What a cute and fun debut! I absolutely loved the premise—an author using her real-life celebrity crush as inspiration for her novel, only for it to manifest in reality. Such a fun setup with so many great moments! One thing I especially enjoyed was that both Emmy and Jason were single parents, but in completely different phases of their parenting journeys. Their experiences gave them unique perspectives while also allowing them to connect on a deeper level. And Emmy’s relationship with her daughter was such a highlight. Since she’s older, she’s not just along for the ride—she’s actively invested in her mom’s happiness, which added so much charm and humor to the story. The pop culture references and humor were another standout, especially with how the book playfully pokes fun at the Hollywood scene. From industry quirks to the chaos of celebrity PR, it struck the perfect balance between lighthearted fun and heartfelt moments.

Andrew Eiden and Stephanie Willing did a fantastic job narrating, bringing Emmy and Jason to life in such a vivid way. Their performances really enhanced the experience and made the characters feel even more real. The audiobook was especially fun with its blend of podcast and TV interview segments, which added a unique layer to the story and made it feel even more immersive.

REVIEW✨
Celebrity Crush
By Christy Swift

This one fell a little flat, I loved the idea behind it but I didn’t find it well executed. I didn’t enjoy either of the main characters, nor was it realistic. I loved that both the main characters were single parents, and trying to find love again. But kinda everything else of the plot didn’t work for me, I didn’t feel any connection to the characters and felt like if the main characters did a little more communicating there would’ve be any issues.

I did really love the voices via the auto book,
Plot points: 💥💥💥
Spice Level:🔥
Romance level: ❤️❤️
Stars: ⭐️⭐️

Thanks so much to Readforever and Nergalley for the free book in exchange for an honest review.

I think I was in the mood to really enjoy this story. Plus the author is clearly embracing her nerdy side and she won me over by mentioning the amazingness of Firefly. So, let's be honest I guess I'm an easy mark you just need to talk nerdy pop culture to me. In fact, our FMC identifies as a Red Shirt and quotes "older" Sci-Fi Movies like Alien without anyone knowing the lines....first I'm offended that this is old because that means I'm old. So, other than all that goodness we have a rom-com with two POVs and many "cut scenes" with podcasters or interviews. The first character is Emmy, the author, who just published her romcom and buzzes it by teasing online who her celebrity crush is and that was the inspiration for her novel. This gets her brought on a talk show during the press tour and she's surprised by all the guys in her poll and she does the big reveal. The second POV is Jason, the actor, whose life is a complete mess and whose job is on the line if he winds up in one more scandal. These two start an unlikely friendship while Emmy tries to help Jason improve his image. They create a bunch of content to make him appear more wholesome, of course, we know where this will lead. On top of all of this, both characters have children and both have secrets.
I found the story to be fun, sarcastic, and charming, I found myself giggling at the jokes and witticisms. The characters are down to earth, both relatable and unrelatable can't explain that but that is where we are here. The voice actors were ok there were bits of both I didn't like the first was when the female did the Podcasters those voices and laughs I just felt like this was torturous. Then for our male, though he a good, he made the character sound a bit airheaded or macho bro. He was a singer/dancer/actor I don't know, it just wasn't what I pictured. With all of that being said, it was a fun romcom and it almost seems like it's setting itself up for a series, which I'd totally be down for. Oh plus this story has baby mama drama and it's a closed-door romance.

Freaking fantastic.

I loved this book so much! It's truly the epitome of a romcom and was the most fun to read/listen to -- I had the book & audio so I did both. The narrators, Andrew Eiden and Stephanie Willing, really do our MCs justice and I found it so easy to listen to them for hours at time without even realizing it. They truly brought the characters to life -- and the snippets of podcasts, vlogs, shows, etc. were AMAZING. I still hear the giggles from Isla and Amil when I think of the book! Very over the top, but very fitting. The pacing is perfect and they really pull off both the humorous scenes and the tender, heart wrenching ones. 10/10 recommend the audio if you enjoy that format!

