Book Review: Jenna and Jonha's Fauxmance

Publisher summary

Teen TV celebrities Jenna and Jonah (real names, Charlie Tracker and Fielding Withers) make more money in a month than most people do in a lifetime. They can't stand to be in the same room as each other, but to boost the TV ratings their agents make them a 'real life' couple. Then the deception is uncovered by the paparazzi, and Charlie and Fielding have to disappear to weather the media storm. It's not until they're far off the grid of the Hollywood circuit that they realise there's more to each of them than shiny hair and a winning smile.

My review

Charlie Tucker and Fielding Withers are hit Hollywood TV stars on The Family Network show playing the characters of puppy- love struck teenagers Jenna and Jonah but their off screen romance has made them really famous. It looks like the perfect romance but Charlie and Fielding/Aaron actually can't stand being with each other and their relationship is a publicity sham. They are so bogged down in celebrity culture and so used to playing their characters that they have lost their true selves. Fielding just wants to get past the acting stage of his life and retire comfortably on his money and dreams of writing the next greatest American novel whilst Charlie feels trapped since she was forced into acting from a young age by her money-crazed parents and fears she wouldn't have a purpose if her career went down the drain. I
This book came through my letterbox just at the right time! I was ill in bed and it was a lovely surprise to open it when I went downstairs. It was the perfect book for me to read at that time because I has just a book which dragged a bit for me and I just wanted something light, fun and predictable that I didn't have to think too much about to enjoy. That's what I found in Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance.

The first chapters set the scene really well and bit by bit the world of celebrity culture and false pretence over their real-life 'romance' was pieced together and I found it quite easy to relate to how they felt about growing up in the public eye because they're just regular teenagers who have been sucked into a world of money and fame that they can't avoid. Being a teenager when you're worrying about your career falling apart and whether the paparazzi have got the right shots of you to give the impression that everything is as normal must be very hard. I found this exploration of celebrity culture very interesting and it made me ask questions about the secrets and contract restrictions of real life celebrities.

I liked the fact that the book was told through alternating points of view between Charlie and Fielding because it was interesting to see their differences of opinion and private view of each other. However, there were a few times when it almost felt that there was no distinction between the two voices and they kind of merged together sometimes even though they were written by different authors. My favourite narrator was Fielding because he was a more complex and interesting character than Charlie. Also, Charlie could sometimes be irritating because she thought of herself and her career more than the feelings of others.

My favourite part of Charlie and Fielding's relationship was their time alone whilst hiding from the paparazzi because they acted more of their true selves when they were away from the media and got to know each other more. The romance was really sappy and sweet, if a little cheesy, particularly at the end of the book and makes for a feel-good, happily ever after reading experience.
There were quite a few flaws though and it sometimes felt like I was reading a script from a TV drama where the characters are trying to get one up on the other when Charlie and Fieling/Aaron were talking to each other. On the other hand, there were some good one liners and genuinely funny parts but at times it was a bit much.

Verdict:  I did enjoy it overall (which is what my rating is solely based on) and read it very quickly but I felt that the story could have been expanded on so much more because of the brilliant premise and I wouldn't read it again. I'd especially recommend it to reluctant teenage readers . If you're looking for a fun, cheesy and fast paced book with a cute love-hate romance, then this would be a good choice.

Rating: 3 stars