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The Robbie Day Duology #1
Bart Goes to Brentwood
Bart Healey has been chasing his acting dream around Hollywood for eleven years and all he’s got to show for it is an eviction notice. It wouldn’t be so bad if he only had himself to worry about, but back home in Texas, there’s his sister and his mom who never have enough cash to get by. Bart’s right on the verge of giving up the ghost and moving back home when a chance encounter while delivering groceries to one of Hollywood’s biggest names changes everything.
Bart’s had a crush on former child star, former teen heart-throb, and current studio mogul, Robbie Day, since he was a kid, watching his many tragedies unfold across televisions and tabloids. Robbie Day is driven, funny, charismatic, and ravenous for friendship from his lonely mansion up in Mandeville Canyon. When Bart saves Robbie’s life during a particularly dark night of the soul, Robbie is eternally grateful. Of course, Bart has no choice but to fall in love, even against all his best instincts.
Bart’s had a crush on former child star, former teen heart-throb, and current studio mogul, Robbie Day, since he was a kid, watching his many tragedies unfold across televisions and tabloids. Robbie Day is driven, funny, charismatic, and ravenous for friendship from his lonely mansion up in Mandeville Canyon. When Bart saves Robbie’s life during a particularly dark night of the soul, Robbie is eternally grateful. Of course, Bart has no choice but to fall in love, even against all his best instincts.
341 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2017
15 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 24, 2018
Definitely not what I expected from the blurb. I enjoyed the heck out of this story.
The author needs editors. There are copy editing issues with typos and grammar and even confusing who is talking at times. Despite that they can write.
The story’s bare bones are pretty familiar but it’s like the author is looking at it slightly askance so it all feels fresh.
I really liked Bart and Robbie and can’t wait to pick up book 2.
The author needs editors. There are copy editing issues with typos and grammar and even confusing who is talking at times. Despite that they can write.
The story’s bare bones are pretty familiar but it’s like the author is looking at it slightly askance so it all feels fresh.
I really liked Bart and Robbie and can’t wait to pick up book 2.
December 6, 2017
This was unexpected. The story was interesting and refreshing, an absolute pleasure to read! I’m so glad it’s a duology, I’m impatiently waiting for more Bart and Robbie.
September 7, 2019
**Warning: I feel a long earnest rant (the good kind) coming on so...tl:dr at the beginning -- read the damn book, it's amazing, you will NEVER regret meeting these people**
So. A little bit about me first. I moved to LA in my early 20s after growing-up in the upper Midwest. After managing 27 years in SoCal LaLa Land, I moved back to the world of You Betcha and just received my one-year recovery/escape chip two weeks ago. I still have family and very beloved friends out on the Left Coast. I read this whole book with fondness and nostalgia and holy-shit-that's-SO-accurate-ness. I.M. Flippy has SoCal and the Industry down cold. (Yeah, I'm friends with producers, sound mixers, editors, make-up artists -- SNL's The Californians is only funny because it's So. Damn. True.) This book. It's straight outta Westwood, baby. Or Brentwood. Or Linwood even. (Yeah, I'm friends with somebody who was a couple years behind Weird Al in high school, too...) This story is all the best parts of The Room and The Disaster Artist. And Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. And L.A. Story (which came out one week after I moved to L.A., so of course we went to see it in Westwood -- perfection all around). Bart IS L.A. in so many ways -- transplant from someplace else, trying to survive in crappy apartments and then couch surfing, blowing auditions by getting in his own way. I adore him. And Robbie needs a soul-deep happiness so damn badly. Why did I wait so long to read this book? Oh yeah, because there's not enough I.M. Flippy backlog to hold me, so I have to be a miser with my reveling...
Only one or two quibbles -- a few missing words that were obviously meant to be there and easily edited in-head, and one glaring extra article (who says "driving on the PCH" (emphasis mine) for Pete's sake? Holy crap, it's the 405 or the 101, but the PCH? WTF people!), but otherwise this book is flawless. Can't wait to read the second half...
So. A little bit about me first. I moved to LA in my early 20s after growing-up in the upper Midwest. After managing 27 years in SoCal LaLa Land, I moved back to the world of You Betcha and just received my one-year recovery/escape chip two weeks ago. I still have family and very beloved friends out on the Left Coast. I read this whole book with fondness and nostalgia and holy-shit-that's-SO-accurate-ness. I.M. Flippy has SoCal and the Industry down cold. (Yeah, I'm friends with producers, sound mixers, editors, make-up artists -- SNL's The Californians is only funny because it's So. Damn. True.) This book. It's straight outta Westwood, baby. Or Brentwood. Or Linwood even. (Yeah, I'm friends with somebody who was a couple years behind Weird Al in high school, too...) This story is all the best parts of The Room and The Disaster Artist. And Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. And L.A. Story (which came out one week after I moved to L.A., so of course we went to see it in Westwood -- perfection all around). Bart IS L.A. in so many ways -- transplant from someplace else, trying to survive in crappy apartments and then couch surfing, blowing auditions by getting in his own way. I adore him. And Robbie needs a soul-deep happiness so damn badly. Why did I wait so long to read this book? Oh yeah, because there's not enough I.M. Flippy backlog to hold me, so I have to be a miser with my reveling...
Only one or two quibbles -- a few missing words that were obviously meant to be there and easily edited in-head, and one glaring extra article (who says "driving on the PCH" (emphasis mine) for Pete's sake? Holy crap, it's the 405 or the 101, but the PCH? WTF people!), but otherwise this book is flawless. Can't wait to read the second half...
September 23, 2017
“We jizzed all over Fassbender,” Bart said.
“Probably not the first time he’s had come on his face.”
Arghh!! You have no idea how excited I am to have discovered this author who is so new she’s still shiny. I adored her first book, but Bart Goes To Brentwood, her second published novel, is one of my favourite books this year.
What I love most about I.M. Flippy’s books is the chemistry between the two main characters. And I don’t just mean sexual chemistry, although…well, I’ll get to that. But from the first moment her characters meet there is an instant connection and every time one of them opens their mouth to talk to the other, I hold my breath in anticipation of what is going to happen next. These characters are interesting, more than that, they’re fascinating, and I have no idea how hard the author has to work to tell these stories, to invent her characters, but she makes it appear effortless. Often quippy (yes, I think quippy should be a word) dialogue can feel forced and awkward, but I never get that feeling from this book. Instead I’m pretty sure I read it from cover to cover with a dopey grin on my face and maybe a happy tear in my eye.
While Robbie, one of MCs is an A-List celebrity, and Bart is an aspiring actor, this book didn’t really have the feel of the usual movie star stories. Perhaps because the majority of the book was set behind the gates of Robbie’s private estate, but I’m not usually a fan of Hollywood stories and, obviously, I loved this one. The tone of the book was light and hopeful, but the author also touched on addiction and homophobia. While these subjects added a more serious aspect to Bart and Robbie’s tale, I wouldn’t say they added real angst to the story. It added more emotion to some scenes, but didn’t darken the overall mood.
Did I mention sex? Wow, the sex. For the first time ever…EVER…an author managed to make a foot fetish sexy. Sorry Bart! Not a fetish! But damn, that took some mad writing skills to get me to unscrew my nose and get off my judgey high horse.
I appreciated the fact that Robbie realizing he’s bisexual rather than straight was no big deal. Like he points out, there’s enough messed up shit in his life that being attracted to another man is way down the list of things to be concerned about. I also really liked what the author showed of Bart’s transgender sister and hope that her character is seen more in the second book.
So, speaking of the second book. I need it, and I need it now. Bart Goes To Brentwood doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, and it leaves the characters in a good place, but there is still so much that needs to be resolved. I absolutely can’t wait to get my grabby hands on a copy of the next story, A Day in Cleburne.
Reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2017/09/2...
“Probably not the first time he’s had come on his face.”
Arghh!! You have no idea how excited I am to have discovered this author who is so new she’s still shiny. I adored her first book, but Bart Goes To Brentwood, her second published novel, is one of my favourite books this year.
What I love most about I.M. Flippy’s books is the chemistry between the two main characters. And I don’t just mean sexual chemistry, although…well, I’ll get to that. But from the first moment her characters meet there is an instant connection and every time one of them opens their mouth to talk to the other, I hold my breath in anticipation of what is going to happen next. These characters are interesting, more than that, they’re fascinating, and I have no idea how hard the author has to work to tell these stories, to invent her characters, but she makes it appear effortless. Often quippy (yes, I think quippy should be a word) dialogue can feel forced and awkward, but I never get that feeling from this book. Instead I’m pretty sure I read it from cover to cover with a dopey grin on my face and maybe a happy tear in my eye.
While Robbie, one of MCs is an A-List celebrity, and Bart is an aspiring actor, this book didn’t really have the feel of the usual movie star stories. Perhaps because the majority of the book was set behind the gates of Robbie’s private estate, but I’m not usually a fan of Hollywood stories and, obviously, I loved this one. The tone of the book was light and hopeful, but the author also touched on addiction and homophobia. While these subjects added a more serious aspect to Bart and Robbie’s tale, I wouldn’t say they added real angst to the story. It added more emotion to some scenes, but didn’t darken the overall mood.
Did I mention sex? Wow, the sex. For the first time ever…EVER…an author managed to make a foot fetish sexy. Sorry Bart! Not a fetish! But damn, that took some mad writing skills to get me to unscrew my nose and get off my judgey high horse.
I appreciated the fact that Robbie realizing he’s bisexual rather than straight was no big deal. Like he points out, there’s enough messed up shit in his life that being attracted to another man is way down the list of things to be concerned about. I also really liked what the author showed of Bart’s transgender sister and hope that her character is seen more in the second book.
So, speaking of the second book. I need it, and I need it now. Bart Goes To Brentwood doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, and it leaves the characters in a good place, but there is still so much that needs to be resolved. I absolutely can’t wait to get my grabby hands on a copy of the next story, A Day in Cleburne.
Reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2017/09/2...
September 29, 2019
This is a nice story. I like the characters and the setup. But I am not a one POV girl. There is always something missing in my opinion; How does Robbie feel about falling for a guy, is he nervous about having sex the first time etc. Furthermore, the book has way too many typos and other errors. It could definitely use a read over.
May 31, 2020
This is honestly one of my favorite books. I've read it at least 5 times and it never fails to make me happy. This is my rainy day book. The story is sweet and enjoyable, the characters are relatable and the romance is absolutely outstanding. If you're looking for a book that will make your whole heart smile, then look no further.
June 13, 2018
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. A diamond in the rough - sometimes very rough. Several egregious misspellings and downright errors, including the author forgetting which character is speaking. Despite that, I really enjoyed this sweet and funny romance between a down on his luck aspiring actor and the former child star he has long adored from afar. The story is told through Bart's POV as he meets the real Robbie Day (both very similar to and different from his fantasy) and falls in love despite his best intentions to keep his heart safely tucked away. There's angst without melodrama, sex scenes that are more entertaining than erotic, and apparently a strong working knowledge of how Hollywood really works.
Hate the book cover, suspicious of the author's name (I.M. Flippy? Really?) but charmed despite my best intentions.
Favorite quote: "Swear to God, the shortest distance between a good time and an existential crisis is Bart Healey." (exclaimed by Bart's best friend Adam)
Warning: ends on a HFN for the MCs, but somewhat of a plot cliffhanger, so after investing a mere 99 cents in the first book of the duology I have no doubt I'll be ponying up full price for the conclusion. Well played, Ms. Flippy, or whoever you are.
Hate the book cover, suspicious of the author's name (I.M. Flippy? Really?) but charmed despite my best intentions.
Favorite quote: "Swear to God, the shortest distance between a good time and an existential crisis is Bart Healey." (exclaimed by Bart's best friend Adam)
Warning: ends on a HFN for the MCs, but somewhat of a plot cliffhanger, so after investing a mere 99 cents in the first book of the duology I have no doubt I'll be ponying up full price for the conclusion. Well played, Ms. Flippy, or whoever you are.
September 26, 2017
When I finished I.M. Flippy’s first novel, I was ready for more, and Bart Goes To Brentwood certainly did not disappoint.
Something the author knows how to do extremely well is create amazing characters. I adored Bart and Robbie throughout the novel, and always wanted to know more about side characters like Jenny. Each character has such an expansive and well thought out backstory that doesn’t even need a lot of time on the page in order to get you to want more. Additionally the chemistry the author manages to develop between the characters is fantastic. Bart’s relationship with his sister Jenny is heartwarming and honest. Plus, many moments between Robbie and Bart had me swooning.
By far my favorite line in the novel is Bart expressing his fantasy by saying “It was difficult to live in a castle and not picture the rest of the fairy tale.”
It’s moments like this the author has sprinkled amongst the narrative that make Bart Goes to Brentwood a lovely delight to read. I’m waiting in anticipation for the continuation of Bart and Robbie’s story, and for more from this author.
Something the author knows how to do extremely well is create amazing characters. I adored Bart and Robbie throughout the novel, and always wanted to know more about side characters like Jenny. Each character has such an expansive and well thought out backstory that doesn’t even need a lot of time on the page in order to get you to want more. Additionally the chemistry the author manages to develop between the characters is fantastic. Bart’s relationship with his sister Jenny is heartwarming and honest. Plus, many moments between Robbie and Bart had me swooning.
By far my favorite line in the novel is Bart expressing his fantasy by saying “It was difficult to live in a castle and not picture the rest of the fairy tale.”
It’s moments like this the author has sprinkled amongst the narrative that make Bart Goes to Brentwood a lovely delight to read. I’m waiting in anticipation for the continuation of Bart and Robbie’s story, and for more from this author.
January 7, 2018
I got a good laugh out of some of the typos early in the book.
He saw a "coy pond"
In the first extended conversation between Adam and Bart, the writer forgets to use Bart's name in a paragraph, and Adam ends up reacting to his own comment, "Adam did not flinch...Adam sounded faux casual."
And, of course, repetition: ...the pain of knowing there was zero time for some stolen fuckery in onr of Robbie Day's broom closets was almost painful." So pain is painful, huh?
He saw a "coy pond"
In the first extended conversation between Adam and Bart, the writer forgets to use Bart's name in a paragraph, and Adam ends up reacting to his own comment, "Adam did not flinch...Adam sounded faux casual."
And, of course, repetition: ...the pain of knowing there was zero time for some stolen fuckery in onr of Robbie Day's broom closets was almost painful." So pain is painful, huh?
September 29, 2017
Something for everyone
This book has it all. Romance, laughter, sadness, joy in the morning...The only reason I didn't give it five stars was the editing fails which I found annoying.
This book has it all. Romance, laughter, sadness, joy in the morning...The only reason I didn't give it five stars was the editing fails which I found annoying.
June 19, 2019
#SpoilerWarrior
I liked this. A lot. SO much. But the editing was awful? I’d be so into a scene and then the wrong name would be used and it was like the literary equivalent of calling out the wrong name in bed. So. Awkward.
I liked this. A lot. SO much. But the editing was awful? I’d be so into a scene and then the wrong name would be used and it was like the literary equivalent of calling out the wrong name in bed. So. Awkward.
August 3, 2018
"Ten, ten, would ride again."
November 30, 2018
Fun
This is a fun read about an unemployed actor meeting his idol and falling in love. fairly light, but entertaining. Quite a few editing errors. 3.5 stars
This is a fun read about an unemployed actor meeting his idol and falling in love. fairly light, but entertaining. Quite a few editing errors. 3.5 stars
June 9, 2018
6/9/18 Currently 99c via Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B075K59JB...
December 14, 2023
Received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for a review.
I'm not usually big on romance, in fact I never read it. But this book came my way and turns out romance might actually sometimes be for me too.
What I loved most about this was the characters. They were likeable and well-rounded and the chemistry between them was just amazing. Sparks are flying from the first time you meet them, and the first time they meet each other. It made the whole book, the main characters and their relationship.
When it comes to the plot I found the premise very exciting, its execution slightly less so. The beginning is great, but it started to lose some of its magic later on. There was very little conflict, despite how much opportunity there was for it (heroin addiction, dead wife, celebrity characters). Luckily Bart and Robbie were enough to keep me interested anyway, but I would have appreciated more... plot. Another thing is that their relationship progresses pretty fast after a certain point, like, too fast. The ending was also a bit abrupt to my taste, but I guess that's what sequels are for.
Overall, it wasn't a believable story and reads a bit more like some sort of wish fulfilment dream scenario. But it had its moments; sweet and romantic moments, sexy moments, funny moments (that peacock is my favourite character and it's unacceptable that we saw so little of it).
You could be fooled by the blurb and the start of the book that it's going to be darker and more dramatic than it is, and if that's what you're looking for, you're likely to be disappointed. But if what you want is a light, funny, sweet, feel-good read to gush and go "Aww" over, you've come to the right place.
I'm not usually big on romance, in fact I never read it. But this book came my way and turns out romance might actually sometimes be for me too.
What I loved most about this was the characters. They were likeable and well-rounded and the chemistry between them was just amazing. Sparks are flying from the first time you meet them, and the first time they meet each other. It made the whole book, the main characters and their relationship.
When it comes to the plot I found the premise very exciting, its execution slightly less so. The beginning is great, but it started to lose some of its magic later on. There was very little conflict, despite how much opportunity there was for it (heroin addiction, dead wife, celebrity characters). Luckily Bart and Robbie were enough to keep me interested anyway, but I would have appreciated more... plot. Another thing is that their relationship progresses pretty fast after a certain point, like, too fast. The ending was also a bit abrupt to my taste, but I guess that's what sequels are for.
Overall, it wasn't a believable story and reads a bit more like some sort of wish fulfilment dream scenario. But it had its moments; sweet and romantic moments, sexy moments, funny moments (that peacock is my favourite character and it's unacceptable that we saw so little of it).
You could be fooled by the blurb and the start of the book that it's going to be darker and more dramatic than it is, and if that's what you're looking for, you're likely to be disappointed. But if what you want is a light, funny, sweet, feel-good read to gush and go "Aww" over, you've come to the right place.
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