Starlit

by Lisa Rinna

In this town, you’re either it or you’re out.

Glamorous parties, flashing lights, red carpets—Tally Jones has worked hard to join Hollywood’s A-list since she moved to Los Angeles. She finally gets her break on the hit nighttime soap opera Dana Point, with a coveted role that allows the former small-town girl to trade her crisp waiter uniform for a breathtaking ball gown, a career as a glittering starlet, and a red-hot arm charm: chiseled hunk Gabriel McNamara, the king of prime-time medical drama.

Ratings have skyrocketed since Tally replaced veteran diva Susie Sheppard on the show, and her performance earned her an Emmy nomination. But celebrity has its dark side, too. Tally’s financial adviser makes off with her savings, and Gabriel’s kinky sexploits and paparazzi baiting have Tally wondering why there isn’t a better leading man in her life.

There is: the successful film producer Mac Carlton, who has been in love with her from the moment he set eyes on her. With Mac at her side, Tally is living the Hollywood dream—until Susie arranges for her character to make a comeback, then schemes to oust her popular costar from the limelight. Upon learning of Tally and Mac’s engagement, Susie sharpens her claws to snag Mac. She’s out to ruin Tally’s life completely. But Tally won’t go down without a fight. She’s determined to bring down her on- and off-screen nemesis and claim the sparkling happy ending she deserves.

Beloved actress, television personality, and New York Times bestselling author of Rinnavation, Lisa Rinna delivers a deliciously revealing roman à clef about life on and off the red carpet. Filled with colorful characters, Hollywood insider details, scandalous backstabbing, and more than a few scenes—and villains—from Lisa’s real life, Starlit combines the fun of Days of Our Lives, Melrose Place, and Us Weekly into one titillating Hollywood drama.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance

243 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Lisa Rinna is an American actress, television personality, entrepreneur and model best known for her roles as Billie Reed on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives and Taylor Fox on Melrose Place, and for starring in Bravo's hit reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She has also appeared as a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice and Dancing With the Stars, and has guest starred on series such as Entourage, Veronica Mars, Community, The Middle, and American Horror Story. She made her Broadway debut in Chicago as Roxie Hart in June 2007. In 2020 she launched her Rinna Beauty beauty brand and in 2022 debuted her first wine, Rinna Rose.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

reading all Real Housewives books reading vlog: https://youtu.be/yuhvTqFl_sI

i think i need therapy after reading this book

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️ Starlit: I thought I wanted to read anything Lisa Rinna ever wrote but now I need some sort of therapy. 3 stars for the author alone. -1 star for the content. It just kept getting worse. Wow.

[Claudia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure what I expected but this was truly sad. I was having fun with it however, because there was just no consideration to form or proper plot development. Within a paragraph we were onto something else that a true writer would have set up and developed for pages. That alone was entertaining.... I kept saying to myself "oh...and now this is happening, how did we get here?". I would call it irreverence but that's giving the author too much credit. I think really it's just inexperience on the part of the author and laziness on the part of everyone involved in publishing this book. Shame on you! Just because a person has a recognizable name, doesn't mean this dribble should be produced!

[Jeanette Stingley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soap operas have been a big part of American culture for years. I have fond memories of when I was little watching ABC soap operas with my mother and she would make me “tea” (it was actually watered down sugar free KoolAide because I wasn’t allowed to have caffeine) and we would lounge on the couch for 2 hours a day. When I was offered a review copy of Lisa Rinna’s book Starlit, I had to say yes!

If you have ever wondered what it may be like behind the scenes of a soap and what the lifestyle of a soap star may be like, Lisa Rinna of Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place gives us a glance. Starlit is a fictional depiction of Tally Jones and her close friends. We start reading Tally’s story before she is rich and famous. She and her friends Mandy and Sandy are struggling acting students who study with the biggest jerk but most sough after teacher in the industry. When Tally gets her big break, her friends do as well: Mandy becomes an "adult" film star and Sandy gets a job with a high power Hollywood agent. We follow all three women through the book but the focus is on Tally who lands a role on a soap opera. Her life begins a whirlwind when people all over Hollywood begin to see the talent she has.

Of course, what Hollywood story wouldn’t be complete without an awesome antagonist! We soon meet Susie Sheppard who becomes insanely jealous of Tally’s success. Susie feels that she should be the only big dog in Tinseltown and puts her mind to bring Tally down anyway she can. There are some Susie moments that made my jaw hit the floor! But it is Hollywood so nothing should really be a surprise, right?

In interviews, Lisa Rinna has stated this book is fiction with hints of real things that have happened, only names have changed. Starlit is a very quick read (I read it over the course of 2 weekend days) but it is a great read. Rinna keeps the reader engaged through the novel. I do wish there was a little more to the story though. We start with Tally being hired as temporary staff at a large Hollywood party and she quickly gets to the top, has a short rollercoaster ride, then the book ends. However, if you have read any of my other reviews or know me personally, you know that I am disappointed about 95% of the time with the ending of any book I read. I am very happy to say I was not disappointed with the end to Tally, Mandy, and Sandy’s story. I actually smiled at the end!

[Riccarla Roman · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Starlit" by Lisa Rinna is the perfect book for people who find the complicated plot twists and complex character development in the novels of Jackie Collins too taxing for their reading pleasure.

Three friends wend their way through Hollywood, starting with their acting classes and waitressing jobs. They meet stars and agents and soon they are all discovered for different reasons. Our heroine, Tally Jones, gets her big break, takes up with a jerk, finds a nice guy, loses nice guy because of backstabbing co-workers, but eventually ends up the nice guy, the golden guy (Oscar), and the golden life. One friend marries into power and one discovers power in porn.

The book is actually short but entertaining. You do want to see what happens so you keep turning the pages. I did miss the great descriptions that Jackie Collins writes, but I was still had fun reading this book. A really great read for the beach.

[Rio (Lynne) · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun romp through Hollywood. 3 friends stick together from serving cocktails to making it big. Tally scores the hot primetime soap, along with Oscar worthy Indie flicks, Mandy makes it big in the adult entertainment field and Sadie as the successful businesswoman. This was as good as any Jackie Collins ride. From the bad girl Susie, who will do anything to stay on top, to the hot, but shady guy on the set next door, to the ruthless studio head who is jealous of his Oscar winning son. Even though this was a little cliche at parts, overall it was a fun read.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was like every other book that some celebrity wrote...but if you like that sort of thing and you want an easy read that is full of name dropping and what is going on in Hollywood based on the tabloids, then you will like this book.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy light read. About 3 friends trying to make it in Hollywood. One makes it as an actress, one ends up dating and marrying a very popular agent, and one makes it in the porn business and then crosses over to mainstream Hollywood.

[Jini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick fun read for escapism. Makes you wonder what all is based on stuff she experienced or witnessed.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great trashy beach read!

[Megan Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A shallow beach read that I liked just for that reason.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick easy summer read. Great for on the beach or if you just want a fast easy trashy book to read.

[Jaclyn Snyder-culletto · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book keeps you reading

[n. · Rating 1 out of 5]

just no

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starlit drops the reader right into the thick of glamorous Hollywood culture as we follow three Starlets attempting to claw their way to the top. This book has it all: actors, parties, drama, scandal, and lots of classic Hollywood affairs.
If you're looking for thought provoking and sophisticated literature, look elsewhere. This book is a textbook definition of literary crack. Though I didn't care at all about what happened to any of the characters and most of the plot developments were a little too easy, the pages kept turning and the book was devoured in one sitting. The characters were shallow and, in some cases, lackluster, but reading Starlit felt like sitting in a coffee shop and overhearing the gossip at the table next to you. Sure, you don't know the people involved, but their lives sound far more scandalous than studying for your college finals. See what I mean? Literary crack.
Again, not recommended when you're looking for your next favorite book, but Starlit will certainly sit on my bookshelves next to Pretty Little Liars, Twilight, and all the other guilty pleasures I own.

[Grace Klein · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was gonna give it two stars until the final chapters. The concept of a plot was there. It has promise but it was written like a bad fanfiction without autocorrect. A characters name changed midway through a scene and multiple sentence errors had me hoping for the the end. If it weren’t for the thoughts toward a plot, it would have zero stars 🤷‍♀️

[William Jeanes Memorial Library]

This is a beach book. I call them bubblegum books. They're sweet but have no nutritional value and when the next one comes along you forget the previous one. Having said that, I enjoyed the book. It takes place in LA, in the entertainment industry. Probably based more in fact than you would think. You can read this in a weekend. 😁
-Patron J.A.

[Caroline David · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah...the rating is reflective of the content. The end.

[Erin Aupperlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it but HATED how she went back to him

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this story, Hollywood is taken on at full tilt! The book follows three actress wannabees, both their successes and failures. Tally Jones is the main character though as she is discovered and starts to live out her true Hollywood dream. She takes the place of veteran actress Susie Sheppard on a hit nighttime drama and the ratings skyrocket.

Unfortunately Susie's movie career crashes and burns due to her own "diva" and and sexual exploits, so she returns to take back her place on the nighttime drama even if she has to use blackmail to do it. She also decides to ruin Tally's life and her dream at any cost.

