Saturday, May 15, 2010

Review of My Double Life by Janette Rallison

My Double Life Her whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia’s photo filters through the Internet, she’s offered a job to be Kari’s double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia’s mother has always warned her against celebrities.

Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life. Not only does she have to get used to getting anything she wants, she romances the hottest lead singer on the charts, and finds out that her own father is a singing legend. Through it all, Alexia must stay true to herself, which is hard to do when you are pretending to be somebody else!

Summary from Goodreads.com

Released May 12, 2010 (Hardcover)

272 Pages

I absolutely loved My Double Life.  It was a witty foray into fame, fortune, family, and living our dreams vicariously.  Seriously, even if you haven’t wanted to run off to Hollywood to be a famous singer or actor/actress, who hasn’t wanted to date one?

Alexia has grown up all her life without a dad, or even his name.  Her mom has struggled to provide for her and her Grandma (Abuela).  So, Alexia’s grown up with second-hand everything, resenting that a little, but still loving and respecting her mother.  After a vicious student's prank (involving the posting of Alexia’s picture online) Alexia is contacted by Kari Kingsley’s manager to act as a double for her at small events.  Alexia’s mom turns it down flat, and Alexia is tempted by the money and living with the fame, but is willing to stand by her mom’s decision.  Until she realizes in a sudden burst of clarity who her father is.  She takes the job with the provision that she’ll be able to meet him once and jets off to Hollywood.

There she works non-stop learning how to be Kari Kingsley, then working as Kari.  In the process she meets hunky teen rock-star, Grant Delray.  Grant is now one of my new book crushes.  Unlike, say, Edward Cullen, he’s a real guy (okay, he’s still fictional, and a rock-star, but he feels like a normal guy).  He might be a famous singer, but he helps a damsel in distress, he does fundraisers for sick kids, and actually cares about them, he listens to what Alexia says, and then plans the perfect first date for her.  Maybe he doesn’t actually exist out in the real world, but reading about Grant, I want him to.

The characters in My Double Life were perfect.  I wish I could know them.  Even Kari, who is a bit of a brat, you can’t help but like when seeing her through Alexia’s eyes.  Alexia herself is strong, smart, funny, and caring.  She and Kari both have tempers, but it was great watching Alexia grow as she tried to make herself a better person so she wouldn’t ruin Kari’s reputation.

Oh, I loved this book!  I’d recommend it immediately to fans of Janette Rallison’s other books, to those who love romantic comedies, or anyone looking for a fun, quick, happy read.

Cover 9/10

Characters 10/10

Plot 10/10

Ending 10/10 I could see potential for a sequel (oh please, oh please, oh please) but it can stand just as it is too.

Mom Approval Rating 10/10 No swearing, sex, or violence.  There is only the concept of Alexia being the illegitimate daughter of a celebrity.

Total 49/50  A+

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