Secrets of My Hollywood Life

Secrets of My Hollywood Life
By: Jen Calonita
Pages: 256
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: A
Recommended to: girls 11-14





      Sixteen year-old Kaitlin Burke is the star on hit TV show Family Affair, where she has been working since the age of four. She is famous around the globe, and is in movies, on magazine covers, in countless articles and pictures (thanks to the paparazzi), and always invited to the most exclusive Hollywood events and parties. She has the life that so many teenage girls would die for, but Kaitlin isn't happy with being America's sweetheart. She is tired of being followed by the paparazzi and missing out on normal teenage things, such as high school and dances. With the help of best friend Liz, Kaitlin hatches a plan to attend Liz's high school, disguised as British exchange student Rachel Rogers. After convincing her momager (mom-turned-manager), publicist, assistant, and dad that this is what she needs, Kaitlin has to take on the biggest risk of her career.
      I think that this book is the best in the series. I loved the excitement, drama, and Kaitlin's anything-but-perfect personality. The writing style is spunky and spirited, and Kaitlin's voice shines through. My biggest problem about this series is that every character's outfit must be described in over-the-top detail with designer names every time. Detail is good, and I like hearing what they might wear to a party, but not what everyone wears every time Kaitlin crosses paths with them! It gets extremely tedious I get very jealous :). I love the struggles at school that Kaitlin encounters, they seem very realistic to someone in her pretend situation. The character development was good. Kaitlin was a changed person at the end, although Liz stayed exactly the same. I loved Sky, Kaitlin's jealous co-star who has it out for Kaitlin. All in all, this book was very good, and made me read the rest in the series.