Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley. 

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. 
Natalie.

This was never downloaded as the publisher archived it before I had chance to access it.  It is unfair that it counts against my overall review percentage therefore I have returned a 1 star review, Publishers should not approve and then archive within 24 hours, this makes no sense.

Will no longer be reading or reviewing this book due to lack of interest in the title, after struggling to complete half of the book, and the fact that the title has been archived.

Already reviewed and feedback sent ages ago. Not sure why these are duplicating. But please find review content at my archived blog www.behindonbooks.wordpress.com 

- Thanks! Sorry this is a little haphazard. Just trying to clear my Shelf here. :)

I loved the authenticity of this book, as well as its realistic characters and relevant themes. Although the book wasn't perfect, I would still recommend to it anyone looking for a meaningful YA novel.

I received a copy from Netgalley. 

I was really looking forward to this one. I’m actually not interested in reality television. (With the exception of Judge Judy and court TV)  I pretty much loathe the type of reality TV this book is based on. But I do actually like novels about reality TV.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t work for me at all. The satirical nature of it was almost too over the top, it seemed to be going one minute like it was making light of all the ridiculous drama that this scripted reality family go through, then tried to be deep and meaningful as the main character tried to do whatever it took to keep her family together. 

The biggest problem I had was the main characters, the Royces,  were all horrible horrible people. The mother Mercedes is the worst type of all about me showbiz mother who only seems interested in keeping the show on air, the eldest daughter Porsche, who was an attention seeking bimbo, focused only on her own fame and her own product line of cosmetics. The sixteen year old daughter Bentley is the one the reader is supposed to be routing for, nothing like the vapid character she supposedly portrays on the show she’s really quite deep and smarter than anyone ever imagined. Problem for this reader was I just didn’t like her. And then there’s Maybach, the youngest brother, who’s sole purpose seems to be the cute gay brother. Though for Bach, he seemed to just have a gambling problem that was used as plot point later on rather than give him a romance or something. 

The premise of the novel is the show is on the verge of cancellation, the family want to keep it going, Bentley wants out and wants to go to college instead. So they keep coming up with more and more ridiculous antics to keep the public watching. So the older sister comes up with an idea for making a wedding, which would give her new product lines and sponsorships and things. Of course it’s all a big fake. 

But when the chosen groom makes an appearance it all goes wrong very fast. The drama is ridiculously increasing throughout the novel. And to be fair, Bentley does a pretty good job of playing her role as the brattiest daughter of the bunch, managing to ruin planned events and become the worst sort of paparazzi fodder. It’s told with a tone that’s meant to be humorous, but it’s the type of humour that I found got very old and very tiring quite quickly.

Bentley finds herself stressed more than she wants to be, she finds out a pretty shocking secret about her sister’s so-called fiancé. She can’t talk to anyone about it. She’s also dealing with constant bickering between her mother and Porsche who seem to be trying to one up each other in antics meant to get attention. And then there’s annoying network executives to deal with and producers and such. 

She does get a little bit of freedom when she can sneak away and hang out at the library, where she chats to a boy named Venice who appears to be a vagrant. She can talk to him like herself, she doesn’t have to play a character. And Venice listens to her. He was actually one of the decent characters. He had a huge secret of his own as well. 

Again to be fair, the twist at towards the end was pretty damn epic. 

There was just too much annoying stuff about the book in general to care by then, too much of Hollywood image crap, the body shaming was really irritating. While there were some decent scenes of the family coming together, finally, when the answers to the twists are finally revealed. There just wasn’t anything really redeemable by the end for my liking.  Reading it was a bit like even though it’s terrible there was still a need to know how it all turned out.  

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ)

Royce Rolls

Reality TV is like a guilty pleasure for me, and reading is my addiction. Royce Rolls combines the two so what's not to love?!

As someone who predominantly reads thrillers, I like a little light relief every so often and this was it! A quick read, not to be taken too seriously, with sassy characters and an entertaining storyline, Royce Rolls is a great read! 

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, 4*.

Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me.  I struggled to engage with the storyline or the characters and whilst I thought the concept was an interesting one, I lost the desire to read further than 10 per cent.

2* I was really expecting a fun, exciting look at life as a rich reality star in this book and it didn't deliver at all. There is no "fancy private school, lavish vacations, and everything else that comes along with being an LA starlet", none of these things are mentioned more than a couple of times. Descriptions are very sparse and Bentley and her family could have been anywhere and it wouldn't have made a difference. None of the characters are likeable, the "mystery" ending was predictable, and a lot of the plot points were pointless or didn't make any sense. I didn't get this book and I didn't enjoy it.
Full review available on my blog. Goodreads review available in link.

Great book!

But first, the cons: This is one of those books that if you don't keep going, you'll miss out on the fun. I noticed quite a few reviews stating that they DNF it and that's kinda sad but I guess I understood their reasons. 

I personally like it a lot. It was funny and enjoyable! If I hadn't checked it out on Goodreads I probably wouldn't be mentioning this anyway.

The only problem with it that I found was the layout/format/style. It has these continuous footnotes throughout from Dirk, the assistant or whatever, and Jeff the head of the show <i>Rolling with the Royces</i>. And these were irritating to be fair but I learnt to ignore them. They weren't necessary IMO, and they came at awkward moments jarring a sentence and sometimes the numbers were so far from the footnotes that when I did bother to read them I was like, What's this referring to? It makes sense with the whole reality show, fakeness and scripted everything kinda style, but it didn't help the book. I felt it hindered it actually. BUT, despite that, I really did like the book.

It does take some reading, I'd say up to 60% or maybe more for everything to fall into place. The big secret and reveal is far later, like in the 90%. But I was kept so entertained all the way through I didn't mind the wait. There was obviously something to wait for, and it made it clear from the beginning which helped to keep my interest.

Characters wise, well they were certainly colourful. And their names were hilariously apt to the whole ridiculousness of reality TV. Sorry to anyone who has those names, I mean no offense. It works is all I'm saying and adds to that whacky doodah flavour of the book which I loved. 

The MC, Bently a.k.a Bent is driving the story and I liked her a lot. She does a lot for her family, even when they're initially ungrateful and self obsessed but the great thing about this whole book is how all of them, even Bent's mother bettered themselves. Mercedes (the Mom--though she wouldn't have let them call her that EVER until three quarters into the book, if that) who finally reconnected with her motherly roots that had practically been severed from a long career on reality TV and materialism and spotlight and fakery. It was nice to see her warm up to her kids again. 

And Bent's older sister, Porshe who is practically Merc's twin in the beginning. All about the spotlight and being noticed. But discovering love and the power of family and everything that happens to shake all that up brings her back to what really matters. 

Then there's the little gay brother, Bach. He's the calming one, the guy who takes it all on his shoulders and plays it cool, but he finally shows how much the pressure has got to him and it's nice to see him not be perfect all the time. To see, like the others, what they're REALLY like, really feeling, and really wanting in life. 

As for Bentley herself, she wants to go to college, be free of the fame and paparazzi and everyone controlling her life, making her memorize a stupid 'Bently bible' that lists how she should be, what she should eat, where, do, say. She decides she doesn't want it anymore, but she puts her family before her own needs. And she also finds love in a rather sweet and swoonworthy male by the name of 'Venice' who she befriends from months prior, spending time with him during her two hour freedom slots on Wednesdays at the library. Where she can just be herself and nobody recognizes her. Or so she thinks...

It's a feel-good story, made me laugh and gasp aloud. The bit where Whitey punches Jeff had me howling with laughter after I'd recovered from the shock. I love a good ass-kicking. 

I'd definitely recommend this book, all I can say is, if you can allow yourself to go with the flow and get used to the weird format, you won't regret reading this book. It's a good one. And I give the cover art a solid four stars. It's really spunky and bright. Just like the story.

Bentley Royce is a member of the second most famous reality TV family in America. There is a bible beside her bed. Not THE Bible, it's the Bentley Royce bible, a list of dos and don'ts and likes and dislikes provided by the producer of the reality TV show she has been a part of for the past several years. Bentley's older sister, Porsche and younger brother, Maybach, round out the family along with their mother, Mercedes (never mom).

Being a TV star has it's advantages, but when the world knows you as someone you're not, it's exhausting. Bentley has had enough of TV stardom and wants nothing more than to graduate high school and head off to college. But with the show's ratings dropping and the threat of cancellation hanging over them, she needs to find a way to ensure her family's future is secure, with or without her.

I am not a big consumer of reality TV. I've never seen an episode of Real Housewives and I wouldn't know one Kardashian from the next, but this book was great fun to read. The difference between the Royce's private and public personas was really interesting. Bentley is tired of being reduced to a stereotype, and she's also tired of the lack of agency she has in her own life.

There is a meta element to the book in that this is a manuscript that's being read and notated with a view to either being published or produced. As such there are footnotes throughout with notes from the executive producer's assistant suggesting changes (usually where the executive producer feels he's been portrayed badly). These were amusing, but the story would have worked as well without them.

There is a slight mystery element as well. The story opens with an accident and two people presumed dead. It then goes back through the events that led to the accident in order for us to learn what's happened. 

I had a great time reading this book, it kept me entertained throughout. The romance element was a little far fetched (in a how did no one recognise that Clark Kent was Superman kind of way) and wasn't my favourite part of the book, and things were tied up a little too neatly. Still, it is a fun read that makes some interesting points about reality TV and what it requires of its stars.

An enjoyable enough read although it felt like it was lacking the complete laugh out loud factor me.  I found the lead character a difficult narrator to like or relate to.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought that it was very cleverly written, the point of view that we read from is very interesting and it made me laugh a lot throughout the whole story. It kept me engaged and entertained and I couldn't put it down as I wanted to find out what happens next. It was a very fun read and I'm glad I read this book.

a quality book!

highly entertaining and a very hilarious perspective on fame!

my favorite part of this was probably the title :S

This was a fun and entertaining book. The characters were well written - each had their own personality, their own motivations in this strange world of reality television. The way that Stohl dealt with family dynamics was incredibly accurate, and how families can lose what it means to be a family when other factors - like jobs and money - come into play. Royce Rolls is a good criticism on reality tv and Hollywood in general and does so in a unique way.

It was the cover that attracted my attention for Royce Rolls. It surprised me that I quite enjoy Royce Rolls. The storyline is actually intriguing though I can't relate all the time since I don't follow much reality shows. It took me a long time to warm to the story since I've been distracted for most of the 25% of the book because of the footnotes. After just a few pages, I give up on reading them and just paid attention to the story. Which made things easier for me and slowly I came to like the characters. 

Only, I don't get the Asa character. I don't get why he has to be there. I believe the story would still be okay without him even though he has some contribution towards the end. It will be hard to get through this particular issue without revealing the twist. Maybe, if Miss Stohl added more information about his background, I will be more sold to the romance between him and Bentley.  

The last quarter of the book is genius. Yes, I'm exaggerating but what I'm saying is, it is good. It is actually what saves this book from me giving it a low rating. The revelation is exciting but not that surprising. Still, the way it was weaved to form a twist that may be unrealistic and still ends up good, is accomplished really well.

Royce Rolls is a hilarious satiric book that takes a jab on today's pop culture of reality shows. It reminds us not to believe everything we see on TV or on the Internet. If you're into reality shows, I'm sure you'll enjoy this one. And even if you don't and just want to read something funny and different, go try Royce Rolls. Who knows, you might enjoy it, too.

I have to admit, I really wasn’t loving this book in the start, which is why it has taken me so long to finally finish it. I’m glad I did finally get though it though, I really liked this book.

The format of this book took a bit of getting used to. It was a bit confusing, cause one moment it would be the actual story, then it would be a series of tweets and then suddenly an article. I don’t know if it as just really confusing because I read an eGalley, or if it’s just really confusing in general.

It took some time, but I came to love all of the characters. All of them. Despite their numerous flaws, you could see that they were still human. They had issues and they had compassion and love. These characters have stolen my heart. I have to say, if this was actually a reality show, I would probably watch it. This is a high compliment considering I never watch reality tv.

The last quarter of the book was definitely the best. I seem to have this thing were I don’t really like the first half or so of books, but I love their climaxes. The climax of this book, personally saved it for me, I had an incredible time. Lots of glorious drama.

This is the first book of Stohl’s that I’ve attempted to read since I tried to get through Beautiful Creatures, and I have to say, I enjoyed this book enough to give BC another try.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. Maybe not if you aren’t into drama, or really don’t like reality tv and the likes.

Also, I quickly have to mention that I totally love the cover.

*DID NOT FINISH*

I felt the story was disjointed, homophobic & body shamed.

Won't be in a hurry to read more from this author

The Royce's are a famous family, name and wealth = status and fame.

Currently:
Bentley Royce is presumed dead alongside her future brother in law after reports of their car going off the edge of a high cliff edge.

Flashback:
The Royce family are alike to our real life Kardashians.
Outrageous and all named after cars, Mercedes, Porsche, Bentley etc they juat scream watch me as they attend glitzy events and selfie to their hearts content. 

Bentley is now used to the limelight, growing up alongside her family under its constant glow despite being shy and quiet when she was younger. 

Now, the show is under threat of cancellation and Bentley can't help but think so what? She hides at Hollywood parties still and whilst doing so meets Asa, with whom she has a lot of common interests as they get talking and he doesn't know who she actually is. This fuels her dream of going to college still.

Her crazy mum Mercedes then on camera adopts a duck of all things! Porche's lippie's line isn't selling well and so the family need to rethink how they can rescue themselves put of debt and their show from being cut.

So, Bentley takes matters into her own hands, appearing at every club, store opening etc. Meanwhile, her brother, Bach, is gambling too much and her sister has got engaged to a wannabe rap star, Whitey. As the drama unfolds, Porches dangerous driving alerts all the family and she and Mercedes argue and clash a lot over the impending wedding, an engagement with a laugh out loud moment and Bentley finding out a huge secret about Whitey which see's her team up with her brother to try and stop the wedding!

Also from the beginning flashback, are they alive or are the reports true and not just over eager press lying about the truth?!

Drama filled and sure to leave you wanting more, Margaret Stohl has written a book I think I love more than her her Beautiful Creatures series! Thanks to the publishers allowing me to review it for them!