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Just Like Me, Only Better
From the author of Here Today, Gone to Maui, the story of a woman who finally got a life...some else's.
Ever since Veronica's husband found the love of his life—not her—she's been a walking zombie with runny mascara. It doesn't help that she keeps getting mistaken for Haley Rush—the Hollywood starlet whose dazzling life is plastered on every magazine.
When Haley's manager offers Veronica a job as a celebrity double, it only takes a moment before she says yes. Veronica gets to drive Haley's car, wear her phenomenal clothes-and have fun with her hot celebrity boyfriend, Brady Ellis. Too bad the job's only part-time, and at the end of the day she has to return to her life as a cash-strapped substitute teacher and Cub Scout mom.
But when real sparks fly with Brady, is it a fantasy come true or a disaster in disguise?
Ever since Veronica's husband found the love of his life—not her—she's been a walking zombie with runny mascara. It doesn't help that she keeps getting mistaken for Haley Rush—the Hollywood starlet whose dazzling life is plastered on every magazine.
When Haley's manager offers Veronica a job as a celebrity double, it only takes a moment before she says yes. Veronica gets to drive Haley's car, wear her phenomenal clothes-and have fun with her hot celebrity boyfriend, Brady Ellis. Too bad the job's only part-time, and at the end of the day she has to return to her life as a cash-strapped substitute teacher and Cub Scout mom.
But when real sparks fly with Brady, is it a fantasy come true or a disaster in disguise?
306 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2010
6 people are currently reading
861 people want to read
About the author
Carol Snow
40 books226 followersCalled “an author to watch” by Booklist, Carol Snow is an American author of contemporary women’s fiction and young adult literature. After graduating from Brown University with a degree in psychology, she spent many years writing literary short stories before accepting that she couldn't go more than a few hundred words without cracking a joke. She eventually turned her attention to crafting humorous, heartfelt stories with a wider commercial appeal, and In 2006, Berkley/Penguin published her first novel, Been There, Done That, which Publisher's Weekly called “humorous, wise . . . romance with a bit of social commentary.” Since then, she has written four more books for adults, Getting Warmer (2007), Here Today, Gone to Maui (2009), Just Like Me, Only Better (2010), and the upcoming What Came First (2011), about which Laura Fitzgerald, bestselling author of Veil of Roses, said, “Carol Snow mixes her trademark humor with tenderness and understanding in this good-mom/bad-mom tale of unexpected twists and turns.” Carol has also written two young adult books for HarperCollins, Switch (2008), an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, and Snap (2009). Foreign rights to her books have sold to publishers in Germany, Norway, and Romania.
Carol Snow grew up in New Jersey. Much of her childhood was spent immersed in books; the rest was focused on avoiding dodgeball. In addition to her psychology degree from Brown University, she holds an M.A.T. in English from Boston College. Before getting her first book published, she had the typical (for a writer) assortment of odd jobs: tour guide, tutor, chambermaid, waitress. She worked for a T-shirt company, a child services agency, and a vanity press. She even had a short stint in local politics. Her campaign brochures were really pretty, with flawless punctuation.
Since leaving New Jersey, Carol has lived all over the place: Rhode Island, London, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Utah, Arizona, and, now, Southern California, where she shares a cat-fur-coated house with her husband and their two children.
Carol Snow grew up in New Jersey. Much of her childhood was spent immersed in books; the rest was focused on avoiding dodgeball. In addition to her psychology degree from Brown University, she holds an M.A.T. in English from Boston College. Before getting her first book published, she had the typical (for a writer) assortment of odd jobs: tour guide, tutor, chambermaid, waitress. She worked for a T-shirt company, a child services agency, and a vanity press. She even had a short stint in local politics. Her campaign brochures were really pretty, with flawless punctuation.
Since leaving New Jersey, Carol has lived all over the place: Rhode Island, London, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Utah, Arizona, and, now, Southern California, where she shares a cat-fur-coated house with her husband and their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
April 1, 2018
Totally light, escape from normal life, fun novel! Veronica is a single mom struggling to move on with her life....and when she gets a chance to impersonate a Miley Cyrus like character (who is having a breakdown) she is always mistaken for......she jumps at it. The rest of the book deals with what happens when you entangle two peoples lives....the trouble that ensues, and of course a happy ending for all!
April 9, 2010
Veronica Czaplicki hasn’t had the greatest start to the year particularly since her husband Hank told her he had found the love of his life and it turned out not to be her. Veronica’s life is made that much harder when everyone keeps mistaking her for new Hollywood starlet Haley Rush.
It comes as a surprise to Veronica when Haley’s manager, Jay, offers Veronica the chance of becoming Haley’s double – attending film premieres, a-list parties and constantly being papped – however after the shock wears off, Veronica immediately agrees. Pretty soon her life has turned into quite a whirlwind, particularly since she also has to balance her new life with looking after her son Ben. But when sparks fly with Haley’s alleged ex Brady, just what is a girl to do?
Surprisingly I actually came across Just Like Me, Only Better on a fellow Chick Lit blog when Elle at Trashionista posted up a review about the book. I quite liked the sound of it and after doing a bit of research on Carol, I saw that this was actually her 4th adult novel and one of her novels has the rather imaginative title of Here Today, Gone To Maui, which made me immediately want to read one of Carol’s books, so I was thrilled when Carol’s publicist Joy offered me a copy of Just Like Me, Only Better to review. It arrived a while ago and I was looking for a fairly quick read earlier today and this jumped out at me so I decided to give it a go.
There are lots of chick lit books published yearly about celebrities but I don’t think I’ve ever read one about a regular person impersonating a celebrity and actually being paid to do so but this is the case in Just Like Me, Only Better. It’s definitely a quirky plot which sets it apart from most chick lit and I hugely enjoyed Veronica’s transformation from sad single mum to the spitting image of the hottest new star in LA (including changing her hair colour, getting spray tanned and borrowing Haley’s wardrobe). Of course Veronica’s new job is far from perfect particularly when it turns out that Haley isn’t the angel the media are portraying her to be and definitely has a darker side – one that no-one could have imagined.
On top of all that Veronica also has to juggle her increasingly difficult family life – looking after son Ben, having to put up with living in a friend’s backyard and having to keep her new job a secret – causing ructions between her friends. Rumours also begin circulating in Fullerton about Veronica’s private life when she begins having late nights out (oh the horror!). Matters are made even worse when Veronica is sent to have coffee with Brady, Haley’s alleged ex/boyfriend, and she finds she’s attracted to him and it seems he feels the same way. But what will Haley’s manager – and essentially Veronica’s boss – Jay say and just what will Haley herself say when she finds out the woman hired to act like her is having feelings for her supposed ex? Surely that wasn’t in the script?!
Carol Snow has created a really likeable leading lady in Veronica and I really really liked her. She’s definitely one of my favourite heroines in the books I’ve read this year. Sure at the beginning she’s sad after her husband Hank left her – insultingly – for an older woman but she’s still easy to relate to. She was very self-deprecating (“If I can’t keep a man in my prime, then what chance do I have?”) but was also very funny with it and she doesn’t let the fact she looks like Haley Rush go to her head at all and it’s so great to see how her life changes after Jay offers her the job of being Haley. I suppose the other main character was Haley herself even though she’s mainly non-syllabic whenever she has scenes in the book. It was clear to see that fame had destroyed Haley in ways that we never really touched upon – it kind of reminded me of what Lindsay Lohan is currently going through minus the lesbianism. I actually really loved Jay, Haley’s manager and the man who initially hires Veronica. He can come across as a bit touchy at times but I thought he was a great character. The book only really revolves around those three and I don’t think we fully get into anyone else mentioned although Hank, Veronica’s ex, makes appearances as well as Brady Ellis, the man Veronica goes out with whilst she’s Haley.
I really really enjoyed reading Just Like Me, Only Better and it really did make me laugh out loud. There’s one particular scene where Veronica is trying to set up a meeting to meet Haley and it keeps getting cancelled so one piece of dialogue is repeated five or so times and I was in stitches by the predictability of it all. Just Like Me, Only Better is very well written and I was surprised at how quickly the pages were flying by. There’s 320 pages in the book and it just flew for me which is the sign of a fantastic book. The end of the book was hugely enjoyable although I did suspect it from the middle of the book so I was pleased to find out I was right!
I was incredibly sad to finish Just Like Me, Only Better as I hugely enjoyed reading about Veronica and her life as Haley. It’s a huge shame that this book will only be available to the US market unless you’re willing to pay £10 on Amazon. I reckon Carol Snow would be quite a favourite in the UK market if her novels were ever to be published there. I for one would immediately order all of her previous books if they weren’t so expensive! I do however hugely recommend Just Like Me, Only Better if you’re able to buy it as it was a really great read.
It comes as a surprise to Veronica when Haley’s manager, Jay, offers Veronica the chance of becoming Haley’s double – attending film premieres, a-list parties and constantly being papped – however after the shock wears off, Veronica immediately agrees. Pretty soon her life has turned into quite a whirlwind, particularly since she also has to balance her new life with looking after her son Ben. But when sparks fly with Haley’s alleged ex Brady, just what is a girl to do?
Surprisingly I actually came across Just Like Me, Only Better on a fellow Chick Lit blog when Elle at Trashionista posted up a review about the book. I quite liked the sound of it and after doing a bit of research on Carol, I saw that this was actually her 4th adult novel and one of her novels has the rather imaginative title of Here Today, Gone To Maui, which made me immediately want to read one of Carol’s books, so I was thrilled when Carol’s publicist Joy offered me a copy of Just Like Me, Only Better to review. It arrived a while ago and I was looking for a fairly quick read earlier today and this jumped out at me so I decided to give it a go.
There are lots of chick lit books published yearly about celebrities but I don’t think I’ve ever read one about a regular person impersonating a celebrity and actually being paid to do so but this is the case in Just Like Me, Only Better. It’s definitely a quirky plot which sets it apart from most chick lit and I hugely enjoyed Veronica’s transformation from sad single mum to the spitting image of the hottest new star in LA (including changing her hair colour, getting spray tanned and borrowing Haley’s wardrobe). Of course Veronica’s new job is far from perfect particularly when it turns out that Haley isn’t the angel the media are portraying her to be and definitely has a darker side – one that no-one could have imagined.
On top of all that Veronica also has to juggle her increasingly difficult family life – looking after son Ben, having to put up with living in a friend’s backyard and having to keep her new job a secret – causing ructions between her friends. Rumours also begin circulating in Fullerton about Veronica’s private life when she begins having late nights out (oh the horror!). Matters are made even worse when Veronica is sent to have coffee with Brady, Haley’s alleged ex/boyfriend, and she finds she’s attracted to him and it seems he feels the same way. But what will Haley’s manager – and essentially Veronica’s boss – Jay say and just what will Haley herself say when she finds out the woman hired to act like her is having feelings for her supposed ex? Surely that wasn’t in the script?!
Carol Snow has created a really likeable leading lady in Veronica and I really really liked her. She’s definitely one of my favourite heroines in the books I’ve read this year. Sure at the beginning she’s sad after her husband Hank left her – insultingly – for an older woman but she’s still easy to relate to. She was very self-deprecating (“If I can’t keep a man in my prime, then what chance do I have?”) but was also very funny with it and she doesn’t let the fact she looks like Haley Rush go to her head at all and it’s so great to see how her life changes after Jay offers her the job of being Haley. I suppose the other main character was Haley herself even though she’s mainly non-syllabic whenever she has scenes in the book. It was clear to see that fame had destroyed Haley in ways that we never really touched upon – it kind of reminded me of what Lindsay Lohan is currently going through minus the lesbianism. I actually really loved Jay, Haley’s manager and the man who initially hires Veronica. He can come across as a bit touchy at times but I thought he was a great character. The book only really revolves around those three and I don’t think we fully get into anyone else mentioned although Hank, Veronica’s ex, makes appearances as well as Brady Ellis, the man Veronica goes out with whilst she’s Haley.
I really really enjoyed reading Just Like Me, Only Better and it really did make me laugh out loud. There’s one particular scene where Veronica is trying to set up a meeting to meet Haley and it keeps getting cancelled so one piece of dialogue is repeated five or so times and I was in stitches by the predictability of it all. Just Like Me, Only Better is very well written and I was surprised at how quickly the pages were flying by. There’s 320 pages in the book and it just flew for me which is the sign of a fantastic book. The end of the book was hugely enjoyable although I did suspect it from the middle of the book so I was pleased to find out I was right!
I was incredibly sad to finish Just Like Me, Only Better as I hugely enjoyed reading about Veronica and her life as Haley. It’s a huge shame that this book will only be available to the US market unless you’re willing to pay £10 on Amazon. I reckon Carol Snow would be quite a favourite in the UK market if her novels were ever to be published there. I for one would immediately order all of her previous books if they weren’t so expensive! I do however hugely recommend Just Like Me, Only Better if you’re able to buy it as it was a really great read.
April 21, 2010
Reviewed by Tori
What if you were a celeb look a like? In Just Like Me Only Better , Ms Shaw takes us on a humorous tongue in cheek journey through the life of a celeb look alike who soon finds that life in the fast line isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Poor Veronica has had a hard year. She's a twenty-nine year old single mom who's husband has divorced her for an older woman,
her job sucks, and her overbearing landlord thinks she's acquired a slave opposed to a tenet. Veronica has been told she looks like pop star Haley Rush for years but thought nothing of it until she is approached by Haley's manager with a proposition. He would pay her $100 an hour to pretend to be Haley at certain functions.
Uhhhh.... YEA!!
Veronica agrees and is soon swept into the Hollywood world of hair extensions, lip syncing, and spray tanning gone wrong.
Just Like Me, Only Better is a pleasant read to be laying out in the sun and sipping Margarita's. Fast paced story line told in the tone of a gossip tabloid. Its told from Veronica's point of view and had me as engrossed as the National Enquirer in the check out lane. (Yes, I read tabloids. So sue me.)
Everyone from Haley's manager Jay to her pseudo boyfriend Brady has their own agenda where Haley is concerned. She's their meal ticket so Veronica's performance has to be top notch. When Veronica meets Haley, she sees is a twenty-something confused, unresponsive kid that has no control over anything in her life. From food to driving-Haley seems ruled by her entourage.
I saw a similarity between Haley and some of the young stars who are all in the news now. With the Gatorade vodkatinis (I gotta try that one) and Montana country girl references; it made me think hard about what some of those young girls go through to be stars. Maybe their crazy behavior is more due to the demands of their life style then being prima donnas.
But Haley isn't as docile as she seems and is hell bent on reclaiming her life on her terms. As Veronica tries being "Haley" she also has to deal with still being "Veronica". Which becomes harder to do as she becomes more immersed into Haley's life. When she is mistaken for Haley in a compromising position; real life interrupts and she suddenly realizes that being Veronica Czaplicki isn't that bad after all. Ms Shaw doesn't sugar coat Veronica's behavior. We see her accepting the perks of Haley's star power along with everyone else and not making good choices. But Veronica handles it well with plenty of tart humor and self depreciation. I will definitely read more of Ms. Shaw's work.
What if you were a celeb look a like? In Just Like Me Only Better , Ms Shaw takes us on a humorous tongue in cheek journey through the life of a celeb look alike who soon finds that life in the fast line isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Poor Veronica has had a hard year. She's a twenty-nine year old single mom who's husband has divorced her for an older woman,
her job sucks, and her overbearing landlord thinks she's acquired a slave opposed to a tenet. Veronica has been told she looks like pop star Haley Rush for years but thought nothing of it until she is approached by Haley's manager with a proposition. He would pay her $100 an hour to pretend to be Haley at certain functions.
Uhhhh.... YEA!!
Veronica agrees and is soon swept into the Hollywood world of hair extensions, lip syncing, and spray tanning gone wrong.
Just Like Me, Only Better is a pleasant read to be laying out in the sun and sipping Margarita's. Fast paced story line told in the tone of a gossip tabloid. Its told from Veronica's point of view and had me as engrossed as the National Enquirer in the check out lane. (Yes, I read tabloids. So sue me.)
Everyone from Haley's manager Jay to her pseudo boyfriend Brady has their own agenda where Haley is concerned. She's their meal ticket so Veronica's performance has to be top notch. When Veronica meets Haley, she sees is a twenty-something confused, unresponsive kid that has no control over anything in her life. From food to driving-Haley seems ruled by her entourage.
I saw a similarity between Haley and some of the young stars who are all in the news now. With the Gatorade vodkatinis (I gotta try that one) and Montana country girl references; it made me think hard about what some of those young girls go through to be stars. Maybe their crazy behavior is more due to the demands of their life style then being prima donnas.
But Haley isn't as docile as she seems and is hell bent on reclaiming her life on her terms. As Veronica tries being "Haley" she also has to deal with still being "Veronica". Which becomes harder to do as she becomes more immersed into Haley's life. When she is mistaken for Haley in a compromising position; real life interrupts and she suddenly realizes that being Veronica Czaplicki isn't that bad after all. Ms Shaw doesn't sugar coat Veronica's behavior. We see her accepting the perks of Haley's star power along with everyone else and not making good choices. But Veronica handles it well with plenty of tart humor and self depreciation. I will definitely read more of Ms. Shaw's work.
