-Her mother is constantly worried about her daughter's appearance
-Her little brother is always trying to use Kaitlin's status to get an acting gig (he got on my nerves)
-managers (*shudders*)
-stylists/makeup artists trailing you to make sure you look perfect 24/7
-body guards
-tutors
-celerity feuds (I'll come back to this one in a minute)
As their soap opera's hiatus approaches, Kaitlin decides she wants a small break from Hollywood. It took a little bit of convincing, but her mother and managers agreed to the plan; Kaitlin would disguise herself as "Rachel" from Britain and attend her best friend, Liz's, high school for a short while.
And now, allow me the displeasure of introducing Sky Mackenzie, one of Kaitlin's costars on Family Affair. How do I describe Sky?
Sky is one of those characters you want to throw into Dante's ninth circle of hell.
She is one of those rich, annoying, selfish, egocentric teenage brats whose qualities are magnified a zillion times by the fact that she is a Hollywood star. It's not like she needs anything to feed her ego. It's already through the roof.
I hated her! The only reason she had to hate Kaitlin was jealousy, which seems to fuel many issues, unfortunately.
Liz was a decent character.
Kaitlin was meh.
You know who else was Meh? Austin. A fairly generic boy character. Jock who dated the school Queen Bee. Then Kaitlin-as-Rachel showed up. Though, I did like how their relationship wasn't overdone, I didn't feel it was necessary. Not every book needs a romance. Then again, I'm a sucker for celebrities/royalty falling for normal people. I think many more celebrities out their could find true love if they didn't feel pressured to date/hook-up with fellow glamorous people.
What a boring cover. Seriously, just look at that monstrosity!
Secrets of My Hollywood Life was fun and quick. A little boring and irritating at times, but I still had fun reading it!
Would I recommend it? Sure, why not :D
What if...Your picture was taped inside teenage boys' lockers across America, your closets were bursting with never-worn designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your "good girl" status? Would you still consider yourself sane?
Of course not. Allow me the pleasure to introduce to you Kaitlin Burke, 16-year-old soap opera star and one of Hollywood's and America's favorite teens. Kaitlin is a star on the soap opera Family Affair and gets to live the glamorous life of a Hollywood actress.....with a few catches.
-Her mother is constantly worried about her daughter's appearance
-Her little brother is always trying to use Kaitlin's status to get an acting gig (he got on my nerves)
-managers (*shudders*)
-stylists/makeup artists trailing you to make sure you look perfect 24/7
-body guards
-tutors
-celerity feuds (I'll come back to this one in a minute)
As their soap opera's hiatus approaches, Kaitlin decides she wants a small break from Hollywood. It took a little bit of convincing, but her mother and managers agreed to the plan; Kaitlin would disguise herself as "Rachel" from Britain and attend her best friend, Liz's, high school for a short while.
And now, allow me the displeasure of introducing Sky Mackenzie, one of Kaitlin's costars on Family Affair. How do I describe Sky?
Sky is one of those characters you want to throw into Dante's ninth circle of hell.
She is one of those rich, annoying, selfish, egocentric teenage brats whose qualities are magnified a zillion times by the fact that she is a Hollywood star. It's not like she needs anything to feed her ego. It's already through the roof.
I hated her! The only reason she had to hate Kaitlin was jealousy, which seems to fuel many issues, unfortunately.
Liz was a decent character.
Kaitlin was meh.
You know who else was Meh? Austin. A fairly generic boy character. Jock who dated the school Queen Bee. Then Kaitlin-as-Rachel showed up. Though, I did like how their relationship wasn't overdone, I didn't feel it was necessary. Not every book needs a romance. Then again, I'm a sucker for celebrities/royalty falling for normal people. I think many more celebrities out their could find true love if they didn't feel pressured to date/hook-up with fellow glamorous people.
"You said that you didn't understand how a movie star could fall for a regular guy. But being a movie star is just my job. The real me, the girl you met, wants to have a life like everybody else."
What a boring cover. Seriously, just look at that monstrosity!
Secrets of My Hollywood Life was fun and quick. A little boring and irritating at times, but I still had fun reading it!
Would I recommend it? Sure, why not :D
March 9, 2011
REVIEW
So, you think the life of a famous teen actress is a dream come true? Think again. For Kaitlin Burke, living that dream is great, but all she really wants is to try out life as a typical teen.
Kaitlin is one sneaky girl. She manages to fool an entire school when she enrolls as Rachel Rogers – a British transfer student. Seeing that she could pull this off, it was no wonder that she was a famous actress. She could win an Academy Award for the party scene!
One of the things that I really loved was that Kaitlin still kept her personality when she was Rachel. She stayed true to herself. Jen Calonita did a great job of melding both girls into one.
The cast of supporting characters was very entertaining. There’s Liz (best friend and partner in being sneaky), Sky Mackenzie (scheming co-star), Austin (cute boy at school), and Kaitlin’s mom (overpowering and bossy).
Cute and fun, I recommend this book to anyone who wants a glimpse into the Hollywood lifestyle.
RATING
4 Plot
5 Characters
4 Attention Grabbing
4 Girlie Meter
4 Ending
21 TOTAL
5 STARS
So, you think the life of a famous teen actress is a dream come true? Think again. For Kaitlin Burke, living that dream is great, but all she really wants is to try out life as a typical teen.
Kaitlin is one sneaky girl. She manages to fool an entire school when she enrolls as Rachel Rogers – a British transfer student. Seeing that she could pull this off, it was no wonder that she was a famous actress. She could win an Academy Award for the party scene!
One of the things that I really loved was that Kaitlin still kept her personality when she was Rachel. She stayed true to herself. Jen Calonita did a great job of melding both girls into one.
The cast of supporting characters was very entertaining. There’s Liz (best friend and partner in being sneaky), Sky Mackenzie (scheming co-star), Austin (cute boy at school), and Kaitlin’s mom (overpowering and bossy).
Cute and fun, I recommend this book to anyone who wants a glimpse into the Hollywood lifestyle.
RATING
4 Plot
5 Characters
4 Attention Grabbing
4 Girlie Meter
4 Ending
21 TOTAL
5 STARS
January 25, 2011
2.5 stars
I never thought I'd be saying this, but I actually prefer the books Lauren Conrad wrote over this... I'm not a huge fan of those either, but this book was not so good. It was predictable, that's my main problem with it. I'm not really into the whole Hollywood scene, so I probably should have known better, but I was curious, the library had it and 1+1=2. So there you go.
I probably will NOT read the next book in this series. And, I don't recommend it to you unless you are into Movie Stars, high school life, and predictability.
I'm sorry this is not a "real" review... I just don't feel like wasting any more time on this!
I never thought I'd be saying this, but I actually prefer the books Lauren Conrad wrote over this... I'm not a huge fan of those either, but this book was not so good. It was predictable, that's my main problem with it. I'm not really into the whole Hollywood scene, so I probably should have known better, but I was curious, the library had it and 1+1=2. So there you go.
I probably will NOT read the next book in this series. And, I don't recommend it to you unless you are into Movie Stars, high school life, and predictability.
I'm sorry this is not a "real" review... I just don't feel like wasting any more time on this!
March 14, 2011
Little bit of a younger read than I expected for a book about a 16 year old, but the character's struggles are compelling and fun...I'm hoping for more as the series goes on.
November 6, 2012
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
Sixteen-year-old Kaitlin Burke has been on the same nighttime soap, Family Affair, for the past twelve years. In between interviews, press junkets, trips abroad, and other smaller parts, she's had to deal with a demanding publicist, a mother who seems to be living her own life through that of her daughters, and a growing feud with her co-star, Sky Mackenzie. Ever since the two girls were cast, at age four, as fraternal twins on the show, Sky has been the bad girl with Kaitlin playing the role of good girl--both on screen and off.
