Customer Reviews

Premiere (On the Runway)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Premiere by Melody Carlson is the first book in the On the Runway series. Paige and Erin Forrester have just been tapped to star in their own reality television show about fashion. Paige is a natural in front of the camera and looks like a model while having an encyclopedic knowledge of the fashion industry. Erin is far more comfortable behind the camera where she doesn't have to worry about competing with her gorgeous and stylish sister. When their producer wants to introduce their show by having them appear on another reality show (think The Hills), Paige's chemistry with star Benjamin soon has his onscreen girlfriend Mia fighting mad. Erin is still battling her feelings of betrayal about ex-boyfriend Blake, but his interest suddenly returns when she's going to be on television. All she can do is turn to her faith in God to get her through this confusing time. This is by far Carlson's best young adult series yet. Erin is down-to-earth and immediately relatable to teenage girls who feel like they will never measure up to the popular girls, but she has a strength of character that is admirable and will be inspiring to readers. When I finished, I wanted to immediately read the next book in the series, Catwalk, because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the characters. This is a series sure to go far with teenage readers (and their moms!).

Paige and Erin Forrester are two young ladies with the chance of a lifetime, to star in their own reality TV series about fashion. Paige, the older sister, is way into fashion and the Hollywood scene, while her younger sister is more down-to-earth.

This book is written from the viewpoint of Erin as she tries to keep things together for her family in a spiritual way. Erin is a new Christian and is struggling to be a good testimony to her widowed mother and her starry-eyed sister.

Premiere is a well written book that is aimed at the teenage girl crowd. It shows young girls that it is still possible to find God, even in the world of today. I don't think that this is the main focus, which to me is a let down. Erin's internal struggles with morality is what made this book strong in certain areas.

Melody Carlson understands good character study. Erin plight's are really heart-felt and easily identified with. This also gave me mixed emotions about the characters and their bad choices in boyfriends. It seems the bad choices made by the "bad boyfriends" were easily forgivable while the good choices made by "good male friends" were dismissed by a brush of the hand. I do think this happens a lot in the real world with many young women, they go after the "bad boys". I just don't like that promoted in books. I enjoy the good overcoming the evil in reality or fantasy.

Other than that this book is hard to put down. The book has a feel like a reality television episode, there really is no conclusion, just the end of an episode. Carlson is a good writer, and I think this may be the first book in a series.

Review by Mick McArt
Author, Tales of Wordishure
[...]

Erin and Paige both love cameras. Erin loves to be behind the camera. Paige thrives in front of the camera. Otherwise, they are total opposites. Both get their chance to be in the spotlight when they appear in teen reality show. They use that show to create exposure of their new show.

I loved the characters. They each had their distinctive characteristics. Being in the story of TV Reality was interesting. I realize that this is a work of fiction but I do believe that it's not too far off the mark. The audience loves to see conflict and drama. The game is figuring out the true friends and enemies. Add a guy and a couple of girls to create frenemies - a person who pretends to be your friend for their own gain.

This book reminded me the Big Brother Reality show. You have characters constantly putting `on an act' for the camera. You really didn't know who was telling the truth.

There was a faith element that is subtle. I find it interesting that some reviewers are put off when they find out that the Christian faith is part of the plot. It might be helpful for reviewers to do a little bit of research on the publisher before agreeing to read and review a book. With that in mind, the faith aspect is sprinkled throughout because Erin is a Christian and it is part of her character.

This book appeared to be character driven versus plot driven. There was a plot but it felt more like a slice of life. I would recommend this book for ages 10-12.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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's 16 CFR, Part 255
<[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I enjoyed this story because it was a bit different since the character Erin was the only Christian in her family. She was also the one who never wanted to be in the limelight. Her sister was beautiful and talented. Her mom was involved in the entertainment industry through the local news. I enjoyed reading those segments. I also enjoyed the dating scenarios and the reality show aspect of the novel. It felt very behind-the-scenes so the setting seemed natural to me.

I wished there had been more romance in the story because it seemed lacking in romantic tension. I did like the message in the story and how the author didn't make the girls crazy and worldly. Plus, the character Erin seemed natural to me. I liked how her sister Paige ended up listening to her when she had her crisis over Benjamin. I'm not into fashion or haute couture, so that didn't do much for me. I'm not even sure if I spelled it right. I read the teaser for the next book and honestly, it didn't turn me on, so I probably won't be reading it. But I did enjoy this first book in the series. It was interesting and fun, and not too heavy-handed in the faith department.

This is a teen friendly light read that offers an alternative to unthinking competition for the spot light and an easy introduction to spiritual relationships.

This was a quick read and a cute story. There are some good morals and characters that people can relate to. Not a top pick but a good read.

Premier is the first in a new Melody Carlson series, On the Runway, and it gets started with the kind of excitement teens can get into: fashion and reality shows. Through the adventures of sisters Paige and Erin, Carlson shows us the behind the scenes of "not so reality" reality TV. Just on the basis of debunking reality TV, the book is worth recommending to teens. But Carlson throws in the universal questions teens have about who they are and how they can find their place in the world.

A great read for moms and daughters to share.

Sisters Paige and Erin Forrester are nothing alike, yet an opportunity of a lifetime may just bring them closer and let them discover that they have more in common than they ever imagined. Older sister Paige, is your average barbie girl , long legs, blonde hair , flawless skin, oozing confidence and has that screen presence, not to mention that when it comes to fashion and fashion advice, Paige is your go-to girl.
Erin on your other hand , is short and a bit chubbish , shy and not as outgoing as Paige and would prefer to be behind the cameras , not in front and her fashion sense is whatever's comfortable and casual that she can just chuck on. To Paige its like Miu-Miu is a line from Prada and Erin it is like Miu-Miu Who ?
When the sisters are offered a chance of a lifetime to star in their own reality tv show "On the Runway" for Paige this is a dream come true and for Erin, she's doing it to support Paige and the added bonus that she gets to film. However, things are about to become a little bit more than what they bargained for as the girls are invited to a New Years Bash on Reality TV Show :Malibu Beach. We read as Paige ends up head to head with lead star Mia and soon finds herself over her head in the world of stardom. Can Erin bring Paige back to earth before it's too late ?
Find out in Premiere as Paige and Erin Forrester make their famous debuts.

This review is for the novel "Premiere" by Melody Carlson.
It is the first novel in the 'On The Runway' series.


Melody Carlson has written over 200 books and it definitely shows when you read her creations.

Paige and Erin Forrester are sisters but they are different as night and day.
Paige is obsessed with fashion and owns many name brands. From Prada to Badgley Mischka she knows them all by site and fabric quality. And shines like a star in the spotlight, be it in a group of friends or doing spots on her mother's nightly news program.

Erin is far more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. She got dumped a good long while ago by her boyfriend of two years and has pretty much let her appearance go. Much to the almost disdain of her sister and friends. They mean well and say it with love but her friend gets on her about her appearance and she ends up letting Paige do a makeover on her.

After Paige does a segment on the news, which turns from a feature on a newly opened theme park to a fashion critique of the people entering the park, she is spotted by a famous reality television producer. She is interviewed and offered a reality show of her own critiquing fashion on the red carpet and runway shows. Erin is brought along for the ride as the producer wants her to be her sister's sidekick, helping to film her and banter back and forth.

Add in a few guest spots on another hot teen reality show, a good looking boy and a few catfights and you've got 'Premiere'.


One of the things that I liked about this novel is that it was different from a lot of books I have read.
Erin is a Christian who enjoys going to her group at church but her mother and sister are not. Their dad, who was a news anchor, died in a plane crash.
I read the book in a matter of days and absolutely loved it. It kept me interested and turning pages till the end of it.

Also, by the last chapter, Paige realizes, after some hard things happen, that although she has believed in God, she needs to make room in her life for God and prayer.

The ending left me wanting to read the next book as soon as possible!
I commend Ms. Carlson on writing an engaging "teen" novel without compromising the message.




*Note* I received this book for free from Zondervan Publishers in exchange for a review about it. I am not required to post a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own and they are sincere.

Having read other books by Melody Carlson, I knew that I wanted to read this new series. I was a bit iffy after I got it and read the back of the book...I wasn't sure that I would enjoy something about the life of show biz. But I was pleasantly surprised! Premiere is an awesome start to a great YA series that shows teen girls the meaning of holding true to your Christian beliefs always, no matter what life has in store for them. Books like these should be shouted about and shared with all young woman, especially in today's society.

In this book, we meet Erin and Paige, who are sisters with two totally different personalities but get along like sisters should, with an occasional spat here and there. But one holds true to her beliefs, while the other is a nice, loving girl but doesn't share the beliefs. I felt more of a pull towards Erin, who is alot like myself at her age with her self consciousness and worries. But, Erin holds strong to her Christian values, something I never did and wish now that I had, in the teenage world of crazy drama filled Malibu.

While Melody Carlson portrays through Erin and Paige the life of teens in hustle and bustle California, she didn't add the problems of teen pregnancy and sex, that alot of other books add. I think this series is all the better for it because it shows teens that there are other ways to live life and spend your time. Other books that have all that other in it, shows them that it is okay to live that way when really it's not. I think this helps to send the message to those teens, particularly the older ones, that if you hold true to your beliefs, you WILL rise above the drama and pressure of today's society.

I definitely give this start a 5 star praise. If you have a young woman in your life, be it a sister, cousin, best friend, granddaughter, niece, or daughter, who likes to read, please don't hesitate to introduce her to Premiere! It's a fabulous book who's author has risen above again!