Now onto the book itself. Christy Swift mastered the will they won't they, celebrity x fan romantic comedy! I love that this is a romance book about a romance book that's being turned into a film, and I think it's only right that this book also be turned into a movie so that we can really appreciate it (: The banter is a lot of fun, even when they aren't on the best of terms, their barbs still hit, making it a super quick read/listen. Both Emmy and Jason are single parents, bringing a bit more vulnerability to their characters and definitely some potential barriers to any ideas for an easy romance or fling. Their kids are a big part of their story and are woven in perfectly with just enough presence for the reader to feel like they know them and care for them and to show how each character is as a parent without preventing more serious adult only scenes that build the romance. And the side characters! I love Emmy's best friend and Jason's castmates. They all had so much personality and were really there to support the MCs. The ending has me hopeful for a book two about two certain side characters...

It's a really cute book for fans or pop culture, celebrity romance, reformed bad boys, and a bit of Hollywood drama. I highly recommend Celebrity Crush to all the romcom readers out there and anyone who's looking for a good quick read to end the month on a high note! Or if you're looking for a good book to delude you into thinking you too can find the love of your life in your celebrity crush😝

Thank you Forever & Hachette Audio for arc and alc via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The perfect RomCom story! The perfect amount of love, humor, spice and dramatics. I really feel like this could be a great movie from the 2000's. We all had those curshes as kids that we wish we could have met and dated growing up. Loved the narrators and the story line. I loved that both characters were a little older with children as well because representation matters. Emmy situation was a littel taboo (having a child young) but I love how this was handled in the book. I absolutely loved the banter between the Emmy and Jason! Chef's kiss.

I really liked the overall concept of the celebrity fake dating/implied dating! If you’re someone who enjoys pop culture references this book is full to the brim with them!
I thought the narrators did a really nice job and they really helped bring the story to life! Overall this was a quick and easy read!


Tropes:
~celebrity x writer
~single parent
~closed door
~fake dating

Thank you Forever for an arc of the book and audiobook!

Publication: February 11th, 2025


Celebrity Crush is a charming, feel-good romance that blends Hollywood glamour with heartfelt connection. Andrew Eiden and Stephanie Willing’s dual narration adds depth, making the characters feel authentic and their chemistry shine. Christy Swift’s writing balances humor, tension, and romance beautifully, creating an engaging listen from start to finish. Perfect for fans of celebrity romances!


Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Unfortunately this book just wasnt for me. I wasn’t a fan of our main character Emmy. She has just written a book about her celebrity crush without naming names. I didn’t like how much she used Jason’s status for her own benefit. Overall this one was just okay. I did enjoy the audiobook and it made the reading experience go by faster.

“When I’m with you, I can just be happy. You make me feel like someone who deserves to be happy.” 🧡

Unfortunately, I was not crushing on CELEBRITY CRUSH by Christy Swift. This is marketed as a celebrity romance with fake dating - but…it wasn’t? While yes, our FMC is an upcoming author and our MMC is a famous movie/TV star - they spend most of the book resisting fake dating, so we are really left with…implied dating? Unsure what to call it.

What you do get is a single mom/single dad romance with older main characters - but you also get a bit insta-love and slightly stalkerish vibes from our FMC? It was just awkward and one-sided for so long, that the romance felt forced and a bit contrived? And I simply was not rooting for it.

I typically LOVE celebrity romance - and I wanted to love this book; however, I ultimately did not love either character, the romance itself, or the overall “save their reputation” plot.

I also had an opportunity to listen to the audiobook - and I did enjoy the narrators; it has two for the dual POV and they both do an excellent job at bringing the characters to life - particularly when the two are at each other’s throats.

This book had a lot of potential, and I was really excited about it. Sadly, it didn’t live up to the potential. This books is a freaking matryoshka doll or dramatic contrivances. Every time you think, "Surely there won't be another layer of drama," out come the drama llamas. It got to be a bit much by the end, honestly. I had to keep pausing. If that's your thing in a romcom you will love this. It is not my thing.

In addition to all the drama, it was a little hard to root for the characters the whole time; both had a lot of really unsympathetic moments. Emmy's shitty self justifications for becoming everything she hates when she posts those selfies of her and Jason are not a defence. Jason honestly deserves better than Emmy gives him through most of the book. Emmy does not come off as a great role model, and she knows it. She's leagues better than Jason's ex, but that's a really low bar.

He acknowledges he's been no saint, but he's actively trying to fix things and be and do better because he wants to be worthy for his son and for Emmy, and he also wants to keep the job he loves doing. He knows that starting something with Emmy is a HUGE risk for him, but he takes it. Now, to be fair, I was probably predestined to root for Jason because he's narrated by my favourite narrator - which I did not know when I requested the book. I did not previously know that Teddy Hamilton is a stage name, and he goes by his legal name sometimes, too, like in this case.

Lotta awkward and cringy moments in this book, and the pacing feels weird. The first 75% seems stretched out, and the last 25% happens way too fast and ends up feeling rushed, especially that giant twist with both of their exes. That was one of those overly dramatic contrivances I mentioned, and it ended a little too cleanly and quickly to really be believable. It was a book.

Emmy Ellison is on her way to be a best selling author. When her book is optioned for a movie, she's elated that Jason Connor, her real life celebrity crush and the basis for the male main character in her book, is hired for the movie. PR really wants to hype things up, getting Emmy and Jason to play into a relationship. It's all fake for the public, but neither one expected it for real in private. Emmy did her research on Jason for her book character. She knew just about everything there was to know, even the most obscure. As she gets to know Jason, she realizes that some of his public persona is greatly sensationalized. When those parts of the book come to light, it might just crush the budding relationship.

I alternated between reading and listening to this story. Stephanie Willing and Andrew Eiden brought this story to life. If not for the option to listen and get to know the characters through the narrators' voices, I may have given up early on. Great narrators capture the true personality of the characters and hook me right into the story.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

This had so much promise.

An influencer turned romance author publishes a book about her celebrity crush. Celebrity crush is revealed on a talk show. They have an intense hug. I had a hard time understanding the show this guy was popular for, it was like dancing related? And is known for a whole bunch of memes?

And the girl was a social media yoga influencer who spends quality time with her 12 year old daughter making tiktoks and doing tiktok dances. It’s rough.

Her rom com novel so being made into a movie that ends up being a musical with Duran Duran music. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This book will be outdated in like a year with all the pop culture references. A few is fine. This was overloaded.

Some weird things. When her and the guy hook up for the first time, the girl comes out in like a t shirt and underwear and the dude makes her a smoothie and his like 4 year old is just sitting there in the living room watching cartoons. Yikes.

The story of the FMC’s daughter’s dad is weird. The way it was told was that she was in college and approached him to review her script and he was all “let’s look at it in my hotel room” and she goes, and like, it felt like it was implied that he took advantage of her and she got pregnant and then he told her her script was not good and she would never make it in this business.

But then later when she sees the guy near the end of the book and it was like they were just sort of civil and she was not at all traumatized or anything and she’s like “this is your daughter” like…what? So maybe I misunderstood the way it was told but…?

I don’t know, the narrators of the audiobook did the best they could with what they had. The premise sounded fun but the story and the characters fell flat. Also, there is zero fake dating, not sure why that’s in the summary.

Thank you @netgalley and @hachetteaudio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Cute insta-love closed door romance. It was a fun read and I enjoyed the banter. I really liked the narrators too.

3.5 round to 4 stars

3.5 stars. i enjoyed the premise and what a great debut but it was a bit too insta-lovey for me. i liked that it was a closed door with great banter. i was able to go back and forth between audio and e-arc. i did enjoy the audio more because i liked the narration.

Celebrity Crush was such a fun audiobook!

I loved the concept of a celebrity crush turned real life love interest; making the reader have all the feels like they are right there with Emmy (the FMC). I could feel her butterflies and excitement when connecting with her Jason (the celebrity MMC). The banter between the two was superb and the drama that ensued because of circumstances were perfectly plotted and fun to be taken along for the ride. Additionally, the interviews, blogs and podcast elements scattered throughout made the story lighter and provided the perfect celebrity buzz world we know.

Andrew Eiden and Stephanie Willing did a great job with their narration and character differentiation. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook for an entertaining audio.

Thank you Hachette Audio for the alc. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you so much to Hachette Audio for the complimentary ALC!

This book is out now!

Ugh. I wanted to love this SO badly! On paper this is exactly the kind of book that I love but for some reason it just wasn't clicking for me the way I thought it would. And I thought pairing it with the audio which is narrated by Andrew Eiden and Stephanie Willing would help but it only help with making sure that I finished the book.

"Hollywood isn't really a place, after all. It's a universe. A universe I desperately want to belong to."

And maybe I missed it but it just seemed like one minute Emmy is put in the hot seat to admit who her celebrity crush is and next minute Jason was the crush and boom they are dating? I know Emmy was helping him with his social media image but it just didn't feel real? I was hoping for more of a built up? More flirting? Something to make me feel connected to the characters.

As I mentioned I paired my reading with the audio and sadly even with Andrew Eiden (Teddy Hamilton) doing the MMC's POV it did not help much. He made it at least somewhat enjoyable. I am unfamiliar with Stephanie Willing prior work but I would listen to her again. They truly saved me. I feel like I am making this sound like a really bad book. It's not. I wanted so bad for things to click for me but it just hadn't.

I would read this author again as this was a debut so it could possible be that first book jitters.

I recommend this if you like books with social media influencers and Hollywood!

3.25

Oh, how I love this book! The characters are so vivid and personable—they feel like old friends. It’s delightful, funny, and filled with so much heart. From the very beginning, I could see why he was her celebrity crush, and I loved watching him become so much more than that.

Both main characters are ambitious, talented, and wonderfully complicated, making their journey even more compelling. I especially enjoyed seeing them navigate their careers, friendships, and family dynamics, all while sharing their undeniable chemistry.

I would love to see more of this world and take a deeper look into the lives of other characters. Sign me up for any and all future work by Christy Swift!

3.5/5 star rating

Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift was a good debut novel. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators Teddy Hamilton and Stephanie Willing were swoony and made the story! There were some funny moments throughout the story.

Read this if you enjoy:
-Celebrity romance
-Author FMC/actor MMC
-Single mom
-Single dad
-Insta-love
-Miscommunication
-Social media influencing
-Hollywood setting

⭐️⭐️

The cover is great
The narrator is great
The story is not

I really wanted to love this, but this story gave me no feels, I didn't like either of the characters, and I didn't believe the attraction between them.

I will not be leaving a public review for this book.

Honestly, I had a hard time getting into the audiobook and felt like my mind was constantly drifting while I was listening to it (I only got a few chapters in via audiobook). However, I did pick this book up once it was published just to give it a fair review since I mainly read books instead of listening to audiobooks. I was definitely more engaged after switching to a physical copy and enjoyed the book as a whole. The main characters (Emmy + Jason) have great banter and Hollywood celebrity romances is a trope I’ve always been into! It was a fun, light hearted novel!

There were points where it felt like Emmy was clearly using Jason to further her book sales rather than fostering a genuine connection which bothered me a little. I think both of the main characters + their relationship development felt rather rushed (i.e. insta lust) and could have been more fully fleshed out because the conflict felt a bit shallow in my opinion.

The biggest thing that kept putting me off was how often modern things such as pop culture and social media were mentioned. It definitely made sense in context of this book, but it’s something *I* personally don’t enjoy. I use reading as a form of escapism and these elements just brought me back to reality and took away from the flow. I would have definitely liked less of these references.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.