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Benjo

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"Benjo kept me hooked from the very first page and didn't let me go until I was finished reading it."
***
"I love it when books surprised me and Benjo surprised me in a really nice way. "
***
"I ship Benjo."
***
"In my opinion this is a great debut book and I hope to read more books by Shira soon!"


Jordan is the hot young starlet who has appeared in several successful films. While she is just in her early 20s, Hollywood is hers for the taking.
Benjamin is her older leading man. A well-respected and successful actor in his own right, he is also known for dating – and ditching – his co-stars.
Even as sparks fly during their first encounter, their mutual attraction is undeniable. On set, their chemistry sizzles.
But in “real life” things are a bit more complicated.
For one thing, they are each dating other people. Then there’s a considerable age difference. Should they be content with a good working relationship? Can they be just friends? Should they even attempt taking their friendship to the next level?

The inspiration for this story is taken from actual people; but the occurrences mentioned – even the real ones - are just my imaginative variation.
*Mature Content* contains sexual situations and language.

154 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2015

1 person is currently reading
736 people want to read

About the author

Shira Ohayon

2 books60 followers
Born and raised in central Israel, in a beach-side city named Rishon le Zion, it's a shame I burn so easily.
Writing is my favorite form of expression, although it is hard to shut me up when I start talking...
Obsessed with TV and movies and luckily, I have found a job that is also my passion.

Currently taking an indefinite hiatus from writing, but when I will get back to it, I'll work on finishing my first screenplay for a suspense/action movie called Protection and writing my second novel, Hunny - a second installment to The Power Couple series.

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjobook
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5 stars
11 (31%)
4 stars
15 (42%)
3 stars
6 (17%)
2 stars
2 (5%)
1 star
1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Laura.
471 reviews580 followers
April 9, 2015
|Digital copy kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you a lot!|

|3.8 starting strong stars|

description

"You should always be with the person that makes you happy."


description

Blurb: Jordan is the hot young starlet who has appeared in several successful films. While she is just in her early 20s, Hollywood is hers for the taking.
Benjamin is her older leading man. A well-respected and successful actor in his own right, he is also known for dating – and ditching – his co-stars.
Even as sparks fly during their first encounter, their mutual attraction is undeniable. On set, their chemistry sizzles.
But in “real life” things are a bit more complicated.
For one thing, they are each dating other people. Then there’s a considerable age difference. Should they be content with a good working relationship? Can they be just friends? Should they even attempt taking their friendship to the next level?

description

I love it when books surprised me and Benjo surprised me in a really nice way.
I don't think I've ever read a book when the MCs are actors, like Hollywood stars that is, so I really want to take a moment and thank Shira for sending me a copy of her debut novel. It was a really fun trip.

When we first meet our guys, they meet on the set of their very first movie and the chemestry is instantly. Jordan is 21 years old and Benjamin's 35. They hit off right away and the age difference isn't really in the way of their friendship. I don't mind insta-love that much, you all know that so I really really liked their dynamic.

Jordan was blunt, funny, cute and quite responsable.
I enjoyed reading her and I laughed a lot! She was pretty hilarious.

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Benjamin, on the other hand, was a bit more serious than Jordan but he was oh so adorable and funny too.
I wasn't thrilled by how he took his feelings and his relationship with Jordan at the begining, but that's maybe because I don't mind ages if the couple is mature about their relationship so I was team Benjo all the way from the start and knew things could work out just nicely once they got together. Though I knew and got where he was coming from, it still bothered me a bit. Not that Jordan was available at the time so there was that as well.

I mean, they were absolutely cute together and they belonged to each other from the start!

"I love you so much," he whispered tenderly.
She smiled but then quickly changed her expression, "That's disgusting," she said severely. He looked at her questioningly. "You could literally be my father."
God, she was never going to let him live this down.


Overall, Benjo was a good book and a quite nice start but I didn't like how the chapters were built. They didn't let me get to know the characters that much. They were rushed and I wasn't sure I was going to get to like them in the first half of the book; lucky I did and the second half was better.

I also liked Ohayon's storytelling. It was fresh, straight to the point and friendly.