As this season's hiatus nears, Kaitlin realizes that there's more to life than being on Teen People's list of hottest young stars, or being number six on Entertainment Weekly's "It List." Sure, there's an audition for a new movie by hot director Hutch Adams that she'd love to land, but she's also supremely tired. Working nearly nonstop for twelve years has taken its toll. So Kaitlin has come up with the perfect plan to take a break over hiatus--she'll attend Clark Hall as regular student Rachel Rogers, a girl from London visiting the U.S. for two months.
Everything is going along according to plan. Although the principal of Clark Hall and her fellow student and friend Liz know her true identity, no one else has a clue that plain, studious Rachel is really Kaitlin from one of the most popular shows on television. As "Rachel" settles into normal teen life, signing up to be on the boring dance committee and indulging in her love of math, she feels for the first time like a regular teen. And when she meets Austin, a guy unlike every Hollywood celebrity she's ever met, she knows she might be falling in love.
But as rumors start to swirl in the tabloids and as her double life is threatened by exposure, Kaitlin will have to learn what's really important in life--true friends, whether they know her as Kaitlin or Rachel; the belief in herself as an actress; and the blessing and curse that is the media.
SECRETS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFE is a quick, entertaining read that sheds new light on what it means to be a celebrity. Not everything is as great as Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or Nicole Richie would like us to believe, but it sure is filled with excitement!
Sixteen-year-old Kaitlin Burke has been on the same nighttime soap, Family Affair, for the past twelve years. In between interviews, press junkets, trips abroad, and other smaller parts, she's had to deal with a demanding publicist, a mother who seems to be living her own life through that of her daughters, and a growing feud with her co-star, Sky Mackenzie. Ever since the two girls were cast, at age four, as fraternal twins on the show, Sky has been the bad girl with Kaitlin playing the role of good girl--both on screen and off.
As this season's hiatus nears, Kaitlin realizes that there's more to life than being on Teen People's list of hottest young stars, or being number six on Entertainment Weekly's "It List." Sure, there's an audition for a new movie by hot director Hutch Adams that she'd love to land, but she's also supremely tired. Working nearly nonstop for twelve years has taken its toll. So Kaitlin has come up with the perfect plan to take a break over hiatus--she'll attend Clark Hall as regular student Rachel Rogers, a girl from London visiting the U.S. for two months.
Everything is going along according to plan. Although the principal of Clark Hall and her fellow student and friend Liz know her true identity, no one else has a clue that plain, studious Rachel is really Kaitlin from one of the most popular shows on television. As "Rachel" settles into normal teen life, signing up to be on the boring dance committee and indulging in her love of math, she feels for the first time like a regular teen. And when she meets Austin, a guy unlike every Hollywood celebrity she's ever met, she knows she might be falling in love.
But as rumors start to swirl in the tabloids and as her double life is threatened by exposure, Kaitlin will have to learn what's really important in life--true friends, whether they know her as Kaitlin or Rachel; the belief in herself as an actress; and the blessing and curse that is the media.
SECRETS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFE is a quick, entertaining read that sheds new light on what it means to be a celebrity. Not everything is as great as Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or Nicole Richie would like us to believe, but it sure is filled with excitement!
September 24, 2020
Pages: 276
My rating: 3
Read other books by this author in the future: no
MC: Rachel/Kaitlyn, Austin
SC: Liz, Beth, Allison, Mum, Dad, Matty, Laine
The book was an okay read, the story did not engrossed me. And there is not much I can tell. The FMC was pretty spoiled by her people, which was okay, because she was hard working. She had a lot of people who just wanted to have part of her fame like her parents and brother which did not sit well with me. She had the arche nemesis. But most of the plot was predictable.
