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The Standout
First Robin gets the email with its simple dump your fiancé or else. Then someone puts up the slanderous Rotten Robin Website that threatens to crush her chances to win The Standout, a ballet-themed, fashion reality show. Surrounded by backstabbing co-contestants and haunted by mysterious ghosts from her past, Robin can't trust anyone, including herself. Her only allies are Zelda, a ballerina and model, and her older brother Ted, both of whom have ghosts and secrets of their own.
The Standout is a psychological thriller about love and betrayal, life and death, tall buildings, and finding the courage to jump.
The Standout is a psychological thriller about love and betrayal, life and death, tall buildings, and finding the courage to jump.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2015
10 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Laurel Osterkamp
21 books525 followersLaurel Osterkamp is the award-winning author of roughly a dozen novels, such as Favorite Daughters and the #1 Amazon bestseller, Beautiful Little Furies. She is obsessed with writing and doesn't know how to stop. In addition to her novels, she has short fiction published in literary journals all over the web, writes a monthly column for Writer's Fun Zone, and runs her website, laurellit.com, with book reviews, lesson plans, and writing advice.
When she's not writing (which is rare) she's often teaching adult ESL or middle school enrichment classes, going running while listening to audiobooks, or educating her daughter about the OG teen soap opera, Beverly Hills 90210. She lives in Minneapolis with a family who loves to argue, and their cats, who love to hiss at each other. Ramona Quimby is her spirit animal.
Follow her on Instagram @laurel_osterkamp.
When she's not writing (which is rare) she's often teaching adult ESL or middle school enrichment classes, going running while listening to audiobooks, or educating her daughter about the OG teen soap opera, Beverly Hills 90210. She lives in Minneapolis with a family who loves to argue, and their cats, who love to hiss at each other. Ramona Quimby is her spirit animal.
Follow her on Instagram @laurel_osterkamp.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 8, 2016
The Standout is a sequel? companion? to Osterkamp’s The Holdout, American Angst, and a few others. They all make up the Robin Bricker stories. You absolutely do not have to read those books to jump in this story. I had no problems whatsoever when it came to the characters; as the author weaves little fragments of their lives into this story. I enjoyed reading this book with its fast pace and mystery. Although, the description says psychological thriller, this just didn’t pack that big a punch to be in that category. Still, I really like it, and may even go back and read her other books.
Think Black Swan meets Project Runway, and you can pretty much picture what this one is about. I won’t go into many details, as I don’t want to spoil the plot. The Standout follows Robin as she tries to live with the fact that she lost her friend over a guy who deceived them both. She’s in a great relationship, about to be married, and just wants to move on with her life. Soon she starts receiving threatening emails about her past if she doesn’t leave Nick, her fiance’. The thing is, Nick knows all about what Robin has been through, so those threats don’t have a leg to stand on. When Robin is asked to be a contestant on a new reality show, she hesitates – but ultimately, takes the chance. From there, things get even worse for Robin as she tries to focus on her designs and the show. She knows that the money from winning would be a huge help for her and Nick.
I like Robin as a character, but sometimes she could be so dense. Part of the reason why I didn’t give this a full five stars is because I figured out what was going on before the whole mystery unraveled. Robin, while very driven and focused, was taking too many head trips and she wasn’t seeing the obvious. And, oh my God, I really wanted to snatch one particular character up by the shirt and say, You whiny little witch! It was so obvious that there was way more going on and half the time Robin just didn’t look hard enough. I would have really liked this to be Robin’s and Nick’s POV, but somehow having Zelda and Ted made the story flow really easy. I usually hate these types of setups, but it worked really well.
I like the friendship that Robin formed with Zelda, ballerina model who works with Robin. Yet again, Robin forms a friendship with someone on the show. Her last friendship ended in the worst way, and Robin is swimming in guilt about it. Other contestants are intimidated by Robin’s status as having been on another show, so they know that she’s got some advantage over them. It doesn’t stop all the snide remarks thrown Robin’s way. Stalker aside, I really like that this story reminds me so much of Project Runway, one of my guilty pleasures. This story is filled with mystery, but I just didn’t get the thrills that I wanted. It’s a very light weight thriller, but it will definitely hold your attention. Definitely recommend!
Find more of my reviews over at Lekeisha The Booknerd
Think Black Swan meets Project Runway, and you can pretty much picture what this one is about. I won’t go into many details, as I don’t want to spoil the plot. The Standout follows Robin as she tries to live with the fact that she lost her friend over a guy who deceived them both. She’s in a great relationship, about to be married, and just wants to move on with her life. Soon she starts receiving threatening emails about her past if she doesn’t leave Nick, her fiance’. The thing is, Nick knows all about what Robin has been through, so those threats don’t have a leg to stand on. When Robin is asked to be a contestant on a new reality show, she hesitates – but ultimately, takes the chance. From there, things get even worse for Robin as she tries to focus on her designs and the show. She knows that the money from winning would be a huge help for her and Nick.
I like Robin as a character, but sometimes she could be so dense. Part of the reason why I didn’t give this a full five stars is because I figured out what was going on before the whole mystery unraveled. Robin, while very driven and focused, was taking too many head trips and she wasn’t seeing the obvious. And, oh my God, I really wanted to snatch one particular character up by the shirt and say, You whiny little witch! It was so obvious that there was way more going on and half the time Robin just didn’t look hard enough. I would have really liked this to be Robin’s and Nick’s POV, but somehow having Zelda and Ted made the story flow really easy. I usually hate these types of setups, but it worked really well.
I like the friendship that Robin formed with Zelda, ballerina model who works with Robin. Yet again, Robin forms a friendship with someone on the show. Her last friendship ended in the worst way, and Robin is swimming in guilt about it. Other contestants are intimidated by Robin’s status as having been on another show, so they know that she’s got some advantage over them. It doesn’t stop all the snide remarks thrown Robin’s way. Stalker aside, I really like that this story reminds me so much of Project Runway, one of my guilty pleasures. This story is filled with mystery, but I just didn’t get the thrills that I wanted. It’s a very light weight thriller, but it will definitely hold your attention. Definitely recommend!
