What You Don't Know About Charlie Outlaw

by Leah Stewart

The celebrated author of The Myth of You and Me explores an untraditional love story through the lens of a character actor who must finally become the hero of her own story.

After a series of missteps in the face of his newfound fame, actor Charlie Outlaw flees to a remote island in search of anonymity and a chance to reevaluate his recent breakup with his girlfriend, actress Josie Lamar. But soon after his arrival on the peaceful island, his solitary hike into the jungle takes him into danger he never anticipated.

As Charlie struggles with gaining fame, Josie struggles with its loss. The star of a cult TV show in her early twenties, Josie has spent the twenty years since searching for a role to equal that one, and feeling less and less like her character, the heroic Bronwyn Kyle. As she gets ready for a reunion of the cast at a huge fan convention, she thinks all she needs to do is find a part and replace Charlie. But she can't forget him, and to get him back she'll need to be a hero in real life.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Mystery, Chick Lit, Romance, Book Club

353 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 2018

About the author

I'm the author of five novels: BODY OF A GIRL, THE MYTH OF YOU AND ME, HUSBAND AND WIFE, THE HISTORY OF US, and THE NEW NEIGHBOR. I teach in the creative writing program at the University of Cincinnati.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh.

I got 60 pages into this book and it was going NOWHERE. If ever I've read something so pointless, so "first world problems" and so unknowing of the subject matter that's being talking about... It's this book

Considering I chose it because the cover looked nice, maybe I should consider the whole don't judge a book by its cover.

This story may very well get better but since I feel like I've wasted my time reading 60 pages when that time couldve been spent reading something I love, I'm giving up.

[Catherine McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything that Leah Stewart writes and this was no exception. I loved the inside into the actor's world--so fun! A great read.

[Stephanie Anze · Rating 3 out of 5]

After one bad interview, actor Charlie Outlaw manages to alienate the viewers of his hit tv show and to lose his girlfriend in one felt swoop. In an atempt to regain his focus, Charlie takes off to a secluded island, turns off his phone and hopes no one will recognize him. But what was supposed to be a tranquil getaway takes a harsher turn. Now Charlie finds himself in a situation much more precarious. Meanwhile Josie Lamar, Charlie's ex, is trying to reboot her career after being the star of a cult following tv show that aired twenty years ago. A few guest spots are now the best Josie can aspire to and the break up does not help matters. Both Charlie and Josie struggle to find their place.

I pick books based on the theme and/or author. In this case, however, it was the cover that got me. Based on the bright yellow of the cover and title, I expected a light read that dealt with pop culture and celebrity. I was right on the second count but this book was not exactly a light hearted, entertaining read. Charlie Outlaw has new found fame after staring in a popular tv show. On the other hand, Josie Lamar, had fame twenty years prior due to her hit show. Now she is lucky to have guests spots in current tv shows. Charlie and Josie are one of the 'It' couples of the moment but a few misguided comments put Charlie in a compromising spot. His getaway is meant to help him clear his head but he finds trouble instead. Its tricky to pinpoint the tone of this book. It has funny moments, some more serious ones, there is some romance and yet at times it reads in a sarcastic & satirical way. It speaks about the way people view celebrities and brings up some valid points. I did like the third person, omniscient narration but never quite got pulled into the story. Let me put it this way, did not dislike the book but I know that its also something I will not have a desire to re-read at any point. Overall, it was just okay.

What does stick with me is the overall message. Knowing about someone does not mean you know someone. After the Royal Wedding this past weeked, every media outlet reported everything about Meghan Marckle short of what brand of toothpaste she uses. To some degree, we are all guilty of being curious, looking and judging. This work is about a society that is celebrity obsessed and I will say that the author did make the characters relatable. The social commentary was definitely an interesting part of the narrative.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a donation for our Little Free Library Shed (from a very dear patron).

Typically... When a book fascinates me, I like to read it before I put it on the shelves.

Also... I tend to pick books to read based on the theme and/or author.

In this case, however...It was the cover that got me. Based on the bright yellow of the cover and title, I expected a light read that dealt with pop culture and celebrity. I was right on my second point...

However...This book was not exactly a light hearted, entertaining read.

It’s tricky to pinpoint the tone of this book. It has funny moments, some more serious ones, there is some romance and yet at times it reads in a sarcastic & satirical way. It speaks about the way people view celebrities and brings up some valid points.

