Book Review: My Not So Super Sweet Life by Rachel Harris

Summary:

Cat Crawford just wants to be normal—or at least as normal as a daughter of Hollywood royalty can be. And it looks like fate is granting her wish: she’s got an amazing boyfriend, Lucas; her fabulous cousin, Alessandra, living with her; and her dad planning his second marriage to a great future stepmom. That is, until her prodigal mother reveals on national television that she has something important to tell her daughter…causing a media frenzy.

Lucas Capelli knows his fate is to be with Cat, and he’s worked hard to win her over once and for all. Unfortunately, Lucas has his own issues to deal with, including a scandal that could take him away from the first place he’s truly belonged.

As secrets are revealed, rumors explode, and the world watches, Cat and Lucas discover it’s not fate they have to fight if they want to stay together…this time, it’s their own insecurities.

Well, and the stalkerazzi.

NOTE: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

When requesting this book, I had no idea that it was a part of a series. Much more a part of a series that I hadn't read before. Then I figured it out and was wary that perhaps I'd be lost and have no idea what in the world would be going on. Umm, no. Sure there were references to the past two books, but nothing I couldn't handle.

To be honest, I was expecting a WHOLE LOT MORE from this book. I was expecting some adventure... and I don't know... seeing that the first book dealt with time travel, I wanted to see at least that. But no. I was very disappointed, because NOTHING really happened.

Sure, there was some sweet romance going on, but in my book that's hardly enough to classify MNSSSL as a great book. It's hardly even mediocre, to tell you the truth. It revolves around events that are so obviously fake, I don't know how they made the story at all.

Writing style:
Unbelievable amount of 'tell', as opposed to 'show'. I literally had to make myself NOT skip over the parts where the reader is TOLD that this or that happened. Just show me! I'd be much happier.

Story line:
I'm happy to rant some more about this book, so here goes.
I'm thinking the story lacked a lot of things. Mainly, it lacked a problem for the plot to revolve around. It did have some resemblance of drama (with Cat's mom coming in the picture and pretending she cares for a relationship with her daughter), but it wasn't nearly enough to justify the absence of anything else. I've no idea what the previous two books were about, but I'm hoping they weren't centered on how to run from the paparazzi, how to not hate your mother and how to behave as a grown up.

Themes:
-searching for one's self
-standing up for oneself
-finding love and not giving up on it are two different things
-parents could make or break a person - sometimes

Characters:
Cat isn't exactly a character I can relate to. She's so insecure, she doesn't have any idea what's going on around her. Or she does, but refuses to acknowledge it. Love - no matter who it comes from - is largely ignored or just put in the back of her mind, because she just KNOWS that it can't last. That one day EVERYONE would leave her. Gosh, are you for real? Just because her mom was stupid and selfish enough to bail on her when she was five, doesn't mean that anyone else would. I mean, come on! Her dad's by her side always. Her step mom adores her. Her boyfriend looks at no one else and plans romantic dates for her.... what on earth could be better proof that she wasn't being abandoned?

Lucas is a great guy. I confess that he must be the one character in this book who was worth reading about. He stood up for himself and for Cat, even when things didn't look good for either one of them. He was an excellent boyfriend and a son to be proud of. Yet, all he got in return were insecurities and doubt. I was proud of him that he didn't give in or give up when things looked impossible.

Ransom... Cat's half brother was a nice guy. I guess I could like him, if given the chance. But I'm not sure I could endure another novel revolving around nothing.

Most other characters made short appearances and didn't seem to be of any circumstance so I will restrain from mentioning them.

In conclusion:
I think the book had potential, but it didn't turn out to be my kind of read. It was a sweet young adult romance, sure, but it didn't go anywhere above average.

My rating is 2.5, but I'll round down to: