4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, February 12, 2008
Most people have the preconceived notion that celebrities have it easy. If you think that, you should go out and get a copy of this book.
Star Beck is famous. She's worshiped by millions of fans, gets an extremely high paycheck, and lives in five-star hotels. But a lot of people seem to think that her life is luxurious, and that she doesn't have a care in the world. While Star's life may have its benefits, it's certainly not easy. She's shuffled from place to place, hardly getting any time to rest. She has to practice her dance moves, watch her calorie intake, and be perfect practically 24/7. She can forget doing anything normal like going to the movies with her friends.
And she's getting sick of the pop star life. So she cuts off and dies her hair, puts on a pair of glasses, and sets off to live a normal life. She actually starts to make real friends and eat fatty foods. She's living a life she never thought would be possible. But, can she keep up her disguise forever, or will someone eventually find out who she really is?
This book was just plain fun. I was hooked as soon as I read the first sentence. Practically everyone's fantasized about living a celebrity life and all the benefits it would entail, but this book was pretty eye-opening on that issue. The celebrity life is a lot harder than it seems on TV!
There are a lot of books about celebrities and people becoming famous, but this one sticks out. Star - despite her name - is just an average, everyday, normal teenager, which makes her quite likable.
Kristin Harmel did an amazing job on her characters, as well as the plot. She never let the book get dull - I was so into the story I didn't realize how fast it was going by. I'm actually pretty sad it's over. Definitely a must read.
Reviewed by: Chelsea Swiggett
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enchanting YA Review: When You Wish, July 4, 2008
WHEN YOU WISH
KRISTIN HARMEL
Rating: 4.5 Enchantments
Star Beck seems to have it all; fame, money, a fabulous life. But behind all the make up and P.R. there's one thing Star has always longed for-her father who left her and her mom when she was a little girl.
When given the proof that her father is still out there, thinking about her, something her mother's denied for years, Star decides to go after the one thing she's always wanted. Knowing her overprotective mom/manager would never allow her to go off and meet him, so she decides to take matters into her own hands. And that's where things really get interesting. One self-hair-cut later, she's out the door and on her way to Florida and the address on the envelope, hoping to reunite with the father she doesn't know.
I loved Star's story, so much in fact that I stayed up till three in the morning reading it straight through. Star's a great character, an extremely likeable girl who just happens to be famous. There was so much about this book I loved, especially when Star reaches Florida. On her own for the first time in her life, she's struggling to adapt to her newfound independence and I loved the scene when she checks into the motel and realizes just how far the money she `borrowed' from her mother is going to get her.
Through the course of the story, Star finds out that maybe the illusions she's had about her father are just that-illusions, nothing more, nothing less. And maybe, her mom knew best after all, at least about keeping him out of her life. Star's journey opens her eyes to what's really been going on in her life and what matters most.
WHEN YOU WISH is Ms. Harmel's first young adult novel. Ms. Harmel is also a reporter for PEOPLE magazine. You can visit her online at www.kristinharmel.com
Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
April 2008
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