What do I want to see next? I'd love for her next book to be a bit longer, I really needed an epilogue for this one, so she can explore her characters more deeply and let us fall in love with them more, too.
It'd be cool if she makes a series out of this book (with different couples) because I liked how she used the time between shootings and events and that kind of things but she also needs to improve her character development.

With that being said I really liked this book and it's something I can definetly see myself rereading.
Profile Image for ily .
455 reviews749 followers
April 11, 2015
*Digital copy provided by the author for review purposes.

3.5/5

"I love you so much," he whispered tenderly.

She smiled but then quickly changed her expression, "That's disgusting," she said severely. He looked at her questioningly. "You could literally be my father."

God, she was never going to let him live this down.


I ship Benjo.


Well, this book was quite a surprise. To be completely honest, I didn't expect much. But Benjo kept me hooked from the very first page and didn't let me go until I was finished reading it. Best friends who want to be more than just friends? I'm in! In the hands of another author, this book could have been the typican adult romance, but Ohayon managed to mantain the characters real and relatable, even though they were movie stars. At first I was a bit worried their first meeting would lead to instalove and all that stuff, and yes, the chemistry between Benjamin and Jordan was there from the moment they laid eyes on each other, but they took their time to develop the connection they had into something stronger than just a frienship.

You should always be with the person that makes you happy.


Jordan was my favorite character. She and Ben were both Hollywood stars, but in spite of being on the spotlight, they both were down-to-earth actors, given to their careers and their loved ones. I had such a great time with Jo, who made me laugh and laugh with her sarcastic comments and her easy-going personality. She was nice, friendly, funny and a sensitive person. Ben, on he other side, was much more serious and thoughtful, and I really appreciate the fact that he respected and kept his distance knowing he still had feelings for Jordan but also being fully aware of the relationship she was in at the moment.


I only wish the author had shown more of their jobs and careers. Both Jo and Ben were constantly shooting movies, in which they were the lead actors and had to share sex escenes. Given the mutual attraction, I wish I had seen more on how did the manage to put that off. Did they keep it professional? Did the sexual tension translate into the screen? For me, the chapters were rushed out, which kept me from fully enjoying the book.

Overall this one was a very nice read, it keep hooked, it made me laugh out loud, and I had a terrific time with both main characters. Perfect for romance lovers.
Profile Image for Taylor.
767 reviews421 followers
April 17, 2015
I really wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I'd never heard of it or the author. The reviews were really good but I was still unsure. However, this book was surprisingly great.

The writing style was really wonderful. It was straight forward and really refreshing.

The characters were also really wonderful. They're were really original and, I can't stress this enough, very well written. These characters blew my mind. They seemed real and normal.
There wasn't really any insta-love, just insta-chemistry. Which, coming from someone who hates insta-love, I was totally okay with.

Overall, this was such a fun, quick read. I really enjoyed the characters and the writing style.
I would have liked a little bit time to get to know the characters because the book started so quickly and I didn't really get a chance to get to know the characters separately, as individuals. But really, this book was such a great surprise. If you're looking for an original romance with really great characters, I recommend picking up Benjo.
Profile Image for 1-Click Addict Support Group.
3,749 reviews490 followers
April 29, 2015
Friendship is good but love is so much better…

From the minute Benjamin Connor and Jordan Linden meet on the movie set, they become instant friends. Jordan’s career is off to a great start and working with, and learning from, the more experienced actor is a dream come true.

Benjamin is impressed by the talent and charm of his younger co-star, and their professional and personal lives continue to intertwine after their first movie is done.

Romance is really not on the horizon as the two are involved with other people and the timing never seems right. Will love conquer or all or is that only ever found on the silver screen?

I admit the original cover for this story didn’t attract me at all, but luckily the blurb intrigued me enough to give it a chance. And what a treat awaited me! Be prepared to meet the nicest people you will ever hope to meet in Hollywood. This is fiction, of course, but the author admits to some truth in the pages. I wonder if the “nice” is real or fiction?

Regardless, Jordan and Benjamin are wonderful together as their friendship is marked with love, support and great conversations. They don’t want to lose each other by changing the dynamic of their friendship but love is always the trump card. Their road is not without bumps and we are taken along for an entertaining ride.

