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#famous: A YA Romance About a Viral Photo and Social Media Fame for Fans of Jenny Han
In this modern-day love story, Girl likes Boy, Girl takes photo of Boy and posts it online, Boy becomes accidentally insta-famous. And what starts out as an innocent joke spirals into a whirlwind adventure that could change both their lives—and their hearts—forever. But are fame and love worth the price?
Told in alternating points of view, #famous captures the out-of-control thrill ride of falling for someone in front of everyone.
Told in alternating points of view, #famous captures the out-of-control thrill ride of falling for someone in front of everyone.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published February 14, 2017
76 people are currently reading
6502 people want to read
About the author
Jilly Gagnon
9 books430 followers**Please note I rarely check messages here -- find me on instagram, @jillygagnon, for contact!**
Jilly Gagnon is the author of the young adult novel #famous and the suspense novel All Dressed Up. Her work has appeared in Newsweek, Elle, Vanity Fair, The Toast, The Hairpin, The Huffington Post, and McSweeney's Internet Tendency, among others.
She lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her two cats. She loves terrible television and well-crafted Manhattans.
Jilly Gagnon is the author of the young adult novel #famous and the suspense novel All Dressed Up. Her work has appeared in Newsweek, Elle, Vanity Fair, The Toast, The Hairpin, The Huffington Post, and McSweeney's Internet Tendency, among others.
She lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her two cats. She loves terrible television and well-crafted Manhattans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 581 reviews
November 10, 2016
I MIGHT be biased, but this is absolutely my favorite YA debut I have EVER written.
I mean, I finished not only paragraphs and chapters, but whole PAGES of writing. Hundreds of them! I, for one, am pretty impressed with myself.
Also, there are lots of cupcakes, french fries, and bowling in it, three of the best things.
I mean, I finished not only paragraphs and chapters, but whole PAGES of writing. Hundreds of them! I, for one, am pretty impressed with myself.
Also, there are lots of cupcakes, french fries, and bowling in it, three of the best things.
February 14, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
This was a YA contemporary romance story, about a girl who accidentally made a boy famous on social media.
Rachel and Kyle were both okay characters, and I felt really sorry for Rachel when people were so mean to her after the photograph she took became popular. The online bullying was just awful, and it seemed wrong that she got bullied whilst Kyle became adored.
The storyline in this was about Rachel taking a picture of Kyle while he was at work, and sending it to her best friend over social media. The post then got reposted by loads of other people, and suddenly Kyle became famous, and even ended up on a talk show – which may well have been a little unrealistic given that it was one photo from a girl with less than 100 followers. The story was quite light and enjoyable though, even if it was quite predictable.
The ending to this was a happily ever after, and I was pleased that things worked out okay in the end.
6 out of 10
“@Mo_than_you_know I’m digging what they’re serving up at Burger Barn today. #idlikefrieswithTHAT”
This was a YA contemporary romance story, about a girl who accidentally made a boy famous on social media.
Rachel and Kyle were both okay characters, and I felt really sorry for Rachel when people were so mean to her after the photograph she took became popular. The online bullying was just awful, and it seemed wrong that she got bullied whilst Kyle became adored.
The storyline in this was about Rachel taking a picture of Kyle while he was at work, and sending it to her best friend over social media. The post then got reposted by loads of other people, and suddenly Kyle became famous, and even ended up on a talk show – which may well have been a little unrealistic given that it was one photo from a girl with less than 100 followers. The story was quite light and enjoyable though, even if it was quite predictable.
The ending to this was a happily ever after, and I was pleased that things worked out okay in the end.
6 out of 10
July 7, 2018
• A sweet story with a unique premise but it lacked heart
• The writing style was a tad too simplistic
• I liked Rachel, the protagonist, and that Gagnon gave her authentic teen voice
• The plus-sized rep. was also fantastic; it is always heart-warming to see body positivity in ya
• I was less of a Kyle fan
• His voice was incredibly bland and I... well, I honestly just disliked him on every level.
• He thought he was funny and a ‘nice guy’ but said and did things that were more dickheaded than he realised; even the moments that were meant to be him acting sweet - like in the limo - felt… ordinarily polite.
• Rachel's best friend was another sore spot. She was selfish and never seemed to actually support Rachel unless it served her own interests.
• The standout character was - by far - Oliver. He looked out for Kyle and Rachel. He was the only one that realised that Kyle was being a douche and tried to steer him on the right path. He was a literal teddy bear.
• Kyle and Rachel's relationship felt very forced. I know that they were technically pushed together by practically everyone but it made their relationship less organic.
• Building an unlikely friendship throughout the bizarre experience would have worked so much better imo
• What let the story down, most of all, however, was the girl hate
• I know that bullying was a key theme in this book but there is a difference between that situation - which should have been explored - and needless, pointless, substanceless girl hate.
• Blind hatred, slut-shaming and stereotypical cheerleader mean girls with paper plate personalities are not okay; not without substance or nuance
• The fact that Rachel is shown to be different - and therefore better - than the other girls because she ate fries/was arty/not a cheerleader/whatever else they said was obviously frustrating. We do not need this sort of thing in 2017
• I did also have problems with many of the sweeping, generalised statements Kyle made about how girls act or what girls do or do not like.
Overall? #famous was mostly a cute contemporary romance with a decent cast. I liked the protagonist, Rachel, and Oliver but Kyle rubbed me the wrong way. The portrayal of the secondary female characters was also irritating. With that being said, I’ll definitely be giving Gagnon a second chance to surprise me.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
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• The writing style was a tad too simplistic
• I liked Rachel, the protagonist, and that Gagnon gave her authentic teen voice
• The plus-sized rep. was also fantastic; it is always heart-warming to see body positivity in ya
• I was less of a Kyle fan
• His voice was incredibly bland and I... well, I honestly just disliked him on every level.
• He thought he was funny and a ‘nice guy’ but said and did things that were more dickheaded than he realised; even the moments that were meant to be him acting sweet - like in the limo - felt… ordinarily polite.
• Rachel's best friend was another sore spot. She was selfish and never seemed to actually support Rachel unless it served her own interests.
• The standout character was - by far - Oliver. He looked out for Kyle and Rachel. He was the only one that realised that Kyle was being a douche and tried to steer him on the right path. He was a literal teddy bear.
• Kyle and Rachel's relationship felt very forced. I know that they were technically pushed together by practically everyone but it made their relationship less organic.
• Building an unlikely friendship throughout the bizarre experience would have worked so much better imo
• What let the story down, most of all, however, was the girl hate
• I know that bullying was a key theme in this book but there is a difference between that situation - which should have been explored - and needless, pointless, substanceless girl hate.
• Blind hatred, slut-shaming and stereotypical cheerleader mean girls with paper plate personalities are not okay; not without substance or nuance
• The fact that Rachel is shown to be different - and therefore better - than the other girls because she ate fries/was arty/not a cheerleader/whatever else they said was obviously frustrating. We do not need this sort of thing in 2017
• I did also have problems with many of the sweeping, generalised statements Kyle made about how girls act or what girls do or do not like.
Overall? #famous was mostly a cute contemporary romance with a decent cast. I liked the protagonist, Rachel, and Oliver but Kyle rubbed me the wrong way. The portrayal of the secondary female characters was also irritating. With that being said, I’ll definitely be giving Gagnon a second chance to surprise me.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
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March 11, 2017
3.5* This was essentially a novelisation of the 'Alex from Target' story but it was a cute little contemporary nonetheless.