October 13, 2013
*********SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!*******
Secrets Of My Hollywood Life was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It was one of those books you just can not put down. I finished it in less than a day and could not wait to start the next one! I love this author. Jen Calonita has written all of my most favorite books. In fact, this whole series was so good I could barely put them down! I really wish that the series could go on forever until Kaitlin dies and then continue to her children. I feel like Jen Calonita pretty much wrote about every girl's dream. Being a young, famous, rich, successful, actress with a super cute boyfriend, and connections to everyone from Taylor Swift to President Obama. The only bad thing is that the whole thing seems kind of cliche. I mean, a movie star, tired of the pressures of fame enrolls into a normal school under a disguise. Then in her less than beautiful disguise, the cutest boy in school dumps his popular, cheerleader girlfriend to go out with her. At the very end her rival and co-star exposes her to the media and whole school. Who has heard that before? I know I have. I do not know about you, but I have heard that story waaaaaayy too many times. It just seems overdone.That is why I was reluctant to start the next book. Boy, am I glad I did!! Even though it may be overdone, I still love it! Kaitlin lives the life every girl dreams of living. What girl would not want to be rich, famous and have a totally cute boyfriend? This book is very well written and is definitely my most favorite.
Secrets Of My Hollywood Life was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It was one of those books you just can not put down. I finished it in less than a day and could not wait to start the next one! I love this author. Jen Calonita has written all of my most favorite books. In fact, this whole series was so good I could barely put them down! I really wish that the series could go on forever until Kaitlin dies and then continue to her children. I feel like Jen Calonita pretty much wrote about every girl's dream. Being a young, famous, rich, successful, actress with a super cute boyfriend, and connections to everyone from Taylor Swift to President Obama. The only bad thing is that the whole thing seems kind of cliche. I mean, a movie star, tired of the pressures of fame enrolls into a normal school under a disguise. Then in her less than beautiful disguise, the cutest boy in school dumps his popular, cheerleader girlfriend to go out with her. At the very end her rival and co-star exposes her to the media and whole school. Who has heard that before? I know I have. I do not know about you, but I have heard that story waaaaaayy too many times. It just seems overdone.That is why I was reluctant to start the next book. Boy, am I glad I did!! Even though it may be overdone, I still love it! Kaitlin lives the life every girl dreams of living. What girl would not want to be rich, famous and have a totally cute boyfriend? This book is very well written and is definitely my most favorite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2017
I have to say, Jen Calonita’s book impressed me.
From the first chapter to the last, I could not put it down. I really did want to know what happened to Kaitlin. And the way Calonita introduced Austin into the story was simply marvelous. I wasn’t sure if I was meant to love him or hate him. It was wonderful!
It is actually kind of hilarious to read the ‘inside’ life of a celebrity. Sure, it isn’t an actual celebrity, but Calonita does a wonderful job making Kaitlin seem like a big star.
I will definitely get the next books in The Secrets of My Hollywood Life series! They all look super fun and full of drama, which I love.
I would give this book four stars!!
Title: The Secrets of My Hollywood Life
Author: Jen Calonita
Author’s Website: http://www.jencalonitaonline.com/
This review was written with my own opinions and words.
October 8, 2021
you know what my middle school self LOVED this and she would give it a 4.5. I don’t know if I would love it as much if I read it NOW but it was a rlly fun read for me back then. The concept was cute and there was one moment in particular that had me 😌
February 13, 2017
3.5 stars. I totally remember why I loved books like these, and now that love has turned into a weird fascination with how different contemporary romances were circa 2007. I read the first few books in the series back as they were published and lost track once high school ended. I'll definitely be continuing on for the nostalgic feels! But, as far as the book is concerned - I read this in a couple hours tonight and really enjoyed it until the end. The cheesiness and cliches definitely got to me a bit. (Just overly predictable and eye-rolly.) Also, her family is terrible! They all use her and steal her success to make it their own, yet she says they always have her back. I just don't see that quite yet. I'm also really glad I have such a terrible bookish memory because I seriously felt like I haven't even read this before as I was reading LOL
February 24, 2009
What I really loved and appreciated about this book was how it had no swearing, no inappropriate subject matter, and was completely fun to read! The plot was actually interesting enough that I read it one day because I wanted to know what would happen next. I also appreciated the dialogue and sense of honesty with the characters (particularly Kaitlan). Overall a very satisfying read.
February 20, 2018
I'd probably rate this book a 3.5 stars. Yes, it's super cheesy and full of tropes, but I enjoyed it. It was a fun and quick read, that reminds me of the kind of books I read in middle school. For me, it's one of those genres that I pick up every so often to remind myself why I fell in love with reading.
A few times I caught myself laughing at how obviously dated this book is like the MC uses a sidekick, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher are still together. Also the fact that kids were obsessed with Hilary Duff and Paris Hilton, plus there was absolutely NO mention of the Kardashians. (; (that last part was a joke.)
A few times I caught myself laughing at how obviously dated this book is like the MC uses a sidekick, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher are still together. Also the fact that kids were obsessed with Hilary Duff and Paris Hilton, plus there was absolutely NO mention of the Kardashians. (; (that last part was a joke.)
November 21, 2019
She was starring in her show Family Affair and the season was ending. Kaitlin was fighting with Sky ( her costar) a lot so she didn't want to stay in Hollywood during her hiatus. She went to her best friend Liz's high school to see what it was like to be a normal teenager. She met a girl named Lori there who was very rude to her and her boyfriend Austin who was really nice to her. She called her self Rachel and had a disguise. She had to manage a double life, she became friends with beth and Allison. Lori and Austin broke up and he started hanging around Rachel. Sky stole her sidekick at a photoshoot and outted her the school dance. In the end, she did an interview and got the Hutch Adams movie and started dating Austin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2020
Kaitlin Burke, who has been acting on one of the top night time soaps on TV since she was 4 (14 yeas so far) is exhausted--tired of all the press, the false leaks to the tabloids, the relentless pace, and wants a vacation from the cut throat nature of it even as her parents want her to get a star billing on a new scifi film, but her stage parents are only willing to give her a weekend. She hatches a plan with her best friend to go undercover as a student at a school so she can see what normal life is like and manages to get everyone on board.
This is a fun y/a read, full of teen angst and, of course, various and sundry obstacles, and Kaitlin begins to see that high school may just be as cutthroat as Hollywood.
This is a fun y/a read, full of teen angst and, of course, various and sundry obstacles, and Kaitlin begins to see that high school may just be as cutthroat as Hollywood.
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April 6, 2026i was debating about recording this bc it was a quick re-read of a book i’ve read upwards of 5-10 times through but i did read it!! so!
July 26, 2022
Well I have a new favorite series. This was such a well written YA book. A great plot of a famous actress deciding to go to highschool in disguise. I love Kaitlin Burke and all the friends she makes. The story had a few twists and turn but was a delightful fast read that I couldn't put down.
December 1, 2011
BEFORE YOU READ: This review will contain spoilers!
In this book we meet Kaitlin Burke, an actress on the hit soap-opera series Family Affair. Kaitlin has been in the limelight before she could even read, featuring in commercials and later on hired as an actress for a soap opera which became very successful. Now that the show is coming to a close, Kaitlin has to decide what the next step is to prolong her acting career. She meets new friends along the way, re-discovered who she was and modeled herself to be who she wanted to be. With her supportive-and sometimes over-bearing- family ,her agent, Seth and personal assistant, Nadine, by her side, Kaitlin achieves her goals and grows to be the mature woman she wanted to be. Along the way, she reveals the reality of Hollywood and what goes on behind closed doors. I recommend this book for anyone with a flair for fashion, Hollywood and drama. Teen girls 13-19 would love this book, it has a good mix of romance (Kaitlin & her boyfriend, Austin), frenemies (Kaitlin & Sky), misonception of situations (Kaitlin's relationship with Ava & Lauren) and good old Tinsletown drama.