Find more of my reviews over at Lekeisha The Booknerd
August 3, 2016
The third novel featuring Laurel Osterkamp’s heroine Robin, ‘The Standout’ finds her venturing back into familiar territory as she’s persuaded to sign up for another reality tv show, this time centred on the fashion world – something Robin is determined to make a career out of. But things take a sinister turn when she’s seemingly stalked by the wife of a former lover. the only issue is, Carly died several years ago. So is she back from the dead or is someone else playing games, determined to break her and her new fiancée Nick apart?
I loved the previous novel of Laurel’s I reviewed ‘The Next Breath’ especially for it’s deeply realistic characters and situations, and ‘The Standout‘ is just as good. This time, Laurel has chosen to tell the story from several character’s points of view, often overlapping the timeline, which adds another layer to the narrative. The most effective of these for me were the chapters told by Robin’s brother Ted. Although not an immediately likeable character, and at times a bit of a jerk, you slowly come to see the reason behind his actions, and dislike soon turns to empathy. Along with Robin’s own narrative and that of Zelda, the dancer turned model who assists Robin, it’s a clever way to build the tale as well as the tension, which rises to an incredible level as the book nears it’s conclusion. My only disappointment is there was no chapters from Nick’s perspective – although I fear it may have just been continual screaming over how impossible Robin was being.
There really is something for every reader in ‘The Standout’ – fashion, dance, romance, intrigue – although there were moments where it did feel a tiny bit over-whelming and muddled, but as long as you focus on the central characters, then there’s no danger of getting lost. The plot is tightly woven, and very difficult to second-guess, with Osterkamp’s ability with complex storylines shining through from beginning to end.
This was a very quick read, and hard to stop thinking about, and I can’t wait to see what Laurel has got planned for Robin next. I hope it involves more Ted and Nick.
Review previously published at If These Books Could Talk
Book supplied as part of promotional tour in exchange for an unbiased review
I loved the previous novel of Laurel’s I reviewed ‘The Next Breath’ especially for it’s deeply realistic characters and situations, and ‘The Standout‘ is just as good. This time, Laurel has chosen to tell the story from several character’s points of view, often overlapping the timeline, which adds another layer to the narrative. The most effective of these for me were the chapters told by Robin’s brother Ted. Although not an immediately likeable character, and at times a bit of a jerk, you slowly come to see the reason behind his actions, and dislike soon turns to empathy. Along with Robin’s own narrative and that of Zelda, the dancer turned model who assists Robin, it’s a clever way to build the tale as well as the tension, which rises to an incredible level as the book nears it’s conclusion. My only disappointment is there was no chapters from Nick’s perspective – although I fear it may have just been continual screaming over how impossible Robin was being.
There really is something for every reader in ‘The Standout’ – fashion, dance, romance, intrigue – although there were moments where it did feel a tiny bit over-whelming and muddled, but as long as you focus on the central characters, then there’s no danger of getting lost. The plot is tightly woven, and very difficult to second-guess, with Osterkamp’s ability with complex storylines shining through from beginning to end.
This was a very quick read, and hard to stop thinking about, and I can’t wait to see what Laurel has got planned for Robin next. I hope it involves more Ted and Nick.
Review previously published at If These Books Could Talk
Book supplied as part of promotional tour in exchange for an unbiased review
January 29, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. In no way, would my review be impacted by it.
I was looking forward to reading this book ever since I took part in the Kindle Scout campaign. Though, the author is new to me, I was intrigued by the blurb and that led me to taking part in the campaign and then to the blog tour.
The book didn't disappoint me at all. It was a good combination of elements like a reality show concept, the back stage intrigues of the show, the heroine's past and the mysterious slanders. The beginning caught my attention easily with Robin's mistake and then on it was a feast of words. The tale from various characters' points of view added depth to the book.
The story was quite unique in some ways and I loved reading about Robin and the events and people in her life. There was quite a bit of growth in almost all characters. It was fascinating to read and I enjoyed it. Only after finishing, did I realise that there are other books in the series. I can see myself going for them in the future!
My rating : 4/5
I was looking forward to reading this book ever since I took part in the Kindle Scout campaign. Though, the author is new to me, I was intrigued by the blurb and that led me to taking part in the campaign and then to the blog tour.
The book didn't disappoint me at all. It was a good combination of elements like a reality show concept, the back stage intrigues of the show, the heroine's past and the mysterious slanders. The beginning caught my attention easily with Robin's mistake and then on it was a feast of words. The tale from various characters' points of view added depth to the book.
The story was quite unique in some ways and I loved reading about Robin and the events and people in her life. There was quite a bit of growth in almost all characters. It was fascinating to read and I enjoyed it. Only after finishing, did I realise that there are other books in the series. I can see myself going for them in the future!
My rating : 4/5
November 30, 2025
Robin is engaged to Nick but starts receiving threatening letters telling her to end her engagement or else face having past secrets exposed. Shortly after this starts she is asked to be a contestant on a reality fashion design competition television show, making the threat even more risky, especially as the competition starts to see some sabotage.
The book is mostly from Robin's perspective, but also contains sections from her brother, Ted, and her model on the show, a ballerina named Zelda. Ted is helping her uncover who is behind the threats and spoofing on her accounts. He has his own home issues to deal with too. I admit that I found his sections pointless. Zelda's were my favorite part of the book, even if they didn'ttotallyblend with the main plot. I felt like she deserved her own book. The competitive edge with her best friend, roofing around NYC, her mother issues... I wanted a book of Zelda. Robin's sections and the main storyline fell in the middle for me.
The overall storyline would be great for people who like a quick read with some scandal that might remind them of a Lifetime movie. I think that is the perfect audience here. You can predict the ending, there's lots of drama, it's fast and basic.
Thank-you so much to both Laurel Osterkamp and the Author Marketing Experts for my free reader copy. My review is unbiased and opinions my own.
The book is mostly from Robin's perspective, but also contains sections from her brother, Ted, and her model on the show, a ballerina named Zelda. Ted is helping her uncover who is behind the threats and spoofing on her accounts. He has his own home issues to deal with too. I admit that I found his sections pointless. Zelda's were my favorite part of the book, even if they didn'ttotallyblend with the main plot. I felt like she deserved her own book. The competitive edge with her best friend, roofing around NYC, her mother issues... I wanted a book of Zelda. Robin's sections and the main storyline fell in the middle for me.
The overall storyline would be great for people who like a quick read with some scandal that might remind them of a Lifetime movie. I think that is the perfect audience here. You can predict the ending, there's lots of drama, it's fast and basic.
Thank-you so much to both Laurel Osterkamp and the Author Marketing Experts for my free reader copy. My review is unbiased and opinions my own.
December 8, 2015
Laurel Osterkamp has written several books about these characters and this family but each book works as a stand alone and this one especially so. It’s a totally contained story and you don’t need to have ready anything else by her. That being said, I recommend you do because they are excellent!
I love Robin and she’s gone through some crazy things in her life but nothing like this. This is a psychological thriller, different from any other book with Robin. Someone is cyber stalking her and is trying to ruin her life. Of course we *think* we know who it is (at least a few different times) but when I found out the truth I was SHOCKED. Absolutely stunned.
Robin is a strong character and in this book she really has to stand strong in the face of some really crazy stuff. Her and Nicks relationship may be on the line but even though they both freak out and sometimes aren’t so nice to each other, the drama is actually extremely low. Especially considering everything.
Reality TV in books. Laurel Osterkamp does it well. Robin goes on The Standout, a reality TV show for clothing designers. She has ballerina Zelda as her model and is the only person she can trust as she has a lot of people out for her. She also has to deal with some rather disgusting people who do some awful things. And it’s in front of the cameras so she has to hold her temper in check or they’ll just make her look like an awful person on TV.
Even though Robin is the main character we do get her brother Ted’s point of view as well as Zelda’s. Ted is someone we’ve not had a chance to get to know well. He’s not as close with his family and Robin thinks he doesn’t really even like her. But getting his POV allows us to see what he’s going through. He’s also the one who tries the hardest to help Robin with the cyber stalking thing. I found myself really liking his character and feeling for him and his situation. It made the book even better to get this POV.
Zelda’s POV seemed to come out of no where. It threw in her own story and what she was going through and initially I wasn’t sure why she was there. But then something big happens and it starts to make sense. I also feel this could be an in for a story that is more focused on Zelda. She has a lot in her life and a book about her would be good. I know I’d be excited to read it and find out what happens with her.
I have a love/hate feeling with the end. I was satisfied with the very end, it was done well but in regards to the stalker I feel like I was not given the resolution I would have liked. We find out who was doing it (and it’s SHOCKING) but I wanted to see more come of it and not just find out who it was.
Regardless, this was an excellent book and one I highly recommend. I started and finished in one evening so it’s a fast read. Once I started I NEEDED to know what happened and read pretty much straight through. And this is my favorite of the authors books so far (I think). Adding in that suspense with the cyber stalking really amped it up. Loved it.
You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com
I love Robin and she’s gone through some crazy things in her life but nothing like this. This is a psychological thriller, different from any other book with Robin. Someone is cyber stalking her and is trying to ruin her life. Of course we *think* we know who it is (at least a few different times) but when I found out the truth I was SHOCKED. Absolutely stunned.
Robin is a strong character and in this book she really has to stand strong in the face of some really crazy stuff. Her and Nicks relationship may be on the line but even though they both freak out and sometimes aren’t so nice to each other, the drama is actually extremely low. Especially considering everything.
Reality TV in books. Laurel Osterkamp does it well. Robin goes on The Standout, a reality TV show for clothing designers. She has ballerina Zelda as her model and is the only person she can trust as she has a lot of people out for her. She also has to deal with some rather disgusting people who do some awful things. And it’s in front of the cameras so she has to hold her temper in check or they’ll just make her look like an awful person on TV.
Even though Robin is the main character we do get her brother Ted’s point of view as well as Zelda’s. Ted is someone we’ve not had a chance to get to know well. He’s not as close with his family and Robin thinks he doesn’t really even like her. But getting his POV allows us to see what he’s going through. He’s also the one who tries the hardest to help Robin with the cyber stalking thing. I found myself really liking his character and feeling for him and his situation. It made the book even better to get this POV.
Zelda’s POV seemed to come out of no where. It threw in her own story and what she was going through and initially I wasn’t sure why she was there. But then something big happens and it starts to make sense. I also feel this could be an in for a story that is more focused on Zelda. She has a lot in her life and a book about her would be good. I know I’d be excited to read it and find out what happens with her.
I have a love/hate feeling with the end. I was satisfied with the very end, it was done well but in regards to the stalker I feel like I was not given the resolution I would have liked. We find out who was doing it (and it’s SHOCKING) but I wanted to see more come of it and not just find out who it was.
Regardless, this was an excellent book and one I highly recommend. I started and finished in one evening so it’s a fast read. Once I started I NEEDED to know what happened and read pretty much straight through. And this is my favorite of the authors books so far (I think). Adding in that suspense with the cyber stalking really amped it up. Loved it.
You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com
December 18, 2015
Last year I read ‘The Next Breath’ by Laurel Osterkamp. I really loved that book and the way the author was able to completely pull me into her story. So when I saw the sign up for ‘The Standout’ blog tour, I signed up as fast as I could. ‘The Standout’ is a Psychological thriller and since I haven’t read many of those books I was even more curious about how this story would go.
From the moment I started ‘The Standout’ I was fascinated by these characters and their story. I know there have been more books from Laurel Osterkamp about these characters, but since I have only read one of those books, this felt a little like the beginning for me.
The main character in this book was Robin. Robin is an aspiring fashion designer who has been a part of a real life show a view years back. Now Robin is living with her fiancé and his younger sister. Everything is going well for Robin, until she receives an email from someone who claims to know all her dark secrets, and soon Robin is being stalked. When Robin is asked to be a part of a new real life show, with a huge opportunity in the designer world, she immediately accepts. But soon her stalker begins stalking her more and more, and soon her life is turned upside down.
