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Sep232009
GUEST REVIEW: Star Struck by Anne-Marie O’Connor
by Carolyn • Posted in 4 Star Reviews, Authors M-P, Book Reviews, Contemporary Women's Fiction, Guest Review
Guest Reviewer: Carla
Title: Star Struck
Author: Anne-Marie O’Connor
Genre: Chick-Lit
Publisher: Ebury Press
Publication Date: 6 Aug 2009
Paperback: 400 pages
Rating: 8/10
Summary:
All Catherine wants to do is sing, but a TV show is about to make her a star …Catherine Reilly is 24, single and still lives at home with her dad and two of her sisters. The only thing Catherine’s ever been any good at is singing, but she has no connections, low confidence and isn’t exactly glamorous. However, when she sees a TV ad for the latest series of “Star Maker” – the biggest talent show on national television she decides to enter …Catherine now has the best voice coach in the business, a team of sadistic trainers and stylists and the world’s number one music mogul on her side …Can an ordinary girl’s dreams really come true?
Review:
As a nation obsessed with celebrity, I was really looking forward to reading this book. I must admit, I am a sucker for televised talent shows, and have been known to sacrifice a night out, in favor of the X-Factor. I know, I’m not cool, but if you say you have never done this, then you have never lived…. or lying. There is nothing better than watching a delusional girl/boy who thinks they are going to be the next Mariah Carey or Whitney Huston, only for their dreams to be shattered. This makes good TV, no it really does!
This is the main reason that I was desperate to read this book, to feed my reality TV addiction. Every year, I try not to watch them, but they just seem to suck you in and get you hooked. This is exactly what this book did to me, sucked me and kept me hooked until the very last page. Yeah, I mean it was a bit trashy, but so what, it kept me interested and made me laugh, like belly laugh, I think even a few tears leaked out.
The book takes on the format of a reality TV talent show, like the X-Factor or American Idol. It follows Catherine through the audition stages, including all the mad auditions, most of which had me in fits of giggles. During the first few chapters, you get to know a little more about Catherine and her crazy family. Her three sisters, Jo, Claire and Marie play large roles in the book, along with her dad, Mick.
Catherine is such a good protagonist, feisty and funny, I found myself really liking her. The way O’Connor made her so realistic and likeable, is a great merit to her writing skills. But, my favourite character was Richard Forster, the “nasty” judge. Its not hard to figure out where O’Connor got her inspiration for this character *cough, Simon Cowell, cough*, but still, I loved this guy.
The plotline of the story was very well written and easy to read; it only took me two days to read. It does follow the format of all reality TV shows out there, however, this didn’t bother me in the slightest, because the book wasn’t all about the competition. It was more of an experience that we as readers are there to witness; I think the snippets into Catherine’s home life really made the book more than just another chick-lit novel, which was a good move on O’Connor’s behalf.
The narrative was light hearted and comical, which kept the story interesting. I would recommend this book to every lover of reality TV and of chick-lit in general. For all you Simon Cowell lovers out there, you will LOVE this book. Yeah, I love Simon Cowell, what of it? As a bonus, I was a little bit arrogant and thought I had the whole story planned out about how the book would end. And boy was I surprised, the ending was not what I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. This is a book to curl up with on cold winters night and get lost in the pages.
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I *met* Carla (aka Loves Sam) on Twitter when I called out for a guest reviewer. She was the first one who answered, and I’m glad she did. Carla is a UK chick, like me. She is obsessed with wolves, whether it be a were, werecat, shifter, she loves them all! She is lead moderator for Mundie Moms, dedicated to the the works of Cassandra Clare. She also writes reviews for their blog http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com. Carla also *loves* Maggie Stiefvater, and has recently set up a fan forum for people who share her love of her work, which can be found here:
7 Comments
Great review! I've just finished reading this and I loved it.
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Yes, good review! Sounds like a fun book, and big, too!
Btw, I've added your All Hallows Eve to my site!
Sassy
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oh it's come out a bit small, dont know how to fix that!
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hahaha! I forgot, you have an award sent right back at ya!
Sorry, I'll stop pestering you now!
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Oh wow, now this is a storyline I hadden't heard of before but with all those reality shows it was perhaps a matter of time
Sounds like a hoot to read.
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Can't wait to read this book myself!
Oooh, I had no idea you were looking for guest reviewers on Twitter, otherwise I would've definitely answered immediately! Btw, the book hasn't arrived today either …
(((
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Good review, thank you!
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