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A-List: Hollywood Royalty #2
Sunset Boulevard
Starlet Amelie Adams's new movie is being shot on location-at Beverly Hills High. But the drama on-screen is nothing compared to what's happening off-screen.
Lights, camera, deception!
Lights, camera, deception!
274 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
18 people are currently reading
698 people want to read
About the author
Zoey Dean
56 books407 followersThe author of The A-List series and How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls, which has been renamed and turned into a TV show known as Privileged on the CW in September 2008. Zoey Dean's books are produced by the media packager Alloy Entertainment, which created Gossip Girl, The Clique Series, and The A-List and sold them to Little, Brown and Company.
Zoey is currently working on The Talent series. She is also working on The A-List: Hollywood Royalty.
Zoey Dean divides her time between Beverly Hills, California, and her favorite small islands in the Caribbean.
See also: Cherie Bennett
Zoey is currently working on The Talent series. She is also working on The A-List: Hollywood Royalty.
Zoey Dean divides her time between Beverly Hills, California, and her favorite small islands in the Caribbean.
See also: Cherie Bennett
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 22, 2009
I let this one sit on my shelf for a few months, since at this point, all the series I love are in serious decline, and so I feel like I need to ration. Unfortunately, as soon as I actually started reading it, rationing more or less ended -- I was only able to make it last two days! Sigh.
I'm definitely worried the next A-List: Hollywood Royalty book will be the last in this series, there are a couple of developments in this one that point to that (not to mention the severely lagging sales figures). That's a shame, since we got ten books' worth of the original characters -- and while ten books of Sam and Cammie was pretty enjoyable, ten books worth of Anna and Ben was sheer torture.
Though the lack of Anna and Ben certainly is a huge boost, I continue to genuinely enjoy the new characters in this one. I would have liked more of Amelie (so endearing!) and a little less of Myla (boring and bitchy, though only her boyfriend plot -- all her friend intrigue stuff was right up my alley). Sure, the plotlines are a lot more predictable than something like Gossip Girl, but overall, this was a pretty fun book. Even a character like Ash -- at first glance a personality-free pretty-boy in the mold of Ben Birnbaum. Birnbach? Never can even remember his name! -- has enough backstory and personality to be compelling. And the two "outsider" characters, JoJo and Jake, are really enjoyable. By the end of this one, JoJo had grown on me enough to almost carry the series on her own (though to be fair, it's her interactions with Myla that really show her off best).
One complaint: The thing I like least about this series is the heavy-handedness of the it's-in-Hollywood aspect. In the original A-List, they created a slightly more original universe of celebrities, whereas in this one all the faux celebs are carbon copies of real celebs (e.g. BarBar, Grant). This wouldn't be extremely weird except that they always manage to bring up the real celebrities these characters are based on (Brangelina, Robert Pattinson), which makes it all less believable. Really, there are two mega-celebrity couples with adopted children from all over the world, each of whom have more or less the same attributes? It just makes it seem too weird. The first ten books did a better job integrating reality with the fictive LA.
Still though... I'll take narrative weirdness over nothing. If only they'd keep this going! I refuse to turn to anything written by Lisi Harrison... those are just too horrible (plus WAY too young for me, as opposed to being way too young for me). I might have to give up and start tracking down old copies of Sunset Island -- that series (from the 90s) was also created by Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld, the same folks behind "Zoey Dean." Yes, at the time and ever since I've thought it was too cheesy for me, but hell, once upon a time I thought the A-List was too cheesy for me too!
I'm definitely worried the next A-List: Hollywood Royalty book will be the last in this series, there are a couple of developments in this one that point to that (not to mention the severely lagging sales figures). That's a shame, since we got ten books' worth of the original characters -- and while ten books of Sam and Cammie was pretty enjoyable, ten books worth of Anna and Ben was sheer torture.
