Until You

by Bridie Blake

Ellie Foster lives and breathes normal. She’s the responsible one, the girl everyone depends on.

Jason Holden doesn’t know the word normal. Star of the hit Planet Gazers films, his every move is watched by millions.

A chance encounter between the pair leads to a deal that will change their lives.

Ellie needs money for her family. Jason needs a girlfriend for the world tour of the final Planet Gazers movie. It’s a match made in Hollywood heaven.

But what happens when the lines between their act and reality become blurred? Can they figure out what is real and what’s fake?

Genres: New Adult

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 24, 2017

About the author

Bridie Blake lives and writes in Melbourne, Australia. She is a self-confessed daydreamer and consumer of reality TV, who can sniff out chocolate like a bloodhound and will never turn down a coffee or the opportunity to listen to Taylor Swift.

Her novel, The Boyfriend Clause, will be released in Australia and New Zealand in 2026 via Text Publishing.

Reviews

[Anja H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.75 CLICHÉ STARS*

I have 2 guilty pleasures that I pretty much always love in romance novels:
1) The teacher x student romance
2) The celebrity x ordinary person romance

This clearly falls into the second category, but I somehow didn’t enjoy this particular one.
Everything was so boring and I saw most of the ‘plot twists’ coming from miles away. I predicted that ending from page 1. The characters had no depth and I didn’t particularly love, nor like, any of them. I was so annoyed by the main couple’s lack of communication and the constant drama between them.

This could have been so much better.

Received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light and quirky, UNTIL YOU by Bridie Blake belongs at the beach or by the pool, like an added ray of funshine in the contemporary romance department!

Jason Holden is the latest flavor in Hollywood stardom and he has the reputation to prove it. How better to tame the wild man/child with too much money and too many good looks than to find him a girlfriend to tag along with him?

Ellie Foster is the go to girl in everyone’s lives. Her family is also in trouble financially, so when Fate put Jason in her path and opportunity was just a phone call away, Ellie made the call that would change her summer and possibly her life, forever.

Fast, fun, with a smattering of angst and Ellie, the brightest star in this romantic tale. Bridie Blake did a wonderful job of bringing us into the celluloid world of movies, smiling faces and all of the games people play. The true breath of fresh air is Ellie. I’m pretty sure adorable describes her character to a tee!

Now, whether this is a young adult read, Jason does have a manwhore rep to beat down. That said, nothing is blatant, but maybe this is better suited to an older crowd of young adults. The romance between Ellie and Jason is certainly a slow build, and again, just getting to that first kiss is almost painful!

All in all, I did love the lightness, the trials and tribulations of avoiding admitting their feelings and Hey, it’s summer, the reading should be easy and breezy! Go for it!

I received a complimentary copy from Evernight Teen!

Publisher: Evernight Teen (May 24, 2017)
Publication Date: May 24, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Print Length: 300 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[lucia meets books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in need of a contemporary romance book after reading so much fantasy this month and Until You was the perfect one and I’m so glad I picked it up <3

It’s been such a long time since I last read a book where the love interest is a superstar that I was afraid I wouldn’t like that trope anymore, luckily I loved how the superstar aspect came into play. It was so unique because the stories I’ve read focused on the nice side of being famous but Until You also shows that celebrities’ life sometimes isn’t as easy as the media says. There are a lot of things that our main male character, Jason, has to deal with like backstabbing, friends that are with you only when you serve a purpose and fake gossip going around that it could cost you your job.



Our main female character, Ellie, also has problems of her own such as her family not having enough money to live a comfortable life and a cheating “boyfriend”. I really enjoyed watching them fake a relationship and slowly start developing feelings for each other. There were some scenes and interactions that were so cute that I couldn’t help myself from whispering “awww”, it truly was such a sweet slow burn romance.

Moreover, I really liked how down to earth Ellie was. She was a simple girl who liked simple things like enjoying an afternoon with friends or taking selfies at impressive places just to send them to her family. Everyone ends up loving her and for good reasons, she’s a lovely and sweet girl.

An aspect I didn’t like about this book is how there is a conflict almost at the end that’s there just to make the story longer because it gets solve way too easily for my liking. He kind of just told her “I love you, forgive me”, she answer “ok” and then they kissed which was totally hilarious.



All in all, I did enjoy this book due to the characters’ personalities and the romance was super sweet without being too over the top. The fact that the “superstar” trope was done so uniquely definitely added up to my enjoyment of Until You. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that there is an unnecesary conflict almost at the end which made no sense but I still gave this book 4 stars so obviously I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.

[Dianne]

I received a complimentary copy from Evernight Teen!

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until You by Bridie Black is a cute young adult love story. Ellie Foster is a normal girl who takes on responsibility for everyone. Jason Holden is a movie star loved by millions. What happens when Ellie and Jason agree to be a fake couple? I love this genre, there is something so innocent about first loves. I love the quirky people and situations in this book, and watching the characters grow. I found this book to be a quick read, and recommend it to all readers who enjoy a sweet romance.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[KelticKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a bit of light & breezy summer's night!

I'm really not a huge fan of the "fake girlfriend/wife" thing - but this one worked for me.

Ellie has a chance encounter one night with Jason out side a A-List party she's working. She comes to his rescue when scandal breaks - they have moment, a connection, but quickly brushes off the encounter in favor of real life.

So when the tables turn and Ellie reaches out to his Publicist for help in getting a job for the summer that will help her family out of a bind.

Jason is a complete self-centered jerk at the start of the book. I do like as we find out more about Jason we begin to see behind his mask to the real person that he hides and protects beneath.

At the beginning of the "relationship" they both make some mistakes that come back to bite them near the end. There's angst and drama - but in the end we get a HFN.

[Macy Klingerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a sucker for celeb/non celeb romances so when I got an email from Bridie Blake I was so excited. I’ve had a pretty tame week, so I actually had time to sit down and enjoy this book, and oh boy, did I enjoy it.

I personally love reading romance in the summer, and I know many of you like to do so as well. This book takes place on a world tour for our male protagonist’s movie release, so it’s packed with places that I want to go to some day. There’s something about two people learning about each other and falling in love in some of the most romantic places in the world that just screams “HELLO SUMMER YES THIS IS VERY SUMMER”. I mean, the Eiffel Tower? Even if that particular scene isn’t uhhhh.. conventionally romantic, you still get the idea. One of the great thing about the romance in this book is that while there is some initial “oh wow you’re gorgeous” attraction, the actual romance is very much a slow burn with a pretty satisfying payoff.

Until You switches in-between 2 POVs, Ellie and Jason. I’m happy to report that it didn’t fall into the trap of “one POV is WAYYYYY more enjoyable than the other”. I loved being in both of their heads and watching as their feelings and motivations towards each other (and life in general, really) grow and change. I felt like there was some serious character growth for both of them by the time I reached the end of the story.

As we coast through the last days of summer, I urge you to pick up Until You ASAP. I give it 5 out of 5 stars and I thank the author for sending a copy my way.

[Kate R · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have really mixed feelings about this one. I honestly thought I would love this one. The fake relationship trope with a celebrity is one of my favorite stories. Ellie is a college student who by fate happens to meet and help Jason, a mega celebrity, out of a sticky situation. Months later, when her family is in need of help, she contacts his publicist again, and as fate would have it, Jason happened to need a fake girlfriend at just that time.

I enjoyed the parts about being a celebrity as well as the travel and sightseeing they did. And I did love some of the secondary characters. But, I truly almost gave up on the novel after a few chapters. The beginning was super rushed. I pushed through and I did enjoy the middle of the novel. But, the end was again really rushed. The characters were not very well developed, in my opinion. I honestly feel like I know nothing about Ellie except the basics (age, occupation, etc…) even after finishing the book. Jason was slightly more developed. He was an arrogant jerk in the beginning, and you did see a change in him at the end. If you enjoy fake relationship and celebrity tropes, you'd probably like this one.

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Rups!! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the theme of a simple girl and a celebrity hero. The story gives justice to both the sides of the coin. As in it shows pros and cons for both being a normal human being and also for being a celebrity. I really liked the story. It had the perfect flow and in fact it gripped me till the end. Surprising part for me was that I knew that the texts saying bad things about the actor Jason by Ellie to her friend would create a misunderstanding but I thought that it would be because of her friend, as she would leak that out of jealousy but the twist was brought via other character and that part I liked the most.

A nice book to read and enjoy.

[KarenJo Custodio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5 Stars

Until You by Bridie Blake was a fantastic read from start to finish! I swooned like crazy, laughed like a dork, and tried to hold back my tears a few times.

I’ve always liked celebrity romance stories. You know the ones where the more than meets the eye irresistibly hot and somewhat arrogant/misunderstood, but actually really kind and sweet actor falls hopelessly in love with the average and simple small town, but incredibly fascinating and inspiring girl or vice versa or some version similar to that. Whoa that was a mouthful… sorry about that loves…but you know what I mean right? They’re also quite predictable and usually have cheesy HEAs, but they’re just so much fun to read! Add the fake dating/relationship trope into the picture and you get something crazy, messy, and full of drama, but with the absolute best kind of FEELS. And this book… it had those FEELS and SWOONS and so much more than I expected.

I liked the writing style a lot and thought both the POVs were really great. Usually, I tend to like one more than the other, but with this book, I enjoyed both Ellie and Jason’s POV. I also thought the plot was well-developed, interesting, and had its own uniqueness. Some parts were predictable in the sense that the things I expected to happen did happen, but there was also depth to the story. There’s a bit of everything which I really liked — gossip, drama, heartbreak, friendship, loyalty, family, forgiveness, love and of course self-discovery. I don’t want to give too much away, but even though I knew how the story would eventually end (you get this feeling when you read way too many romance novels), there were still some nice surprises and twists. The romance was slow burn and I have to admit that I got a little impatient at some point, but my oh my… I am not kidding when I say that when I got there, it was deliciously satisfying. I got the butterflies and those warm fuzzies and I just wanted to hug and squish something so hard because Ellie and Jason were just too cute and swoony together. The ending was super adorable and heartwarming and left me smiling and just you know.. really happy with how everything wrapped up.

Character wise, I thought they were all pretty great. Ellie’s got spunk and I enjoyed her sense of humor. She’s also very likable and relatable. Jason was impossible not to like. You just know there was something more about him and he’s not the irresponsible playboy he pretends to be. I enjoyed his softer side and how protective he was with the people he loved. I also really liked Annaliese and Georgia, and I absolutely adored Jason’s grandfather (Oh and Jason’s relationship with his grandparents will definitely make you love him more). But Rebecca, Ellie’s best friend, was definitely the scene-stealer and my favorite character! She’s funny, caring, and such a firecracker! She actually reminds me a lot of my best friend. She’s blunt, but honest, feisty, loyal, supportive and just a really awesome friend.

Overall, I really had a blast reading Until You. It was adorably funny, delightfully entertaining and sweetly romantic. I loved the sweet moments that tugged at my heartstrings and made me aww. I loved the serious and emotional scenes that had me tearing up and holding back tears. And I really loved how the relationships between the characters felt realistic and relatable. Really excited to check out more books by B. Blake and I think you should definitely add her to your to-be-read authors.

If you’re looking for a fun swoontabulous YA contemporary romance full of heart, laughs, and swoons to keep you company this winter, then grab a copy of this book.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and fair review. All thoughts, feels, swoons and opinions are my own.

Review, Favorite Quotes and Author Interview can be found on my blog Sincerely Karen Jo

[Stacy Sabala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review- Until You by Birdie Blake
This book starts with a chance meeting and you can see how Ellie is. She is understanding and compassionate. I liked her instantly. Jason was good int the very beginning but became a jerk. This story continues the life and façade of a famous author. The expectations are ridiculous. Ellie gets pulled into the harsh life and tries to remain herself. Her insecurities are thrown in her face by haters. Jason steps in to assure her. They become friends and partners. I love that part. Jason and Ellie balancing each other out.
It is a fairytale where a regular girl can catch the eye and heart of a Hollywood heartthrob. However, the author shows to what extent what some will go to stay in the limelight. It’s sad how some get so caught up in the life. It is not reality unfortunately. Who do you trust? Who do you count on when you need someone? That was such an underlying struggle for Jason in this story. He really doesn’t have control over his own life. Ellie gets a first hand look at what it takes to be a part of that world and what happens when it comes crashing down.
I was on her side the whole book. She was a great character and didn’t let her fears stop her in the end. It was a great read that shows the dark side of being a celebrity in the role that young adult readers can relate to. I give it a 4 out of 5.