I did like the third person, omniscient narration but never quite got pulled into the story. The author however, did make the characters relatable. The social commentary was definitely an interesting part of the narrative.

And...I was touched by the overall message. Knowing about someone does not mean you know someone.

Let me put it this way, I did not dislike the book.

[Anneliese · Rating 1 out of 5]

The best part of this book was the cover design.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea of two actors who specialize in playing self sufficient characters caught in a real life crisis sounded like it could be interesting. It wasn't. The story is told in present tense and the thoughts that run through the actor's minds are both boring and repetitive. They need better writers for their real life roles.

Charlie Outlaw is a famous TV actor who wants a break from his fame and takes off for a remote island. There he is kidnapped not because he's famous but because he's American. His prolonged captivity gives him plenty of time to think and plan out his proposed moves and thoughts about his life. His ex-girlfriend, Josie, is back in LA trying to resurrect her career that peaked 20 years ago in a classic TV series. She now makes guest appearances on other TV shows and longs to have meatier and consistent roles,

The kidnappers have no real plan in mind. One of them wants to stop American development on the Island. Others want to ransom the captives. Others are kidnapped with Charlie but we never hear about them again. What happened to them? Did they save the Island from development? I am not sure.

Frankly, I didn't like the lead characters and didn't understand a lot of their actions. Perhaps if I cared more of actors or was a devoted Khardashian fan, I would have liked this better. Since I don't really care about the inner lives of actors and the grueling audition process or follow celebrities, this book just left me cold.

[Kateryna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Charlie Outlaw is a famous TV actor who wants a break from his fame. So he heads off to an unnamed tropical island and ends up getting kidnapped. I picked the book for its cover thinking it would be a light and fun read. But not so much. It was a tense, dramatic and dark read. There was too much repetition and too many unnecessarily details. Just didn’t do it for me.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I didn't like about this book was how late it kept me up each night reading! Seriously. I've long been a fan of Stewart's work, all the way back to THE MYTH OF YOU AND ME, and this is my favorite of hers hands-down. She tackles the inner-life of two actors with depth, complexity and humanity, while also ramping up the tension in each chapter, as we race to determine the fate not just of Charlie Outlaw but of his relationship with Josie and the love between them as well. There honestly wasn't a moment I didn't love. If the omniscient narrator takes you a few chapters to get used to, keep going...I could see how people might think this will keep them one step removed from the characters, but Stewart pulls off the masterstroke of making us both care and root for them through this voice, while also giving an understanding to all of the more minor characters at play.

Really, I loved this book. Read it!

[Bandit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our culture is ever so celebrity obsessed. There are those who, deservingly and often not at all so, have become permanent fixtures in our consciousness and these individuals and the disproportionate, merit free amounts of fame bestowed upon them tell a lot about us as a society. I’m not just talking about Kardashians, although they are the most obvious example. It’s a sensationalist ephemeral undeserved sort of fame, but it’s fame nonetheless and thus cloaks its recipients in a sort of magic cover, until you can barely see the real person underneath, if there ever was one. It’s a fascinating thin, one I’m not entirely guiltless of, who hasn’t googled an actor (or ten) or been starstruck by seeing one in person. And that’s pretty much what attracted me to this book, the way it offers readers a glimpse at the underneath, presenting a different perspective, one of the quite literally other side of the coin. In doing so the author succeeds marvelously. She uses a sort of trick of the omniscient narrator in such a competent stunningly not annoying way that it really draws you into this world of adult make believe that is acting. Even if you don’t particularly care for its main characters (though you probably will, they are lovely), it’s still such a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain, written in such a compelling way that you’ll end up forgiving the slips into the overly romantic territory and the sappily happy ending too while you’re at it. What’s interesting and/or peculiar though is that the book has two protagonists, Charlie (real name) Outlaw and his beloved Josie, who split the screen time as it were very evenly and yet…only Charlie gets his name above the credits in a move so strikingly typical of the industry as to make the inquiring minds question the irony. But anyway, this was a very enjoyable read, a one day sort of thing, where the details overtook the plot in the most awesome way. Try not to think about this book next time you see someone famous, in real life or that other real life that is internet. Thanks Netgalley.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this book. In fact, there was a glimmer of hope in what I did read of this book. I got a third of the way in and put it down; intending to pick the book up again. Yet, when I got the time to do so, I felt no rush or need to want to pick it back up.

