Birds of California by Katie Cotugno is a well crafted novel about a former child TV star, Fiona, who is forced to grow up in the spotlight then silently slinks back into a quiet reality after a stay in a psychiatric ward. When execs want to reboot her hit show a decade later, her former costar, Sam, appears back in her life out of the blue to convince her to sign up for it, fueling rumors in the tabloids. Fiona doesn't know whether to trust if Sam's renewed affection is genuine, but what she is certain of is that she wants no part of the reboot under any circumstances.

The character development in the book is well written, and even though I predicted Fiona's trauma before she admits it, I appreciated her secretive, tightly wound personality as she dealt with the fallout. Fiona is a truly relatable character. The author brought the world of working actors in Hollywood to life, and the struggles read as very genuine. It has a great message about misogynistic and abusive power dynamics in Hollywood and the destructive nature of the paparazzi and tabloids. Highly recommended!

CW: PTSD, consensual intimacy (on-page), sexual assault (off-page), depression, anxiety, mental illness, unequal power dynamics, gaslighting, grooming

Advanced copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was another really cute back by Katie Cotugno. I like her venturing into the adult romance space, as I enjoyed reading her more mature and complicated characters. However, I feel this book was two short. I read it under 3 hours and even speedier reader could probably do it in two. There were no big surprises or twists. Everything was pretty straight forward or easily guessable. However, because I loved Fiona and Sam so much, I still really enjoyed it. It was funny and sweet and a little heartbreaking. I just wanted more.

DNF @ 65%. I'm bored, nothing is happening, I don't like any of the characters and they all seem so flat and one dimensional. Also, this is not at all a romcom??? There is no comedy at all. Mostly angst and a traumatised protagonist.

I liked this one but wouldn’t call it a romcom. It has some funny moments, but overall the plot and messaging were more coming of age feeling. Once I got out of my head that it wasn’t a romcom I enjoyed it a lot more. Great cover. Fantastic message.

Birds of California by Katie Cotugno
Tags: Fiction; Contemporary Fiction; Relationship Fiction; Drama;
CW: Mental Health; Break Down; Alcohol Abuse

Going into this story I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I have read a number of Katie Cutugno’s YA books, so I was eager to see what she might take on with the first offering I’ve seen in the adult romance realm.

First, this book is advertised / described as a romcom – and again I’m going to say that this does a book a major disservice. When you say ‘whip smart romcom’ I’m expecting lighthearted, laughs, witty banter…when instead I am served up romantic drama – it just doesn’t hit the same. While I can (and do) enjoy and appreciate a romantic drama / women’s fiction piece, it always puts me off slightly when I go into a book expecting levity. I would say there is a romantic element, but again I would say that this would qualify as what I would term a fiction, contemporary, relationship fiction and drama.

Overall, I really liked the premise and idea behind the book. I wish I had a different idea of what the story was going to be going in, as mentioned above, as I think it would have set me up with a different mindset and expectation which may have helped me adjust to the story more quickly. As it was, I was taken aback by the tone and heaviness of the story. While I think it covered an important topic, it took most of the book to get to that and it felt a bit rushed at the end when it finally came to light – which took away from some of the impact that could have been.

I appreciated the dual POVs, but found Sam to be extremely self centered, immature, and unlikeable overall. He didn’t do much to redeem himself and kept screwing up…I couldn’t really even see why Fiona put up with him? I wanted more backstory, maybe flashing back between past and present. I wished for more resolution. I hoped that more would be fleshed out for Fiona and Sam.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an enjoyable read, even though it tackled tough subjects. I've read a number of the recent novels on this theme and in this setting, and one wouldn't think that it would lend itself to humor or romance but somehow Katie Cotugno makes it work! All of the characters were so well written and believable. The central romance and conflicts also were completely believable, and I was definitely routing for it all to work out. I wish the reader could find out what happens next!

Birds of California will make you laugh out loud. Birds of California will make you cry. Birds of California will make you fall in love with Fiona St. James.

You see, Fiona was a tv star on the family drama Birds of California when she was a teenager. Now, five years later, she works at the family print shop. What happened in between? Well, she smashed a store window with a stolen pogo stick. She shoplifted. She was drunk on a talk show and it was in the morning! She fought with photographers and her bleary eyed photos were everywhere. Rumor has is that she’s in rehab or…dead.