April 13, 2010
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway, and it is my first time reading anything by Carol Snow, but it won't be my last.
I found this book to be amusing, lighthearted and just one of those feel good books that by the end you just smile. The main character Veronica is a struggling divorcee trying to survive on her meager paycheck from substitute teaching. She is still trying to get over the fact that her husband recently left her because he found his soul mate in someone twice her age. She wonders if she should be embarrassed just by the fact that he left, or that he left her for someone older. Her friends are nothing to be excited about, and since she lives in the guest house of her "friends" house, she has the exciting job of being babysitter/chauffeur/replacement mom. So when she is approached by Jay, the manager of an actress/singer named Haley Rush to be her double Veronica can't say no. Yes she looks a bit like her, but she needs to change her clothes, hair and skin color. Veronica begins to love her new life being Haley, and she even gets to date a C list actor. But when things start to become a little more intense, Veronica starts to wonder if this new job is what she really wants in life.
All in all, it was a really funny book and I have to say that I really liked Veronica from the beginning. Her inner dialogue was hilarious and yet I could also relate to her. I wanted her to be happy at the end of the book, and I felt appalled on her behalf for things people did to her throughout the story. I did figure out what was going to happen, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.
On a side note, I thought it was very awesome that the book I was sent was an uncorrected proof (I've never had one of those before) and also that it was signed by the author. I love Goodreads Giveaway books!!
I found this book to be amusing, lighthearted and just one of those feel good books that by the end you just smile. The main character Veronica is a struggling divorcee trying to survive on her meager paycheck from substitute teaching. She is still trying to get over the fact that her husband recently left her because he found his soul mate in someone twice her age. She wonders if she should be embarrassed just by the fact that he left, or that he left her for someone older. Her friends are nothing to be excited about, and since she lives in the guest house of her "friends" house, she has the exciting job of being babysitter/chauffeur/replacement mom. So when she is approached by Jay, the manager of an actress/singer named Haley Rush to be her double Veronica can't say no. Yes she looks a bit like her, but she needs to change her clothes, hair and skin color. Veronica begins to love her new life being Haley, and she even gets to date a C list actor. But when things start to become a little more intense, Veronica starts to wonder if this new job is what she really wants in life.
All in all, it was a really funny book and I have to say that I really liked Veronica from the beginning. Her inner dialogue was hilarious and yet I could also relate to her. I wanted her to be happy at the end of the book, and I felt appalled on her behalf for things people did to her throughout the story. I did figure out what was going to happen, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.
On a side note, I thought it was very awesome that the book I was sent was an uncorrected proof (I've never had one of those before) and also that it was signed by the author. I love Goodreads Giveaway books!!
July 1, 2010
- I picked this book as Carol Snow answered questions for a GR meet and greet session. I got the feeling that Ms. Snow writes much more YA than I normally read. However, I liked her answers concerning flawed characters and decided to give this a shot. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t what I got. Don’t worry, that’s not a bad thing. Let’s start with what this book isn’t. It isn’t a romance novel. It isn’t women’s fiction. It isn’t YA either. What it is is an amalgamation of these different genres. The characters are mostly two dimensional and nobody is perfect. I love that about the book. You want to hate Hank. Well, maybe he isn’t that bad. As you go down each character, it is pretty much the same story. Here’s a good friend, but she has flaws. Here’s someone else you think is the bad guy, but he turns out to be not that way at all. That is my favorite characteristic of this book. Our heroine, Veronica Czaplicki, certainly makes her fair share of mistakes. And some of those are actually pretty serious.
I didn’t like some of the plot points as I thought they were too far outside the realm of believability. I wasn’t a big fan of Haley being made in the image of several of our teen queens/pop icons. Furthermore I thought we were being beaten with the ‘Veronica’s life is so tough’ thing a few too many times. Otherwise I really enjoyed it. 3.5/5 stars.
I didn’t like some of the plot points as I thought they were too far outside the realm of believability. I wasn’t a big fan of Haley being made in the image of several of our teen queens/pop icons. Furthermore I thought we were being beaten with the ‘Veronica’s life is so tough’ thing a few too many times. Otherwise I really enjoyed it. 3.5/5 stars.
April 6, 2010
When Veronica's husband leaves her for a woman who is rolling in the dough with her realtor work. Veronica is struggling with only a substitute teaching position, she has no idea how she is going to survive. When a young starlets manager sees Veronica, he is taken aback because of how much she resembles his client, Haley Rush. When he offers her $100 an hour just to pretend to be Haley for some photo shoots, she takes him up on his offer. It's fun at first but all good things must come to an end.
I loved this book! I totally connected with Veronica because she's such a lovable character. This is a fast read so I suggest making sure you can read it all in one sitting because you won't want to put it down.
December 12, 2010
Quick read - took me slightly less than 3 hours. It's what one looks for in a chick-lit book. Fun clothes, life slightly outside the ordinary. Reading about the "inner-workings" of hollywood starlet. Writing is decent - no grimacing at bad grammar. Happy ending. Somewhat predictable, but a still a few twists and turns.
July 8, 2010
I loved the story. But was disappointed with the author's use of the "F" word. Surely she could have found a better word!
February 6, 2011
I loved everything about this book...the storyline, the main character, the little twists here and there. Highly recommend!
March 8, 2015
Quick read; enjoyable fantasy.
December 27, 2018
DNF - threw in the towel 60+ pages in after not being able to connect with the main character and not being tickled by the attempts at hilarity via California geography. Perhaps it was too light a read for me since others seemed to really enjoy it.
May 13, 2020
My sister gave me this book, and she loved it! It is very light and fluffy and totally unbelievable. To me, the ending was the best part ... possibly because I finally got there! That said, some people will really enjoy as a light escape... especially during these unsettling times.
July 5, 2017
A fun read.
