Thanks NetGalley for giving me access to this ALC. I’d never heard of Jason Felts before I saw two people recommended this book on Instagram, but apparently he’s been on the fringes of my pop culture interests for most of my life. This book provides insight into how Hollywood works as well as how much ambition and luck it takes to be successful there, which Felts clearly acknowledges. I’m glad I listened to it.

These days, it feels like everyone who "makes it" in Hollywood has some kind of advantage from the start—whether they're a nepo baby, their best friend's dad is a big-shot director, or they leveraged a massive social media following into a career. But Jason Felts? Nope. He came from a small town in Texas with nothing but determination, a work ethic that kicked in early, and a dream. What started with writing fan letters to actors (hoping for a signed headshot) turned into a relentless pursuit of success built on discipline and hustle. Sure, luck and timing played a role—it always does—but none of it would have mattered if Felts hadn't put in the work. And let me tell you, in an era where it feels like everyone's cutting corners or riding connections, his story is refreshing.

But what I really appreciated? Felts isn't here to sell a Hollywood fairy tale. We all grow up with a dream, and if we're lucky enough to achieve it, we're supposed to feel nothing but joy and fulfillment, right? Wrong. Sometimes, when we finally get what we wanted, we realize it's not at all what we expected—maybe it's messier, more frustrating, or just… not as magical as we'd hoped. And instead of staying trapped in something that no longer serves us just because we worked hard to get there, Felts reminds us: you can pivot. You can chase something new. You don't have to stay stuck in the dream if it's not what you want anymore.

His perspective on the Hollywood lifestyle is both optimistic and brutally honest—no sugarcoating, no self-pity, just the reality of what happens when ambition meets experience. And the best part? He narrates the audiobook himself, so you get his story straight from the source. If you want an entertaining, eye-opening, and refreshingly candid take on breaking into (and out of) the entertainment industry, "Hollywood Virgin" is absolutely worth a listen.

Thank you to NetGalley, RBMedia, and Ascent Audio for the advanced reader's copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I did not expect to be crying at the end of this book. I requested it and then promptly forgot what it was about, and am so glad I went into it almost blind.

Hollywood Virgin in Jason Felts’ memoir about his life dreaming about Hollywood and then making those dreams come true through sheer force of will and the power of a positive attitude. He was going to make it happen no matter what, and that spirit is both inspiring and a cautionary tale.

Felts is honest about what it took for him to get there, what he had to sacrifice, and the effect that being successful in a town like Hollywood has on a person’s psyche.

This was such an excellent memoir, and gave so much insight into an industry that in all honestly is often elusive and shrouded behind sound stages and red velvet ropes. Getting an all access view into the rise of a successful producer in Hollywood was so much fun and held my interest for the entire reading. My heart was full, my heart broke, and I cried with the author when tough decisions needed to be made.

There is a lot of name dropping in this book, oftentimes a necessity for the gravity of the situation and to properly convey the anecdote. If you didn’t know it by the forward of the book, Jason is lucky to call Richard Branson a friend and mentor, and has many people who were behind him throughout his career in entertainment.

The narration of Hollywood Virgin was well paced and enjoyable, but I do believe this book would be enjoyable in any format, printed or audio.

If you’re someone who is interested in Hollywood, and is willing to take a look at the sometimes dark underbelly of a shiny golden industry, this book is definitely for you.

I did not know who Jason Felts was before this book, but I found his story fascinating. He was raised in a small town in Texas and was interested in celebrities from a small age. He started writing fan clubs and some celebrities wrote back. Fast forward a few years, and he was a nanny for an agent that moved him to Calufornia. After working his way up, he was introduced to Justin Berfield, and they were able to create their own company, J2, that created such shows as Celebrity Cattle Ranch. Along the way, he was able make and remain friends with Ashlee Simpson among others. His biggest accomplishment was becoming CEO of Virgin Produced, which produced the film Limitless along others. I really enjoyed listening to this book and hearing his story.