I really enjoyed reading about Robin’s character, but I also felt like she didn’t show the world exactly who she was. And I definitely wondered what happened to her after ‘The Next Breath’. Robin just seemed like a person whose been through a lot.
The relationship between Robin and her fiancé Nick, was definitely interesting to read about and it kept me hooked to the pages. And this book definitely had a surprising end.. I mean.. I didn’t see the end coming at all.
The one thing I didn’t get about this story is how Robin could feel guilty about sleeping with her friends husband, since she didn’t know he was married. I mean.. how could Robin have known that, if she never knew her boyfriend was married in the first place? This part irritated me a little since it kept coming back.
Overall, this was a great read which kept me hooked from the beginning till the very end. I definitely recommend it to other readers. And it’s definitely another bravo for Laurel Osterkamp.
From the moment I started ‘The Standout’ I was fascinated by these characters and their story. I know there have been more books from Laurel Osterkamp about these characters, but since I have only read one of those books, this felt a little like the beginning for me.
The main character in this book was Robin. Robin is an aspiring fashion designer who has been a part of a real life show a view years back. Now Robin is living with her fiancé and his younger sister. Everything is going well for Robin, until she receives an email from someone who claims to know all her dark secrets, and soon Robin is being stalked. When Robin is asked to be a part of a new real life show, with a huge opportunity in the designer world, she immediately accepts. But soon her stalker begins stalking her more and more, and soon her life is turned upside down.
I really enjoyed reading about Robin’s character, but I also felt like she didn’t show the world exactly who she was. And I definitely wondered what happened to her after ‘The Next Breath’. Robin just seemed like a person whose been through a lot.
The relationship between Robin and her fiancé Nick, was definitely interesting to read about and it kept me hooked to the pages. And this book definitely had a surprising end.. I mean.. I didn’t see the end coming at all.
The one thing I didn’t get about this story is how Robin could feel guilty about sleeping with her friends husband, since she didn’t know he was married. I mean.. how could Robin have known that, if she never knew her boyfriend was married in the first place? This part irritated me a little since it kept coming back.
Overall, this was a great read which kept me hooked from the beginning till the very end. I definitely recommend it to other readers. And it’s definitely another bravo for Laurel Osterkamp.
November 24, 2015
Robin and Nick just got engaged. Robin is trying to plan a wedding to happen in June. Then she gets a message to dump Nick or else. She is convinced it's from an old friend who she unknowingly had an affair with her husband. Someone has hacked into her phone and Facebook and made a website just to slander her. Then she gets a call to go on the reality show The Standout. It's a fashion reality show. Robin has already been on a reality show The Holdout and that's how they know her. Nick promises to fix the issue while she is on the show. Things end up getting worse and then things are happening at the set of the show.
This was a good book. It has a fast pace that keeps you reading to find out more. The characters are interesting. I actually preferred reading about her brother Ted. I found his problems interesting. There was lots of mystery and and twists as to who was playing these games on Robin. I only wished they would have tied it up more at the end as to the why this person did it. The book The Holdout comes before this one but I did not feel like I had to read it first to be able to follow this one.
I would recommend this book to any one who enjoys suspense thrillers.
Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock.
This was a good book. It has a fast pace that keeps you reading to find out more. The characters are interesting. I actually preferred reading about her brother Ted. I found his problems interesting. There was lots of mystery and and twists as to who was playing these games on Robin. I only wished they would have tied it up more at the end as to the why this person did it. The book The Holdout comes before this one but I did not feel like I had to read it first to be able to follow this one.
I would recommend this book to any one who enjoys suspense thrillers.
Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock.
November 18, 2015
When Robin, a fashion designer/reality show contestant, announces her engagement she becomes the target of a cyberstalker hellbent on destroying her reputation.
I picked up this book based on the outstanding cover and the intriguing blurb. I did not pick it up for the genre, as Chick Lit is not my usual forte. And although the blurb claims the story is a psychological thriller, I wouldn’t classify it as such. The main focus is the personal journeys of each character. (Something I love!) There is some cyberstalking though many details are not fully explained, they are more or less tied up with a quick “I figured it out” or “__ hates me”. In my opinion, the stalking is more of a side note--something to get things moving. And things definitely move. The Standout is a real page turner.
Laurel Osterkamp is a talented writer. She weaves an interesting story with characters that are relatable and well-developed. This was my first novel by Osterkamp, but I can assure you it will not be my last. Anyone with interests in fashion, reality TV or just a great read is going to appreciate this book.
I picked up this book based on the outstanding cover and the intriguing blurb. I did not pick it up for the genre, as Chick Lit is not my usual forte. And although the blurb claims the story is a psychological thriller, I wouldn’t classify it as such. The main focus is the personal journeys of each character. (Something I love!) There is some cyberstalking though many details are not fully explained, they are more or less tied up with a quick “I figured it out” or “__ hates me”. In my opinion, the stalking is more of a side note--something to get things moving. And things definitely move. The Standout is a real page turner.
Laurel Osterkamp is a talented writer. She weaves an interesting story with characters that are relatable and well-developed. This was my first novel by Osterkamp, but I can assure you it will not be my last. Anyone with interests in fashion, reality TV or just a great read is going to appreciate this book.
October 31, 2015
"The Standout" by Laurel Osterkamp is an exciting page turner! Once I got into the book I didn't want to stop reading it! Robin is a former reality TV contestant who gets called in to fill an empty slot on another show that features fashion designers. The day after she accepts the invite she receives a menacing letter, things escalate to text messages and threats but her fiance' convinces her to go ahead and do the show. Things get worse during the filming of the show and sabotage seems to be coming from all directions. The cast of characters are so real and flawed that you can imagine that they are people you know. The conclusion to this was so very unexpected and made me love this story even more!
"The Standout" is like doing a mash-up of "Project Runway" and "The Black Swan". I highly recommend this book.
The book is due to be released on November 10, 2015, and here's the link to it:
http://www.amazon.com/Standout-Robin-...
"The Standout" is like doing a mash-up of "Project Runway" and "The Black Swan". I highly recommend this book.
The book is due to be released on November 10, 2015, and here's the link to it:
http://www.amazon.com/Standout-Robin-...
November 12, 2015
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Robin, a former reality TV participant, has her life together. She's had her 15-minutes of fame, has a business that's doing well, and a boyfriend who's just proposed. She receives a few odd emails but isn't overly concerned - that is until she receives a note and an odd text from an old flame. While she's trying to figure out who's sending these increasingly threatening notices Robin is asked to go on another reality TV show. This is also about Zelda a dancing student who meets Robin while she does a modeling gig on the same show Robin's on. Zelda is a sweet girl who has a neurotic mother and a best friend who may not be a friend. This is really about jealousy that's gone passed normal into madness, but it's also about resiliency and second chances.
Good read, mostly because I didn't see coming who was sending all the hate to Robin. Zelda's friend however, was pretty obvious. That girl was what my son calls "bat s___" crazy! And of course I've gotta love a story that mentions my home state of Iowa!
Robin, a former reality TV participant, has her life together. She's had her 15-minutes of fame, has a business that's doing well, and a boyfriend who's just proposed. She receives a few odd emails but isn't overly concerned - that is until she receives a note and an odd text from an old flame. While she's trying to figure out who's sending these increasingly threatening notices Robin is asked to go on another reality TV show. This is also about Zelda a dancing student who meets Robin while she does a modeling gig on the same show Robin's on. Zelda is a sweet girl who has a neurotic mother and a best friend who may not be a friend. This is really about jealousy that's gone passed normal into madness, but it's also about resiliency and second chances.
Good read, mostly because I didn't see coming who was sending all the hate to Robin. Zelda's friend however, was pretty obvious. That girl was what my son calls "bat s___" crazy! And of course I've gotta love a story that mentions my home state of Iowa!
February 11, 2016
A brilliant stand alone thriller.
I was hooked. I stayed up late into the night as I literally could not put The Standout by Laurel Osterkamp down. It did not matter what part of the story I was in, I was intrigued.
I loved the internal fashion design studio scenes, and the thrills and danger of the external upper edges of high-rise buildings, and the intrigue of sifting clues to find out who was attempting to defame the protagonist Robin. This novel thrilled.
I’ll go so far as to say that this is the best novel I’ve ever read in this price range; i’s superior to many of those high priced and heavily promoted traditional publications. I’m not surprised that this book was chosen for the Kindle Scout program; it is brilliant. All of the characters are well developed in relationship to the plot, without any sidetracking, keeping the story fast paced. The plot builds to an unexpected and satisfying climax. I loved it.
I was hooked. I stayed up late into the night as I literally could not put The Standout by Laurel Osterkamp down. It did not matter what part of the story I was in, I was intrigued.
I loved the internal fashion design studio scenes, and the thrills and danger of the external upper edges of high-rise buildings, and the intrigue of sifting clues to find out who was attempting to defame the protagonist Robin. This novel thrilled.
I’ll go so far as to say that this is the best novel I’ve ever read in this price range; i’s superior to many of those high priced and heavily promoted traditional publications. I’m not surprised that this book was chosen for the Kindle Scout program; it is brilliant. All of the characters are well developed in relationship to the plot, without any sidetracking, keeping the story fast paced. The plot builds to an unexpected and satisfying climax. I loved it.
November 12, 2015
I'm not really a fan of realty TV, but I found this book very enjoyable even though I didn't particularly care to have so many different POV's. I have not read the first book, The Holdout, but this book read just fine as a stand alone. I particularly liked Robin and Zelda but Yuri didn't really do it for me - he didn't feel terribly masculine to me even though he apparently had a class-full of ballerinas clamoring for his attentions. I also never got the adrenaline rush of rashly climbing to outrageous heights, but that is more of a personal bias since my uncle died in a fall while working on a construction site about one month before I was born.
The book held my attention. I thought the writing was descriptive without being overly so, and I really loved the journey and growth the characters faced and the difficulties that shaped them all.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
The book held my attention. I thought the writing was descriptive without being overly so, and I really loved the journey and growth the characters faced and the difficulties that shaped them all.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
February 4, 2016
This is the first novel I've read by author Laurel Osterkamp, and I loved her author voice & writing style. She had some great complex characters going with Robin, Nick, Zelda, and Ted. I was intrigued with how Laurel told the story through the different characters' viewpoints so that the reader became more knowledgeable about the many layers of each character. Fast paced plot, lots of surprises, and I loved the "fashion design" premise... taking me back to my college Fashion Merchandising days :-)
November 3, 2015
I started The Standout last night and stayed up to finish this enjoyable page turner!
October 9, 2025
3.5 stars
I greatly enjoyed reading this book but I do not think it is correctly labeled as a thriller. It felt much more like women's fiction or family drama than a psychological thriller. There is much more focus on character exploration and growth than usually seen in thrillers.
The story is interesting though some of the elements are a bit quirky. I think the book would have been stronger if it had not changed perspectives mid way though. It got a bit muddled once it began to include Ted and Zelda - even though both of their stories were also interesting. I think this is when it began to lose the thriller elements.
I read this book in one evening because I did become invested in the characters and the outcome. I did figure out the mystery though I didn't find it very believable that someone would go to those lengths.
This is apparently part of a series about the main character, Robin. I did not read the others but that didn't impact my ability to enjoy this story. I would read the other stories.
Despite my minor issues, this book would have been a solid 4 star read for me without the ending which I wasn't fond of and knocked my rating down a bit.
This is my second book by this author. I look forward to reading others.
I greatly enjoyed reading this book but I do not think it is correctly labeled as a thriller. It felt much more like women's fiction or family drama than a psychological thriller. There is much more focus on character exploration and growth than usually seen in thrillers.
The story is interesting though some of the elements are a bit quirky. I think the book would have been stronger if it had not changed perspectives mid way though. It got a bit muddled once it began to include Ted and Zelda - even though both of their stories were also interesting. I think this is when it began to lose the thriller elements.
I read this book in one evening because I did become invested in the characters and the outcome. I did figure out the mystery though I didn't find it very believable that someone would go to those lengths.
This is apparently part of a series about the main character, Robin. I did not read the others but that didn't impact my ability to enjoy this story. I would read the other stories.
Despite my minor issues, this book would have been a solid 4 star read for me without the ending which I wasn't fond of and knocked my rating down a bit.
This is my second book by this author. I look forward to reading others.
October 10, 2025
This was such a fun book to read. It really reminded me a lot of project runway, and the Jim character reminded me a lot of Tim Gunn. Anytime he spoke in the book, that’s whose voice I heard. Using that as the backdrop for a thriller was really brilliant. I’ve watched that show, so it made it really easy for me to picture what was happening and put myself in Robin’s shoes. It allowed me to focus on the notes, the website, and all of the other things that were happening to Robbin.
There are quite a few twisty twists in here that I didn’t see coming at all. That was also part of the fun in reading this book. I like to try to figure out the twists, like who is behind everything that is happening to Robin, but it’s always better when you cannot figure it all out! And in this one, I definitely did not figure it all out.
I enjoyed how the author gave us a few different points of view that quickly meshed together so that we get the complete story. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure about it at first, but I ended up really liking how this was done.
This was my second book by this author. My first one was a romance and that was a 4 star read as well. Definitely check out this author, she writes something for everyone!
There are quite a few twisty twists in here that I didn’t see coming at all. That was also part of the fun in reading this book. I like to try to figure out the twists, like who is behind everything that is happening to Robin, but it’s always better when you cannot figure it all out! And in this one, I definitely did not figure it all out.
I enjoyed how the author gave us a few different points of view that quickly meshed together so that we get the complete story. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure about it at first, but I ended up really liking how this was done.
This was my second book by this author. My first one was a romance and that was a 4 star read as well. Definitely check out this author, she writes something for everyone!
October 4, 2025
Reading this, I feel like I was watching the Sewing Bee show, the clothing show where you're against others to create new clothing from random materials. I liked the concept of this, and I really liked the main character, Robin. Her personality shines when she's put with her model Zelda, and together, they work a dream.
I wouldn't want to be in the fashion world where everyone is out for themselves, but this kind of behaviour isn't just kept for the fashion industry. In a reality show where there is only one winner, there is a lot of competition which is obvious.
The background storylines of Nick, Ted, Yuri, Julie and Zelda add a depth to the main story and I like how they all run alongside each other. I want to go back and read "The Holdout"and see where it all began although I read this one first and didn't realise until the end that it's technically book two but didn't feel confused reading this first, I just assumed "The Holdout" was done off page as it were. Something to look forward to reading at a later stage.
I liked the fast paced writing of this and how it transports us into a new fashion world with a ballet spin on it. Pun intended!
I wouldn't want to be in the fashion world where everyone is out for themselves, but this kind of behaviour isn't just kept for the fashion industry. In a reality show where there is only one winner, there is a lot of competition which is obvious.
The background storylines of Nick, Ted, Yuri, Julie and Zelda add a depth to the main story and I like how they all run alongside each other. I want to go back and read "The Holdout"and see where it all began although I read this one first and didn't realise until the end that it's technically book two but didn't feel confused reading this first, I just assumed "The Holdout" was done off page as it were. Something to look forward to reading at a later stage.
I liked the fast paced writing of this and how it transports us into a new fashion world with a ballet spin on it. Pun intended!
October 11, 2025
Thank you to AME PR for including me on a book tour; all thoughts are my own!
📖 Book Review 📖 Life has a funny way of not going the way you expect it to and Robin Bricker learns that the hard way time and time again. Her past is complicated and not shiny but she is newly engaged and hopeful for the future. But someone out there is not ready for her to leave her past in the past as they threaten to blow it all up. Obviously going on a reality television show is the best way to keep things calm and quiet…
The stakes are high for Robin, both for her designs on this fashion reality show and in her personal life. The Standout is a twisty novel that reminds us in a comical way that to err is human, and to forgive is…divine and really hard. Laurel Osterkamp beautifully explores the complexity of our relationships and how they form us in a fluidity that certainly keeps us on our toes like a flowing dance.
📖 Book Review 📖 Life has a funny way of not going the way you expect it to and Robin Bricker learns that the hard way time and time again. Her past is complicated and not shiny but she is newly engaged and hopeful for the future. But someone out there is not ready for her to leave her past in the past as they threaten to blow it all up. Obviously going on a reality television show is the best way to keep things calm and quiet…
The stakes are high for Robin, both for her designs on this fashion reality show and in her personal life. The Standout is a twisty novel that reminds us in a comical way that to err is human, and to forgive is…divine and really hard. Laurel Osterkamp beautifully explores the complexity of our relationships and how they form us in a fluidity that certainly keeps us on our toes like a flowing dance.
October 4, 2025
Reality shows are hit and miss with me. A Fashion reality show would be a miss for me but this book I could not put down. I wanted to read another chapter and find out what would happen next to Robin. I became invested, not in her winning the show, but in her winning in life.
Robin’s choice in friends had me shaking her head. Many times I felt that there was no one on her side, yet she never gave up. She did not let life knock her down, she took the punches and let them make her strong. I am not sure that she even realized that she did have someone in her corner, Zelda her model. Zelda was also being knocked around by life and I was so glad that she got paired with Robin. They need each other.
Thank you to Author Marketing Experts for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Robin’s choice in friends had me shaking her head. Many times I felt that there was no one on her side, yet she never gave up. She did not let life knock her down, she took the punches and let them make her strong. I am not sure that she even realized that she did have someone in her corner, Zelda her model. Zelda was also being knocked around by life and I was so glad that she got paired with Robin. They need each other.