March 24, 2018
Quick, easy, light book
July 14, 2018
So funny, interesting & unique premise, told very well! I like this. I will check out her other works.
August 6, 2018
Light reading, but fun.
November 6, 2018
Funny and easy read
September 9, 2021
An interesting ROMCOM. An OK read but will probably not be a re-read for me.
January 24, 2023
Fun book
July 17, 2024
Probably not winning any awards, but a cute little easy breezy read. Enjoyed overall. Three stars because I found some minor plot inconsistencies.
April 2, 2025
This was very light and a quick read which I mostly liked. I’d like to see what the main character’s life looks like a year or two after the events of the story.
April 3, 2019
Read sample
April 5, 2010
For Veronica Czaplicki, a single mom and student teacher in suburban L.A., life has begun to lag just a tiny bit. I might have been when her husband, Hank, left her for a real estate agent many years Veronica's senior -- and Veronica was forced to rent a tiny guesthouse from a lazy couple happier to push their children onto their new "tenant" than try and carpool their little ones themselves. Now a single mother struggling to stay afloat financially, Veronica is unhappy, worried, perpetually stressed -- and seeking a new way to make ends meet.
Which is convenient for Jay Sharpie, manager of one Haley Rush -- a television and radio star in the vein of Miley Cyrus who has disintegrated into another trainwreck devoured by the tabloids. Because plain-Jane teacher Veronica bears an uncanny resemblance to Haley, so much so that people constantly stop her in the street, asking for a signature or a photo. And Jay spots her, too.
Before she knows it, Veronica has been sucked into the Hollywood vacuum, signing on to become a Haley impersonator of sorts -- someone to go out in public and act normal, essentially, since Ms. Rush refuses to get up before noon and drowns her sorrows in illicit substances. In order to do some serious damage control, Veronica pretends to be Haley for public appearances, tucking a trademark cowboy hat low on her head and hoping no one will notice the difference.
And for a while? No one does. But what happens when Veronica becomes just a little bit too much like Haley -- and the lines become impossibly blurred?
Carol Snow's Just Like Me, Only Better is a wildly entertaining novel I tore through in a matter of hours, laughing the entire time. With humor and plenty of warmth, our narrator Veronica was someone I rooted for from beginning to end, hoping she'd find a way to make a better life for herself -- and her son, Ben -- before she got too caught up in the fame game.
The antics that carry Veronica/Haley from activity to activity are hilarious and, though I could spot some of the plot devices a mile away, that didn't make me enjoy the novel any less. Brady Ellis serves as a hunky love interest while Jay functions well as the Type A obsessive manager who, despite everything, does seem to have Veronica's best interests at heart. Haley is the typical spoiled celebutante, known more for her blonde extensions and pretty face than miraculous singing or acting abilities. But as long as the money's rolling in, who cares?
Carol Snow is an author completely new to me, but I'll be looking for her backlist soon! With excellent pacing and plenty of humor, the novel absolutely flew by. Fans of chick lit and those interested in the California fame game will find plenty to enjoy in Just Like Me, Only Better, and I'll be eager to go on another adventure with Snow soon.
Which is convenient for Jay Sharpie, manager of one Haley Rush -- a television and radio star in the vein of Miley Cyrus who has disintegrated into another trainwreck devoured by the tabloids. Because plain-Jane teacher Veronica bears an uncanny resemblance to Haley, so much so that people constantly stop her in the street, asking for a signature or a photo. And Jay spots her, too.
Before she knows it, Veronica has been sucked into the Hollywood vacuum, signing on to become a Haley impersonator of sorts -- someone to go out in public and act normal, essentially, since Ms. Rush refuses to get up before noon and drowns her sorrows in illicit substances. In order to do some serious damage control, Veronica pretends to be Haley for public appearances, tucking a trademark cowboy hat low on her head and hoping no one will notice the difference.
And for a while? No one does. But what happens when Veronica becomes just a little bit too much like Haley -- and the lines become impossibly blurred?
Carol Snow's Just Like Me, Only Better is a wildly entertaining novel I tore through in a matter of hours, laughing the entire time. With humor and plenty of warmth, our narrator Veronica was someone I rooted for from beginning to end, hoping she'd find a way to make a better life for herself -- and her son, Ben -- before she got too caught up in the fame game.
The antics that carry Veronica/Haley from activity to activity are hilarious and, though I could spot some of the plot devices a mile away, that didn't make me enjoy the novel any less. Brady Ellis serves as a hunky love interest while Jay functions well as the Type A obsessive manager who, despite everything, does seem to have Veronica's best interests at heart. Haley is the typical spoiled celebutante, known more for her blonde extensions and pretty face than miraculous singing or acting abilities. But as long as the money's rolling in, who cares?
Carol Snow is an author completely new to me, but I'll be looking for her backlist soon! With excellent pacing and plenty of humor, the novel absolutely flew by. Fans of chick lit and those interested in the California fame game will find plenty to enjoy in Just Like Me, Only Better, and I'll be eager to go on another adventure with Snow soon.
April 1, 2010
What if you were a celeb look a like? In Just Like Me Only Better, Ms Shaw takes us on a humorous tongue in cheek journey through the life of a celeb look alike who soon finds that life in the fast line isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Poor Veronica has had a hard year. She's a twenty-nine year old single mom who's husband has divorced her for an older woman,
her job sucks, and her overbearing landlord thinks she's acquired a slave opposed to a tenet. Veronica has been told she looks like pop star Haley Rush for years but thought nothing of it until she is approached by Haley's manager with a proposition. He would pay her $100 an hour to pretend to be Haley at certain functions.
Uhhhh.... YEA!!
Veronica agrees and is soon swept into the Hollywood world of hair extensions, lip syncing, and spray tanning gone wrong.
Just Like Me, Only Better is a pleasant read to be laying out in the sun and sipping Margarita's. Fast paced story line told in the tone of a gossip tabloid. Its told from Veronica's point of view and had me as engrossed as the National Enquirer in the check out lane. (Yes, I read tabloids. So sue me.)
Everyone from Haley's manager Jay to her pseudo boyfriend Brady has their own agenda where Haley is concerned. She's their meal ticket so Veronica's performance has to be top notch. When Veronica meets Haley, she sees is a twenty-something confused, unresponsive kid that has no control over anything in her life. From food to driving-Haley seems ruled by her entourage.
I saw a similarity between Haley and some of the young stars who are all in the news now. With the Gatorade vodkatinis (I gotta try that one) and Montana country girl references; it made me think hard about what some of those young girls go through to be stars. Maybe their crazy behavior is more due to the demands of their life style then being prima donnas.
But Haley isn't as docile as she seems and is hell bent on reclaiming her life on her terms. As Veronica tries being "Haley" she also has to deal with still being "Veronica". Which becomes harder to do as she becomes more immersed into Haley's life. When she is mistaken for Haley in a compromising position; real life interrupts and she suddenly realizes that being Veronica Czaplicki isn't that bad after all. Ms Shaw doesn't sugar coat Veronica's behavior. We see her accepting the perks of Haley's star power along with everyone else and not making good choices. But Veronica handles it well with plenty of tart humor and self depreciation. I will definitely read more of Ms. Shaw's work.
Poor Veronica has had a hard year. She's a twenty-nine year old single mom who's husband has divorced her for an older woman,
her job sucks, and her overbearing landlord thinks she's acquired a slave opposed to a tenet. Veronica has been told she looks like pop star Haley Rush for years but thought nothing of it until she is approached by Haley's manager with a proposition. He would pay her $100 an hour to pretend to be Haley at certain functions.
Uhhhh.... YEA!!
Veronica agrees and is soon swept into the Hollywood world of hair extensions, lip syncing, and spray tanning gone wrong.
Just Like Me, Only Better is a pleasant read to be laying out in the sun and sipping Margarita's. Fast paced story line told in the tone of a gossip tabloid. Its told from Veronica's point of view and had me as engrossed as the National Enquirer in the check out lane. (Yes, I read tabloids. So sue me.)
Everyone from Haley's manager Jay to her pseudo boyfriend Brady has their own agenda where Haley is concerned. She's their meal ticket so Veronica's performance has to be top notch. When Veronica meets Haley, she sees is a twenty-something confused, unresponsive kid that has no control over anything in her life. From food to driving-Haley seems ruled by her entourage.
I saw a similarity between Haley and some of the young stars who are all in the news now. With the Gatorade vodkatinis (I gotta try that one) and Montana country girl references; it made me think hard about what some of those young girls go through to be stars. Maybe their crazy behavior is more due to the demands of their life style then being prima donnas.
But Haley isn't as docile as she seems and is hell bent on reclaiming her life on her terms. As Veronica tries being "Haley" she also has to deal with still being "Veronica". Which becomes harder to do as she becomes more immersed into Haley's life. When she is mistaken for Haley in a compromising position; real life interrupts and she suddenly realizes that being Veronica Czaplicki isn't that bad after all. Ms Shaw doesn't sugar coat Veronica's behavior. We see her accepting the perks of Haley's star power along with everyone else and not making good choices. But Veronica handles it well with plenty of tart humor and self depreciation. I will definitely read more of Ms. Shaw's work.
August 18, 2011
I put this book on my to-read list after seeing it listed as a First Reads giveaway last year. Though I didn't win a copy of it, I finally got around to reading it. In the inside cover, I was surprised to see that I actually recognized (and had read!) a previous book by this author, which was a nice surprise.
Anyway, this is about a 29-year-old woman named Veronica who's struggling to deal with the fact that her husband left her for a woman almost twice her age, she barely scrapes by on the salary of a substitute teacher, and is renting the guesthouse of a family she can't stand so her young son can go to the same school. When she's out one night, the manager for actress/singer Haley Rush approaches her and offers her a job posing as Haley's public double, since the two look very much alike and this way "Haley" can be accessible to her fans through photos while the real Haley can stay in hiding. Since the pay is good and the job seemingly easy, Veronica jumps on board and soon realizes - surprise, surprise! - that it's a little more complicated than she expected. Veronica finds herself attracted to Haley's ex-boyfriend (and he seems to return her feelings), she has trouble juggling her own life and Haley's life, and as photos of her start appearing in gossip rags, Veronica starts getting more and more concerned with the public's opinion of "her".
The story was a lot of fun. Veronica is a very likable main character who dealt with problems through self-depricating humor. It was frustrating to see some of the issues she struggled with and dealt with because she thought the pay off in the end would be worth it (such as being her landlords' errand person, just because she wanted the right address for her son's school), but she managed to be likable throughout and her decisions did not seem forced. I really liked seeing the way she got more and more into the job of being Haley to the point of almost obsessing over the feedback her photos received, and I loved the fact that she wanted to believe that everyone was good and honest - even after she started dealing with all the Hollywood types! There were a few parts where I felt she seemed almost a little too immature and like a teenager... but then again, it was also understandable and made for an entertaining story.
Overall, this book was a lot of fun to read and an entertaining way to pass a few hours. The author kept the story moving along at a good pace and there was never a point where I felt bored. I'm sure I'll be reading more of her books in the future.
Anyway, this is about a 29-year-old woman named Veronica who's struggling to deal with the fact that her husband left her for a woman almost twice her age, she barely scrapes by on the salary of a substitute teacher, and is renting the guesthouse of a family she can't stand so her young son can go to the same school. When she's out one night, the manager for actress/singer Haley Rush approaches her and offers her a job posing as Haley's public double, since the two look very much alike and this way "Haley" can be accessible to her fans through photos while the real Haley can stay in hiding. Since the pay is good and the job seemingly easy, Veronica jumps on board and soon realizes - surprise, surprise! - that it's a little more complicated than she expected. Veronica finds herself attracted to Haley's ex-boyfriend (and he seems to return her feelings), she has trouble juggling her own life and Haley's life, and as photos of her start appearing in gossip rags, Veronica starts getting more and more concerned with the public's opinion of "her".
