YA Bound Book Tours is organizing a Blog Tour for: Competing with the Star by Krysten Lindsay Hager. This tour will run from May 16th to 20th. Check out the tour schedule.
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by Krysten Lindsay Hager
Release Date: March 22nd 2016
Limitless Publishing
Summary from Goodreads:
The perfect guy, the perfect location. What could go wrong?
Hadley Daniels’s life seems perfect…
Before the beginning of sophomore year of high school, Hadley and her family move to a beautiful beach town, where she makes amazing new friends and lands the boyfriend of her dreams—Nick Jenkins. He’s the kind of guy every girl swoons over, and it isn’t long until Hadley discovers some are still swooning.
A famous ex-girlfriend makes matters more complicated…
After some time dating, Hadley and Nick form a deep bond. But insecurity sets in when Hadley discovers her boyfriend once had a huge crush on her friend—who just happens to be the beautiful former teen TV star, Simone Hendrickson.
The past is the past—or so they say…
Hadley confronts Nick, who confesses about his history with Simone. Though he claims to only have eyes for Hadley now, it’s hard to believe—especially when she’s blindsided with the news that Nick and Simone kissed after school.
Now Hadley must determine who is telling the truth. Love, betrayal, friendship…who needs soap opera drama when you’re busy competing with a star?
Buy Links:
Amazon US│Barnes & Noble│Amazon UK│Amazon CA
Previous book in the series (click on image for Goodreads link):
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Review
This book follows Hadley a teenager who is a sophomore in high school and is completely told from her point of view. Since she just moved recently into town she is trying to find her place at a new school with new friends. She also just got her first boyfriend Nick. We get to learn a lot about Hadley's friends and also the relationship that she has with each of them throughout the book.
I love that the author captured the teenage mind in the book. She did a great job with showing how as a teenager you are move conflicted regarding friendships. Friendships change throughout the years and also when situations pop up you see friends in different lights. When I was younger I felt I questioned my friends motives more then I question my friendships now. As you get older you see who is a true friend and also someone you can turn to in any situation. I think since Hadley is so young she really hasn't figure out how to use her gut yet and determine who is being a true friend.
I also think the author did a great job with conflicting thoughts and gaining self esteem in the book. I think it is hard to gain self esteem now a days since a lot of people want to get everyone's opinion plus everyone is comparing themselves to someone else. I feel this is something that you develop as your life goes on and towards the end of the book we can see Hadley maturing and gaining self esteem. She might not have all the answers by the end of the book, but she is making steps forward in her life. Sometimes getting to many perspectives on a situation doesn't help you need to figure stuff out on your own.
I really enjoyed Pilar as a character in the book. She is a little secondary compared to the Simone and Nick drama, but she turns out to be one of my favorite people in the book. Pilar has a lot going on in her life and she takes the time to really start a meaningful friendship with Hadley. Pilar has a strong family background and is a very strong individual. She really comes into her own when she begins to defend Hadley against the other girls. Sometimes you find deep meaningful friendships with people in the least likely of places.
I had no idea there was a previous book in the series until I wrote up my blog tour post. You don't need to read the first book to understand what is going on this book can be read as a stand alone book. Also, now thinking back regarding the first book in the series I bet I would understand some of the relationships between the characters a little better.
I
would suggest this as a night time read, it is easy to pick up and put
down. The story is pretty fast paced so you can also read it quickly over the weekend.
I received a copy of this book from YA Bound Book Tours for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book.
My Rating 4/5
About the Author
Krysten
Lindsay Hager is an obsessive reader and has never met a bookstore she
didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and humor essayist, and writes
for teens, tweens, and adults. She is also the author of the Landry’s
True Colors Series (True Colors, Best Friends…Forever?, and the soon to be released, Landry in Like)
and her work has been featured in USA Today and named as Amazon’s #1
Hot New Releases in Teen & Young Adult Values and Virtues Fiction
and Amazon’s #1 Hot New Releases in Children’s Books on Values. She’s
originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and
southwestern Ohio. She received her master’s degree from the University
of Michigan-Flint.
Author Links:
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Giveaway
Thank you so much for reading and reviewing Competing with the Star! I really enjoyed writing the change and growth in Pilar and her friendship with Hadley :)
ReplyDeleteIt is a great book! Thank you for sharing!
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