Customer Reviews

Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva: A Novel

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

 

 

I love Victoria Rowell so when I heard about this book I wanted to love it as well--and I did. Her writing is as snappy as she is. The story, although fiction delves into the fictional soap opera and her alter ego. As a fan of Y&R for many years I do not want to believe the race card was played as written in this novel. All in all, Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva is exactly what you would expect and hope for--A fun read...

"Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva" is the perfect summer read and will be a delight not only for those who enjoyed Victoria Rowell playing Drucilla on Young and the Restless, but for anyone who loves their "stories". :-)

I liked Victoria's writing style as it came across in the characters, specifically Calysta. The novel reads like a soap opera with the suspense, scandal, and dramatic flair that one would expect. Victoria gives you the story in first person through Calysta but she also gives you breaking celebrity news a la US Weekly-type reveals. I also liked how the novel deals with Calysta's life before she became a soap star and by placing her grandmother as a strong supporting character you never forget her background. I will admit that the plot moves around a lot and it can be hard to keep up with the numerous colorful characters, but the book is based on a soap opera which has many characters. Some characters you care about and never miss their scenes and some you don't care as much so you don't invest as much in their plot line.

If I may address some of the previous reviewers' opinions that the racism dealt with in this book is unnecessary, I ask them to take a look at the programming that comes on their television sets. Please tally the percentage of African-Americans in starring roles or on shows where they are not the minority and then apply that same tally to White actors. Are the numbers just a tad different? That's what I thought. Until those numbers change, addressing racism will remain relevant in a book that is focusing on television characters. It would be misleading and unrealistic to have an African-American female as the central character in this book and ignore that fact.

I highly recommend this novel if you're looking for an escape. Although I think the storyline with Calysta's real father and deceased mother was spread a little thin, I expect that the sequel will come stronger. I definitely look forward to it.

Victoria Rowell is not only a awesome actress She cn a really write a Soap Opera novel. If you Watch Y&R this book isa must read for you. You will reconize so many Characters in the story.

Cant wait for the Sequel

I tried this book, but it was so confusing I could only get to chapter ten, and had to put it down. I didn't like the arrogance of the characters,the blind items and all the other messiness. You have to be a Young and Restless fan to appreciate this book. It also was a book I couldn't learn anything from. I read to learn and to be entertained. Any book I have struggle to read, is a waste. If I hadn't brought on Kindle I could have given to others to pass around and share, now I may have to delete it, or wait until I am desperate and have nothing else to read. As they say in soaps, to be continued, maybe or maybe not. Either way it is at the bottom of my reading list.

Overall this book is fun to read and it was especially fun for me a longtime Y and R fan and fan of Miss Rowell, to try to figure out which character in this novel pertained to which actor/actress in the Y and R.

My only regret is that the protaganist is portrayed continually as being a victim of racism.

In my own experience, racism today in the workplace is not as overt or cut and dry as network tv executives choosing a cliff in a "CERTAIN WORLD CONTINENT" to "kill off" a soap opera character like Ruby. It is expressed much more sutly

Keep writing Miss Rowell and I'll continue reading.

This book is quite entertaining. It gives an inside look at the world of daytime. It's so much fun to figure out which actor/actress the author is describing in her sometimes thin veils. I was also shocked and outraged at the backstabbing and trickery and politics of a soap. It has actually decreased my level of enjoyment when I watch YR. I enjoyed the 1st 2/3 of this book immensely. The last part was a let down only because I wanted to continue getting scoop on the actresses and their outrageous behavior. I wasn't too interested in character development and soul searching of the main character. The book also read exactly as 'Drucilla' spoke on the show. You can hear her saying the sentences you read. In conclusion, YR was foolish to let Victoria go. She brought some spark and reality to the show that hasn't returned since.

Very entertaining! I am waiting for the next installment! Victoria Rowell is a very talented actress and writer!

What I liked about this book was that it was a fun read, in that it had a lot of juicy scandals and plots. But what I really did not like, and what ultimately makes me want to stop reading the book, is the writing style, the lack of creativity, and how silly some parts were. The writing style is so amateur it makes the Shopaholic series look like it was written by Upton Sinclair. Perhaps it's just because I don't like to hear slang words or swear words every 5 sentences. There was a lack of creativity. For example, this book is definitely the secrets of a soap opera diva because it is just that melodramatic and cliche.

The characters were so stock. The reader only has the option of loving or hating them. The villains were people who had NO good traits at all, unless you count the ability to willingly overdose on Viagra (Randall). The heroes were people who were built up to be great, awesome, and perfect. And it's just ridiculous. There were some parts of the book that made me think "Really, Victoria Rowell, really? Did you really just write that?"

It's a FUN book. Don't get me wrong.

But it is just a little too trashy. But at least it doesn't get boring... right?

I ordered this book after reading a few pages from it at Borders. But I wish I had looked over the book more carefully, because then I could've spent my money on something better.

I get the fact that this book mimics soap operas and their grandiose plots, characters, etc but it was just too much. I didn't care about Calysta or what happened to her, any character for that matter. I brought this book in May when it first came out. It is now September and I have yet to finish this book. I am the type of person who finishes what I start no matter how painful. I have even read and finished several other books besides this one. I think Ms. Rowel had good ideas but had difficulties executing them. I wanted to like this book. I'll agree with another reviewer, read the first few chapters before you buy this book. We all have different taste. Ms. Rowel has started a petition to get her old job back at Y&R. I wonder how much of this book is really fiction or.........

The biggest compliment I can give a book is to say that it was a fun ride - and this one falls directly into this category.

I am a fan of soap operas - especially when they are over the top (which is most of the time :) and frankly, Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva is ALSO over the top and highly, highly entertaining.

From the opening chapter - where we meet Calysta and her high hopes of winning the Sudsy - to the very second where you know - just know what is going to happen at those award presentations - the set up of the storyline is incredibly perfect and makes the entire rest of the book one of the most fun reads I have had in a long time.

Calysta is as crazy and nutty as the character she plays in her role and her life sounds just like a soap opera - at times, I can't figure out if we are dealing with her "real" life or her "fiction" life - crazy, crazy ride and it is fun! fun! fun!

Make sure you pack this one up for your beach read - you will be thrilled you did. Bring on book number 2.