Now a Major Motion Picture

by Cory McCarthy

Fandom and first love collide for Iris on the film set for her grandmother’s famous high-fantasy trilogy.

Unlike the rest of the world, Iris doesn't care about the famous high-fantasy Elementia books written by M. E. Thorne. So it's just a little annoying that M. E. Thorne is her grandmother—and that Iris has to deal with the trilogy's crazy fans.

When Iris gets dropped in Ireland for the movie adaptation, she sees her opportunity: if she can shut down production, the Elementia craze won't grow any bigger, and she can finally have a normal life. Not even the rascally-cute actor Eamon O'Brien can get in her way.

But the crew's passion is contagious, and as Iris begins to find herself in the very world she has avoided her whole life, she realizes that this movie might just be amazing…

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, LGBT

386 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 2018

About the author

CORY (previously Cori)
…earned degrees in poetry and screenwriting before falling in love with writing for children and young adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. They have authored four acclaimed YA novels, with a middle grade series, young adult contemporary, and nonfiction picture book forthcoming. Cory coauthored the bestselling ONCE & FUTURE, a finalist for the New England Book Award, with their spouse A.R. Capetta.

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Say that the book is a sculpture. You can walk around the story. You can touch it. You can view it up close or far away. That is why people love books. The stories interact with your memories, your experiences. They're personalized. Movies? Movies are a picture of that same statue. The parameters are set. The characters have defined faces. The scenes artistically rendered to one person's vision."

This was so much fun and adorable :)
I admit I found out about this way late, because I am terrible at keeping up with things sometimes *sheepish* Haha... whoopsie.

I was scrolling through my Amazon wishlist (stuff I marked private before my birthday) and came upon this, and on a whim bought it. I read a lot of literary fiction so my "light novels" don't number very many. I needed a bit of change of pace.. even if only for a day or two. This and Two Steps Forward were the calls to make :)

This one was a hard one to put down... right away you get drawn into Iris's world as she is with her little brother on set... at first counting down the days till she can leave.
Different things that happen begin to change her view on things and even though I wanted to shake her sometimes, it was great to see her come into her own.

At first I was annoyed with Iris, parroting her father's attitude and especially Iris' dad for the way he acted and treated his kids. There's more to the family dynamic than what's on the surface, and I began to sympathize with them more... and they became "more human" to me.

Iris was torn between finding her own way and pleasing her dad, along with essentially "parenting" her little brother. Gods... I wanted to hug Ryder so many times throughout this after a certain fact was spoken. I loved how he still had a happiness for things though and kept himself going.

Gah, wanna say more but spoilers:(

Romance element: so cute! It's there but doesn't overwhelm the story

Snippets from Elementia Makes me wish it was a real series I could snag off a bookstore...anywhere. The snippets sounded so good! *pouts* Iris' song sounded amazing too, I bet it would have been on my "most played list" if it existed.

Everything comes together but not in a "wrapped up in a box with bow all tidied up" thing. The Thorne family doesn't magically fix its problems, it doesn't say anything about the fate of the Elementia movie (aside from sequels being greenlit, though all hints point towards success) which made it more satisfying for me, if that makes sense.

Other positives:
Loved most of the characters but Cate/Shoshanna, Eamon, Julian, Iris were my favorites.
Cate was just awesome, and a strong person.. I admired her for going after her dreams and not giving up.

The setting: 1. I'm a sucker for anything including Ireland 2. Miss Mccarthy wrote it in a way that makes me want to visit these locations someday.

Once again, nothing critical to say ;-P. This was just a fun novel and the perfect read for a too-hot day outside.

[✶Rachelle✶ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

"You helped my production, and now I'm helping you. This is what women should do for one another. We are a continent. We stick together. We all rise up, or we all go down"




I loved this book so much. Full review to come once I get a good 8 hours of sleep. Been awake for 24 hours and counting....

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now a Major Motion Picture by Cory McCarthy is a delightful, contemporary, romance read packed full of nerdy fandom delights.

Iris Thorne is the granddaughter of famous fantasy writer M.E. Thorne. Her grandmother wrote one of the most famous fantasy novels, Elementia, which is essentially a female empowerment version of Lord of the Rings. Iris hasn't been a fan of Elementia because her Father wouldn't let her be one, and suddenly she's dropped off in the middle of Ireland with her young brother, Ryder, where they are filming the movie adaptation of her Grandma's famous work. But things won't be easy for anyone in this production - Hollywood and the film industry is hard. There will be hurdles, but there will also be a potential romance once Iris meets the incredibly cute Eamon O'Brien.

I adore this book! It's sugary sweet and a complete nerd-gasm. Throw in the female and LGBTQ+ empowerment that is riddled throughout, and you've got one heck of a read. It's medium to fast paced, easy to read, and addicting. I managed to binge this book in two nights and I have no regrets. This is the kind of rom-com I've been wanting for a while, and I'm so glad I stumbled upon this book. I'll definitely be picking up more books by Cory McCarthy ASAP.

There are some really tough parts about this book. Iris' parents are not... stellar. Honestly, her Mother is essentially out of the picture even though she's technically present in her children's lives and her Father is not a nice guy. I'd argue he's abusive. We only see small parts of his character, but I absolutely hated him. I got heated reading what this man had to say and what he did throughout the book. That's my sour part. He felt so evil and like he was the guy casted as the villain in the story. Raising your own kid to hate your Grandma for writing a book and becoming successful? There is more to it than that in the book, but that's what we learn early on in the story. If this was a television show, I feel like we'd get more info than what we got...

But there's so much more that's great in this book. I personally just don't like abusive adults and parents because of my own past. The friendships in this book are top tier and made me so happy and smile. The witty lines in the book also made it buckets of fun. Ryder's is adorable and is an honest child throughout. Romance? Fabulous. The entire story is rock solid and one of my new fave rom coms.

Five out of five stars!

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iris was raised to resent her grandmother's world famous Elementia books, and her ire for the series deepened after a rabid fan crossed the line. Out of obligation though, Iris agreed to accompany her little brother to the set of the film adaptation. What she thought would be a most miserable trip, turned out to be quite life changing.

From the cover and synopsis, I thought this book would be cute and fun, but it surprisingly had a lot of depth and tugged at my heartstrings.

Things I really liked:

•This book was jam packed with so many wonderful characters. Eamon was witty, amusing, and full of quirks that I couldn't help but love. He was so wonderfully perfect! I also loved every second I got to spend with Julian and Shoshana, and I thought Cate was ah-mazing!

•The friendships were strong. This was a production, which was facing a lot of adversity, and seeing the cast and crew bond together and help one another was a beautiful thing. The vibe was so contagious, even I wanted to pitch in.

•Talk about your adorable romances! There were a few in there, but Iris' was my favorite. It was so sweet and awkward and exactly what I wanted for her first love.

•You all know I loved my trip to Ireland, so the setting was a standout for me. They seemed to be filming in all the places I visited, which I loved, because I got to say, "I was there."

•It was hard fought, but I enjoyed getting to the root of Iris's family dysfunction, and seeing some progress made towards a resolution.

•McCarthy did a nice job weaving the Elementia story into the book. It was well integrated, and I liked the parallels that were drawn between that story and Iris' story.

•This book was really fun. I laughed and smiled a whole lot.

•Iris grew so much during this story! She learned a ton about her grandmother, her father, her brother, and herself, and it really opened up a whole new way of thinking for her.

•The ending was so good! I am always happy to get an epilogue, but I swear, you will love this one.

Overall: A sweet and charming story filled with romance, humor, family drama, friendship, and self-discovery, which left me with a big stupid grin on my face.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Bobby's Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so ANGRY that THIS BOOK isn’t getting the ATTENTION IT DESERVES! This was so freaking FUNNY and CUTE, as it’s now one of my favorite reads of ALL TIME! If you love feminism, fantasy, Hollywood, Ireland, and a hilarious rom-com, then you MUST READ this! Iris Thorne is the granddaughter of M. E. Thorne, author of the Elementia series, and with a major motion picture adaptation in the works, Iris can say goodbye to her dream of making her own way in the music industry. So when Iris and her brother land in Ireland from the states to get invited to the film set, she’s pretty sure the trip will be a nightmare. Except Iris can’t deny the beauty of the Irish countryside, and brushing shoulders with the hot, and charming Eamon O’Brien. Iris even finds the impassioned female director inspiring! But when the filming falls into jeopardy, everything Iris thought she knew about Elementia, and herself, is in question! A wonderful read!

[Pipsprite · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy is a young-adult contemporary romance about Iris Throne the granddaughter of M.E. Throne, a famous high-fantasy author. M.E. Throne is known most for Elementia, which Iris could care less about because of the crazy fans that come with it. Iris is only concerned about making music and winning the fight with her dad about college. When film producers decide to start filming a movie version of the books Iris isn’t very pleased and vows to get the movie shut down. Since Iris’s father is always writing a new book and their mother always ends up hiding in the greenhouse Iris has become like a single parent to Ryder. Their dad isn’t as thrilled with the movie being made as Ryder is so he makes Iris take Ryder to the filming in Ireland. This only frustrates Iris more because all she wants to do is work on her music and start recording. Things change when Iris meets Eamon O’Brien who is one of the actors on the set. Eamon who is a newly discovered actor is now in his first film surrounded by well-taught actors. After months of vowing to get the movie shut down Iris begins to fall for the production and become friends with everyone on set. Cate is the director and has put all of her heart and money into this movie. Iris begins to learn a lot from Cate and becomes a stronger person because of her. Cate and Iris are very much alike and Iris beings to see how hard it is for a women to succeed in a male dominated field.


I picked up this novel because of how accurate it sounded to real life when a novel becomes a movie. The amount of people that freak out because it will never be as good as the books happens a lot. I have been known to get very upset after seeing an amazing novel become a movie since they usually leave out my favorite scene. This novel seemed like it was going to hit on that hard and I was interested from the very beginning. I feel like sometimes the directors that they put on films aren’t going to stay as true to the book as everyone wants them to. Since they have schedules and budgets the reader doesn’t always get everything, but if you have a director that loves the novels I think they would make it as true as possible. That’s what is shown in this novel because Cate truly loves the characters and the story, which makes her want to make it the best production that she can.

I was also very interested to see where they went with the feminism and the female empowerment that I felt when I read the summary. Having gone to college for technical theatre I was always looked at as just a woman and what could I possible do to help the people who assumed I knew nothing. Being a woman in a very male dominated world is extremely hard and sometimes very tough to push through. This novel is very good at making you feel for all the characters especially Cate because she has been through so much since the very beginning of her career. Being seen as just a women can be very hard and is very hard for Cate because of how good she actually is. I had a very good mentor when I first started out in theatre and Cate reminded me a lot of that person. Cate decides to put her heart and soul in the one thing that got her through her hard times and that is Elementia. Being able to find that one thing to push you through is sometimes the best option.

Iris is a very shy but stubborn and independent woman who believes that she doesn’t need someone to make her happy. This begins to change when she meets Eamon, maybe not from the very beginning of the friendship but the reader can see the spark. Many of the boys Iris meets just want to learn more about her grandmother and the books but Eamon is different. Iris begins to realize that Eamon wants to know more about her life than her grandmothers and the world she created. They begin to have long conversations about their lives and being to breach the subject of Iris’s hate of fantasy. This is a big deal for Iris because she has always kept her past to herself and never trusted someone enough to discuss some past events with. These conversations turn this innocent friendship into a very cute relationship that neither one of them believed could happen.

McCarthy has shown through this novel that sometimes it’s hard for people to do the things they love. In every field or just in life people find it hard to do things that they want to do because they don’t have the money or the support. I have been very lucky to have support from all of my friends and family with the things I do in my life but I have also seen the opposite of that as well. I do my best to support all of my friends and the people around me because I know some people aren’t as lucky as me. I would recommend this book to anyone struggling with life or struggling with not believing they can do something. Even though it put in the perceptive of a female and has very much a feminist background, I think anyone could take away a lot from this novel. I think anyone that loves a good fantasy book should also pick this up because the reader really learns about the world of Elementia. This novel really made me believe that I could do anything I put my mind to and that’s always something a book should do.

