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Cake Face
Emotionally immersive and indelibly told, Cake Face tells the story of Ashley, an endearing, witty young woman who finds herself navigating the muddy waters of unexpected fame.
“When I saw my YouTube channel page, I bolted upright, suddenly acutely awake. I didn’t know how to react. My ears started buzzing, and my throat began to close as I refreshed the screen, swiping down again and again. When nothing changed, I restarted my phone and padded across the creaky hardwood floor to the desk by the window so I could check from my laptop. It simply couldn’t be right.
8,998,967 subscribers.
When I’d turned the lights out last night, I had 303.”
When Ashley discovers she’s inexplicably gained nearly nine million subscribers to her beauty channel overnight, she instantly joins the ranks of YouTube beauty stars Zoella and Michelle Phan, and her life changes in all the wonderful ways she’s fantasized about.
But amidst the jaw-dropping checks from Google, mountains of free makeup and her new role as an “influencer” for the multi-billion-dollar beauty industry, an unexpected change begins to take place.
Ash finds that her sudden clout as a "big beauty guru" prompts a whirlwind of questions in her mind. How should she use her newfound power? Who should her influence be on behalf of? What does it really mean to be a YouTube star today?
When she’s offered a lucrative deal by a luxury cosmetics brand, Ash must decide what she ultimately stands for and make a decision that will change the course of her life forever.
Funny, moving and of-the-minute, Cake Face is so compulsively readable you’ll wish it was longer than the entertaining, astute, one-sitting read that it is.
“When I saw my YouTube channel page, I bolted upright, suddenly acutely awake. I didn’t know how to react. My ears started buzzing, and my throat began to close as I refreshed the screen, swiping down again and again. When nothing changed, I restarted my phone and padded across the creaky hardwood floor to the desk by the window so I could check from my laptop. It simply couldn’t be right.
8,998,967 subscribers.
When I’d turned the lights out last night, I had 303.”
When Ashley discovers she’s inexplicably gained nearly nine million subscribers to her beauty channel overnight, she instantly joins the ranks of YouTube beauty stars Zoella and Michelle Phan, and her life changes in all the wonderful ways she’s fantasized about.
But amidst the jaw-dropping checks from Google, mountains of free makeup and her new role as an “influencer” for the multi-billion-dollar beauty industry, an unexpected change begins to take place.
Ash finds that her sudden clout as a "big beauty guru" prompts a whirlwind of questions in her mind. How should she use her newfound power? Who should her influence be on behalf of? What does it really mean to be a YouTube star today?
When she’s offered a lucrative deal by a luxury cosmetics brand, Ash must decide what she ultimately stands for and make a decision that will change the course of her life forever.
Funny, moving and of-the-minute, Cake Face is so compulsively readable you’ll wish it was longer than the entertaining, astute, one-sitting read that it is.
- GenresYoung AdultRomance
123 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2016
5 people are currently reading
1148 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 15, 2016
I love reading what I call "chick lit with a message" when I need inspiration and encouragement. Cake Face provided both in spades. I love Ashley. I wish we could be buddies even though I'm years older than her. I understand why she accepted the opportunity to team up with what she thought would be the next big thing. I love how quickly she figured out that wasn't the right thing for her. I'm glad there will be more of this story--I just wish the parts were longer than novella-length!
July 18, 2016
Wow.
This is a story about a lovely, normal girl named Ashley. One day, she wakes up, and her subscribers launch up to about 9 million. As she is now overwhelmed with offers and sponsorships, she has to make sure through all of it, she can keep her priorities straight and follow her heart.
This story was great. The detail, the dialogue, it kept you on your feet. You will love this book, and like me, wish it was longer.
This is a story about a lovely, normal girl named Ashley. One day, she wakes up, and her subscribers launch up to about 9 million. As she is now overwhelmed with offers and sponsorships, she has to make sure through all of it, she can keep her priorities straight and follow her heart.
This story was great. The detail, the dialogue, it kept you on your feet. You will love this book, and like me, wish it was longer.
November 3, 2016
This is a cute story about an overnight youtube celebrity named Ashley. She's a young woman struggling with finances, has a regular job and films youtube videos on the side. One morning, she wakes up to 9 million subscribers on her channel and is overwhelmed by the onslaught of emails from different cosmetics companies wanting to send her free makeup. But that is only the beginning of her social media career. It gets more lucrative than that. Of course, once popularity knocks on your front door, expect to get not just fans but critics as well.
I resonate with her on so many levels especially her love affair with beauty products. Her character is so relatable and likeable. The book was an easy read, light and at times funny. I LOLed at the bookstore scene with Jason. It can be a little too geeky though for non-makeup junkies. I mean what normal person knows what a highlighter is for, right? Or who Charlotte Tilbury is.
In the end, Ashley must decide if she wants this newfound fame and the money that comes along with it or if she's perfectly content being a relatively unknown beauty vlogger with just a handful of subscribers.
I only wish Chels, her best friend, had more role in the story.
I resonate with her on so many levels especially her love affair with beauty products. Her character is so relatable and likeable. The book was an easy read, light and at times funny. I LOLed at the bookstore scene with Jason. It can be a little too geeky though for non-makeup junkies. I mean what normal person knows what a highlighter is for, right? Or who Charlotte Tilbury is.
In the end, Ashley must decide if she wants this newfound fame and the money that comes along with it or if she's perfectly content being a relatively unknown beauty vlogger with just a handful of subscribers.
I only wish Chels, her best friend, had more role in the story.
November 11, 2022
I might have enjoyed it more if the references didn’t feel so dated and the storyline so unrealistic.
February 28, 2017
2.5 out of 5 stars
The story itself was highly unbelievable. Overnight gaining 9 MILLON subscribers with no viral video or someone mentioning her channel? It just doesn't happen. Even the big names on YouTube took time to become in the millions. With a viral video you might gain a few hundred thousand subscribers at most but not millions. So the entire plot line was hard to believe while reading it plus with how short the book was, everything felt a bit rushed and forced. Most likely won't be picking up the sequel.
The story itself was highly unbelievable. Overnight gaining 9 MILLON subscribers with no viral video or someone mentioning her channel? It just doesn't happen. Even the big names on YouTube took time to become in the millions. With a viral video you might gain a few hundred thousand subscribers at most but not millions. So the entire plot line was hard to believe while reading it plus with how short the book was, everything felt a bit rushed and forced. Most likely won't be picking up the sequel.
September 25, 2016
This (short) book is actually a good surprise.
The plot reflects the dream of most Youtubers: Ashley runs a small beauty channel that turns to (litteral) overnight success, and enters a world of free make up range and partnerships.
However, this comes to a price she didn't expect.
What I liked :
Ashley's character is a 20-something girl next door who is facing her first "adult" choices and grows up by the end of the book. I like the fact she has doubts and questions about what she is offered.
I was also satisfied with the writing style, easy and natural.
What I didn't like :
I think the cheesy love story wasn't necessary at all!
3 stars
The plot reflects the dream of most Youtubers: Ashley runs a small beauty channel that turns to (litteral) overnight success, and enters a world of free make up range and partnerships.
However, this comes to a price she didn't expect.
What I liked :
Ashley's character is a 20-something girl next door who is facing her first "adult" choices and grows up by the end of the book. I like the fact she has doubts and questions about what she is offered.
I was also satisfied with the writing style, easy and natural.
What I didn't like :
I think the cheesy love story wasn't necessary at all!
3 stars
April 1, 2017
This was amazing! I loved it!!! I loved the message, the writing! I just wished it was longer! I can't wait for the next one!! A perfect read!!!
July 20, 2016
Nice book... recommended for YouTubers!
Consider reading this book if you are obsessed to YouTube videos and channels... A short and sweet story with happy ending... what else is needed for makeup based story.
Consider reading this book if you are obsessed to YouTube videos and channels... A short and sweet story with happy ending... what else is needed for makeup based story.
December 2, 2016
This book is such a cute and easy read! I love the honesty behind the novel about how too much of a good thing can be bad for you! Also I love Jason. I hope to god I run into my true love in a bookstore and he buys me a book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2016
Short but sweet
Gives a great narrative of the life of Youtubers and big businesses. I wish this was a longer tale. I enjoyed it.
Gives a great narrative of the life of Youtubers and big businesses. I wish this was a longer tale. I enjoyed it.
August 4, 2016
A great and quick read which was also written so well
September 25, 2016
Great
Really made me think about the internet media today, and how people influence others. Really an interesting read, pick it up.
Really made me think about the internet media today, and how people influence others. Really an interesting read, pick it up.
September 30, 2016
I won this signed copy from Goodreads and I absolutely loved it! As an introverted beauty junkie myself, I totally related to Ashley. I can't wait to see what the author has next for her
December 13, 2016
Totally enjoyed
I really enjoyed this book. Rating it was easy for me to do. It reminded me a lot of myself.
I really enjoyed this book. Rating it was easy for me to do. It reminded me a lot of myself.
October 19, 2016
A cute, short, fun read about being an instant youtube star.
November 27, 2018
I'm obviously not a beauty guru and so I can't confirm the accuracy of all the stuff that went on behind the scenes in this novella, but I found it so interesting to get a little peek behind the curtain, how little it may have been. Cake Face wasn't the best thing I've ever read, but it was very entertaining. I liked Ashley's personality. I would very much consider reading the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews