“Fame is people screaming your name, loving you, hating you, all on a whim”
–Tammara Webber, Between The Lines
- Release Date: November 15th, 2012
- Genre: Contemporary
- Hours: 8 hours 48 minutes
- Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Synopsis: Reid Alexander is used to getting what he wants – and what he wants next is his newest costar, Emma Pierce. The universe is lining up nicely to grant his wish, until he’s confronted with two unexpected obstacles on location: a bitter ex-girlfriend and a rival for Emma’s affections.
Emma Pierce just got her big break after years of filming commercials and made-for-TV movies. Winning the lead role in a wide-release film – opposite the very hot Reid Alexander – should be a dream come true. But Emma’s heart is hiding a secret fantasy: she wants to be a normal girl
Emma’s life changes when she is offered the starring role in the teen-flick, School Pride, a high school twist on Pride and Prejudice. Her co-star ? The infamous Reid Alexander. Emma is thrown full force into a world of celebrity and notoriety where she finds herself entangled in new friendships and relationships. Soon she begins to wonder if any of it is what she really wants.
Between The Lines is one of those drama heavy relationship novels. Emma is juggling two guys; Reid, the arrogant Hollywood starlet who lives his life with no apologies and Graham, the indie film star who wants to help Emma achieve her dreams.
The plot just fell flat to me and I found myself zoning out at times. This book was like watching The Hills or a reality TV show where all the characters do is go out to dinner, go to the club and then work for a few pages. There was no real sense of overall plot or direction. With all the Hollywood mayhem to take inspiration from the novel seemed lacking.
I bought this book for the narrator, Todd Haberkorn, who is one of my favorite anime voice actors. I know some people dislike his voice (it’s kind of nasally) but I really liked him in xxxHolic and D.Gray Man.
So, how did Todd Haberkorn measure up ? He did really well. He narrates Reid’s voice in this playful way with a tinge of humor. With all the added exaggeration and sighs it was like Reid wasn’t take anything he said seriously and everything was a big joke. I really liked that interpretation, it made him seem less angsty. However….
….I think Tara Sands, Emma’s narrator, outshone Haberkorn. Emma as a character has a wider range emotions and there are points where she is speechless, in tears, emotional and Sands interpreted the emotions masterfully. She made Emma really like able.
Overall this audiobook has less than stellar story, but is elevated by some excellent voice narration. If you want a light, simple read then I suggest this book for you. I’m interested to compare this to This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith which deals with some similar themes.
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I’m a lifelong reader who started blogging about YA books in 2011 but now I read in just about every genre! I love YA coming of age stories, compelling memoirs and genre bending SFF. You can find me talking all things romance at Romance and Sensibility.