Far from the A-List

by Stephanie Burns

In this fresh, propulsive take on fame in the tabloid era of the ’00s, a former child star struggles to figure out who she is beyond the characters she's played—on television and in relationships.

Former child star Michaela Turner is ready for her next big role—she just doesn’t know what it is yet. As someone whose days were once filled with bright lights, never-ending rehearsals, and adoring fans from around the world, Michaela now struggles to define herself beyond the glitz and glamour of her past.
She tries hard to stay out of the tabloids, but fading into the background isn’t quite as easy as it sounds. Not when her manipulative momager, Caroline, is dead set on launching her daughter’s big comeback, no matter how many old wounds it tears open. And especially not when Michaela’s attempts at “normal” relationships fail spectacularly at every turn, from the toxic ex she can’t seem to escape to the nice guy she wishes she could see a future with.

As her mother’s demands grow more draining and her love life takes hit after hit, she learns a few hard truths about the significance of self-worth and the beauty of letting go. Now, with her ex-boyfriend-turned-best-friend Josh as her only support, Michaela is ready to rebuild herself, one misstep at a time. And maybe, if she’s lucky, after all these years of pretending, she’ll finally have the chance to discover who she really is.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 9, 2025

Reviews

[Kristy Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of child stars, star-crossed lovers, and stage moms rejoice! Stephanie Burns has graced us with a witty, wise, and all-around wonderful debut that asks the big questions of adulthood: Who am I, and what do I really want? This is a soul-satisfying, all-the-feels debut from a standout new voice!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been following Stephanie Burns online for quite some time, as she started out as a book blogger and has the cutest beagle. So I was thrilled to learn that she wrote a novel! Far from the A-List is an impressive debut with a flawed character you'll be rooting for. While it is set in 2007, it could easily take place now, given how celebrities are still being portrayed in the media.

Michaela was a hot mess for the most part. I kept waiting for her to find her self-respect. I was rewarded in that regard but she took a while to really get there. I wish she would have had more closure in one situation. However, I enjoyed getting to know her and the flashbacks to her TV-acting days were interesting. Some of the people in her life were problematic though, which led to her derailing quite a bit. I could also understand why she had trouble letting go of the toxic people.

The descriptions really brought the story to life and it was easy to visualize people and places. I sometimes felt bad for Michaela and other times wanted to yell at her for some of the choices she made. I also was cringeing for her at times.

Overall, an entertaining story! It allowed me to get into Stephanie's head as a writer and live in this world she created.

(Trigger warnings below.)

Movie casting suggestions:

Michaela: Francesca Reale

Josh: Max Lloyd-Jones

Deacon: Robert Sheehan

Caroline (mom): Alanna Ubach

Ben: Steve Lund
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TW: Parental abandonment. Drug and alcohol use. Slander.

[MicheleReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michaela Turner, once beloved as a child star for her role as Daisy Breyer on Breyer's Town, a sitcom still airing in reruns. She's now 27-years-old but to the public, she's still Daisy. Her acting career ended with the show, and instead of pursuing a new path, she has become a party girl, making a living off her celebrity status by appearing at the trendiest clubs. Her only true friend is Josh, who is struggling to shed this image as the popular lead in a former boy band. Ex-boyfriend Deacon, a former member of a band who has started a solo career, comes back into Michaela's life. He misses his former muse, but he is also engaged. When Michaela meets a nice man in a bookstore, she questions if she can ever lead a normal life. The sudden return of her estranged mother Caroline adds further chaos for Michaela.

In an impressive debut, author Stephanie Burns's Far From the A-List looks at our celebrity culture. Growing up in front of millions of people can be challenging, especially with a self-absorbed mother. Despite making many errors in judgement in her adult life, Michaela is a character to root for as tries to figure out who she is and how to live her best life. It's an entertaining coming-of-age story with heart and humor.

Many thanks to MIRA | Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michaela is a 20 yr old former child star of the 00’s. After being in the spotlight most of her life, she feels like she doesn't know who she really is as a person. She's been around bad influences and is hitting rock bottom. She needs to find her future ... .and where she goes from here. I haven't read a book like this before. The plot was fresh and interesting. Michaela was a flawed, quirky character. But I couldn't help but like her and root for her to make the right decisions. I loved the nostalgia the references to the 2000’s brought. I loved the writing, and it's a very entertaining and fun read.

Thank you to the publisher, netgalley and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jessica Strawser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Far From the A-List begins with an all-too familiar picture of a former-child-star-turned-20-something-party-girl -- and then turns every trope on its head by packing a surprisingly emotional punch. Stephanie Burns writes her main character with an unflinching yet sympathetic eye, capturing the complicated reality of a young woman trying to move on from a public image she can't escape, trying to grow up when the world still sees her as a kid on their TV screens every night, and trying to break a cycle of bad decisions when no one ever taught her how to make better ones. Far From the A-List is an assured, well-written debut that left me looking forward to whatever Burns writes next.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is going to be short and sweet, because this one just wasn’t for me. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Bailey Carr, who did a great job—the overall production was solid and well executed. Unfortunately, despite this being the kind of story that’s typically right up my alley, I struggled to stay engaged.

I can’t quite put my finger on why, but I found myself zoning out and feeling bored more often than not. That said, I do think many listeners will enjoy this one. The premise is fun, Carr’s narration brings the character to life, and I can easily see others connecting with the character’s growth and walking away feeling uplifted by the end.


I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Harlequin Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.

[Heaven Protsman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just fine. It follows Michaela, a former child star that needs to figure out what she's doing with the rest of her life. I enjoyed the premise and most of it was good. The FMC will probably annoy you, but that's the whole point. She makes poor choices and she's just trying to get her sh*t together. I felt the ending was extremely abrupt and I got no closure about anything, so that was a major disappointment.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this advanced copy!

For anyone who feels stuck, this is a great book. Even though most of us aren't child TV stars, I still think the idea of feeling stuck between one life and what happens next is real. I liked following the main character and I had so much compassion for the people she surrounded herself with and had no idea how to get out of it. I liked watching her take these very small steps towards figuring out who she really is. I thought the book was super realistic, and a very good message about how important it is to figure out who you are. Even if it takes a long time!

[Jennifer S. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best way to describe this book is pure fun. Michaela is a former child actress who has stalled out in her twenties, unsure what she wants to do with her life. She is recognized everywhere and she will forever be associated with the role that made her famous. She's now a club girl with only one true friend and a mom who abandoned her long ago.

Michaela is an extremely flawed person, which makes her so interesting. Her choices, while logical to her, are generally poor, as she digs herself deeper and deeper.

I can't tell you how much I loved the ending of this novel. Oftentimes, stories like this can land the ending; Far from the A-List not only nails the entire story, but gives the perfect ending for Michaela. So much fun.

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books about self-discovery, and this one is simply irresistible.
This debut is heartfelt, funny, and compulsively readable. Michaela’s journey is messy, real, and so easy to root for.
If you love character-driven stories about finding your worth, put this one on your radar. It’s tender, vulnerable, and full of those little moments that remind you it’s never too late to choose yourself again.

[Kat Kunz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michaela Turner rose to fame in the late 80s and early 90s on a prime-time sitcom as the precocious younger daughter of a widowed dad. Ever since, her acting career has trended slowly downhill, something she hasn't minded, necessarily, but which has left her scrambling as to what her life's ambition should be instead--who is she if not Daisy Breyer? As she stumbles through nightclubs, paid appearances, and publicist-negotiated relationships in what context clues tell us is 2008? ish?, she longs for a rekindling of romance with the one boyfriend she thought truly saw her and understood her, even though he is engaged to someone new. In the midst of all of this, her mother Caroline reappears, not asking for money (this time) but possibly for something worse.

This novel absolutely snuck up on me and reeled me in to the point that I stayed up too late just to finish it (tears streaming down my face as I did so). What spectacular characters! Michaela makes a lot of cringingly terrible choices but as you learn more and more about her past, her upbringing, and her relationships, you begin to understand why she keeps choosing badly. Ex Deacon, BFF Josh, mother Caroline--I wanted to reach into the story and shake each one of them at various points, which just shows how invested I was. This felt like a cross between Workhorse (which I also loved) and a real life I'm Glad My Mom Died. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Annissa Joy Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this entertaining debut!! I listened to it and the narrators were very good!! Can’t wait to read the next book by this author!!

