"Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance"by Brendan Halpin and Emily Franklin
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release Date: Feb 1, 2011
Source: sent by publisher
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Summary from goodreads.com:
Fans of romance don't need to look any further than the fauxmance brewing between teen idols Charlie Tracker and Fielding Withers—known on their hit TV show as Jenna and Jonah, next-door neighbors flush with the excitement of first love. But it's their off-screen relationship that has helped cement their fame, as passionate fans follow their every PDA. They grace the covers of magazines week after week. Their fan club has chapters all over the country. The only problem is their off-screen romance is one big publicity stunt, and Charlie and Fielding can't stand to be in the same room. Still, it's a great gig, so even when the cameras stop rolling, the show must go on, and on, and on. . . . Until the pesky paparazzi blow their cover, and Charlie and Fielding must disappear to weather the media storm. It's not until they're far off the grid of the Hollywood circuit that they realize that there's more to each of them than shiny hair and a winning smile.
My Review:
This book was really cute, I couldn't help but think of the tv show, "Sonny with a Chance," with the portrayal of teen stars in love while in the public eye.
The story was told in alternating chapters told from each character's point of view. In the beginning, I found Jonah/Fielding?Aaron much more interesting, but Jenna/Charlie really started to grow on me. I was sympathizing with her by the end of the book.
My favorite part was when they were hiding from the paparazzi at the beach house. I think they really started to realize their true feelings about each other and their careers while in that isolated atmosphere.
I did like the journey they took with their acting career at the Shakespeare theater. It was great to see them reflect on their past acting on "Jenna & Jonah," as well as see how far they could stretch their acting skills.
There were some really deep one liners in this book. I found myself identifying with a lot of the quotes about love, life and our true selves.
Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 2/5
Writing: 4/5
Bottom Line: "Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance" is a fun Hollywood romp with many tender moments and lots of reflection on life and love.