[Vicky Again · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was really good!!! I ended up getting super invested in the story, even if I was on the fence at the beginning.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

asodifljasodifljaslkf.uwjaeiosdkljfaiskldfj so I started reviewing this but then I accidentally tapped the close button on my computer when I brushed the touch screen aoeilsjfdaow efj awoeisljdkf o iwlejksf all that time wasted I am very salty. And this review is probably not going to be as thorough as my first review because I'm annoyed now sorry.

ANYWAYS

This book has been likened to Fangirl, which is one of my all time favorites!! It also shares many similarities to Geekerella, in my opinion, another book I just adore!! But this book... I do not adore. And here's why.

The main character, Iris, is the most spoiled, irritating, egotistical, whiny, bratty character I've ever met. (Well maybe not THE worst @Anna from Anna and the French Kiss, but definitely close!) Since she's a whole lot of pain, I've decided to list all the irritating things she does in handy dandy list form for you!!
1. Complains relentlessly about getting a dream vacation to Ireland and getting to hang out with movie stars. And also it's her little brother's dream vacation. Still--complaints.
2. Complains about not being able to spend time at home playing her guitar. Even though she brought her guitar with her. And it's two weeks. She can't bear to spend 2 out of 52 weeks in the year not holed up in her room playing guitar (even though she's just holed up in her trailer on a movie set in Ireland playing guitar).
3. Abandons her responsibility of looking after her little brother to schmooze with movie stars. When said little brother gets lost, she screams and yells at and publicly humiliates him even though she's the one who lost him in the first place.
4. Then threatens to cut the vacation short RIGHT THEN. That's right, she wants to cut her little brother's dream vacation short because she wasn't being responsible.
5. Throws and breaks her brother's iPad because he's showing a video of her playing guitar. Even though she spends all her time cooped up with her guitar and people are obviously going to be curious. For that, she breaks a something like $500 iPad and if that doesn't say spoiled rich girl, what does?
6. Tells her brother that he ruined her life just by being born. Like, what?? Telling him she wishes he wasn't alive?
7. Complains about being called "Jaded Iris." When she obvious is lol.

Despite all her flaws, Iris is still somehow superhuman!! She's incredible!! Here are some of her unrealistic accomplishments.
1. Manages to save a movie trailer by on a whim finding perfect music when people who's job/get paid to do that fail to.
2. Talks a movie star into staying on the movie when a bunch of people who knew her better/longer fail to.
3. Manages to compose an amazing hit guitar song/movie soundtrack song on a whim.
4. Is able to perform said song, and harmonize perfectly, also on a whim on the same day that she on a whim came up with it.

So if this doesn't irritate the heck out of you, I don't know what will. But fear not! I've come up with another list of annoying things about this book!!!
1. There are random excerpts from the fantasy book in this book that I really couldn't care less about, similar to Fangirl. I skimmed those there, and I skimmed them here. So if you liked that in Fangirl you might like this, but I sure don't!
2. Total instalove. She repeatedly says that she's there for less than two weeks, but she totally jumps into a relationship with this movie star that's amazing and committed and lasts long distance...why? I mean, she gets together with him after just a few days I think, and I really couldn't pinpoint the personality reason why.
3. The movie is always on the verge of being cancelled until Iris saves the day and I for the life of me don't understand it or why. It seems super contrived. Not to mention annoying. Like producers are going to cancel it until Iris saves the trailer, until Iris talks a star into staying, until Iris makes that song with her boyfriend.
4. I don't even remotely understand why all the fans hate the movie so much. It seems like they just do as a plot device so Iris can keep saving the day. Seriously, some 50000 fans petition for the movie to be cancelled. In my experience as a booknerd people usually LOVE hearing that their favorite book is being made into a movie! These fans are...weird.
5. I feel like it's going to be a terrible Percy Jackson-esque movie lol. It clearly states that in the book the movie is based off, the characters are 13, but their ages are changed to add romance, and are being played by a 21 year old who is getting married? (On second thought maybe this is why the fans hate it lol). This just sounds terrible. I mean, it's a fictional movie based off a fictional book in another fictional book why don't you just make the fictional book have older characters so it doesn't seem so weird.
6. Someone who was supposedly from California called it Cali. Please. Stop. It makes me cringe just writing that. NOBODY in California calls it Cali. That's one of the best ways to spot a tourist actually. And then we locals laugh about you and your Cali saying behind your back so just don't say it. (Okay not really about the book itself but I just had to put that out there haha.)

Anyways, at this point you may be wondering why this isn't a one star. And that's because there are some amazing messages about sexism, racism, and homophobia! The female movie director talks about how hard it is for her to be taken seriously as a female, and we have a couple of Filipino movie stars talking about how hard it is to land a role as a POC (especially as a biracial--too light for some roles, too dark for others). We also have a queer actress talking about how hard it is to land roles in Hollywood because of her sexuality. I feel like there were some amazing messages here!! Honestly, with these messages, the book had potential to be really great. It's just too bad that Jaded Iris had to come along and ruin it.

2 stars

[Dayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is part of a weekly Feature on my blog, Music Mondays. You can see the full post here.
___

This week’s featured book is Now A Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy, a surprisingly lesser known contemporary young adult novel that explores complex family relationships, and the surprises that life sometimes has in store.

Imagine my surprise when I head over to Goodreads and see that this book has a (well-deserved) high rating, but a low number of ratings. It’s almost tragic to know that so few have encountered this book!

In a similar vein as Geekerella by Ashley Poston, McCarthy’s novel tells the story of a family touched by the power of adaptations and fandoms. Unlike Poston’s novel, which features a main character who’s lost her father, the father in McCarthy’s novel is alive but is in no way the father of the year.

Iris is born into a family touched by success, thanks to her grandmother’s feminist series, Elementia. Unlike many of the fans, however, Iris despises the story that ensured that her family would never have privacy. Things are about to change, however, when she sets off for Ireland with her little brother. Ryder is a hyper-active little boy that inspired the song choice “Boss of Me”. He and Iris are in Ireland so they can witness the filming of Elementia’s movie adaptation. She has been a sister, friend, saviour, and mother-substitute for her brother–neither have had normal childhoods. While in Ireland, Iris is forced to confront the unspoken anger and resentment in her heart, as well as the mysterious grandmother she never truly knew.

Now a Major Motion Picture is an adventure of a read. Not because it has magic or whimsical quests, but because of Iris’s growth. She makes mistakes and is sometimes quick to speak before thinking, but she isn’t one of those annoying protagonists who absolutely refuses to change, or acknowledge that she’s being a jerk. Her growth is also more realistic because it takes a while for her to appreciate her situation.

Somewhere in the novel, it is alluded that this is a trip to help Iris’s brother, Ryder, heal from a past incident. But I believe that this novel is just as much about Iris’s healing as well as her brother’s. The complexity of family is handled wonderfully as we see that her troublesome relationship with her dad is more than just a one-sided, “he’s the strict parent” theme. Much like Iris, her father, though not actually physically with them for much of the novel, is a character who is engulfed in his emotions. He is made an honorary frequent character by the mere power that he holds over his children. He isn’t a one-dimensional plot device–he is a gale force that is a constant for Iris, always mentally there to remind her of who she was raised to be.

This book is a collection of relationships that take root and shape the story in an unforgettable way. There are strong female characters that give this a powerful feminist feel–a constant reminder to girls and women that even though there is a struggle to succeed, it doesn’t mean you have to stop trying. There is Iris’s budding romance with a surprising young man and how he helps to empower her by reminding her of the talents she refuses to acknowledge. And there are the family connections that act as the bones of McCarthy’s story: Ryder’s strong, but excitable personality; the troubled, but very layered story behind Iris’s father’s view of the world; and the grandmother that seems to lead Iris to new discovery’s despite her having passed years before.

I really enjoyed Now a Major Motion Picture and I wish more people knew about this hidden gem. I loved reading more about the fantastical side of Ireland. I don’t think I’ve ever actually read an in-depth experience of a character being on a film set. Even The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo didn’t go extremely in-depth with the filming process.

I recommend this to anyone who’s a part of a fandom and who want to read a story about women helping each other be the best they can be. If you love books about protagonists who travel and fall in love, but also have more going for them than just a love story (personal growth, difficult family situations, etc), then McCarthy’s novel is definitely for you!

Happy reading!

[Danielle (Life of a Literary Nerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Everyone else got to read Elementia and discover something about the world or themselves. Not me. I’d read her story and began drowning in a loss I’d never known was mine.”

Now A Major Motion Picture was a really fun reading experience about fandom, family, and finding yourself. We follow Iris Thorne as she and her little brother Ryder go to Ireland to see the filming of the grandmother’s beloved fantasy series, Elementia. Iris is no fantasy fan and there’s no live list for the rabid fandom , so she’s determines to get the production shut down and return home to L.A. as soon as possible. But Iris starts to see the magic in her grandmother’s story and gains a courage she wasn’t sure she had.

Things I Liked
I really liked the sides and filming notes we get to see before the chapters. It really made everything seem real and let me get to know a lot of the different characters quickly.

There was really solid humor all throughout the story. It felt very conversational and natural, never forced. And it created some great banter and dynamics between characters.

My favorite part was probably the friendships we see develop and really flourish in the last half of the book. They all felt so genuine and made me care about the individual characters more as well. I also liked the sibling relationship between Iris and Ryder.

I liked seeing some diversity in the story. Shoshana and Julian, two leads of the movie are half Filipino, and Shoshana is a lesbian.

Things I Didn’t Like
Iris’ parents were the WORST! Her mom was completely absent and pointless in the story, and her dad was a piece of work. I just didn’t like them as all.

I didn’t really connect to the Elementia storyline until around 70% of the book. Before that I just didn’t really care and that kept my investment down.

This was a fantastically quick read that I knocked out in a few hours. It really surprised me in a good way after the beginning was a bit lackluster. I loved the friendships, always a win from me, and seeing Iris’s journey gaining courage and bravery through her experiences. And the romance was adorable too.

I received a copy of the book from Sourcebooks Fire via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Knobby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I went in looking for a little fluff and wasn't expecting much, but inhaled this in one sitting. It was just so good!

Iris and Ryder are the grandchildren of M. E. Thorne, the famous author who wrote a sort of feminist Lord of the Rings trilogy, of which the first book is being adapted for a film. The family (their father) did not approve of the movie, but to appease Ryder (8), the kids are sent to Ireland for two weeks to observe some on-location filming. While there, the self-isolated Iris (17) finds friendship and understands more about her family.

This book is jam-packed with stories, touching on things like fanatics taking things too far, (keeping) anonymity in the current digital age, on empowering women. The cast of characters includes diversity of all kinds, including a f/f love story (though in the background). It's also about mental health, family, and family history. But it's not a bummer at all. Everything is treated seriously but with enough glow around it that I was never actually sad.

Bonus: cute nerds, Ireland as a setting
Nitpicks: absent parent, no other friends for Iris to check in with

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

As disappointed as I was to find that this was,,, much more allocishet than I was expecting, I'm so fucking glad I read this.

I expected something fun. goofy. unmemorable.

And I got this absolute emotional powerful relatable book and I'm in awe.

There were so many good discussions - on discrimination, trauma, fame, fandom, who even knows what else - and so many parts that made me cry, and laugh, so much I could relate to - this book was everything I could have wanted.

Read it y'all. You're missing out.

[Thamy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I see why they compare this to Fangirl, but the story itself isn't the same.

3.5.

Iris is the granddaughter of a famous but deceased fantasy writer whose story is being filmed into a movie picture. She wasn't close to her grandmother and the last thing she and her family wants is more attention, which once culminated in her little brother being almost kidnapped by a crazy fan. Still, she slowly begins to understand what everyone's passion for her family's legacy is about and begins to love it herself as well.

This book... I don't know what my problem was with it but I'd read, read, read and it wouldn't end. It's not even long but I just couldn't get into it. If I have to guess, I'd say it's because I felt like the author had fooled me. I got a contemporary YA to read but had to read large chunks of some fantasy book inside, plus long speeches defending the genre, which is far from being my favorite. By the way, that's why people compare it to Fangirl, which made us read a Harry Potter slash fanfic back then. I think that was what I found most similar about the two. The rest wasn't really.

Even though I didn't really like the book, it had so many positive points. Unlike Iris and her family, I'm not against fantasy and the book raises so many good points of its importance I kept nodding back to it. Also, the side characters are quite an interesting bunch. I love how Iris actually becomes friends of the two big stars in the movie. She doesn't date them, they don't come on to her or antagonize her. In fact, the best scenes happen when they're all having fun.

Moreover, the adult characters are deep and make sense. I felt so sad for Iris's grandmother, and she wasn't even in the book. There is a whole family dark secret side story going on that made me reflect a lot.

In other words, this book had content, had funny scenes, and the romantic couple was cute. So why didn't I like it? That's a question I couldn't answer for sure, I can just say this wasn't my thing, hence this rating.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Айрис и её младший брат Райдер летят в Ирландию. Они – внуки знаменитой писательницы М.Е. Торн, создавшей культовую фэнтези-сагу Elementia – которую фанаты описывают как «феминистский ответ Толкиену» – а в ирландской глуши как раз начинаются съемки фильма по книге. Айрис и Райдера, как родственников авторки саги, пригласили на съемочную площадку. Точнее, Райдер упросил его пустить, он фанат бабушкиной книги. А вот Айрис книгу не читала и не собирается – её отец, сын той самой бабушки, ненавидит «Элеменцию» и дочери привил презрение к фэнтези в целом и к книге матери в частности.

Про отношения авторов с фэндомом книжки уже были – например, «Элиза и её монстры», но Кори Маккарти идет немного дальше и исследует отношения фэндома и семьи автора. Сама М.Е. Торн в книге не появляется, к моменту начала повествования она давно умерла, но семья продолжает жить вокруг её наследия – начиная с трастового фонда, созданного на доходы от продаж, и заканчивая попыткой киднэппинга одного из внуков фанатом. Книга, про которую многие фанаты говорят «она спасла мне жизнь», для семьи создательницы становится элементом скорее разрушительным – сын считает, что мать отгородилась от него ради выдуманной истории, и поэтому не позволяет ей видеться с внуками, а самим внукам – читать книгу матери.

Наша героиня Айрис, тем временем, и вовсе имеет музыкальные амбиции – она хочет писать музыку и даже в Ирландию прилетает с любимой гитарой. Отец увлечения Айрис не одобряет – считает, что таланта у нее нет, а еще он не хочет, чтобы она поступала в колледж, потому что кто же тогда будет приглядывать за младшим ребенком, не родители же в конце концов, они слишком заняты, у них творчество. Как говорит сама Айрис, I live in a shadow of a shadow – её отец в тени славы собственной матери, а она сама в тени отца.

Впрочем, семейные драмы семьи Торн – не единственная сюжетная линия книги. Здесь есть и режиссерка саги, пытающаяся пробить стеклянный потолок Голливуда и доказать, что женщина способна снять блокбастер, и квир-актриса филиппинского происхождения, которой не дают ролей из-за её неконвенциональности, и даже любовная линия – хотя, мне кажется, её сюда вписали только ради галочки «так принято в YA».

В общем, получилось динамично и достаточно многослойно – не просто история про «девочка с мальчиком целуются», а конструктивный срез современной этической проблематики без крови и мяса. Лайк.

[Jenniferleest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nu in de bioscoop! bevat een feministische insteek die duidelijk maakt dat je alles kunt bereiken, als je er zelf maar in gelooft!

De gehele recensie lees je hier: https://jenniferleest.wordpress.com/2...

[Ally Wiegand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now a Major Motion Picture is perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl. Both novels have an inner fantasy novel the stories are centered around. And after finishing Now a Major Motion Picture, I can saw that I hope Elementia is published like Rainbow Rowell did with Carry On.

Iris Thorne has grown up in a “double shadow”. She’s grown up in the shadow of her father, who has grown up in the shadow of her famous grandmother, author of Elementia, the female-power response to The Lord of the Rings, in a sense. Iris despises the books, like her father. Mostly because all it has done is bring crazy fans into their lives, unwanted. But, due to a suggestion her younger brother’s therapist, Iris and Ryder end up in the middle of filming for the first movie of the fantasy trilogy in Ireland. There, Iris meets an up-and-coming actor, Eamon O’Brien, whose cuteness practically falls off the pages. The film seems doomed from the start, with a female director that the top executives seem against and budget cuts left and right. From the beginning, Iris would like nothing better than the film to crash and burn, but after getting to know the actors and crew, she realizes that the film is helping her more than she would have originally thought. It helps her to become closer to her late grandmother and the legacy she left behind.

This book has all sorts of goodness in it. It has female empowerment, a light-hearted love story that will warm your heart, humor, and some harder topics that give this book a little edge. Now a Major Motion Picture delves into the scarier side of fandoms and the physical harm they can cause people. But it also showed the good side of fandom and how they can bring joy. It depicts a dysfunctional family, wrecked with misfortune and hurt and how they cope with it. The book has an awesome message on sexism within Hollywood, that is but a piece in helping the real reality of these remarks come to light.

Overall, this book was a quick, fun read that had everything you could want out of a contemporary YA novel. I loved every single one of the characters. I was amazed to see that McCarthy developed each character so well in their own sense and gave each their own separate background story. McCarthy added some fun quirks to the book, like a playlist for specific scenes from the book from the main character and a map of the fictional world, Elementia. It started off slow, but it will for sure pull at your heart strings.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to SourceFire Books for giving me a copy to review!

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the beginning I thought this was so-so. Too many characters were introduced all at once and I didn't connect with them. But I ended up enjoying it a lot, even though I, like Iris at the start, am not a huge fan of fantasy stories. This was cute. I've been a fan of this author ever since The Color of Rain.

[Silvia (roomforbooks)]

DNF @ 29%
I'm either too old for this (not possible) or the characters' immaturity is just too exaggerated to be considered realistic which only makes them annoying.

[keira]

dnf at 20%

really wanted to enjoy this but i couldn’t connect with any of it and found the characters to be immature and annoying

[The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review on The Candid Cover

Now a Major Motion Picture by Cory McCarthy is a story about film, feminism, and finding yourself. This one has a vibrant setting, and the main character gradually starts to discover a new passion for a series she once despised. I especially enjoyed the feminist themes throughout the book and the empowering message the director of the film spreads. This is an inventive story that will tug at your heartstrings–just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

When her grandmother’s feminist fantasy trilogy gets adapted for the screen, Iris travels to Ireland with her little brother, secretly hoping to shut down production. While she initially hated the Elementia trilogy for the boundaries an extreme fan crossed, being on set surrounded by a community of people who are so passionate about it starts to change her perception. Books about movies are always a win for me, and I loved how there are little clips from the filming notes throughout the story. The setting is also vividly described, and reading this book had me dying to visit Ireland.

❀ REALISTIC MAIN CHARACTER

Iris is a stubborn character, but a realistic one. When we meet her, she is judgmental and firmly opposed to the Elementia trilogy because of the harm it has brought her family. Her relationship with the series is interesting–the way she hates the books because her father disapproves, but also because some of the plot has leached into real life. This adds another layer of depth and makes it easy to understand Iris’s motives at the beginning of the story. While Iris may be immature at first, she gradually changes, coming to love the Elementia community and developing friendships with the cast and crew along the way.

❀ STRONG FEMINIST MESSAGE

One of the book’s highlights is its strong feminist message. The film’s director is a woman, and her character provides a commentary on the struggles of being a woman in the male-dominated field of directing. Cate exposes the way she is not taken seriously and has to work twice as hard for less than a man would earn, raising important discussions about gender inequality in the film industry. Her character is so empowering, but never to the point where it feels forced, and I have to say, Cate may have been my favourite.

❀ HUMOROUS AND HEARTFELT

Now a Major Motion Picture by Cory McCarthy is a feminist story about finding yourself and embracing fandom. I loved the depictions of Ireland and the main character’s gradual transformation. There is much to love about this book, but the feminist themes are especially noteworthy. Those looking for a humorous and heartfelt contemporary will love this one.

[sage (semi-hiatus)]

been meaning to pick this book up again but i just heard that this has a asexual lead AND I AM HERE FOR THIS EVEN MORE!

[Andye.Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

*full review to come*
I adore this book. - Rea

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm so conflicted about this one, my bookish friends.

It had so many moments that I was dying/loving. But then there was so many moments that I just stared at the book, moved it slightly to the side, and side-eyed it.

I originally thought that Cori McCarthy jumped into my head like Osmosis Jones and somehow slithered down to my bookish heart and soul because this book is so me it hurts? Not only does it have two of my favorite Bastille songs in the after book playlist, it's one giant ode to Florence + the Machine (another ultimate love) plus fandom life, an epic cover, FEMINISM, and an adorable ship, and IRELAND. Whenever a book is set/visits my home state or anywhere I have traveled, I instantly place it on my TBR at lightening bolt speed just like the Elementia book cover. This book went to literally all of the places I went in Ireland so I was one big blubbering Irish fangirl mess the entire book. I'm one of those sad little people that goes OMG I WENT THERE. I KNOW THAT DOLPHIN STATUE. So...imagine me doing this the entire book.

With all of this "omg, this book so Mandy" gushing, how did it go wrong? I think my issue was with the narrator, Iris. There was at times that I FELT for her. I got her, and I liked her. However, most of the time, I was like, omg, girl, chill. Her redemption arc took a bit far too long for me to get excited about her. She was Jaded Iris, and the things she was doing had me doing the buggy eyed, WHY, GIRL, WHY. She was so judgy of things -and yes, I get certain things since she did have something very traumatic happen to her and her brother- but I still feel like some of it was too much and I just got annoyed with her. Even when she made progress, it seemed like she took some steps back. I felt like she could have changed her mind about a lot of stuff a lot earlier on, and it just turned me off of her for a long time.

The side characters were good. I liked Ryder, and I felt he felt very realistic and had some deep psychology behind him. Eamon, Julian, and Shoshanna were decent side characters. Drunk Shoshanna was my favorite character of the entire novel. I felt they were all pretty dynamic, and they did feel realistic with their differences and flaws. They weren't just 1D. Cate was interesting as well, and I think she provided a powerful, strong female role model in the novel.

The romance was cute. I dug the ship...although it was super instalove. I mean, it was intense, and it got a bit too into the cheese - even though I love me some cheese. There was so much doubting, too. I mean, I get you doubt the romance, but even when they expressing discuss the fact they're in a relationship, I blink and Iris is all like, but wait, is he with me? I was like IDK. I THOUGHT HE WAS. IS HE NOT??? AM I ON AN ACID TRIP? It was quite cute, though, and there were some adorable feels to be had.

Let's all take a moment and give a big hooray for the feminism that was broughttttttttttttttttttt in this novel. Okay, there might have been a few PSA moments, but Cori McCarthy BROUGHT THE FEMINISM. I love how she worked in the gender pay gap, how women do have to fight for work and roles that men get without an issue, and so much more. If fist pumps were a thing again and not used up all by the Jersey Shore peeps, I would be fist pumping here.

The plot was pretty fun. It's a book of self discovery - about finding yourself, your passion, your voice, and who you can be. I love these kind of stories, and the movie set infused with parts of the story and adventures were fun. Sometimes, it did kind of feel all over the place and like, the book could have really ended in a few parts and then I looked up and discovered I had 100 pages to go. I loved the ending, though, and overall, it was a fun story of self discovery with some deep moments.

McCarthy always has fantastic writing (um, please forever check out her book, You Are Here which is an ultimate love), and she infused so much goodness in this story. Although I kind of wanted a bit more description of the scenery since while I had it in my mind from seeing it, I'm not entirely sure that it translated as well. She has an ease in her writing, though, that makes her a true name in contemporary.

Overall, I did enjoy this story for the most part. The only real issue I had with the story was the narrator - but there really was so many great parts to the story. I don't think I'm ever going to find a more me story again - although last year brought me Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things - so I just got to soak this all in. Overall, I thought it was fun, and that outweighed the sketchy moments. Three crowns and a Belle rating!

[Céline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Messy review:

Young adult maar voelt eerder aan als een jeugdboek door de schrijfstijl.

pro: feministische insteek in dit verhaal, humoristisch, diepgaande onderwerpen maar luchtig tegelijk, verwijzingen naar andere films en boeken.

con: las voor mij heel traag, bijna een maand over gedaan. Kon mij op een of andere manier niet genoeg boeien om te blijven doorlezen. Indien geen recensie-ex, waarschijnlijk een DNF.

[Iris Windmeijer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nu in de bioscoop! is je grootste droom en nachtmerrie: hoe zou jij erover denken als je favoriete boek wordt verfilmd? Nee erger nog: hoe zou jij erover denken als de boeken van je oma, wereldwijd bestsellers, wordt verfilmd? Iris Thorne heeft haar oma niet gekend, maar voelt iedere dag het gewicht van haar literaire nalatenschap op haar schouders. En dan gaat Hollywood een adaptatie maken van de boeken.

De Elementia-trilogie van Iris’ oma wordt verfilmd en Iris en haar broertje Ryder mogen helemaal naar Ierland om bij de opnames te zijn. Dit maakt Nu in de bioscoop! erg leuk: je kijkt als het ware mee op de set van een film en hoe de crew hard werkt om het tot een succes te brengen. Je zou denken dat ze dit geweldig vinden, maar niets is minder waar: Iris wil het liefste de filmopnames laten stoppen. Dit is niet zomaar een puberale ingeving: Iris heeft haar oma nooit gekend, maar haar vader is altijd anti-Elementia geweest en zijn stem klinkt constant door in het hoofd van Iris. Ze kan, in tegenstelling tot Ryder, dus niet genieten van de Ierse omgeving of het feit dat ze op een echte set aanwezig is. Maar gelukkig kun jij dit als lezer wel: je krijgt een stiekem inkijkje in het maken van een film.

Extra leuk is dat je ook delen kan lezen van het fantasyverhaal Elementia, en dat het boek vol zit met talloze verwijzingen naar andere fantasy-reeksen. Van Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings tot Narnia of Philip Pullman’s Noorderlicht-trilogie: de klassiekers passeren de revue. Intertekstualiteit is Nu in de bioscoop! niet vreemd!

Al snel blijkt dat Iris en Ryder geen makkelijke jeugd hebben: hun ouders zijn veel afwezig in de opvoeding, en een psychotische fan van haar oma’s boeken heeft een poging gedaan om haar broertje te ontvoeren. Iris voelt zich (te) verantwoordelijk voor haar broertje, tot op het vervelende aan toe. Maar omdat je weet waarom ze dit doet, is haar houding niet storend. Je krijgt een beetje medelijden met de Thorne-kinderen.

Maar met de Atlantische oceaan tussen de kinderen en de ouders, beginnen Iris en Ryder hun eigen mening te krijgen en hun eigen plek in het geheel te begrijpen en op te eisen. McCarthy heeft Iris’ persoonlijke ontwikkeling zeer sterk geschetst tegen de achtergrond van het filmen. Zonder de schaduw van haar vader begint Iris voor het eerst voor zichzelf op te komen als het om haar eigen mening gaat, en niet om die van haar vader. Maar als haar vader plotseling ook in Ierland staat, blijkt ook hij te leven met een familietrauma.

Het is extra leuk dat Nu in de bioscoop! uit zoveel lagen bestaat, want naast het maken van een adaptatie en de familietrauma’s, komen ook andere tienerproblemen langs. Van het sluiten van vriendschappen tot een ontzettend lieve kalverliefde, verschillende onderwerpen komen langs en McCarthy weet zelfs alle losse eindjes aan elkaar te knopen. De persoonlijke ontwikkeling van Iris staat hierbij centraal: zij leert dat ze sterker is dan ze denkt, en dat het ook nodig is om je af te zetten van je ouders om je eigen dromen te kunnen waarmaken.

Tegen de achtergrond van een filmset weet Nu in de bioscoop! een sterk en volledig afgerond verhaal neer te zetten. Een waarin Iris leert over sterk zijn en hoe je je eigen demonen moet bevechten. Nu in de bioscoop! heeft alles: verwijzingen naar andere hele toffe boeken en films, een romantische held (of meerdere…) en een heroïne die haar eigen weg leert te bewandelen.

Deze recensie verscheen eerst op https://www.readalicious.nl/recensies...

[Karla Mae (Reads and Thoughts) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Kindly provided by Sourcebooks Fire for review*

Admittedly, at first, this book wasn’t even on my radar but thank you to my generous friends from Sourcebooks Fire for offering this book for review. I’m immediately hooked! Now a Major Motion Picture is such an underrated gem that deserved all great hype

Iris is the granddaughter of the famous M.E Thorne who wrote the famous Elementia trilogy; but Iris has spent her life trying to escape her grandmother’s legacy. Now, she’s forced to accompany her younger brother, Ryder to Ireland to sit on the sidelines of the filming of Elementia.

From the beginning, we see how openly hostile Iris is towards anything related into the fantasy world especially of Elementia unlike her brother who’s a die hard fan of the series and was too excited to witness the filming of this movie. However, over the course of the story, I saw Iris’ attitude shifting as she started to get to know the casts and film crew. I really love watching her change from this pessimist, closed-off and jaded Iris into someone that is more open and happier.

The other characters makes the story stronger. There’s Eamon who’s intriguing, fun, nerdy and cute. There’s the daring actress Shoshana, heartthrob Julian and Cate – the director who for me is a great depiction of a strong independent woman. She’s strong willed and determined; she believed that despite the sexist challenges she encountered in the film industry (being a woman director) she did not back down and instead teach others that it is important to speak out and that women should help lift each other up.

Of course, its not all bright sky and green pastures as they are filming. The team encountered several challenges along the way. Just when you thought everything’s okay the next crisis arises. But the thing there is that the crew and cast created a family and they together helped each other to resolve whatever crisis that may be.

The story also touched about mental illness. I appreciate how open the characters are about this.

