The A-List: Hollywood Royalty

A-List: Hollywood Royalty #1

by Zoey Dean

Some people are born with it.

Meet the new Hollywood Amelie, the no-so-innocent starlet; Myla and Ash, the golden couple; Jacob, the geek turned hottie; and Jojo, the outsider who'll do anything to get on the A-List.

Genres: Young Adult, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Teen, Fiction, High School, Romance

229 pages, Paperback

First published December 20, 2008

About the author

The author of The A-List series and How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls, which has been renamed and turned into a TV show known as Privileged on the CW in September 2008. Zoey Dean's books are produced by the media packager Alloy Entertainment, which created Gossip Girl, The Clique Series, and The A-List and sold them to Little, Brown and Company.
Zoey is currently working on The Talent series. She is also working on The A-List: Hollywood Royalty.
Zoey Dean divides her time between Beverly Hills, California, and her favorite small islands in the Caribbean.

See also: Cherie Bennett

Reviews

[Brooke ♥booklife4life♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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Basic Info

Format: Paperback
Pages/Length: 256pgs
Genre: Young Adult; Chick lit
Reason For Reading: Challenge

At A Glance

Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsession?: No
Cliff Hanger: No
Triggers: n/a
Rating: 3 stars

Score Sheet
All out of ten

Cover: 7
Plot: 5
Characters: 3
World Building: 5
Flow: 8
Series Congruity: n/a
Writing: 7
Ending: 6

Total: 7

In Depth

Best Part: Quick read
Worst Part: Salty characters.
Thoughts Had: Not bad, not bad.

Conclusion

Continuing the Series: Probably
Recommending: Sure

Short Review: I was expecting a lot worse, like as horrible as Clique Prequel but it wasn't too bad. I haven't read the A-List books, so i have no idea if they need to be read first, i really hope not. I liked Jojo until she got that bag, she didn't let being some famous kid change her until that part, and really, all because of a bag. No. Myla was a horrible character, and her ex Ash was just as horrible. I mean, Ash didn't even show up to the airport to pick her up on time, and then he didn't even recognize her. wth. Much fluff, quick read.

Misc.

Book Boyfriend: Jake
Best Friend Material: Pass.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've read one of Zoey Dean's novels before, that you know you aren't about pick up a literacy masterpiece when you read the A-List series. I picked up this book to read as a guilty pleasure/brain candy treat.

However, if you've read a couple of books from the A-list series, you will start to notice that all the stories start to sound the same, and the books get old, really fast. Generally I have to read them spaced out quite a bit from each other, or I start to get irritated by the lack of intelligence from the characters.

That's another problem I have with this book-the characters are not at all likable. It's really hard to get into a series when every single character is irritating and is one dimensional.

With that said, "The A-List: Hollywood Royalty" served its purpose as being a quick, fun, and simple read. I have the other two books in this series so I will probably finish it just because I hate not finishing series. However, there are so many great books out there, and "The A-List: Hollywood Royalty" shouldn't be at the top of your TBR pile unless you want to read pure brain fluff.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

Anna, Ben, Sam, Cammie, Dee, and Adam made readers fall in love with THE A-LIST. Now it's time for those A-Listers to take a bow and the next generation to take the stage.

First there is Amelie Adams, the Hollywood starlet. Famous for her role as the Fairy Princess, Amelie has little girls screaming, asking for her autograph. Unfortunately, starting out as an actress on a child's show never benefits you when you're trying to land a more mature role. Amelie is ready to grow up and break out of her good-girl shell. She is ready to show the world that she has more potential, but is the world ready for her?

Then there is Myla Everhart. Famous just for being adopted by Hollywood's golden couple, Barbar (short for Barley) Everhart and Lailah Barton, Myla has the paparazzi tracking her every move. Every time she turns around, not only is a picture taken, but it seems like her parents adopt another child to be her sibling. However, that really doesn't matter to Myla, since the only thing she cares about right now is her longtime boyfriend, Ash.

Ash Gilmour, the son of record producer Gordon Gilmour, has everything going for him, but his laid-back exterior gives no sign of it. Together, Ash and Myla are Hollywood's next golden couple. Of course, this is Hollywood, and relationships always take a turn for the worst. Are they any different?

Next is Jacob Porter-Goldsmith. With a mom as a publicist, Jacob knows who is falling and who is rising in Hollywood. Jacob has always been the geek, the one who never has had a girlfriend, the one who has never had a girl even look his way. But that has all changed. Back from math camp, Jacob has an entirely new look, going from looking like a dork to being transformed into a complete hottie. He knows now he can get any girl he wants, but will a certain starlet he has an eye for look his way?

