Book one in Someone Else’s Fairytale. First published December 6th 2011.
Genre: New Adult Romance / ‘Chick Lit’
Note: This review contains spoilers.
“It’s not my fairytale. It’s not anything I ever wanted. It’s the last thing I’ve ever wanted. I hate crowds. I don’t want to be the envy of every other woman on the planet. I never dreamed of being with a guy with flawless good looks. This is someone else’s fairytale.”
So far I’ve read the first two books in the series, and I’m really looking forward to the third. I think I like this book more after having read Nobody’s Damsel. Someone Else’s Fairytale lays the groundwork for the following books quite nicely.
The story follows Chloe Winters as she navigates an unexpected friendship with Jason Vanderholdt, one of the hottest actors in Hollywood. It sounds like a generic boy meets girl, but Tippetts adds a touch of crime to the novel – a genre that becomes more central to the second book. It’s also not as straight forward as the description would have it seem. Jason and Chloe have a long journey to discover each other’s happy ever after. The story takes a detour in the form of Chloe’s friend Matthew, and for a while you’re not entirely sure what guy she’ll pick.
One of my favourite things about the book is Jason’s family and the bond Chloe forms with them. The Vanderholdts are scene stealers, and as soon as they were introduced I wanted to see more of them. They’re loud and funny and don’t care about Jason’s celebrity status. They take to Chloe immediately, even helping her when she needs legal help – both of Jason’s parents and his brother are lawyers.
The eye-catching cover is deceptively cutesy, as the story delves into some serious topics. Chloe was a victim of a violent crime at a young age, and against all odds, she survived. I like how this doesn’t define her. Chloe is a well-rounded character. However, it does influence her when it comes to pick a career and she’s studying to become a forensic scientist. She values her independence, and one of her struggles in the novel is to learn to accept help from others.
I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I immediately bought the second as soon as I finished it. Even though the premise is fairytale-esque, the story is real and relatable. Chloe seems reserved and can be frustrating at times, but she feels like a real person which is what I enjoyed the most about this book.
Score
7.5/10
Recommended to…
Suitable for fans of modern fairytale retellings – but with a twist! There’s enough crime in it (and more in the following book) to appeal to crime-novel enthusiasts. V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram is a good follow-up book, leaning towards the Young Adult spectrum. Also Teen Idol by Meg Cabot if you like the normal girl meets movie-star aspect.
The Writer's Write-Up 