Tally's life also goes threw some dire straits on it's own with a financial adviser that turns out to be a crook and all the games the paparazzi play in any actor's life. She is determined to turn her life around and fight for what is rightfully hers both in her love life and in her career.

The other two wannabees lives take different directions but they always remain friends and are their for each other through thick and thin.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Yes, you already know I am a huge fan of Days of our Lives where Lisa played Billie Reed from 1992 - 1995, 2002-2003 and again recently this year. I loved her on Dancing With the Stars and in her reality show with her husband Harry Hamilin, Harry Loves Lisa. She is a successful business woman, a hard working mom, and had another book called Rinnavation: Getting Your Best Life Ever.

But boy CAN THIS GIRL WRITE FICTION OR WHAT?? I am sure being a daytime drama actress and living the Hollywood lifestyle gave her plenty of ideas for the wonderful book and this reviewer hopes she has plenty more fiction stories left to tell.

This book is a page turner full of drama, sex and excitement!! It is a great beach read, a cozy up by the fire read, a wonderful "escape into a good book!!" read. This is Chick-Lit at it's finest, a great book to share with your BFF's.

If you are not rushing out to buy this book, you better be putting it on your Christmas lists. This is a true winner, a book not to be missed!!!

Lisa, I hope you are working on another fiction novel. I can't wait to read it!!!





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Gallery Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 19s 16 CFR, Part 255 : 1CGuides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. 1D

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a very light, fast read. Not completely shallow, but not as deep as it should have been. If Rinna wasn't famous, it would never have been produced. I never really connected with the characters and too many emotional issues were rushed through. The only parts that were intense were intensely sexual, shy folk beware.

It actually would have been better if it were longer, especially the end, which wrapped things up way to abruptly. Voila, forgiven, HEA. Pam Anderson's book was a lot better, not that every famous person who writes a book should be compared. Oh, and my usual complaint applies - it's absolutely not worth $25 for what's really a novella, with large print and lots of white space in a book that's already skinny. Get it from the library, but don't buy it.

[Vanessa James-brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a very light and fast read. Not completely shallow, but not as deep as it should have been. If Lisa Rinna wasn't famous,I know this book would never have been produced. I never really connected with the characters and too many emotional issues were rushed through. The only parts that were intense were intense sex parts .It actually would have been better if it were longer, especially the end, which wrapped things up way to abruptly. Voila, forgiven, HEA. Pam Anderson's book was a lot better, not that every famous person who writes a book should be compared. Oh, and my usual complaint applies - it's absolutely not worth $25 for what's really a novella, with large print and lots of white space in a book that's already skinny. Get it from the library, but don't buy it.

[Karen Hufman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't written really well but I still ended up kind of liking it (although I'm loathe to admit that). The book wasn't really well written and there were a lot of parts that were not very believable. The main character was a little too naive but it was a guilty pleasure. The main character and her friends are all trying to make it in Hollywood. One gets a spot on a weekly show, one becomes an assistant to successful talent scout and the other becomes a porn star. Throw in some malicious, unscrupulous actor/actresses, true love for the main character, and you have the story.

[Marymichele · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only good thing I can say about this book was that it was a fast read. I know that the author is a (former?) soap opera actress, but I was expecting the plot to branch out at least a little away from that world. This book was just too cliché, like it was taken directly off of a daytime soap opera script. I borrowed it from a family member, and I'm glad the only thing I wasted on this book was time.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast, fluffy Hollywood stardom read. A cross between Jackie Collins (for the fame and revenge) / Danielle Steele (for the love).

Tally Jones rises to fame, falls in love, gets caught in a web of lies about her so she loses her Prince Charming which in the world of cut throat Hollywood really is a good guy who loves her.

References to S&M escapades and the porn industry. Written by an actress. Good read for a lazy summer day.

[Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short read, a bit of a task to get through in the beginning. When the story actually began it was practically over. Not a bad story though. Pretty cute actually. I didn't like the three year break but it had it's purpose I suppose.
All in all, not bad!

[Ella Roberts]

I try to stay away from novels by celebrities, but I gave this one a chance and was very happy I did because it was a fun and intense novel that I would definitely recommend and if it was made into a film, I would watch it. Light, summer read!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is fluffy, no fiber, all sugar---a good beach read. I enjoyed it, though was kind of annoyed that the main character is so ***SPOILER*** forgiving of the dude she's dating who is clearly an idiot for how easily misled his is. But all in all, not a bad easy-read.

[Lois · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just what you'd expect. Easy read.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pedestrian chick lit set in Hollywood. Not a realistic plot point or character in the book. Nevertheless, I read it in a day.