The Monday Girl

The Girl Duet #1

by Julie Johnson

Katharine Firestone is a bit of a mess.

Between an acting career that’s never quite made lift-off to stardom, a pathetic love life of online-dating-app losers, and a maxed-out balance on every one of her credit cards, things can’t get much worse. So, when she’s plucked from relative obscurity to land a lead role in Hollywood’s next big blockbuster, Kat is sure she’s finally on the right track.

Until she meets her co-star, Grayson Dunn… and all her plans are completely derailed.

Grayson is everything you’d expect the hottest actor alive to be — charming, disarming, and cocky as hell. As their characters slowly spiral into love on screen, Kat struggles to keep herself from falling for real. She knows handing Grayson her heart and expecting him not to break it would be the biggest mistake of her life. Yet the deeper she’s immersed in his glamorous world, the more blurred the boundaries between scripted affection and sincere passion become… and the harder it is to deny that their on-camera chemistry has crescendoed into a behind-the-scenes love affair…

What happens when you fall for someone who’s guaranteed to shatter you into pieces? Do you walk away? Or do you let him break you because, even broken, there’s simply no way you can’t stay?


THE MONDAY GIRL is a messy contemporary romance about a mixed up girl who falls for the wrong boy. It is the first part of a duet. The second installment, THE SOMEDAY GIRL, will be released a few weeks later, in early 2017. Each installment is approximately 85,000 words. Recommended for readers ages 17+ due to strong language, sexual situations, drug use, and other mature elements.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Friends To Lovers, Celebrity

296 pages, ebook

First published December 5, 2016

About the author

JULIE JOHNSON is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wind Weaver. When she's not writing, Julie can most often be found sitting on the beach near her home in her native Massachusetts, adding stamps to her passport, drinking too much coffee, and avoiding reality by disappearing between the pages of a book. She published her debut novel on a lark, just before her senior year of college, and she's never looked back. Since, she has published twenty other novels, which have been translated into more than a dozen different languages and appeared on bestseller lists all over the world.

You can connect with Julie on her Instagram (author_julie), in her natural habitat (the bookstore), or in her exclusive reader group (The Johnson Junkies).

For news and updates, be sure to subscribe to Julie's monthly newsletter: juliejohnsonbooks.com/newsletter

Reviews

[Katerina · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are different types of heartbreak.
Most of them are related to loss. You can lose a job, a loved one, yourself. The strangest type of heartbreak though is the one that belongs to someone else, yet you experience it through her eyes, her damaged sanity and broken soul.
But that is not the case with The Monday Girl. Because this heartbreak belongs to you.

“I am his Monday girl.”

Kat Firestone is an actress that has lived in shadows her entire life. Forced to a path she didn't choose, tortured by her failures, she never expected to land a dream role that would take her to Hawaii, starring next to the Sexiest Man Alive and unrepentant heartbreaker, Grayson Dunn. She knew she should not fall for him. Every brain cell warned her that he was dangerous. That he would crash her in the blink of an eye. But hope is a treacherous thing, and so is love. None of them is enough.

“Grayson Dunn is in my head. He's under my skin. He's invaded me like a deadly disease and hijacked my immune system until I don't even bother fighting it anymore. I look at him, and I'm twisted into knots. Tangled into a messy spool of desire and desperation.”

Uncharted.
That's the movie Kat and Grayson star, but it also describes their affair. No maps, no routes, no knowledge whether you'll meet shore, tumultuous waters or sharp rocks that will pierce you and mutilate you until there's nothing left of you, just shreds of your former self. The Monday Girl is Julie Johnson's most daring work, because her main characters are deeply flawed. Kat is really messed up, drowning in self-loathing and insecurities, hiding behind her bitchy attitude because making herself vulnerable is terrifying. Snarky and sarcastic, she makes her problems go away by drinking, yet deep down she longs for someone to truly see her and embrace her for what he sees. And while Grayson does see her, he won't embrace her. He's selfish and cruel, yet honest about his opinion on love and relationships. Sexy and charming, flirtatious and arrogant, he will make your cheeks flush and your toes curl. But your heart, well, the heart he steals without even trying, he will mistreat it. Break it, like he broke Kat.

“What if you live your life expecting a romance novel, and get tragedy instead?”

The Monday Girl is not simply Kat's story. It's my story. It's your story. It takes you back to all those moments of silent tears, despair and inadequacy, when you weren't enough to change him, to create something good with him because he never gave you the chance, and all you got were hollow promises of someday or a more direct You are the only risk I never took and I will hurt you that shatter your self-esteem to pieces and make you wonder what the hell is wrong with you. And you ignore, or worst, break the nice guy who truly cares about you because you are a masochist and long for him, even after all the suffering and the humiliation.

“A boy made of stardust and selfishness; a girl filled with fire and fury at the world. We are a tangle of emotional wreckage, two broken messes thrown together, trying to navigate something we can barely comprehend.”

A story made of lust and passion. An author whose words tug at my heartstrings with alarming precision every single time, as if she has dissected me and memorized my desires, my hopes and my pain. Kat is not the Monday Girl. She is one of the many Monday Girls who fooled themselves with flights of fancy but ended up clutching their chests in order to make sure that the silliest organ was still in place.
We are all Monday Girls.



*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

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[Bibi · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Spoilers**

The Monday Girl is so darn clever but my guess is, you'll either love it or hate it. It's told from a single perspective and is very much character driven.

Kat. Grayson. Wyatt. These are the main characters and immediately, we know Kat's the heroine we've all been clamoring for. Tough. Unapologetic. Unvirginal. This is how Kat introduces herself to us:

To those who would love me — I offer you a warning. Do not get too close. You won’t survive. There is a dark place inside my mind....... I am a hedge maze of razor-sharp thorns without a map..... There is danger, here.

I almost kissed the screen. I was in lurve. *clapping excitedly*

Kat, at 22, has recently gotten her big break and it's all thanks to Wyatt Hastings, a 35 yr old movie producer. Within 24 hours, Kat evolves from an aspiring actor/waitress to the leading lady in a potential blockbuster. Her co-star is none other than hot-as-sin Grayson Dunn, a young and cocky actor who's nothing but a player.

Despite resolving to never become one of Grayson's conquests, Kat finds herself irrevocably drawn to him. The descent is slow, maddening but inevitable because Grayson is that guy every woman wants to tame. Only a fool would take him seriously and Kat is no fool. Or is she?

Kat started off having zero fucks to give but very quickly descended into this:


The text I sent to Grayson about meeting us for lunch went unanswered. There's been no word from him all day.
**
I cannot wrap my mind around the possibility that he awoke this morning and chose to seek out her company instead of mine, after the night we shared together.
**
I stare into Grayson’s eyes…a reckless, selfish part of me wants to beg him to stay; the rational sane part of me realizes he’s made up his mind about leaving. I’m weak - I beg anyway. “Don’t go, don’t leave me”
**
This should be the most invigorating week in my life. The culmination of everything I’ve been working toward.... and yet, I feel no joy at the accomplishment of my dreams.......trying to forget the way Grayson’s mouth burned into my skin like a hot brand. I have morphed into a needy, unrecognizable creature.


As she morphed into this clingy vine, whose existence depended on a man's validation, my lurve for her dimmed.

What Julie Johnson does with Kat's character is a peeling off of layers/masks of some sort. Kat's pretense at toughness was all she had and who could blame her, what with the dysfunctional relationship with her mother, not knowing her father, and having no one who truly loved her. She was thirsty for love and validation, and who better to provide succor than a Hollywood leading man.

The thing is, had I been in her shoes, I don't know if I would have done differently. This, I think, is the message Ms. Johnson wanted to explore: That we are human; and shit life happens.

In the midst of the dramarama, Kat is completely oblivious to Wyatt, a guy who cared for and supported her from their very first meeting. But really, has any woman ever liked or wanted the nice guy? Will Kat realize what's right in front of her or will she clamor for more of the unattainable? I can't wait to read book 2 except February 2017 seems so far away!!

[Julie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

✖️BOTH PARTS OF THE DUET ARE NOW AVAILABLE! ✖️

___
PART ONE: books2read.com/themondaygirl
PART TWO: books2read.com/thesomedaygirl
___
-----------------------------------------------
"A boy made of stardust and selfishness; a girl filled with fire and fury at the world. We are a tangle of emotional wreckage, two broken messes thrown together, trying to navigate something we can barely comprehend." - THE MONDAY GIRL


NOOK → http://bit.ly/2ggMLub

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to point this out at the beginning so fewer people than necessary think I'm crazy. I finished this book over 24 hours ago. One full day. And has anyone ever known me to not immediately pick up a new book after I've finished another? NO! That's not a thing I do! I don't have book hangovers, I refuse, but I can't stop thinking about all of these characters! With that being said, I can't even guarantee that 1. This review will make any sense or 2. That any of it will even be in an order that makes sense. This might just have a lot of jumping around from topic to topic as I think of them because well, I'm a little scatter brained because I don't want to focus on one aspect of this book, I want to relive them all.

"Even the bravest of you will quake, shaken to your core, when you realize just how broken I am. That I am not a girl at all, but a collection of shattered pieces slung together with glue made of false confidence. Taped into a shape resembling feminine grace through sheer force of will."

Just to start, this was my initial reaction within 5 minutes of finishing The Monday Girl:

"Oh my god. Are you serious? ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW? Oh my GOOOOOOOOOD!
But... Wait! Who... Why? No!
No, don't worry, I'm not freaking out, I'm just FLIPPING A GASKET OVER HERE!
I need the next book within the next five minutes. Please. I'm not above begging."

Yeah... Cause that sounds calm and reserved. Any who, moving on.

Can we start with the dedication? "To every boy who thinks this book is about him.". Boom. I thought that was pretty cool when I read it the first time, but sitting back after finishing and digesting the book, that's pretty effing powerful. I only hope that others can read this book too and find out why.

So my biggest revelation while reading, are you ready for this? Here it goes: I think Kat and I are the same person. I felt so connected to her, I appreciated the way she viewed life and relationships and stood up for herself in these aspects. She wouldn't embellish, took everything with a grain of salt and thought independently of society's norms or traditions. But wait, Kat is portrayed as a broken girl. Does that mean I'm broken? Don't answer that. I actually didn't find her as broken or toxic as we're lead to believe in the beginning, but maybe this is because I felt so similar to her that I didn't want to see it? I'm not sure, maybe there will be more answers in the next book or more reasoning as to why she feels this way. I found her candor more refreshing than anything. I mean, I kind of hated her a tiny bit at the end for her insecurities, but not even really. I wasn't mad, I was just a little upset by the situation and her having so little faith in those closest to her. But I think I'm over it, so it's all good. Kat Firestone is my home girl.

"Sighing, I bend and start to undo the laces. I can’t let him sleep in his shoes.
I may be a bitch, but I’m not a monster."

I know it's not marketed this way at all (and for good reason) but this story is actually hilarious. I LOVE Kat! She's sassy and will speak her mind regardless. Plus her with the secondary characters come up with quite the comical dialogue that I was laughing along with nonstop. I love this group and how easy it all was. There's times when you can tell an author has to inject humour to lighten up the mood but JJ (can I call her JJ?) does it in such an effortless fashion, it's simple. It's genuine. It's funny. And I can only hope that one day, Jake from State Farm might call me too.

“You were just going to take off to Hawaii without speaking to me?”
“Well, I was going to ask if maybe you could water my plants while I’m gone but, based on the tone of this conversation, I’m guessing you’d probably be more likely to slaughter my succulents than nurture them according to a slow, regimented watering schedule.”
“Was that supposed to be a joke?”
“I never joke about succulents.”

Yes, this story is set in Hollywood (and a beach paradise, mind you), and yes the main characters are actors, but even so it felt so real! Like these are thoughts I could and do have. These are the same reactions I would have in certain situations. These are the conversations I would have with my friends. And you can bet your hat that if I had a burrito truck around the block from my house I would take advantage of that too.

I feel like some of these inner monologues are actually secret pieces of advice that girls need to know. Like you know when at a sleepover, you have that one really wise friend who just says the right things and has a solid stance on every topic? That's Kat. Or better yet, Julie, cause I don't see Kat as dishing out wise advice at a slumber party. I like to make notes in my kindle app while reading so I remember when writing the review, and in 3 separate circumstances I had the same note: Real talk with Julie Johnson. It felt like we could be having girl talk on the phone, or sitting on the bathroom floor eating Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia after a breakup. It's like a divine mixture of Oprah and Ellen. She gets the issue and approaches it in a dynamic and at times, comical fashion. And I agreed with every single one.

Seriously, I loved Kat.

Flawed hero, check! Here's my problem, I know you're suppose to fall in love with the hero because blah blah blah 'this is a romance book', 'you're a girl, you need to fall for the main guy', *continue on stereotype*. So the issue was that I didn't WANT to like Grayson! Every girl knows that one guy, the one who's trouble with a capital T. You know you should stay away because you'll just get hurt but you go anyways. That's what Grayson was. You know you should avoid him like the plague and yet... He just kind of worms himself into your heart. Now don't get me wrong, this guy is definitely flawed but I'm quite intrigued to see what kind of background/answers/progress we can get from him moving forward. I'm especially interested in seeing everyone's reactions when they get together for the movie tour.

Perhaps I’m even more messed up than I realized.
Or maybe I knew all the shitty things he’d do to me, in the end… and I fell in love with him regardless.
Maybe love isn’t something you can control, or talk yourself out of just because it’s not convenient.
Maybe Grayson is a choice that was never mine to make.

Wyatt is a freaking gem. How often do you come across guys like that? Every scene, every word, every nuance about him was just perfect and exactly what Kat needed in a close friend. To show that you actually can trust a man as long as it isn't a dreaded #manchild.

I love Grayson. I love Wyatt. I know people will ask me about the chance of the heroine cheating since I'm talking about two different men but NO! One is the hero and one is a friend. No cheating happens on either man. All is fine in that sense. But regardless, I love both. So can I have Wyatt? Can I just call dibs now or... ?

In two parts, I really liked this story. It's fresh and unique while still being approachable and easy to connect with. Could be because of the realistic writing or the flawed characters, but regardless it simply works. Second is that adding in the fact that the two MC's actually had a connected backstory was a nice little surprise that I wasn't expecting. Plus I loved how it added heat and resentment to those first few precious encounters. Careful ladies, because if a man like Grayson sees you want nothing to do with him, he'll do everything he can to change your mind.

“Just come here,” Grayson says softly, eyes beckoning. “Would you, please? Things always make better sense when you’re in my arms.”
Because I always give in, when I’m in your arms…

I didn't find that it had as much angst as I was expecting (the last few chapters were supreme). The beginning was significantly lighter than I had imagined but I feel like this is almost a false sense of hope gifted by the author, just to then break you down that much farther. I would've loved a bit more (especially in the last 30-40%) but I think that also has to do with the fact that I would eat angst for breakfast if I could. Seriously, I love it that much.

With a kiss, I speak the thousand words I’ll never, ever let myself say to him. With my hands, I whisper secrets that will never pass my lips. With my body, I unequivocally declare all the things I want from him that he can’t ever give me.

Jam packed with emotion, but like I said, not OTT emotional or irrational; it felt justified and the responses were reasonable and in my eyes, quite understandable. This is how real people would react in these situations.

This story is fuelled by lust and passion and I can't even explain how potent each piece is when you get around to the title and how it relates. This describes every girl, every woman. Kat isn't just her own person, she's all of us. We are her. She may be Grayson's Monday Girl, but so are we.

It’s strange, realizing something that meant everything to you meant next to nothing to someone else. That you cared more, invested more, loved more.
I was one of many. I was mundane.
The safety net. The safe bet. The sure thing.
The one you call after a weekend spent chasing other women, because you know she’s so caught up in you she’ll always answer the phone.
I am his Monday girl.

I mentioned on our social media accounts after finishing this book that it was confusing (and amazing and heartbreaking and lots of other goodness) but that really wasn't the right word. I'm not confused, I just want more answers! I have so many questions and I can't even begin to form theories because I don't have enough fact to go on yet. Everything is speculation and it's driving me NUTS (in a good way).

I need it to be February now. Just saying.

That ending. Dear lord. I need an answer and I'm not above begging. Please, just give me a name. That's all. Just one little name so I can take my crazy brain and come up with some theories to occupy myself until February. I just need to know! I need The Someday Girl not now, RIGHT NOW! *but of course, I'm asking in the sweetest and most polite way possible.*

Julie's goal here was to make you feel. Whether it's happiness or sorrow, anger, heartbreak, fury, hope, just allow yourself to feel whatever the characters are feeling. It's such a rush to experience the story that way and bravo JJ, you definitely made me feel EVERYTHING.

“I like playing games with you, Kat,”
I wish I’d realized then —he wasn’t just talking about chess.

Is it perfect? Wait, let me stop there. That's such a silly question. A lot of times when I really like a book, I'll do a "is it perfect? No but I loved it anyways!" type of deal. But I can't think like that for this story because I honestly can't think of anything I want to see happen differently. Every scene made sense to the story and it's development. Even the uncomfortable ones, the ones that broke both the reader and heroine alike, everything is needed and important. Sometimes you just have to sit back for a day or two and digest why.

“Just remember —even if you’re a little bit broken, it’s okay. Without those cracks in that impenetrable outer wall of yours, I’d never see the beautiful person you are inside.”

I find that there're two types of book ruts. The first being where you can't read anything because you just can't find something to catch your attention. The second being where you're still reading but not finding anything super enjoyable or that you're really excited about. THANK YOU Julie J for taking me out of this second type!! I've been so discouraged lately just feeling bleh and like I was reading average over and over. The Monday Girl changed that, it's extraordinary.

The Monday Girl perfectly captures a witty yet broken heroine as she falls in love with a man she shouldn't want. It's real, it's honest, it's heartbreaking. I could not put this book down, it's tangibly captivating and incredibly written. This amazing story will take you on a journey through the highs and lows of insurmountable euphoria and crushing heartbreak as the author tactically confronts the way we look at today's dating world along side its morals and values. The Monday Girl is a dynamic read that will force you to burn through the pages and leave you on the edge of your seat shamelessly wanting more. I don't just want to read The Someday Girl, I NEED to read it! And soon, I hope. The Monday Girl is a top read of 2016, hands down.

"Fate may be determined to fuck me over, but I’m going to have some fun before she does."

*An ARC was received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Constantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Katherine "Kat" Monday is a Los Angeles-based actress struggling to achieve her dream. She wants to become a famous Hollywood actress. Disillusioned by the harsh reality of the entertainment industry, her career is not booming like she had imagined.

Kat’s life takes a turn when she faces Hollywood’s rising star, Grayson Dunn. Grayson is charming, talented, and slightly arrogant, but they develop an irresistible bond despite their differences. The professional boundaries between them are problematic, but the dark secrets and painful histories that they both carry further complicate their relationship.

This was an interesting premise and an overall decent reading, but it didn’t fully meet my expectations. Despite the good chemistry between the two main characters, I feel the cat-and-mouse play between them got a little repetitive and sometimes even frustrating.

The story really needed a better pace. The middle part was dragging a lot. I wouldn’t say I was bored, but it was going nowhere, to say the least. Beware, this is a series of two parts, with this one ending on a cliffhanger. I don’t feel I was invested enough in this book to read the next one. I think stopping right here is fine with me.

[TheCrazyWorldOfABookLover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea how to rate this thing.

On the one hand, man oh man can Julie write some pretty prose. But it was at times overshadowed by the overly long inner monologues that went on for PAGES.

The heroine claimed to be a bad ass, but turned out to be extremely dramatic (especially towards the end), quite immature, and all of her later actions contradicted all the advice she was spewing. Which I guess was the whole point of this story, right? You can claim you'll never be "that girl", but all it takes is one smooth talking bastard to shatter that tough girl facade and have you becoming the obsessed love struck chick you swore you'd never be.

I know Kat claims she falls for Grayson, and boy does she fall HARD, but I didn't really like how a lot of this was done "off screen" and was depicted more through telling via inner monologues and not shown. It kind of made her strong, overwhelming feelings seem VERY exaggerated and hard to believe. Especially because of how adamant she was about not being with anyone, and specifically not Grayson.

There were some parts in here that were SO beautifully written I had to go back and read them again. That prologue was amazing. But again, some parts of this weren't executed well in my opinion.

And even after writing this review, I still have no idea how to rate this. So I'll just go somewhere in the middle and give it 3 stars.



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DNF no rating
I tried really hard to push through, but I'm just unable to continue.

[TeriLyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

**The Monday Girl generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**

5 "Thing about shadows is..."Stars

With The Monday Girl Julie Johnson kicked it back old school, for me. This book reflects on her roots as a writer when she debuted with the phenomenal, gritty YA story Like Gravity . This new book ups the ante with a contemporary offering where she takes a raw and vulnerable time in her adult protagonists life and exploits not only this characters deepest insecurities but valid fears of all women in their early twenties by thrusting her into the spotlight with a man she's not equipped to fall for. While the tone of The Monday Girl remains infused with the great wit and humor we see in Johnson's most recent RomCom stories, the plot and exploration of characters ranges deeper, a little darker, and uncharacteristic in terms of structure and story arc reminiscent of her earlier work. And yet still her chops as a writer highlight that she can add new twists and layers to her stories to keep them fresh and exciting.

Kat Firestone, above said protagonist, takes readers on a wild, questioning, and ultimately lonely whirlwind of an adventure that falls into her lap just by being her whip-smart, caustically charming self. As the new lead actress in a film, something else she's not equipped for, Kat moves the story seamlessly at the aid of Johnson's always engrossing prose. The funny thing about Kat though? The things she feels not prepared for are the things she wholly excels at doing. She's damaged yet strong. Broken thoughts coupled with unhealthy demons lurking in her shadows yet shows readers something so inherently confident and beautiful inside her you just want her to recognize and stand up shouting "I am me and I deserve everything".

Kat meets Wyatt Hastings, the facilitator of her big break into a stardom her overbearing, vile Mother always wanted, in the most unlikely of scenarios. Wyatt - friend, mentor, and extremely good flirt - landed on my favorite character list with his charm, confidence in Kat, swoon-worthy sentiments, and his smile so palpable through Johnson's words. The friendly chemistry between he and Kat melts the delicious prose of their scenes. He's the open book, the sunny day, the boy who slays dragons without a second thought for the woman he'll one day deem worthy. Wyatt will lift you up and the air won't ever taste as sweet.

Enter Grayson Dunn. Oh Grayson, you messy, messy man. Staunch anti-love believer yet romantic to his core. He shakes up the pages of this book in so many beautiful and tragic ways. There's something so innately magnetic about Grayson's presence. An air of mystery shrouds him leaving one to think he's not the master of his own puppet strings. He's the closed book, the enigma, the boy for whom you want to slay his hiding dragons. You'll drown in Grayson and savor the water as you go down.

With Kat's best friend and a quirky director abound there's plenty of characters and story to love in this book. Don't let the three main characters scare you - this isn't a love triangle in the sense your thinking. The angst is driven from Kat and the boy she falls for not from some extensional crisis of which boy is best. This book is Kat's awakening and aftermath of a life she didn't see coming. It's her reckoning. How she'll rise up will be a story I can't wait to read when it comes in Part Two of this duet.

Told strictly from Kat's first person point of view, you'll feel ensconced in her story from beginning to end where you'll want that Part Two right freaking now. But the wait will be sweet torture for an ending that's sure to satisfy. Julie Johnson introduced a new, fascinating trope into her writing repertoire with The Monday Girl once again proving her amazing writing style deserves to read again and again with her gift as an author continually evolving beautifully into addictive, spell-binding romance stories.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would strongly recommend to anyone who intents on reading the book, to not read the following review. It doesn't contain spoilers. But it is still a negative review of the book and I wouldn't want to prevent someone from reading it and perhaps enjoy it more than me.

This book did not deliver for me. From the prologue we are promissed a toxic heroine, who pollutes everyone and everything she touches, with warnings to keep away, but the girl that appears in the book is more neutral than neutrogena. Not only she can't defend herself, not only she falls head-over-heels with the one person she hated for the past 10 years and who has proved again and again will only step on her heart, but after everything crash and burns, she turns selfdestructive with a vengeance.
Don't get me wrong. I could sympathize with her and I have in the past with other heroines in her shoes, but the premise of the book and her insistent monologue of mumbo-jumbo philosophies just didn't follow her actions.
And what about protection or birth control? I would expect such repetitive negligence from a sixteen y.o. but not from mature adults.

[Nessa Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️

Wow, I want to vomit a lot. This whole vibe that the book is giving is very much wattpad-ish. Though there were some strong moments and writings presented in it, the book just doesn’t do it for me for a number of reasons. I wanted to DNF so bad TWICE but I was already at the 80% and 90% mark, so I figured I should just power through it. Well, it didn’t change my mind about the MC at all.

First of all, Wyatt is creepy, plain and simple. Sure, he’s the golden retriever of the dynamic. The second lead. He was sweet, protective, and sometimes charming. But as an executive producer in a professional movie setting, he’s a tad bit unprofessional, what with the “baby” and all. But he’s the least of my problems with the book. I was also a little annoyed at Harper not knowing how boundaries work, even between best friends. I didn’t like how she forced Kat to go on online dating apps and made a profile without Kat’s consent.

Though my biggest problem with the book is Katherine herself. She’s insufferable and contradicts herself at every turn. She’s also pretentious, annoying to no end, delusional, has the I’m-not-like-other-girls syndrome, slut-shames others so hard, has no self-preservation whatsoever, and just plain ol’ crazy. It’s insane to me how some people giving the review likes her.

She was very judgmental towards almost everyone she met and hasn’t met. For example, Helena. She didn’t even know the woman, but basically slut-shamed Helena because she “should’ve kept her panties on and her priorities straight.”

????
GIRL YOU DID THE SAME THING.

She literally ended up falling into the same hole Helena did and went the same crazy ass route. I can’t believe how delusional Kat was towards the end. Grayson never promised her anything and she KNEW who and how he was from the very beginning. She slept with him knowing full-well how fucked up it was of them to be doing it while filming. Like, girl, come on. He’s literally done this before. It’s why you got the JOB. She judged him and Helena really harshly for doing it and then turned around to do the same thing? Like, what’s not clicking?

I can’t stand her. It really boggles my mind how she could think that just because they slept together, it magically means he suddenly believes in monogamy like she’s got that magic pussy or something. Crazy.

Grayson did nothing wrong lol. Though as the LI, he’s a little lackluster and underwhelming, but still, he did nothing wrong in my eyes. He was honest from the beginning and showed no apology for who he is. He wasn’t to blame for Kat thinking that it was anything but a fling. In my opinion, she was the crazy one. Also, the never ending monologues she has over technology and modern dating? Pretentious as fuck. I hate her with a passion. I will not be reading the second book.

2/10 worth the read.

[Donna ~ The Romance Cover · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Monday Girl (The Girl Duet #1) by Julie Johnson
4.5 stars!!!!

“I suppose that’s the thing about being the fly in a web. You don’t know you’re caught until it’s far, far too late.”

Damn, is it February 1st yet? I don’t know why I put myself through duets or trilogies or series…oh yes, I do know…because I love them. I love that they get me so riled that I feel the need to message anyone who will listen and say GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK! As I was working my way through the nineties percent mark I was dreading it, I knew that the ending was going to be killer, I knew that I didn’t want to leave my little Firestarter alone and now damn, there she is suspended in time until February 1st…I need to carry on Julie Johnson!!!

“Thing about shadows is…they can’t exist without light around them. So, the way I see it, you’ve got a choice about what you focus on. You want to see the world as gloom and doom, that’s your prerogative. Me? I stay in the sunshine, baby.”

Katharine Firestone is a woman I wanted to hug pagely…is that a word? Well, if not I just invented it…every page I wanted to give her a hug even though she wasn’t a hugger, this girl needs hugs. Starved of affection from her mother, her only parent and only seen as a meal ticket, Kat has deep rooted issues all at the hands of a mother I wanted murder. Kat has low self-esteem, feels unlovable, unwanted and just a general waste of oxygen, but this girl has a huge heart and a huge personality if you can just get past her brash, offensive exterior which is her defence mechanism.

“When you’ve spent your whole life not being good enough, it takes time to let yourself believe that you finally are. Self-worth isn’t a switch that flips inside you. It’s a daily struggle not to sabotage your own success. Not to cave into the voices inside your head that whisper you’re not good enough, or you’ll fuck things up, or that someone else could do things better than you.”

Getting out from under her mother’s feet, Kat takes herself off to make it in the big wide world of acting. Living in a dingy apartment and slinging drinks at a nightclub is much more welcoming than staying at home living with her agent/mother. Going to another dead-end audition that her mother has arranged is the last thing on her mind, but she makes it with her hangover and attitude firmly in place, while the role she is auditioning for is a waste of time, the audition may not be a total waste of effort, Kat’s life is about to change.

“Success is a quarter timing, a quarter talent, a bit of fate, and a hell of a lot of dumb luck.”

Plucked from obscurity to star in a Hollywood blockbuster Kat’s life is running at warp speed. Starring alongside Hollywood’s hottest, heart throb actor, gives her hives and she soon finds herself trying to separate what is real and what is fiction. Grayson is a playboy, a commitment-phobe and a typical Hollywood A Lister with parties and alcohol the top of his priority list, but underneath the playboy façade I secretly thought he wanted the opposite, he was just to chicken shit to embrace it.

So, what happens when you love someone that doesn’t have the propensity to love back? What happens when you are loved by someone you don’t deserve? You get this duet. I loved the angst, I loved the film set location, I loved the too and fro. I loved the bristling undercurrents of flirtation, fascination, I loved Kat, I loved the supporting characters, I loved the dialogue, the banter. I could see it coming a mile off, but it’s delivery was perfect, I’m not a fan of miscommunication but in this case, it added to that delicious angst and it worked.

“You think you can change a guy, that he’ll be different with you, that you’ll finally be the one to tame him… and before you know it, you’re alone in your underwear at nine o’clock on a Saturday night, crying to Adele songs, eating ice cream straight from the gallon, and wondering what the hell is the matter with you that you fell for such a goddamned man-child, after he explicitly warned you not to.”

Julie Johnson delivers a story that embraces a fairy tale romance without the fairy tale, a broken woman who desperately wants to be loved that falls for the wrong man. A woman whose knight in shining in armour is still hiding behind his suit. A raw, honest, emotional account of a woman who is indescribably lost until she is found, but should she have stayed hidden? I highlighted a tonne in this book, underneath the light-hearted dialogue, at times, Julie Johnson delivered the deep and meaningfuls which gave rise to some stunning quotes. I couldn’t put this book down, I was captivated by Kat from first to last page, I experienced her highs and lows and loved every minute of it. I need more, I need to know what happens, I have questions I want answered…I want February 1st to come post haste!!

“I am not the Juliet to his Romeo. I am not the lodestar around which he orbits. I am not the trade wind by which he sets the course of his sails. I am not essential or exceptional…I was his Monday girl. Shitty, really, since he was my whole damn week.”

www.theromancecover.com

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

***AVAILABLE NOW - FULL REVIEW***

5 LOVE HURTS CROWNS

How do you put into words how much you love a book? Not just for the story or the characters, but for how good the writing is. Julie Johnson has this way of lacing each word, each sentence with such emotion that her stories vibrate with life, and The Monday Girl is the perfect example of her talent. From page one, I was gripped.

Part of what makes this story so amazing is the characters. Wyatt, Grayson, and Kat are all so complex and real. Wyatt is the older man, the protector, the person that makes Kat feel safe and secure among the Hollywood elite, and the reader falls in love with this man who believes in love and who whole-heartedly that you can love one woman for an entire lifetime. He is completely everything a woman wants in a man to love. Then there is Grayson, who is completely opposite of Wyatt. He is the epitome of a hot Hollywood starlet. He parties and sleeps around, basically looking to just have a good time. He doesn't believe in loving one person for a lifetime or in monogamy it seems. Even though he is everything a woman should avoid, he has this energy, this draw that is unavoidable. Even more than that, there is something that seems to lurk beneath his surface, like maybe he wants more, that he wants love, but like Kat is jaded by the world within which he is immersed. As a result, readers can't help but love him, even though they know he is the wrong guy, the wrong choice, and sure to lead to heartbreak. Finally there is the heroine, Kat. I LOVE Kat. She is one of my favorite heroines ever, mainly because she is jaded, complex, insecure, but also brave. There is so much depth to her character that she becomes completely relatable. Her insecurities have been mine, her search for love and jaded personality as a result is understandable, her choices to become involved with someone you know will hurt you resonates. I often found myself nodding and agreeing with the ideas she spouted, and I adore her bite and sarcasm. I felt for her and with her, often feeling my heart ache within my chest when her would came crashing down multiple times. Each one of these characters embeds themselves in your heart for different reasons, but they are are equally likable, complex, and authentic.
The plot of this story will put you through the emotional wringer. Your heart will quicken in anticipation at the inevitable coupling, break with the inevitable end, but also leap out of your chest with the cliff hanger. More than just an engaging story, I found that I love the overall messages about love. The reflection on what dating services and apps have done to the world of relationships, the discussion of whether true monogamy is possible, and the examination of self-destruction from insecurities all lend itself to making The Monday Girl more than your average romance. At the end of the day, Julie Johnson takes the reader on a journey to examine love, love for the person you should be with versus the person you want, and what happens when they are just as lost as you are.

Julie Johnson's The Monday Girl is pure perfection. This story gives readers angst, humor, romance, lust, but more than that, there are real insights into love and relationships today. There is truth underneath this fictitious story, and I cannot wait to see how this story plays out. Will she be with the one she loves or the one she should love? You'll have to wait to find out in The Someday Girl. I know that I, personally, will be counting down the days.
======================
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

For more reviews and other book news, check out Musings of the Modern Belle at www.modernbellebooks.com.

[Shazy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

The excessive monologue just bored the shit out of me.

[Butthisbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED IT!!! I want to be Wyatt's baby <3

[Veronika's ReaderFeeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - Solar system - Stars

http://veronikasreaderfeeder.com/juli...



*ARC kindly provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review*

WOW! This book definitely was something completely new by the author. A little raw, a little bitter, a little tense, a little insecure, a little nerve-wrecking, a little humorous but mostly something entirely different.

Kat Firestone’s life is not an easy cake. She lives in a little run-down apartment in LA, she drives a car that should belong to a junkyard, she works in a bar, while like so many others she also tries to fulfill the dreams of Hollywood. She was nine years old when she had her last major acting role, and since she moved out from her unbearable mother’s home – who is also her agent -, she tries to stand on her own feet. Her life changes instantly when by chance she gets a role in a movie of every actress dream. Suddenly, she finds herself on one of the beautiful islands of Hawaii, in one of the most famous directors movie, as the co-star of the famous, hottie movie star Grayson Dunn. Grayson is every women’s dream, but Kat can see though his charm. She knows that she has to stay away from him, because she can’t expect anything good from this man even if he has beautiful green eyes. She knows his type… But the temptation is pretty big…

There are those kind of books that are like TV series: they get on your nerves, they are full with tension, drama and broken hearts, but you still love them and once you start them you are hooked forever. The Monday Girl is one of these kind of books and I was hooked from the very first page. I loved it so much! The characters were amazing! I loved Kat, her sassy best friend Harper, the hotti-Viking-swoonworthy Wyatt *sigh*, who gave the perfect balance of the bitterness of this book. And I even loved the arrogant, but funny and often incredibly cute Grayson, who however for me left a lot of question marks behind. He was a true enigma.

I could feel in this book the uncertainty that hangs over our 20’s, 30’s generation. There was so much truth, and bitterness in this book and I think a lot of people will see themselves in this story, but I still hope that in the next book Kat somehow will be able to find the bright side. :)

Julie Johnson’s writing style –as always-, was perfect, and I think for the massage of the book the author’s choice of the Hollywood background was absolutely perfect. The celebrity world originally has a kind of side that was able to give an amazing edge to the story.

This book was different from any other books by the author. There was no action-movie-kind-of-plot, no Connor (:)), maybe there was a little less humorous moments (although the banters were amazing!), but it was a really unique, fresh and thought provoking! The cliffhanger at the end was truly evil. (Thanks Julie :D). So I have only one question left: is it February yet? :)

#teamwyatt

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[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This book did a number on me emotionally. This was sort of a love-triangle so you know this book was not an easy read. I've been in the heroine's shoes before. But even with my experience, I still wavered on what I wanted the heroine to do. It's crazy how destructive falling in love can be--it can be just as beautiful and painful at the same time. I've picked my guy. So I'm dying to know what will happen in the next book.

What an addictive, well written story. I really loved it!

P.S. This story does end with a cliffhanger. The next book, The Someday Girl, comes out Feb. 1st. I've already preordered that bad boy!

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a strange one; while I loved the writing style, I was aggravated all the way through by Kat's shitty decisions. I wasn't feeling her boy crush at all, I was more interested in the other guy. I'm sure that was deliberate, but it kind of left me feeling like I was not quite fully engaged.

Ends on a cliffie, but part two of the duet is out and available on ku so I'm reading on to see if she finally gets the man I want for her.

[Amy J RAREtte4Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this story and the characters. At times the authors writing is captivating and beautiful then others it seems choppy. I think I know where this is going , jumping into book two.

[Inked Avenue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laced with secrects and sin, The Monday Girl by Julie Johnson piques your interest from the first line…

“To those who would love me – I offer you a warning. Don’t get too close. You won’t survive.”

The City of Angels is a rough town to even the prettiest of faces and Kat Firestone is no exception. Hungover from the night before she hopes and prays that she makes it to her audition, an adution she doesn’t even want to be at but was forced to go by her mother. Plus she’s broke and desperately needs the money. As you might have guessed… the audition didn’t go as planned but that doesn’t mean fate didn’t step in and work it’s magic for her in other ways. And when I say fate I mean a devestatingly handsome man named Wyatt Hastings who could change everything for Kat…

“I arch a brow. ‘You’re going to help my career?’

‘No.’ His eyes gleam. ‘I’m going to change your life.”

The Monday Girl was everything and nothing like other Julie Johnson novels we have read in the past. It held all the passion, drama, and witty humor we have come to love, but this novel… WOW… this novel was all of that times ten. Julie Johnson held nothing back as she ignited the tip and dropped the match. The characters are kind, flawed, selfish, hilarous, and self-destructing. In a word they are real, so real in fact I related to them, especially Kat, on a personal level and that’s what makes this story so intersting. It’s about a girl who hides in the shadows of self-doubt and destruction, but is truely a selfless person who thinks of others before herself. And the cliffhanger… well let’s just say prepare yourself. It’s a heart stopper. But DO NOT let that scare you. I truely believe for the way this story is being told the cliffhanger was the only way to go. It leaves you both satisfied becasue it was such a freaking amazing book and deserves high praise for the unbelievably talented author who wrote it, but at the same time leaves you wanting more becasue OMG I NEED ANSWERS! LOL but serisouly, Febuary 1st is tomorrow right?

Julie Johnson’s talent as an author shines bright around all the shadows this novel holds, and showcases her beautifully written words that read like poetry. It’s without a doubt the best book she has written thus far…and the sexist! *fans self* It will leave you giddy and swooning but it will also make you want to throw your kindle across the room out of frustration, and lets be honest, only the best novels get that reaction out of readers!

*ARC generously provided by the author

XX,

Jennifer

[TereseDK]

Just realized it's a duet so I'm waiting for book 2!

[J.S. Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't like cliffhangers.... Oh who cares. You've got to read this book. It's so different than you'd imagine. You feel angry at the heroine half the time and the other half you feel sorry for her. The ending is killer.

Every character in this book has their own issues, some bigger than others, but in a way, they all are some unconventional characters that have a shared common ground.

It's amazing and like most of Julie Johnson's books, you'll love it.

[J.E. Benoit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on behalf of The Book Boyfriend Addict (www.bookboyfriendaddict.com). A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

“… falling for a guy like Grayson Dunn is like trying to wait out a hurricane by taking shelter in the eye of the storm. You might manage to survive for a little while, but eventually that hurricane is bound to roll over you… and when it does, the wreckage can be catastrophic.”

Catastrophic indeed! I am sitting here digesting that ending and thinking of how far reaching the consequences of the mess Kat finds herself in and man! I really can’t wait to see what happens in the second half of this duet! This first half was definitely messy and complicated but I feel like things are going to be a whole lot worse, at least for a while, in the conclusion. Call me a masochist, but I really can’t wait! I loved the story that Julie Johnson has woven here and all of the flawed, broken, realistic characters. In a way, I fell for all of them and I can’t think of what might happen next without my heart hurting for at least some of them! But I trust Julie to bring us through it and patch us up by the end!

“We shouldn’t have done that,” I whisper eventually, when I can speak again.
I watch his lips curl into a grin. “I had to do it at least once, for real. Before it’s staged for the cameras, scripted for Sloan… I had to know what it would be like.”

Katharine “Kat” Firestone is definitely a bit of a hot mess when we first meet her. After having a bit of a successful run on a children’s television show when she was only 9, she hasn’t quite been able to make the leap into stardom, much to the chagrin of her (awful) mother who is more concerned about Kat’s career than Kat’s well-being. Barely getting by on her tips as a bartender, Kat is the very definition of starving artist. With the upbringing she’s had, her cynical outlook on life, success and love comes as no surprise. However, when, by a stroke of luck, she lands the role of a lifetime she thinks things might be finally turning up for her. That is until she meets her co-star, A-lister and Sexiest Man Alive, Grayson Dunn. She’s determined not to fall for him, especially given his reputation as a player, but the more time they spend together she finds that there might be more to Grayson Dunn than she gave him credit for. As things heat up between their on-screen characters in their tropical paradise, things get even more heated between them off screen. But as their inevitable return to reality looms closer, will whatever has started between them continue in the real world or will Kat experience the heartbreak that she always knew would come?

I suppose that’s the thing about being the fly in a web.
You don’t know you’re caught until it’s far, far too late.

One thing I really love about Julie Johnson’s books is that, in addition to a great story, we are always treated to such wonderful insights and musings on life in general. Kat’s reflections on love and relationships and how different it is for the generation of twenty-somethings to find these things was very insightful. I’m, admittedly, not a part of this generation, but I think that this book and what Kat feels and goes through will resonate deeply with anyone of similar age to Kat. Regardless of your age, though, I think everyone will be able to relate on some level with Kat. I think there’s a Monday Girl somewhere in all of us, either currently or at some point in your life, no matter how old you are or where you are in your own romantic journey. I love that Julie Johnson was able to give us a character that, despite her flaws and tendency to self-destruct, we could still root for and empathize with. The book is told entirely from Kat’s POV, which was great because it really allowed us to walk a mile in her shoes. I felt all the ups and downs along with her, the rage, the elation, the swoon, the heartbreak, the despair, it was all there.

I’m deliberately being vague about the nitty gritty of the plot because I’ll admit that I was surprised with at least a few places that it went and I am torn with how I want things to play out! I wish I had the second half now, but in a way, it’s good that there’s a buffer in between, it’ll give me time to fortify my heart for what’ sure to be a bumpy ride to HEA for Kat in The Someday Girl!

I was his Monday girl.
Shitty, really, since he was my whole damn week.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Heartbreaking Stars



“What if you live your life expecting a romance novel, and get a tragedy instead?”

It’s a magical thing when you find a book that hooks you from the first page. Julie Johnson is one of my favorite authors, and I knew when I picked this up I would likely love it. Her writing flows effortlessly, and is a wonderful mixture of realistic and poetic. is a poignant tale about a girl who falls for the wrong guy. It was witty, relatable and was epically heartbreaking. I absolutely recommend this book to everyone looking for a unique and emotional story.

"I’d rather be hard as nails than a heartbroken mess.”

Raised by a single “momager” that can only be described as the devil, Katharine Firestone grew up never feeling like she was good enough. She has a stalled acting career, a nonexistent love life, maxed out credit cards and car that might explode. As a last ditch effort to please her mother she attends one last action audition where she meets Wyatt Hastings - a sexy and sweet executive producer.

She doesn’t get the TV part, but Wyatt helps her land the lead role in Hollywoods next big blockbuster. Grayson Dunn aka the sexiest man alive stars as her co-star and the two have an undeniable chemistry.

Kat knows that she should guard her heart and stay far, far away from Grayson. She knows that he will not only break her heart but shatter her into a million pieces. As their romance heats up onscreen, Kat can’t deny that she is falling for him. She convinces herself that he could be different with her… that she could be his one and only, but a zebra doesn’t change his stripe.

“In rare moments with him on the island, I saw flashes of a man I would follow over a cliff, just to keep loving. Flickers of a man I would offer all of my devotion, if he could just love me back.”

I really loved Kat’s character. I found her completely relatable, and I have become so invested in her story. I could feel her indecision, her passion, her pain. I’ve been a Monday girl… many of my friends have been a Monday girl. I know how that feels.

"If I was a day in his schedule, I would undoubtedly be Monday. An afterthought to an otherwise exciting weekend. Something to simply trudge through on your way to better things ahead. I was his Monday girl. Shitty, really, since he was my whole damn week.”

Grayson is everything you expect him to be - charming, arrogant and an unapologetic bachelor. He is easy to love and I understand how Kat fell under his spell. Tragically, he turned out to be a selfish man-child. He has no regard for his sexual partners and doesn’t form emotional attachment to the women he’s with. He’s basically in it for the sex, regardless if it hurts the other person. It’s hard for me to like him, because he was so selfish.

Undoubtedly, Wyatt was a highlight of this book. He was kind, wise and so, so sweet. He was seriously such a breathe of fresh air. He was always there for Kat when no one else was. I was seriously swooning so hard over him….

"Every day, you have a choice how you’re going to live your life. Choose sunshine, baby. Always choose sunshine. You look so much prettier with light in your eyes.”

SWOOOOOOOON. I can’t wait to see where part 2 - The Someday Girl goes. I NEED answers, and I need more Wyatt. #teamwyatt

The Monday Girl is hands down one of my favorite books of this year. So many romance novels have showcased the “bad boy” meets girl and BAM… suddenly he’s faithful and capable of commitment. That isn’t realistic, and I think that’s what is so profound about this book. It shows the tragedy of falling for the wrong guy. This funny, sexy and heartbreaking story hit me straight in the heart. I can’t wait to continue on in this duet.



I was provided a ARC of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Yvette (Booksandbandanas) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there were enough brilliant words to concur up to explain the utter brilliance of this story I'd say it, a million times over, I'd scream it.

Julie Johnson has created a poignant, unbelievably heart-rendering love story. There are so many layers. Layers to the characters, layers to the love, layers to the friendships, layers the heart break. The best part to all of the layers is seeing it all through these characters eyes. Feeling every laugh, every sob, and every scream.

"He has given me sunshine, but I have buried him in shadow.

While he has brought me joy, I have given him only misery."


Have you ever read a book and said that character is so me?! For me the main character Kat is undeniable relatable her attitude, her pessimistic expectations of life and relationships stole my heart. It was spot on.

Kat is actress her whole life she's been her mothers puppet. She goes for an audition that little does she know will forever change her life. She meets two individuals that will shape her heart and change her life.

SO MANY THINGS HAPPEN!

I can't speak on the two that irrevocably will change her life. You will need to see for yourself.

But just know they are unforgettable.

“If I were a day in his schedule, I would undoubtedly be Monday. An afterthought to an otherwise exciting weekend. Something to simply trudge through on your way to better things ahead.”



There is so much meaning and depth to the Monday Girl, I think we've all been there, we've all felt the feeling that we aren't good enough, pretty enough, smart enough. There is such a poignant meaning and message to this story. I hope this story affect's you the way it has seeped into me.

Must read.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*s

Wow.....once I started and got into a few chapters, I just could not put this down. I am paying the price now with a late night, early morning and now a huge book hangover!

This character is just so fun to read. Katharine Firestone is a little twisted, and little dark and plenty of sass! She is sent to another audition that was set up by her manager / mother. Nothing that would suit Kat of course, but she goes along as it is more painful to hear about not going than to sit in a room full of wannabes. She wins the part, but not the roll she was sent to, she walks away being cast as the lead in the next movie blockbuster from AXC Studios. The only problem is, her childhood nemesis is the leading male and now they are going to be seeing each other for the next three weeks filming in Hawaii. Nothing good can become of this, or could it?

Katharine is the type of character that is all strong and bold on the outside, but has just as many insecurities like the rest of us. And it is these self doubts that have some amazing analogies that make you feel like a kindred spirit to her. She has a couple of great friends that help her along the way. Her bestie Harper, her sometimes conscience and her sometimes she devil, is a hoot. And Wyatt, the producer that promised to change her world by giving her the role of a life time, is always around to help her choose the sunshine. Every so often, what we are searching for is right there in front of us, but it takes a broken heart to discover it.

I know it is a cliché to say this, but I really can not wait until the next book! This one ends with a cliffhanger that will leave you gasping, not necessarily that you didn't see it coming, but that you are now going to have to wait until February 2017 for the outcome! Pure genius, but also pure evil. Love it!

** I received an early copy for an honest review.
** Reviewed for JoandIsaLoveBooksBlog.

[Anne OK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really slow start -- had a hard time settling in. A bit hit and miss in more ways than I really like. Had a disconnected feel from start to finish -- but there is a second installment to tie it all up, so maybe that will help. I will continue and finish this duet.

Full review after a complete read of the duet.

[J. C. Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book even though it’s probably the opposite of what I like to read in a romance book, heroine-wise.

This is the story of a troubled, yet pretty strong girl who falls for the wrong guy even when she tried not to. But I liked it because I knew (or hoped, at least) that this was a cautionary but relatable tale of falling for someone you really shouldn’t fall for, someone who doesn’t really deserve that love, only to later learn from this and grow into a stronger person.

It’s very emotionally angsty, it makes you mad at the heroines’ choices, but at the same time, it’s very easy to relate to her plight. I mean, honestly, if I had to spend a month working in very close proximity with Tom Hardy and had to film sex scenes with him (not that the hero in this book looks like Tom Hardy, just picking my personal weakness:D) and he was single and a commitment-phobe but started hitting on a 20-year-old me…I mean, I can’t even pretend I’d stay strong in that case. Nope, I’d get me some of that Hardy D. Repeatedly. Especially if it all happened on a beach in Hawaii, like in this book.

I mean, come on. Look at him.



Yes, Tom. You are awesome.

The cliffhanger, though…I thought it really cheapened the story. There were 2 aspects to the cliffhanger: one was a stupid overused trope (I find it baffling that there were no concerns from anyone involved about protection - I just cannot believe that when one is a famous manwhore - he’d have a horde of kids if that’s how he normally acted - and the other a level-headed, mature man. The heroine though..yeah, i guess I can kind of believe it in her case). And the other has one of the heroes acting completely out of character, just for the sake of having an extra angsty cliffhanger.

[Sammy ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Eleonora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Johnson masterfully spins a story that will have you cursing and swooning in the same breath. I can't forget laughing as well because there are ALWAYS laugh out loud moments in all her books (the beginning quotes in front of every chapter are priceless). When Julie writes that "we crave the safety of archetypes and stereotypes because it takes the guesswork out of things" I stopped and thought about it for quite some time. No, I thought, that isn't right- I want something original that I've never read before. I then proceeded to look up the The Monday Girl because I couldn't figure out which way this story was going to go and it was annoying me. I needed things clear cut, I needed to know who to root for, I needed to know what exactly is going on-right?!? Things are supposed to be clear cut from the beginning- no conjecture needed. But what about about me waxing on about originality? Damn. I should have known that a Julie Johnson book will would make me think long after I read it.
This book simultaneously shows us the darkness in someone that can cause them to make choices that hurt themselves, while at the same time having us root for their light to win over because they deserve happiness. The characters in Julie's books are flawed, perfect, funny, caring, selfish and self destructive. In other words; real. I found myself oscillating between wanting different endings every 10 minutes. In the end I am craving the second part of this series because I know it will make me laugh, cry, and most importantly think. I thought I wanted one thing then another and questioned the characters and myself. One answer I always come back to though is that I cannot get enough of a Julie Johnson book. Ever.

[Carol***BeautyandtheBeastlyBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of love triangles, but this book is the perfect example of a "triangle" gone right!!

Since the beginning I had a "team" of my own, specially considering I'm in a mood for a certain kind of romance, with more mature males...although I also really liked the other hero, so it was not a choice because ai didn't like the other guy for me. I do think Kat had a connection with my guy from the start (I'm trying to keep the mystery and not spoil it). Their connection was instant and my connection with him too!

I got really hooked to this story. Julie's writing is so good that this book actually reads like a movie! I can't wait for the sequel!!!!