📚 Starstruck
✍ Ivy Dawes
📖 Cotemporary Romance
⭐4/5
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
➡ After relocating to LA to find her footing in film alongside her boyfriend of five years, Kat is faltering. Both her agent and boyfriend dump her and she's stuck working at a low bar taco restaurant until her best friend gets her a job as a production assistant on a hot new movie. When her actor charge turns out to be a jerk, Kat sneaks off set to find a moment of peace but instead runs into an in-costume actor claiming he's an extra on the film and is quickly drawn to his charm and their instant connection.

After late night phone calls, shared pet ownership and a string of on-set connections, the two finally meet sans stage makeup and it turns out that Kat's mystery guy is actually the star of the film James Everett. Can the two find common ground amidst the chaos of fame? And when the studio and James's own father pressures him to engage in a fake relationship with his co-star, can their real relationship take center stage or will their connection fizzle?
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🙏 Thank you to Flower & Bear Books, NetGalley and author Ivy Dawes for an advanced copy of Starstruck. All opinions are my own.
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🎯 What I loved: Celebrity romances are my guilty pleasure and this was a pretty low tension, happy one that was really enjoyable. James and Kat had instant chemistry and I liked that they built their emotional connection before their physical one through late night phone calls and conversations in costume. The main characters were all likeable and fairly mature and the heavier topics were dealt with with sensitivity although I do think there could have been additional layers of depth (i.e. we never really got the back story on why James was sober or what he did in his 20s). Overall though, I enjoyed the dual POV and fun banter from their friend group and thought this was a nice feel-good palate cleanser..

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: I wasn't a huge fan of the fake dating contract subplot- it just seemed really weird and like it didn't go anywhere- and was slightly put off by Kat's somewhat erratic alcohol consumption at the beginning of the book. Other than that, I found this book sweet and swoony.
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Read if you love:
*celebrity romance
*secret/hidden identity
*both characters are actors
*on-set meet-cute
*strong FMC trying to find her footing
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See also: How to Fake it in Hollywood, To Love Jason Thorne, Love Scenes

Perfect light hearted rom com read! I read a majority of this book with a stupid goofy grin ob my face.
The writing was done well and the storyline and characters flowed really well.
I loved that in the end it still showed a strong independent fmc and it didn't hinge too much on the mmc been rich and stupid levels of famous (that he was). It kept the focus on the relationship between Kat and James, their friendships surrounding them and the toxic family troubles that James faced.
A great read.

I thought this was cute and a cute concept but I wish I liked it more. It felt kind of choppy. That being said I really did enjoy the characters. I’d rate it a 3 or 3.5 / 5

I’m a sucker for golden retriever MMCs. Very fun and easy read. You could probably read this in one sitting (would love to but alas adult responsibilities). Dual-POV. Celebrity/regular person romance. Good amount of spice. Definitely pick up if you need a beach read.

I received an ARC from netgalley and the publisher.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book.

Unfortunately I had to DNF. The line "Something about her wearing something of mine sets my primal instincts at ease." gave me the ick so badly that I had to put the book down and stop reading. There were some other lines that made me feel uncomfortable that probably wouldn't be there with another round of edits. A good effort for a first book but unfortunately not for me.

Kat, a struggling actress, unexpectedly finds herself immersed in the glamorous world of movie-making as a PA on the set of a blockbuster film, rubbing shoulders with A-list actors. Amidst the glitz and glamour, she finds herself drawn to James, one of the leading stars, whose hidden identity captures her heart. In this debut novel, I must say, I am thoroughly impressed!

From the moment I met Kat and James, I couldn't help but fall in love with them. Their individual quirks and insecurities endeared them to me, and together, they sparkled with chemistry. Kat's authenticity, tinged with a hint of vulnerability, felt refreshingly genuine, while James, despite his celebrity status and family pressures, was remarkably relatable.

Their love story is a delightfully pure journey that had me grinning like a Cheshire cat, occasionally even kicking my feet with excitement. Although the romance blooms rapidly, which I typically shy away from, the author handles it with finesse, infusing depth into their connection and prompting introspection on the complexities of fame and privacy.

This book is a treasure trove of beloved romance tropes - from hidden identities to forbidden love affairs - reminiscent of classic early 2000s rom-coms. Its nostalgic pacing and nuanced character development kept me hooked, as I navigated alongside Kat through the maze of heartbreak and self-discovery in her twenties.

James, with all his flaws and family baggage, emerges as a genuine sweetheart, and I appreciated the author's commitment to portraying him as imperfect yet endearing. The supporting cast was equally charming, leaving me eager for more adventures in future books.

What struck me most was the realistic and modern portrayal of Kat and James's dynamic, even amidst the glitzy backdrop of Hollywood. James's respectful approach to Kat's boundaries and his unwavering support during her moments of turmoil with her ex added depth to their relationship.

And let's talk about the spice! While the intimate scenes are tastefully written, they serve a purpose in advancing the couple's journey, rather than merely existing for titillation. I'd give them a mild 1-2 🌶️ rating, emphasizing quality over quantity.

In conclusion, if you're a fan of heartwarming romances and nostalgic vibes, this book is a must-read. Prepare to be swept away by Kat and James's enchanting love story, sprinkled with just the right amount of Hollywood magic

What a good start for a debut novel 👏🏼

I read this in one day. Super sweet romcom vibes in this book. I enjoyed Kat and James’ characters and their little meet cute. I also usually don’t like third act break ups because it makes me stress but I felt it was done well and needed for the two characters in order to grow to be together in the end.

Looking forward to Roman’s story!

3.5⭐️

This was a cute, short read. Kat is a down on her luck PA who falls in love with the leading man of the movie she’s working on. Kat and James’ connection was a little too immediate for me and some of the story dragged a little. Overall I thought it was a cute story and I think it’d be a good, quick read for a beach vacation.
Tropes:
⭐️Celebrity
⭐️Workplace romance
⭐️Secret relationship
⭐️Forbidden romance

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC for an honest review

General information:
- Contemporary celebrity romcom (based in LA).
- Double POV. 1st person. Single timeline.
- Part of a series of standalone books.

Tropes and hooks:
- Hidden Identity
- Celebrity romance (actors)
- (Kind of) Forbidden romance.
- Secret relationship.
- Meet cute

My opinion:
- Writing: The writing is simple, and the book reads easy and fast, on the other hand, the writing is nothing special.
- Kat (FMC) and James (MMC): As separate characters they are interesting. Kat has been going through a lot lately and she is just trying to get her life on track and her struggle to understand that she is good enough is relatable. James is trying to reach his dreams while handling his poor excuse for the father.
- The romance: Unfortunately this part is the one that didn't work for me. It was a huge instalove and the constant now I wanna date you, now I don't and now we have to hide and now we don't just wasn't for me. Were they cute together? Yes. Did James do stuff for Kat, like for example help her with an anxiety attack? Yes. Did I feel the connection between them? Not really.
- I did love the fish co-parenting situation, and generally speaking, the humor in this book worked for me.

Just as a general conclusion: There was nothing wrong with this book per se, I just didn't feel invested in the romance. This is a debut book and I can see the potential in this author, but this particular book for me was just ok.

I received an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to everyone involved in the distribution process.

TW: parental abuse (verbal), domestic abuse (verbal)

Starstruck is the celebrity romance of Kat and James. Kat is down on her luck after being dumped by her longtime boyfriend and not being able to land any acting roles out in Hollywood. Not even a laundry commercial. Her friend gets her a PA job on set but the actor she works for is the biggest jerk on the planet. She has a nice interaction with who she thinks is a background actor, “Alex” and thinks that something could happen between them. “Alex” is actually the famous James Everett, one of the most famous and most gorgeous actors alive. Kat just didn’t recognize him because of all the prosthetics and makeup he has to wear for his role on set. James is relieved to get to know someone organically and have them treat him as a normal person for once. Things are great between Kat and James until his father wants him to sign an agreement to fake date the lead actress in the movie he’s working on.

Overall I found the plot to be okay. James constantly struggle against his father’s control but has a hard time fully committing to severing his ties to him. I found this took way too long to happen, why was he being such a coward?? Also, the chemistry between James and Kat was kind of nauseating. It’s insta love right from the beginning and everything is just SO beautiful and perfect between them. Right up until the show down with his dad. There was almost zero tension or disagreement between them. No relationship is that perfect. Just seemed fake and not really believable.