I almost didn’t request an advanced copy of this book because I wasn’t sure I would be able to give an unbiased review. Unlike the reviewers before me I have definitely heard of Jason Felts because we went to high school together. We certainly weren’t close friends but we were acquaintances and I was friends with his friend Melissa in the later years of high school and for a couple of years after and I certainly know Doc Baker very well, because one of the great privileges of high school was using an elective to become a coach’s aid which consisted of doing almost absolutely nothing for a class period. I remember Jason calling me a couple of times and inviting me to a Rangers game and I declined because high school me was absolutely terrified of going on a date with a boy. Looking back, joke’s on me because I probably missed an opportunity to be friends with someone really cool and obviously he wasn’t asking me on a date. 😂

That being said curiosity got the best of me and I requested the book anyway, so here we are.

Obviously, I connected very well with the beginning of this book in which I could envision perfectly everything and everyone that he was talking about. Jason‘s family sounds amazing and I loved reading about them.

Once he left for California, I was able to put any personal connection aside and truly just read this book for what it is, a detailed but really entertaining account of how he built an enormous career seemingly just by wanting it and working for it no matter what. What I loved learning about him and watching unfold was how he has lived his life with fear in his rearview mirror. He almost made it sound easy, although of course it was not. Lots of work and perseverance went into creating the Jason Felts of today and I really can say that he is someone to admire.

Comparing his life experience to mine is a little bit of a gut punch because, like him, I grew up with big dreams as well. What I didn’t grow up with was a supportive and loving household, or connections to anything outside of that house. My life, although truly happy, is more of an example of letting fear lead you, something that I am now starting to work on at the young age of 47, and to know that he never had that obstacle and to see what he was able to accomplish because of that could easily make me jealous, but honestly makes me incredibly happy for him.

I am not one to read memoirs and actually don’t spend a lot of time with non-fiction of any sort, but I truly enjoyed this book.
I felt a strong message that we overcomplicate things sometimes by allowing ourselves to create obstacles that don’t actually even exist. Life really can be as simple as asking for the things you want and walking away from the things you don’t.

I currently have a cousin in the LGBTQ+ community who is living in LA and trying her best to get a foot in the door somewhere as an actress and reading about Jason’s experiences and dedication gives me hope for her that she can achieve what she wants to achieve, and this book WILL be showing up on her doorstep this week. But even if you aren’t someone interested in the Hollywood life or someone who has heard of Jason Felts at all, this was a great read, and I can easily recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the advanced audio book.

Jason Felts takes his reader on a ride from living in the suburbs of Dallas to nannying in San Diego to making the leap into producing in Hollywood. Felts' voice is easy and funny; he tells interesting enough stories to keep listening, though there wasn't anything that stood out in particular, amongst the other "making it in Hollywood" memoirs that are out there.

This was a 3.5 rounded up to 4 for me.

I didn't know a thing about Jason when I started the book, and I am glad I listened to it. He is an incredibly likable guy, which I don't think is a sentence said about business men or people in Hollywood too often, Jason somehow manages to come across as incredibly sweet and incredibly naive all at the same time.

As a boy growing up in Texas he was always fascinated with pop culture and Hollywood and decided as a teenager he wanted to work in Hollywood in some form. He started calling fan clubs and actors managers and actually found success in getting through to people. Those connections eventually paid off when he moved out to California working as a nanny while continuing to work on his dream until he managed to make it all come work. He eventually founded a production company with a friend which was successful before going into business and becoming dear friends with THE Richard Branson. Honestly, it's pretty crazy how he managed to succeed to such an extent by simply persevering.

The book focuses mainly on the business side of Hollywood and the ups and downs of his production company, but that doesn't mean names you recognize won't be dropped like The Simpsons, Halle Berry, Lizzo etc...

Jason doesn't dive into his personal life very often (either his dating life or his mom/dad/brothers) which is a bit of a shame because the few times his family appear they seem like absolute gems. I loved the bits we did get to hear about them. Sometimes the dating part was a bit jarring because in the same chapter you'd go from breaking up with someone to having a new significant other for a couple years and it just made me feel like I was missing a lot. I realize the focus of the book was never meant to be his personal life; but little bits and jumps like that would throw me off.

He is very open and honest about mistakes he made and the problems he ran into, which was refreshing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to RBM Media for the ARC.

