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Map to the Stars
Author Jen Malone draws on her real-life experiences as a movie studio publicist to bring you an insider peek at love, Hollywood-style.
The California dream was supposed to give seventeen-year-old Annie Shelton a fresh start far removed from her dad’s unusual betrayal. But when things don’t go according to plan in La La Land, Annie’s mom snags a last-minute gig as makeup artist to a teen movie idol and finagles a spot for her daughter on his European promotional tour.
Down-to-earth Annie would rather fangirl architectural sights than an arrogant A-lister. That is, until behind-the-scenes Graham Cabot turns out to be more sweetly vulnerable than she could have imagined.
Too bad falling for a poster boy isn’t all red carpets and star treatment, especially when you factor in obnoxious fans, an overprotective assistant, a stage mom/manager, and a beefy bodyguard.
But it isn’t until the paparazzi make an appearance that things get really sticky…
The California dream was supposed to give seventeen-year-old Annie Shelton a fresh start far removed from her dad’s unusual betrayal. But when things don’t go according to plan in La La Land, Annie’s mom snags a last-minute gig as makeup artist to a teen movie idol and finagles a spot for her daughter on his European promotional tour.
Down-to-earth Annie would rather fangirl architectural sights than an arrogant A-lister. That is, until behind-the-scenes Graham Cabot turns out to be more sweetly vulnerable than she could have imagined.
Too bad falling for a poster boy isn’t all red carpets and star treatment, especially when you factor in obnoxious fans, an overprotective assistant, a stage mom/manager, and a beefy bodyguard.
But it isn’t until the paparazzi make an appearance that things get really sticky…
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2015
63 people are currently reading
2929 people want to read
About the author
Jen Malone
18 books532 followersI once spent a year traveling the world solo from Nepal to Romania to Fiji, where I learned 99.9% of humanity is pretty freaking awesome yet somehow doesn't share my love of ice cubes in a drink. I met my husband on the highway, literally. In fact our meet-cute was SO cute we had a whole story written about it in Ladies Home Journal. My twin boys placed second in the Most Identical contest at the International Festival of Twins. Their little sister placed first in the most adorable contest at the All The People In Our Living Room Festival. I once accompanied a pajama-clad Oprah Winfrey (and her puppies) through the laundry room of the Four Seasons. I have also been in a hotel room alone with a shirtless Mark Wahlberg. In both those instances, it was not what you think. Oh, and I went into early labor while on Stevie Nicks' tour bus. That is pretty much what you think.
Here's the more official bio:
Jen Malone writes fun and flirty YA travel romances with HarperCollins and humorous "girl power" MG adventures with Simon & Schuster. She once spent a year traveling the world solo, met her husband on the highway (literally), and went into labor with her identical twins while on a rock star's tour bus. These days she saves the drama for her books. You can learn more about Jen and her books at www.jenmalonewrites.com. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @jenmalonewrites.
Here's the more official bio:
Jen Malone writes fun and flirty YA travel romances with HarperCollins and humorous "girl power" MG adventures with Simon & Schuster. She once spent a year traveling the world solo, met her husband on the highway (literally), and went into labor with her identical twins while on a rock star's tour bus. These days she saves the drama for her books. You can learn more about Jen and her books at www.jenmalonewrites.com. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @jenmalonewrites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
July 10, 2015
Map to the Stars, according to the Thesaurus of Aimee, is synonymous to the word no. There was just nothing in this book that stood out or made any sort of impact on me--except that it made me want to throw this book across the wall. Let's put it this way:
1.) We have a butt-annoying heroine whose mouth I wanted to staple shut. Her "sass" just didn't cut it for me. Said "sass" made her sound like a little kid who has no knowledge about the world of mature teenagers. She was also incredibly ignorant and (mostly) judgmental.
2.) There was this where-the-heck-did-that-come-from insta-attraction. What I mean is, the two main characters already felt "tingles" when they touched, "shyly" stared at each other and went on a lunch date during their SECOND meeting. Oh, and did I mention that they spent their FIRST meeting screaming at each other?
3.) I was rolling my eyes because of all the exaggerated "romantic" feelings. I'm okay with your regular, ohmigod he thinks I'm cute sort of thing because that totally happens to us all in real life, but ANNIE. She creeped me out with statements like:
Please, elaborate for me. I want to learn about how this is possible.
WHERE ARE YOUR PRIORITIES, GIRL?
4.) Annie and Graham were both INCREDIBLY hot-and-cold (and basically inconsistent) characters. One minute they're making out, and the very next Annie's going, "Graham's behavior was total bullshit." I just... really could not with these people.
5.) Who the heck nicknames the girl they like as PICKLES ? It's not cute. It's definitely not sexy. And it honestly doesn't even make sense because Graham is the one who doesn't like pickles.
Despite all those things, I really salute Jen Malone and her attempt to write a light contemporary. All the developments didn't happen until the last 10% of the book, but I appreciated it nonetheless.
While this book was definitely not for me, I'd still recommend it to readers who are looking for a quick contemporary read, reminiscent of teen romance films, and are okay with the nickname "Pickles."
Deadly Darlings | The Social Potato | The Book Geek | Twitter | Instagram
1.) We have a butt-annoying heroine whose mouth I wanted to staple shut. Her "sass" just didn't cut it for me. Said "sass" made her sound like a little kid who has no knowledge about the world of mature teenagers. She was also incredibly ignorant and (mostly) judgmental.
2.) There was this where-the-heck-did-that-come-from insta-attraction. What I mean is, the two main characters already felt "tingles" when they touched, "shyly" stared at each other and went on a lunch date during their SECOND meeting. Oh, and did I mention that they spent their FIRST meeting screaming at each other?
3.) I was rolling my eyes because of all the exaggerated "romantic" feelings. I'm okay with your regular, ohmigod he thinks I'm cute sort of thing because that totally happens to us all in real life, but ANNIE. She creeped me out with statements like:
"I blushed from head to foot."
Please, elaborate for me. I want to learn about how this is possible.
"Okay, so I might be about to die, but I was going to do so holding hands with Graham Cabot."
WHERE ARE YOUR PRIORITIES, GIRL?
4.) Annie and Graham were both INCREDIBLY hot-and-cold (and basically inconsistent) characters. One minute they're making out, and the very next Annie's going, "Graham's behavior was total bullshit." I just... really could not with these people.
5.) Who the heck nicknames the girl they like as PICKLES ? It's not cute. It's definitely not sexy. And it honestly doesn't even make sense because Graham is the one who doesn't like pickles.
Despite all those things, I really salute Jen Malone and her attempt to write a light contemporary. All the developments didn't happen until the last 10% of the book, but I appreciated it nonetheless.
While this book was definitely not for me, I'd still recommend it to readers who are looking for a quick contemporary read, reminiscent of teen romance films, and are okay with the nickname "Pickles."
Deadly Darlings | The Social Potato | The Book Geek | Twitter | Instagram
June 27, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
“The dude had had bird crap on his face minutes earlier. Where did he think that came from? Poop fairies?”
This was a glossy story about a girl sucked into a Hollywood lifestyle that she never asked for.
I felt quite sorry for Annie, she’d obviously been let down by her father in a way she never expected, and going to Hollywood with her mother to work as a make-up assistant was something that she would never have expected either, especially as she was never a big show business fan!
“Mom, we moved across the country because of him. He lied to us EVERY DAY for months and months! How could you just act like that doesn’t matter?”