The story was a lot of fun. Veronica is a very likable main character who dealt with problems through self-depricating humor. It was frustrating to see some of the issues she struggled with and dealt with because she thought the pay off in the end would be worth it (such as being her landlords' errand person, just because she wanted the right address for her son's school), but she managed to be likable throughout and her decisions did not seem forced. I really liked seeing the way she got more and more into the job of being Haley to the point of almost obsessing over the feedback her photos received, and I loved the fact that she wanted to believe that everyone was good and honest - even after she started dealing with all the Hollywood types! There were a few parts where I felt she seemed almost a little too immature and like a teenager... but then again, it was also understandable and made for an entertaining story.
Overall, this book was a lot of fun to read and an entertaining way to pass a few hours. The author kept the story moving along at a good pace and there was never a point where I felt bored. I'm sure I'll be reading more of her books in the future.
January 16, 2012
Veronica's long-time husband Hank leaves her for an older woman. Usually men leave their wives for younger women, but that's another story. Veronica is now a divorced mother of one trying to make ends meet the best she can.
She gets a great deal on a small guest house, as long as she is willing to chauffeur the landlord's kids around, including school. Veronica is a substitute teacher, so when those kids are late, she's late, and it really aggrivates her.
She's always been mistaken for young Hollywood superstar Haley Rush, but she doesn't know why. They look nothing alike, but when Haley's manager offers Veronica a job, it's too irresistible to refuse.
She gets to wear Haley's clothes, drive Haley's cars, get her hair done, spray tanned, and hang out at all the elite celebrity hang-outs. The best part is she gets paid $100 an hour and gets to be chummy with hot and sexy Brady Ellis, Haley's ex-boyfriend and co-star. All she has to do is act like Haley, because Haley is half crazy and won't leave her house.
But since Veronica changed her appearance just a bit, she has men flirting and falling all over her lately. Maybe Veronica is changing her attitude about life and love and just maybe it will all work out in the end. But trying to keep the two lives separated is becoming harder. Live like a princess during the day, and substitute cub scout mom at night have their own rewards.
Just Like Me, Only Better is a can't put down read! I loved this book!! It has humor, romance, and a peek into the life of a celebrity that leaves you wondering, did they really do that? Veronica is a wonderful character, charming, pretty, and down-to-earth. This is the first work I've read of Ms. Snows, but definitely not the last. Highly Recommend!!
She gets a great deal on a small guest house, as long as she is willing to chauffeur the landlord's kids around, including school. Veronica is a substitute teacher, so when those kids are late, she's late, and it really aggrivates her.
She's always been mistaken for young Hollywood superstar Haley Rush, but she doesn't know why. They look nothing alike, but when Haley's manager offers Veronica a job, it's too irresistible to refuse.
She gets to wear Haley's clothes, drive Haley's cars, get her hair done, spray tanned, and hang out at all the elite celebrity hang-outs. The best part is she gets paid $100 an hour and gets to be chummy with hot and sexy Brady Ellis, Haley's ex-boyfriend and co-star. All she has to do is act like Haley, because Haley is half crazy and won't leave her house.
But since Veronica changed her appearance just a bit, she has men flirting and falling all over her lately. Maybe Veronica is changing her attitude about life and love and just maybe it will all work out in the end. But trying to keep the two lives separated is becoming harder. Live like a princess during the day, and substitute cub scout mom at night have their own rewards.
Just Like Me, Only Better is a can't put down read! I loved this book!! It has humor, romance, and a peek into the life of a celebrity that leaves you wondering, did they really do that? Veronica is a wonderful character, charming, pretty, and down-to-earth. This is the first work I've read of Ms. Snows, but definitely not the last. Highly Recommend!!
May 31, 2010
Veronica Czaplicki is a single, divorced mom to Ben. By day, she’s a substitute teacher at her son’s school, hoping to find a permanent position there. By night, well… her life is pretty empty in that area until she meets Jay, Haley Rush’s manager.
Veronica knows she looks like celebrity Haley Rush as she’s mistaken for the star quite often. When Haley’s manager, Jay, offers her a position to be Haley’s stand-in (at $100 per hour!), how could she refuse? Veronica agrees to sign a confidentiality contract and just like that, she’s part of Haley’s life.
Everything starts off pretty well for Veronica. Going to Starbucks posing as Haley, eating Pinkberry yogurt, pretending to talk on her cell. As more demands are placed on her, Veronica finds it necessary to avoid friends in order to keep up this charade. When Veronica is asked to stand-in for Haley on a “date” with former boyfriend Brady Ellis, Veronica soon realizes the consequences for her decision.
Just Like Me, Only Better is a light, chick-lit read. Veronica is a very likable character. It’s easy for the reader to understand why she decided to accept this position. As Veronica gets more and more enmeshed with Haley’s life, her judgment tends to be a bit clouded, especially with Brady. Although the outcome of their relationship is predictable, Veronica is able to bounce back and find herself on a path to her happy ending.
Going on a summer vacation? Remember to pack Just Like Me, Only Better. It’s a good beach read for those lazy afternoons.
Veronica knows she looks like celebrity Haley Rush as she’s mistaken for the star quite often. When Haley’s manager, Jay, offers her a position to be Haley’s stand-in (at $100 per hour!), how could she refuse? Veronica agrees to sign a confidentiality contract and just like that, she’s part of Haley’s life.