What I craved the most was humor and character connection. I didn't really experience either of these things from the bit that I read. Also, the story seemed to more slowly and without really rhyme or reason. With some more spit and polish, this book may have jived with me more.

[Jamie Rosenblit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn’t do it for me. Never connected with any of the characters.

[Jillian Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a famous actor can't be easy, especially when your also famous girlfriend call it quits.
Charlie Outlaw seeks refuge on a remote island off the grid, but getting away soon turns into an adventure even his acting skills can't get him out of.

This thoroughly enjoyable suspense/thriller kept me guessing as it well illustrated being a beloved actor isn't all it's cracked up to be when you still have real problems.

As I never imagined I'd be able to guess what it's like from their perspective - Steward does a great job making their character's as relatable as they are realistic.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried with this book-it sounded like a great premise. I read 30 pages and was literally bored to tears. I already hated the characters because nothing was happening and with so many other books to read, I just could not continue.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good writing, boring story.

[Alena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a koooky, unusual pick, but an enjoyable summer break. For me, the draw was to the lives of actors -- a world in which I was once enjoyably entrenched -- so there was a familiar comfort to the characters. The plot was barely believable involving a kidnapping on a mystery island, but I couldnt help but enjoy the ride.

[vanessa]

Dropping at 38% because I care more about Josie's career woes than Charlie Outlaw's being abducted on a remote location.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a tedious and uneven info-dump.

Josie is a fading former TV star whose heyday was 20 years ago. Her younger boyfriend, Charlie, is a rising star. But Charlie says disparaging things about his star-making TV show (and his girlfriend) in an interview and his fans turn on him and Josie dumps him. So he heads off to an unnamed tropical island and ends up getting kidnapped. Meanwhile, Josie tries to keep a foothold in Hollywood and pines for Charlie (but also contemplates an affair with an old co-star).

Their story is told in omniscient present tense, which is annoying as hello. We get (unimportant) insights into not only the thoughts of the main characters but also of a nameless guy in a coffee shop, a random nameless casting director, a hotel consierge, etc etc etc. There is also talk of What Will Come to Be. There are reminisces about Josie and Charlie's past roles. It's all telling-and-not-showing. We're given unnecessarily detailed descriptions of the audition process, a detailed map of the unnamed (and quite possibly fictional) tropical island Charlie runs away to (down to the layout of the town, the feel of the tile on the bathroom floor and the print on the bedspread in the rooms at the resort). There is too much repetition (see: Charlie's neverending escape fantasies while he's kidnapped) and too many details and the story just slogs along.

The novel is also tonally weird. It starts out like a breezy rom-com with the tropey misunderstandings and pining that go with it. But then it gets very tense, dramatic and dark at the end. And then it just ENDS, rather abruptly, and we fast forward and all is well. And since I'm so annoyed by this book, I'm ending this 'review' abruptly, too! Just skip this, unless you have insomnia.

(Entertainment Weekly's recommendation of this book compared Josie to Sarah Michelle Gellar, which in on the nose since Josie was also on a hit show with a cult following where she played a "Chosen One". They said to think of Charlie as Benedict Cumberbatch. I got more of a whiff of Tom Hiddleston, but whatever. All I know for sure is that I'm never taking an EW book rec seriously again. They've burned me for the last time!)

[MsAprilVincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars, leaning towards 4

My main gripe is with the writing style, which is omniscient present tense, like the narration on Jane the Virgin, giving peeks into the future while focusing on the immediate present. It’s weird, and sometimes off-putting, and maybe a little tell-not-show.

The good stuff, however, is about actors and acting, and the strange in-between of being yourself but not being yourself, and observing yourself doing that, and then analyzing your observations. Stewart does a good job of showing the process, the doubt, the constant mental revisions.

The story’s good, if far-fetched (and, at times, a bit too Three Stooge-y), but it was engaging and I enjoyed it.

[K.J. Dell'Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one will please thriller lovers and those of us who would really rather not read another book about a woman in peril (or even a woman imperiling those who emperiled her, and so on) (and that would be me)--especially if what we really love is an insight into a world we'll never live in. This time, it's Hollywood stardom, and this is the story of a couple of actors rescuing their relationship from  the spotlight--oh, and the guy getting kidnapped in the jungle.

Let me just tell you, this one does not disappoint. It's fun and entertaining and twisty and engrossing and yet it's not a heart-pounder. Recommend.

[Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much! I especially loved the moments that explored what it means to be an artist in the world, how giving one's self over to pursuing art requires a particular and constant vulnerability. Twice I got mad at myself for leaving the book at home rather than taking it with me so I could sneak a few extra pages during the day. I read it quickly regardless, because I had to know what happened next.

[Lorilin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a lot more lighthearted than it was. The cover is so light and fun, I guess I expected the story to be, too. But not so much. This book is not bad, but I just never really felt connected to the characters. I had trouble understanding them and their motivations, so I never felt invested. Just a meh read for me.

[Madilyn Hastoglis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I was shocked to see the low rating! I think it’s because it’s a very stream of consciousness, inner monologue heavy narrative mixed with a plot that develops slowly, so it could be perceived as boring. I just loved the way that we live through the characters, everything feels very close and present and real. I will not forget about this book anytime soon!

[Shirley Noffke · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another bore for me, but others have liked.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This zingy love story manages to make kidnapping and heartbreak seem fun. Charlie Outlaw is a famous actor who retreats to an unnamed island for some peace and solitude after his breakup with his girlfriend, actress Josie Lamar. His tranquil vacation is interrupted by unforeseen danger and his new circumstances give him plenty of time to reevaluate his breakup. Josie, on the other hand, is trying to fill her time and loneliness by auditioning and riding on the coattails of her previous fame. She rose to fame in her twenties while appearing in a cult-tv show and its reunion brings her handsome co-star, Max, back into her life. Max is recently divorced and Josie wonders if they’ll have the same chemistry as before. Actors are notorious for being a self-absorbed, narcissistic bunch and Josie and Charlie struggle to figure out who they really are and what they really want. // I enjoyed this novel. I kept thinking that it has the zany-ness of Where’d You Go Bernadette and then I saw that Maria Semple was in the acknowledgments. Like Bernadette, The book is full of witty observations about life and love but never seems overly serious. Charlie and Josie get more and more lovable as the book goes along.

[Wendy Bunnell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't really for me. I abandoned it one-third of the way in. The writing was strong, but the subject matter and characters weren't really up my alley. I guess I don't really care that much about the craft of acting and the secret lives of actors, both currently popular and has-beens trying to make a resurgence 20 years after their heyday.

I have so many other books in my stack, it just didn't hold my interest.

[Meg C · Rating 4 out of 5]

It looks like I'm in the minority, but I really loved this book. From the cover and description, I thought it was going to be a light romantic read. Yes, there is a love story here, but the main focus is on acting and celebrity, as well as a darker storyline I won't spoil. It is *definitely* a book plot that I have not read before!

I loved the writing style, but you may want to try the first chapter to see if it works for you.

Highly recommend if you want a unique story beautifully told!

[Jamie Lindemulder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little nervous starting to read this because it gave me "Anxious People" vibes (and I really do not like that book). And the reviews on Goodreads were not that great. But, it turned out to be a really great book.

It's the story of two actors that fall in love; one decides to talk to do an interview and says something not very nice, they break up and he ends up getting kidnapped. The whole kidnapping storyline is quite bizarre to me, because I'm not even sure where they are. And the kidnappers are complete idiots, I'm surprised they were able to hold him hostage at all.

I loved the character Josie, not a total fan of Charlie Outlaw. The book flip-flops between their point-of-views, which helps keep the reader captivated. I kind of enjoyed Josie's chapters better TBH.

[Karen Parisot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disastrous magazine interview causes rising star and Hollywood hunk Charlie Outlaw to lose the love of his life and social media to turn on him. Ouch! So, Charlie decides to get away from it all by running away to a remote tropical island. It turns out it isn’t quite the escape he had planned.
Delves deep into the psyche of the actor, exploring the process by which they approach their craft, their insecurities and the stress of fame. It also looks at what it is to be a victim and how traumatizing it is. It’s a suspenseful love story unlike any I’ve read before, and I thought it was a very good read

[Sandra Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was tough to get into but I’m glad I finished it. The beginning dragged, the middle got interesting, and it totally redeemed itself in the end. Glad I persevered and read it, the parallel stories between the main characters and the characters they portray on television was a fascinating twist that grew throughout the story. Would’ve given 3.5 stars.

[Brittany McCloskey · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 39%. Too boring for me. Which is surprising because the MC gets kidnapped like right away. I’m not even sure where the plot was trying to go. The characters were overly insecure, which is understandable given their circumstances, but there was nothing admirable about them. No underlying courage or hope. I did enjoy the writing style! The plot just fell flat for me.