Review on Catch a Falling Star

I'm going to describe a fantasy I'm sure all you females have had before. And no, it isn't inappropriate. You're from a small town and nothing exciting ever happens there. But then a famous movie star comes to town because his movie is being filmed there. And this guy is hot and talented, but you don't think he'd ever be interested in you, a small-town girl. But then he does and you become the girlfriend of a famous star! Sound familiar?
I read... Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson



Format: Hardcover/ e-book
Pub. Date: April 29th, 2014
Summary:
A deliciously charming novel about finding true love . . . and yourself.

Nothing ever happens in Little, CA. Which is just the way Carter Moon likes it. But when Hollywood arrives to film a movie starring former child star turned PR mess Adam Jakes, everything changes. Carter's town becomes a giant glittery set and, much to her annoyance, everyone is starry-eyed for Adam. Carter seems to be the only girl not falling all over herself to get a glimpse of him. Which apparently makes her perfect for the secret offer of a lifetime: playing the role of Adam's girlfriend while he's in town, to improve his public image, in exchange for a hefty paycheck. Her family really needs the money and so Carters agrees. But it turns out Adam isn't at all who she thought he was. As they grow closer, their relationship walks a blurry line between what's real and what's fake, and Carter must open her eyes to the scariest of unexplored worlds - her future. Can Carter figure out what she wants out of life AND get the guy? Or are there no Hollywood endings in real life?
My rating: 5 out of 5 movie stars!
My recommendation: Anyone who likes cute, contemporary books.
My review:
My copy was provided by Netgalley.
Carter is from a small-town and she's perfectly happy with it. She doesn't want to escape from town and discover something new. She's satisfied with working at her dad's restaurant. That is, until Adam Jakes come to town to act in a movie being filmed in Carter's town. All the other girls and even the older ladies are all falling for Adam and want him to notice them. But Carter could care less about Adam and his fame that she wants no part in. She just wants to make money and ignore Hollywood that came to town.
But then Carter is offered the deal of her lifetime. In exchange for being Adam's girlfriend to help improve his image, she and her family will receive a rather large paycheck. Even if the deal is everything Carter disapproves of, she agrees because she needs the money. Adam, however, is not at all what she expected and when Carter begins to fall for him, she doesn't know if her feelings are real or fake.
This is the perfect summer read to read on the beach or when you just want a little romance. It was so cute and it was also deep. The book kept my attention the whole time and I absolutely loved the characters.
This book starts off sounding a bit cliché, but it actually focuses on some real problems that people face everyday. Carter carries the world on her shoulders as she gave up a dance scholarship to help her family's diner. Her brother has a dangerous gambling addiction that gets Carter in a load of trouble she totally shouldn't have had to face. Carter had to give up so much for her family and I really liked her bravery and the way she thought things through.
Now Adam could have become a cliché as when I first started reading this book, I thought Adam would be this movie star who is actually "normal" and "down-to-earth" which most books like this typically portray the movie star as. But Adam isn't like that. He knows he's different, he knows he lives a charmed life and while he is ashamed of how spoiled he is, he also can't imagine his life without the fame.
I absolutely loved Carter and her attitude. She wasn't obsessed with movie stars and popularity, but she also succumbed to the glitz herself at some points in time. Carter didn't get caught up in the fame and forget who she really was. She was so sure of herself the whole time and didn't let Adam's fame sway her in any way. She was so selfless and good that I hope some of that rubs off on Adam.
The secondary characters weren't bland with no personalities. I enjoyed them, especially Alien Drake, and I loved how Culbertson brought all the characters to life with their own unique personalities.
I loved this book and I can't wait to read more from Culbertson.