Michaela Turner is a former child tv star and she is having difficulty figuring out what to do with her life. She has friends from her tv days but do they want what is best for her. She needs to find herself so that she can move on with her life instead of partying every night. She is searching to find the best version of herself and finds an old piece of paper….

This one is available now and I highly recommend if you like coming of age, romance, humor and so much more!!!

[Janet | purrfectpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far From the A-List centers around Michaela Turner, a former child star who spends her days (and nights) visiting night clubs and questioning her life choices. Now a far cry from the role that brought her early fame, Michaela can’t escape the prying eyes of the paparazzi that’s just waiting for her next screw up, or her next gig, whatever comes first.

As if becoming an adult in front of the world wasn’t enough, she’s also grappling with the return of her manipulative mother, her behavior as predictable as a rerun of the sitcom she once starred on, as well as dating in the public eye which often feels like a job in itself. The only real solace Michaela has is her friendship with her one time boyfriend and former boy bander, Josh. Struggling to be accepted for what they are now versus once they once was is one club they both are in, no VIP access necessary.
But as the days pass, Michaela can’t help but to feel tired of her own lack of purpose. Will she make a comeback or start a self appointed spinoff?

Far From the A-List has a cutesy cover with a shallow premise. But just like former child stars would want you to know, there’s more than meets the eye. As a result, this novel is both a relevant commentary on throwaway culture as much as it is a surprisingly deep one. While part of me felt bad for Michaela, a bigger part of me was waiting for her to not feel bad about herself. Regardless, this was a refreshing take on 15 minutes of fame, and one that will stay with the reader for much longer.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good drama and a drama with a has been child/teen actor is even better.

Michaela Turner played an all American girl on tv. That phase has been over for a while and now twenty something Michaela doesn’t know exactly what she should do. Right now she is on the NYC party circuit dating a MLB pitcher and has a best friend that was a lead in a boy band.

Michaela also has a yearly one night stand with one rock star and a codependent relationship with another one. She has a typical child actor mother/manager that seems to only contact Michaela when she wants something.

Michaela has a lot of drama and no real answers on how to stop pleasing people and become her own person.

The book does a wonderful job of taking us through the spectacle that is Michaela’s current life and keeping us hooked as she is on the road to self discovery.

[Stroop · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fun premise. A bright spot in the story is Michaela's friendship with another former child star, Josh. I did not end up connecting to the (many) characters and the pacing of the story felt off at times. I think readers interested in self-discovery dramas and explorations of how fame can impact a person may enjoy.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
📺 grew up watching Disney shows
🎭 enjoy drama (as long as it’s not your own)
📖 are looking for a coming of age novel
😅 always make bad decisions

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Former child star Michaela Turner is ready for her next big role—she just doesn’t know what it is yet. As someone whose days were once filled with bright lights, never-ending rehearsals, and adoring fans from around the world, Michaela now struggles to define herself beyond the glitz and glamour of her past.

She tries hard to stay out of the tabloids, but fading into the background isn’t quite as easy as it sounds. Not when her manipulative momager, Caroline, is dead set on launching her daughter’s big comeback, no matter how many old wounds it tears open. And especially not when Michaela’s attempts at “normal” relationships fail spectacularly at every turn, from the toxic ex she can’t seem to escape to the nice guy she wishes she could see a future with.

As her mother’s demands grow more draining and her love life takes hit after hit, she learns a few hard truths about the significance of self-worth and the beauty of letting go. Now, with her ex-boyfriend-turned-best-friend Josh as her only support, Michaela is ready to rebuild herself, one misstep at a time. And maybe, if she’s lucky, after all these years of pretending, she’ll finally have the chance to discover who she really is.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was a fun read about a girl who doesn’t really know how to be an adult after being a child television star with a narcissistic mother. I loved watching Michaela try and navigate life. It was hard to connect with her because I didn’t have the same childhood, but I was really rooting for her to start making good decisions for herself. I think she could have used the guidance of someone who didn’t have the same upbringing in her life. Most of the characters are highly unlikable, but it made the story more believable because how many times do we come across difficult people in real life? Pretty often! If you’re a fan of family drama, pick this one up!

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those stories where I was biting my nails and sometimes shouting out loud, hoping that Michaela, our FMC, would choose the right man!