[Kim Bakos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed reading it - kind of an easy "fluff" change than the meatier books that I tend to read. However, it is supposed to be a teen romance, and as the mother of a 16 year old daughter, I can say I wouldn't want her to read it.
The first 50 pages of the book deal with the main male character basically being a "man-whore", being in a downward spiral because he was caught up in a sex tape scandal, and trying to forget about these issues by being drunk all the time. None of these are scenarios that I want my daughter to feel are normal or OK. We are trying to instill in her the values of sobriety and abstinence, or at the least to drink in moderation and only have sex in a committed relationship.
The book becomes more fun when the two main characters enter into the charade of a relationship, but there are scenes of sexual harassment and older men who prey on young women in the story.
So if you are adult and want to read this story for entertainment, go for it. But proceed with caution if you are sharing it with young adult readers who you want to be people of character.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that draws you in and then captivates you enough to want to devour it. The plot alone: who hasn't dreamed of what it would be like to date Hollywood's Sexiest Man Alive? So what if it's all for show? And maybe he outwardly dispises you/the idea?
This is a quick, fun read perfect for the summer or dead of winter when you wish you could be gallavanting around Europe with Hollywood royalty. It's a fun story, it's fast paced (though a slow burn), and it's written really, really well. The romance is heavily featured, but the plot also goes in depth in character development as well - family dynamics, friendships, Hollywood fake friendships, etc. The dual POV was done really well and really added to the story for the reader. I do think the ending was a wee bit rushed, but honestly, it didn't distract from the overall feeling of the book.
Is it a little cliched and predictable? Yes. Do I care? Absolutely not. And neither should you, if you're picking up this type of book. I think it'll be classified as Young Adult, but I think it's more of the New Adult genre that's emerging.
Overall, it was a cute read that I highly recommend.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Evernight Teen in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Until You looks like an exact carbon copy of the young adult dramas our patrons generally go for. While reading the description I could not help but be reminded of the movie Win a Date with Tad Hamilton and The Secrets of my Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita and how the hollywood lifestyle is so glamorous at first but when reality hits, its not what its meant to be. I got a little sense of that vibe while reading Until You but the story had a little more drama and flare to it that it kept things interesting and peaked to know what will happen next and that is what our readers are looking for in these types of books. This book is a real page turner and is sure to not disappoint.

This book will definitely have a home in our YFiction collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Jennica Bridgman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt amateur, with very choppy writing and an overly simple storyline. The writing wasn’t refined. The writing is jarring and rushed and doesn’t feel natural, especially at the beginning. The characters aren’t consistent. Jason is hot and cold, even in his own thoughts. The author resorts to telling us most things instead of showing, which makes it feel forced and contrived instead of flowing naturally. The story is overly cliche and the writing is underdeveloped and we learn next to nothing about the characters or their real lives, but still yet I was sucked in. It’s the type of story I’d love to see in movie form. Thanks to NetGalley and Evernight Teen for providing a copy for me to read!

[Christine Rees · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A taste of the glamorous life."

Until You builds a gradual love story between two individuals from completely different worlds: a college student and an A-list celebrity. In desperate need to help her family out of financial trouble, Ellie accepts a job as movie star Jason Holden's fake girlfriend to create his "down-to-earth" image. It is no surprise that the two develop feelings for one another, but the wicked nature of showbiz takes its toll on their relationship and the twists will leave you wanting more. It's a fun read with clothing hiccups, makeovers, glamorous celebrities, paparazzi, and steamy make-out sessions.

[2kasmom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie is the most normal of all she knows. College is going fine. Life may pass her by. What's next? Kiss a celebrity and don't tell a soul!

Jason is in a pinch and needs help. Ellie is the closest solution. Can a college student and a movie star convince everyone they are together?

Seriously this book has so much to it. Laughter, heat, coming of age, heart, loyalty, and more. I found the characters to be very real and seriously charming. Together, they made a great story.


***This copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.

[Dun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent/good writing, actual dialogue and not just telling everything. however the H is annoying as heck and just consistently does the wrong thing like what’s there even to fall in love w ? and he barely grovelled and she took him back so fast like bruh show him the door and make HIM WORK FPR YOU -the apology needs larger than the disrespect and trampling betrayal

[Kate Larkindale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick read following the romance between an average college student and a movie star. The characters were well drawn, and there were enough glamorous events and gowns to keep even the paparazzi happy.

[Amber Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until You by Birdie Blake
Oh wow this was such a wonderful book I absolutely fell in love with all these characters and I want so much more for their story to continue! I would even love to read Georgia's story!! I hope there is more to come from this book!!!
5 stars

[booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy evening read for me, a relatable, but cheesy, love story.

[Literary Chanteuse · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Steff Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

| Reader Fox Blog |


I made a comment a little while ago while I was reading Until You by Bridie Blake that I didn’t know why I still bother to read books with this sort of premise anymore and every part of me wishes it wasn’t true. I have always, for some reason, found myself drawn to the “fake dating a celebrity to save his career” plot. Every single time I find myself disappointed because I am reading basically the exact same book. Yet somehow I always convince myself beforehand that this wont be true.

There’s nothing new about Until You, nothing that sets it apart from all the other books just like it. I’ll admit, the characters in this on were certainly a lot less annoying than the ones in the last one I read, I think largely due to just better overall writing this time around. But even with that, they were all poorly developed and followed the same typical set of events that all the other books do.

First they meet somehow (and this is about as original as this particular book gets), then they end up in a contract where the girl will fake date him for a while to help his image, then they start to fall for each other—and for some reason that is seriously beginning to infuriate me this always as an excessive amount of focus on how she looks as opposed to her personality—and then something happens, usually with one of his employees that causes a miscommunication that results in a big dramatic fight and resulting breakup that is eventually resolved in a flash forward a few weeks later. Sometimes these characters reveal their feelings prior to the intervening of aforementioned member of his staff and sometimes they reveal them after, but really, is that a good enough difference to make this sort of book interesting?

I don’t know why I ever expect there will be something new to these books.

But, wait. There was something new to Until You, something that became the primary reason for why I rated this book with two stars as opposed to three. The main character gets sexually assaulted. And literally no one does anything about it. She’s left in a booth in a club with a massively predatory celebrity who kisses her neck and reaches his way up her dress to her underwear. And then her fake boyfriend shows up, pulls her away, glares a bit and that’s the last we hear of it.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I could’ve handled the poorly developed characters, the typical motivation, the plot that could literally be compared to a cooking recipe, but I cannot handle sexual assault not being addressed. We don’t live in a time period where that is acceptable anymore. Plain and simple. I know this book was published in 2017, but let’s be a bit more progressive than this. I was honestly so uncomfortable reading this scene and I can see it being exceedingly triggering for someone.

And I suppose the book could have some points for having some LGBTQ representation, but frankly it was so hidden and minimal and then only addressed in a couple of sentences that it was pretty pathetic, so I don’t even know if the book deserves credit for it. Needless to say, I’m pretty disappointed.

Overall, my complaints about the main bit of the story come down to the fact that no one ever seems to have any originality. Which, I suppose, if I’m reading a book that follows this plotline I should just start to expect so maybe I’ll be happily surprised one day? Had it not been for the problems regarding the sexual assault and the gay character, I might have given this book a three just for not being terrible in terms of writing quality. But...those portions of the novel were truly quite poorly handled.

Truth be told, I think a two-star rating is being generous.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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[Sharon Marie Himsl]

This is one of the best romances I have read so far this year. In a bizarre, yet believable twist of fate, college coed Ellie Foster finds herself in the employment of Hollywood's hot young star, Jason Holden. Jason's popularity with fans, however, has tumbled recently and could be on the chopping block if he doesn't fix his tarnished image soon. His recent breakup with one of Hollywood's sweethearts has Jason's fan base furious, especially after Jason was then filmed having a fling at a hotel. The sex tape could ruin his career. His publicity team hires Ellie to pose as his new girlfriend, whose image as a cute, wholesome college girl just might work. Ellie signs a contract, not because she is enamored with Jason, but because she secretly needs the money to help her family, as her dad has lost his job. The rules are simple. Convince fans they are in love in public, but off stage, remember it's only fake. Once Jason's image is restored, the plan is for the couple to quietly breakup. All goes as planned until Jason and Ellie secretly fall in love. Blake does an excellent job creating a slow simmer as both start to believe a relationship might work. Not all on Jason's team agrees, however, and when the media gets wind of the contract, the romance appears doomed. Jason and Ellie tell their stories in separate voices and are well developed. Side characters are also well fleshed out, adding to complications. An enjoyable read.

[Destiny Bridwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I have read a few books like this but this was well done. I liked that we got both characters POVs. Ellie is given the opportunity to be the fake girlfriend of a famous movie star. She is offered money to help her family. She does it but it is not all she assumed it would be. There were times I just wanted to punch Jason, but his POV made me understand some of his actions. It is a sweet story. I enjoyed it and will have to look into other stories my author has written. 

[Kristy Thiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! I discovered this book by accident, and boy am I glad I did! The author does such a wonderful job of really delving into the characters so you feel like you not only are there, but know them. I loved this book so much I neglected my family and house until I was able to finish it, and once I did, I was sad that it was over. This book kept me wondering what would happen next. I would highly recommend this, and now plan to seek out other books by the same author.

[Amber Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until You by Birdie Blake
Oh wow this was such a wonderful book I absolutely fell in love with all these characters and I want so much more for their story to continue! I would even love to read Georgia's story!! I hope there is more to come from this book!!!
5 stars

[Amber Dicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was seriously an amazing story! It was a true young adult love story, and still managed to be an amazing read without anything super hot and heavy.