Member Reviews
Liz is a new author for me. I enjoyed this book, to start with Chase seems like the kid who got it all but then you start to realise how much of the life basics that she missed out on, things that we do daily without even thinking. All subjects covered were dealt with appropriately and with sensitivity when it was needed.
I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.
Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.
However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x
I loved the growth in the characters, the way Talley writes them is so great. The touch in hard topics was also refreshing. Thanks for the chance to read this one.
Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for the arc
I enjoyed this book.
Not sure what I expected when I signed up
, but I was pleasantly surprised.
This was a great novel that dealt with some really serious subject matter well.
For me, I felt this this book was not really a romance, but a story of friendship and family. The characters were well developed and grew, the story was complex and full, and the emotions felt real.
Definitely one I’ll recommend to others.
I think maybe I left this one too long before I started reading it and the excitement about starting it wore off and I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have done.
There were definitely a lot of important messages mentioned throughout this book and I loved that aspect of it. The characters were definitely strong and the premise of the overall book was very interesting but like I said I think I just left this one too long and the excitement wore off so I didn't enjoy it as much as i thought I would.
This book deals with real life issues such as substance abuse and isn’t a light hearted read. Adulting, such as the title isn’t the slightest bit easy and this book shows that. For me personally I wasn’t crazy about the fake celebrity trope with it but I do realize how that made it an easier story to write.
This is my first time reading this author. The story was totally different than I expected. I liked the strong female characters. I think I'll try some of her other books. Thanks NetGalley the advanced copy. #NetGalley #Adulting
The first chapter was interesting but then it started falling flat for me. I didn't know what to expect from this book and it definitely didn't feel like a romance to me. I don't know what it was but I just couldn't get into it. Maybe I can come back to it some other time but for right now it's a DNF.
New to me author but definitely won't be last. Thoroughly enjoyed this story. Thanks Netgalley and to the publisher for letting me read this advance copy.
This story kept me engaged and I loved the love story that was woven into it. I loved the banter between the two main characters and found myself laughing out loud multiple times.
This book was a lot better than I was expecting. It had some heavier topics than I thought it would as well. But I really enjoyed it.
I thought the pace was great and I was engaged the entire time.
Chase was likeable even though she was on a self-destructive path. I loved her transformation. I think she is a great book and would definitely recommend it.
I think this book had a lot of potential, and I think the author did handle sensitive topics with a delicate touch. I did not connect with the characters because I don't think they were written in enough detail to make them real. They remained one dimensional and on the page.
This was quite different than I expected. It took me a while to get into, and I really wasn't enjoying the main character... but that is part of her journey, she isn't that great in the beginning. Seeing the development from one too many times stepping over the line, not wanting to accept help, but then doing so and improving was really interesting in the end. Overall, a good storyline that was intriguing.
This is a super fun read. I really enjoyed this one!
Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and follow, the characters were really thought about before coming to life. Would definitely recommend.
This book deals with some sensitive and difficult subject matter (abuse, drugs, self-harm), but I found this was done in a way that allows for substantial character development. These topics are also treated in a respectful manner and are not used simply for shock value. There is a bit of romance involved as well, but not as the main focus of the story. At its core, this is a story of personal healing and growth, as well as friendship.
Chase London is a young actress who has been making some bad choices. When her latest escapade violates her parole, she is sent to a strict rehab facility. A successful Hollywood big-shot wants her for his next movie, and enlists the services of his long-time friend, Olivia Han, as a life coach during her recovery. Chase and Olivia are off to a rocky start, and it takes Chase's friend Spencer Rome (a Hollywood superhero heartthrob) to talk some sense into her.
Olivia decides the best thing to do at this point is to take Chase out of her familiar environment, since that environment hasn't helped her thus far. So they drive up to northern California, to a cabin Olivia has inherited from her grandparents. Needless to say, the cabin needs a lot of work.
While working to make the cabin livable again, Olivia tasks Chase not only with an intense therapy program, but also with seemingly ordinary tasks to perform. However, because Chase has lived the Hollywood lifestyle since she was very young, she's wholly unfamiliar with them, and finds these adult tasks challenging. I liked how Olivia let her loose on a task to see how she'd do, then stepped in when she needed guidance to help her complete it, thus creating a more positive atmosphere.
