Secrets of My Hollywood Life [Hardcover]

Jen Calonita (Author)

Book Description

Series: Secrets of My Hollywood Life | Publication Date: June 6, 2006

What if... Your picture was taped inside teenage boys' lockers across America, your closets were bursting with never-worn designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your "good girl" status?

It's a glamorous life, but sixteen-year-old Kaitlin Burke, costar of one of the hottest shows on TV, is exhausted from the pressures of fame. Then she hits on an outrageously daring solution, one that has to remain top secret or it will jeopardize everything she's ever worked for.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up–Kaitlin Burke is an overworked teen celebrity who thinks it would be cool to be ordinary for a couple of months. She also wants to get away from her competitive costar, Sky Mackenzie, who has been making her life difficult. After a bit of brainstorming, she decides to enroll, incognito, in her friend Liz's high school. During the next few weeks, she discovers how nice it is to have friends who like her for who she is–or appears to be–rather than because she's famous. She even starts a relationship with Austin, a nice boy who, ironically, has a crush on Kaitlin Burke, but hasn't a clue that he's dating her. Things go awry when Sky is asked to host the school's spring fling, which has a Hollywood theme. Everyone dresses as a celebrity, and Kaitlin ends up going as herself. While at the dance, Sky nastily unveils Kaitlin's secret. It's not surprising that her friends, especially Austin, feel betrayed, but she manages to redeem herself in the end. The protagonist is kind, unspoiled, and upstanding–refreshingly different from the norm. Fans of Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries (HarperCollins) or Ann Brashares's Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books (Delacorte) will gobble this one up.–Catherine Ensley, Latah County Free Library District, Moscow, ID
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

'At last! A witty, entertaining and refreshingly honest take on what it's really like to be a celebrity 'It' girl' - US Weekly --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Poppy (June 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316154423
• ISBN-13: 978-0316154420
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,565,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

It's no secret how Jen Calonita knows the inside scoop on young Hollywood. A former Senior Entertainment Editor at Teen People, Jen has interviewed everyone from Reese Witherspoon to Zac Efron. An entertainment journalist for the past ten years, Jen has written for TV Guide, Glamour and Marie Claire.

It was her work in the entertainment world that inspired her first series, Secrets of My Hollywood Life. The six-book series is about a teen starlet named Kaitlin Burke who grows weary of the fame game, but loves being an actress. The series has been published in Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Japan and Russia.

Jen has also published two stand-alone novels. Booklist called Sleepaway Girls: "The picture-perfect setting, the sweet little kids, the seductive freedom from parents, and the lure of adult-like responsibility make this the perfect read-alike to suggest to fans of Ann Brashares' Traveling Pants series."
Reality Check is about best friends who get their own reality TV show. Booklist said: "Fans of Meg Cabot's Airhead series and Calonita's Secrets of My Hollywood Life will eat this fun, timely, cautionary tale right up."

Jen is hard at work on a new teen series that will debut in 2012.

When the self-professed entertainment junkie is not working, she can be found doing one of three things: scrapbooking, watching Glee, or going to the movies. Jen resides in Merrick, New York with her husband Mike, sons Tyler and Dylan, and their Chihuahua, Captain Jack Sparrow.

For more about Jen, check out her website: www.jencalonitaonline.com, follow her on Twitter at: www.twitter.com as JenCalonita or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/jen.calonita

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great series!, May 2, 2009

By 

Brooke - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets of My Hollywood Life (Kindle Edition)

I have to say that of all the teen books I've read, this series is my absolute favorite. The story is always good and is nearly impossible to put down once you start reading. I would reccomend this series to anyone. Parents, if your ten year old wants to start reading teen books but you're wary of inappropriate content or language, these are the books to go with. There is no suggestive content or cussing, which is quite a breath of fresh air from a lot of the other teen books that are on the shelves. You won't be disappointed in SomHL!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Move over Hannah Montana there's a new star with a double life too and her name is Kaitlin Burke!, August 27, 2008

By 

Gossip Guy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets of My Hollywood Life (Paperback)

Hollywood is pretty much like the jungle, it's survival of the fittest.

Kaitlin Burke is so tired of the rumors and the press so she concocted a plan of having a double life. But we'll she succeed or will Sky her nemesis destroy her career?

Secrets of My Hollywood Life is a fun, down-to-earth book that covers the life of a hollywood star. With it's fun characters and real life hollywood secrets it is really a book about the hidden desires of hollywood's a-listers. Jen Calonita really did a great job on this book and I really hope this book we'll reach Princess Diaries status.
xoxo,
gossip guy

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Would make a really fun movie, June 12, 2009

By 

Holly K. Lee (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secrets of My Hollywood Life (Paperback)

I could totally see this book being made into a movie. It has a bit of a "Mean Girls" edge to it that is irresistable. Author Jen Calonita worked at Teen People before starting her life as an author. She obviously got the inside scoop while she was there. She seems to know all about Hollywood politics.

The story is a breeze to read, I finished the book in a days time no problem. Reading it so quickly was partly due to the fact that I was really sucked into the story!

Kaitlin Burke is one of Hollywoods top 25 under 25, actually shes number 1. The girl is a force of nature. She is known for being a sweet girl, a prime time soap star who grew up in front of the cameras. Her on screen sister is a living nightmare, Sky likes to step on as many toes as she can to get to the top of the Hollywood food chain.

When Kaitlin decides she wants to be a normal girl and go undercover to one of her friends high schools, she finds out that high school isnt so different from Hollywood.