So when her agent calls to offer her a part in a reboot of the old show, she refuses. She doesn’t want to go back to her old life. But then the producers send her costar Sam Fox to ask her. That doesn’t work but she did have a crush on him back in the day and the feelings are still there. No spoilers, buy this book and a box of Kleenex. You’ll think you know how it will end. You’ll be surprised. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Katie Cotugno for this ARC.

The romance was compelling. Characters were flawed but likable, an important combination in romance! I predicted what I think was supposed to be a surprise plot point but still enjoyed the book.

This book really hit home for me, in a stay-up-too-late, binge-it-in-one-go type of way. If you had to pack it into a genre it would be "steamy romance," but that really oversimplifies the book and its characters. On top of some great smut, it's a book that feels very vulnerable and raw. It directly looks at the ways in which society consumes young, female actors, and as I was reading this my brain drifted over to the #FreeBritney movement, Jessica Simpson and Emily Ratajkowski's memoirs, and the new "Pam & Tommy" show. I never felt beat over the head with its cultural relevance though - it was the underpinnings of the characters and their dynamic nature, not something being preached. I was rooting for both of the protagonists the whole time, both in terms of their relationship and in their own internal lives.

I will say that I wish the ending had a bit more room to breathe. While I don't mind that it was ambiguous, it felt like there were some loose threads that I wish had been addressed. Overall a very solid book, that I'm so glad to have read.

I love love LOVE novels that take place in the world of Hollywood, so my expectations were high. Luckily, Birds of California absolutely blew those expectations out of the water. Fiona was SUCH an interesting character, and I loved getting to see the other side of fame ... what comes after, and what it means to try and get off that merry go round. And Sam ... oh Sam. What a sunny eyed optimist you are. I enjoyed watching both of these characters evolve as they learned one another's secrets. My only complaint is that we couldn't get 6 or 7 more chapters, because I could have read more of these two together! (The story absolutely didn't need it, but that doesn't stop me from wanting it!). This book fits in well with our current reckoning of the way we treated famous women like absolute garbage in the 90s. Elder millennial will devour this.

I really enjoyed this one! The road trip element is always a good trope!! I will be recommending this one.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Perennial for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In Birds of California we follow the two POVs of Fiona and Sam, child Hollywood stars who grew up on a TV show called: Birds of California. It's five to 10 years later and a secluded Fiona is working at her family's printing business, hiding from the limelight while Sam is basking in the fame and making it big. Sam finds out the show he is starring in is cancelled and is realizing he is going to hit rock bottom soon. Fiona had a horrible sequence of events happen while in her prime as an actress and is trying to stay out of the press for as long as possible. When their agents call to get them both back for a reboot of the old show, Sam has to try to convince Fiona to say yes so he can stay afloat a little longer. Fiona has a few secrets and reasons why she doesn't want to be part of the revival and is shocked by Sam's sudden reappearance after years of not speaking to each other. As they get to know the older versions of themselves, Sam and Fiona begin to feel a connection and an attraction...

Overall I did enjoy this book. I received the ARC today and finished it the same day. I was hooked until the very end, trying to piece together what may have happened to Fiona to make her so miserable and lash out at others. I like the dual POV and find that it was a good choice to read both sides. I do however think this should have spanned longer than just a month or so. Or have an epilogue of "a year later..." or something. I understand they knew each other from past experiences and working together on the show but the love connection felt way too fast and unrealistic. With Fiona's past trauma I think it would have felt more impactful if they met up again a few months later or a year after the argument they had towards the end. It just felt way rushed as if the author was on a deadline and couldn't finish her book. Both characters have so much going on emotionally and mentally that their insta-love, again, felt unrealistic for the characters development and how they reacted was again so fast. I do like the declaration of love on Sam's part and the way they do connect again but not enough time passes to make me think they "changed" or felt the loss of the other. I would have liked to have seen Sam maybe meet up with his mom and brother, had a meaningful conversation, and then go back to see Fiona and then declare his love. I personally think it would have hit harder for us as readers. Towards the end it's like he completely forgot his mom and complained more about his money issues verses just going to see her. Fiona had a right to act out the way she did but it also came across as childish for some of the arguments she and Sam had.

I know I said a bunch of negatives but I did honestly enjoy Katie Cotugno's adult romance debut. I really liked her YA books and think it's great that she is delving into the adult book realm. Sometimes her books come across like she was being held back because of the YA restrictions.

I will be looking for future books by this author and look forward to reading another adult or YA book by her.

(Gorgeous cover!)

4 solid stars.

It was very interesting to read an adult romance novel by Katie Cotugno. I've really enjoyed her young adult romance novels so I went into this one blind and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was for an older audience.

I was very into the beginning part of this novel. Unfortunately, the way that things wrapped up at the end really didn't do it for me. I would have liked to see more resolution with Sam and Fiona. It seemed like both of their lives were completely out of control and there was no hint that any of that would be fixed anytime soon. The fact that Sam was in $27,000 of credit card debt made me went to vomit as an accountant. It drew away from the story to the point where I was more focused on their personal lives than their relationship. I don't think it's realistic to think that they can make it work together when they are having enough trouble making it work on their own.

I did like that there were alternating chapters between Fiona and San so we got to hear the story from both of their perspectives. I think I would have also liked to hear more of their story from when they were younger. I think that adding in some of the young adult romance would have livened up the present day portion,

Overall, this was a well written Hollywood romance. However, I personally preferred the author in the young adult genre.

I didn't realize this book was basically a romance romance, but I loved it anyway. It was compulsively readable and the characters felt fully realized and lovable. Fiona's trauma was telegraphed pretty obviously, but I wish it had been made explicit sooner than the end, which felt rushed/glossed over.

I've read Katie Cotugno's YA fiction and it is always engaging and frisky, but this was my first of her adult titles and the frisky is definitely there- beautiful people steaming up the pages. Fiona, a child star who made some questionable decisions post Disney-esque sitcom, has left the business, hiding out in her family's print shop. But she's always recognized and she regrets a lot. But when a former co-star tries to get her back in the game for a reboot, she's not willing to do it, even though the money would be beneficial.

This is an exploration of what leads a person to make questionable choices. There is a social commentary on how we see those who have fallen from grace. We need to allow others to embrace their own narrative and make sure they aren't victims of the powerful.

So, yeah, lots of fun, but don't leave without taking a pause on the message.

I enjoy all of Katie Cotugno's books and Birds of California was no exception. I wished there was a bit more of an 'ending,' I was surprised when I turned the page and saw the Acknowledgments but can also appreciate that the author gave the reader enough closure where we could imagine what was going to happen next. This novel feels like a departure from the YA novels Cotugno normally writes, but I thought it also had more depth. I wanted to see more development from Sam Fox, but I can appreciate it was mostly Fiona's story to tell. Can't wait to read what is next from this author!

I have been a big lover of Katie Cotugno books. She has a way of showing us that characters make mistakes and aren’t perfect but they’re still redeemable. this story is no different. Fiona and Sam were previously on a tv show together. Fiona had some issues and disappeared from fame while Sam continued to try to make it big. They reconnect when Sam tries to convince Fiona to do a reunion show. The story was compelling and I kept waiting and waiting for the climax to occur. I think overall I wanted a little more. the ending felt abrupt. I wanted to see more from the past and more of them currently. I felt like I didn’t know the main characters as well as I wanted.

As someone whose guilty pleasure is reading and watching the lives of the wealthy or those in Hollywood this was easily an addicting read for me. This book had some laugh out loud moments where I genuinely caught myself chuckling from behind my kindle screen.

Run Down: Fiona is a former child star who is living out the rest of her days under the radar when former co-star/faux big brother pops back into her life to try and convince her to do the reboot so he can save his career.

Overall this did fall a little flat for me, it left me feeling like something was missing or something didn't hit right.

I am a huge fan of Katie Coutugno's YA work and was super excited to hear that she was entering the Adult Romance game. Anyone who has read and loved her YA contemporaries would agree that Adult Romance was the perfect genre for Katie to transition into and Birds of California was an excellent Adult debut!

Fiona and Sam had me swooning multiple times! I liked how we got to see a de-glamourized version of Hollywood. I also appreciated how the #MeToo movement was incorporated into this storyline without it being the focus in the book. However, I do feel that the book ended rather quickly and I wanted more answers regarding Sam and his career as well as if the reboot ever happened. I think an epilogue would've worked really well in this book.

Im so excited to read more adult romance books from Katie Coutgno cause I know they'll only get better!

This was just really smart and enjoyable. I suspect some people won't like the ending. I did.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy