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My Review:Title: Stars in Your Eyes
Author: Kacen Callender
Published by: Forever
Release Date: October 10, 2023
Format: eARC
Pages: 353
Genres: Contemporary, LGBT, Romance
Potential Triggers: View Spoiler »
Source: NetGalley
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2023 COYER Chapter 3, Lenoreo's 2023 Diversity Reading Challenge, Lenoreo's 2023 Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks
My rating:
Blurb:The National Book Award-winning author of Felix Ever After delivers a beautifully tender story of two grumpy/sunshine, fake-dating actors navigating their love story both on and offscreen—perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Tia Williams.
Logan Gray is the stereotypical bad boy of Hollywood—a talented but troubled actor who the public loves to hate. Mattie Cole is an up‑and‑coming golden boy, adored by all but plagued by insecurities.
When Mattie is cast as the love interest in Logan’s newest film, the two are persuaded into a fake‑dating scheme to bring positive publicity to the project. But as the two actors get to know their new characters, real feelings start to develop. And while both need the movie to be a success for their own reasons, neither thought opposites would really attract.
As the public scrutiny intensifies and old wounds resurface, will they have the courage to chase their own happily ever after?
A heartfelt, hopeful, and nuanced story about identity, overcoming trauma, and finding the love everyone deserves.
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4 stars — I was a little worried about how I would tolerate the more serious topics in this story, and if I was in the right mood for that. But I thought there was a pretty good balance, and honestly? I got sucked in to Mattie and Logan’s story. And I kind of loved their outside the normal HEA.
Characters like Logan can be really hard to write well, where they are believable, but you still connect with them and feel for them. I really appreciated that this author gave us that perfect balance of truly showing the bad sides of someone suffering from CPTSD who truly does behave badly, but you still want to see them find their way. And that the change doesn’t happen quickly, b/c that’s just not realistic. I honestly thought Mr. Callender rode that line perfectly. I hated the things that Logan would do, but I felt like I understood enough about what was happening with him, how he had been shaped by both his childhood traumas and the way society loved to hate him, that I was willing to see where the story would take him. I loved those moments where you got to see him craving love, even as he tried to deny that’s what he was doing, and constantly convincing himself he wasn’t worthy of it. He had a really rough journey, and it was not all rainbows and sunshine…but there was just enough to make my heart happy.
Mattie was interesting in his own right. I kind of loved that while he didn’t have the same level of traumas that Logan was facing, he had still been shaped by the things in his life. He desperately wanted to accept himself, but he was always worried about what other people thought…totally connected with him on that part. I also really appreciated that he truly was someone who loved acting, but wasn’t enamoured of the fame part. That he really was a good person, but even he could make bad choices. And I really appreciated the struggles with balance he encountered in his relationship with Logan.
They had a really rocky journey, with ups and downs, but I truly did love them together. I felt like their romance was a bit unusual…curiosity, lust, and eventually more tender feelings when they would let their guard down. And even though I had anxiety when I realized the romance line was looking a bit different, I thought it fit them perfectly, and it made the ending so much more satisfying.
I think the only reason this is 4 stars instead of higher is that there were just a few moments that felt forced. Of course now that I’m writing this part, I’ve forgotten my example…but something about what Mattie was feeling felt like telling instead of showing.
So yeah. I’m a sucker for both celebrity romances, and fake relationships, so this one just fit those bills quite well.
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