I went into this book like a blind date: I had no idea who Jason Felts was, but I was ready for a good time. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. If you love memoirs with a mix of Hollywood glitz, behind-the-scenes drama, and life lessons wrapped in humor and heart, this one’s for you.

Jason’s journey from small-town Texas dreamer to Hollywood power player is packed with jaw-dropping moments, cameos from celebrities like the Simpsons and Kardashians, and just the right amount of “trust no one” wisdom. He spills the tea on the entertainment industry's dark side while also shining a light on the good, the real, and the surprisingly human side of fame.

By the end, I felt like Jason and I could be friends if only so he could tell me even more wild Hollywood stories over a glass of wine. This book is a reminder to dream big, work hard, and always have the best lawyer in the room. Highly recommend!

As someone whose entire professional career has been in entertainment, I can’t get enough of these kinds of memoirs. I hadn’t heard of Jason Felts before this book, but of course I knew of many projects and companies he’s been attached to.

This book tells the story of Jason’s rise from childhood to Hollywood CEO. His path was far from linear, but I really enjoyed hearing how every step, no matter how unrelated, led to where he is now. He obviously lucked out with some connections while others tried hard to destroy his dream. His story was hopeful and humble making it easy to root for him through it all.
At times, I wished he would dive deeper into stories, but I also respect his decision to maintain some privacy for those involved.

The audiobook narrator was well chosen. I usually prefer memoirs be read by the author because they feel more authentic and connected to the story, but I didn’t feel like any of that is lost in this case. Santana was a great pick!

I also have to say, it was a relief to hear some people he met along the way are exactly as I’d hope they would be!

Thanks to #NetGally and Ascent Audio for the advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: Hollywood Virgin by Jason Felts ★★★ ★

This is an interesting and candid look at what it takes to break into Hollywood and navigate its challenges while staying true to one’s values. I wasn’t familiar with Jason Felts before, but I found his depiction of his work thoroughly entertaining.

Felts takes us through his journey, from his Texas upbringing to his relentless pursuit of a career in entertainment. He shares how his early experiences—like working as a student trainer for his high school football team—helped him develop resilience and confidence. His ability to take risks, seize opportunities, and build connections clearly played a crucial role in his success. Having a supportive family and formative jobs like telemarketing also contributed to his tenacity.

But Hollywood isn’t all smooth sailing, and Felts doesn’t shy away from discussing the setbacks and missteps along the way. His reflections on bad business decisions and learning from mistakes add an insightful layer to the book. The audiobook is well-narrated, read by André Santana, and Felts comes across as sincere, ambitious, and appreciative of those who helped him along the way.

A solid listen for anyone curious about the entertainment industry, though it sometimes skims the surface rather than delving into deeper industry complexities. Thanks to the author, publisher, Ascent Audio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #HollywoodVirgin for review purposes. Publication date: 4 March 2025.

Quite an interesting book about working in Hollywood and trying to stay true to your beliefs. I had not heard of Jason Felts before, but am familiar with some of the work he and his business partner produced, especially the movie Limitless.
Jason details his upbringing in Texas and his coping skills. He was never going to play football, but he became the equipment manager then a student trainer for the team, earning him respect (and likely a form of protection). But he dreamed of going to Hollywood and becoming a producer. This is the story of him pursuing that dream and what happened once he did.
It certainly helped that he had the confidence to ask for what he wanted, to pursue people and jobs relentlessly, to not be afraid to pick up the phone or knock on a door, to say yes when an opportunity is presented. This comes, of course, from having a solid and loving family behind him as well as cutting his teeth on jobs like telemarketing.
Yet along the way he ran into obstacles. This, too, was instructive: That even experienced executives can be snowed and fooled into making poor business decisions. The audiobook is well narrated, and Mr. Felts comes across as very earnest and likeable, humbled by his failings and grateful to those who gave him a chance to rise.
My thanks to the author, publisher, Ascent Audio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #HollywoodVirgin for review purposes. Publication date: 4 March 2025.

Just a note that the only reason why I am giving this 3 stars out of 5 is because of the audio quality issue which I don’t know if it is due to being a pre release audiobook. Overall it’s jammed packed with history, backstory, motivational and gives you insight of the business trade. Very happy and pleased with this opportunity.