Everything starts off pretty well for Veronica. Going to Starbucks posing as Haley, eating Pinkberry yogurt, pretending to talk on her cell. As more demands are placed on her, Veronica finds it necessary to avoid friends in order to keep up this charade. When Veronica is asked to stand-in for Haley on a “date” with former boyfriend Brady Ellis, Veronica soon realizes the consequences for her decision.
Just Like Me, Only Better is a light, chick-lit read. Veronica is a very likable character. It’s easy for the reader to understand why she decided to accept this position. As Veronica gets more and more enmeshed with Haley’s life, her judgment tends to be a bit clouded, especially with Brady. Although the outcome of their relationship is predictable, Veronica is able to bounce back and find herself on a path to her happy ending.
Going on a summer vacation? Remember to pack Just Like Me, Only Better. It’s a good beach read for those lazy afternoons.
July 25, 2012
OK- so this book is one I picked up from the library simply based on the cover. The cover actually doesn't really matter and I'm indifferent on the book.
Basically it's about a woman, fresh out of a divorce and struggling with co-parenting her son with a clueless ex-husband. She lives paycheck to paycheck but coincidentally- looks eerily similar to Haley Rush, who's a celebrity. Veronica (the mom) is offered a once in a lifetime chance to be Haley's double so to speak, and go run day time errands while Haley spirals into oblivion. It's a money gold mine and she knows this could be the ticket to provide a much better life for her and her son. Unfortunately, it has to be a secret. So while she's doing this, those around her thinks she's losing it and heading into a mid-life crisis and she becomes unreliable and thrown unexpectedly into the world of celebrity unwillingly. Madness ensues.
I knew how most of the story was going to play out. If Britney Spears has taught me anything- if you have a mental deficiency, I don't care how talented you are (or told you are) you should, under no circumstances, be a celebrity. So Haley is a lot like Britney Spears (minus the kids, KFed and head shaving. Or umbrella incident) so you know exactly what's going to happen. You know it blows up in Veronica's face but the end brings it around.
I have to say- I hated the ending. I feel like it just lumped us off- like there could have been more closure. BUT I did finish it super early in the morning so maybe I missed something.
Basically it's about a woman, fresh out of a divorce and struggling with co-parenting her son with a clueless ex-husband. She lives paycheck to paycheck but coincidentally- looks eerily similar to Haley Rush, who's a celebrity. Veronica (the mom) is offered a once in a lifetime chance to be Haley's double so to speak, and go run day time errands while Haley spirals into oblivion. It's a money gold mine and she knows this could be the ticket to provide a much better life for her and her son. Unfortunately, it has to be a secret. So while she's doing this, those around her thinks she's losing it and heading into a mid-life crisis and she becomes unreliable and thrown unexpectedly into the world of celebrity unwillingly. Madness ensues.
I knew how most of the story was going to play out. If Britney Spears has taught me anything- if you have a mental deficiency, I don't care how talented you are (or told you are) you should, under no circumstances, be a celebrity. So Haley is a lot like Britney Spears (minus the kids, KFed and head shaving. Or umbrella incident) so you know exactly what's going to happen. You know it blows up in Veronica's face but the end brings it around.
I have to say- I hated the ending. I feel like it just lumped us off- like there could have been more closure. BUT I did finish it super early in the morning so maybe I missed something.
September 8, 2012
Veronica thought it was great the evening her husband came home and told her that he was in love, after all she loved him, too. Until he added that it wasn't her! She is devastated as he moves in with another woman. Most men leave their wives for younger women. It doesn't help her self esteem when her husband leaves her for someone who is older than he is! As she is struggling with her new life, she finds that she keeps being mistaken for Haley Rush, a Hollywood star who is always in the tabloids.
One day, Haley's manager happens to meet Veronica and he is stunned by how much she looks like Haley. He offers her a job as Haley's double. What's not to like about that - a chance to drive a nice car, wear nice clothes, and even hang out with Haley's old boyfriend the rather dishy Brady Ellis. At the end of the day, however, the coach turns back into a pumpkin and Veronica becomes a substitute teacher and Benji's mother.
Veronica is making $100 per hour and enjoying her new job which involves a lot of hanging around. Haley is not the person she thought she was going to be and she quickly discovers that life in the fast lane is not all that it is cracked up to be. Haley's old boyfriend seems to be getting very interested in her and she is basking in the attention she is receiving. Should she feel guilty? Is it wrong when i feels so right?
A nice, light hearted read perfect for a quick escape. Great beach read.
July 19, 2010
This book was FUNNY! I mean I had a feeling it would be funny because of the premise but Veronica, some of the things she said were just hilarious! I loved the idea of a regular down on her luck single-mother, going through a hard time after a divorce diving into the world of glitz and glam and pretending to be a celebrity. It never gets old, someone being thrown into a completely new situation.
And she sure meets some characters out in Hollywood from the actress she's being the body-double for to the hairdresser she swaps gossip with. The people she meets on her journey, they could easily be two-dimensional but the author writes them in such a way that they have some personality behind the cliche you would expect.
What I really liked about this book was that not only is it funny, it's rather heartfelt, watching Veronica process her divorce and seeing her ex-husband move on, she has to re-find her place in the world. Another great thing in this book is there is a bit of romance! And I thought who she ended up with was a nice surprise! I just would have wished for a bit more wrap up at the end of the book, it ended a bit too quickly for me! Overall a very fun book!
And she sure meets some characters out in Hollywood from the actress she's being the body-double for to the hairdresser she swaps gossip with. The people she meets on her journey, they could easily be two-dimensional but the author writes them in such a way that they have some personality behind the cliche you would expect.
What I really liked about this book was that not only is it funny, it's rather heartfelt, watching Veronica process her divorce and seeing her ex-husband move on, she has to re-find her place in the world. Another great thing in this book is there is a bit of romance! And I thought who she ended up with was a nice surprise! I just would have wished for a bit more wrap up at the end of the book, it ended a bit too quickly for me! Overall a very fun book!
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