I enjoyed the main two characters and reading from their perspectives. Rachel was a fun, witty character, who's humour I really enjoyed. I also liked the fact that she wasn't your classic, cookie cutter protagonist but I would have appreciated it a lot more, had it not been one of her main defining characteristics. It would have been nice to have had a curvy main character, without that having to be a big deal and instead, simply being accepted and normalised. Kyle was the classic 'nice guy' and although I wasn't keen of the constant comparisons he made between Rachel and Emma (his ex girlfriend), I did really appreciate the way he stood up for Rachel. For me though, there was a little too much girl/girl comparison and, for the most part, I'm a little tired of the 'mean girl clique' storyline.
I really enjoyed the transitions and easy flow between the perspectives and I liked each of the characters voices. Another element I really appreciated was the inclusion of social media and its influence in terms of today's society. Considering how important social media is today, I've still rarely seen it used casually but regularly in YA. It was fun to delve into the relevance of social media and the affects of becoming 'virally famous.'
I would have liked a little bit more romance or focus on relationships, whether that be family, friendship or romantic, as I did feel the plot dragged on a little without it and I wasn't the biggest fan of the continuous 'will they, won't they?', 'on and off' plot. It was a little overdone and stretched thin for my taste but other than that, it was definitely a fun read.
If you're looking for a cute, entertaining, quick and easy read, that's relevant and in touch with today's social media society, #famous I'd recommend checking this out!
I enjoyed the main two characters and reading from their perspectives. Rachel was a fun, witty character, who's humour I really enjoyed. I also liked the fact that she wasn't your classic, cookie cutter protagonist but I would have appreciated it a lot more, had it not been one of her main defining characteristics. It would have been nice to have had a curvy main character, without that having to be a big deal and instead, simply being accepted and normalised. Kyle was the classic 'nice guy' and although I wasn't keen of the constant comparisons he made between Rachel and Emma (his ex girlfriend), I did really appreciate the way he stood up for Rachel. For me though, there was a little too much girl/girl comparison and, for the most part, I'm a little tired of the 'mean girl clique' storyline.
I really enjoyed the transitions and easy flow between the perspectives and I liked each of the characters voices. Another element I really appreciated was the inclusion of social media and its influence in terms of today's society. Considering how important social media is today, I've still rarely seen it used casually but regularly in YA. It was fun to delve into the relevance of social media and the affects of becoming 'virally famous.'
I would have liked a little bit more romance or focus on relationships, whether that be family, friendship or romantic, as I did feel the plot dragged on a little without it and I wasn't the biggest fan of the continuous 'will they, won't they?', 'on and off' plot. It was a little overdone and stretched thin for my taste but other than that, it was definitely a fun read.
If you're looking for a cute, entertaining, quick and easy read, that's relevant and in touch with today's social media society, #famous I'd recommend checking this out!
June 18, 2016
Okay, this book is completely adorkable. The main characters, Rachel and Kyle, are ridiculously loveable, their banter is hilarious, and I spent a huge portion of the book like this:
Though I also spent some of it like this:
#famous is an extremely fast read--both because the writing is just so smooth and the story so fast-paced, and because it's extremely addictive and practically impossible to put down once you start!
Stretch your face muscles before you read this one, because you'll spend a huge amount of time grinning like an idiot. At two complete dorks. Who have to deal with fame suddenly being thrust upon them. And who are utterly adorable.
Though I also spent some of it like this:
#famous is an extremely fast read--both because the writing is just so smooth and the story so fast-paced, and because it's extremely addictive and practically impossible to put down once you start!
Stretch your face muscles before you read this one, because you'll spend a huge amount of time grinning like an idiot. At two complete dorks. Who have to deal with fame suddenly being thrust upon them. And who are utterly adorable.
May 31, 2016
I’m going to slip into Kyle-speak for a second here.
This book: awesome.
Or maybe I should be more Rachel-esque and make a #FAMOUS pros and cons list.
Pro: Everything.
Con: Nothing.
This book was absolutely hilarious. I was laughing out loud from the very first page. How could I not, with gems like this:
Usually her style tended toward neutral-colored sacks, but if she really wanted to dress like a vampire, I wasn’t going to tell her no. Besides, it’s kind of awesome when parents try to be cool, like watching a baby sloth play the piano or something.
And it only got better from there.
#FAMOUS is fast paced and engaging all the way through. I flew through this book.
And while the humor was a selling point for me, there was so much more to it than that.
#FAMOUS also made me think. About the implications of fame. About the different ways people deal with their circumstances. About the contrast between the parts of themselves people show the world, versus who they really are. And, of course, about the many ways a situation can spiral out of control.
I fell in love with both Rachel and Kyle—they’re so different from each other, but both such lovable, interesting characters. And boy, did they have some great banter. My favorite part of this book was getting to experience events from their unique perspectives. They were on the same journey, but it unfolded in such drastically different ways.
I suspect that next time I see a photo or video going viral on Twitter, It’ll probably give me pause. I’ll stop to think about the people closest to it. Because, as #FAMOUS reminds us, they are people.
And being famous: maybe not everything it’s cracked up to be.
This book: awesome.
Or maybe I should be more Rachel-esque and make a #FAMOUS pros and cons list.
Pro: Everything.
Con: Nothing.
This book was absolutely hilarious. I was laughing out loud from the very first page. How could I not, with gems like this:
Usually her style tended toward neutral-colored sacks, but if she really wanted to dress like a vampire, I wasn’t going to tell her no. Besides, it’s kind of awesome when parents try to be cool, like watching a baby sloth play the piano or something.
And it only got better from there.
#FAMOUS is fast paced and engaging all the way through. I flew through this book.
And while the humor was a selling point for me, there was so much more to it than that.
#FAMOUS also made me think. About the implications of fame. About the different ways people deal with their circumstances. About the contrast between the parts of themselves people show the world, versus who they really are. And, of course, about the many ways a situation can spiral out of control.
I fell in love with both Rachel and Kyle—they’re so different from each other, but both such lovable, interesting characters. And boy, did they have some great banter. My favorite part of this book was getting to experience events from their unique perspectives. They were on the same journey, but it unfolded in such drastically different ways.
I suspect that next time I see a photo or video going viral on Twitter, It’ll probably give me pause. I’ll stop to think about the people closest to it. Because, as #FAMOUS reminds us, they are people.
And being famous: maybe not everything it’s cracked up to be.
March 8, 2017
"Besides, who cares about people so devastatingly shallow that they spend their free time trolling strangers over the internet? Or mean-girl stunts so cliché I wouldn’t even put them in a play? I’d never cared what people thought of me before, why start now?”
“Emma was pissed, Rachel was getting attacked, and Ollie thought I was a tool. Being famous was supposed to be fun. Or at least less stressful.”
Guys this book! The feels! The relatableness (not talking about the fame). The LOL’s! I am pretty sure that any millennial that uses social media should read this. I adored this book! In fact, I think it is just a must-read for anyone who enjoys YA contemporaries.
So #famous tells the story about this low key girl who posts a picture of this guy she thinks is hot on
So, sometimes, I hate being jumbled into the Millennial bracket for the age groups. I often find myself wondering, why am I included in this group? They are completely different than how my age group was. But for once, I could definitely relate. Sometime in January, I opted out of Facebook, Instagram, and decided that a Booktube just wasn’t for me. I pretty much just Goodreads and Snapchat, and I think I’ve been a lot happier these last two months. Anyway, with that being said I could easily understand how something so mundane could be trolled so hard on the internet. Here’s the truth, teenagers can be so mean. Teenagers (sorry, more than just teenagers) on the internet, even meaner! Why are people SO mean to each other! The entire time I was reading the book, I thought to myself, I know this happens everyday and I felt sorry for more than just Rachel. And as it continued from Kyle’s point of view I could understand his struggles as well.
As the story developed, the romance aspect was definitely something I could get on board with. It wasn’t exactly instalove, but it was definitely high school sweet. Watching a girl and boy float by with their confusion and having to deal with not only the spotlight they were in, but also the vindictive way people could be really just piled onto the normal teenage angst of: do they like me?
This book did such a good job of tackling such a sensitive issue that is hardened by the internet. People don’t quite get the consequences of what they say to people and how they will respond or handle it. Between self –esteem & shallowness to honesty & misinterpretation, there is so much to take in from simple exchanged words.
I sort of feel this book is almost like a Terms & Agreement that trolls should read before the use of social media. Except, not just click the ‘I agree’ button, but actually read it.
February 13, 2017
Debut author Jilly Gagnon's young adult novel is a teen romance with a modern flair. Told in alternating perspectives, Kyle and Rachel's story is the result of what happens in the age of viral videos and photos mixes with teenage crushes. While the premise was cute, the writing quality and the characterization was not up to snuff and I wanted more depth and eloquence.
Rachel has had a crush on Kyle for quite a long time. When she surreptitiously snaps a picture of him while he was work and posts it on Flit, a social networking site, she doesn’t expect anyone except for her best friend, Mo, to see it. In a matter of hours, the photo goes viral, making Kyle an instant celebrity and Rachel want to hide. The cyberbullies come out in droves but Kyle is there to speak up for her. When the Laura Show comes calling, both agree to a series on her show. But before they know it, they’re falling for each other. Is it all for the cameras or could Kyle really be falling for Rachel?
I had a really hard time with the character voice. The things Kyle said and thought did not sound like that of an 18-year old boy. ("What in Pete's name is going on?", BFFLs, and "Quadruple crap"—just to name a few) The dialogue was extremely hokey and stilted. It made me cringe several times because it just didn't sound natural.
The writing style was problematic for me as well, with the author often using the same word choices within a few sentences. It seemed really repetitive. The writing needed to be much more polished and refined. For example,
"The whole thing that been . . . terrifying. It had been kinda terrifying, all of them staring at me . . . ."
"Two girls had been lying in wait." And a few sentences later, "Something worth lying in wait to photograph."
In the novel, Rachel is a teen who struggles with her self-esteem. I mean, what teenage girl doesn't have self-doubt or self-esteem issues at some point? But Rachel's constant mutterings about how Kyle couldn't possibly want her, how weird she is, or show she's not as pretty as other girls was repetitive and unnecessary. I think readers would get the point and understand Rachel without the constant verbal reminder that she feels that way.
The writing lacked the nuance and eloquence that look for in books. I think young readers who don't read for character voice and writing style like I do might find enjoyment in the plot. I didn't enjoy this book at all because I didn't care about the characters and the quality of writing was poor.
* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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January 6, 2017
Quite The Novel Idea ~ Words from the Clouds
Well I am a giant puddle of disappointment over here. On one hand, I could have expected it?? But on the other hand, also not?? Because there was a lot of potential here and it could've been supercute and adorable. And it was a tiny bit? But it was also predictable in a bad way? So now I am sad because I wanted fluff and cute but I didn't get it and I feel like sulking. But I suppose I should tell you why I am so grumpy right now.
So while this book was in fact a tiny bit of cute and I liked that the internet was a big part of it and showed how dangerous it can be and how mean people on the internet can be. Because that's a real thing and it's relevant so I liked that it showed that. Also just the use of social media in a contemporary book is awesome because it's also so very relevant and makes us relate more. But sadly both of these things come with negatives and that is why this book isn't rated any higher. So let's get into the not-very-good parts, shall we?
While, yes, this book was a tiny bit of cute, I wanted it to be a whole lot cute and adorable and fluffy. And instead it was just cliche and predictable and boring. It felt like a horrible Disney Channel Original movie and I LOVE those movies. But this would feel like a bad one. Because I knew exactly what was going to happen all the time and that took a lot out of my enjoyment of this book. It didn't help that the writing felt meh and that sometimes the pacing was off and I didn't feel like the two POV's were distinct enough.
I liked Kyle and Rachel together sometimes but I didn't care. At all. I hoped to relate to Rachel but I didn't. Instead I was super annoyed by her and she didn't change at all near the end and I just didn't care. She was just so bland to me and sometimes all over the place. Like one moment she's this person and the next she's completely different. Kyle was okay but he also felt very bland and boring. The stuff with Emma was just overdone and not necessary at all. Needless to say I didn't really care for the romance.
And lastly I want to say that while I applaud the use of internet and social media in contemporary, I also think it wasn't done right here. I mean... Yeah it's a bit ridiculous that a stupid picture can cause someone to get famous overnight but hey the world is nuts these days in that regard so who knows? What bothers me is actually something really stupid maybe. And that's the use of fake social media. Just use the real one. I don't know what this fake thing is. I can't relate with it. And it's super obvious you're basing it off Twitter. And it was also kind of a tiny bit obvious that the talkshow woman Laura was based on Ellen. So yeah. Why not use the real one? It just bothers me. Plenty of books use the real social media so why can't this one?
I am all of the grumpy today and I don't like it. So I'm gonna end this review here and hope my next read is better. Overall this was a very boring, predictable and cliche book to me and honestly at times I felt a bazillion times too old for it. Don't mind me. I'm just going to sulk a bit more.
Well I am a giant puddle of disappointment over here. On one hand, I could have expected it?? But on the other hand, also not?? Because there was a lot of potential here and it could've been supercute and adorable. And it was a tiny bit? But it was also predictable in a bad way? So now I am sad because I wanted fluff and cute but I didn't get it and I feel like sulking. But I suppose I should tell you why I am so grumpy right now.
So while this book was in fact a tiny bit of cute and I liked that the internet was a big part of it and showed how dangerous it can be and how mean people on the internet can be. Because that's a real thing and it's relevant so I liked that it showed that. Also just the use of social media in a contemporary book is awesome because it's also so very relevant and makes us relate more. But sadly both of these things come with negatives and that is why this book isn't rated any higher. So let's get into the not-very-good parts, shall we?
While, yes, this book was a tiny bit of cute, I wanted it to be a whole lot cute and adorable and fluffy. And instead it was just cliche and predictable and boring. It felt like a horrible Disney Channel Original movie and I LOVE those movies. But this would feel like a bad one. Because I knew exactly what was going to happen all the time and that took a lot out of my enjoyment of this book. It didn't help that the writing felt meh and that sometimes the pacing was off and I didn't feel like the two POV's were distinct enough.
I liked Kyle and Rachel together sometimes but I didn't care. At all. I hoped to relate to Rachel but I didn't. Instead I was super annoyed by her and she didn't change at all near the end and I just didn't care. She was just so bland to me and sometimes all over the place. Like one moment she's this person and the next she's completely different. Kyle was okay but he also felt very bland and boring. The stuff with Emma was just overdone and not necessary at all. Needless to say I didn't really care for the romance.
And lastly I want to say that while I applaud the use of internet and social media in contemporary, I also think it wasn't done right here. I mean... Yeah it's a bit ridiculous that a stupid picture can cause someone to get famous overnight but hey the world is nuts these days in that regard so who knows? What bothers me is actually something really stupid maybe. And that's the use of fake social media. Just use the real one. I don't know what this fake thing is. I can't relate with it. And it's super obvious you're basing it off Twitter. And it was also kind of a tiny bit obvious that the talkshow woman Laura was based on Ellen. So yeah. Why not use the real one? It just bothers me. Plenty of books use the real social media so why can't this one?
I am all of the grumpy today and I don't like it. So I'm gonna end this review here and hope my next read is better. Overall this was a very boring, predictable and cliche book to me and honestly at times I felt a bazillion times too old for it. Don't mind me. I'm just going to sulk a bit more.
November 1, 2017
So the ending resolved everything wayyyyyyyyyyy to quickly. Poor Rachel got bullied way too much, and Kyle was definitely King of the derps, but it was a fun read and I did enjoy getting to meet these characters and go on this journey with them.
March 5, 2017
¡Me encantó!
Una lectura bien de verano, amena, SÚPER DIVERTIDA y romanticona pero no cursi, sino que de una forma entretenida, natural y muy torpe y tierna.
Una lectura bien de verano, amena, SÚPER DIVERTIDA y romanticona pero no cursi, sino que de una forma entretenida, natural y muy torpe y tierna.
March 9, 2017
I just found my new favourite romantic comedy.
According to Google, there are five things a romantic comedy needs, so I thought I’d test this book against those categories.
1) Chemistry: This book has this in SPADES. Even better: both sides of this romantic pairing get their own POV, so we get to witness their chemistry FROM BOTH POINTS OF VIEW!! Which is the best thing to read ever, as their feelings for each other develop in different ways, which is so fun to read.
2) Expand the genre/tweak the formula: yep, easily. The entire premise is built around the idea of internet fame, and this leads to some really interesting discussions about the way people are treated on the internet, as well as the nature of internet fame in general, which I thought was great/unique. This a romantic comedy unlike any that I can think of, one that feels so modern and relevant to today.
3) Be cinematic: I think this was deigned more for film, but still, I’d say #famous gets full points for this, as it is very easy to read and ‘visualize’. It’s a testament to how good Jilly is at writing at how fun and effortless this is to read. Plus, there are so many ‘big’ memorable cinematic-feeling moments, which I think this is talking about. So yeah, 10/10 for this category.
4) Add rawness and authenticity: easily. Both Rachel and Kyle are complex and they act like real people, which was so great. They always act in ways that make sense and by the end of the book I totally understood who they are as people. Plus, all of the texting/DMing felt authentic to how people actually communicate these days.
5) Have great comedic moments: This book has so many, and they’re all great. Plus, the text is filled with witty one lines and hilarious comedic banter. This is a very funny book.
So yeah, #famous is the freaking best. It’s like the ultimate treat-yourself book, in that it’s warm and funny and smart and just makes you feel good. I loved this so freaking much, and can’t wait for EVERYONE to read it when it comes out next year.
According to Google, there are five things a romantic comedy needs, so I thought I’d test this book against those categories.
1) Chemistry: This book has this in SPADES. Even better: both sides of this romantic pairing get their own POV, so we get to witness their chemistry FROM BOTH POINTS OF VIEW!! Which is the best thing to read ever, as their feelings for each other develop in different ways, which is so fun to read.
2) Expand the genre/tweak the formula: yep, easily. The entire premise is built around the idea of internet fame, and this leads to some really interesting discussions about the way people are treated on the internet, as well as the nature of internet fame in general, which I thought was great/unique. This a romantic comedy unlike any that I can think of, one that feels so modern and relevant to today.
3) Be cinematic: I think this was deigned more for film, but still, I’d say #famous gets full points for this, as it is very easy to read and ‘visualize’. It’s a testament to how good Jilly is at writing at how fun and effortless this is to read. Plus, there are so many ‘big’ memorable cinematic-feeling moments, which I think this is talking about. So yeah, 10/10 for this category.
4) Add rawness and authenticity: easily. Both Rachel and Kyle are complex and they act like real people, which was so great. They always act in ways that make sense and by the end of the book I totally understood who they are as people. Plus, all of the texting/DMing felt authentic to how people actually communicate these days.
5) Have great comedic moments: This book has so many, and they’re all great. Plus, the text is filled with witty one lines and hilarious comedic banter. This is a very funny book.
So yeah, #famous is the freaking best. It’s like the ultimate treat-yourself book, in that it’s warm and funny and smart and just makes you feel good. I loved this so freaking much, and can’t wait for EVERYONE to read it when it comes out next year.
July 21, 2016
A summary of my reactions to #famous:
I honestly believe that readers who appreciate Rainbow Rowell and Stephanie Perkins would be hard-pressed not to love #famous, and here’s why:
Rachel and Kyle are equally adorable yet distinct people. It’s incredibly difficult to write dual POV that feels nuanced, but the MCs in #famous both have such vibrant personalities. I fell in love with them both in totally separate ways. Plus, they are super relatable. I swear, half that things that happened to Rachel in middle school also happened to me.
The side characters are SO GOOD. It’s even more rare to find a book with such compelling side characters. I want Monique to be one of my best friends. Emma is ridiculously complex in the best (and worst) of ways. Ollie is a complete sweetheart, and I wish that more high school boys could be like him. THE PARENTS. Oh my gosh, they jump right off the page. Rachel’s mom’s dinner table talk is particularly hilarious: “Tell me one way you expressed yourself today.”
It feels current. I admire any writer who can be so “on the pulse,” and I think that #famous really captures the social media moment it’s in.
It moved me in all the ways that I wanted it to: mostly, my mouth in the direction of a smile. That sounds so cheesy, but if you read this book, you’ll get what I mean. And YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY READ THIS BOOK.
Other things: it’s body-positive; it anti-cattiness; and it’s generally just really fabulous.
READ IT READ IT READ IT (repeat time infinity)
I honestly believe that readers who appreciate Rainbow Rowell and Stephanie Perkins would be hard-pressed not to love #famous, and here’s why:
Rachel and Kyle are equally adorable yet distinct people. It’s incredibly difficult to write dual POV that feels nuanced, but the MCs in #famous both have such vibrant personalities. I fell in love with them both in totally separate ways. Plus, they are super relatable. I swear, half that things that happened to Rachel in middle school also happened to me.
The side characters are SO GOOD. It’s even more rare to find a book with such compelling side characters. I want Monique to be one of my best friends. Emma is ridiculously complex in the best (and worst) of ways. Ollie is a complete sweetheart, and I wish that more high school boys could be like him. THE PARENTS. Oh my gosh, they jump right off the page. Rachel’s mom’s dinner table talk is particularly hilarious: “Tell me one way you expressed yourself today.”
It feels current. I admire any writer who can be so “on the pulse,” and I think that #famous really captures the social media moment it’s in.
It moved me in all the ways that I wanted it to: mostly, my mouth in the direction of a smile. That sounds so cheesy, but if you read this book, you’ll get what I mean. And YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY READ THIS BOOK.