I really like this book because it is a fun book to read, with some life lessons secretly hidden in between the lines. "'AAAAAHHHHHHH!' I scream and drop the phone. I step on it with my pointy heels ans tomp around in a circle screaming. 'They're driving me nuts!' I yell at the sky. 'I can't tale it anymore!' I scream again then stop and take a few deep breaths. I look down at my phone. The creen is cracked. Oops. Guess i won't e getting anymore calls on that tonight. For some reason, that actually makes me giggle" (P.91) In this quote Kaitlin just got off the phone with her mother- her mother was pushing her to do something she didn't want to do-and Kaitlin was over-whelmed. She let out her anger in the funniest way i have ever heard of, seems like a great stress reliever though. This quote made me understand the book a bit better because it actually let me into her world. I got to feel what she felt at that point in time and i have to say, i would've done alot more than stomping on my phone.
"I'm glad since i'm no closer to getting my license today than i was three months ago. Taking driving lessons is at the top of my to-do list- as soon as we get back from New York" Kaitlin is excited to finally move out on her own and go to NYU, like everyother graduating teen of her time. Here she shows that she is ready to take on the world...but first she has to learn how to drive. This quote helped me understand the book because it showed me that although she was worth millions, she was still a normal teen, she felt the same emotions we felt and anticipated for the same little things that we did. She was a taditional teen, with a whole lot of money.
I really enjoyed this book and if you ever read it, i hope you enjoy it too because it is a great read.
In this book we meet Kaitlin Burke, an actress on the hit soap-opera series Family Affair. Kaitlin has been in the limelight before she could even read, featuring in commercials and later on hired as an actress for a soap opera which became very successful. Now that the show is coming to a close, Kaitlin has to decide what the next step is to prolong her acting career. She meets new friends along the way, re-discovered who she was and modeled herself to be who she wanted to be. With her supportive-and sometimes over-bearing- family ,her agent, Seth and personal assistant, Nadine, by her side, Kaitlin achieves her goals and grows to be the mature woman she wanted to be. Along the way, she reveals the reality of Hollywood and what goes on behind closed doors. I recommend this book for anyone with a flair for fashion, Hollywood and drama. Teen girls 13-19 would love this book, it has a good mix of romance (Kaitlin & her boyfriend, Austin), frenemies (Kaitlin & Sky), misonception of situations (Kaitlin's relationship with Ava & Lauren) and good old Tinsletown drama.
I really like this book because it is a fun book to read, with some life lessons secretly hidden in between the lines. "'AAAAAHHHHHHH!' I scream and drop the phone. I step on it with my pointy heels ans tomp around in a circle screaming. 'They're driving me nuts!' I yell at the sky. 'I can't tale it anymore!' I scream again then stop and take a few deep breaths. I look down at my phone. The creen is cracked. Oops. Guess i won't e getting anymore calls on that tonight. For some reason, that actually makes me giggle" (P.91) In this quote Kaitlin just got off the phone with her mother- her mother was pushing her to do something she didn't want to do-and Kaitlin was over-whelmed. She let out her anger in the funniest way i have ever heard of, seems like a great stress reliever though. This quote made me understand the book a bit better because it actually let me into her world. I got to feel what she felt at that point in time and i have to say, i would've done alot more than stomping on my phone.
"I'm glad since i'm no closer to getting my license today than i was three months ago. Taking driving lessons is at the top of my to-do list- as soon as we get back from New York" Kaitlin is excited to finally move out on her own and go to NYU, like everyother graduating teen of her time. Here she shows that she is ready to take on the world...but first she has to learn how to drive. This quote helped me understand the book because it showed me that although she was worth millions, she was still a normal teen, she felt the same emotions we felt and anticipated for the same little things that we did. She was a taditional teen, with a whole lot of money.
I really enjoyed this book and if you ever read it, i hope you enjoy it too because it is a great read.
April 23, 2009
I read ‘Secrets oh my Hollywood Life’ by Jen Calonita. This book is about a teenage girl, Kaitlin Burke, who is a famous soap-opera star on the show, Family Affair. When Kaitlin’s hiatus rolls around she realizes she needs a long break from the Hollywood life. Kaitlin’s best friend, Liz, who is a normal teenager, and Kaitlin hatch a plan that Kaitlin will enroll in Liz’s high school, Clark Hall. Kaitlin knows that her manager (her mother) and her publicist will not go for this idea. But, to her amazement they agree to it, under one condition, that Kaitlin Burke attends all the normal Hollywood parties and events that she would regularly. Kaitlin Burke then becomes Rachel Rogers, a transfer student from London. As Kaitlin juggles her secret life and regular life, she realizes it’s not as easy as it seemed. She has to struggle with the ruthless nature of her Family Affair co-star, Sky Mackenzie, and the brutality of high school. Throughout the book Kaitlin must discover who her real friends are, and who likes her for being a star.
I thought this book was pretty good. It had a good plot, characters that were likeable and easy to relate to, and it was cool to see what a star’s life is like living in Hollywood, however amazing or annoying it might be. I would recommend this to people who liked the ‘Clique’ series, they are about the life of rich and sort of famous. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and I thought the book was OK.
I thought this book was pretty good. It had a good plot, characters that were likeable and easy to relate to, and it was cool to see what a star’s life is like living in Hollywood, however amazing or annoying it might be. I would recommend this to people who liked the ‘Clique’ series, they are about the life of rich and sort of famous. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and I thought the book was OK.
September 9, 2010
Usually when you pick up a book about a Hollywood family, you expect to feel fine about the characters but not really connect with them (unless you're a Hollywood teenager yourself). While I didn't exactly connect with Kaitlin on the lifestyle level, I did really enjoy her personality, which often does not happen when reading in this genre.
I think my ability to like Kaitlin is because the whole plot of this book is that she wants a normal life - so we get to see her interact with 'normal' characters. They don't all get what they want all of the time, can't buy all of the clothes and shoes they want - they are high schoolers as we know high schoolers to be, and to see her try to adapt to the new life is entertaining and endearing.
Jen Calonita starts to build up the characters and get you attached to their personalities in Secrets of My Hollywood Life. I'm happy that it is part of a series, and even more happy that Jen Calonita chose to make this book a story within itself instead of leaving us with a huge cliffhanger. I'm really excited to read the rest of the books in this series, especially if Calonita keeps building on the characters like she did with this one.
I think my ability to like Kaitlin is because the whole plot of this book is that she wants a normal life - so we get to see her interact with 'normal' characters. They don't all get what they want all of the time, can't buy all of the clothes and shoes they want - they are high schoolers as we know high schoolers to be, and to see her try to adapt to the new life is entertaining and endearing.
Jen Calonita starts to build up the characters and get you attached to their personalities in Secrets of My Hollywood Life. I'm happy that it is part of a series, and even more happy that Jen Calonita chose to make this book a story within itself instead of leaving us with a huge cliffhanger. I'm really excited to read the rest of the books in this series, especially if Calonita keeps building on the characters like she did with this one.
April 2, 2015
I have one word to describe this book: AWFUL.
It is incredibly poorly written. Was this meant to be a published book or Hannah Montana fanfiction? Seriously, I wonder.
Kaitlin is boring, stupid, and immature. The author made a poor attempt at making her relatable and likable; but she comes off as an annoying as hell Mary sue. Really, she is such a good person she barely harbors any hate towards anyone and is just so nice. Please get real. Also, the love interest Austin is also a total male mary su (I believe the term is gary stu). At some point, Kaitlin even says that he seems too perfect which made wonder that maybe the book isn't meant to be taken seriously. Every character in the book is cardboard, completely one dimensional, and obviously transparent. I have cero clue why would someone rate this book any higher than 3 stars. It's actually so bad, it's pathetic. The storyline is 100% predictable. It is a bit interesting otherwise I wouldn't have read it. But in the end, this book completely and utterly sucks.
