This was a lighthearted, Hollywood actor x romance author debut romcom that made me laugh and delivered an emotional punch to boot. Single mom turned author, Emmy Ellison never expected to get to meet her celebrity crush IRL but when fans uncover he's the one she based her book's hero on, the PR team takes advantage, flying her out to LA to meet him and help promote her book. What follows is a whirlwind weekend together that blows up in her face. Can they salvage both their images and find true love in the end? Good on audio, this fade to black romance was cute and fun, the perfect snack for a February romance. Looking forward to seeing what Christy Swift writes next. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I loved the premise and I found myself rooting for them to get together the whole time. You knew what the third act breakup was going to be through the hints but I loved how they came back together.

Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift was a cute, fairly lighthearted celebrity romance. Emmy Ellison is a romance author whose debut novel was inspired by her celebrity crush—and the world wants to know which heartthrob was her inspiration. When she finally meets him in person, in front of a live studio audience, no less, her crush kicks up a notch. He’s a walking PR nightmare—but he’s trying to turn over a new leaf and clean up his act. So Emmy decides to help him out with some social media promotional posts. He will come across as relatable and her book gets even more exposure. But will this crush turn into something more lasting?

Read this if you love single parent romances, celebrity romances, and romances that involve authors of romance books. There is some on page smooching, but it’s more fade-to-black than I expected. (Not a bad thing, just a thing.) The narrators Andrew Eiden and Stephanie Willing both delivered great performances. Andrew Eiden is one of my favorite narrators and can always be counted on to knock it out of the park.

Did I *love* it? Was I 100% invested in their relationship? No. There was a big secret she was keeping from him and I never like that particular micro-trope, and I don’t love jealous exes who are lying liars, but it was a cute enough read and I enjoyed listening to it. Thank you to Hachette Audio for my ALC.

Fun, witty and enjoyable. Loved the insta-love they had going on, moved the plot rather quickly. Had lots of cute moments with each of their kids and that creepy doll even in books that doll has the same creepy effect.

In theory, this book should work for me. It's a romance featuring a famous person and a non-famous person and one of the characters is an author. Unfortunately, I found this book to be deeply cringey and difficult to enjoy. Some part of that could have been due to the audiobook narrators. It is dual narration, which I appreciated, but I did not find that either narrator really fit the characters' voice. DNF at 25%

I really wanted to love this one, but it was a miss for me unfortunately.

The premise is great, and I generally LOVE a celebrity romance!
I enjoyed it at first, thought it was cute.

Ultimately I didn’t feel like I connected with either of the main characters - it lacked depth.
I found certain bits to be problematic as well.
The chapters that started with the podcast were super cringey, especially in audio.

🎧audiobook thoughts:
Stephanie Willing + Andrew Eiden (aka Teddy Hamilton) are both fantastic as Emmy & Jason, which is why I didn’t DNF this one.
I enjoyed their narration, and just kept hoping for the story to turn around.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Hachette Audio & NetGalley for advanced copies.
All opinions are my own.

This was a good, cute romance. Scheduled pub: Feb 11th.
Thank you to Forever & Hachette Audio!

Would recommend if you love:
-Celebrity romance (MMC is an actor)
-Single parent
-FMC is an author & influencer
-a liiiiittle bit of mixed media with the vlogs/ interviews/ etc.

The romance was cute in this. It felt very real as both of the main characters had their own 'issues' in their background. Emmy got a little dislikable in the middle of this when she felt like she was entitled just because she got shut down in the past and she thinks she works so hard. Idk, it felt weird. Honestly, neither one of them were super loveable for me but lots of readers will love these two.

Side note: the blurb mentions the fake dating trope. I didn't see any fake dating. The dude didn't want to try based on his image.

I enjoyed both narrators. The female narrator put a good amount of 'extra' into this like with the giggles of the two women that did the talk show. And I mean, Andrew Eiden-- we already all know he's amazing.

Emmy wanted to have a fabulous Hollywood career but she got pregnant and left LA before she had a chance to become a break into the industry as a writer. Now, mom to a teenager, Emmy writes a book using a fictitious version of her celebrity crush as the male lead character and it's a huge success and is going to be made into a movie - sending her back to LA. Once her crush is been exposed on live TV she schemes to have a fake relationship with him which also helps him since he has had some bad PR lately. Of course as in all romance novels - the fake relationship leads to complications.