Other things: it’s body-positive; it anti-cattiness; and it’s generally just really fabulous.
READ IT READ IT READ IT (repeat time infinity)
March 30, 2017
(SPOILERS AHEAD):
I know what you're probably thinking: It took me way too long to read a contemporary, fast read. But let me just say that this book gave me so many emotions that I could only process them a little at a time. I won't go into the synopsis, mostly because it can not only be found by clicking the link above, but those who are reading this have likely already read this themselves.
I want to start off by saying that this book gave an interesting twist, at least for me. Not only had I not come across a novel with this sort of storyline before, but I've very rarely gone into a book in all my years of reading where I first preferred the female lead to the male. In my experience, most women/young girls are often given certain characteristics that come across, well, just plain annoying. But Rachel, she was so relatable, and I wanted nothing more than to protect her from every bad thing that had ever been said to her. She didn't fall under the 'slim' category that make up a vast majority of women in a lot of genres. I thought she handled herself beautifully against all those that deliberately tried to hurt her. Can you tell how much I adored her?
Now Kyle, I didn't find him particularly appealing in the beginning. He was a nice guy, don't get me wrong, but I couldn't get past all those times he let things side because he was too oblivious to what was going on. That, and he seemed to get too caught up in the fame to see just how badly it was shining a negative light on Rachel. I will admit though, he did grow as a character, even if it was very slow in pace. After taking a breather though and really trying to understand his character, I thought about how I'd handle the situation he was placed in. He was not only blindsided by instant fame, but he was already tucked into the world of the popular. He hadn't ever been in Rachel or Monique's shoes, and as Rachel said repeatedly, he always tried to see the good in people. So as a person that typically embraces whatever is thrown his way, and also a being that will go to great lengths just to make his parents see him as an individual that isn't his brother, I'd say he handled himself quite well. Ultimately, I grew to really like him, especially after he stood up for Rach to Jessie, and after he realized the nasty games that Emma was so clearly playing.
I could go into how much I utterly detest Emma and her band of Wolfette followers, but that would likely take an entire review all on its own.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot. So much that this is my longest review to date, which should definitely tell you something. If you're ever in need of a recommendation, this one should call to you.
I know what you're probably thinking: It took me way too long to read a contemporary, fast read. But let me just say that this book gave me so many emotions that I could only process them a little at a time. I won't go into the synopsis, mostly because it can not only be found by clicking the link above, but those who are reading this have likely already read this themselves.
I want to start off by saying that this book gave an interesting twist, at least for me. Not only had I not come across a novel with this sort of storyline before, but I've very rarely gone into a book in all my years of reading where I first preferred the female lead to the male. In my experience, most women/young girls are often given certain characteristics that come across, well, just plain annoying. But Rachel, she was so relatable, and I wanted nothing more than to protect her from every bad thing that had ever been said to her. She didn't fall under the 'slim' category that make up a vast majority of women in a lot of genres. I thought she handled herself beautifully against all those that deliberately tried to hurt her. Can you tell how much I adored her?
Now Kyle, I didn't find him particularly appealing in the beginning. He was a nice guy, don't get me wrong, but I couldn't get past all those times he let things side because he was too oblivious to what was going on. That, and he seemed to get too caught up in the fame to see just how badly it was shining a negative light on Rachel. I will admit though, he did grow as a character, even if it was very slow in pace. After taking a breather though and really trying to understand his character, I thought about how I'd handle the situation he was placed in. He was not only blindsided by instant fame, but he was already tucked into the world of the popular. He hadn't ever been in Rachel or Monique's shoes, and as Rachel said repeatedly, he always tried to see the good in people. So as a person that typically embraces whatever is thrown his way, and also a being that will go to great lengths just to make his parents see him as an individual that isn't his brother, I'd say he handled himself quite well. Ultimately, I grew to really like him, especially after he stood up for Rach to Jessie, and after he realized the nasty games that Emma was so clearly playing.
I could go into how much I utterly detest Emma and her band of Wolfette followers, but that would likely take an entire review all on its own.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot. So much that this is my longest review to date, which should definitely tell you something. If you're ever in need of a recommendation, this one should call to you.
January 8, 2018
This book was pure fluff. It was adorable to watch these two awkward characters grow. It did a great job handling the effects of social media and cyber bullying. Overall, it was an entertaining read.
Read
October 1, 2016Oh, this book made me really happy. Loved Kyle and Rachel's story... and especially loved that it takes place in Minnesota.
#MinnesotaProud
#ApplePrairieRocks
#idlikefrieswithTHAT
#MinnesotaProud
#ApplePrairieRocks
#idlikefrieswithTHAT
July 13, 2018
This was very cute and quick paced but definitely not my contemporary favrouite book ever.
October 14, 2018
Ok. Best book I've read in October. It was AMAZING. I honestly don't know what to say. It made my heart all melty, i know that for sure.
April 19, 2018
MY OPINION: **
I had such high hopes for this book considering that I read a ton of good reviews from friends and authors! However, it just wasn't as good as I expected it to be and that just left me a little sad.
Rachel, a girl who is described as weird, not popular, and maybe slightly introverted, takes a picture of her senior crush (she's a junior), and posts it on a social media platform called Flit. I just want to take a moment here to speak about this action before I even continue.
DO NOT POST SOMETHING WITHOUT THAT PERSON'S PERMISSION. I don't care if you have 0 followers or if it's for a "game" or if it's your best friend. That stuff stays with you and them for forever and ever and ever. I don't personally have many social media platforms and I rarely ever post on them but I would never just take a picture without them looking and just post it. Sure, maybe YOU don't think it's a good picture but I can't say the same for the victim.
Shall we continue?
Anyways, she has like two followers or something so she doesn't think it's going to be a big deal. However, with a hashtag of #idlikefrieswithTHAT, it goes viral within instants.
Yeah.
I loved the whole idea of this story because it had so much potential. But I felt as if the characters weren't elaborated enough on and the whole plot and storyline wasn't developed as much as it could have been.
Kyle was a lacrosse player unwillingly following in his brother's footsteps. We don't really learn too much about him other than the fact that he thinks he's boring and he works at a Burger Barn. I would have liked to know more about his family and his friends and his past but instead there was none of that and mostly just cheesy lines spewing out of his mouth. I found Kyle to be quite unlikable.
Rachel was annoying at times and at others I just wanted to hit her. She jumped to conclusions SO much; she made a mistake before and three pages later she does the exact same thing again. I thought that she wasn't brave and independent as I had hoped she would be. She was also determined to keep to herself because she thinks she's weird.
I really boosted my rating up after I got to the ending because I felt that there, the drama really ensued and things actually happened that made the book exciting. Misunderstanding, confusion, regret, anger, all of that stuff was needed throughout this book to make it truly powerful but instead we only got that at the ending of the book. I also thought that the whole last 50 pages or so was very rushed and wasn't planned out as well as it could have been.
There were some parts that I liked. I liked all of the various text messages because those seemed legit and real. I liked the dress shopping, I liked the TV show, I liked all of that.
OH AND EMMA. I NEEDED TO JUST PUNCH HER HALF THE TIME. AND KYLE FOR BEING STUPID ENOUGH TO KEEP ON STAYING WITH HER. She was a needy, whiny, annoying *INSERT WORD HERE* that needs to calm down.
Here I am telling a character to calm down after yelling in all caps.
Anyways, I would recommend this book to people looking for a really light read.
PS I need to rant about Kyle's insane amount of saying 'oof.' HE SAID OOF AFTER LEGIT EVERYTHING
Main Character: Rachel, Kyle
Sidekick(s): Mo, etc
Villain(s): Social media, misunderstanding, Emma, etc
Realistic Fiction Elements: This book was all very real to life.
I had such high hopes for this book considering that I read a ton of good reviews from friends and authors! However, it just wasn't as good as I expected it to be and that just left me a little sad.
Rachel, a girl who is described as weird, not popular, and maybe slightly introverted, takes a picture of her senior crush (she's a junior), and posts it on a social media platform called Flit. I just want to take a moment here to speak about this action before I even continue.
DO NOT POST SOMETHING WITHOUT THAT PERSON'S PERMISSION. I don't care if you have 0 followers or if it's for a "game" or if it's your best friend. That stuff stays with you and them for forever and ever and ever. I don't personally have many social media platforms and I rarely ever post on them but I would never just take a picture without them looking and just post it. Sure, maybe YOU don't think it's a good picture but I can't say the same for the victim.
Shall we continue?
Anyways, she has like two followers or something so she doesn't think it's going to be a big deal. However, with a hashtag of #idlikefrieswithTHAT, it goes viral within instants.
Yeah.
I loved the whole idea of this story because it had so much potential. But I felt as if the characters weren't elaborated enough on and the whole plot and storyline wasn't developed as much as it could have been.
Kyle was a lacrosse player unwillingly following in his brother's footsteps. We don't really learn too much about him other than the fact that he thinks he's boring and he works at a Burger Barn. I would have liked to know more about his family and his friends and his past but instead there was none of that and mostly just cheesy lines spewing out of his mouth. I found Kyle to be quite unlikable.
Rachel was annoying at times and at others I just wanted to hit her. She jumped to conclusions SO much; she made a mistake before and three pages later she does the exact same thing again. I thought that she wasn't brave and independent as I had hoped she would be. She was also determined to keep to herself because she thinks she's weird.
I really boosted my rating up after I got to the ending because I felt that there, the drama really ensued and things actually happened that made the book exciting. Misunderstanding, confusion, regret, anger, all of that stuff was needed throughout this book to make it truly powerful but instead we only got that at the ending of the book. I also thought that the whole last 50 pages or so was very rushed and wasn't planned out as well as it could have been.
There were some parts that I liked. I liked all of the various text messages because those seemed legit and real. I liked the dress shopping, I liked the TV show, I liked all of that.
OH AND EMMA. I NEEDED TO JUST PUNCH HER HALF THE TIME. AND KYLE FOR BEING STUPID ENOUGH TO KEEP ON STAYING WITH HER. She was a needy, whiny, annoying *INSERT WORD HERE* that needs to calm down.
Here I am telling a character to calm down after yelling in all caps.
Anyways, I would recommend this book to people looking for a really light read.
PS I need to rant about Kyle's insane amount of saying 'oof.' HE SAID OOF AFTER LEGIT EVERYTHING
Main Character: Rachel, Kyle
Sidekick(s): Mo, etc
Villain(s): Social media, misunderstanding, Emma, etc
Realistic Fiction Elements: This book was all very real to life.
February 14, 2017
3.5Stars.
#famous is your classic cute & fluffy with every wonderful romcom cliche thrown in and I happily gobbled it all up.
Two reasons for this:
1. I love the writing style.
2. The character building was done really well.
Now, we all know if those two things are in place, I will forgive shortcomings of any kind.
The good news there aren't many. It's fluffy and there isn't a lot of substance to it somehow. But that's it and frankly I enjoy a swoony cute story even if it doesn't throw loads of depth at me.
The storyline is predictable but still entertaining.
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the online fame thing in the beginning. But very quickly I changed my mind. I actually think that Gagnon did a good job highlighting the situation. I think there is plenty of cyber-bullying going on and also that we all kinda crave the positive attention social networks can give us. (grant you some more than others...)
All of this however was deemed insignificant due to super cute moments and a really swoony boy. I adore both MCs and enjoyed both of their POVs. Kyle is the classic cute and sweet boy, who also is totally clueless when it comes to females and I totally adore him. Favorite thing about the book.
Rachel feels real with her insecurities and her worries and problems, I didn't much like her in the beginning, she felt to snarky and mean, but as we get to know her, we get to see a different side to her and I got where she was coming from.
The mean girls, however important they are - I do think they are important to the story and it was a way to add depth to it- felt too over the top and too cliche, which kinda ruined their purpose. Then there is Emma. She is your classic "nice"girl, who isn't actually that nice and will use her popularity to get what she wants. I actually know girls like that and in that I really liked the way Gagnon wrote her. But then she went a pulled a move that was a tad to movie for my taste.
I read this in one sitting. So clearly I was captivated by it and I guess this sounds not too positive. But seriously I did love this book. The above are only the reasons why this is "only" 3.5Stars.
It is well written, cute, swoony and definitely a super enjoyable book!
#famous is your classic cute & fluffy with every wonderful romcom cliche thrown in and I happily gobbled it all up.
Two reasons for this:
1. I love the writing style.
2. The character building was done really well.
Now, we all know if those two things are in place, I will forgive shortcomings of any kind.
The good news there aren't many. It's fluffy and there isn't a lot of substance to it somehow. But that's it and frankly I enjoy a swoony cute story even if it doesn't throw loads of depth at me.
The storyline is predictable but still entertaining.
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the online fame thing in the beginning. But very quickly I changed my mind. I actually think that Gagnon did a good job highlighting the situation. I think there is plenty of cyber-bullying going on and also that we all kinda crave the positive attention social networks can give us. (grant you some more than others...)
All of this however was deemed insignificant due to super cute moments and a really swoony boy. I adore both MCs and enjoyed both of their POVs. Kyle is the classic cute and sweet boy, who also is totally clueless when it comes to females and I totally adore him. Favorite thing about the book.
Rachel feels real with her insecurities and her worries and problems, I didn't much like her in the beginning, she felt to snarky and mean, but as we get to know her, we get to see a different side to her and I got where she was coming from.
The mean girls, however important they are - I do think they are important to the story and it was a way to add depth to it- felt too over the top and too cliche, which kinda ruined their purpose. Then there is Emma. She is your classic "nice"girl, who isn't actually that nice and will use her popularity to get what she wants. I actually know girls like that and in that I really liked the way Gagnon wrote her. But then she went a pulled a move that was a tad to movie for my taste.
I read this in one sitting. So clearly I was captivated by it and I guess this sounds not too positive. But seriously I did love this book. The above are only the reasons why this is "only" 3.5Stars.
It is well written, cute, swoony and definitely a super enjoyable book!
October 5, 2016
OMFG. Those are the best words I have for this book, and they're not even words. OMFG.
When you are already snort-laughing 10 pages into a novel, I'd say it's a very good sign that the novel is goddamn funny. And #famous did not disappoint. I devoured it in a day, it was that tasty. This book is charming and brilliant and hilarious—JESUS FUCK, it's hilarious—but it's also tender, touching, and sweet. It's a ten-course meal of #AllTheThings, both sweet and salty, giggles and tears and a million scrumptious little emotions in between.
