Quick Review: When It's Real by Erin Watt

When It's Real
by Erin Watt

May 30, 2017
413 pages

Goodreads Summary:

Meet Oakley Ford-teen celebrity, renowned pop star, child of famous movie stars, hottie with millions of fangirls… and restless troublemaker. On the surface he has it all, but with his home life disintegrating, his music well suddenly running dry, and the tabloids having a field day over his outrageous exploits, Oakley's team decides it's time for an intervention. The result: an image overhaul, complete with a fake girlfriend meant to show the world he's settled down.

Enter seventeen-year-old Vaughn Bennett-devoted sister, part-time waitress, the definition of "normal." Under ordinary circumstances she'd never have taken this gig, but with her family strapped for cash, she doesn't have much of a choice. And for the money Oakley's team is paying her, she figures she can put up with outlandish Hollywood parties and a team of publicists watching her every move. So what if she thinks Oakley's a shallow, self-centered jerk? It's not like they're going to fall for each other in real life…right?

Review

I really wish I liked When It's Real a little more than I did since I got the book when it released. I don't do that with many books. Alas I'm disappointed at how cliché the story turned out to be.

What I Liked:
- the focus on family especially Vaughn's

- Vaughn's stress baking

- Paisley and Ty's side romance was cute

- Vaughn and Oakley's initial bickering was fun

- how over the top but sweet Vaughn's friends were

The Not So Much:

- the (over)usage of super- (eg. superfunny)

- the story was pretty unoriginal

     - the fact that Vaughn had a boyfriend at the beginning of the story screamed drama
     - not enough time passed for me to truly believe in Vaughn and Oakley's intense connection near the end
     - I don't for a second believe Vaughn would give up her virginity to Oakley so quickly when she hesitated so long with her ex who she'd been with for 2 years...

- no solid ending