Sweet, a touch of steam, and a “feel good” non-cliffy ending has me happily on team Benjo and looking forward to the next in the series. ~ Diane, 4 stars
Profile Image for Limor Moyal.
Author 2 books58 followers
April 13, 2015

Benjo is the sort of book that hold on to you and don't let go. Once you start it, you're hooked. It's funny, engrossing, moving and you can't put it away.
I loved how Shira portrayed the characters and made me fall in love with them, even when they're supposed to be these unattainable human beings.
I simply adored the chemistry between Ben and Jo, Shira had a way of writing their relationship which was new and fresh and funny and endearing. She somehow managed to write this great love story without it coming off cheesy.
Smart title, too ;)
Profile Image for Tia.
638 reviews
April 12, 2015
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

" Benjo" by Shira Ohayon is a wonderful story about two movie stars and there attempt to not fall in love. It's amusing and interesting all at the same time. I really got to know the characters personality and really like them. I enjoyed a taste of the celebrity life, but would've loved more detail on their acting stuff.

Jordan is a young 20 something movie star more used to tv shows rather than movies, and Benjamin is an early 30's under appreciated actor. They picked to star in a movie together and there is some sparks at the start. There's a funny scene when they first meet that pretty much sets the tone of the book.

In my opinion this a great debut book and I hope to read more books by Shira soon!

This is a clean read with a happy ever after ending. It also had the feel that it could lead to another book if she chose too.
Profile Image for Shira Ohayon.
Author 2 books60 followers
May 13, 2015
I hate it when authors rate their own books. But it was really annoying seeing that green "want to read" button every single time. I've read it! Time and time and time again! And if someone else had written it, I would still give it five stars, simply because I love the subject so much. Truth time - Benjo is compiled of several fanfics I've written in a span of 18 months. Not that difficult to guess whom I wrote them about. I hope you like it as much as I liked writing it, and I hope you don't feel like you're reading a fanfic. Either way, looking forward to your reviews!
Profile Image for GRIS.
467 reviews101 followers
April 1, 2015
This is so mind blowing. I feel like I just read some sort of Love, Rosie starred by the real Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. I'm sure this would be a 5 rating stars book if it wasn't for the super fast pace. Everything happens just too fast, and you can't wholly enjoy the lovely chemistry between Benjamin and Jordan. But, besides that, I've had a lovely time reading this!

"You should always be with the person that makes you happy."
Profile Image for Meka♥books.
506 reviews3 followers
April 13, 2015
***SOME SPOILERS***

"...You should always be with the person that makes you happy."
This one line is the force behind the entire story of Benjo. Benjo is a delightful debut romance novel inspired by real people. The story centers on Benjamin Connor (Ben) and Jordan Linden (Jo) who affectingly make up the couple name Benjo. The two are actors that first meet in 2011 while filming a movie together. Ben and Jo have a 14 year age gap between them which makes the movie roles they share together interesting and romantic setbacks frustrating. The story of the Benjo spans five years, ending in 2016.

From the first movie the two made together their chemistry was undeniable. For lack of a better word the two just clicked. Romantic feelings quickly develop but time is always against them as one person is always in a relationship thus, hindering any romantic notions between the two. Adding to their frustrations is the fact Ben and Jo dance around and mask their feelings to people around them and to themselves.

To block out any harboring feelings for Jo, Ben kept occupied with other relationships. During one relationship, it just hit him the woman he was dating was the complete opposite of Jo.
...while sitting with Naomi, it became clearer than ever to Benjamin just how different his interaction with the two women was. With Jordan there was always an easy banter, everything was a joke- even if it annoyed him at times. With Naomi, everything seemed to be stiff and needed an explanation.
Needless to say, the relationship did not last.
description

There's one scene is this otherwise funny romance that made my eye misty. I don't want to spoil it but I will say worrying about someone you care about sucks.
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I loved this friend to lover story. Ben and Jo's friendship was easy, relaxed, and honest. Their sometimes angry yet funny banter added a comedic tone to the storyline too. There are things Jo says in this book that are funny and rude concerning Ben's love interests. These things are a testament to the closeness the two have between each other. I don't know if love was not involved if Jo could have gotten away with expressing herself so freely. I guess as the gif says below:
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I've read some comments that felt like Benjo's job should have be addressed more in the story. I can see why they would say that but for me the amount of show business related items in the book was fine. It actually gave me a glimpse into the Hollywood lifestyle and how easy it is to meet and fall in love on set (even if you're in a relationship).

