Hollywood Heroine

Heroine Complex #5

by Sarah Kuhn

The fifth book in the smart, snarky, and action-packed Heroine series continues the adventures of Asian-American superheroines Evie Tanaka, Aveda Jupiter, and Bea Tanaka in a demon-infested San Francisco.

Over the years, the adventures of superheroines Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka have become the stuff of legend--and now they'll be immortalized in their very own TV show!

The pair head to LA for filming, but Aveda struggles to get truly excited. Instead, she's preoccupied wondering about the fate of the world and her role in it. You know, the usual. Now that Otherworld activity has been detected outside the Bay Area, Aveda can't help but wonder if the demon threat will ever be eradicated.

When the drama on set takes a turn for the supernatural, Evie and Aveda must balance their celebrity commitments with donning their superhero capes again to investigate. And when the evil they battle reveals a larger, more nefarious plot, it's time for the indomitable Aveda Jupiter to rise to the occasion and become the leader she was meant to be on a more global scale--and hopefully keep some semblance of a personal life while doing so.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adult, Superheroes, Contemporary, Mystery

416 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2021

About the author

Sarah Kuhn is the author of Heroine Complex—the first in a series starring Asian American superheroines—for DAW Books. She also wrote The Ruby Equation for the comics anthology Fresh Romance and the romantic comedy novella One Con Glory, which earned praise from io9 and USA Today and is in development as a feature film. Her articles and essays on such topics as geek girl culture, comic book continuity, and Sailor Moon cosplay have appeared in Uncanny Magazine, Apex Magazine, AngryAsianMan.com, IGN.com, Back Stage, The Hollywood Reporter, StarTrek.com, Creative Screenwriting, and the Hugo-nominated anthology Chicks Dig Comics. In 2011, she was selected as a finalist for the CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) New Writers Award.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Wit and Sin

Superheroines Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka are back, facing demons and possibly vampires in Hollywood Heroine . Every time I enter Sarah Kuhn’s Heroine Complex world I am ready for an action-packed good time. Kuhn did not disappoint, blending action and some humor with weighty, real-world problems.

I frickin’ love Aveda. She has got the biggest heart and is so earnest, so determined to solve every problem she can that it’s impossible not to love her. Is she perfect? Not by a long shot. But she is always growing, always trying to do better and not steamroll people; even when she makes mistakes they come from the best of intentions. But Aveda is running herself into the ground. She never takes a break and more importantly, feels like she can’t. Hollywood Heroine addresses racism, the pressure Aveda faces as a powerful Asian American woman in the media, an aggressive mean girl who knows just how to twist the knife, panic attacks, and the fear of change. Aveda is deeply afraid of losing those she loves the most and she bottles up her emotions, throwing herself into being everyone’s champion. My heart broke for her and how hard she was trying and I wanted her to let her loved ones take care of her for once. I also wanted her to see how much she was loved and supported. Aveda’s relationship with her husband, Scott, was a storyline that had me absolutely glued to the pages of this book. Kuhn doesn’t take it easy on Aveda in this book but that’s what makes the story so satisfying. I was rooting for Aveda every step of the way and though I won’t spoil what happens I loved how the ending turned out.

It wouldn’t be a Heroine Complex book without some creative supernatural plot and this time it’s something that seems vampiric. I loved watching Aveda and her ever-expanding circle of friends put the pieces together. The action sequences are exciting and I enjoyed watching the mystery unfold. But what really grabbed me the most about Hollywood Heroine were the emotional moments, which is why I recommend being familiar with Tanaka/Jupiter and co. before jumping into this story. I love seeing how far all the relationships have come, how all my favorite characters have grown over the past five books, and I cannot wait to see where Kuhn takes them all next!


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


*******************************
Pre-read thoughts:
I have a huge soft spot for Aveda so I'm really psyched to be getting another book told from her point of view.

[michelle (magical reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

read on my blog

rep: Chinese-American protagonist, biracial (Japanese, white) main character and side character; (biracial (Japanese, white) author)

**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**

I’ve been a fan of this series for a while now, and I was so excited for the next release! It made a perfect spooky read for October too. Hollywood Heroine follows our beloved superheroines as they solve another otherworldly mystery, this time involving vampires in Hollywood.