#famous is told in two narrative voices, and they're both pitch-perfect. Kyle is a sweetie mcsweeterton, total hoosier, naive and adorable and cute as a bug. Rachel is smart and sharp and flawed and so very very human, a weirdo I'd be honored to call my friend. They pop and sizzle on the page: these aren't fictional characters; they are real teens, with all the attendant baggage and delights.
This book itself is a big ol' bag of delights, fresh and funny in all the ways I love, with characters that crack me up and a seamless narrative structure. And it's just so SMART about things. #famous has everything in there—sexism, feminism, gender stereotypes—but it's never heavy-handed; these are real people, not mouthpieces for some agenda. Jilly has an uncanny knack for capturing honest-to-god humans, so that even villains like Emma aren't one-dimensional. And Mo, I loved Mo. That friendship is one for the record books. And Ollie, oh Ollie. Come to me, my love!
So, yep: OMFG. The jokes. The luuurve. The story of two characters who are perfect for each other, even if it takes them the whole book to see what we've known all along. #famous really does have everything: characters we adore, an awesome reality TV show element, a fabulous romance, twists and turns, laugh-out-loud humor, and a bouquet of frie...er, fuzzy-good feelings at the end. Eat it up!
I WOULD like fries with that, thanks.
When you are already snort-laughing 10 pages into a novel, I'd say it's a very good sign that the novel is goddamn funny. And #famous did not disappoint. I devoured it in a day, it was that tasty. This book is charming and brilliant and hilarious—JESUS FUCK, it's hilarious—but it's also tender, touching, and sweet. It's a ten-course meal of #AllTheThings, both sweet and salty, giggles and tears and a million scrumptious little emotions in between.
#famous is told in two narrative voices, and they're both pitch-perfect. Kyle is a sweetie mcsweeterton, total hoosier, naive and adorable and cute as a bug. Rachel is smart and sharp and flawed and so very very human, a weirdo I'd be honored to call my friend. They pop and sizzle on the page: these aren't fictional characters; they are real teens, with all the attendant baggage and delights.
This book itself is a big ol' bag of delights, fresh and funny in all the ways I love, with characters that crack me up and a seamless narrative structure. And it's just so SMART about things. #famous has everything in there—sexism, feminism, gender stereotypes—but it's never heavy-handed; these are real people, not mouthpieces for some agenda. Jilly has an uncanny knack for capturing honest-to-god humans, so that even villains like Emma aren't one-dimensional. And Mo, I loved Mo. That friendship is one for the record books. And Ollie, oh Ollie. Come to me, my love!
So, yep: OMFG. The jokes. The luuurve. The story of two characters who are perfect for each other, even if it takes them the whole book to see what we've known all along. #famous really does have everything: characters we adore, an awesome reality TV show element, a fabulous romance, twists and turns, laugh-out-loud humor, and a bouquet of frie...er, fuzzy-good feelings at the end. Eat it up!
I WOULD like fries with that, thanks.
July 23, 2016
I absolutely adored and devoured this book! #famous is everything I want in a rom-com: funny, dual POV, plenty of romantic tension, and protagonists you can't help but root for. Gagnon gets into both characters' heads so effortlessly that I rarely needed to know whose head I was in--the writing styles just felt unique to Rachel and Kyle. And speaking of Rachel and Kyle, the author does an amazing job showing why they're so right for each other and I was positively squealing at least a dozen times.
But there was also a lot of depth to the story. Gagnon shows the negative effects of insta-fame, including bullying that was sadly realistic and had me tearing up more than once. The characters confront a lot of crap and grow together, and those scenes are what make the book so friggin unputdownable. Also, the humor. No surprise, as the author is a comedian, but it's just so casual, like she couldn't stop being hilarious (not unlike Rachel). Case in point:
"It felt like learning that Santa wasn’t real; like someone had deliberately tricked me about something magical and wonderful.
I assume. We weren’t particularly religious, but my parents weren’t such bad Jews that they’d let me believe in Santa."
Add this book to your TBR and read the crap out of it the second you possibly can.
But there was also a lot of depth to the story. Gagnon shows the negative effects of insta-fame, including bullying that was sadly realistic and had me tearing up more than once. The characters confront a lot of crap and grow together, and those scenes are what make the book so friggin unputdownable. Also, the humor. No surprise, as the author is a comedian, but it's just so casual, like she couldn't stop being hilarious (not unlike Rachel). Case in point:
"It felt like learning that Santa wasn’t real; like someone had deliberately tricked me about something magical and wonderful.
I assume. We weren’t particularly religious, but my parents weren’t such bad Jews that they’d let me believe in Santa."
Add this book to your TBR and read the crap out of it the second you possibly can.
November 18, 2016
I was so thrilled to get to read an advanced copy of #famous because I had already laughed my way through Jilly Gagnon’s adult book, CHOOSE YOUR OWN MISERY: THE OFFICE ADVENTURE.
So I knew it would be #funny, but what I did not expect was to be #angry or end up in #tears (okay, enough with the hashtags!). Gagnon used every bit of her comic brilliance to fill this book with scenes to make you laugh out loud on a bus, as well as loads of cracking one-liners like I wish I could think of when I need them. But ultimately, this book has so much heart and offers wonderful reassurance that although life can kick you in the teeth, and your peers can sometimes be mean (SOOOOO mean!), there are some really lovely guys and girls out there, if you can just pause long enough to look around and find them.
This is a book that’s #perfect for the social-media-savvy generation, Yes, #famous is #fantastic!
So I knew it would be #funny, but what I did not expect was to be #angry or end up in #tears (okay, enough with the hashtags!). Gagnon used every bit of her comic brilliance to fill this book with scenes to make you laugh out loud on a bus, as well as loads of cracking one-liners like I wish I could think of when I need them. But ultimately, this book has so much heart and offers wonderful reassurance that although life can kick you in the teeth, and your peers can sometimes be mean (SOOOOO mean!), there are some really lovely guys and girls out there, if you can just pause long enough to look around and find them.
This is a book that’s #perfect for the social-media-savvy generation, Yes, #famous is #fantastic!
November 4, 2016
3.5 stars.
Incase you couldn't tell from the synopsis, this book is based on the Alex from Target meme. Instead of Alex from Target here we have Kyle from Burger Barn. Rachel takes a photo of him while he's working and posts it on Flit (Twitter). Kyle becomes a celebrity overnight and even gets flown out to LA to make an appearance on the Laura (Ellen) show.
This book was entertaining overall though I found that for a YA book it read a bit young. The characters were immature, in my opinion. Especially Kyle. Had they acted differently and not been so naive, gullible and dramatic, this book would've been a 4 star read.
The book is also cringe-worthy at times but I'm sure you could tell...I mean, the title is "#famous" lmao.
Incase you couldn't tell from the synopsis, this book is based on the Alex from Target meme. Instead of Alex from Target here we have Kyle from Burger Barn. Rachel takes a photo of him while he's working and posts it on Flit (Twitter). Kyle becomes a celebrity overnight and even gets flown out to LA to make an appearance on the Laura (Ellen) show.
This book was entertaining overall though I found that for a YA book it read a bit young. The characters were immature, in my opinion. Especially Kyle. Had they acted differently and not been so naive, gullible and dramatic, this book would've been a 4 star read.
The book is also cringe-worthy at times but I'm sure you could tell...I mean, the title is "#famous" lmao.
August 29, 2016
Think Alex from Target only instead of a cute guy in a red shirt and khakis, you have Kyle. Kyle from Creative Writing Kyle. Kyle from Burger Barn, wearing his greasy orange uniform, waiting on an old couple, and holding a piping hot bouquet of french fries Kyle.
Kyle: most definitely Rachel's crush.
But: out of her league.
Or is he?
Gagnon's YA debut is filled with humor, heart, and plenty of hand-wringing. You'll worry over Kyle and Rachel, rooting for them to the very last page. A++
Kyle: most definitely Rachel's crush.
But: out of her league.
Or is he?
Gagnon's YA debut is filled with humor, heart, and plenty of hand-wringing. You'll worry over Kyle and Rachel, rooting for them to the very last page. A++
March 29, 2017
ARC provided by the Publisher. This does not affect any views I have for the book.
WHAT I LIKED:
I quite enjoyed reading this book. It wasn't the first book I read that dealt with fame and celebrities, but this was the first that shows the "before" and "after". It's a good thing that Kyle didn't really change his attitude and personality when he got famous, which says a lot about his character.
I also enjoyed the romance bit of the book! It's super sweet and innocent, the whole chemistry between Kyle and Rachel was easy to pick up.
The book also dealt with cyberbullying for the first part of the story and I'm glad that the topic was touched. Also, Jilly Gagnon's writing is really good!
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
I almost always tolerate cliche tropes but I just felt like the book was full of them. There weren't any significant developments to the characters too, which is one thing I'm always looking for. It was also a little hard to relate to the characters, although, they gave me a whole new perspective when it comes to being instantly famous.
FINAL VERDICT:
Overall, the book was enjoyable to read. The writing was really excellent and I loved that the book was told in alternating POVs of Kyle and Rachel. Their voices were distinct as well. It's a good light-hearted read, and I'll be on the lookout for Jilly Gagnon's future works!
This review was originally posted in YA Books Central.
WHAT I LIKED:
I quite enjoyed reading this book. It wasn't the first book I read that dealt with fame and celebrities, but this was the first that shows the "before" and "after". It's a good thing that Kyle didn't really change his attitude and personality when he got famous, which says a lot about his character.
I also enjoyed the romance bit of the book! It's super sweet and innocent, the whole chemistry between Kyle and Rachel was easy to pick up.
The book also dealt with cyberbullying for the first part of the story and I'm glad that the topic was touched. Also, Jilly Gagnon's writing is really good!
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
I almost always tolerate cliche tropes but I just felt like the book was full of them. There weren't any significant developments to the characters too, which is one thing I'm always looking for. It was also a little hard to relate to the characters, although, they gave me a whole new perspective when it comes to being instantly famous.
FINAL VERDICT:
Overall, the book was enjoyable to read. The writing was really excellent and I loved that the book was told in alternating POVs of Kyle and Rachel. Their voices were distinct as well. It's a good light-hearted read, and I'll be on the lookout for Jilly Gagnon's future works!
This review was originally posted in YA Books Central.
August 22, 2017
Что ж, мне понравилось. Понравилось читать главы от лица девушки, в то время как главы Кайла выводили меня из себя. То ли мужчины и правда не видят дальше своего носа, то ли этот индивид оказался таким особенным.
Представьте себе ситуацию: вы уже долго влюблены в самого популярного ( кто бы сомневался) парня школы и случайно натыкаетесь на него в ТЦ, где и делаете его фотку, пока он стоит за кассой очередного ресторана быстро обслуживания. Фотография вышла довольна неплохая и вы тотчас решаете поделиться ею с подругой в твиттере. Количество ретвитов растет и этот мальчик становится популярным в считанные часы. Вы же отныне объект ненависти всех и вся. Стоит ли упоминать, что подписчиков у вас меньше ста?
Весь сюжет и крутится вокруг этого недоразумения.
Однако я все же не могу понять причину столько сильного хейтерства со стороны девушек к персоне Рейчел. Ну, выложила она фотку Кайла. Она же его не поцеловала и, как бывает во всех подобных романчиках, не переспала с ним. В чем же суть такой ненависти?
2.5 ближе к 3
Представьте себе ситуацию: вы уже долго влюблены в самого популярного ( кто бы сомневался) парня школы и случайно натыкаетесь на него в ТЦ, где и делаете его фотку, пока он стоит за кассой очередного ресторана быстро обслуживания. Фотография вышла довольна неплохая и вы тотчас решаете поделиться ею с подругой в твиттере. Количество ретвитов растет и этот мальчик становится популярным в считанные часы. Вы же отныне объект ненависти всех и вся. Стоит ли упоминать, что подписчиков у вас меньше ста?
Весь сюжет и крутится вокруг этого недоразумения.
Однако я все же не могу понять причину столько сильного хейтерства со стороны девушек к персоне Рейчел. Ну, выложила она фотку Кайла. Она же его не поцеловала и, как бывает во всех подобных романчиках, не переспала с ним. В чем же суть такой ненависти?
2.5 ближе к 3
December 11, 2024
ooooooof that went downhill REAL quick
August 31, 2016
I don't feel that anything I can say will do #famous the justice it deserves because I absolutely love this book! I love everything about Kyle and Rachel, the two main characters. Kyle Bonham is athletically cute yet geeky and charming and he doesn't want to do anyone wrong. He is like that faithful golden retriever who will always be there for you even if you don’t give him a treat… just a sweetheart!
And Rachel – she is described as a weirdo but she’s someone I would totally want to be friends with in high school – a girl with a unique style, a PERSONALITY, a BRAIN, and an OPINION! Not one of those cookie-cutter girls who goes along with all the rest of the crew just because it’s what is supposed to happen in high school.
I love this book because we get both Kyle's and Rachel's side of the story and their POV on how everything plays out once Rachel snaps a pic of Kyle at the Burger Barn and posts it on Flit, a made-up version of Instagram (which, btw, super cool invention!). When Kyle gets insta-famous and Rachel starts getting hate-texts and bullied at school, she must decide if she should let things die down or if she should grab the reins and take control to see this famous thing through!
I loved how #famous played out. I got angry during parts of it, I got googly eyed and soft during parts of it, and then I got MORE angry during parts of it. I loved Mo and Ollie and thought they were just as memorable as Rachel and Kyle! Most notable: I felt like there was an important message within – be true to yourself, and screw the haters -- they’re only being mean because they’re unhappy with their own lives, and DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY take chances in life and go after what you want!
And Rachel – she is described as a weirdo but she’s someone I would totally want to be friends with in high school – a girl with a unique style, a PERSONALITY, a BRAIN, and an OPINION! Not one of those cookie-cutter girls who goes along with all the rest of the crew just because it’s what is supposed to happen in high school.
I love this book because we get both Kyle's and Rachel's side of the story and their POV on how everything plays out once Rachel snaps a pic of Kyle at the Burger Barn and posts it on Flit, a made-up version of Instagram (which, btw, super cool invention!). When Kyle gets insta-famous and Rachel starts getting hate-texts and bullied at school, she must decide if she should let things die down or if she should grab the reins and take control to see this famous thing through!
I loved how #famous played out. I got angry during parts of it, I got googly eyed and soft during parts of it, and then I got MORE angry during parts of it. I loved Mo and Ollie and thought they were just as memorable as Rachel and Kyle! Most notable: I felt like there was an important message within – be true to yourself, and screw the haters -- they’re only being mean because they’re unhappy with their own lives, and DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY take chances in life and go after what you want!
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