*Spoilers*
Leigh's second installment in the Famous series is another enjoyable read. Like in Relatively Famous, the writing is solid, the pacing is fast to get to the tension filled good parts, and the characters are believable and well-rounded. Nothing and no one is perfect in this series, which saves it from being filed away as another pseudo-angsty yet saccharine sweet romance novel.
Here's what I love about Absolutely Famous:
1) Sydney pulls her shit together and actually deals with her REAL life, not the fake, witness protection-like life she had before. Instead of tearing Sydney and Drew apart, her exodus to London for work actually brings them closer together because Sydney learns how to BE Sydney Tannen again. While she is on her own, Sydney can deal with the attention in her own way, instead of relying on Drew to handle it for her. By not being cocooned by very angry Drew and a few mean looking bodyguards, Sydney learns that she can fight back (whether it's with a well placed knee to the crotch or a stern verbal assault). Her "fuck it" attitude towards the media and fans makes her the strong character readers wanted to see earlier---but of course she couldn't be this character without first shedding her "Sydney Allen persona" and Drew's over-protectiveness.
2) Drew's short fuse when it comes to threats towards Sydney. I absolutely loved it whenever he went all caveman or slipped into his Boston accent. I actually found it funny whenever Sydney referred to him as "Angry Drew" or "Very Angry Drew". From the very beginning of the series, it was established that Drew was an alpha male, so his outbursts and rages about not being able to protect what's his are realistic.
3) The cast of secondary characters (Leah, Ryker, Adam, Allie, etc.) add to the story instead of just being background fodder. They all come across as real people who have real problems.
Here's what I had a problem with (again, this might be nit-picking):
1) There is still no resolution of the father situation. Hell, Sydney hasn't even started to even deal with it yet. I was hoping that she would have at least called him, especially since he was at the hospital when she was stabbed...and he TALKED TO DREW ABOUT MARRYING HER. Perhaps this will be dealt with in the next installment.
2) What purpose does Oliver serve? I think he was supposed to be a possible romantic option for Sydney because they are obviously attracted to each other (and they almost maybe kiss?), but then nothing happens because she loves Drew. There really aren't even enough tension filled interactions between them for the reader to seriously think that she's gonna get involved with him. His presence seems like a tease of a love triangle plot twist. This same issue came up in Relatively Famous with Adam: a hot guy poses a pseudo-threat to Sydney and Drew's relationship.
None of my small issues with the book take away from the great read that it is. I love this series and can't wait to read more!