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I Am Delilah

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Although Delilah works in New York, she’s a small-town girl and eager to finish her job as a nanny and return to Big Fork Montana where she’ll marry her high-school sweetheart. When she ends up the focus of a Hollywood stunt centered around her being the Oscar date of Hollywood heartthrob Sam Hendricks, life as she knows it becomes a thing of the past. Delilah promptly refuses him, only to find that it isn’t so easy to step out of the limelight once you’ve ended up in the middle of the public eye.

Sam Hendricks is not used to taking no for an answer, and when his rejection become a leading story, he determines to do whatever it takes to turn the tide of public opinion back in his favor. Again and again Delilah refuses him until she proposes an offer—if he’ll spend two weeks on her family’s dairy farm, she’ll be his date to the Oscars. In no way is this a fair trade, but Sam feels he has no choice and therefore agrees to her proposal—they both agree no one will ever know.

Unfortunately for them both, there are plans other than their own at play, and when everything goes wrong they are faced with another fallout, bigger than the first.

(I AM DELILAH was originally published as STAR STRUCK in 2004)

202 pages, ebook

First published December 1, 2004

13 people are currently reading
307 people want to read

About the author

Josi S. Kilpack

82 books2,047 followers
I wrote my first book while on bed rest with my third child in 1998 and haven't stopped. My most recent books have been Historical Romance through the Proper Romance line with Shadow Mountain Publishing.

I currently live in Willard, Utah with my husband, and children.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
Profile Image for Kathy * Bookworm Nation.
2,159 reviews703 followers
June 1, 2016
3.5

This was a nice read, not quite what I was expecting, but still good.

Delilah is a small town girl from Montana living in New York to save up some money to help start her new life with her fiancé Lief. Her life is turned upside down with a chance encounter with Hollywood superstar Sam Hendricks.

Delilah and I didn't hit it off at first, I get her not liking the whole Hollywood scene, I don't care for it much either, but I thought she was a little over-the-top in her dislike. I kept expecting her to say no because she was engaged, not because she doesn't like the Hollywood lifestyle. It was almost an afterthought and for the media that she gave her engagement as the reason she said no. Which seemed a little off for me. Anyway, Sam and I also didn't hit it off too well at the beginning. I was looking forward to his time spent on the ranch to hopefully bring him down to earth and give him a new perspective on life. I did think his character growth was believable, he didn't do a complete 180, but definitely was taking steps in the right direction. I don't know if I can say I ended up liking Sam by the end, but I did think he was on his way to becoming a better person.

As for the romance, just based on the synopsis and the hundreds of romance novels I've read, I was going into it thinking Sam and Delilah would fall in love and live happily ever after. While I was disappointed there wasn't more romance in the book, I was glad that Sam and Delilah didn't end up together. They really were not a good match romantically, but I did like their friendship and their overall story.

Content
Romance: Squeaky clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: None - Delilah is Christian and lives by those values, but nothing overly preachy
Other: Originally published as Star Struck

Source: Review copy
Profile Image for Lisa  (Bookworm Lisa).
2,240 reviews206 followers
July 11, 2016
***3.5 stars***

Delilah's life has been turned upside down when movie star, Sam, picks her at random ask her to be his date at the Oscars. She is a simple, home town girl. She does not have a desire to be apart of the glamour of Hollywood, even for one night.

A simple bargain is made, for Sam to save face with his public. He will spend two weeks on Delilah's family dairy farm. He will be working and cannot use it for publicity. Delilah doesn't believe Sam will be able to fulfill the bargain, leaving her free on the night of the Oscars.

This is an enjoyable book to read. I don't think I could classify it as romance. It was a book where a smart young woman stays true to herself and her values. Delilah isn't caught up in trying to look like a star, she has simple tastes and has respect for her modesty. She is also in love with a man who can give her more than a fancy house.

The life on the farm is hard but Sam is able to see a side of life that is real. The family has a genuine relationship and love. They don't need things, they see the value of each other.

I enjoyed the book. The characters are well developed. I wasn't impressed with Sam at first or his assistant Cody. Their public persona meant more than people. I liked how Sam grew and became a better person because of his experiences. Josi Kilpack did a wonderful job at showing his evolution.

The book is clean.



Profile Image for Julie Carpenter.
1,887 reviews240 followers
May 31, 2016
Delilah...I really liked her character. Sam...I was really hoping at the beginning to like him and guess what? I did. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book with the blurb that Delilah is engaged to be married and this Hollywood heartthrob, Sam, wants to take her to the Oscars. The only way Delilah will agree is if Sam comes to her family dairy farm/ranch and experience the real world and real living for two weeks. Can Sam survive for two weeks?

He was born to famous parents and has been a spoiled and well loved actor since he was young. He has been in and out of rehab and has been clean for several years and trying his best to stay that way. Sam knows he's good looking. He knows he can cause any woman to swoon at him if he smiles just right. For the fourth year in a row he is inviting some unsuspecting common woman to be his date for the oscars. What Sam doesn't expect is Delilah. She is not your typical swoon and hang onto his every word type girl. She isn't one to be persuaded or coerced into doing or saying anything that doesn't align with her beliefs and values. So when asked by heartthrob Sam to be his date, have carte blanche to prepare for a month in advance for the Oscars all at his expense she turns him down. Sam is pretty dumbfounded. Which it was pretty humorous to read the scenes with his thoughts that he can easily persuade Delilah, all he has to do is flash a smile and say something witty and charming and she'll be putty in his hands like every other girl. Wrong!!!

Delilah was fun to watch scheme and realize that she could make Sam work for her to be his date. She didn't let him push her around and was pretty good at riling Sam up. The work at her family dairy farm was pretty intense, especially since some of the farmhands were asked to stay away for the two weeks to allow some privacy for Sam and Delilah's family. That definitely upped the work load for everyone involved.

Now there were a couple catches to the story to give us some angst and cause the reader to wonder will Delilah go to the oscars? Will she fall head over heels with Sam? Will she stay with her fiance Lief? Will Sam learn anything from his experiences at the farm?

I loved the hidden camera scenes and yes I even loved Trisha P. What scenes are those and who is Trisha P. you ask? Well you will just have to read to find out the answers to all the questions I posed.

I really enjoyed reading I Am Delilah. I enjoyed the fact that she stayed true to herself, her beliefs and become an iconic figure in a way. I liked watching Sam come to his own realizations about life and people and the world. I enjoyed the way that the story wrapped up and I loved the epilogue. It sort of reminded me of the book The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale, yet it was different as well. If you've read the Actor and the Housewife and read this book maybe you'll agree with me and maybe you'll disagree. This book was originally published under the title Starstruck back in 2004/2005. It seems familiar but I couldn't say for sure if I read it then or not. I've read almost all of Josi Kilpack's first novels (although haven't reviewed or rated all of them on goodreads yet) and I must say I love her writing. This one wasn't my absolute favorite but I did enjoy it. I have a couple of hers that I haven't read waiting for me on my bookshelf that I can't wait to get to. Love her regency novels and I am excited about her upcoming releases.

The book is a clean read with some kissing and very mild talk about not having sexual relations before marriage. I would recommend it for YA and older.

I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Reading!!!
Profile Image for Katie (hiding in the pages).
3,503 reviews328 followers
July 7, 2016
I had "Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's running through my head as I read this book--especially the first part. Delilah is a small town girl working as a nanny in New York City. A run-in with a famous actor, Sam, changes her world and puts her in situations that she'd rather avoid. I've always wondered how I would act if I had an encounter with someone famous, as Delilah did, and I loved how she really puts Sam in his place and treats him like she would any other person--or maybe a little harsher.

I love the way that Delilah treats Sam. She won't put up with any excuses or bologna and he gradually, and grudgingly, accepts his fate and learns to work though it and accept it. They are both great, yet vastly different, characters. Delilah's finace plays a fun and fair role in this story and he's a very stalwart and admirable man.