The writing was okay and there was some spice sprinkled through out but I just got the “meh” vibes from the very beginning and couldn’t get out of them.

Thanks so much to Flower and Bear Books for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Starstruck by Ivy Dawes. #Starstruck #NetGalley

Kat lives in Los Angeles as a PA, who is down on her luck- dumped by boyfriend 6 months ago and by her acting agent. Nothing could get worse! Except for the actor she is being assistant for is treating her like dirt and demands ridiculous things.

Things look better when she runs into a handsome background actor.

James is an actor from a well known family and is expected to follow his fathers orders. For his role in this new movie his father wants him to sign a relationship agreement.

That is until James meets Kat, and his whole world gets flipped on it's head.

From the meet cute to the love story between Kat and James. Gave me all the romcom and fuzzy vibes. I loved how they interacted and supported each other thru the story. I loved this story and couldn't put it down. I just want more of their love story and didn't want it to end.

Hoping that there will be more that Ivy will write about the other characters in the story :)

Spice- 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Favorite Chapter- Chapter 31🌶️

sᴛᴀʀsᴛʀᴜᴄᴋ- ɪᴠʏ ᴅᴀᴡᴇs
★ ★ ★ ★

*Release date- 21st May 2024*

ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ

At the beginning of the book I did struggle to get into it but as I carried on reading I got hooked. Such a cute romcom and the FMC and MMC was such a good match you could feel the chemistry 100%

Tropes
- Hidden identity
- Forbidden
- Secret relationship
- Celebrity
- Romcom
- Spice

Blurb

Kat: Dropped by my acting agent? Check. Dumped by my crappy ex boyfriend? Check. This was not what I envisioned when I moved to LA. So l'm starting at the bottom. Again. When I get a job as a PA on the set of an upcoming Starlight Studios movie, I am stuck catering to the whims of a has-been who treats me like dirt. It's almost enough to make me reconsider this gig. That is until I meet a background actor who gives me butterflies and makes me feel like I'm alive again. But looks can be deceiving. Especially when he is buried under layers of facial prosthetics and fake blood. Turns out he's not a background actor at all. He's James Everett, the film's leading star. He's smart, funny, ridiculously handsome, and everything I want. Falling in love with a movie star? Check. But does that matter when the film studio is pushing him to enter a fake relationship with someone else? James: I have money, fame, and now the leadership role l've dreamed of for years at Starlight Studios is finally within my grasp. As long as I stay in line. Anyone would want to be in my shoes. But despite what the public believes, being a part of the Everett family acting dynasty isn't all award shows and accolades. People only look at me for what they can get from me. Roles, connections, even just being seen in public with me is enough to boost someone's image in Hollywood. It's exhausting. Then, I run into Kat... literally. She's fun, feisty, and beautiful inside and out. Instead of wanting me for my name, she wants me for who I am. And she's starting to make me question my father's actions and his control over my career. The only problem?
In order to get that promotion at my family's film studio, I have to sign a relationship contract... with someone else. What we have is a bright spot in my life, but is it about to be extinguished?
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That you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I'm a sucker for celeb/normal person romance. Honestly, give me that Cinderella story any day of the week. So I'm a little biased towards liking it from the beginning, and you know where this review is headed lol.

James and Kat were such a cute couple, and I enjoyed their story a lot! I do wish that they had just TALKED about some things, and James was genuinely an idiot about other things, but I appreciated the mature take they had to resolve their relationship at the end.

I liked this a lot and look forward to the rest of the series!

Thank you to Flower & Bear Books and NetGalley for the ARC of Starstruck in exchange for an honest and independent review.

Holy cats! Standing ovation for Ivy Dawes and her work on Starstuck, especially considering this is her debut novel. Any other day of the week, I have less than zero interest in the typical Hollywood Cinderella trope, but this one blows my original opinion out of the water. This book honestly has it all. Engaging (and believable) plotline: check. Witty banter and interesting (deep) characters/issues: check. Spice: check, check. Swoon factor: check. Hand on bible, I loved every bit of this book, and I am honestly so excited that it will apart of a series that highlights each of the Everett siblings in their own wonderful light. Lets start here with book one, which contains the love story of Kat and James.

Kat is simultaneously dumped by her talent agent and long time shitty boyfriend (little does she know this is the biggest blessing she could have asked for). In hopes of building her self esteem back up, her best friend, Rose, gets her a PA job on the next Oscar projected film under Starlight Studios. The downside of this is that she's assigned to an absolute jerk of a lead actor on the film who makes her life living hell. The upside of this gig is that she meets an intriguing "background actor" on set that gives her butterflies in all the right places, even though he's always made up in gruesome facial prosthetics who goes by Alex. What Kat doesn't realize, thanks to all the blood and gore that is always present on his face on set, is that Alex is in fact not a background actor, but rather a heartthrob leading actor named James Everett, son of the infamously evil Deacon Everett, owner of Starlight Studios.

Once Kat learns of Alex's true identity, she absolutely cannot fathom why someone like him would be interested in someone like her for even a second, especially considering James's father is shoving a fake romance contract down his throat with the leading lady, Ava, in order to create a publicity stunt to promote the movie. James either agrees, or his father revokes any chance James has as taking a larger role in his fathers company. Is the risk worth the reward? Is it time for James to stand up to his father once and for all to create the future he wants, and not the one his father is forcing on him? And can Kat finally trust in herself that she is in fact enough and she's just not a means to an end to advance someone else's career or opinion of themselves?

This book touches on some tough subjects such as manipulative relationships, feeling unworthy or unloved, and learning to trust again and go for your dreams in spite of that nagging voice in your head that continuously tells you you'll never be good enough. What happens when you shut that voice off and go for your dreams? Your dream job, dream relationship, dream life...Kat and James are about to risk it all to determine if love is worth the risk.

RUN...do not walk to your nearest bookstore when this one drops May 21st. I promise you will love it and I will certainly be on the lookout for Ivy's next installment in this series, focused on James's younger brother Roman Everett. I have it on good authority that this one will be equally swoon worthy!

Cute story and perfect for something easy to read through! Although I did like the overall story, the chemistry between the two main characters did feel a little unauthentic and unnatural. I did not like that there were so many re-tellings about her past relationship.
Nevertheless - if you look for an easy book to read during vacation, this will be your perfect pick!

Such a cute, easy ready that I finished it in less than a day!

Kat & James' story begins on the set of Under Violet Skies, where Kat is working as a PA and James' is starring in the film.

Their romance blossoms and through turbulence (and a little heartbreak) they find their way back to each other.

This was a lovely debut novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Flower & Bear Books.

Starstruck is a story about soul mates more than anything. When struggling actor Kat Caplan hits rock bottom, she takes a job as a production assistant on the set of a new film produced at Starlight Studios. James Everett is the leading man and son of the head of Starlight Studios. His future at the studio hinges on the success of the film. When a chance meeting has the two crossing paths, sparks fly immediately.

I enjoyed the interactions between James and Kat. James is a genuinely good guy carrying around just a boat load of childhood emotional and mental trauma, trying to navigate a world that already isn't kind to outliers. Kat is an interesting character who has paralyzing self-doubt and anxiety, but together, they seem to find some peace. I appreciated the growth of both characters throughout. I can't wait to read Roman's story next!

wasn’t my favorite ever but i liked it! it was a cute fluffy romance and a really great debut for ivy dawes!

Dropped by my acting agent? Check. Dumped by my crappy ex boyfriend? Check.This was not what I envisioned when I moved to LA. So I’m starting at the bottom. Again. When I get a job as a PA on the set of an upcoming Starlight Studios movie, I am stuck catering to the whims of a has-been who treats me like dirt. It’s almost enough to make me reconsider this gig. That is until I meet a background actor who gives me butterflies and makes me feel like I’m alive again. But looks can be deceiving. Especially when he is buried under layers of facial prosthetics and fake blood. Turns out he’s not a background actor at all. He’s James Everett, the film’s leading star. He’s smart, funny, ridiculously handsome, and everything I want. Falling in love with a movie star? Check. But does that matter when the film studio is pushing him to enter a fake relationship with someone else?

This book has a LOT going on. I enjoyed the book, but really wish James had stood up to his father much sooner. Great epilogue! Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I would like to thank netgalley and Flower & Bear Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Average celebrity romance.