This review contains spoilers for the previous books in this series.

In the aftermath of the previous book, Aveda and Evie head to LA to check out the filming of the show based on their lives. Aveda still worries constantly: about Evie and her baby, about ensuring everyone whom she loves is happy, and especially about the future. She’s working non-stop, and Evie and Scott convinces her that this would be a great time for a vacation. Unfortunately, demons never rest, and the three of them, as well as their new assistant Pippa and Bea over FaceTime, uncover a new infestation of demons, this time manifesting as vampires.

It was fun returning to this world and seeing this cast of characters again! I also love how Bea is included (on FaceTime) despite being hundreds of miles away. The group’s dynamic is so great to read, and I always love seeing the love they all hold for each other. Aveda and Evie’s relationship has been the heart of the series since the very beginning, and of course, I love seeing more of their strong, unbreakable friendship. I also liked reading more about Aveda and Scott together!

The plot itself was a bit similar to the other books although this time in a different setting. I was intrigued by the way everything played out though: the return of Mercedes, Aveda’s rival; the show based on Aveda and Evie’s lives that turns out to be more of a mess than they anticipated; and vampires, always a fun addition to a story. They also explore more of LA’s hotspots, some of which is from Kuhn’s latest YA release, From Little Tokyo, with Love, I believe!

I always enjoy how the author balances the plot along with the characters’ personal journeys. Aveda has grown from her last point-of-view book; she’s more receptive of others’ opinions and is trying to accept change more easily. However, she still works too hard and refuses to see this as a problem, even when the people she loves tell her otherwise.

Overall, Hollywood Heroine was a fun return to this world and cast of characters. I liked the character arcs; this book was a great spooky read for October too. If you haven’t checked out the Heroine Worship series, I definitely recommend it!

original review:

really enjoyed returning to this world!

[Raluca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hollywood! Movie magic! Representation (or lack thereof)! Mental health and insecurities! Vampires! Excitement? Eh. Also, treating social issues through an engaging story? Yes. Treating social issues by having the characters monologue 21st century liberal talking points at each other? Less yes. And I won't even mention the sex scenes.

[Mackenzie (mackenziespocket) · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous books in the series, but it was still a fun read. i just found aveda as a narrator to be a bit grating

REP: Chinese main character, mixed Japanese side character, queer side characters

[Breana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: there are potential spoilers for the first four books. You have been warned…

I’m always excited to see that there’s a new release for the Heroine Complex series, because I’m always up for another adventure with Evie, Aveda, and the others. I had very high hopes for this one. The thing with long-running series is they can get even better and better, or they could do the opposite. And I have to say that Hollywood Heroine was another great installment in the series.

This book again took the cast out of San Francisco, and this time, they landed in L.A. for the filming of a show that was purportedly based on their superhero exploits. What followed was a fast paced adventure as Evie and Aveda tried to figure out if their suspicions were because of the change of pace or if they had any supernatural meaning. The conflict with the demons remains an ever evolving situation, especially since their appearances have begun to spread outside of San Francisco. It’s still one of my favorite takes on superpowers.

Besides the fantastical elements, this story was very much about the identity of the two main leads. It’s been one of the reoccurring themes of the series since the beginning, but I feel like Kuhn really decided to home-in on it and do a deeper dive into Aveda’s time when she was just beginning to build her reputation. It was a part of the story that Evie wasn’t there for, and I really appreciated a resolution on that end, particularly between Aveda and Mercedes. The cast was just as lovable as always though, and, despite this being the fifth book, there was still room for growth and change amongst the dynamics of the team.

The mix of personal conflicts and the ensuing problem also at the heart of the mystery surrounding the events of Hollywood Heroine, made for a fun and action-packed adventure. All that to say: it really was great to have another story from Aveda’s point of view.

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (DAW) via NetGalley for this review, thank you!

This review is also posted on my blog, Our Thoughts Precisely

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I felt that the plot sometimes struggled to keep its head above the message, I did ultimately enjoy this one - not enough to make it one of my top books of 2021, though, and not enough to want to continue further with the series either.

The characters in this series have capital-I Issues, which they do work on, but which are, for me, overdramatic sometimes. They also have capital-I Identities, which are often closely related to their Issues, and which define them to a high degree. I commented early on in my reading that it was ironic that in a book where there was such strong objection to the main characters being treated merely as their identities and not as individuals, the more any character was functioning as an antagonist, the more they were defined by their identity and had no other discernable characteristics. Reflecting afterwards, I'm not sure that's true. I think the actual point being made might not have been "treat us as people, not identities" but "treat our identities as equally valuable," which is a subtly different message.

This inevitably flattens the characters and limits how much they can change. At one point, arrogant characters who have wronged the protagonist apologise to her, but it comes across as very stilted, as if the author couldn't fully imagine what a genuine apology from someone with that identity might sound like. And later, they just revert to their former impervious arrogance, having learned nothing from their experience. It's certainly true that there are people like that, but when essentially the entire supporting cast is that way, I'm left wondering: is this ideologically-driven prejudice ("people like that (or even people in general) simply can't break out of their identity") or lack of ability to write minor characters/antagonists that are not clichés bordering on caricatures?

Anyway, that's what I didn't like, and why I won't persevere further with the series. The story itself, when you could see it through the message, is entertaining enough, with action, mystery (though the protagonist takes a good long while to figure out what is going on, even when it's pretty obvious), and the odd twist (which, again, are mostly predictable). There are strong subplots around relationships and working on the above-mentioned Issues, which in this case centre around the protagonist feeling like she needs to perfectly fix everything by herself and not having much capacity to handle change in other people. I commented on the previous book in the series to the effect that the personal stuff was almost more central than the outward plot, and that's the case again.

For its audience, this will resonate strongly and be something they love wholeheartedly. It happens that I'm not that audience, though, and so for me it fell a bit short.

[USOM · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

TW: panic attacks, racism

The Heroine Complex series has to be one of my favorite fantasy series. The sheer amount of character growth always astounds me. To remember where they were at the beginning, and now? Such a huge change that has felt so satisfying. But what I loved the most about Hollywood Heroine was Aveda's character and the pressures she feels as a superheroine of color. The pressure of having to be perfect, but also realizing that opportunities you have to fight for, might be handed over without a thought to others.

Because of how clear this is to Aveda, she feels this pressure to be perfect all the time. To be on top of things-no to be prepared for them before they happen. Her fears and insecurities manifest themself into feeling like she's never doing enough. She isn't sure who to rely on and always convinced she can push herself more. Sound familiar? This was me to a T.

full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...

[Midu Hadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pluses
Asian American superheroines who won’t be held back or showed up. They value the bonds they have formed with each other and others who have become a part of their support network.

Their love interests are equally awesome. There to support their partners without trying to take over the story. I liked them!

The Minuses
Most women acted like teenagers, which made me check if I was actually reading a YA book.

Too much time’s spent talking rather than acting. For a novel about superheroines, we don’t see much on-screen time being dedicated to crime-fighting as much as is spent on flashbacks, inner monologues, and discussions.

Final Word
Read it for the diversity, healthy relationships–platonic and otherwise– and you’ll end up liking it.

[Ren Puspita · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Part of Heroine Complex series binge reading

Now we got into book 5, Hollywood Heroine and just like the first arc the sole narrator is Annie Chang whom more known by her superhero name, Aveda Jupiter. I wonder in book 4, how exactly Kuhn will bring Aveda's inner turmoil since if you read the series back to back or follow it from the beginning, you know that Aveda's biggest problems is her low self-esteem in the form of Annie Chang therefore make her act like diva and bad friend to Evie. Aveda kinda redeem herself tho, she's still Hurricane Annie, determinable and intense, yet in a good way. Although, the aftermath of the event in book 4, Haunted Heroine show to reader that deep inside Aveda is actually..not okay.

Just like book 4, the setting happen outside San Fransisco and we know get swept into the city of angels aka Los Angeles. It's Hollywood baby, because apparently some Hollywood executive want to make a tv series based on Aveda and Eve's super heroine pursuits. Also just like book 4, yep, you kinda feels the pattern here, a people that Aveda known from her past make their appearance. At first arc, we just got a glimpse into Mercedes, a fellow super heroine with human GPS ability like that also start her super heroine debut in San Fransisco only to be less famous compared to Aveda. We get to know that Mercedes is basically Karen in disguise, rotten and racist to the core. Aveda and Mercedes toxic dynamic (more like from Mercedes side) is one of the focus of this book.

As for character development, we get to know that Aveda actually almost fall into burn out state, but it's frustrating to see because she just didn't want to admit it. The Hurricane Annie mode made Aveda insist that she can solve the problems herself, forget that she also have her own teams that ready to support her. Also her fear of changes also pretty well put and I think kinda resonated with me, because I too, sometimes hate changes. Yet, changes are not always bad. In the other side, while Aveda and her husband, Scott, didn't have those emotional distance like Evie and Nate in book 4 since Scott also happen to accompany Aveda to L.A that didn't mean they don't have their own problems as well. Aveda sure is jealous of Mercedes that try to act friendly to Scott, but she also didn't want to saddle Scott with her dreams that sadly all of it come from her own assumptions. Don't worry all will get well, while Aveda and Scott also got into fights they also solve it like what adults should behave. I also liked to read the glimpse into Aveda and Scott's wedding since we never get to know when and how they married. Romantic is not enough to describe it. In the steamy sex scene, well, more like vanilla. I always think that Kuhn reserve those steamy scenes for the Tanaka sisters, lol.

After ghost, the supernatural forces now come in the form of vampire which is somehow silly. But, eh, puppy demon in book 2 itself were already quirky. Vampire aside, the main problems in this book is how Kuhn try to show so many big problem with the way Hollywood work. Just like book 4, the unfairness toward women of color are glaring. Kuhn's way to writing might be too blatant for my taste, but I can feel her frustration. She also point it to for some people (especially white), diversity seems like just a form of trend, and I guess she was right. So, there's so many aspect to be discuss from this book regarding the diversity and what people of Asian American face especially in the Hollywood. For example, how the studio cast a Japanese actor for Aveda while she's a Chinese and cast Chinese actor for Evie whom is Japanese. Because apparently all of them look Asian enough. It's such a tongue-in-cheek sarcasm but worth to thinking for since the it's still happen to this day (together with white-washing).

The book itself is okay. I enjoy Aveda's inner turmoils and her character developments are well written since Kuhn pretty much excels in writing emotional scenes. She also put some interesting tidbits in this book that might be get missed if they are not familiar enough like The Ripped Bodice, a bookshop that cater to romance readers alike. I happen to know them since I also on Twitter (not X, f*ck you melon!) so it's amusing to read how Aveda, Evie and their new member, Pippa (also from book 4) try to search clue about vampires from the paranormal section books. Also, I think Kuhn is a major Nalini Singh fans, since she mention her names twice (in this book and also in Heroine Journey). I'm intrigued of what Singh's series that she liked!

Overall, a pretty strong installment in Heroine Complex series and especially if you like Aveda, you can't missed this one. If you still not read book 1, Heroine Complex yet, then don't hesitate. Go. Read it!!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when a novel that's a part of a series sets its story outside of its usual setting. That is a direction Sarah Kuhn made imminently known from the title of the latest entry to the "Heroine" series and how it panned out was fascinating, as it put our heroes outside of their elements. Their responses are so distinct, yet fitting to their characters; Aveda not knowing how to relax, and Evie wanted to do all the touristy activities.

The focus of this novel is Aveda/Annie, and the story is so poignant in just how far she's come as a character. When we are first introduced to everyone in Heroine Complex, I did not like her at all. She was stuck-up, egotistical, and had little regard for anyone but herself. She's changed so much since then, and it's here where she really gets a good dose of not forgetting to focus on herself as well as everyone else.

In all the shenanigans and paranormal activity that occurs throughout their stay in Hollywood, I have to say that I wasn't too thrilled with how Evie was written in this novel. I know she's not the central focus this time, but the way the author kind of positioned her to where she wasn't as active of a player as she normally is, I just didn't like that. Seriously, I could count on one hand the number of times she even used her fire power.

Critiques aside, it was another fun, well-paced novel of the "Heroine" universe. Now I'm gearing up for the grand finale when Holiday Heroine comes out this summer.

[Stephanie Dyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superheroines Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka head to Los Angeles from their base in San Francisco to check in on a TV show about their lives. While Evie just wants to relax Aveda is too busy worrying about everything, trying to solve every problem, to even think about relaxing. She is concerned with the Otherworld threat to Evie’s upcoming baby and she is having a really hard time dealing with the changes in their lives - Evie’s pregnancy, Lucy and Rose moving out on their own, her husband Scott’s opportunity of a new job in LA and her mother’s mysterious series of text messages consisting of photos of oranges. She fears the team is breaking up and she will be left alone. But even if Aveda wanted to relax there are weird things happening - a former San Francisco superheroine who has moved to LA is hitting on Scott and trying to lure him to a new job in LA, on the TV show set one actor gets carried away with his vampire role and attacks a fellow actor and then it looks like maybe vampires are not really fiction after all and to top it all off, it appears Shasta is in LA trying yet again to snatch Evie’s baby.
While I am sure it would have been better to have read the installments prior to this one the author does a good job of sprinkling background information in the first few chapters so a reader new to the series is not entirely lost. An enjoyable outing in an enjoyable series

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Aveda Jupiter (Annie) and Evie Tanaka are told that the filming has begun on a tv show based on their superheroing lives, they jump at the chance to go to LA and see the magic happen.
But of course, there's a lot of strange things that are occurring on the set and despite the fact that this is supposed to be a relaxing trip, Aveda Jupiter is on the job.
Annie is feeling tired and shaky and emotional in this book. Unlike her previous unflappable nature in the others, this one got a little odd because it just didn't feel like Annie at times.
And her communication skills sucked even more than normal. Instead of sharing what she's feeling and admitting what is going through her head, Annie gets all clammed up.
Even Scott can't seem to help her. That part was a little annoying. For her to be with Scott on her trip to LA and she still can't seem to tell him anything that's bothering her. It was also more annoying than ever when she'd try to control EVERY situation. She was trying to do everyone's job and that was even MORE annoying than ever.
Unlike in the previous books, she didn't read like herself. There was no more of that fun diva energy that she brought to the story and it made the book feel way longer than it was.
I thoroughly still enjoyed it, however. The vampire angle was hilarious and the villain in this one was too perfect. Loved where the author took that idea. It was just a fun book.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed this series so far so I was really excited to get to read the ARC and not have to wait for the release date!
I don’t want to write a spoiler filled review with a couple weeks left to release date but these was another fun entry in the series! This particular book focuses on Aveda and her point of view and she really needs a vacation! Not that she’d admit to it…. The rest of the characters have her back of course. These books are fairly light but if you’re looking for a female powered superhero story I recommend the series highly!
It does feel like we’re reaching the end of the series and I’ll be sorry to see it wrap up but I will look forward to whatever the author writes next. This series has been a ton of fun.

[Henry Lazarus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah Kuhn’s fifth tale of Aveda Jupiter, a demon fighter in San Francisco who labels herself as a superhero and has gotten famous enough that she isn’t startled when a television series about her life starts filming. Hollywood Heroine (paper from DAW) proves that you should always look a gift horse in the mouth. When they arrive on set, they discover that there is a method actor playing a vampire (there are no vampires in this universe only demons, who has started biting people and has red glowing eyes. Soon people are turning into bats. Not only that, but a former superhero who moved to LA seems to be making moves on, Scott, Aveda’s husband. Properly silly fun.Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between finishing grad school and *ahem* surviving an ongoing global pandemic, I struggled to read through most of 2020-2021. THIS is the book series that broke me out of that funk-- I blazed through the first few books in this series while giggling at ridiculous supernatural and romantic setups that reminded me of Charmed (the 90s-00s tv show) but with Asian American superheroines! I appreciated the references to some great LA restaurants and neighborhoods, but this book was just a little bit less captivating to me than the others (to be clear, I still read it in 3 days :P). Some aspects of the plot echo the previous book and the supernatural backstory was a bit less rich.

[Mollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again I love these books and I want more coverage for them. There is definitely a formula at play here but the characters show growth from book to book and expose things that privileged people like myself are not fully aware of: the "nice white woman" who is really undermining those they deem as other. Annie working out her complex feelings in the novel that direct follow what happened in the previous novel is fantastic. It took me a few days to get back into it but I had been anticipating this for a while. I cannot wait to see what happens next with Bea in the next book.

[Lia Marcoux · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up thinking it would be about a couple of Asian-American gal pal superhero besties, not realizing it was like 5th in its series. It's hard to evaluate it as a standalone since it's clearly very serialized, but I hoped it would be more about friendship than it was. Also, and this might be unfair because they might be in every other book in the series, but I thought it was a little odd that for all the very straightforward talk about representation, no Asian or Asian-American men appeared in this book. But we heard a lot about one hero's hot white husband and his blond hair.

[Kathy Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

just finished reading Sarah Kuhn’s Haunted Heroine and Hollywood Heroine, both powerful installments in the adventures of superheroines Evie Tanaka and Annie Chang. In between battling demons, ghosts, vampires, and the Otherworld, the ladies confront their pasts in a frank appraisal of how dismissive and discriminatory encounters led to them becoming the people they are with all their attendant challenges. Brilliant way to spend the weekend!

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of all three narrators in this series, I appreciate Aveda/Annie's voice the most. Yes, I know the feeling of needing to do everything and fix everything, because you are the person in position to do it! I know the feeling that rest is a waste of perfectly good doing-things time! I know the worry of not being supportive enough for one's spouse, and bending over backwards to try and be! And I'm not even a superheroine with extra powers and towering self-confidence.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an entertaining installment in the Heroine series. This time around, through the narration by Aveda Jupiter, Aveda and Evie travel to Los Angeles to watch the filming of a television show about their lives. However, when supernatural energies spark a vampiric influence in the actors of the show. Throw in an old supernatural acquaintance and the anxiety of everyone leaving her, Aveda may have more than just rest on this trip.

I look forward to the next installation.

[Zen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aveda Jupiter is not my favorite person in this series, but I really did like this book. Annie/Aveda is trying to turn over a new leaf and be less diva-esque. Granted, she goes too far in the other direction in this book, but she is infinitely more likable which made this book more enjoyable than I expected.

[Mandi Hidalgo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find that as this series has gone on, the start to these books have gotten a bit slower, and it takes a bit longer to get to the exciting and super interesting stuff, but it was still overall a good book. The ending was well done and everything. I love the story overall. I just felt that it took too long to get to the meat and potatoes of the story, if you will.

[Ben Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way she finds ways to make the same characters interact in new ways that are just incredible and authentic to their voices. I live these books so much and really so much more than i should 😂 I need more more more

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy watching the characters in this series mature, and the plot of this one was so wacky that I genuinely did not know what was going on until quite far along—a refreshing change. At times, the emotions in this felt too heavy, but that was a necessary part of the story.

[Jolie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure how to say it beyond I freaking love these books. The characters may be in unreal situations, but they are SUPER real, learning, growing, well-developed characters and I absolutely love them.

[Delaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series straddles the line between camp and preachy and this one leaned too far into preachy for me.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun shenanigans in LA, although the "grand reveal" at the end wasn't really a shocking twist by any means. I did miss having Lucy on board so hope she gets extra spotlight time in the next book!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still like these characters, even if I was frustrated with Annie for this book.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vacationed at my home for an embarrassing length of time (2+yrs!) thanks to thus-far unlimited library renewals.

[Julie Bergley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great continuation. I love watching these girls grow and learn how to take care of themselves. I can’t wait to see what the last book in the series holds!