Customer Reviews

So Super Starry

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was offered some Advanced Review Copies by a bookseller friend. I picked SO SUPER STARRY without reading the age level for the book. From the cover, I thought it was standard Chick-Lit. What a surprise! I'm almost embarrassed to say how much I liked it, as I'm far from a teenager, but it was a fab read.
Rose Wilkins, you can be proud to have written such a lovely novel. I wish you the best.

Octavia Clairbrook-Cleeve is the daughter of an actress and a director, which gives her "celebrity potential". She attends a fancy school for the children of celebrities, but has always felt like an outcast. Then she reluctantly goes to the birthday party of one of her least favorite people at the whole school, India Withers. But when she winds up kissing India's brother, she begins to second-guess her whole approach on life. Is she really destined for a life of fame and fortune?

I loved this book! It was cute, funny, romantic, and it kept me in suspense. The ending left a bit to be desired, but I was actually surprised because I picked up the book again and re-read the first few pages out of pure boredom, and it was actually almost as interesting as when I had first started reading it!

There were some curse words and a few references to adult content, but I recomned it to any girl looking for a cute story about a girl in love.

I can't wait to read the sequel!

My entire POV on this book was skewed the moment I read the author's bio. Why you ask? Well according to the bio, Rose Wilkins wrote the book as a dare/bet that she could do a better job than a lot of the authors submitting manuscripts to the publishing house she worked out. So of course, if you're going to draw a comparison like that, people are going to compare you to a lot of the popular authors (teen or otherwise) out there.

For the most part I liked this book - the story follows a British teenage girl who attends a private school designed for the offspring of the rich and famous. While trying to deal with living a 'normal' life, Octavia also struggles with blossoming in the spotlight and dabbles in the celebrity world with mixed results. The writing was relatively solid if not particularly distinct, the main character was likable, realistic and relatable, and the plot kept you guessing - perhaps if only because Wilkins story structure is loose at best.

There were a few annoying/weak points, namely the lack of character development beyond Octavia, the relative predictability of the ending, and the ridiculously bite-sized chapters were almost insulting to the reader. Although it was nice sometimes to read a chapter (usually no longer than 3-5 pages) in the spare moments of a day, it also made for abrupt story flow.

Overall I'd probably recommend this book to young girls who are really into reading this type of genre but are sick of the main series like A-List and Gossip Girl. The British setting of the book isn't too overwhelming/confusing for the average North American reader but differentiates the book ever so slightly. I believe there is a sequel to the book out now as well!

I was really glad I found this book. I have read book after book after book in the Gossip Girl, It Girl, Clique, A-List... series, and WOW were they shallow. This book, however, proved that you don't have to be a snot just because you're rich. Octavia seemed real to me. I could identify with her a lot better than most of the character in other books.

Such a funny book - sure, it's got the usual chick lit stereotypes but it's written so well you can just sit back and enjoy the ride! Loved the ending, too; it wasn't at all how I expected. And the Pygmy Blondes are HILARIOUS!

this book gives you a peek into the life of an insecure teenager. pretty standar for a teen novel...except that Octavia is the daughter of a super star. octavia's experiences at her high school are something that i'm sure everyone can relate to, even if the parties are a bit more hardcore. i really loved this novel,it gives you a feel for what celebrities may feel and it also gives you a lesson in how to make yourself happy.

God, I hate Octavia. No, actually, I hate all these chicklit protagonists who either refuse to accept the truth or are just too stupid to read the clues we readers have spotted since the beginning. It's especially irritating when the problem finally dawns on the protagonist like some kind of big revelation when we've all sat there for a while saying "DUUUUUUUUH."

Octavia is also one of the worst chicklit protagonists. She implies somewhere in the beginning that she's not shallow, but she is. She's also pretentious, which is always bad. Maybe if she were shallow but not pretending not to be, I'd hate her less. Maybe.

Author Rose Wilkins brags on the back flap that this book was written as a bet: she worked at a publishing house reading submissions that were so bad that she was sure she could do better. Unfortunately, it's all too obvious that she was inspired by bad writing!
Her characterizations are shallow and predictable, and her dialog is unrealistic. My guess this is Ms. Wilkins' idea of what she imagines teenagers wish their lives were like: Octavia's the outcast, yes, but she's rich and privileged, the daughter of famous parents who always has a snappy comeback at the ready. Even in her awkward moments, Octavia is sure of herself. It's all just too easy, and no real emotion comes through in the writing.
My suggestion to Ms. Wilkins is to try again but this time get yourself inspired by some GOOD YA authors--try Megan McCafferty, Sonya Sones, Celia Moriarty for starters.

Glam parties, gorgeous boys, super cool celebrities... what more could a girl want? But because it's all told from Octavia's view point you can really understand how weird and scary living in such world must be. As well as being v. v. funny, it gets you totally involved in the plot. I really hope there's going to be a sequel or even a series!?!