By sticking to her values and not straying from how she was raised, Delilah becomes a phenomenon and example. Too often, it seems that people conform to be what they think others want them to be and I loved this moral of the story--just be yourself and treat others with kindness and respect. Great lessons, humor, and entertaining times are abundant in this book. Although I liked the ending, it's not your typical romance. This is a good read for those who enjoy some good, clean fun.

Content: mild romance. Clean!

*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Tressa (Wishful Endings).
1,829 reviews193 followers
March 21, 2017
3.5 Stars

I AM DELILAH was a well-written story with a few twists and a sweet romance. The characters all had something to prove and a deal to keep under some unusual circumstances. It was an enjoyable story with a bittersweet ending.

I really liked these characters, but was also rather disappointed in them during certain parts of the story. I really liked how the author didn't gloss over anything. Sam is shown as a selfish actor who is used to being pampered and getting everything he wants when he wants it. Working on the ranch really challenged him. I wanted him to buck up a lot sooner than he did, but eventually he got there. Then there is Delilah... She is so mean to Sam with an extra dose of stubborn. I loved her parents and I was okay with her fiance.

The plot was definitely not the usual small-town-girl falls for Hollywood actor. I liked that it was different. It also was engaging the whole way through. Towards the end I could tell where things were heading and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it... It all made sense, but it was bittersweet.

In the end, was it what I wished for? I'm still not sure how I feel about this one. It was really good and honest, but the ending didn't quite turn out how I expected it would. I'm wanting a sequel so that I can find out what happens with Sam.

Content: Clean
Source: Received a complimentary copy through ebooksforreview.com, which did not affect my review in any way.
Profile Image for Aimee .
3,072 reviews298 followers
July 12, 2016
I have vague recollections of reading this book way back when it was first released under a different title. It's been a long time though so most of it felt pretty new to me.

If you are looking for a romance, this story may disappoint you. It's less of a romance and more of, well, I'm not sure what I would label it as. A story of a growing friendship and learning maybe.

Delilah and Sam are both flawed and have their mean moments. Of course, those were not my favorite bits, but they both were learning and figuring things out. Both Sam and Delilah have somewhat warped ideas of how the other lives and as they come to know each other better, those perceptions change and soften.

This book was good but it wasn't my favorite. It was clean though and I really appreciate that. Josi Kilpack is a fantastic writer and I've loved so many of her books- especially her more recent ones.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...).
1,673 reviews582 followers
January 1, 2017
This was a interesting book that did not follow what you would expect from a romance novel. It was refreshing that it was not predictable or formulaic, but I did miss the main characters falling in love. Rather, Delilah and Sam inadvertently help each other reconsider their views and perceptions of the other's lifestyle. I would say Sam did the most growing during his time on Delilah's farm (which he really needed) although Delilah also learned to be a little more compassionate. I admired Delilah's standards and that she was an example of staying true to her values.

(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
Profile Image for Kelly.
712 reviews60 followers
July 18, 2016
I did not like Sam at first! But he changed over time, so he was redeemable. Sam’s assistant was also not likable but I guess we weren’t really supposed to like him. Serves Sam right picking him as his assistant in his nonredeemable phase.

I liked Delilah. She lost her job as a nanny because of Sam. He made her look scandalous asking her to be his date to the Oscars. Now she will have to go home. She was working in New York to earn money before she was to be married to her fiancé. Sam, being the famous actor with money, doesn’t take the “NO” Delilah gives him. So after being harassed enough, Delilah says she’ll go with him if he spends 2 weeks on her family’s ranch for 2 weeks with no one knowing where he will be. She doesn’t think he will go for it. But Sam doesn’t back down from a challenge and they go to her family’s ranch. Delilah knows he won’t last long as he has never had to do anything by himself.

Sam is absolutely ridiculous at the ranch and Delilah doesn’t have any compassion for him. She is a little mean to him at first. She doesn’t have time for someone who can’t handle her world. Eventually, someone calls her on it.

