After reading another book “Everywhere, Always” by the same author, and later on “The Stillness Before The Start“, I grabbed this one right away when I saw it on an ARC program.

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The Premise

History nerd “commoner” Julianna is working in New York City as the “nanny” for a shy teenage boy with socialite parents, when she meets movie-star/model Gabe King. She has no idea who he is when they first bump into each other, as she’s kept her head buried in nonfiction books most of her life. Though they have a bit of friction at first because he assumes she was following him, this soon fades away as Julianna befriends his sister Zoe. As the sparks ignite between Gabe and Julianna, each of them wonders if this could be the real deal. Is the celebrity life going to be too much for Julianna to handle, and can they survive the trials and tribulations of the celebrity relationship cycle?

The Pros

This was a fast-paced read that I blew through in just a couple of sittings. The dialogue is refreshing, the development of the characters and their relationship was nicely done, and the sibling relationships were adorably and deplorably playful and sweet. As my third book from the same author, and the first time with older protagonists past their teens, I was pleasantly surprised to see the inclusion of mature, adult, sex scenes which were well-written with just the right amount of spice and sexiness. Julianna’s skeevish employers were shudder-worthy, and it was great to see her recognise her “nerdy” value and emerge from under their rule. I also loved Gabe’s network of friends — it was so good to see him have “real” people in his life despite his fame. The two “sister” characters on either side were great and I liked to see their connection; in fact I’d love to read on about their own adventures in other books!

The Cons

Though I enjoyed this book from beginning to end, I did find myself wanting a bit more in terms of conflict. The relationship was heading down one path and didn’t really deviate or have any big dramatic moment (at least not to me). I was hoping for a bit more of a “surprise” perhaps, or some major moment of fallout before the couple slide into their happily-ever-after — but it was neatly tied up swiftly and simply with an epilogue.

Conclusion

Overall this was a good read for its target audience, and I would recommend to other readers. The characters are easy to fall into, the plot is generally solid with enough arcs and loops to keep readers interested, and though I felt there was an element missing in terms of additional drama/conflict, this may not bother other readers who prefer a sweet story. I also enjoyed the aspect of wishful thinking — I’m sure most of us have dreamed about *actually* having a celebrity boyfriend! If that kind of story is what you’re looking for, this would be a great pick.

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