Stay With Me by Elyssa Patrick (With Me #1)
Released: August 22, 2013
New Adult
Self Published
Reviewed by Mandi
Hailey has just started college, but she isn’t just another teenage face in the mix. She has a very famous face. A child star, she has done broadway and film and is very famous. But it was her mother that always pushed her into acting, and now that Hailey is able to take control of her life, she has decided to leave Hollywood behind and go to college. She craves to just be normal and fit in.
She meets Caleb at a party and they hit it off quick. Caleb has a big group of friends who all take Hailey in. He isn’t fazed by her notoriety and never treats her differently. Hailey does have a secret she keeps from Caleb, but otherwise their romance takes off pretty easily in this one.
Which was part of my problem with this book. Their romance takes off very easily. Hailey gathers friends very easily. There wasn’t a lot of sexual tension or a build-up to the romance. Hailey’s secret is a very personal one, but when it is revealed, there isn’t any drama. I kind of wish something bigger had happened in this book. It is a very straight forward romance with not much conflict or drama.
My biggest frustration was Hailey herself. She fell flat for me, with not a lot of personality, which to me doesn’t go with being a famous star. She can’t walk past a teenage girl without immense squeeing – so she must have some kind of charm or personality that draws these young girls to her. But we don’t see that side of her. She is very defensive and very – ho hum. I get that she is frustrated with the media and wants to be normal, but she had no spark of life in her. I needed her to amuse me, or stress me out, or make me scared for her. I had a hard time feeling anything for her.
On a postive note, I thought the supporting cast were completely full of life. Caleb’s sister Daphne is adorable and fun. Caleb’s guy friends are goodnatured and it felt like they were college boys through and through. They brought a lot of good things to the book.
I’ve read this author in the past, and I’ve enjoyed her previous work, so I’ll be trying her again. This one just didn’t quite do it for me
Rating: C
Recommended by this author: One Hit Wonder
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