Then just when she starts to have some compassion for him, the paparazzi find them. Now, everything is upside down.

I also love their names from the Bible and the story touches a little on the biblical story and it is hilarious. Sorry, it just is!

So, if you like stories of celebrities, people changing for the better, horses, hard work, milking cows, biblical story retellings, and the Oscars, then this is for you!
Profile Image for Melanie Mason.
Author 17 books39 followers
May 27, 2016
This was a great story full of inspiration and hope for a better world, but it really wasn't a romance.

I loved the interaction between the characters and seeing how they both changed and grew, but at the same time it felt like Sam's growth was stunted until at the very end he suddenly improved and Delilah was sort of a snot until the last couple of chapters.

I was hoping for a romance that would evolve between the two, but because of Delilah's engagement nothing happened. What I do love about that is the fact that she remained faithful to her fiancé and her values and standards despite the allure of Hollywood fame.

I enjoyed the story, but it would be better set as an inspirational fiction and not a romance. Though Sam did fall for Delilah, there was no reciprocated feelings and it left me feeling a bit short changed. The story could have added another ten chapters and really delved into how the characters grew to understand each other.

I would liked to have seen more growth in Delilah. She was already a good person, but even good people need to change and grow into better people.

Overall it was a great book and I would recommend it as an inspirational novel, not a romance.

I was given a copy for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mara.
1,468 reviews110 followers
June 16, 2016
I agree with the others that this isn't a true love story. The main characters do not have a romantic relationship or fall in love.

It's a story about Delilah, a girl from a small town in Montana who's working as a nanny in NYC, and Sam, a self-centered movie star, who ends up spending 2 weeks in Montana on Delilah's family's dairy farm as part of a deal he makes with Delilah. While there Sam starts to care for Delilah and her mother and father, and he becomes less self-centered and to treat others better.

Delilah seems a little too judgmental of Sam until near the end of the book. I don't consider it a romance because you find out within the first chapter that Delilah is engaged to a guy (Lief) back home in Montana. She's working as a nanny in NYC to earn money for a down payment on a house when she and Lief get married.

I really enjoyed the book even though I don't consider it a true romance novel. I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
Profile Image for Lisa.
747 reviews13 followers
June 8, 2016
This book was so much fun! It totally threw me off and surprised me. I don't want to give anything away, but it ended up differently than I expected. Which is always a good thing. It was nice to not figure out an ending. Now I just really need a follow up book! Keep up the good work and I will keep up the reading! Enjoy!
Profile Image for  Mummy Cat Claire.
836 reviews15 followers
June 15, 2016
I liked the cover enough to find interest in this book. It's described as a romance. It is not. The cover needed more horses butts, then, and only then, would it have accurately represented this book.

This book is being re-released from an original title of Star Struck.

The book opens with Sam Hendricks. Super star, A+ celebrity and he is up for an Oscar. Sam is narcissistic, self centered and condescending to others. He is the best! He is THE Sam Hendricks. That is, until he meets Delilah. Sam has this spontaneous side where he chooses the lucky lady, at random, to treat to a makeover and a night on the town as his date. Sam sees Delilah in central park and he ambushes her, then she dares to refuse him...on camera.


Delilah Glenshaw is from Big Fork, Montana. A small town where her parents own a dairy farm. Delilah is working as a nanny to earn enough money for a down payment on a house after her marriage to her fiance, Lief. Leif is gone working on CDL training and is traveling the states across country. Delilah has plans for her life...enter Sam. After Sam asks her to the Oscars, Delilah's life spirals down. She loses her job because of all the paparazzi and must move back home.
Instead of sucking it up and saving face, he begs Delilah to accept him. That's when she offers a compromise (but not really). If Sam is willing to stick out working on the farm for 2 weeks, she will go to the Oscars with him.
"You come to my parents' house for two weeks and work the farm with me and my family. Take time to learn about my world - the world that doesn't get made into movies. If you can stick it out for two weeks, without anyone in the media finding out about it, I'll go to the Oscars with you."


Sam reluctantly agrees.

There are so many things I disliked about this book. Starting with this CDL certification. As far as I know, it does not require one to drive long haul trucking. There are CDL schools and once graduated the school will find a job with a long haul truck driving company. However, Kilpack did not write Lief's story like this.

While Lief is gone, Delilah and him only communicate by email. Strange. This book isn't so old that they couldn't have used a phone.

Delilah's parents are Rhett and Mary. Rhett owns the farm but doesn't "work the farm full-time". He only "helps out here and there" He is an insurance agent in town. Mary, doesn't work on the farm either. She works at the local bank as a teller. This is very strange for me. When one owns a dairy farm, one's family works on the dairy farm. Yes, you can hire additional workers but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if someone owned a farm, they would not get an outside job.

There are some instances where the book could have been updated with small details. For example, Sam "snapped the phone shut". There were also a dozen typos. I think these small details should have been fixed before being re-release.

Delilah only agreed to the Oscars if Sam agreed to come work on the farm. This was her way of making a point to him. "This was a lesson he would never want to repeat - she was sure of that. It was up to her to make sure it stuck to him and never washed off."

I did not enjoy the two main characters. Sam was marginal but I really disliked Delilah. She elected herself to be his educator in the ways of life. To be his moral voice. She's up on her high horse for about half the book. She goes on about how much better she is than Sam because she doesn't need money and glamour, all the while, telling him he sucks because he has those things.

I disliked Cody as Sam's assistant. His name doesn't fit his character. Sam describes him as "a good assistant... and Cody was loyal." Once Sam went off on this tangent, I saw the writing on the wall.

Sam was quite obnoxious in his own way. He thinks he is better than Delilah and others because he can act and be nominated for awards. His money has bought him several privileges like bottled water and not having to do manual labor. However, Delilah thinks she is better than Sam because she knows how to run a dairy farm and not depend on a lot of money for happiness. UGH!
"That metal thing is called a faucet. If you lift up the lever, water comes out of it. genius, right?
I meant do you have any drinking water.
Oh, You can get a glass out of the cupboard, catch some of the water in it, and drink it directly from the glass."


As much as Sam was over the top spoiled, Delilah was worse for me. If she knows what life is all about then why treat Sam so bad? Delilah was this rude and annoying from the start. She bothered me with her superiority over Sam. I felt she should have known better than to act the way she chose. I don't even drink tap water. Nasty!

Delilah goes on to "seriously question{ed} her punishments - but how else was she supposed to teach him a lesson?" Really? Isn't she so nice to appoint herself his teacher?

This book was hard to continue to read. I wanted to put it down and forget about all of them. About half way through, Delilah becomes softer and nicer than she was. Sam calms down about the farm and find happiness in his friendship with Delilah's mom. The book improves but it really never recovers.

By the end of Sam's two weeks, both Delilah and Sam learned about family life and what it means to belong. How spending time with others and learning how we all have bad days but still move on and grow, was the point. But it took a really long time to get there and wasn't worth it.

Overall, I almost put the book down because I hated Delilah so much. Her attitude got old really fast. She expected him to learn but she wouldn't teach, show or explain. Instead, she yelled, talked down to and insulted him. Then she blames him for not doing it right. NO! just no. There are many more examples of her terrible dealings with Sam, but I chose not to list them all. It's not just Delilah though. Sam is no saint. He is so into himself that he insults others who don't agree with him or live a different lifestyle. Plus, his jealousy is annoying. The book improves, marginally, when Delilah starts to be nice. I thought there might be redeeming qualities to this book but no, don't waste your time. There is no romance here and the reader won't want any. This book wasn't for me. I can't recommend it to others.

Content: clean except for bad attitudes.
Profile Image for NaDell.
1,194 reviews14 followers
February 5, 2018
One of Josi Kilpack's early books that I've had for awhile in my huge stack of to-read books.
It was a fun story about a celebrity who asks a LDS girl who he's never met before to come with him to the Oscars where he's nominated for Best Actor. She says no which was a shock to him. It's not good for his image (since he videoed it), so he meets with her again and they make a deal that she'll go if he can handle two weeks of really hard work on her family farm in Utah.
The rest of the story is full of humor and fun and also some introspection from both of them.
Fun, short, clean story.
Profile Image for B. D. Mann.
664 reviews21 followers
October 29, 2018
(Spoiler Alert) I have seldom read such a different kind of romance. Most authors tend to use boilerplate plot lines and identify the male and female lead characters early on in the story. Then, still using additional boilerplate language and plot shifts, they lead the reader on a journey that culminates in an HEA ending for the pair. To my recollection, I have never before read a story where the leading man and woman do NOT find their HEA as a couple. This is not just a clean romance that keeps sex out of the text. It is a romance that glorifies high moral standards, modesty in dress, and staying true to your word, even in the presence of intense pressure to do otherwise. The cast of characters is relatively small, and each one is depicted as a real human being with flaws and failings, some more than others. I recommend this fun, clean romance to all my friends.
Profile Image for Laura .
1,158 reviews13 followers
July 3, 2016
This is a sweet story about being true to one's self despite what others expect. Delilah gets asked to go to the Oscars with Hollywood's heartthrob. She turns him down flat. The chaos that ensues is enough to change her life. Samson is Hollywood's golden boy and can't believe it when Delilah says no. Willing to do anything to change her mind, he steps into her world for two weeks.
Delilah is somewhat mean to Sam. She doesn't realize that what is everyday life to her is really not common place. Sam was raised with few values & finds a whole new world with Delilah's family.
I originally read this when it was released more than a decade ago. It is a sweet and easy read, but definitely young adult. I think my teens would enjoy it more than I did at this point in my life.
33 reviews
May 28, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I would definitely say this book falls under the young adult genre, but it was still an enjoyable read. Quick, easy read that kept me laughing and interested all the way through. I loved the ending and was happy to see that the book did not end in the typical way most books with both a male and a female lead character finish. Both characters were great and although Sam was quite stuck up, I found myself really drawn to him. Delilah was almost as great, but I think I enjoyed Sam's character more. Great read for someone looking for something quick!
Profile Image for Josi.
Author 82 books2,047 followers
April 15, 2008
This is my only young adult novel, it makes me laugh. I give it four stars because it is young adult which isn't my favorite genre, but it was really fun to write. I had a great idea for a follow up book, but this one didn't sell really well and therefore the idea has been back burnered indefinitely. Most people that read it, enjoy it.
Profile Image for Katie (hiding in the pages).
3,503 reviews328 followers
July 19, 2009
A cute story about a farm girl who meets a cocky celebrity and helps bring him down to earth. I really liked how Delilah remained true to herself in dealing with Sam (the celebrity). She didn't get all crazy or go easy on him just because of his profession. I liked watching the changes that Sam went through in becoming a better person.
6,155 reviews
June 12, 2016
I Am Delilah is a good read. I loved the characters, Delilah and Sam. They were so fun together. A wonderful story of hope.
4 stars.
Profile Image for Kristina Applegate.
118 reviews4 followers
October 9, 2024
Delilah, a country girl living in New York, is saving every penny she earns from her job as a nanny. She’s trying to earn enough money so she can marry her high-school sweetheart back in her hometown in Bigfork, Montana. However, a walk with her little charge lands Delilah smack dab in the middle of the biggest Hollywood story that America has seen in a long time. With the press hot on her heels, Delilah is forced to give up her job and return home to Montana and goes into hiding. The only problem? She’s not alone.

Sam Hendricks, is drop dead gorgeous and America’s favorite actor. He’s taken it upon himself to free a girl from her boring life every year and become her modern day fairy god mother. Makeovers, spas, and luxurious retreats for the girl of his choosing and then a trip down the red carpet as his date. Every girl’s dream come true…well every girl except for Deliliah. Determined to save face after a very public and humility rejection, Sam follows Delilah back to her home town to try to make amends, but life as a country boy is not on his list of strong points.

I really enjoyed this book by Josi S. Kilpack. It’s not your typical romance and the banter between the two had me laughing. As a country girl I couldn’t help but laugh at poor Sam Hendricks trying to master the technique of farming in a small two week time frame. I could definitely understand and could relate to Delilah’s frustration and the constant need to roll her eyes at the city boy that is used to being coddled and babied. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a fun cute modern day romance.

I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2,115 reviews8 followers
August 12, 2019
Short book about Delilah Glenshaw, a nanny from Big Fork, UT, working in NYC. Sam Hendricks is up for best actor Oscar for "Samson & Delilah" and at 23 is at the top of the heap. He pick Delilah out in Central Park and asks her to be his date (in front of cameras). She says no and escapes, but the press hound them and Sam can't believe she said no. She finally agrees to be his date if he comes and works secretly on her parent's dairy farm for 2 weeks before. A staunch Mormon family, Sam's in for an eye opening experience when Delilah works him hard. He experiences a change of heart and life during those two weeks when he sees Delilah's love for her truck driving virgin fiance and lives with her rural family.

When his assistants leak secret video tape of him it all blows up, but eventually works out for him. Good story of how goodness can overcome bad.
June 7, 2016
I was given an advanced copy of I am Delilah in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warning: slut-shaming, body-shaming, eating disorders, light religious content.

When I began reading this book, I was in a very neutral place about the main characters, Sam and Delilah. That didn't last long. Let's start with Sam, the male lead. His character is a rich, entitled Hollywood actor. I expected to hate him, but had a lot of respect for his growth throughout the story. I found Sam to be flawed, but relatable and dynamic. This is in complete opposition to the title female character, Delilah, whom I found to be incredibly judgmental and mean. Her self-righteous attitude is insufferable. She has no intention to learn, grow or become a better person because she has a moral superiority complex. She takes it upon herself to teach lessons ("That's to keep you humble...") so that everyone can be as good as she perceives herself. Delilah is also into slut-shaming and body-shaming in the name of righteousness, which made her downright unlikable to me. She's a mean, immature girl, not at all the "woman of integrity" she believes herself to be. A "woman of integrity" would not slut-shame or body-shame and would exhibit far more empathy and compassion than this character was capable of feeling. A few examples of Delilah's despicable behavior:

Slut-Shaming
"I have no intention of showing up at the Oscar's dressed like a hooker."
"...letting it all hang out in a dress like that tells the world that my body is the best I have to offer."
Body-Shaming
"You're used to anorexic stick women--real women have substance."

Self-Righteousness
"Not only was she snotty and rude, but she made it clear that she fully expected him to fail"
"...and frankly it's nearly impossible to find a dress in the store that doesn't show too much--if you know what I mean."
When Sam asks if Delilah will ever watch any of his movies--"Not if they're all rated R" she said, "Why don't you use your talent to do something good..."

That being said, I liked the story despite strongly disliking the female lead. I enjoyed going on the journey with Sam while reading this book. How Sam came to find Delilah to be "good and pure" is beyond me. She is a horrible person. Righteousness does not equal integrity, goodness or purity. The implication of such, coupled with Delilah's behavior is disturbing. I was not told this book was in the religion genre and I discovered, at the end of the book, that the author appears to be a member of LDS which could explain a lot of the judgmental tones in the book. But, that makes it all the more disappointing because, I'd hope an author injecting religious based morals into a character would focus more on inspiration, compassion and empathy rather than shaming, degradation and moral superiority. Church is mentioned a few times in this book, but nothing too detailed aside from establishing that Delilah's family is faith-based. It's a shame it didn't happen sooner in the story so that it was expected. It may have softened the blow of Delilah's moral viciousness if I was expecting it. Delilah's parents are a part of the story as well and it's implied they all share similar values and morals, and yet no-one else in the book behaves as abhorrently as Delilah. She's the worst.

