A Hollywood Ending

by Robyn Sisman

Heading for London to try her hand at Shakespeare and to prove that she is a real actress, American starlet Paige Carson soon discovers that stage acting is not when she had expected and finds herself drawn to her new landlord, Ed Hawkshead, a snooty documentary filmmaker who has no use for spoiled Hollywood brats. Original.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, London, Adult, Contemporary Romance

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 29, 2008

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't quite know what to expect from this story, that has been on my to read pile for some time. I hoped to like it, I didn't expect to love it. Paige the American actress sick of her life in Hollywood travels to London to prove her worth in a theatre role, what else but Shakespeare? In London see is living with Ed an Englishman who grows on her. It's good that he's not the stereotype she was expecting from English men. I like how the relationship develops between two polar opposites who find happiness with each other. I always love any mix country relationship and British and American is one of my favourites to read about. One of my favourite parts is the trip to the Lake District that is a turning point for both characters. A much better read than I was anticipating 4 stars.

[Natisolvazquez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Por momentos se hace largo, aunque es entretenido la forma de contar y va llevando.
El final me pareció un poco abrupto y me hubiese gustado algunas lineas más; cuando sucede lo que esperaste durante todo el libro termina, esperaba algo diferente. Está bien para pasar el rato y me gusta la visión crítica que hace de Hollywood.

[Lu]

50% dnf

I can't anymore...

I tried so much because it was one of my first books I just buy from an actual book store... like you know when you go to a bookstore and you have books on mind but also would love to FIND and DISCOVER a good book on your own? Yes so it is kinda disappointing. Although I did enjoy some bits not gonna lie.

Thanks Robyn Sisman. And rip.

[Alexandra Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paige Carson has had to deal with Hollywood drama ever since her acting career took off. After finishing a film with yet another conceited co-star, however, she's finally fed up. She agrees to do some Shakespeare in London, for much less money than she usually makes, just in order to get away from Los Angeles. Ed Hawkshead, her new landlord, isn't exactly thrilled to be housing a celebrity. He's a serious documentary-maker, and he doesn't appreciate the types of movies Paige acts in, nor the diva persona he expects her to have. He's not the type of polished, polite Brit Paige expected either. And yet, as Paige and Ed overcome their expectations of each other, they find that they may be just what the other needs. But with misunderstandings and work drama in abundance, will they be able to overcome everything to be together?

There were certainly pieces of this book that I enjoyed, but I found much of it so unrealistic that I couldn't even attempt to believe it. For example, Robyn Sisman's portrayal of Hollywood. It was like a combination of every cliche and Hollywood horror story I've ever heard. Extreme drama, back-stabbing, arsehole-ness, and conceit on every page of the first part of the book, which took place in L.A. And Paige, who was supposed to be the protagonist, was just as much a part of this, which made her character initially very unlikeable. I usually enjoy reading about famous actors, even when the world they're depicted to live in is negative, as long as the protagonist has some redeeming qualities. The first part of this book though, where both the setting and the character were unrealistic and irritating, was difficult to get through.

The book did become easier to read after Paige made it to London - or at least less unrealistic - but then commenced the beginning of the relationship between Paige and Ed. There was so much potential for a romance between them, even if it did begin very slowly. However, they didn't really spend much time together, and much of the build-up was simply in their own thoughts. I was okay with this, even if it wasn't what I'd been expecting or hoping for, until the culmination of their flirtation. Ed made a mistake, Paige was (understandably) angry and hurt, Ed said that he hadn't really meant it, and Paige instantly forgave him. Then they got together and everything was alright again. It was incredibly unsatisfying and I was instantly transported back to the land of impossibilities and unreality. If Sisman had just taken some more time with the ending, given Paige a bit more time to get over her anger even, the culmination would have been so much more satisfying. As it was, I was incredibly disappointed with the ending and Paige and Ed's relationship in general.

Perhaps these issues were part of the reason why it took me so long to finish this novel. I didn't often feel like picking it up again when I wasn't reading it. It was decent when I was reading it, but I never felt strongly compelled to continue. It was good enough that I wanted to finish it, though (even if the ending was disappointing). There were scenes that were amusing or interesting, but nothing surprising ever really happened. The summary on the back of the book was basically exactly what happened, condensed. When I read a book, I love to not know what will happen next, to be proven wrong, or to be shocked at a turn of events. I never experienced any of this while reading this story. It was good, certainly, but nothing beyond that.

I've heard some better things about other novels written by Robyn Sisman, but after this book, I'm not sure I'd want to give them a chance. Maybe if I were younger and hadn't read as much, I would have been more surprised by different scenes and perhaps enjoyed this book more. As it was though, I would rate this book three stars. It was a light read, although it took me a while to finish it. It would be good for beach reading, or anytime when you can't necessarily devote your entire focus. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy stereotypical Hollywood actresses, simple romances, and stories set in London.

[Lina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took way too long to build up the plot. Liked the aesthetic and characters personalities. 200 pages of nothing. Happy ending.

The plot of the book was that Paige ( a famous American actress) goes to England to perform a Shakespeare play even tho it’s way below her budget. She moves into Ex Hawkshead’s house and they have their first scene as a small fight in the bathroom because he lives in the basement as he can’t afford the top floors. They stop the flood that she’s caused and he finds out that she doesn’t know many life skills like mopping etc. He takes her to a flower field up north where his mum lives and they fall in love in the last 100 pages. The ending consists of Ed telling a reporter about Paige in a bad way however he didn’t mean it and her friend convinced her to go back to America however Ed finds her in the airport with her other friends and her dad and convince her to stay.

In my opinion it was pretty boring and a massive waste of time. The idea of the book was good but the author didn’t display it well. Read it in 5 days.

[Amanda Beatty · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 STARS - I was going to give this book 4stars because I loved the character arc and Nothing Hill vibe (hence the extra half star), but the ending made me throw the book across the room. About 20-30 pages from the end I started wondering how it could possibly be wrapped up well, with so many loose ends still all over the place. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. What needed to have been 50 pages was crammed into 5. Super disappointing & unsatisfying; I’m still mad about it!

[Amanda Perry-Larkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable but still cute. A superstar is surrounded by people who just want to use her for her fame but finally she goes to London and things change. She meets a guy and she experiences things she wouldn't be able to in America. Things turn out for the best in the end and maybe she finds love;)

Cute and fast story to read

[Erin McDermott Versosky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was boring. I skimmed most of it. I bought this book probably 11 years ago and it has been sitting in my shelf that long. If it were not for quarantine and not being able to go to a book store or library it probably would have stayed in the shelf.

Don’t bother with this one. I’m not even going to explain what I didn’t like because there is no point.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t know how to rate this book! I wanted to read it because of the ME Too movement unmasked Harvey Weinstein. Once started there was something there that made me finish it. The whole story of power and a powerful man over young woman is so awful. I kept reading! Harvey was a vile man, this is a vile story but a good reminder of power.

[Gen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4* I really enjoyed this read. At the beginning I was unsure of whether I’d like it because Paige was a stuck up actress but both she and Ed turned out to be complex characters that you could really feel for. As these two opposites got closer and learned from each other they just made you want to root for them to find their Hollywood ending.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just another chick lit novel. It didn't really end with a "moral of the story" defined, so it seemed like there really was no purpose to the whole novel. It was more like a story where things just "happened."

[Kate O'Neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light read, nothing too intense.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as a nice light read.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho, fue entretenido, pero considero que a la pareja protagonica le falto algo más de química...

[Blank Canvas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing great, end of the book was rushed the main guy only enters the book half way and they meet 2/3 into the book. There wasn’t really any plot.

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

A predictable beach read, but not anything special. Less relationship-focused and no feel-good ending.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the perfect quick read for a stressful work week when you want to be mildly entertained without having to think too much.

[Juliana Taylor]

I read 45 pages and wanted to gauge my eyes out

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also posted here: http://lilmissvixreads.blogspot.co.uk

"Tinseltown. So much on the surface, so little underneath."

This novel is a story of two parts, not only in terms of structure but also in terms of writing. The first half of the book, set in L.A, I found myself struggling to get through. The main character, Hollywood actress Paige Carson, is purposely presented as self-righteous and arrogant, but it's exaggerated to the point where I had no sympathy whatsoever for her situation and almost gave up on the book altogether. The plot focuses on Paige as her picture perfect Hollywood life starts to crumble and she flees to tread the boards on an English stage in the hope of a fresh start. Given her bad attitude, I couldn't help but feel that she deserved everything that happened to her, and I was interested to see how, if at all, she would redeem herself.
The one thing that this section of the novel did achieve was that it made me wonder whether any actors in the business today act that way behind closed doors, whether anything we see of them is real or whether they are as manipulated and manufactured as the films that they star in.

The second half of the book felt to me like a completely different novel. The introduction of Ed Hawkshead, a documentary maker struggling to make a living in London, brought the novel to life, particularly the sections told through his eyes. I still found it difficult to empathise with Paige, but I loved Ed. The men in England are "less Hugh Grant and more Heathcliff" says the blurb, but Ed is definitely more of a Mr Darcy (or Mark Darcy, whichever you prefer), stereotypically standoffish until you get to know him - "a pompous idiot" as he refers to himself at one point. I also enjoyed the scenes set in Ed's home in the Lake District; it is a place close to my heart too and only made me like Ed even more. So Ed and Paige meet and the inevitable love story unfolds, culminating in a declaration of love straight out of a Richard Curtis film. The ending however left many questions unanswered: what would happen once Paige's theatre stint ended and she went back to America? And what about Ed's TV company? I'm a fan of the old fashioned 'happily ever after', but in this instance it felt like more of a 'happy for now.'

I picked up A Hollywood Ending as it looked like an easy read and an interesting story, and in this regard I was not disappointed. Looking at the novel as a whole, I would recommend it to fans of romantic fiction; just be prepared for a slow starter.

3.5 stars: 3 stars for the first half of the novel, 4 stars for the second. An engaging read that will please romantics and rom-com fans alike.