Thank you to Author Marketing Experts for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
December 23, 2017
This was an enjoyable book, but for the most part it didn't feel like a psychological thriller. There were moments when the theme of the stalker took precedence in the story, but mostly it felt like the stories of three broken people and their journey towards understanding who they were. One thing that would have made the story flow better would have been if the three points of views it was told in were staggered throughout the book. This way, parts of the story wouldn't have been repeated. I found myself skimming those sections since I was already aware of what had happened. Told from a different perspective added little to the overall plot.
June 2, 2017
Number 2
Wasn't sure before I started this one whether I would enjoy it, but wanted to know how Robin got on. However, I found it more interesting than I expected. Again, the book had stopped, leaving questions about what happens next in the life of Robin, her family and friends......
Wasn't sure before I started this one whether I would enjoy it, but wanted to know how Robin got on. However, I found it more interesting than I expected. Again, the book had stopped, leaving questions about what happens next in the life of Robin, her family and friends......
May 17, 2025
One of the standout (pardon the pun) aspects of the book was the different perspectives gained from Robin, Ted & Zelda. Although Robin is the main character, the introduction of the others’ voices lifted the narrative for me. Always compelling, well written, and an interesting glance at reality TV, family dynamics, and life in general. Thoroughly recommended.
October 6, 2025
Reality TV might not be my thing, but this book? Total binge-read material! Laurel nails it again with her sharp writing, layered characters, and multiple POVs that let you peek behind the drama. While Yuri didn’t win me over, Robin and Zelda completely stole the spotlight. Fast-paced, twisty, and full of surprises—this is the kind of story that keeps you flipping pages way past bedtime.
December 8, 2025
The main character in the book is Robin. She is a brave and level-headed woman who is dealing with a lot that is going wrong in her life.
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If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
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June 3, 2016
Here is another type of novel that I would never normally choose to read, but I am happy that I did. I may have learned more than I ever wanted to know about the competition that goes on in the world of clothing design. There are also great details about the world of dance, as in ballet, and the world of modelling. For those who have struggled with diets and weight control schemes, there are anecdotes of calorie counting and diets which substitute health foods for comfort foods. So why would an old, could-care-less-about-diets guy read this? Because there are several good stories inside a nicely done larger one.
We met Robin earlier in Promises, Promises, a much shorter work. In an earlier life Robin had naively entered into a sexual relationship which might be considered taboo. As this book begins, she is in a stage where she is ready to be married but wants to be totally honest with her prospective husband. Almost totally. There was a string of bad choices she had made in between Big Mistake One and this marriage, but she could gloss over them. Until threatening blackmail letters arrived for Robin. Then there were pictures and sex tapes. Worse yet, blackmail material began to arrive for Nick. Then there was the Facebook page. And a website. So, there is a lively sexual component to the novel.
The driving force for the novel is the attempt to find the identity of the blackmailer. Of course Robin wants to know. Nick believes the woman he wants to marry, most of the time, so he is interested in the search. Robin’s brother, Ted, who is playing out his own drama, even thinks of switching from broker to private detective just to help out his sister. And also to take a break from his wife and generally disappointing life.
Nick is struggling financially and feels himself too dependent on Robin. She is just getting by as a dress designer and, with faith in the future, doesn’t really mind being the breadwinner. An executive from a reality show centered on dress design and modelling competition contacts Robin with an offer that could make their financial situation secure. Robin has brand recognition from earlier reality show work. As she goes through various stages of the competition, more blackmailer suspects are considered and discarded.
Interesting characters abound. There is a Russian dancer; we are never sure if he is legally present in the country or not. There is Julie and Zelda, best friends except that Julie is fiercely jealous of Zelda. Zelda has a horrible relationship with her father and not much of a better one with her mother.
There is death, maybe by suicide. And a ghost. And a cliffhanger non-ending. And surprises. So I did not mind wading through the dress designing details. The supporting plots and subplots were worth it.
We met Robin earlier in Promises, Promises, a much shorter work. In an earlier life Robin had naively entered into a sexual relationship which might be considered taboo. As this book begins, she is in a stage where she is ready to be married but wants to be totally honest with her prospective husband. Almost totally. There was a string of bad choices she had made in between Big Mistake One and this marriage, but she could gloss over them. Until threatening blackmail letters arrived for Robin. Then there were pictures and sex tapes. Worse yet, blackmail material began to arrive for Nick. Then there was the Facebook page. And a website. So, there is a lively sexual component to the novel.
The driving force for the novel is the attempt to find the identity of the blackmailer. Of course Robin wants to know. Nick believes the woman he wants to marry, most of the time, so he is interested in the search. Robin’s brother, Ted, who is playing out his own drama, even thinks of switching from broker to private detective just to help out his sister. And also to take a break from his wife and generally disappointing life.
Nick is struggling financially and feels himself too dependent on Robin. She is just getting by as a dress designer and, with faith in the future, doesn’t really mind being the breadwinner. An executive from a reality show centered on dress design and modelling competition contacts Robin with an offer that could make their financial situation secure. Robin has brand recognition from earlier reality show work. As she goes through various stages of the competition, more blackmailer suspects are considered and discarded.
Interesting characters abound. There is a Russian dancer; we are never sure if he is legally present in the country or not. There is Julie and Zelda, best friends except that Julie is fiercely jealous of Zelda. Zelda has a horrible relationship with her father and not much of a better one with her mother.
There is death, maybe by suicide. And a ghost. And a cliffhanger non-ending. And surprises. So I did not mind wading through the dress designing details. The supporting plots and subplots were worth it.
January 29, 2016
My rating: 4.5
This is not a typical choice genre for me, I'm not into the whole psychological thriller scene usually... so forgive me if I'm a little blunt in my opinions. This was also my first book by Laurel Osterkamp. Apparently there are many books involving these characters, but each is supposed to also stand alone. I felt that rang true when it came to The Standout. I haven't read anything else by the author, and didn't feel like I was missing any pertinent information during my time reading this particular book.
That being said, I really did enjoy this story, even if it wasn't a book I'd choose for myself to read. I really enjoyed the protagonist, Robin. She was a very strong character who had to face some really tough situations. I felt like the book stood for many things, but what stood out to me was the jealously and relating it to real life. We all want things we can't necessarily have and we are always jealous of those who are able to have it. But I also felt like this book supported a great theme of second chances.
