Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Next Door to a Star by Krysten Lindsay Hager


My Review...

Hadley Daniels already feels invisible in her school, and after her best friend moves, she finds herself feeling all alone among the crowds and cliques. Thankfully, her plans for summer look bright. They will be spent with her grandparents in Grand Haven, Michigan, staying next door to the popular teenage star Simone Hendrickson. Hadley envisions getting closer to Simone, and they do become friends. However, in her excitement, she begins to neglect her other friend, Charlotte. Then there is Nick Jenkins, the boy that she is crushing on. Unfortunately, he believes some rumors and puts their budding relationship on the back burner. When Hadley’s family decides to move to town, she is positive that the upcoming school year will be the best ever. Who knows what other famous people she will encounter? Could it include her celebrity crush, Jack Brogger? Will she finally have a year to look forward to, which will include best friends, a boyfriend, and a social life?

Who hasn’t dreamed of living next door to a celebrity, hanging out with them, and actually being able to call them a friend? I know I would love that, and I’m an adult! That excitement would only be magnified for a teenager. Hager totally nails teen drama and angst, complete with cliques, first loves, first kisses, and all the associated gossip with that age group. There are a number of humorous scenes, and one in particular involving self-tanners. Unfortunately, that one may be relatable for many readers. I particularly enjoyed Hadley’s grandparents, who are well-meaning but lovably clueless at times. Starting over is tough for anyone, and especially difficult for teenage girls. Hager has the ability to transport the reader back in time and, in this case, will have them envisioning what their teenage years would have been like if they had been living next door to a star.


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon link for purchase...


KRYSTEN LINDSAY HAGER  


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 the author of the Landry’s True Colors Series 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.

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