We must look like typical teens to anyone watching us. Girlfriend sitting on the porch. Boyfriend bouncing a basketball. The sun dipping behind the trees, throwing orange streaks of light across them. Just your average American high school sweethearts on a fall afternoon.
It's amazing how what we assume about other people can be so different from the truth.
I'll admit that I'm a huge fan of Susane Colasanti's books, always about teens falling (or already in) love, but I haven't had a chance to read the past few - so I was psyched when I was able to score an ARC (Advance Reader's Copy) from the publisher for this one. As usual, Colasanti does a great job of bringing us in to the world of these characters, and this world is something a little different: the world of fame and stardom.
Official synopsis:
What if your boyfriend was the world's biggest rockstar?Sterling is crazy in love with Ethan. Not only is he the sweetest boy she's ever met, but he's an incredibly talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter. And since forever, he's believed he has what it takes to be a star.
When Ethan becomes an overnight sensation, he's thrown head-first into the glam world of celebrity-and so is Sterling. Before she knows it, she's attending red-carpet premieres, getting free designer clothes, and flying around the country to attend Ethan's monumental sold-out concerts.
It's a dream come true ... but whose dream is Sterling living? And what do you do when "forever" comes to an end?
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I could see the ending of this book a mile away, but it was interesting to see how it eventually got there. Sterling has been dating Ethan for about five or six months now, and his band is really starting to take off, mostly due to him: his great singing voice, and also his looks. He eventually drops out of school to have private tutoring, and between that and him being on tour all the time, Sterling and Ethan begin to have less and less time to spend together.
At the same time, Sterling is worrying over college applications and the declining health of her grandmother - things that Ethan was once invested in (specifically, college apps) but now doesn't have to worry about.
I thought this was a great book although Sterling was a little bit naive. She was so psyched when Ethan asked her out in the school hallway, since he was so good-looking, and was hoping that things wouldn't change once he starts to begin famous. At the same time, Ethan sounds a little full of himself - he "always knew" he was going to be a star at some point - and I'm not sure how compatible they really are for each other.
I'd like to see a companion book from Ethan's point-of-view, which could be interesting - or maybe some chapters written from his POV - but this is definitely Sterling's story. It also makes you wonder how you would be able to deal if your significant other or someone close to you was very famous, and how the "non-Hollywood" wives and husbands of those in Hollywood deal with it every day.
This novel would make a great movie, as well - most of the characters are interesting so I could see it doing well with the right cast.
Now and Forever will be in stores on May 20, 2014. 4 stars out of 5.
*Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book for reviewing purposes. The opinions expressed here, however, are my own.
