Starstruck

Starstruck is a YA novel set in the world of 1930s Hollywood by Rachel Shuckert.

Margaret eats up any news on her favorite actress – the dazzling Diana Chesterfield – like candy. She’s seen all her movies and can only imagine one day meeting her. Her zeal helps to liven up the otherwise unexciting finishing school life she lives in Pasadena.

When a bigwig from Olympus Studios, MGM’s greatest competitor, discovers Margaret at soda shop one day and notices her exceptional beauty – her life turns into a whirlwind as she swept toward the silver screen. She can hardly believe her luck! Though, sadly, it comes on the heels of Diana Chestefield’s questionable disappearance from the public eye…

Meanwhile, Gabby Preston has been working the Hollywood and Vaudeville scene since she was a little girl struggling to survive under her mother’s demands during the Great Depression. Her gorgeous singing voice hasn’t transcended into a gorgeous exterior and she struggles to lose weight and see her long held ambitions come true as she reaches toward a headliner movie musical.

And stunning redhead Amanda Farraday has less interest in what Hollywood can do for her than she does in on-the-rise screenwriter Harry, whom she’s fallen for. Her hope is leave an unpleasant past behind her and never be called “Ginger” again…

All three girls are on the scene of a golden era for cinema – but will their dreams come at a price?

I’m late getting to Starstruck – I receive it over a year ago! But, hey, you can only read as much as you can, right? I’m very happy I finally took this title up, though!!

First of all, 30s Hollywood is an instant draw – a historical time period in addition to backstage drama? It’s exactly what I hoped it would be – fun, sudsy, glamorous and, at times, quite dark!

Starstruck has varied characters that morph from likable to unlikable – all with their own ambitions, demons and hopes. There’s enough character development to satisfy the likes of me – who wants a little grit and meat to her soapy entertainment.

Shuckert serves up plenty of period details, romance and intrigue – making for a saucy, disturbing, addictive start to a series. The mystery aspect kept me interested – yet happily there was no need for extra incentive to read Starstruck, as I was already quite hooked!

Then we get a truly surprising, effective revelation that left me all the more in anticipation of book two!

One good thing about starting a series late? The second book is already available!

*Cue maniacal laughter*