There are only 2 things that kept me away from giving this book a complete five-stars rating. First, I’m lost at the Elementia World. I do read fantasy stories, but it feels like Elementia is not just it for me. I wanted to delve deeper into that world and see if that would somehow change my mind about it. Second, I’m a bit sad and even disappointed how Iris’ issues with her parents ended. Not to spoil you guys, but there seems to be no closure there. Iris and Ryder’s parents are negligent from the very start; Yes, they took their children to therapy and such but closing them off and prioritizing other things more than them will not be helpful. I wished that their parents at least give them a talk and take a step and amend the mistakes they have made.

Overall, despite my last two points on the last paragraph, it was a good read for me. The premise is catchy, fun and a quick read.

PS. This book makes me want to visit Ireland ASAP, so I can see the stunning landscapes and maybe find my own Irish guy.

[nia🏹 •shades0fpaper• · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more review follow my blog shades of paper

I didn’t know this was a feminist book, and when I read it in the cover of the novel, I got so excited! It ended up being quite different from what I expected, but I overall really enjoyed it and had an amazing time reading it, and it had some feminist elements that I adored.

Okay, I’m a sucker for anything that has to do with film making or acting, and these two things clearly were quite important throughout the story. And even though it wasn’t as focused as I expected in those elements, there were snippets of them as I kept reading the novel, since it took place while filming a movie. So I was pretty satisfied with everything.

I also really enjoyed the characters. Though the protagonist was a bit annoying at some points, she had a great development throughout the story, and grew so much from the beginning of Now a Major Motion Picture. I adored the relationship she had with her brother and how much she cared about him, and I also enjoyed the dynamics between her and the filming crew. I think one of my favorite characters was the movie director. She was such a relatable and cool side character, and I loved the influence she had towards our main character.

The romance wasn’t bad, either. Though I feel it came to a point where it was a bit too focused on that, I enjoyed the relationship between these two characters and the interactions they had throughout the novel, and I really loved the love interest because he was such a sweetheart.

Overall, it was such a fast paced story despite being quite a long book, and I had such a great time reading about those characters. And I adored reading the little scenes of the book this movie was based on, I think it was such a great addition.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now a Major Motion Picture completely surprised me! I went into it expecting to like it, but I never expected it to adore it as much as I did.

What I Liked:

1. The Setting - Ireland is one of those places I would love to visit; however, until that day comes I guess I'll just live vicariously through books. I thought Cori did such a fantastic job of setting the scene. The descriptions were vivid and drool worthy, and I loved getting to see the country side as well as the towns. I didn't think I could possibly want to go to Ireland more than I already do, but this book proved me wrong.
2. The Characters- Honestly, I adored each and every one! I appreciated that they all had their own distinctive personalities and likes/dislikes. I never forget who someone was. Additionally, I loved the chemistry the cast had. They formed their own little makeshift family in Ireland - willingly and unwillingly- and just like with any family, there were spats and disagreements, but at the end of the day they always seemed to come together.
3. The Plot - The plot here has a lot going on, but yet again Cori McCarthy juggled everything wonderfully. I enjoyed seeing Elementia world come together with the real word, and I really appreciated the excerpts from the Elementia series. It helped provide a clearer understanding of why people loved the series. At its heart, however, Now a Major Motion Picture is a coming-of-age. Iris grows up, takes charge, and learns to accept the legacy that her grandmother has left behind. I cheered her on the whole way through! I also enjoyed how Cori incorporated feminism into the plot. When the book first begins, Iris doesn't really understand feminism, but as the book goes on and as she sees from others perspectives, she begins to see the importance.
4. The Romance - Iris and Eamon? Cue the heart eyes because these two are ADORABLE! I love a good hate-to-love romance, and that's exactly what I received here. At first, Iris and Eamon clash terribly. Eamon represents everything Iris has been hiding from her whole life - the fans who are fanatic about her grandmother's fantasy series. However, Eamon begins to show Iris a different side to the series, one that she surprisingly gets and even relates to. The banter between these two was always on fire, and the ending they received couldn't have been more perfect.

What I Didn't Like:

1. Besides the fact that it didn't go on for another 200 pages? Nothing! This book is a delightful read through and through.

Overall, if you love YA contemporary, swoony romance, & lovable characters, Now a Major Motion Picture is the book for you!

*ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

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[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oommg. This was even better than I imagined.

Iris is a granddaughter to a famous author who wrote a fantasy trilogy with a strong female lead. Iris doesn't want anything to do with that world but her brother, Ryder, is a fan. They go to the set of the movie that is being made from the Elementia book. Irish scenery opens up Iris's mind to much more than she thought.

First of all this is such a great read which I finished in one sitting.😍😍
Elementia series is a feminist fantasy story that is compared to Tolkien's work. I love how Iris is. Her character is complex and deep and her fear of disappointing a parent is relatable. This is her story and the way she faces herself is amazing.

This book also gives hints to women to support women. Giving light to the fact that still people are judged by their gender and even looked down at, just because you're a woman.

One great example why I like YA so much. Dealing with complicated family situation, addressing equality and making it easy to approach and understand. Not forgetting the cheesy cutesy romance that makes you swoon even in public. ❤️❤️

[Tim]

Gestopt op blz. 61, geen rating gegeven.

Ik wist nog steeds niet of ik nu soms met het hoofdpersonage moest lachen of me aan haar moest ergeren vanwege haar pure, irritante Amerikaansheid en hoe dat clasht met de Europeaansheid van de anderen, want dit boek maakt wel duidelijk hoe supervreemd die kwieters aan de overkant van de grote plas zijn...
Ryder was een snertjong.
De schrijfstijl op zich sprak me ook niet echt aan.
En als ze in een Nederlandse vertaling gaan beginnen over het verschil tussen 'chips' en 'Franse friet' (meermaals), dan krijg ik al helemaal een stuip (meermaals). 'Chips' vertalen, da's blijkbaar niet nodig, maar 'French fries' dan weer wel, en dan krijg je dit natuurlijk. Wanneer die Hollanders eens gaan doorkrijgen dat het geen Franse frieten en ook geen Vlaamse frites zijn, is mij een raadsel. Om er gewoon 'chips' en 'frieten' van te maken, da's blijkbaar weer te ingewikkeld.