It is incredibly poorly written. Was this meant to be a published book or Hannah Montana fanfiction? Seriously, I wonder.
Kaitlin is boring, stupid, and immature. The author made a poor attempt at making her relatable and likable; but she comes off as an annoying as hell Mary sue. Really, she is such a good person she barely harbors any hate towards anyone and is just so nice. Please get real. Also, the love interest Austin is also a total male mary su (I believe the term is gary stu). At some point, Kaitlin even says that he seems too perfect which made wonder that maybe the book isn't meant to be taken seriously. Every character in the book is cardboard, completely one dimensional, and obviously transparent. I have cero clue why would someone rate this book any higher than 3 stars. It's actually so bad, it's pathetic. The storyline is 100% predictable. It is a bit interesting otherwise I wouldn't have read it. But in the end, this book completely and utterly sucks.
January 18, 2010
I could totally see this book being made into a movie. It has a bit of a "Mean Girls" edge to it that is irresistible. Author Jen Calonita worked at Teen People before starting her life as an author. She obviously got the inside scoop while she was there. She seems to know all about Hollywood politics.
The story is a breeze to read, I finished the book in a days time no problem. Reading it so quickly was partly due to the fact that I was really sucked into the story!
Kaitlin Burke is one of Hollywood's top 25 under 25, actually shes number 1. The girl is a force of nature. She is known for being a sweet girl, a prime time soap star who grew up in front of the cameras. Her on screen sister is a living nightmare, Sky likes to step on as many toes as she can to get to the top of the Hollywood food chain.
When Kaitlin decides she wants to be a normal girl and go undercover to one of her friends high schools, she finds out that high school isn't so different from Hollywood.
The story is a breeze to read, I finished the book in a days time no problem. Reading it so quickly was partly due to the fact that I was really sucked into the story!
Kaitlin Burke is one of Hollywood's top 25 under 25, actually shes number 1. The girl is a force of nature. She is known for being a sweet girl, a prime time soap star who grew up in front of the cameras. Her on screen sister is a living nightmare, Sky likes to step on as many toes as she can to get to the top of the Hollywood food chain.
When Kaitlin decides she wants to be a normal girl and go undercover to one of her friends high schools, she finds out that high school isn't so different from Hollywood.
December 4, 2015
Generally, I try not to think about that period in life known as high school. Rereading Secrets of my Hollywood Life did remind me that there was some good in those four years, notably the excitement of whenever a new Kaitlin Burke book was published.
Also, STAR WARS. I'm sure Kaitlin is just as excited as I am about the 18th.
Also, STAR WARS. I'm sure Kaitlin is just as excited as I am about the 18th.
November 8, 2018
I read this book multiple times in my life. It was one of my favorite when I was in High School. Last time I read this book in 2014 I gave it 5 stars, I read many books since and I know this book is not a 5 stars book. It's cheesy, it's cliché and predictable but it's such a good guilty pleasure book!
May 20, 2008
When I first started this book, it sounded kind of stupid. But I immediately got hooked. And, wow, it is was really great. I thought it was cute, funny, and an overall good read. Teehee, I really loved it!
July 14, 2023
Read 2003-2005. LOL funny contemporary YA about a teenage soap opera star and how fame affects her. As somebody who was obsessed with Perez Hilton and the hijinks of LiLo and Paris at the time, I enjoyed getting the inside scoop into that celeb life, however fictional it might be.
February 27, 2015
This was a great book and I can't wait to continue reading the series. It's cool how it shows us the life of a young Hollywood star and how sometimes they wish they could be normal like us.
July 3, 2015
I thought this was a cute read to pass the time. I liked the characters, especially Austin and I hope the next book is as good as this one.
July 8, 2023
3.5 stars. A uncomplicated story about a TV star and her desire to live like a normal teen. Completely predictable, but still fun. No swearing or sex, so it's safe for you and your kid. Recommend.
October 19, 2015
Hannah Montana: the book. Enough said.
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