Last but certainly not least is Jojo. Nowhere near the other A-Listers, literally, Jojo has managed to adapt to her normal life with two dads and a wardrobe that isn't fit for a celebrity. Her life takes a major turn when she discovers who her biological parents are. With that kind of connection she just entered into the A-List world by default. But is the A-List that welcoming? It's not going to be easy, but Jojo is determined to be accepted, even if she has to play a little dirty.

This new cast of A-Listers are just as devious, scandalous, and gorgeous as the first, something fans of the first generation have grown accustomed to. Fans of the original series will not be disappointed. It will be good to see how this series progresses - can it possibly outlast the original?

[Eloise · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was an truly griping, and amazingly well written book.
Meet Hollywood's teenage Royalty:
Myla and Ash are Hollywood's golden couple but when thing take a turn for the worse will the fight leave everyone with tear and broken hearts?
Then there's Amelie Hollywood's fairy princess is ready to grow up but will her mom, fans and life permit her to and will Hunter always think of her as a little sister or could there be something more?
And then there's geek turned hottie, Jacob who has the looks, muscle and brain but not the girlfriend and when he crushes on teen royalty will things just keep gong downhill or can his new look change his life for the better.
And finally there's Jojo. Biological progeny of Barbar and she just figured it out. when she takes a trip to Beverly Hills she's greeted with love from her long lost parents and hate from her sister Myla, but when she decides to leave when it matters most does Myla have a change of heart and keep Jojo or will she be shunned like she always is?The A-List Hollywood Royalty #1

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't planning on reading this A-List spinoff, but since I gave Alphas a chance and really liked it, I decided to try it out. The new characters are so much better than the old ones! In the old books, Anna was boring, that one girl was psycho, Sam was annoying, and Cammie was just too bitchy to be real.

This book was so good, and seemed like a completely different series. I can't wait for the next one!

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got confusing at times, but good book overall. For a book that's all about Hollywood and it's glamour, this book was pretty realistic, and shows that being famous and rich isn't all that it's said to be. I'm glad that even the super-bitch Myla has problems of her own, it makes her more humane and relatable.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think i might like this series more than the original a-list. the characters are very defined and they seem slightly more believable. so glad she is still writing these books. i could read one a week.

[Mariah Cook]

I am currently ready Hollywood Royalty. It is a really good book just like every other book Zoey Dean has written! I have read the whole series of the A-List and I really enjoy them!

[Kemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.

[Tiny Pants · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprise, surprise -- after putting off reading it for a few months (and grabbing it 'cause I needed a book I could bring to the beach), I actually enjoyed this do-over version of "Zoey Dean" (actually Cherie and Jeff Bennett of Sunset Island fame)'s A-List series. Not having that idiotic, insipid, grab-bag of WASP stereotypes Anna Percy for a lead makes for a much, much more entertaining read. In fact, it's almost as if they'd followed my advice and pretty much made everyone into a version of Cammie!

An interesting thing about this series is it appears to be taking a longer arc -- we're introduced to all the characters, and they exist in the same universe, but by the end of the novel, we haven't seen all the storylines interweave. They take on a much larger scope than in the first series, and there's a lot more focus on Hollywood glitz and glam.

The least likable character, Myla, is the adopted daughter of a thinly-veiled version of Brangelina (who weirdly also exist in this universe); the most likable character, Amelie, is squeaky-clean star of a children's show. Amelie's struggles to deal with her overbearing (but more or less well-meaning) stage mom and her desire to act her age are pretty enjoyable; while Myla's self-centeredness and manipulations wear thin almost immediately. We're also introduced to the object of Myla's craziness, Ash, who is a piece of personalityless mancandy cut directly from the same cloth as Nate Archibald and Ben from the first round of the A-List (who was so blah I can't even remember his last name. Bennett? Beecher?).

Spicing things up are a pair of relative "outsiders" to the Hollywood scene -- Jojo, who has just discovered she's the biological daughter of Myla's adoptive parents, and Jake/Jacob, a nerdy guy whose desperate tries to make himself over both ring true and provide comic relief.

There are all the usual over-the-top parties and LA restaurant scenes, but they're more over-the-top than in the earlier books -- fans of name-dropping and celebrity gossip will devour this book. Weirdly also, there are an extremely high number of very specific references to musical acts (and even specific songs) ALL of whom except one (the Rolling Stones) have been featured prominently in the Gossip Girl TV series. Synergy, anyone? Then again, no one ever said Alloy (or the Bennetts) had shame.