Minor spelling errors occur throughout the book, but they are only a slight distraction. For example, "sown" was used instead of "sewn", etc. Early in the book it seemed the author was having trouble switching between third person observer or Delilah or Sam's voice/perspective. This caused some choppy reading, but it smoothed out as the story went on.

I desperately hoped that both characters would come to see that they could learn from the other and become more compassionate and empathetic people. I did not expect any kind of meaningful romance to develop between Sam and Delilah and am relieved it never transpired. I was looking forward to seeing both characters grow in some way, but as the book neared its end and both characters were still acting stubborn, I figured this might not end the way I'd hoped. I feel that the stubbornness carried on too long and made the growth stage seem rushed (yet impactful) for Sam. Delilah, on the other hand, never experiences any kind of meaningful growth and only showed a small about of compassion towards Sam throughout the entire book. Suddenly, Delilah ends up being celebrated and rewarded for her deplorable judgements and behavior. Barf! I'm guessing the author sees Hollywood as some kind of manufacturer of evil and this story was a way to work out her disgust with Hollywood and the entertainment industry. Towards the end of the book, it feels like the author suddenly wanted to create a fantasy world for herself where women who behave as Delilah did are valued more than other women. Unfortunately, a lot of this internalized misogyny may alienate an audience who believes women should support each other in the grand scheme of things instead of degrading others for having different values, a different body, different talents, different goals and a different lifestyle. Delilah's personality made this book difficult to read at times but because she was so terrible, it made me cheer for Sam even more! He was the better person in the long run.

If you think this story sounds interesting or fun based on the book's description, and you are not triggered by any of the subjects mentioned in the content warning at the beginning of this review, you should give it a whirl.
101 reviews3 followers
March 25, 2020
I loved it! A girl sticking to her standards even when fame was put in front of her. I love that modesty became a big thing and she stood her ground. I love the whole story of a rich guy doing work. it is so frustrating how rich think they are everything and can pay for any issue. People do work for a living and something as small as a chicken means the world. And to end it with her mothers dream was perfect.
Profile Image for Amy.
388 reviews1 follower
October 20, 2022
Glad I kept reading!

I love Josie Kilpack books!
I love The Culinary mysteries.
I really love clean, cute romances.
...(especially Regency era)
When I started reading this novel, I didn't want to read another story about wealthy people and their problems.
But when it came to the twist with Delilah, I was hooked!
Very enjoyable!
And I loved the ending, some people really do get their happily ever after!
Profile Image for Dlora.
1,998 reviews
November 3, 2018
This YA romance by Josi S. Kilpack was delightful and light and not your typical teen romance. It is one of Kilpack's early novels and hasn't the depth of her later work but the characters are well-drawn and the plot is fun and unexpected. Good family values and great humor. Basically it is Hollywood meets Mormon hick town. I enjoyed it and read it in a day.
90 reviews4 followers
July 12, 2018
I loved it! A self centered movie star who needs a date is blown away when Delilah says, “No, thank you.” The rejection was caught on tape and he thinks the bad publicity might damage his career. Can he get her to change her mind?
Profile Image for Lyssa.
855 reviews25 followers
January 15, 2021
Fantastic. Nothing at all like I was expecting. I loved Delilah - her integrity, faithfulness, modesty, all of it. I loved her strength and her positive impact on those around her, namely Sam. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Ranee.
1,353 reviews18 followers
June 26, 2019
I loved this! It was fun & a great "what if?" scenario. The jerkiness of the actor at the beginning was maybe a bit stereotypical but loved how it all played out.
Profile Image for Sarah Southerland.
Author 2 books10 followers
August 15, 2019
4.5 stars. I was SO prepared for this to follow the normal story line but it wasn’t! It was refreshingly unique and clean. I loved it.
Profile Image for Jana Rawson.
53 reviews
March 22, 2020
Perfect.

A fun easy read. Couldn't ever anticipate the next page. Unexpected cute romance. Good life lessons! Great characters with depth.
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