Robin, the main POV, is a former reality TV star. She gets called to be a stand in on another reality show featuring fashion, and while she's getting excited, she starts to receive some notes that start to cause doubt and start to lean towards cyber bullying/stalking. The man she's engaged to, Nick, convinces her that it's nothing and she says "yes" to the show. There are a few other people you meet along the way - her brother, Ted, and her model for the show, Zelda. You get some insight to them and I really liked getting to know them all.... but nothing could prepare me for the end of this book. Total shocker! I did NOT see that coming. I like when a book does that to me, takes me down one path and then shocks me and makes me question everything I just read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys some reality TV and some mystery in their books! Such an interesting story, and I'm so glad that I read it.
I was given this book from the author for an honest review. Review posted at apagetoturn.net for tour with CBB Book Promotions.
This is not a typical choice genre for me, I'm not into the whole psychological thriller scene usually... so forgive me if I'm a little blunt in my opinions. This was also my first book by Laurel Osterkamp. Apparently there are many books involving these characters, but each is supposed to also stand alone. I felt that rang true when it came to The Standout. I haven't read anything else by the author, and didn't feel like I was missing any pertinent information during my time reading this particular book.
That being said, I really did enjoy this story, even if it wasn't a book I'd choose for myself to read. I really enjoyed the protagonist, Robin. She was a very strong character who had to face some really tough situations. I felt like the book stood for many things, but what stood out to me was the jealously and relating it to real life. We all want things we can't necessarily have and we are always jealous of those who are able to have it. But I also felt like this book supported a great theme of second chances.
Robin, the main POV, is a former reality TV star. She gets called to be a stand in on another reality show featuring fashion, and while she's getting excited, she starts to receive some notes that start to cause doubt and start to lean towards cyber bullying/stalking. The man she's engaged to, Nick, convinces her that it's nothing and she says "yes" to the show. There are a few other people you meet along the way - her brother, Ted, and her model for the show, Zelda. You get some insight to them and I really liked getting to know them all.... but nothing could prepare me for the end of this book. Total shocker! I did NOT see that coming. I like when a book does that to me, takes me down one path and then shocks me and makes me question everything I just read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys some reality TV and some mystery in their books! Such an interesting story, and I'm so glad that I read it.
I was given this book from the author for an honest review. Review posted at apagetoturn.net for tour with CBB Book Promotions.
January 20, 2016
Robin is finally getting the life she wants—a great guy, a good start to her career and a chance to take her career to the next level with a second appearance on a reality show. The only problem? Indiscretions from the past are coming to haunt Robin, and they won't stop until Robin's life is ruined.
The Standout is an interesting mystery that leaves you wondering what someone would do to ruin another person's life and what motive they could have to do so. Throughout the book, it remains much of a mystery on just who the culprit could be trying to ruin Robin's chances at greatness. Could it be her old friend? Her soon-to-be-sister-in-law?
This book is not the first one of a series, so I felt a little out of sorts reading it without the knowledge of the previous books. I was genuinely intrigued to find out about who was trying to make Robin fail, though once I got halfway through the novel, it became about other people. While Robin tells most of the story, there are parts of the book that change narrator, giving Robin's brother Ted and Robin's model Zelda a chance to tell their own stories.
That's where the book seemed to lose its steam. Not only was the perspective of the narrator changed, but every time it switched to Ted or Zelda, the story seemed to backtrack, trying to give them more of a full plot line of their own. And while I don't want to give any spoilers, the person it turned out to be making Robin's life hell came from nowhere and didn't seem strong enough in motive to really bother with all the trouble in the first place. The story is well written, though I think the narrator's podium got a little crowded. I would still consider reading more books in this series.
The Standout is an interesting mystery that leaves you wondering what someone would do to ruin another person's life and what motive they could have to do so. Throughout the book, it remains much of a mystery on just who the culprit could be trying to ruin Robin's chances at greatness. Could it be her old friend? Her soon-to-be-sister-in-law?
This book is not the first one of a series, so I felt a little out of sorts reading it without the knowledge of the previous books. I was genuinely intrigued to find out about who was trying to make Robin fail, though once I got halfway through the novel, it became about other people. While Robin tells most of the story, there are parts of the book that change narrator, giving Robin's brother Ted and Robin's model Zelda a chance to tell their own stories.
That's where the book seemed to lose its steam. Not only was the perspective of the narrator changed, but every time it switched to Ted or Zelda, the story seemed to backtrack, trying to give them more of a full plot line of their own. And while I don't want to give any spoilers, the person it turned out to be making Robin's life hell came from nowhere and didn't seem strong enough in motive to really bother with all the trouble in the first place. The story is well written, though I think the narrator's podium got a little crowded. I would still consider reading more books in this series.
February 20, 2017
I had high expectations going into this book. Though it was definitely worth the read, it wasn't as gripping as I had hoped.
January 27, 2016
This was a great book - I literally could NOT put it down! I was hooked from the first chapter and could not stop reading. I love stories about stalkers and crazy people and this fits that bill perfectly - with a little bit of what seems like paranormal in there because Robin thinks the messages MIGHT be from her ex best friend who she thinks is dead. I am also a huge fan of reality shows and Robin is a contestant on a game show called "The Standout" where she is designing beautiful outfits for ballerinas. I really loved the way the book started out just about Robin but then morphs into a double-story about Robins ballerina model Zelda as well and her own sordid past. I think the reason that I like Robin and Zelda are because they are such complex characters and they are flawed in ways that a lot of heroines are not and we see that immediately but still love them. Robins fiance Nick is such a good guy but something told me from the beginning of the book that no matter what he were to find out about Robin he would still be there. But Robin is convinced he won't and so hides things from him. It's spellbinding to read about all the events unfolding and realizing what is really happening. I highly recommend this book as it definitely caught my attention and made me just want to keep reading no matter what! 5 stars easily :)
I received a complimentary ebook in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are 100% my own.
I received a complimentary ebook in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are 100% my own.
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