Michaela was a popular child star, but never had much success afterward. Now she's known as the party girl, clubbing and dating rock stars and athletes. But tired of always being controlled by either her mother/manager, the tabloids, or fickle fans, Michaela wants to “try” to be normal.

I don’t doubt this book reveals some truths about how hard it is for child actors to return to an everyday life, a life that no longer revolves around them and pleasing others. Michaela was a character who needed to wake up and see what, or should I say who, had been there for her all along. She kept making mistakes, falling for one good deed or apology to erase a multitude of sins.

It drove me a little crazy, but I had to find out if she would make the right choice. I’ll admit, Stephanie Burns didn’t make it easy - who wouldn’t want to be a rockstar’s muse? Some of these men were alluring and sexy, some nerdy and kind, others were pure flings, and one was a childhood friend. Deep down, I knew there was only one that she belonged with - now if she could just see it!

A messy, sexy, and authentic story of self-discovery and finding your path, and maybe that someone special, too. I loved getting caught up in it.


🎧 Bailey Carr, a new-to-me narrator, narrated the audiobook, and I thought she did an excellent job! I loved how she voiced “all” of Michaela’s men in her life. Their personalities certainly shone through!


Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @stephanieburnsauthor for the gifted eBook. Thank you @harlequinbooks for the gifted audiobook via @NetGalley.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“Far From the A-List” is by Stephanie Burns. This book follows former child star Michaela Turner, known to many as Daisy due to the role she played on TV for a number of years. Michaela is very recognizable and while proud of her role, hasn’t done much since then. Her best friend is Josh, another former child star though he was part of a boy band. Michaela has an on-again/off-again relationship with Deacon, a member of what was a band and now he’s going solo. This book mainly focuses on Michaela - and her issues of “what am I going to be when I grow up, but how do I learn as a grown-up the things I should’ve learned when I was younger.” In very many ways, this reminded me of Taylor Swift’s song “You Belong To Me.” One of the people is always there, cheering her on, trying to be in her corner, and Michaela is aware of it but instead of realizing it, keeps self-destructing her relationships. For a while, Michaela dates a person with a stable job and who doesn’t know who she played and it seemed like she might have a mature grown-up steady relationship. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happened. In many ways, it was rather sad to see Michaela make the same mistakes again and again, but it was nice to see in the end that she got a clue-by-four and, hopefully, will continue in the positive direction she’s going … though maybe some help from someone will also help her. An enjoyable book overall.

[Kate Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who here has watched The Office and remembers when Karen’s in her interview at corporate and Jan blazes in, furious about how she’s being fired? Karen’s line, “That was some serious, hard-core self-destruction” pretty much sums up my feelings about the actions of this book’s protagonist. It’s almost hard to read at times when you see how terrible Michaela’s choices are and continue to be, but the author kept me rooting for her in spite of her faults. I needed to know how and when she would find her way through!

I loved the premise of this novel—I mean, who doesn’t want to read about the struggles and foibles of a former child actor? I think many of us “normal people” find some twisted satisfaction when we hear a celebrity has screwed up, because we think, “hey, they’re wealthy and successful, but at least they ___” (can’t keep a relationship, aren’t in demand anymore, fill in the blank with any other failure). So that’s part of what this protagonist is dealing with: the feeling of not knowing where she fits in the world anymore now that she’s no longer acting. So she flails—and fails—a LOT. People have let her down in the past and she doesn’t always deal with that in healthy ways.

Overall, it’s a really entertaining read and one that made me think about purpose and how people see one another. Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA for the chance to read an early e-version!

[Sharyn Stieglitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michaela Turner is a former child star, known for her role as Daisy on a TV show she starred on as a kid. Even though she's 27 now, she still gets mistaken for her character when she's out, including her iconic catchphrase "Holy Cannoli!". But at 27, Michaela is figuring out who she wants to be. She left the acting life behind, tried college, and is stuck in a rut. Her best friend Josh is a former boy band member who is also trying to figure out what he wants to do after a failed attempt at a solo career. Then there's her toxic ex, who keeps coming back into her life even though he's engaged. She meets Ben, a normal guy at the bookstore, but can't seem to get herself to open up to him either. Worst of all is her toxic mother, who has always had her own agenda for Michaela based on how she can benefit from her career. She tries to push Michaela back down the acting path, but Michaela isn't sure she wants to go down that road again.

This book is perfect for anyone who is or has ever felt stuck in life and trying to find their path. I found Michaela to be relatable, not as a former child star, but as someone who's trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to do. We see the way she navigates her toxic mother, trying to find her voice, but also struggling with her past. I really enjoyed this book and thank you to Stephanie Burns, Mira Books, The Hive, and NetGalley for my e-arc!

[callistoscalling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.

🎧 Book Review 🎧 If you are raising children, you are aware of the overwhelming struggles of influencers and YouTubers in their everyday life. You want to just say no to social media and preserve their youth as long as possible. While this is not a new concept, it has become all-consuming. Once upon a time, the media only had childhood stars to exploit and steal their childhood joy from. Stephanie Burns brings the nostalgia of familiar comfy television shows and tabloids that so many of us grew up with in her absolutely riveting debut novel.

Michaela Turner still has not recovered from her days as a childhood actor on a popular television show, managed by her mother, deprived of typical experiences, and now a directionless twenty-seven year old. She’s never had a “normal” relationship but at least her rockstar ex-boyfriend Josh has turned into her best friend and only ally. Michaela is a beautifully written, complicated, and authentically flawed character that readers will empathize with. There is nothing more challenging than breaking down your walls and breaking free from toxic ties with people from your past but Michaela is doing her best. Far From the A-List is one emotionally heartfelt (albeit messy) journey of self-discovery.

[Manda Marigold · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐ (3.75 stars)
Far from the A-List is a debut novel that takes us inside the messy, chaotic world of Michaela Turner, former child star turned struggling adult. Known as Daisy Breyer from the beloved sitcom Breyer's Town, Michaela is desperately trying to reconcile the fame of her past with her present reality.
Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she faces a life full of pressure, from her relentless mom/manager to the crumbling state of her personal life. Michaela's struggle to stay relevant is real, but it's her fight to regain control over her own destiny, one blunder at a time, that truly drives the story.
What I loved:

The sitcom premise, which was a fun nod to shows like Full House

Michaela’s relatable journey of trying to figure out who she is beyond her past fame

The chaos! This book is the perfect ticket to the "hot mess express" 🎢

What I didn’t love:

The complicated web of Michaela’s relationships (keeping track was a bit much!)

Michaela’s repeated return to toxic relationships got old, and the plot dulled a bit toward the end

All in all, far from the A-List is a solid debut, and if you love stories of self-discovery (and watching someone else’s drama unfold), this one’s for you! 📚💫

[Lana Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when I finish a book that leaves me feeling both overjoyed and utterly sad. Overjoyed because I just spent my time completely engrossed—world fades away and I am transported to a different time and place—in a story that took me on a roller coaster of all the feels, made up of characters that immediately went straight from the page to fill every nook and cranny of my heart. Sad because I’m going to miss those friends I just made on those pages, where I followed them around their lives, watched them make mistakes, fell in the worst and best kinds of love, broke and mended relationships (or walked away from the toxic ones), cried over things I’ve been through myself and felt the butterflies of rising above it all. If you’ve ever loved a book the way I loved Far From the A-List by author Stephanie Burns, you’d know what I mean. This author is unlike any I’ve ever read. Her writing is practically poetry. This isn’t just another piece of fiction that you read, put back on your shelf and move on to the next. It is a life lesson, a love story, a tale of tragedy, courage, fight and triumph that stays with you forever. I am not a big repeat-reader, but I’ve read this book several times and every time feels like the first. This book is everything and more.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel about growing up, even when you're 27. Michaela was a child actor famous for her green eyes and her tag line Holy Cannoli but she foundered at 18, when she went to and dropped out of college. She was smart enough to buy her condo where she's been living thanks to her residuals but she hasn't had a job and her partying has caught up to her. She's lucky that Josh, once a teen idol (who hasn't worked in 5 years) is her BFF and emotional support because she needs it, thanks to a horrible mother and poor choices in men. A really bad night out changes everything as she realizes she is in fact no longer A list. But can she have a relationship with an English teacher? Ben's a good guy who doesn't know her from TV. Her efforts to be "normal" are poignant as she struggles to answer questions as simple as her favorite food. This is one bumpy ride and I found myself rooting for her, even when I was disagreeing with her choices. Burns has great storytelling skills that kept me turning the pages. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. I really enjoyed this.

[Sara K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am going to start my review by saying that I am not a huge celebrity gossip person. This book is very much about a child celebrity who has grown up and is struggling in the early 2000s. The story was well written, the characters were very well developed. I truly did not like the main character, which also made it hard for me to LOVE this book. I found that it took way too long for her to "grow up" and that she continued to make the same mistakes over and over again. It just was difficult to read at points... Maybe that is me coming from a 40 year old mom and not a 20 something trying to figure out what comes next. I think that the book and characters were hard for me to connect with - in many ways it felt more YA than not - however the descriptions and writing in the book were done very well. The pacing was great. The descriptions made it very easy to know what was going on. It was easy to keep track of the characters and storyline. An overall entertaining read. Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

[Lisa Rosenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Mira for an early read. What a ride! This is a deep dive into the stumbling, searching late twenties of Michaela Turner, a former child star whose mother abandoned her once she grew up and was no longer an adorable TV-worthy income source.
Now paid to go clubbing and be seen in designer clothing, Michaela is at a loss for how to find her footing as an adult--who would that even be? With so many distractions, rotten influences (and influencers), Michaela has many layers to sort out before she gets down to who she really is and what life can look like when the camera stops rolling.

A must read for any fans of late 90's and early 2000's nostalgia, those who were hooked on the Disney channel and follow the after lives of its former child stars. If you loved Jeannette McCurdy's memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died, here's a fictional tale that might be an accompaniment!

[Meghan C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of Michaela Turner. Is she perfect? Hardly. Does she make wise decisions? Far from it. But underneath the tough, been-there, done-that veneer of a veteran child star is a young woman whose yearning to be loved and understood, and whose striving to be a better person are completely relatable and heartbreaking. If I loved her less then I might feel impervious to the scheming of her toxic mother Caroline, or the narcissism of her hypnotic ex, Deacon. But instead I found myself wanting to protect her and cheering on the better angels in her life, like Josh, her best friend whose days as a former boy band member give him insight and perspective Michaela can lean on, and Ben, the warm, unguarded new love interest whose normal life is exotic and tantalizing to someone like Michaela who has never known stability and belonging. This is one I'll read over and over again. Highly recommend, great for book clubs (lots to discuss).

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A former child star, Michaela, who is trying to figure out who she is outside of the character she played (which everyone seems to hope she might be like this character all grown up) and who tend to be disappointed when they find out she's not.

I felt bad for her because it would be awful to only be seen as someone who was not even real but only on TV. Especially because she stopped being that character at age 12 and she's now 27!

Michaela also has a hard time with romantic relationships and especially her relationship with her mother. She really has to search inside herself to find a balance to eventually lead to a more normal existence. I do appreciate her growth even though it takes a bit to get there. I felt grateful to her best friend, Josh, and his personal decision to really drive that need to find herself.

[Kim Wilch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michaela can’t escape her past, the former child star whose hit show defined - and ended - her career. Instead of a clean reinvention, she’s leaned into the party-girl lifestyle, with her longtime friend Josh (former boy band heartthrob—hello nostalgia) understanding what it’s like to peak too young. Things get messy when her ex strolls back into her life… engaged to someone else. Toss in the chaos of an estranged mother and Michaela’s complicated life goes delightfully off the rails.

This impressive debut is equal parts funny and heartfelt. I found myself cheering for Michaela despite (and because of) her bad decisions - she’s flawed, relatable, and just trying to figure herself out. It’s a realistic, entertaining coming-of-age story about messy lives, second chances, and that it’s never too late to become who you’re meant to be.

[CBLa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook version. What an unlikable main character. Michaela was an opportunist and a user and although she eventually got to a place of thinking for herself (in like the last three chapters), she was quite dreadful. Jumping from man to man with no true thoughts for herself or goal or ambitions at the age of 27 was a lot to contend with, especially given her claim to fame was as a television show child actress over a decade prior. The extent to which people recognized her as a grown woman from when she was 12 had me side eyeing the entire premise. Far from A list indeed, in skill AND character. The saving grace for this book is at least the author didn’t try to strike up romantic love between Josh and Michaela. I appreciated that. Let the friends be friends. Too bad Ben got used in all of Michaela’s messed up traits.