Though the lack of Anna and Ben certainly is a huge boost, I continue to genuinely enjoy the new characters in this one. I would have liked more of Amelie (so endearing!) and a little less of Myla (boring and bitchy, though only her boyfriend plot -- all her friend intrigue stuff was right up my alley). Sure, the plotlines are a lot more predictable than something like Gossip Girl, but overall, this was a pretty fun book. Even a character like Ash -- at first glance a personality-free pretty-boy in the mold of Ben Birnbaum. Birnbach? Never can even remember his name! -- has enough backstory and personality to be compelling. And the two "outsider" characters, JoJo and Jake, are really enjoyable. By the end of this one, JoJo had grown on me enough to almost carry the series on her own (though to be fair, it's her interactions with Myla that really show her off best).
One complaint: The thing I like least about this series is the heavy-handedness of the it's-in-Hollywood aspect. In the original A-List, they created a slightly more original universe of celebrities, whereas in this one all the faux celebs are carbon copies of real celebs (e.g. BarBar, Grant). This wouldn't be extremely weird except that they always manage to bring up the real celebrities these characters are based on (Brangelina, Robert Pattinson), which makes it all less believable. Really, there are two mega-celebrity couples with adopted children from all over the world, each of whom have more or less the same attributes? It just makes it seem too weird. The first ten books did a better job integrating reality with the fictive LA.
Still though... I'll take narrative weirdness over nothing. If only they'd keep this going! I refuse to turn to anything written by Lisi Harrison... those are just too horrible (plus WAY too young for me, as opposed to being way too young for me). I might have to give up and start tracking down old copies of Sunset Island -- that series (from the 90s) was also created by Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld, the same folks behind "Zoey Dean." Yes, at the time and ever since I've thought it was too cheesy for me, but hell, once upon a time I thought the A-List was too cheesy for me too!
September 16, 2009
Predictable, and quite boring. Usually I can fly through these kinds of books (like the other 'A-List' or 'Gossip Girl' or 'the It Girl') in a few days and this took over a week to trudge through.
Perhaps the series should have ended with the original characters instead of branching of like this. Maybe the third book will be better?
I mean, my expectations for books of this nature are not that high, but it just seems sometimes they add stuff in to make a page quota and it's pointless.
Perhaps the series should have ended with the original characters instead of branching of like this. Maybe the third book will be better?
I mean, my expectations for books of this nature are not that high, but it just seems sometimes they add stuff in to make a page quota and it's pointless.
April 14, 2010
The next book in the series came out in March 2010. i need to get a copy of it. i enjoy this too much. i could read another 40 of these books.
Read
November 16, 2009Sunset Boulevard by Zoey Dean is the second book in the A-List Hollywood Royalty series. This book is just as good as the first book if not better. It has so many unexpected twists that you will never see coming. Sudden betrayal between friends, unpredicted relationships, and so much more drama.
In this second book, Myla had not only had lost her boyfriend, Ash Gilmour, she also loses her closest friends to Amelie Adams. At first Myla thinks it’s only going to be a while only before her friends will come back to her and realize how foolish they were, but after seeing her friends treating Amelie like she’s their queen, Myla soon begin to panic. Will she be able to persuade her friends to come back? Amelie Adams is finally able to feel like a ‘real’ teenager when she starts to shoot for her new show, Class Angel in Beverly Hills high. She even found some new friends while she’s here. Even though she knows that they only befriended her, to try and meet Grant Isaascon, who will be acting in the show too. Will Ameilie be able to convince her new friends to actually like her for herself and not because they’ll be able to meet famous people through her connections? Throughout the book, different characters will clash, some will get hurt, and some will end up winning.
After reading the first book, I waited for a long time for the second book to release! And now I finally had the chance to read it! And I really enjoyed reading it. My favorite character would be the new character introduced in this book, Daisy. At first she seemed to be insane, but soon I found out that it was all an act! This was completely unexpected. The only horrible thing about reading this book is that you’re left wondering what’s going to happen now, since the third book isn’t going to be out till March 2010!
I recommend this book to anyone who likes books full of drama and also to fans of the original A-List series. If you haven’t read the first book in this series yet. You should! And while you’re getting the first book, Hollywood Royalty, you might as well get the second book, Sunset Boulevard.
