Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
This was a good fake relationship story. At the end of the previous book, Million-Dollar Mix-Up, Isaac tried to save face by claiming a secret girlfriend. A few months later and he is getting pressured to produce that girlfriend. He's starting to worry about what will happen if he doesn't when the perfect candidate practically drops in his lap.
When Isaac and his twin brother, Max, were kids, they starred in a sitcom, sharing the role of the son, Danny. When the series ended ten years later, Max couldn't wait to get out of Hollywood, while Isaac wanted to continue his career. This caused a split between the brothers, which is finally starting to heal. But Isaac's career was pretty lackluster until he was asked to star in a reboot of the old show. He's counting on the show to give his career a boost, hopefully into movies. He can't afford any negative publicity.
During dinner with his brother and his brother's girlfriend, Isaac's agent, Isaac meets Kendall's younger sister Meghan. Meghan is a podcaster whose shows deal with the tv programs that were popular when she was a kid. Her favorite was Isaac's show, and she had a massive crush on him then. She is excited to meet him and ask him to be on her show.
Meghan has a reputation in her family for being a bit flighty and irresponsible, so she isn't taken very seriously. Kendall tends to be a heavy-handed older sister, handing out advice and creating tension between them. They are just starting to repair that relationship, though Kendall is still a little slow about remembering that Meghan is an adult. Complicating matters, Meghan just left a relationship with a man who constantly put her down, affecting her self-confidence.
When Isaac and Meghan meet, their attraction is instant and intense. Isaac wastes no time asking Meghan if she'd be interested in pretending to be his girlfriend for a few weeks. He insists it would be good for both their careers. He would have that question of his girlfriend resolved, and she would have access to him and the other stars for her podcast - a win-win situation. The icing on the cake is their attraction will give it authenticity, and they can enjoy themselves together.
I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Besides their off-the-charts chemistry, they discover that they honestly like each other. They have a lot in common and enjoy spending time together. But the longer they are together, the harder it becomes to remember that the relationship isn't real. Isaac goes so far as to expect Meghan to uproot her life on the East Coast and follow him to California. He lost some points with me because he was a self-centered jerk. I didn't blame Meghan for being angry with him. I liked seeing her stand up to him.
Matters become complicated when Meghan discovers she's pregnant. By this time, she's realized she's in love with Isaac but has no idea how he feels about her. Once again, his reaction lands on the jerk side, with him seeming more concerned about the effect on his life than what it means for Meghan. Things fall apart when his attempt to make things right goes very wrong. I hurt for Meghan, who was hoping for his heart, not his head. I loved seeing the sibling discussions that helped the unhappy pair find their way back together. Isaac's big moment was sweet and emotional, and I liked seeing him finally get his priorities straight. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up for the series. I liked seeing both couples a few months down the road.
One of the things I enjoyed about this book was seeing more of Kendall and Max. They were a terrific example for Meghan and Isaac; if only they could see it.
When Isaac and his twin brother, Max, were kids, they starred in a sitcom, sharing the role of the son, Danny. When the series ended ten years later, Max couldn't wait to get out of Hollywood, while Isaac wanted to continue his career. This caused a split between the brothers, which is finally starting to heal. But Isaac's career was pretty lackluster until he was asked to star in a reboot of the old show. He's counting on the show to give his career a boost, hopefully into movies. He can't afford any negative publicity.
During dinner with his brother and his brother's girlfriend, Isaac's agent, Isaac meets Kendall's younger sister Meghan. Meghan is a podcaster whose shows deal with the tv programs that were popular when she was a kid. Her favorite was Isaac's show, and she had a massive crush on him then. She is excited to meet him and ask him to be on her show.
Meghan has a reputation in her family for being a bit flighty and irresponsible, so she isn't taken very seriously. Kendall tends to be a heavy-handed older sister, handing out advice and creating tension between them. They are just starting to repair that relationship, though Kendall is still a little slow about remembering that Meghan is an adult. Complicating matters, Meghan just left a relationship with a man who constantly put her down, affecting her self-confidence.
When Isaac and Meghan meet, their attraction is instant and intense. Isaac wastes no time asking Meghan if she'd be interested in pretending to be his girlfriend for a few weeks. He insists it would be good for both their careers. He would have that question of his girlfriend resolved, and she would have access to him and the other stars for her podcast - a win-win situation. The icing on the cake is their attraction will give it authenticity, and they can enjoy themselves together.
I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Besides their off-the-charts chemistry, they discover that they honestly like each other. They have a lot in common and enjoy spending time together. But the longer they are together, the harder it becomes to remember that the relationship isn't real. Isaac goes so far as to expect Meghan to uproot her life on the East Coast and follow him to California. He lost some points with me because he was a self-centered jerk. I didn't blame Meghan for being angry with him. I liked seeing her stand up to him.
Matters become complicated when Meghan discovers she's pregnant. By this time, she's realized she's in love with Isaac but has no idea how he feels about her. Once again, his reaction lands on the jerk side, with him seeming more concerned about the effect on his life than what it means for Meghan. Things fall apart when his attempt to make things right goes very wrong. I hurt for Meghan, who was hoping for his heart, not his head. I loved seeing the sibling discussions that helped the unhappy pair find their way back together. Isaac's big moment was sweet and emotional, and I liked seeing him finally get his priorities straight. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up for the series. I liked seeing both couples a few months down the road.
One of the things I enjoyed about this book was seeing more of Kendall and Max. They were a terrific example for Meghan and Isaac; if only they could see it.