This was a cute novel (a really fun audiobook) but it was a bit too far fetched for me to fully get into. The "chemistry" between them had no real build up so I couldn't buy into it. I enjoyed that the characters were slightly older and both had kids but that also added to my issue with their decision making. The narrator was my favorite part of the reading/listening experience for me and therefore I was absolutely entertained during the listen (might have done some laundry to continue to listen) but just didn't love the story in the end.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC to review

Thank you, NetGalley, for an ALC of Celebrity Crush in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 stars
Celebrity Crush is the story of Emmy, a romcom author and influencer who uses her platform to discuss the MMC of her own book, saying it was inspired by a real celebrity, Jason. Jason, on the other hand, is an author trying to stay above water since he is surrounded by drama and bad press and will embody the "celebrity crush" to help his career. Of course, they will develop feelings for each other.

Overall, the story is a fun and easy-to-read romcom. I enjoyed the fact that both main characters were flawed and they were trying to improve each other.
However, the star of the book for me is not the main characters but the two podcast hosts who comment on the situation from an audience point of view. Their insertions were super funny and the narration really shone there. I loved how Stephanie Willing interpreted them and for that alone I rounded up the rating of the book to 4 stars. I really couldn't get enough of them! Another honorary mention goes to Emmy's kid that was adorable.

3.5 rounded up

This was cute but a bit cringy. I really enjoyed the main storyline. Emmy and Jason’s social media campaign was super cute. They had a nice banter and good chemistry between them. But the fact that they moved so quickly in their relationship was a turn off for me. Especially when you add two kids into the mix.

The narration for the book was good. My only major complaint of this being an audiobook was hearing them say hashtag so many times vs reading #

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette audio for this ALC!

So much YES! for Celebrity Crush. There was so much to like about this light-ish hearted romance. I loved that the main character was not 22, but a tad older, nowhere near as old as me, but not just out of college. The main character has life experiences and has faced adversity. She seems to be in an uphill battle. I was cheering for Emmy ALL the way until the end. I also really enjoyed the complex feelings and Emmy's self-discovery.

Emmy Ellison has a celebrity crush. She transforms this crush into a romantic novel. When a bunch of male celebrities gather to figure out who is the celebrity crush, Emmy gets the surprise of a lifetime, meeting her celebrity crush. Her only request is that she gets to hug him. And, boy does she hug him!

This was so cute! I really enjoyed it! I wish it was longer, Ha!

I listened to the audio version, which was narrated by Andrew Eiden and Stephanie Willing and they were AMAZING!! Bravo!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advance listen in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Kudos to the author Christy Swift. This was such a cute book!

3⭐️ !!

Emmy Ellison, single mom & author wrote a romance book about a romance with her celebrity crush! She went viral on social media & finds herself on a talk show talking about her new book & ends up meeting her celebrity crush & known bad boy, Jason.

Some things I loved:
- Single Mom
- Jason’s effort with his son
- Jason & Emmy’s friends / the quirky cast of characters
- Social Media, virality, hollywood culture felt very current & like it was breaking the fourth wall many times
- The twist at the ending & how everyone tied together! Crazy!!

Some things I didn’t love as much:
- felt a little insta-lust
- I didn’t love Jason as the MMC, just fell flat for me & seemed confused why Emmy would be obsessed with him after his past
- third act break up

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the early listening copy!

I wanted to love Celebrity Crush, especially because Forever publishing has fantastic debuts coming out beginning of 2025. However; I found the characters to be immature and was not enjoying the dialogue in the first 10 percent of the book. Unfortunately, this book was not for me but it may be for those who enjoy cheesy celebrity romances. I will give Swift another try with her next novel! The narrator combination of Stephanie Willing and Andrew Eiden however; brought passion and love to the story in a way that I would definitely listen to this combination once more.

Just like its title, Celebrity Crush is a bright, bubbly and buzzy rom com.

Emmy’s journey from wannabe to famous author to meeting her Hollywood crush is fun and entertaining. I found Emmy and Jason quite abrasive at first, and there were some really painful plot points but this did add credibility to Emmy and Jason’s eventual conflict. It also left plenty of space for redemption and a satisfying HEA!

The audiobook really made it for me with this read. The narrators did a wonderful job of dramatising the emotional experiences of Emmy and Jason, making them feel surprisingly relatable (eventually). Their rendition of influencers and media personalities were grating and a great satirical contrast to the main storyline.

Thank you Hachette Audio for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

This was a fun listen! I wanted more of the dual narration in the conversations. The couple places it was utilized we're great, and I know I'm not alone in wanting that more overall in audiobooks.

Story was good and fun.

After romance author Emmy Ellison meets her celebrity crush (and the inspiration for her novel) Jason Connor, she can’t believe her good fortune. With Emmy’s popularity on the rise, Jason agrees to star in the move version of her book but what happens when a harmless celebrity crush turns into something more?

First and foremost, I would like to note that I probably would have DNF’d this one had it not been for the audiobook. The quality of the narrations were great and both Stephanie Willing and Andrew Eiden captured Emmy and Jason very well. I have listened to Andrew’s narrations before so I went in excited to hear his take on Jason. As always, it was a pleasure to hear him bring another romance MMC to life. Stephanie was bubbly and brought out Emmy’s easy, chatty nature. Despite the fact that I avidly disliked Emmy and Jason as characters, Stephanie and Andrew made them feel less one dimensional with their vocal choices.

The book’s pacing is quick which lends well to an audio format. I am bumping up my star review because of this, as the audio kept me engaged even when I was not connecting to the story as a whole.

Thank you Hachette Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Dual narrated by Andrew Eiden & Stephanie Willing, this novel follows Emmy, who is pursuing her dream of being a NYT bestselling author. She wrote a book, #CelebrityCrush about her OWN crush, and she announces who it is on a talk show, where he happens to be a guest! As their relationship unfolds, they both have opposing PR ideas, which neither really knows. We definitely have some tension that will leave you screaming at both Emmy and her crush, a TV star. Excellent read with the BEST ending! The narrating really made this book SO enjoyable and unputdownable, I listened to this in a day!!

Ellie is a vlogger who just released here first book called Hashtag Celebrity Crush. During the publicity for the book, speculation about who the book is about goes viral. Ellie gets to meet her "celebrity crush" and sparks fly.

I really enjoyed this book. It deals a lot with social media, influencer culture and the way we react to pop culture. The romance itself was wonderful.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the advanced listener copy. The audiobook was narrated by two amazing narrators Andrew Eiden and Stephanie Willing, they kept me listening and engaged.

I highly recommend this book, it's a perfect book for Valentine's Day. 4.5 stars

Emmy Ellison is living every author’s dream: her book Hashtag, CelebrityCrush goes viral, lands a movie deal, and the actual Hollywood heartthrob who inspired her fictional hero—Jason Harlow—signs on to play the lead. Cue fancy parties, skyrocketing book sales, and the ultimate PR opportunity: a fake dating scheme... that Jason might not know the details of. When real feelings get tangled up in the scripted romance, Emmy and Jason must navigate fame, social media scrutiny, and their own pasts to figure out what’s genuine—and what’s just another Hollywood illusion.

From the first Star Trek reference, I knew I was in for a treat. If you’ve ever been obsessed with a sci-fi series and the leading actors who bring those characters to life (cough David Tennant's hair cough), then this book is for you. And even if sci-fi isn’t your thing, don’t worry—the references are balanced enough that non-nerds will still absolutely love it. Also, can we talk about Lost Star Dance Troupe Saves the Universe? I need this to be a real show immediately. Imagine Firefly but with a ridiculously attractive cast and dance numbers? Get a producer on the line STAT!

What truly makes Celebrity Crush shine is its characters. Emmy isn’t just a starstruck writer: she’s a single mom fighting for the life she and her daughter deserve. Jason is a devoted dad navigating Hollywood’s relentless PR machine while trying to stay true to himself. Their chemistry is electric, but what makes their love story so compelling is how real it feels—two people searching for something authentic in a world built on illusion.

Swift’s storytelling is sharp, funny, and full of surprises. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, she threw in a twist that left me grinning. The mise en abyme (or, let’s call it Celebrity-Crush-Ception)—where Emmy’s book about a celebrity crush turns into a movie starring her actual celebrity crush—is so cleverly done. My only minor critique? The leaked photo scandal wraps up a little too quickly, but that’s a tiny nitpick in an otherwise fantastic read.

Bonus points for the audiobook: The dual narration is chef’s kiss perfection, with hilarious celebrity news snippets that bring Hollywood’s over-the-top antics to life.

If you love fake dating, Hollywood romance, and slow-burn chemistry that sizzles, this book is for you. And if it’s a little wish-fulfill-y? So what! That’s exactly what I needed. Highly recommend!

I wanted to like this one because I typically love celebrity romance, but this one just missed the mark for me. I couldn't connect with the characters. The narrators did a fantastic job with the material.