In this second book, Myla had not only had lost her boyfriend, Ash Gilmour, she also loses her closest friends to Amelie Adams. At first Myla thinks it’s only going to be a while only before her friends will come back to her and realize how foolish they were, but after seeing her friends treating Amelie like she’s their queen, Myla soon begin to panic. Will she be able to persuade her friends to come back? Amelie Adams is finally able to feel like a ‘real’ teenager when she starts to shoot for her new show, Class Angel in Beverly Hills high. She even found some new friends while she’s here. Even though she knows that they only befriended her, to try and meet Grant Isaascon, who will be acting in the show too. Will Ameilie be able to convince her new friends to actually like her for herself and not because they’ll be able to meet famous people through her connections? Throughout the book, different characters will clash, some will get hurt, and some will end up winning.
After reading the first book, I waited for a long time for the second book to release! And now I finally had the chance to read it! And I really enjoyed reading it. My favorite character would be the new character introduced in this book, Daisy. At first she seemed to be insane, but soon I found out that it was all an act! This was completely unexpected. The only horrible thing about reading this book is that you’re left wondering what’s going to happen now, since the third book isn’t going to be out till March 2010!
I recommend this book to anyone who likes books full of drama and also to fans of the original A-List series. If you haven’t read the first book in this series yet. You should! And while you’re getting the first book, Hollywood Royalty, you might as well get the second book, Sunset Boulevard.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2009
The first book was way better it had a concept and a plot, this book I don't have much to say about this one, but it was like reading an terribly too long epiloge.
December 12, 2009
This was cute, but not nearly as good as the first. Still fun to read, and definitely one of my guilty pleasures.
May 19, 2010
Ehh, it wasn't really that good, but I'm not sure this series is that great to begin with.
May 13, 2021
i love this book series so much idc!!! forever a fave!!!
December 4, 2022
okay why did EVERYONE turn into assholes towards the end of the book it’s like they all did a 180 then a 180 again. i’m so confused.
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May 14, 2015Did anyone else notice during the part that Ash is celebrating his birthday: Ash goes to Jake's house whose mom brings out a cake for him that reads "Ash! 17!" (Page 123). Later the same night Ash goes to Myla's house and a sentence reads "... Standing there was her just-turned-eighteen-ex-boyfriend, Ash." (Page 131). Then Myla is mocking Ash's father and says ".. Are you trying to tell me that you're sixteen and rich ...etc" (page 138). I'm assuming he in fact just turned 17 since he's a junior in high school.
Lazy writing like that annoys me.
In related news, I did just find out that Zoey Dean is a pseudonym for a group of writers who created this series, which explains the sloppy attention to detail.
Lazy writing like that annoys me.
In related news, I did just find out that Zoey Dean is a pseudonym for a group of writers who created this series, which explains the sloppy attention to detail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2010
Once again, I knew what I was getting into when I decided to read this book. But, I've said it once and I'll say it again, books like these are like brain candy for me. I read it for pure entertainment and as a guilty pleasure, and I don't expect anything more from it. I liked the story, didn't love it, but was disappointed because once again, I just didn't like any of the characters.
Once I start a series, I'm determined to finish it. With just one book left in this series, I'll be picking up the next one although I'm not expecting much.
Once I start a series, I'm determined to finish it. With just one book left in this series, I'll be picking up the next one although I'm not expecting much.
January 9, 2015
Myla got what was coming for her in this book, and I'm glad she finally realized her wrongs. I feel like in this book most of the characters(the main ones anyways) grew up in a small way. Ash let go of the hold Myla had on him, Jake saw and later didn't want part of stardom, Myla saw how everything really is, Jojo finally saw past all the Myla stuff. I was glad to see that Parker Pinelli made it into this book! I was hoping to see some past characters in this book. Especially Cammi/Anne/Sam. I can't wait to finish the last book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2010
this book is really good. I finished it and loved it when Myla finally relized that it was all her fault and no one elses!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2010
LOOOOVE THIS BOOK...actually i love all the A-List novels...CANT WAIT TO GET CITY OF ANGELS!!!!
March 7, 2013
In this second A-list book, JoJo continues to figure out life in Hollywood.
July 28, 2011
I've read almost every book by Zoey Dean and, like with this one, I have NEVER been disappointed! It was an amazing book and I cannot wait to get to the third one!
February 25, 2015
Delightfully fun read.
December 22, 2012
It was an amazing book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews