Release Date - May 1, 2015
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy
Pages - 400 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**
Actress Libby Lomax has retreated into the world of classic movies, where the immortal lives of her favourite screen goddesses seem to offer so much more in the romance department than her own life.The allure of classic Hollywood, particularly its leading ladies, is a long standing one. There is something undefinable about the glitz and glamour of that golden age. There is a magic there that is intangible. If you were to take this love for Golden Age Hollywood's leading ladies, add a large dose of humour, and a dash of whimsy you would have the recipe for Lucy Holliday's A Night In With Audrey Hepburn.
After a terrible day on set where she embarrasses herself in front of the entire cast and worst of all, it’s sexy bad-boy star, Dillon O’Hara, she plonks herself down on her battered couch to watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s for the trillionth time.
Suddenly, Libby is astonished to find screen icon Audrey Hepburn, complete with little black dress, trademark sunglasses and vintage cigarette holder, sitting beside her and proffering advice.
Has Libby got what it takes to turn her life from a Turkey to a Blockbuster? Perhaps with a little bit of Audrey Hepburn magic, she might just pull it off…
A night in with Audrey Hepburn is the first in a series of three books following the life and loves of Libby Lomax as she blossoms from Z-lister to A-lister and all of the stages in between with a little bit of help from some very special friends.
I could identify with Libby on so many levels. She's a little self depreciating, prone to embarrassing herself in public, and really unlucky in the romance department. She was entirely endearing and winsome and that made her story all the more enjoyable to read. It is one of those times where a character almost feels like a friend, and this is because of the way Lucy Holliday has written her. She is designed to appeal to the largest number of readers, and this is a case where that formula works rather well.
There are a large number of quotable lines, particularly from Libby's sister Cass. Humour is Lucy Holliday's strong suit, in my opinion. The writing plays up the humour as Libby finds herself going from one embarrassing situation to the next. The characters are loud, and larger than life, simply because the narrative requires them to be. This is a novel filled with plot and characters that are dialed up to the maximum but that is exactly what makes it a pleasure to read. It's the perfect book to pair with cocktails and is entirely unapologetic about being exactly that kind of book. It's refreshing because what you see in this case is truly what you get.
There is plenty to swoon over within these pages, and plenty of potential couples to ship. I switched who I wanted Libby with a few times in the novel because she has some seriously swoon worthy men in her life. I immediately had a soft spot for childhood friend Olly, but sexy bad boy Dillon makes a very strong case for himself. There are adorable nicknames, some serious sexual tension, and the kind of whirlwind romance that is the stuff of rom-com legend. As this is a series, I am fairly certain that choosing a side this early is entirely foolish. I have, however, chosen, and am entirely prepared to go down with this ship.
The hook of Audrey Hepburn pays off in more ways than one. I finished this novel eager to watch Roman Holiday and Breakfast At Tiffany's. Fans of Audrey will feel that the essence of who she was is captured while entirely remaining within the tone and scope of the rest of the story. The inclusion of this 'magical' element was the part I was most skeptical of, and it turns out that I needed not have been. It is seamlessly woven into the story in a very believable way. Those who require answers for everything may feel slightly let down. This book's charm is allowing the magic to win you over and letting yourself be overtaken by the Libby's journey; magic and all.
A fun, and quirky read that will leave you wishing you could partake in your own conversations with both Libby and Audrey. It's a love letter to not only classic Hollywood, but other books of this genre. I fell in love with Libby and her story. It has more than a touch of Hollywood magic, and I highly recommend it if you're looking for something that is pretty much a rom-com movie in book format (in all the best possible ways).
Your enthusiasm shows through .... great review.... you definitely have made me interested in this book. Good job!
ReplyDeleteAparajita @Le' Grande Codex