Review: Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Title: Between You and Me
Author: Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Publisher: Atria Books(June 12, 2012)

Source: Received from publisher

Summary from Goodreads:
From the authors of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Nanny Diaries comes a new novel that takes readers behind the scenes of stratospheric celebrity—what it means to be worshipped by millions and still feel loved by none.

Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have proven again and again that they are masters at exploring the nuances of family relationships—as they intersect with the current trends in the culture at large.

In Between You and Me, twenty-seven-year-old Logan Wade has built a life for herself in New York City, far from her unhappy childhood in Oklahoma. But when she gets the call that her famous cousin needs a new assistant, it’s an offer she can’t refuse. Logan hasn’t seen Kelsey since they were separated as kids; in the meantime, Kelsey Wade has become one of Fortune Magazine’s most powerful celebrities and carrion for the paparazzi. But the joy at their reunion is overshadowed by the toxic dynamic between Kelsey and her controlling parents. As Kelsey grasps desperately at a “real” life, Logan risks everything to try and give her cousin the one thing she has never known—happiness. As Kelsey unravels in the most horribly public way Logan finds that she will ultimately have to choose between saving her cousin and saving herself.

Review:
I think all of us at some point or another imagine what it would be like to be famous. We picture the fancy clothes, shiny cars and big houses. What we often forget is the price celebrities pay to be famous - family, friends, love and happiness. The sad thing (and I am guilty of this too) is that we feed right into this system by watching the tabloid news and buying the tabloid magazines. Between You and Me puts us right behind-the-scenes of the high life and is a great reminder of how we should be careful of what we wish for.

What I enjoyed about this book was that it really does a great job of describing the behind-the-scenes life of celebrities. You really got a raw inside look inside and it was full of lots of juicy little details. It definitely fulfilled my voyeuristic desires for a peek inside the life of a person in the limelight. At the same time, the story reminded me of the rise and fall of Britney Spears, especially since Kelsey first worked for Kids Incorporated and Britney first started out in The Mickey Mouse Club. No wonder she, Kelsey and others are so susceptible to self-destruction!

Overall I enjoyed the book, but I wanted more depth to the characters. At first, I had a hard time keeping up with all the characters because of the names. I couldn't figure out who Kelsey's parents were for almost a whole chapter. I expected Kelsey to be shallow, but was pleasantly surprised by how I ended up feeling sympathetic towards her. The hardest part was that I couldn't get behind Logan. It seems like she just dropped everything to be there for her cousin. She seemed like a strong, independent woman at the beginning of the story and I had a hard time believing that she would just drop everything for a cousin she hasn't talked to in over a decade.

If you are looking for a light summer chick-lit read, I think you'll be entertained by Between You and Me. It's a nice reminder of how hard it can be to be a child star enveloped by the glitz and glam of Hollywood and how easy it can be to self-destruct from the pressure of it all. I am happy to say that I'm content with just being a normal girl who's not famous, doesn't have the biggest home or the nicest clothes, but has the love of a adoring husband, sweet little daughter and lots of happiness in between.

You can grab your own copy at your local bookstore today!

Rating:

3 out of 5 stars