[Guada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un final de película es un libro que pertenece al género chick-lit. La protagonista principal es Paige Carson, una actriz norteamericana ganadora de un Oscar, que ve cómo su carrera se va hundiendo poco a poco, a todo esto se une el hecho de que en su vida personal todo parece ir de mal en peor. Para intentar escapar de una sucesión de fatalidades, decide aceptar participar en una obra de teatro de Shakespeare, papel que nunca hubiera aceptado previamente, y mudarse a Inglaterra. Allí conoce a Ed, su casero, un hombre que también pertenece al mundo del cine y que está harto de estrellas y niñas mimadas.
El libro se lee fácilmente y no es para nada aburrido. Es una buena lectura de verano, para pasar un buen rato, puesto que se lee del tirón ya que es bastante cortito. Los personajes están bien construidos y son lo que te esperas de una novela de este tipo, aunque he de decir que el final es bastante previsible y todo se soluciona demasiado deprisa. Me hubiera gustado que la autora profundizara un poco más en la historia de la pareja protagonista.

[Hope Corizzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm about finished with this book and I'm pleasantly surprised. I needed a cheap chic-lit for a little cotton candy for the brain, and I've found this author to provide more nutrients than what the cover offers.
Paige is a movie star ( a mix of Liv Tyler and Marisa Tomei) who is wrapped up in the lifestyle, but seems to be declining in popularity in Hollywood (at 29, she's too old and a bit demanding). She takes a job as Rosalind in As You Like It in England to take a break. Here she's finding that her reality, isn't everyone else's reality. Oh yeah, and there's Ed downstairs for the romance. He's a bit Darcy-like, which is always a plus.
Convincing characters that aren't always likeable, and there's obviously some insider information on Hollywood and movie star attitudes. Loads of fun; a break from the cliche of chic lit.

[Ellyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paige Carson is frustrated with Hollywood life. In a bid to gain more respect as an actress, she moves to London to take part in a small production of Shakespeare's As You Like It. Her landlord is a stuffy documentary filmaker named Ed. The two immediately butt heads, but soon come to find the better qualities in each other. The story is enjoyable and the main characters are fun. I just found that for all the long set up, the last quarter of the book just galloped to the inevitable happy ending. I would have liked to see more of Paige's experience tackling Shakespeare, which is a world away from her usual acting roles.

[DeAnna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one just BARELY escaped being relegated to the "Couldn't Finish" shelf. The first third makes the heroine appear selfish, clueless and completely unself-aware. I had just about decided I didn't want to waste any more time on her when the perspective changed to the male protagonist, whom I found more interesting. Paige seemed to gain a few IQ points just by finally arriving in England, and become somewhat less irritating. I finished this while sitting outside in the sun, drinking some coffee, which was the perfect way to enjoy it. It's all in all a pretty forgettable book, but not a bad way to spend a relaxing hour or two.

[mandyfujita · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is separated into two parts. The first part Paige Carson is in the United States and floundering as an actress. I was tempted to return the book to the library because she was whining so much about her life. Her self-confidence was almost nothing and her decision making was poor. I am glad that i gritted through the first part because when she went to London it was so much better. She tried harder and she make an effort to better herself. He father, mother and best friend are all rock stars or models so I am not sure how believable that would be, but its a chick flick for heaven sakes.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this as much as Weekend in Paris - it started off kind of slow and I felt like I was being kind of whacked over the head with "this character is spoiled! and selfish! and kind of a Hollywood brat!" and was ready to move on and get to something else... It was a cute story, though, and I still love how she describes things - I really feel like I'm there with the characters and I adore that.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barely okay. It appeared that the author purposely made the main character have plenty of room for growth at the beginning. She started with an annoying self-centered, somewhat ignorant, star that drove me nuts and made me almost quit reading. If it wasn't for the book group I am in I would not have bothered to finish. It seemed very formulaic and awkward. It did make me want to visit the Lake Country in England though.

[Noni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up on a whim. Most of the book gives one an insight into the narcisstic environment of Hollywood as I think the main character could be a composite of a Hollywood star who at the age of 29 is already threatened by the younger rising starlets. Not my usual style and almost put it away unfinished but stuck with it and was pleasantly surprised by the ending. Almost two stories in one.
Light reading - good for the beach or when one is bored by the "soaps".

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

"I picked this up in the library by just browsing the shelves. I was looking for a quick read. Something cute and funny. I couldn't even finish this!!! I kept reading and reading hoping something would happen. Chapter after chapter...nothing. After almost halfway through a book the reader should get interested enough to keep going, and that didn't happen with me. That will be the last time I read a book without checking reviews first."

[Kimberley · Rating 3 out of 5]

i thought this book was a goner in the beginning. paige carson grated on my nerves for the 1st half of the book. she was totally childish, selfish and entitled. the book definitely improved with the move to london & the introduction of ed (& maddy). ended up not being a bad little chick-lit/brain candy book.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nearly gave up on this book whilst reading the Hollywood part. Paige's character was just so unlikable, it was a struggle to read. However, I was glad that I kept going with it, as when it came to the London part, the story changed. I loved how Paige changed aswell, and understood why the author wrote her the way she did in the first part.