Published by Dutton on May 15, 2014
Length: 307 Pages
Genre (s): Contemporary
Source(s): Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble
"I want you to do something with the place. Something epic."After being entrusted with her brother's Los Angeles apartment for the summer as a graduation gift, Emi Price isn't sure how to fulfill his one condition: that something great take place there while he's gone. Emi may be a talented young production designer, already beginning to thrive in the competitive film industry, but she still feels like an average teen, floundering when it comes to romance.But when she and her bestfriend, Charlotte, disccover a mysterious letter at the state of a Hollywood film legend, Emi must move beyond the walls of her carefully crafted world to chase down the loose ends of a movie icon's hidden life, leading her to uncover a decade's old secret and the potential of something truly epic: love.
I found out about this book by accident. I was busy browsing through Barnes & Noble's website when I stumbled upon this really gorgeous looking book cover. So anyway, I read through the synopsis and looked up some reviews.
This book's concept I found rather intriguing so I decided to pick up a copy. So here's the thing: I am clueless as to what happens behind the lenses. In fact all I did ever care about is that as long as the story delivers: good plot, good acting and good cinematography, I am all good. All I know is that I love watching movies as much as I love reading. Those two just goes hand in hand with me. So reading some things about the inner workings of how movies are made is quite an eye opening experience for me. It was a fascinating backdrop for the whole story which set the overall tone of the book. With the characters love for movies as the focal point of each character.
This book's concept I found rather intriguing so I decided to pick up a copy. So here's the thing: I am clueless as to what happens behind the lenses. In fact all I did ever care about is that as long as the story delivers: good plot, good acting and good cinematography, I am all good. All I know is that I love watching movies as much as I love reading. Those two just goes hand in hand with me. So reading some things about the inner workings of how movies are made is quite an eye opening experience for me. It was a fascinating backdrop for the whole story which set the overall tone of the book. With the characters love for movies as the focal point of each character.
It's not about a person's struggle with their sexuality. In fact Nina didn't even push and emphasize on the whole thing. The way she worded things was subtle and natural. Emi and Ava like girls: it's a fact. And not some gossip that should seriously be made a big deal out off.
For me this book is all about growth, its the essence weaved throughout the story.
Character wise, Emi Price: she's one confident teenager if you ask me. But then again the rejection did hit her hard several times, and thus the self doubt. What I did like is the fact that Emi managed to regroup herself, see things in a different perspective, admit her wrongs and used those faults to push herself to be better. Romance wise, I can say things could've been better. It was a rough break up with her recent ex-girlfriend, often times she just has the tendency to swoon and wallow. I wanted to shake her and yell at her to just get over it because clearly the girl doesn't reciprocate the feelings anymore. Her strong attraction with Ava was a little bit of a hiccup for me. That pull felt too much serendipitous and fairy tale like. But they became friends and I think that helped solidify the whole possibility of them becoming so much more. I think the start of the real relationship happened at its well deserved time.I love how she did put on the breaks and backpedaled a bit because it wouldn't have come to that one epic moment in the story.
It has a strong set of secondary characters that you'd find yourself loving and wanting to read more about. I love how supportive Charlotte is of her bestfriend, how she protects her and values that friendship that they have. Jamal, albeit having not that many scenes was such a strong character that he would definitely leave an impression on you. It was an ensemble of great characters with varying quirks and hypes that just brought so much color in this beautiful book.
The story sagged a little for me but it did manage to pick momentum on the last few pages although it just left me wanting more.
It's a refreshing story. For once there was no heartbreaking angst involved. Just a little drama to tug on your heartstrings but a read that is breezy and cute nonetheless. It's a book that brings you to a different sort of reality, something sort of magical.
Overall it was a very good read.
The ultimate collapse of the fantasy.
He'll grin, say, You made a movie, of course, how perfect. And I'll say, No, that's not it. He'll cock his head, waiting for more. I'll take my time, keep him guessing. Then I'll say, "I fell in Love."
RATING: 4 out of 5