Benjo is an entertaining read from beginning to end. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a nice clean story of friends to lovers with angsty banter laced with humor. This debut novel receives 4.5 stars for keeping me engaged and invested in the characters welfare. Nice work Shira Ohayon.

***I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review***

Profile Image for Allyn.
112 reviews4 followers
May 19, 2015
This is a secret view into the life of a star. We seem to be drawn to the 'normalcy' of actors(they age too? And take bad pictures? I personally love photos of actresses without makeup :-) ) and so it was fun to read the behind the scenes glimpse of a few years in the life of Ben and Jo. I think it was really true to life how some relationships get caught in the friend zone for one reason or another, until finally that spark ignites. Watching Jo and Ben build tension and chemistry was thrilling. Following their careers and ups and downs as they both grew personally and professionally was endearing. But I loved most of all the true connection that they had. The friendship that was always laced with attraction. The respect and desire and playfulness. I love how the author gave completely fleshed out characters right from the start. I became invested and rooted for Jo, wishing Ben would just get a clue and stop dating the wrong ladies!
I loved the book, and felt like I had a front row seat on the secret life and heart of the stars :-)
If you are looking for a story with it's own flair and personality outside the typical romance, then this is a great book to cozy up with!
Well done by Ms. Ohayon!
Profile Image for Love Fool.
371 reviews109 followers
June 9, 2015
ordan is the hot young starlet who has appeared in several successful films. While she is just in her early 20s, Hollywood is hers for the taking.
Benjamin is her older leading man. A well-respected and successful actor in his own right, he is also known for dating – and ditching – his co-stars.
Even as sparks fly during their first encounter, their mutual attraction is undeniable. On set, their chemistry sizzles.
But in “real life” things are a bit more complicated.
For one thing, they are each dating other people. Then there’s a considerable age difference. Should they be content with a good working relationship? Can they be just friends? Should they even attempt taking their friendship to the next level?

I wanted to like this more but I felt like I was reading fanfiction. It was a little too fast-paced and unrealistic for me.
Profile Image for Ginger Snaps.
437 reviews24 followers
September 8, 2015
I give this book a firm 3.5/5 stars. This is the author's debut book and a sweet love story between two actors who start off as friends as their age difference and other romantic relationships keep them from exploring a relationship together for years. I would have liked to have read more about their time filming movies together and at times the chapters seemed rushed but it was an enjoyable read with a happy ending. The book leaves itself open for a sequel and I hope the author writes one as I'd like to read more of Benjamin and Jordan's story.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Helena Baram.
1 review1 follower
April 3, 2015
This is such a fun story! It's well written, it's funny, and angsty and romantic -- it made my stomach flutter numerous times! Ben and Jo are so lovable, and you find yourself screaming JUST MAKE BABIES ALREADY!!!!!!!! all book long....
Profile Image for Nicholas.
146 reviews5 followers
May 24, 2015
Goodreads win. Will read and review once recieved.

This is one of those books that once you start it you have a hard time putting it down. It is definitely one of those books that makes you want to know what is going to happen next. This book was fast paced and very engrossing. A great book.
2,016 reviews8 followers
June 16, 2020
***Reviewed on behalf of Give Me Books***
July 4, 2015
Note: I was sent a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Lots of romance stories these days are all instalove cliches- and while this was still a bit cheesy- in a good way- it was still edgy and fun.
I shipped Benjo so hard! I usually find it hard to feel much for a couple in a novel. But these characters really touched me.
The book started off with a bang, and was just overall extremely cute!
I recommended to fans of quirky romance like Rainbow Rowell and E Lockhart.
Profile Image for Angela L.
320 reviews5 followers
August 3, 2015
I read this book via a Goodreads giveaway. Thank goodness. I'd have cried if I'd have wasted money on this tripe. Perhaps it's just not my bag but the writing style was dreadful, it skipped all over the place. As characters, Ben and Jo had less depth than your average puddle. I really couldn't care less what happened to them.

If you're a celebrity obsessed young teen this might have limited appeal but anyone else should avoid at all costs. I try and find something positive to say about every book I read but I'd have given this no stars if possible, it was that bad. A total waste of about an hour and a half. Sorry.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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