It mostly feels weird because it instantly dates the book to 2008-2009. But of course, so do the inevitable brand references -- weird that Jojo buys a Jovovich-Hawk dress at Fred Segal since by the time this book was published (possibly even written), that line had gone kaput. But whatever. For anyone who likes rich-people-voyeurism teen series (and is there any other kind? Oh wait, duh, vampires), this is good, frothy fun.

[Irene]

Visualize yourself as Josephine Milford a.k.a. Jojo, the adopted daughter of two dads, whom she loves dearly. But one day decide to leave them to go to Hollywood to meet her birth parents that’s been searching for her for years because they want her back in their lives again. Oh and by the way they’re the world’s most famous couple, Lailah Barton and Barkley Everhart a.k.a. Barbar. Or perhaps you could be Myla Everhart; the privileged adopted daughter of Barbar, the girl who has the entire Beverly Hills High wrapped around her little finger. So what will Myla do when Jojo comes and takes her place in the family? Make Jojo’s life a living hell. Basically, Jojo is the outsider who will do anything to become an insider, thanks to Myla. Or try imagining yourself as Ash Gilmour, Myla’s boyfriend since forever, but after one big argument, Ash and Myla break up even though he still loves her. So to get Myla back, Ash teams up with Jojo to make Myla jealous, will this actually even work out? Or will Ash end up liking Jojo? Or vice-versa. Or maybe you’re an Amelie Adams, known for being the nice, innocent, sweet girl who’s in fact actually not so nice or innocent. Tired of being the popular Kidz Network character “Fairy Princess”, Amelie hopes to get more mature roles and wishes that people, like her crush Hunter, realized she was growing up. And then there’s finally Jacob Porter-Goldsmith, the geek who’s no longer well, the geek. Now with his new found confidence and the fact that he removed his braces and gained a few muscles and is well basically “hot” now, he plans to go after Amelie Adams. How will this love triangle turn out? This is the A-List Hollywood Royalty by Zoey Dean, a book full of so much drama, you won’t be bored even for a second as you read this amazingly well written fictional story.
I really enjoyed reading this book because there is a lot of humor and wit, and of course drama. Even thought this is a fictional story, it still has many different parts of the story where a reader could relate to it in their everyday lives. Like when Myla spreads rumors about Jojo around the entire school. I’m sure everyone has faced a time when they’ve said something about someone else or have others say stuff about you. It’s such an intriguing book that I couldn’t put book down until I finished reading it, which was why I finished reading the entire 229 pages of the book within one day.
If I had to recommend this book to someone, it would be teens who were interested in the romance genre and lot of drama, and also humor. This book captures the mind of adolescents and the problems they go through. So what are you waiting for? Go and get your copy of the A-List Hollywood Royalty by Zoey Dean now.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another new series for me! I have not read any of the former A-List books, so I can’t compare to the original series, but I can say that I will be reading the rest of this one!

I actually think I liked this one better than the Gossip Girl type novels, because the story is more about the characters and their internal battles with themselves, instead of the characters fighting over or with another character. Which I found refreshing!

Dean kept the story moving, with an exciting fast-pace. The writing, while I wouldn’t consider it notable, is prominent in it’s own way. It makes for a fun and fluffy read. I love reading about celebrities, even if they are fictional.

Overall, there must have been something that I liked, because I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I’m eagerly awaiting the rest of the series!

[Alondra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would really recommend this book, it will make you want to keep reading and i cannot wait until i read the second one in the series. What i learned from this book is that life for a famous teenager in Hollywood is really crazy, and that they have very CRAZY days. I would want to live one day in their shoes and know what it is like to have everything that you want. In this book there are a lot of characters, but the one that reached out to me the most was Jojo, she is a girl that just found out that her biological parents are the world's most famous couple, i really enjoy seeing how she changed her ways from just living with them for less than a month. But it was also sad how she became apart from her adoptive parents.

If you read this book you will really like it!

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far I like it better than the original. That's about it.

[Murphy · Rating 1 out of 5]

To state that the three novels in this spin-off series were products of their time would be a trite understatement.

Whereas some sections of the original series (The A-List) were weakly philosophical and amusingly satirical, The A-List: Hollywood Royalty seemingly possesses little to no self-awareness regarding the absurdity of the privileged lives led by the main characters. While the lack of self-awareness in main characters is not necessarily detrimental to a book series (when employed correctly, this obliviousness can actually enhance a narrative), in the current zeitgeist, the various antics of a bunch of angsty, overly-privileged Hollywood teens present a particularly hard pill to swallow. While unsympathetic main characters are nothing new to literary narratives, the vapidity with which any interesting concept is presented in this series renders any and all merit of said concepts invalid. A true shame, since there are quite a few interesting topics presented within the A-List: Hollywood Royalty novels that could have provided biting commentary on socioeconomic and racial relations within American pop culture.

Case in point, Myla Everhart's character could have been extremely interesting. Obviously she, her parents and her siblings are thinly veiled references to Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and their adopted children. Myla was adopted from Thailand by the A-List universe's equivalent of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt when she was four years old (although Angelina and Brad also both still exist in this universe...? providing for some extremely confusing rivalries betweeen Brangelina and BarBar* YES BARBAR you heard me right, no I won't elaborate because I refuse to be so insulted). But does the author expound upon, nay INTRODUCE, ANY conflict experienced on Myla's behalf regarding her adoption? Of course not; her Thai heritage is fetishized and exoticized, barely mentioned except in passing regarding her "exotic beauty," or with vaguely racist and overtly xenophobic sentiments expressed through her own dialogue.

To summarize, if you're looking for a YA book series that possesses any substance that will stand the test of time, this book series is not that. If you want a YA book series evocative of similar themes, read the Private book series by Kate Brian. While also riddled with many of the familiar cliches and tropes indicative of YA fiction, the Private series offers at least some surface-level philosophical musings on American class relations.

[Aira · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book shouldn’t be on your read list. Unless you have a lot of time to waste and love things that are not enjoyable. The characters are so…. One dimensional that it’s hard to like them. I got this book in a thrift store because it was cheap and the title got me. Thankfully I didn’t spend more on this.

[Teto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, not "bad", but the constant dropping of brand names served to take me right out of it. Found myself invested the characters though

[TSN ☮ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The A-List, that elite group of Hollywood’s finest, is back. But while some people are born into that kind of glory, such as the golden couple Myla and Ash, others have to work their way up the celebrity ladder to even be deemed worthy. And that’s what outsiders like the good girl Amelie, the reformed geek Jake, and the nobody who’s just discovered her Hollywood connections, Jojo. But making it to the A-List and staying on are two completely separate things, and being included among these privileged ranks calls for a whole new set of drama, not to mention a whole new playing field for it. Each of these teens will have to decide, is it all worth it?

Dean brings back the high fashion, sneaky lies and deception, and good old-fashioned unrequited love characteristic to the first ten installments of The A-List series in its next generation. The cast may be all new, but the plot remains much the same—a covert name-dropping, rumor-spreading, boyfriend-stealing war between the insiders and the outsiders. Yet even though I question the value in reading about retail therapy and the drama of Hollywood High, I can’t resist indulging in this guilty pleasure that realistically portrays the spoiled and sometimes scandalous lives of the young and filthy rich, and those trying to get there. There are really two ways to look at novels like this: as a guilty pleasure read or an inadvertent social commentary. Although I highly doubt it was Dean’s intention to truly criticize the glamorous lifestyle, it’s pretty plain to see that there is something seriously shallow and wrong about how people pay so much attention to the latest styles and celebrity gossip. Nevertheless, Hollywood Royalty is a quick read perfect for a sunny day at the beach.

Fans of any teen guilty pleasure, such as Dean’s original A-List series, The Elite series by Jennifer Banash, the Private series by Kate Brian, and the Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar, is sure to enjoy Hollywood Royalty. Though not exactly brain stimulating material, I will probably check out the sequels to this gossipy read.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com

[Kyisha Walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the authors other series the A-List and was sorely disappointed. I only made it to book four before I had to quit. However, I came across this book at an overstock store for $1 and wanted to give her another shot. Every problem I had with the previous series was solved in this book. Similar storylines like newly found sisters and newcomers to Hollywood were done much better. The characters had arcs and were believably famous unlike the previous series which was all tell and no show. I also was glad to see that there are no adult and underage relationships in this book like the first series. I was very pleased to see these changes and while I was not a total fan of every storyline and character, each was likeable, and the world felt whole. I will be reading the next book in this series.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of it's series, Amilie, Mayla, Ash, Jacob, and jojo are introduced as new Hollywood royalty. Amelie is fairy Princess and just got her first "mature" gig with hot Hunter Sparks. Jocob her math tutor falls in love with her not realising this. Jacob is geek insdie with a sizzling outside. Jojo learns she is the bilogical daughter of Barbar, the Golden Couple, and her new sister Mayla and her golden boyfriend Ash. Mayla makes Jojo's life miserible and when her boy friend of three years breaks up with her the couple uses Jojo and another boy to make each other jealous. Jojo thinks Ash is into her but they are only friends. Jojo makes an attempt to go home but Mayla gets her to stay.

[Shalonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read any of Zoey Dean's original A-List titles. However, I am glad that I have them sitting on my shelf. I have every intention on reading the original series and continuing to follow this new spin-off. While I would consider this a fluff read, this book differs from the typical "rich kid scene" because the characters have issues that most teenagers can relate to. However, it still includes plenty of drama and excitement that will satisfy readers of celebrity gossip magazines and other YA series, such as Gossip Girl!

This was a fast and juicy read that kept me intrigued. I cannot wait to find out what becomes of each of the characters in the next A-List: Hollywood Royalty novel!

[Angelia Fransisca Rusli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read the first book of the A-List & quite love it. & this spin-off is as good.

Amelie Adams, better known as Fairy Princess, always known as the innocent & clean-living starlet. But she won't mind throwing all those reputation if she's to be with Hunter. Even if it means using Jake, her tutor.

Myla's world is turned upside down when she broke up with boyfriend Ash & Jojo, her new sister arrived. She hated Jojo to steal her spotlight & now Jojo is hanging out with Ash.

Drama-rama. Just like the original A-list. Oh well, just another guilty pleasure read.

Though this spin off is also good, I think the characters from the original series are more strong & I dunno, appealing? But I would still read the next book in the series

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The A-List: Hollywood Royalty is a spin-off of the A-List seris, However they are even cornier. The story is centered around a group of teenagers. One is the most popular girl at high school and has the hottest boyfriend. Then she finds out she has a sister. The sister was adopted but has now gone to live with her biological parents (who sound exactly like Brad and Angelina) but she, of course, does not fit in. There is a teen actress who is dating the good boy but wants the bad boy. And finally, there is a math geek turned hottie. While it was a stereotypical teenage book, I think I'll continue reading the series.

[Kassandra Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book in about 3 hours an it was pretty good. The first series (the A-list) was much faster to understand than this one. I felt like I was thrown way too many characters that I could handle in those first few pages. I didn't know who did what or who was who. At about page 50 I finally knew all the characters and even compared most of them to the girls in the A-list. Other than the minor mishap I had at the beginning with not knowing what was happening it has the same amount of juicy drama that I love about Zoey Deans books! I already have both of the next two books so I can't wait To get a comfy spot and read them!

[Pamela Hubbard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zoey Dean's previous A-list series left me with high hopes for this short series, but I was not too impressed. Character development was lacking, the story lines were too similar to the first series and the setting descriptions were also identical to her other books. This series focuses on JoJo Milford, a Sacramento girl raised by two dads who finds out her biological parents are Hollywood's hottest couple (with about 8 adopted children). She goes to live with them and learns how to survive in Hollywood and ward off the attacks of her new sister Myla.

[Marissa Z. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really good, but I wished that the book ended right there, instead of being a long series, as I felt like the author could've ended the book right at the end, and I felt like a sequel was unnecessary. I won't read the next books in the series, but I did enjoy the book.

Goodreads response/reflection: I think that Jacob is a very family oriented person, even though he is the oldest. He was talking to his mom about problems he was having with girls, and he didn't seem to mind that his younger siblings were listening in and talking to him about it.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, easy, enjoyable read. While it deals with youth interacting in a Hollywood setting; it speaks to the difficulties felt by young people as they mature, experience relationships, and try on new roles in general. Jojo and her two Dads, as well as other twists, added interest to this story for me (a Grandmother.) The targeted age group would likely rate the book higher due to personal relevancy. My daughter gave me this book to read while I was traveling; and, I did get a flashback to my youth.

[Kristen]

This was better than the last A-List book I read (which was the first in the original series) but I still wasn't sold on it and about halfway through, I just found it incredibly vapid and shallow and I decided that I didn't want to read anymore. I might finish it someday and review this properly though. Until then.

[Julia Shaffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the beginning to a series that i can predict will be filled with alot of drama and chaos. So far, I am really enjoying reading this book, and I fully understand each character and their background.