A
PR relationship between a pop superstar and a pro-athlete bad boy turns into so
much more in this swoony romance from the acclaimed author of When I Think of You.
Ella Simone’s popstar life is what dreams are made of. Her eight year marriage
to renowned music producer, Elliot Majors, has helped garner the hits, awards,
and adoring fans to prove it. But when Ella tires of Elliot's many
infidelities, she decides to fight for her independence despite the ironclad
prenup that threatens her career.
To help her case, Ella is under strict orders to stick to The no headlines, no
rumors, no rocking the boat. But this strategy is thrown a curveball after an
awards show wardrobe snafu and quick rescue by Miles Westbrook, MLB’s
most eligible player, sends the tabloids into a frenzy. Amid tricky divorce
proceedings, Ella’s magnetic connection with the charismatic pitcher might just
be her downfall.
Now the pressure is on to turn a scandal into an opportunity and give their
teams what they a picture-perfect performance that will shore up both Ella
and Miles' reputations. But as the lines between reality and PR begin to
blur, Ella will either stick to the choreographed life she knows so well, or
surrender to a love that could set her free.
Pop R&B star meets baseball superstar in this ornately crafted book. The book exposes some of the evil side of the music industry that sometimes even as fans of our favorite stars might miss and of course the media...well the media's influence in pop culture is a discussion for another day.
THEMES
I have got to say that Ella's resilience and growth displayed in some scenes of the book was just so amazing to see-according to the book in her relationship with Elliot she acted naïve, allowing Elliot Majors a lot of room to manipulate her life. Seeing her become a girl who knows what she wants was satisfying in so many ways I can't put to page. The decision to separate from Elliot leads her to a far more personal journey than the romance subplot suggests initially.
MILES WESTBROOK: Love interest or plot device?
Miles is used proficiently as a plot device and Ariel skillfully captures the intimate butterfly moments-particularly in the media-staged interactions. He is grounded, supportive, grounded and the perfect antithesis of Elliot. However, we don't get any obvious feel of his character arc and he hardly complicates Ella's Journey. The outcome...a one dimensional relationship.
Ariel strong army
Ariel decision to include the voice memos, voice lyrics and introspective moments add layers to Ella's voice, gives us that feeling of intimacy like we are flipping through a diary rather than a conventional novel.
Ella's character development is the real heart of the book. Watching her transition from controlled to liberated, from performative to authentic, is where the narrative really soars. Which Ariel doesn't rush unfolding Ella slowly.
What didn't quite come out well
- Uneven pacing: Ella and miles falling in love seamlessly sometimes robs the story of stakes. And while the book aims to critique the music industry's exploitation of women, these moment at times are steering too gently, blurring their absolute impact.
- The brevity of the novel means some secondary characters-particularly Elliot-lack the complexity that could have made the story more emotionally charged, a deeper exploration of their dynamic would have added heft to Ella's eventual liberation.
Final verdict...
Emotionally resonant. In the mood for a quietly powerful read that champions emotional freedom over dramatic flair this is your pick.
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