The storyline in this was quite a fun romp through Hollywood and a romantic relationship with a movie star! I liked the humour, (people really have bird poop put on their face as a beauty treatment?), and I liked how cute the relationship between Annie and Graham was.
“I was just collecting myself enough to answer him when his lips brushed mine, feather-soft and questioning.”
The ending to this was also really cute.
6 out of 10
“The dude had had bird crap on his face minutes earlier. Where did he think that came from? Poop fairies?”
This was a glossy story about a girl sucked into a Hollywood lifestyle that she never asked for.
I felt quite sorry for Annie, she’d obviously been let down by her father in a way she never expected, and going to Hollywood with her mother to work as a make-up assistant was something that she would never have expected either, especially as she was never a big show business fan!
“Mom, we moved across the country because of him. He lied to us EVERY DAY for months and months! How could you just act like that doesn’t matter?”
The storyline in this was quite a fun romp through Hollywood and a romantic relationship with a movie star! I liked the humour, (people really have bird poop put on their face as a beauty treatment?), and I liked how cute the relationship between Annie and Graham was.
“I was just collecting myself enough to answer him when his lips brushed mine, feather-soft and questioning.”
The ending to this was also really cute.
6 out of 10
December 10, 2016
ƪ(˘ ⌣ ˘)ʃ
This book was such a drag. Who thought it was a good idea to publish this ???!!!
Okay, so let’s go through this quickly, Annie, Miss-I’m-So-Sassy-and-So-Not-Cliché and mother have moved to California where her mom gets a last minute job as a makeup artist for the teen heartthrob Graham Cabot.
Hold onto your seats, ladies, cause he is totally to-die-for.
This book was all sorts terrible,
The MC, Annie, miss perfect, was hella annoying.
• She wasn’t funny when she thought she was super sassy.
• She acted like she was sooooooooooo much better than Graham’s fans
• She did the whole, “I, like, totally don’t like him. But like he’s so hot but like ew, I, like, totally, like, hate him !!1!!111!!!”
We were talking Graham Cabot, keeper of an entire generation of young girls’ hearts. Not mine, of course. But still.
To sum her up:
And Graham himself was pretty boring. There was nothing outstanding of him besides, “His cheekbones melted into soft contours at the base of his face and his lips looked . . . well, there’s no other way to put it. They looked totally kissable. The boy had hit the genetic lottery.
And wait, it gets better:
INSTA LOVE !!!
You know what, to sum the whole book up,
#Accurate
The thing is, I don’t know why I keep returning to these books, it’s just every time I start them I get so excited, hoping they’re gonna be that contemporary that melts my heart or shakes my convictions or just evokes some sort of emotion out of me besides annoyance.
But nope, certainly not this one.
1 star!!
February 7, 2016
3.5-4 stars
Guys, this was super cute! Cheesy, predictable, and maybe not all that realistic, but sometimes that's exactly what a girl needs. Maybe in a different mood I would have rated this lower, but right now I'm too giddy to be overly critical. Who doesn't sometimes dream about impossible love stories for themselves? There's just something about the regular girl winning the heart of a teen movie star that can work magic, and that's exactly how I felt about Map to the Stars. Annie is a really easy character to like - she's engaging and down to earth, and I like how assertive she becomes over the course of the book without being judgmental or bitter. Graham, though he makes a couple of missteps, is a total sweetheart and, refreshingly, he's not the playboy type that you so often see in these stories. He's actually a little shy and unsure, which I found so appealing. I have to mention that this is a book with insta-love, but to me the angst was so minimal and their interactions so cute that I was swept away right along with the characters. Map to the Stars was an unexpected surprise, and I'm so glad that I didn't to pass it up. Definitely a couple of hours well spent!
This review can also be found at Love at First Page.
Read
May 3, 2016Oh whoops! How did I forget to mark my own book as read?!
July 14, 2015
Map to the Stars by Jen Malone
Honestly… I’m never been a big fan of books with Hollywood themes. *grin*
I think you changed that… well kinda.
I just realized that Hollywood-themed YA ones are waaaay cooler than those Adult ones.
*MC’s Corner*
Note: Spoilers.
• I hate long YA Contemporary books. So this, being that short is a plus points. Though… ironically I kinda wanted more. (You can slap my face now.)
• I read the little biography of Jen Malone by the end of the book… and it says that she worked on Hollywood… so I think this make it next to believable.
There are some things/scenes in there that is… kinda hard to, you know, believe?
THAT REALLY HAPPENS IN HOLLYWOOD?
*shrug*
(I always check the “About the Author” part before I start reading a book… so thank God!
• THE THING IS… don’t date a celebrity unless you plan on becoming one. (LOL… as if I can find a celebrity that I can date. *high*)
• This book I recommend it for girls… I don’t think it’s for boys.
ARC provided by Epic Reads Impulse (HarperCollins Publishers) & Edelweiss in exchange of honest review. Thank you!
@gleekidMC
Honestly… I’m never been a big fan of books with Hollywood themes. *grin*
I think you changed that… well kinda.
I just realized that Hollywood-themed YA ones are waaaay cooler than those Adult ones.
*MC’s Corner*
Note: Spoilers.
• I hate long YA Contemporary books. So this, being that short is a plus points. Though… ironically I kinda wanted more. (You can slap my face now.)
• I read the little biography of Jen Malone by the end of the book… and it says that she worked on Hollywood… so I think this make it next to believable.
There are some things/scenes in there that is… kinda hard to, you know, believe?
THAT REALLY HAPPENS IN HOLLYWOOD?
*shrug*
(I always check the “About the Author” part before I start reading a book… so thank God!
• THE THING IS… don’t date a celebrity unless you plan on becoming one. (LOL… as if I can find a celebrity that I can date. *high*)
• This book I recommend it for girls… I don’t think it’s for boys.
ARC provided by Epic Reads Impulse (HarperCollins Publishers) & Edelweiss in exchange of honest review. Thank you!
@gleekidMC
May 30, 2016
Map to the Stars is a very refreshing read. It wasn't what I expected, because there are hidden depths and sensibility to the story and the characters which I could honestly say that this book is authentic. It was all equal parts sassy, sweet and all around fun. So far, this is such a pleasant read about an ordinary teenager and a popular, hot teen celebrity. This book tugged my heart in different ways because this is quite unique and somehow different compared to the similar stories I've read before.
The story, in a nutshell, is about a common girl meeting the hot teen celebrity guy. In the course of the story, the guy starts to fall for the girl, but she wasn't really into how popular and gorgeous he is, until then they suddenly formed sparks of connection. So they date secretly because they can't be seen together in public. It's all fun sneaking around until they were eventually caught. There comes 'dealing with the aftermath', but still was a cute, happy ending. The book was a typical rom-com, but it was hella fun I didn't want it to end.
Reading this book made me grin, giggle and kick my bed so much I just want to hug it all in. What I borderline love about Map to the Stars is mainly the characters. They were real and deep rooted with so much emotions, feelings and fluffiness. It was so adorable and authentic at the core starring a bunch of people more than simply just characters.
One thing I also like is how Jen Malone's writing of the story was easy to follow through and understand. Though the narration and the putting of words were purely simple, it was still honestly charming and captivating. The pacing was also great. It wasn't slow nor fast; just the right amount of pacing for you to fall in love with the substance of the story. And I believe many will enjoy this given how the whole story was well-crafted.
Map to the Stars shouts clear and loud that being real and authentic, is majorly essential. Especially to yourself. Not all books have the power to move you or reach into you, and connects you to the story that you feel like you actually lived in it. Map to the Stars did all those to me. It tugged at my heart, made me understand some things in whole, made me feel everything the characters did.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a light summer read. There are still genuine stories left to be written and read, and this one is just perfect. If you're wanting something way lighter than what you've been reading lately, then this one might be a great option!
The story, in a nutshell, is about a common girl meeting the hot teen celebrity guy. In the course of the story, the guy starts to fall for the girl, but she wasn't really into how popular and gorgeous he is, until then they suddenly formed sparks of connection. So they date secretly because they can't be seen together in public. It's all fun sneaking around until they were eventually caught. There comes 'dealing with the aftermath', but still was a cute, happy ending. The book was a typical rom-com, but it was hella fun I didn't want it to end.
Reading this book made me grin, giggle and kick my bed so much I just want to hug it all in. What I borderline love about Map to the Stars is mainly the characters. They were real and deep rooted with so much emotions, feelings and fluffiness. It was so adorable and authentic at the core starring a bunch of people more than simply just characters.
One thing I also like is how Jen Malone's writing of the story was easy to follow through and understand. Though the narration and the putting of words were purely simple, it was still honestly charming and captivating. The pacing was also great. It wasn't slow nor fast; just the right amount of pacing for you to fall in love with the substance of the story. And I believe many will enjoy this given how the whole story was well-crafted.
Map to the Stars shouts clear and loud that being real and authentic, is majorly essential. Especially to yourself. Not all books have the power to move you or reach into you, and connects you to the story that you feel like you actually lived in it. Map to the Stars did all those to me. It tugged at my heart, made me understand some things in whole, made me feel everything the characters did.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a light summer read. There are still genuine stories left to be written and read, and this one is just perfect. If you're wanting something way lighter than what you've been reading lately, then this one might be a great option!
July 10, 2015
Map to the Stars was such a fun, easy and summer-y read. It's perfect for a hot day in the beach or lying around the pool. It was great to watch (read) the characters' relationships with each other.
{Review will be up soon}
{Review will be up soon}
June 4, 2016
This won't be a long review. For some reason I just can't seem to put my feelings in words for this book, which sometimes happens for books. However, I still feel like I want to write something, so here goes. :)
This book is a great book to read during the summer time. It features Hollywood, hot movie stars, a trip through Europe and quite a bit of romance.
Annie was a pretty great character and I loved how she could just throw out words immediately. Sure, at times I wanted her to calmly think about what she said, but mostly I was cheering for that girl and her way with words. She is also a pretty strong character, though I wish she opened up to Graham a bit more. He tells her quite a bit of things, but she doesn't share what happened to her dad and all that until much much later in the book. It is a shame, though it is something I see happening in books more often. One of the characters opening up to the other, but the other not doing the same until later when it already is quite late.
Her love for architecture made her a really interesting character, I don't know many characters (I can't even think of one just like that) who liked architecture and was a girl. Her fangirling over all kinds of buildings was fantastic.
Graham, meh. He was a good character, but dear Lord, I got so tired of his moodswings. I can imagine why he had them, but come one dude, this is not how you get a girl. This is not the way to show a girl that you really like her. You never once speak up, you care more about appearances than you dare to speak up and show the world you have found someone you love. Sure, again, I can imagine that it might endanger his career, but what is he planning? To do the bidding of his publisher/manager and his mom for his whole life? Come on, you are 17/18 years old, just speak up and see where it will lead you.
I loved Annie's friend, the parts with her were fantastic and often super hilarious. That girl sure can scream! No matter what time. And she is a great friend to Annie. Even with all the distance between them they keep contact and they still are best friends. Quite often this is different, girl moves and the friendship slowly disappears. I was happy to see that this book didn't do that.
The romance between Graham and Annie was fantastic, really swoonworthy and I really enjoyed reading about them. I was just squealing each time they got together. And I had quite some laughs about some parts of their dates and romance. They had to do some weird things to keep people from finding out.
I really loved the tour and also the parts that took place in Europe. So much fun! We also see the dangers of being a super star. Girls going crazy, stalking girls, girls screaming their love at the hotel and so much more. I can only imagine that one will go totally crazy. And yet, Graham still stays a gentleman and is kind to his fans.
All in all this is a book I would really recommend. :)
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This book is a great book to read during the summer time. It features Hollywood, hot movie stars, a trip through Europe and quite a bit of romance.
Annie was a pretty great character and I loved how she could just throw out words immediately. Sure, at times I wanted her to calmly think about what she said, but mostly I was cheering for that girl and her way with words. She is also a pretty strong character, though I wish she opened up to Graham a bit more. He tells her quite a bit of things, but she doesn't share what happened to her dad and all that until much much later in the book. It is a shame, though it is something I see happening in books more often. One of the characters opening up to the other, but the other not doing the same until later when it already is quite late.
Her love for architecture made her a really interesting character, I don't know many characters (I can't even think of one just like that) who liked architecture and was a girl. Her fangirling over all kinds of buildings was fantastic.
Graham, meh. He was a good character, but dear Lord, I got so tired of his moodswings. I can imagine why he had them, but come one dude, this is not how you get a girl. This is not the way to show a girl that you really like her. You never once speak up, you care more about appearances than you dare to speak up and show the world you have found someone you love. Sure, again, I can imagine that it might endanger his career, but what is he planning? To do the bidding of his publisher/manager and his mom for his whole life? Come on, you are 17/18 years old, just speak up and see where it will lead you.
I loved Annie's friend, the parts with her were fantastic and often super hilarious. That girl sure can scream! No matter what time. And she is a great friend to Annie. Even with all the distance between them they keep contact and they still are best friends. Quite often this is different, girl moves and the friendship slowly disappears. I was happy to see that this book didn't do that.
The romance between Graham and Annie was fantastic, really swoonworthy and I really enjoyed reading about them. I was just squealing each time they got together. And I had quite some laughs about some parts of their dates and romance. They had to do some weird things to keep people from finding out.
I really loved the tour and also the parts that took place in Europe. So much fun! We also see the dangers of being a super star. Girls going crazy, stalking girls, girls screaming their love at the hotel and so much more. I can only imagine that one will go totally crazy. And yet, Graham still stays a gentleman and is kind to his fans.
All in all this is a book I would really recommend. :)
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
May 4, 2016
Map To The Stars and me had a rough start, I didn't had very great expectations to it (I'm still to find a celebrity falls in love with a regular girl romance that makes me fall head over heels) but it seemed like a cute romance and light read. But right from the start we have shit ton of tropes trow at our faces and with very little to care it was hard to not DNFed it, still I continued and am glad for that decision since about 30% I started enjoying parts of this story.
Ok, so my problems with this one were mostly the romance and since this is a contemporary novel heavily focused on the romance that was an issue for me. My problem was that its 100% instalove and it doesn't even try to hide it, since their very first interaction Annie is already obsessing over Graham (and of course, he is obsessing over her too) and this just isn't my kind of thing. But to be fair, that was my only problem with this romance, with the time I did enjoyed their interactions and it was cute to see their plans to spend time together without the paparazzi and fangirls all over them.
But the real reason why this book never really crossed the barrier of mildly entertainment for me was its characters, they just felt too much cardboard cutouts. Annie was an extra super regular girl on the meaning that she never was boy-crazy (until Graham), her favorite clothes were jeans and shirt and she really doesn't care about all this Hollywood things. Graham is the perfect boy with the perfect looks and perfect ways, that screw up a few times but all justified with something that we can all forgive him. It just... We all have seem this before, on basically all celebrity falls in love with regular girl story, and while it didn't annoyed me it also made this book not stand out on the other million of similar stories.
We do have some other things other than Annie and Graham romance; Annie and her mom have some problems that they are running away from and oh god this annoyed, because we only see what this is all about in like 70/80% in on the book and it was a quite quickly resolution in my opinion. None of the secondary characters are all that memorable for me, Annie's best friend was cool, with her apparition at the ending (her speech to Graham was just djvidojviosdji).
So yeah, honestly this book wasn't bad but it also wasn't the exactly kind of fluff that I enjoy. I would recommend it to people that love the trope of celebrity falling in love with a regular person (also for those who still dream of finding their own celebrity!) and the younger public of YA, maybe even some middle grade readers.
Review originally posted here.
Ok, so my problems with this one were mostly the romance and since this is a contemporary novel heavily focused on the romance that was an issue for me. My problem was that its 100% instalove and it doesn't even try to hide it, since their very first interaction Annie is already obsessing over Graham (and of course, he is obsessing over her too) and this just isn't my kind of thing. But to be fair, that was my only problem with this romance, with the time I did enjoyed their interactions and it was cute to see their plans to spend time together without the paparazzi and fangirls all over them.
But the real reason why this book never really crossed the barrier of mildly entertainment for me was its characters, they just felt too much cardboard cutouts. Annie was an extra super regular girl on the meaning that she never was boy-crazy (until Graham), her favorite clothes were jeans and shirt and she really doesn't care about all this Hollywood things. Graham is the perfect boy with the perfect looks and perfect ways, that screw up a few times but all justified with something that we can all forgive him. It just... We all have seem this before, on basically all celebrity falls in love with regular girl story, and while it didn't annoyed me it also made this book not stand out on the other million of similar stories.
We do have some other things other than Annie and Graham romance; Annie and her mom have some problems that they are running away from and oh god this annoyed, because we only see what this is all about in like 70/80% in on the book and it was a quite quickly resolution in my opinion. None of the secondary characters are all that memorable for me, Annie's best friend was cool, with her apparition at the ending (her speech to Graham was just djvidojviosdji).
So yeah, honestly this book wasn't bad but it also wasn't the exactly kind of fluff that I enjoy. I would recommend it to people that love the trope of celebrity falling in love with a regular person (also for those who still dream of finding their own celebrity!) and the younger public of YA, maybe even some middle grade readers.
Review originally posted here.
October 25, 2015
This review can also be found on The Book Belles .
I will precede my review by saying that Notting Hill is one of my all time favorite movies.
Map to the Stars was sort of like a YA version of that movie. And I was absolutely in love with it.
I loved that it was such a short and quick read because it was exactly what I needed at the moment. I needed a cute, fluffy, contemporary romance, and that’s exactly what I got.
Map to the Stars will be annoying to some people because it’ll come off as having some… instalove. Honestly for me it didn’t feel like that at all; it felt like sort of a “partners in crime” sort of thing because they’re the only two people their age in the whole environment and such.
I liked their relationship because it was sweet and juvenile. It wasn’t a “I complete you and you complete me” thing, it was just two people who had made a genuine connection. I really loved that about the story.
Reaching the climax there was a bit of angst and conflict, which made me dislike the main character a bit, but thankfully it was resolved in a honest and believable way.
Overall this is the kind of book you need to be in the mood for. If you’re looking for a super sweet, super fluffy, quick contemporary romance, this is the book for you.
An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
My Amazon Review.
I will precede my review by saying that Notting Hill is one of my all time favorite movies.
Map to the Stars was sort of like a YA version of that movie. And I was absolutely in love with it.
I loved that it was such a short and quick read because it was exactly what I needed at the moment. I needed a cute, fluffy, contemporary romance, and that’s exactly what I got.
Map to the Stars will be annoying to some people because it’ll come off as having some… instalove. Honestly for me it didn’t feel like that at all; it felt like sort of a “partners in crime” sort of thing because they’re the only two people their age in the whole environment and such.
I liked their relationship because it was sweet and juvenile. It wasn’t a “I complete you and you complete me” thing, it was just two people who had made a genuine connection. I really loved that about the story.
Reaching the climax there was a bit of angst and conflict, which made me dislike the main character a bit, but thankfully it was resolved in a honest and believable way.
Overall this is the kind of book you need to be in the mood for. If you’re looking for a super sweet, super fluffy, quick contemporary romance, this is the book for you.
An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
My Amazon Review.
August 28, 2014
I read an early version of this book. Me, Him, and the Paparazzi would be GREAT for fans of Susane Colasanti, Kristin Rae and Lauren Morrill. Light, fluffy, funny and sweet - I can't WAIT to see the final version, read all the swoony scenes again, see what it is added because this book can only get better!, and hold the real book in my hands.
January 23, 2016
This is exactly what my dreams (and nightmares, and dreams again) are made of FOR SURE. I have to say I did have a problem with Annie in the beginning, mostly because she 1) wasn't capable of understanding the slightest bit about a famous person's lifestyle and 2) she thought she was sooo much better for not being a fangirl. Sweetie. Let's be real. Everyone is a fangirl nowadays.
July 15, 2015
Review also appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7
I received a copy via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
I will admit that I was a little hesitant to read Jen Malone's Map to the Stars. When it showed up on Edelweiss, I wasn't sure if I wanted to commit to reading this young adult contemporary romance, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance. While Malone's novel isn't anything extremely unique or heavy, it was the perfect read that I didn't know I needed. After all of the heavier books I've been reading lately, it was nice to have a fluffy summer read to enjoy on these semi-hot days.
Annie, the protagonist, is a teenage girl who's along for the ride with her mom to a new life. In order to get away from a familial heartbreak, Annie and her mom escape to L.A., where dreams are bound to be made. From the moment the first irritating celebrity is introduced, I was hooked. I mean, I wanted to see what other drama Annie and her mom were going to get into. That and the fact that Annie is a very quiet girl that really needed to find her voice. Among some of the things I love the most about certain novels, seeing the shy girl lose her shit and start venting when life gets to be just a little too tough is a nice bonus.
One of the best things about this book is probably the setting. As someone who has yet to travel to a lot of places on her bucket list, I'm always intrigued by books that have characters traveling and experiencing certain adventures. Living vicariously through fictional characters is a real thing, google it. Anyway, I loved the descriptions of the various places Annie and her mother visited in this book. The constantly changing environment made it easier to get hooked on this novel because I enjoyed seeing the romance growing somewhere other than in a static environment.
That being said, my main issue with this book is probably how quick the relationship happened. Though Annie at one point confesses that it hasn't been nearly long enough for her to fall in love, she then counters that by feeling like she IS falling in love. While yes, this is definitely the kind of book that can be read in one sitting because of its cheese factor, I would still like to see friendship develop before romance hits the stage. The love interest, Graham, also tends to treat Annie like the token special girl. The idea that she's so different towards him and his star status probably won't help to dissuade women from thinking that indifference makes the heart grow fonder. While I did like the coupling, I found it too convenient and too easy. I mean, I get that Graham just wants a little normal in his life, but what does that say about the way he might potentially see Annie?
I loved Annie's best friend. One of the things that I can definitely give Malone props for is the fact that her characters know how to call crap out. They admit when they've messed up, they admit that they should have said something that needed to be said, they grow when they're supposed to, and they immediately avoid unnecessary drama that would only serve to move the plot along. I love that Malone ignores the drama that could have happened between the two friends so that the reader could focus on the main issue at hand. Also, I love the support system. So, despite my slight issue with the insta-love and the "special girl" syndrome, I actually really really enjoyed this. It was so cute and so perfectly light, that I couldn't put it down.
This was basically me when the book ended:
I would recommend this cutie to anyone looking for a light summer read. This is perfect for a hot, beach day and a good drink--unless you're not of legal age. Don't drink then. I mean, you can, but I didn't encourage you to do it, okay? Anyway, if you're wanting something way lighter than what you've been reading lately, then this one might be a great option!
Happy reading!
I received a copy via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
I will admit that I was a little hesitant to read Jen Malone's Map to the Stars. When it showed up on Edelweiss, I wasn't sure if I wanted to commit to reading this young adult contemporary romance, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance. While Malone's novel isn't anything extremely unique or heavy, it was the perfect read that I didn't know I needed. After all of the heavier books I've been reading lately, it was nice to have a fluffy summer read to enjoy on these semi-hot days.
Annie, the protagonist, is a teenage girl who's along for the ride with her mom to a new life. In order to get away from a familial heartbreak, Annie and her mom escape to L.A., where dreams are bound to be made. From the moment the first irritating celebrity is introduced, I was hooked. I mean, I wanted to see what other drama Annie and her mom were going to get into. That and the fact that Annie is a very quiet girl that really needed to find her voice. Among some of the things I love the most about certain novels, seeing the shy girl lose her shit and start venting when life gets to be just a little too tough is a nice bonus.
One of the best things about this book is probably the setting. As someone who has yet to travel to a lot of places on her bucket list, I'm always intrigued by books that have characters traveling and experiencing certain adventures. Living vicariously through fictional characters is a real thing, google it. Anyway, I loved the descriptions of the various places Annie and her mother visited in this book. The constantly changing environment made it easier to get hooked on this novel because I enjoyed seeing the romance growing somewhere other than in a static environment.
That being said, my main issue with this book is probably how quick the relationship happened. Though Annie at one point confesses that it hasn't been nearly long enough for her to fall in love, she then counters that by feeling like she IS falling in love. While yes, this is definitely the kind of book that can be read in one sitting because of its cheese factor, I would still like to see friendship develop before romance hits the stage. The love interest, Graham, also tends to treat Annie like the token special girl. The idea that she's so different towards him and his star status probably won't help to dissuade women from thinking that indifference makes the heart grow fonder. While I did like the coupling, I found it too convenient and too easy. I mean, I get that Graham just wants a little normal in his life, but what does that say about the way he might potentially see Annie?
I loved Annie's best friend. One of the things that I can definitely give Malone props for is the fact that her characters know how to call crap out. They admit when they've messed up, they admit that they should have said something that needed to be said, they grow when they're supposed to, and they immediately avoid unnecessary drama that would only serve to move the plot along. I love that Malone ignores the drama that could have happened between the two friends so that the reader could focus on the main issue at hand. Also, I love the support system. So, despite my slight issue with the insta-love and the "special girl" syndrome, I actually really really enjoyed this. It was so cute and so perfectly light, that I couldn't put it down.
This was basically me when the book ended:
I would recommend this cutie to anyone looking for a light summer read. This is perfect for a hot, beach day and a good drink--unless you're not of legal age. Don't drink then. I mean, you can, but I didn't encourage you to do it, okay? Anyway, if you're wanting something way lighter than what you've been reading lately, then this one might be a great option!
Happy reading!
July 28, 2015
At only 241 pages, this is a very quick read. This is a very cute, contemporary, young adult book. I did not want to put this book down. It wasn't suspenseful, in fact it was kind of predictable, but it was just so dang cute. I love cheesy, teen romance stories so this book was right up my ally.
I loved the romance between Graham and Annie. They were so cute together, and I loved all of the little quirks of their relationship. I really liked all of their adventures as well. They were being typical teens, but it was cute to watch their relationship unfold.
I received this book for free in return for an honest review.
July 13, 2015
This is an absolutely adorable story. It reminds me a great deal of Famous in Love, but without the love triangle. (It's also a little fluffier, which is not a bad thing.)
I love how Annie gets this job in Hollywood despite not caring at all about famous people or celebrity or anything. I mean, obviously she knew who Graham Cabot was (she didn't live in a cave or anything) but seriously could not care less about it at all.
Their relationship is also really sweet (although I shared Annie's frustration at his hot and cold attitude). There's a plot twist that really strains credibility, but it's still a sweet, fun story.
Recommended.
I love how Annie gets this job in Hollywood despite not caring at all about famous people or celebrity or anything. I mean, obviously she knew who Graham Cabot was (she didn't live in a cave or anything) but seriously could not care less about it at all.
Their relationship is also really sweet (although I shared Annie's frustration at his hot and cold attitude). There's a plot twist that really strains credibility, but it's still a sweet, fun story.
Recommended.
January 23, 2015
This book is SO MUCH FUN!!! Love, love, love it!
February 29, 2016
Although some parts of this book seemed rushed, I did enjoy the characters and their interactions. Well worth reading for anyone who, like me, is a sucker for the celeb-non romance.
April 10, 2017
3.5 stars. I'm always a sucker for celebrity romances and this one is cute! I liked the beginning the best before all the drama started. But I was proud of both Annie and Graham at the end for all the growing up they did. Annie learning to exert herself and Graham becoming less dependent on the ideas of his 'team' and more authentic. I wish we could have seen a little more of how they made their relationship work in the future. But this ends well as it is. A sweet first book from Jen Malone!
Love Triangle Factor: none
Cliffhanger Scale: standalone
Love Triangle Factor: none
Cliffhanger Scale: standalone
September 28, 2018
"The second hardest part of growing up os trying to figure out who you are. The hardest part comes after you’ve figured it out and the rest of the world wants to pull you in a different direction."
— Jen Malone, Map to the stars
-
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were hard to lose myself in though, I felt like the book could have been better by making the characters more three dimensional but it was a funneled easy read that gave you all the feels.
— Jen Malone, Map to the stars
-
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were hard to lose myself in though, I felt like the book could have been better by making the characters more three dimensional but it was a funneled easy read that gave you all the feels.
January 19, 2016
I don’t read a lot of YA romance novels.
Let me clarify: I read a lot of YA books that have romance in them, and I’ve written flirty, romantic sequences in my own books. But I tend to gravitate more towards books that have something else (a contemporary issue or a fantasy/speculative/magical-realism element) driving the story with the romance being a subplot. Jen Malone’s Map to the Stars very well may be the first strictly YA romance novel I’ve ever read. After all, I’m a forty-something-year-old man and thus probably not the target audience.
I picked up a copy for my Kindle on the strength of the humor in the first chapter when it was read by the author at an event I attended. My daughters found the notion of a movie star getting a facial of nightingale poop to be utterly hysterical. And it is. The Hollywood satire peppered throughout the book made me laugh heartily enough to overcome occasional eye-rolls at main character Annie’s early waffling back and forth regarding her feelings for teen heartthrob Graham Cabot.
So here’s the basic plot: Annie’s mother has moved her out to L.A. (from a small town in Georgia) to be a stylist to the stars, and they get assigned to Graham Cabot’s worldwide promotional tour for his latest movie. Back home, Annie’s best friend Wynn is a huge Graham Cabot fangirl, but Annie’s first run-in with him is a total disaster. She lumps him together with all the other Hollywood phonies, he flirts a little, she flirts back but questions his motives, he turns out to be a really sweet guy. Romance ensues.
Okay, so maybe there are some signs of the “dreaded” insta-love going on, but you know what? Big deal! I was a teenager once, and I remember getting tingles if a pretty girl innocently and platonically touched my arm, and I remember suddenly deciding I loved them. And I know girls feel that way too—I had enough female friends that at one point wrote out their names with their crush’s last name attached. Insta-attraction—or better yet, insta-interest—happens in the real world. Love—all emotions—are irrational. Teens—well, most people—behave irrationally at times. And this is a fun story of two teens—one that’s normal but skeptical and one that’s airbrushed but sheltered and seeking normalcy—finding each other and just trying to have fun and do the things teens do.
Teens make mistakes, and Annie and Graham make some big ones along the way. Because he’s in the spotlight, being seen in public with a regular girl could harm his image. Or it could alienate his fan base of tween and teen girls that want to be writing his last name after theirs. That’s the main conflict for about the second half of the book, and it was fun watching them try to have a relationship, even though I correctly predicted the consequences they’d face.
Annie and Graham are likeable enough leads, and the book has a solid supporting cast. Though Wynn’s appearances are limited to emails and video chats, she’s well developed and a lot of fun. Bodyguard Roddy, who’s in on the couple’s ruses, has some nice hidden layers to him. Annie’s mom is well-balanced between supportive and overprotective, and her producer-friend Joe is an absolute riot whenever he appears.
The book is filled with pop culture references, as it should be when partially satirizing Hollywood and online-trending, but they don’t stick to one particular era. Some have stood or will stand the test of time, but some others are contemporary that may not. And some of them were from when I was a teen, including a Grease 2 reference that I didn’t quite believe both characters would get.
There’s no surprise that there’s a HEA ending, as that’s required for the genre, but I found it ironic after all the Hollywood satirizing that the ending was so Hollywood-ized. The only thing missing from the typical Hollywood-made teen romantic comedy ending was someone in the crowd starting a slow clap.
Overall, the satire is funny, the characters are fun, their chemistry is believable, and the ending is satisfying. No new ground is broken, but there’s nothing wrong with comfort food (like the cookies Annie’s Mom bakes), and this is an enjoyable, fun, light read. No map necessary for it to find its FOUR STARS.
Let me clarify: I read a lot of YA books that have romance in them, and I’ve written flirty, romantic sequences in my own books. But I tend to gravitate more towards books that have something else (a contemporary issue or a fantasy/speculative/magical-realism element) driving the story with the romance being a subplot. Jen Malone’s Map to the Stars very well may be the first strictly YA romance novel I’ve ever read. After all, I’m a forty-something-year-old man and thus probably not the target audience.
I picked up a copy for my Kindle on the strength of the humor in the first chapter when it was read by the author at an event I attended. My daughters found the notion of a movie star getting a facial of nightingale poop to be utterly hysterical. And it is. The Hollywood satire peppered throughout the book made me laugh heartily enough to overcome occasional eye-rolls at main character Annie’s early waffling back and forth regarding her feelings for teen heartthrob Graham Cabot.
So here’s the basic plot: Annie’s mother has moved her out to L.A. (from a small town in Georgia) to be a stylist to the stars, and they get assigned to Graham Cabot’s worldwide promotional tour for his latest movie. Back home, Annie’s best friend Wynn is a huge Graham Cabot fangirl, but Annie’s first run-in with him is a total disaster. She lumps him together with all the other Hollywood phonies, he flirts a little, she flirts back but questions his motives, he turns out to be a really sweet guy. Romance ensues.
Okay, so maybe there are some signs of the “dreaded” insta-love going on, but you know what? Big deal! I was a teenager once, and I remember getting tingles if a pretty girl innocently and platonically touched my arm, and I remember suddenly deciding I loved them. And I know girls feel that way too—I had enough female friends that at one point wrote out their names with their crush’s last name attached. Insta-attraction—or better yet, insta-interest—happens in the real world. Love—all emotions—are irrational. Teens—well, most people—behave irrationally at times. And this is a fun story of two teens—one that’s normal but skeptical and one that’s airbrushed but sheltered and seeking normalcy—finding each other and just trying to have fun and do the things teens do.
Teens make mistakes, and Annie and Graham make some big ones along the way. Because he’s in the spotlight, being seen in public with a regular girl could harm his image. Or it could alienate his fan base of tween and teen girls that want to be writing his last name after theirs. That’s the main conflict for about the second half of the book, and it was fun watching them try to have a relationship, even though I correctly predicted the consequences they’d face.
Annie and Graham are likeable enough leads, and the book has a solid supporting cast. Though Wynn’s appearances are limited to emails and video chats, she’s well developed and a lot of fun. Bodyguard Roddy, who’s in on the couple’s ruses, has some nice hidden layers to him. Annie’s mom is well-balanced between supportive and overprotective, and her producer-friend Joe is an absolute riot whenever he appears.
The book is filled with pop culture references, as it should be when partially satirizing Hollywood and online-trending, but they don’t stick to one particular era. Some have stood or will stand the test of time, but some others are contemporary that may not. And some of them were from when I was a teen, including a Grease 2 reference that I didn’t quite believe both characters would get.
There’s no surprise that there’s a HEA ending, as that’s required for the genre, but I found it ironic after all the Hollywood satirizing that the ending was so Hollywood-ized. The only thing missing from the typical Hollywood-made teen romantic comedy ending was someone in the crowd starting a slow clap.
Overall, the satire is funny, the characters are fun, their chemistry is believable, and the ending is satisfying. No new ground is broken, but there’s nothing wrong with comfort food (like the cookies Annie’s Mom bakes), and this is an enjoyable, fun, light read. No map necessary for it to find its FOUR STARS.
September 17, 2015
3.5 stars
If you’ve been following along with this blog, you probably won’t be surprised by my obsession with romances where ordinary people get to hook up with hot movie stars. They can seriously betray me (*cough* Famous in Love *cough*), but I always come back to them. When Map to the Stars showed up on Edelweiss, I was powerless to resist it. After Song of Summer turned out to be so good, I was ready to give Epic Reads Impulse a shot because why not. I’m very glad I did, because my life can always use more shippy books in it. Map to the Stars may not revolutionize the trope, but it’s adorable and bantery and ship ship ship.
Annie and her mom move to LA following an issue with Annie’s father which you should not expect to be dealt with until about three-quarters into the book. After working with Joe, a producer, on a Hollywood shoot in Georgia, he offered to help her find a job in LA, and she took it. Out for the summer, Annie gets a job too, working as an assistant. They promptly get fired by the first top douchebag star who hired them. Joe, however, manges to hook them up with a way better gig: managing makeup for teen heartthrob Graham Cabot.
Predictably, Graham and Annie get off on the wrong foot when she accidentally falls asleep on his hotel room bed and he assumes that she’s a creepy stalker. Annie is pissed, but everyone else thinks the mix up is hilarious. The next day, Annie’s determined to maintain her grudge and dreaming of revenge, but Graham quickly wins her over. Their first day of interaction is so freaking cute I can’t even. She was helping out in his interview room and the guys doing the filming were totally shipping them, and omg I am so weak against such things. Also, these interactions spawn his horribly embarrassing nickname for her, which I actually love because at least it’s personal.
Map to the Stars is short but manages to do a really convincing job with the first love thing. For all that Graham would have had access to plenty of girls, he came off as fairly believable to me. Sure, it’s a fantasy, and I don’t really think odds are high of a child star growing up to be like Graham but he’s well-drawn enough I was willing to roll with it. His mixed-up phrases were super adorable. What balances his adorable perfection is his determination to live as his publicists demand. That made the whole thing feel way more real. He’s a good guy, but he also hurts Annie in his efforts to maintain his brand. His concern for all the people who work for him is sweet too, but it’s definitely a major flaw.
Problems and believability aside, I shipped it. They are one hundred percent cute together all of the time. I mean, it’s totally instalovey but once again I think it’s in the good way. They’re young and they’re having romantic feelings for the first time and EMOTIONS. I believe that they think they’re in love and whether that lasts will all depend on whatever I choose to do in my headcanon unless there’s some sort of follow up, which I doubt. Also, it was so cheesy but Graham’s big speech at the end was totally squeedorable.
The friends and family are also a delight in Map to the Stars. Annie’s best friend Wynn could have had more development but I do love the fact that, despite always having had a huge crush on Graham, she was never once jealous because she knew that her celebrity crush was something different. A lot of YA would not have played it that way and seriously bless Malone.
Annie’s mom totally has a her back and it’s great. She gets mad at Annie sometimes or disappointed, but there’s so much love there. Also, she’s a total shipper, which is damn cute. I really love when characters ship other characters, okay. Annie’s Dad I would have liked to see a bit more of but that was done fairly well too, I think. It’s nice that the drama wasn’t any of the more typical parent drama from YA. Then there’s Joe who I adore endlessly.
Map to the Stars is a bit cheesy and predictable but honestly what else did I want from a Hollywood romance like this? Map to the Stars is so cute and so fun and, if you’re also into these celebrity romances, you most definitely do not want to miss it.
If you’ve been following along with this blog, you probably won’t be surprised by my obsession with romances where ordinary people get to hook up with hot movie stars. They can seriously betray me (*cough* Famous in Love *cough*), but I always come back to them. When Map to the Stars showed up on Edelweiss, I was powerless to resist it. After Song of Summer turned out to be so good, I was ready to give Epic Reads Impulse a shot because why not. I’m very glad I did, because my life can always use more shippy books in it. Map to the Stars may not revolutionize the trope, but it’s adorable and bantery and ship ship ship.
Annie and her mom move to LA following an issue with Annie’s father which you should not expect to be dealt with until about three-quarters into the book. After working with Joe, a producer, on a Hollywood shoot in Georgia, he offered to help her find a job in LA, and she took it. Out for the summer, Annie gets a job too, working as an assistant. They promptly get fired by the first top douchebag star who hired them. Joe, however, manges to hook them up with a way better gig: managing makeup for teen heartthrob Graham Cabot.
Predictably, Graham and Annie get off on the wrong foot when she accidentally falls asleep on his hotel room bed and he assumes that she’s a creepy stalker. Annie is pissed, but everyone else thinks the mix up is hilarious. The next day, Annie’s determined to maintain her grudge and dreaming of revenge, but Graham quickly wins her over. Their first day of interaction is so freaking cute I can’t even. She was helping out in his interview room and the guys doing the filming were totally shipping them, and omg I am so weak against such things. Also, these interactions spawn his horribly embarrassing nickname for her, which I actually love because at least it’s personal.
Map to the Stars is short but manages to do a really convincing job with the first love thing. For all that Graham would have had access to plenty of girls, he came off as fairly believable to me. Sure, it’s a fantasy, and I don’t really think odds are high of a child star growing up to be like Graham but he’s well-drawn enough I was willing to roll with it. His mixed-up phrases were super adorable. What balances his adorable perfection is his determination to live as his publicists demand. That made the whole thing feel way more real. He’s a good guy, but he also hurts Annie in his efforts to maintain his brand. His concern for all the people who work for him is sweet too, but it’s definitely a major flaw.
Problems and believability aside, I shipped it. They are one hundred percent cute together all of the time. I mean, it’s totally instalovey but once again I think it’s in the good way. They’re young and they’re having romantic feelings for the first time and EMOTIONS. I believe that they think they’re in love and whether that lasts will all depend on whatever I choose to do in my headcanon unless there’s some sort of follow up, which I doubt. Also, it was so cheesy but Graham’s big speech at the end was totally squeedorable.
The friends and family are also a delight in Map to the Stars. Annie’s best friend Wynn could have had more development but I do love the fact that, despite always having had a huge crush on Graham, she was never once jealous because she knew that her celebrity crush was something different. A lot of YA would not have played it that way and seriously bless Malone.
Annie’s mom totally has a her back and it’s great. She gets mad at Annie sometimes or disappointed, but there’s so much love there. Also, she’s a total shipper, which is damn cute. I really love when characters ship other characters, okay. Annie’s Dad I would have liked to see a bit more of but that was done fairly well too, I think. It’s nice that the drama wasn’t any of the more typical parent drama from YA. Then there’s Joe who I adore endlessly.
Map to the Stars is a bit cheesy and predictable but honestly what else did I want from a Hollywood romance like this? Map to the Stars is so cute and so fun and, if you’re also into these celebrity romances, you most definitely do not want to miss it.
October 22, 2015
I wish I could say that I liked Map To the Stars, but it fell so flat for me that I tripped over it on the sidewalk. Terrible analogy but accurate all the same.Lemme just give you a list of all the reasons this book didn't work for me:
Insta-love done poorly. When Annie and Graham aka the Movie Star first meet, he assumes she's a fangirl that's managed to weasel her way into his hotel room before he gets there. Their later interactions suggest that they just have so much spark they fired off at each other the first time they met. You know that story: boy and girl dislike each other and lash out, only to later realize how much they lurv each other and that's why they lashed out. Besides the whole "I like you so I'm going to treat you like crap" trope that I am SO TIRED OF, it's just overplayed and in this case, completely unbelievable.
Mom and Annie left Georgia for #reasons (that were stupid). I began to suspect, not too far into the novel, why Annie and her mother just uprooted and left their home and I told myself if I was right, I was going to be really effing mad. And I was right. But since the big reveal isn't until the last 10% of the book or so, I felt like I may as well finish it out so I could at least get another completed book in my Goodreads challenge. Yep, that's right. I finished it for the numbers. I didn't finish it because I liked it or anything crazy like that. Anyway, I digress. The reason was stupid and lacked any sort of believability at all. No mother is going to uproot her kid during senior year of high school because of such a minor thing. You know what would have been more believable? If mom left to take this job and Annie stayed with Dad. That actually makes sense to me, but that wouldn't have worked for an author who was looking for a plot device to get her prince and pauper together. Eye roll.
Annie and Graham were soooooooooooooo melodramatic. One minute they hated each other and the next they were kissy-kissy, and then again hated each other. Graham tells her he can't be seen with her, and then takes her out. She tells him she's tired of his crap, and then smoochies with him. Yeah, I guess that's actually typical of some teenage emotion, but when paired with the rest of the story, it just was blah.
The ending was too neat. All this drama and everything ends just perfectly (sorry not sorry for that spoiler). I like when not every single thing is easy for characters. Yes, even in HEAs.
I actually did enjoy all the backstage scenes, because, whether or not that was real, they lent a bid of credibility to Graham's lifestyle and story. And there were some really funny quotes in there - if Map To the Stars did anything well, it was funny at times.
"I'm a producer. You ever try to talk a neurotic actor off an emotional clif? They're nearly as bad as writers. I'm basically one hissy fit short of earning Dr. Phil status at this point in the game."
So, look, Map To the Stars wasn't a terribly awful book. Some readers who are looking for a teen romance with some Hollywood thrown in for fun might actually like this. It's made for hot summer days on a beach, but it's also a book you wouldn't be upset if it got sand in the spine or wet from splashes...or drowned in the ocean altogether. I am highly critical of contemporary romances, teen or not, so just take my opinion with a grain of salt... and a side of margarita.This book may have been provided in exchange for an honest review, and therefore will be noted on the original post.
February 20, 2017
This book was awesome!! I loved the characters, the storyline was great, the world-building was awesome, the book flowed sense, it was cute, and it made me really happy. The only issue I had with this book was that the storyline was a little predictable and I felt like it was a very typical storyline and most people have probably read a book like this already. A normal girl falls in love with a celebrity who loves her back because she wasn't a fangirl. Media and publicity adds drama and complications but the ending is always cute and predictable. This book definitely made me happy and it was a feel good book but I just wait there were more added complications. I wish there were more details and that the book was a little bit longer. This book was just a bit too shallow for me and I was expecting something more to keep coming but it never came. I still feel like a lot of people would enjoy this book because of the simplicity. If you just read an intense book and you need a light-hearted book to help you get back into the grind, then I would definitely recommend this book. If you're looking for a book to change your life and be really thought-provoking, then this book is not for you. I think my favourite part of the book was when Annie dressed up like a guy and they went sight-seeing and they got caught kissing and the media made Graham seem like he was gay. I thought it was hilarious and I couldn't get over that part. I also liked how Annie and Wynn were able to stay best friends even though they stayed in different time zones and didn't talk as much. I liked the different cultures like London and French that got incorporated, making it more interesting. I just liked the little details added that made the book funny and cute. I really wish something like that would happen to me LOL. it was perfect. So yeah, I enjoyed the book but it didn't blow my mind. It was like any other contempory, and I felt like I already read it because of how typical the story was.
September 7, 2015
Map to the Stars by Jen Malone is a YA contemporary romance ebook published by EpicReads Impulse. This book is about how Annie and her make up artist mom move across country to LA from their small town of Shelbyville, Georgia. After getting fired from another gig, the producer who discovered them lands them a spot on the worldwide tour of the biggest child-star-turned-movie-star Graham Cabot. Any girl on the planet would kill for a chance to be on this tour, except for Annie. She thinks all the Hollywood stuff is absolutely ridiculous, but Annie and Graham are the only two teenagers on the tour, forcing Annie to become friends with Graham. But as the tour moves on, Annie realizes that Graham isn't what he's portrayed as by the media, but something better.
This book was AMAZING. Was it a little inta-love esque? YES. Did I mind? NO. Did I eat it up like candy and read it in a day? YES.
Annie isn't just some random small town girl. She's actually got a little depth to her character, which is surprising for such a short book. She liked architecture and she had a complicated past, which was refreshing because books with a similar plot have the fact that they come from a small town as their defining quality.
I absolutely LOVED Graham. He was so sweet! He was a little annoying sometimes, but that was because he was being forced by his assistant, mom and publicity team to make him do what he didn't want to do, and his job was too important to him to ignore them.
I loved Graham and Annie's little moments and adventures throughout the book, and I loved all the side characters as well! It wasn't ALL about the two main characters, which was a nice surprise.
One of my other favorite parts of the book had to be the casual snide remarks of the author, Annie and Graham. This book had me laughing out loud at its witty banter and as it poked fun at hollywood life!
5/5 stars. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, cute and super fluffy read ;)
This book was AMAZING. Was it a little inta-love esque? YES. Did I mind? NO. Did I eat it up like candy and read it in a day? YES.
Annie isn't just some random small town girl. She's actually got a little depth to her character, which is surprising for such a short book. She liked architecture and she had a complicated past, which was refreshing because books with a similar plot have the fact that they come from a small town as their defining quality.
I absolutely LOVED Graham. He was so sweet! He was a little annoying sometimes, but that was because he was being forced by his assistant, mom and publicity team to make him do what he didn't want to do, and his job was too important to him to ignore them.
I loved Graham and Annie's little moments and adventures throughout the book, and I loved all the side characters as well! It wasn't ALL about the two main characters, which was a nice surprise.
One of my other favorite parts of the book had to be the casual snide remarks of the author, Annie and Graham. This book had me laughing out loud at its witty banter and as it poked fun at hollywood life!
5/5 stars. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, cute and super fluffy read ;)
July 23, 2015
I would've given this a 5 star rating for Graham. lol Anyway, kidding aside, I gave a 4 star rating bc of some parts that I'm quite disappointed and confused like the part where she was really really furious at his dad that she said that she could never forgive him and that they moved across country. I mean, okay, you can get mad because I get the point of it and I'm even sad of what happened but her rage was beyond of what i think she should've reacted (but that's just me). I kinda get the part where she got pissed at Graham for like letting other people assume he was gay or something but I think, she went overboard about telling him so cause Graham just wanted to please his mom and all those working for him. BUT OF COURSE, I love this book because who wouldn't? The plot and climax were good. It's a cliché story but it wasn't really bothering because of well executed lines. I was able to glimpse hollywood life. And, I totally fangirled while reading this because it is well written and humorous! Graham is swoon worthy! I mean this book was all swoon worthy! Plus, the places and views and buildings are all bonuses! Someday, I'd go to all those places. haha <3
August 29, 2015
Annie Shelton didn’t expect to be in LA the summer before her senior year in high school, but her parents have separated and her hairdresser mom’s skills caught the eye of a movie producer. Soon Annie and her mom aren’t simply in LA, they’re on tour with one of the hottest boy stars around, and Annie’s got more to oggle than the European architecture she came to see.
Map to the Stars is a fun beach read made even better by the knowledge that Jen Malone worked as a movie studio publicist, so she knows the kind of crazy that happens when movie stars go on tour. Any preteen or teen who has ever fantasized about the hot new star will enjoy reading this fun romance.
Map to the Stars is a fun beach read made even better by the knowledge that Jen Malone worked as a movie studio publicist, so she knows the kind of crazy that happens when movie stars go on tour. Any preteen or teen who has ever fantasized about the hot new star will enjoy reading this fun romance.
July 30, 2015
Just the kind of book I need to read for a short while and escape reality. This book was a fun and light-hearted read that I wanted to last but at the same time appreciate that it doesn't drag on. It felt like Annie was me in every way possible as she ventures on La-La Land and the life of being around a movie star. And you know what? I fell hard for Graham too. Really sad to think that I'm swooning over a fictional character but Malone sure does pack in those 5 AUTHENTIC stars!
August 5, 2015
too cheesy for me jfc
August 31, 2016
oh my I love this book so much....
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