However, despite Olivia's success as a therapist, she has some issues of her own, which rear their ugly heads throughout the book. Despite her coaching tactics for her clients, she has been happy to ignore these issues. Until now. Seems like our therapist could do with some therapeutic advice as well.
Throughout the story, Olivia learns to let loose a bit and break down her walls, while Chase learns to appreciate life outside of the spotlight. As this develops, they also grow closer and move beyond the therapist-client relationship. Perhaps Chase's resemblance to Olivia's tragic younger sister has a bit to do with this, but I think the influence of the people thrust into their lives during this process is a big part as well.
This was a wonderful story to read. For those who might find some of the subject matter mentioned triggering, please note that most of it is discussed as memories or character backstory. I cannot judge the extent of the trigger, though, as I haven't experienced these troubles myself, so please decide for yourself. I found the overall storyline to be hopeful and uplifting.
Adulting is the perfect mix of romance, finding help in an unexpected source and growing up. Chase is an actress but after unsuccessful trips to rehab and breaking parole there is only one person willing to give her a second chance. Olivia is a successful therapist but now her employees typically work with patients. She doesn’t want to work with Chase and Chase is even less willing to work with her. Once they start working together, Chase and Olivia help each other. Addiction and sexual assault are mentioned in Adulting. Adulting shows how Hollywood and acting affects people. Chase doesn’t know how to adult, so it is entertaining to see her learning. Adulting really caught my attention and kept my focus throughout. This book really surprised me in a good way. I was expecting a cute romantic comedy, but this book was so much more. I recommend Adulting for fans of romance that like a mix of serious and comedy.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Carly Robins. I really enjoyed her narration and the amount of emotion in her voice.
Thank you Brilliance Audio, Montlake and NetGalley for Adulting.
There are some tough topics dealt with in this story. Chase is an actress that has gone into rehab again because her mom turned her in when she relapsed. Olivia is a therapist that is hired to guide Chase through her intense program to help her learn to heal and basically be an adult. Things we take for granted, Chase can't do because she's never had to. Olivia has a vested interest in Chase that's deeper than just being another client. She reminds Olivia of someone from her past, someone she feels she let down. In the process of helping Chase recover Olivia is faced with her own issues that she knows she should deal with but avoids. These two get off to a really rocky start, they may be therapist and client but the relationship isn't one sided as Olivia's eyes are opened to her own past and things she needs to resolve. Ms. Talley does a great job dealing with serious live issues. I did receive an ARC through Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review, I also chose Adulting as my March Amazon First Read book.
4 1/2 STARS!
An emotional rollercoaster of healing and love! ADULTING by Liz Talley takes us into the world of glitz and glamor only to watch it all fall down around one starlet's head ... and watching her pick up the pieces is eye opening! The premise of the story was interesting right from the start and the depth of the characters held my attention. Watching them both find healing and eventually love was awe inspiring.
It didn't take long for Chase to wrap herself around my heart as the depth of her despair pours out of her time and time again in toxic ways. She really comes into herself and shines through Olivia's program of healing.
Olivia seems to have it all together, but as she lets her hair down a bit with Chase we see the hidden secrets she buries to try to convince herself that her world is rock solid.
This book touches on addiction, rape, suicide and more so might be trigger some readers. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys seeing someone overcome strong adversity to heal and pick up the pieces of a tattered life.
Adulting by Liz Talley another @netgalley read.
It took me a while to get into this book and at first I wasn't into it. The main character Chase annoyed me for a while but I don't think we're supposed to like her too much in the beginning. A frustrating, whiny actress, who's been in and out of rehab has gone one party too far. Breaching parole and on the verge of ruining not only her career but her life indefinitely. Olivia Han is hired as a last ditch attempt as Chase's life coach into 'adulting' in order to get chase to pull her life together and to break the cycle of recovery and relapse. Olivia takes Chase away to a delapatated cabin in the middle of nowhere to begin her first taste in adulting. As the story developed I found myself enjoying it more especially when other character dynamics were introduced to the story, and the secrets uncovered from not only Chase but Olivia too.