I devoured this book, reading the entire thing in one evening! While this may be seen as a love story, it is so much more than that. I was so engrossed in this decades long story of heartbreak and successes and just life as it goes. I have read Sloan's previous two novels and this felt more mature and put together, it will definitely stick with me longer than Haley Aldrige or Cassidy Holmes did. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

Elissa R. Sloan is quickly becoming an author I know I can count on to consistently deliver an engaging entertainment industry read. Having read all three of her fame-focused novels, I can positively proclaim that she has found her genre niche … and she does it well! Her first two books - The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes and Hayley Aldridge is Still Here - gave off Britney Spears tragedy vibes, while her latest novel, Double Exposure, focuses more on coveted celebrity couples. You know … the ones who fans “ship” so much, they mash up their names into something corny, yet cute - think Brangelina or Bennifer.

At the center of Double Exposure is the flawed relationship of model Maiko Fox and actor Adrian Hightower, affectionately called “Madrian.” Maiko and Adrian’s relationship burned quick and bright, and in the end, just didn’t work out. But that doesn’t stop fans from swooning over Madrian, wishing and hoping for the day they get back together. When on screen together, Madrian “print money,” so they are in high demand in Hollywood; but anyone who has ever been in an unhealthy relationship knows that the number 1 rule when calling it off with someone you find irresistible yet devastating, is to stay far, far away from their orbit. With projects and chemistry putting Maiko and Adrian in each other’s path time and time again, sparks are bound to fly, but at what cost?

Double Exposure is a novel that I can really appreciate because it doesn’t shy away from the toxicity of relationships. This novel reads like a genre hybrid, combining both romance with reality, portraying relationships in a real light. It’s no surprise that a romance between two stars would be tinged with toxicity, but finding your way through a bad relationship is even worse when you are living in the public eye. Double Exposure explores the effects of falling in and out of love under the microscope, and brings light to the fact that at the end of the day, celebrities are often just like us when it comes to getting unlucky in love.

Relationships aside, Double Exposure will also appeal to readers who enjoy stories about the stars, and are curious about the inner workings of Hollywood. Sloan deftly combines something that we all can relate to - love - with something few people have personally experienced - fame. The result is a solidly entertaining novel about, well, entertainment!