I just wrote a full review for my library's blog, and I'll update this when it's published.

For now I'll say the internet addiction angle hooked me from the first line and didn't let go. Half rehab story, half road fiction, and all introspection about fame, friendship, and what it means to truly connect with someone.

This was a fun, charming little story. The characters discover new things about themselves, as they analyze past thoughts, actions, and feelings. New love, and rekindled friendships wrap it up, leaving the reader satisfied with a truly happy ending.

This was such a fun read! Fame Adjacent follows Holly Danner, the only cast member of a 90s kids show not to become famous later on. Left out of a reunion special, Holly has become obsessed with her cast mates to the point of landing in an internet addiction facility, where she meets Thom and convinces him to take her to the reunion show. It took me a little while to get into Holly's voice, but once I did I couldn't stop reading. She and Thom get in to some wacky situations, but they are both so self-deprecating and charming that it's funny rather than cringe-worthy. Thom particularly was a great character, and I enjoyed the way his relationship with Holly evolved. More than just a romantic comedy, the book really nicely grapples with fame, childhood friends, and feeling that life has left you behind while everyone else is a success.

Holly Danner is one of those characters who just sticks with you. She's witty and smart and she is just real. And as a reader who was never in the starlight, I found Holly incredibly relatable.  

As a childhood star, Holly is no longer in the spotlight and is the only one of her group to leave fame behind. Or maybe it left her behind. As the story starts, Holly is in Internet rehab, and she's trying to navigate her life while dealing with the fact that there's a 25th anniversary of her show coming up and she hasn't been invited.

Thom is also a patient at Internet rehab, and his story just....ok basically I just loved him. He had a lot of depth and his story made me simultaneously sad yet happy. I loved how he pushed Holly to stop underestimating herself. 

I found myself completely swept up in this story and learning more about Holly's background (and Thom's too, honestly). By the time the other childhood stars appear in the story, I really felt like they truly were larger than life, they were described so well. 

There were a lot of points that I laughed out loud, because honestly they got themselves into some pretty bizarre situations. Basically, their road trip was just a hot mess and I loved it. 

I love a light-hearted romance and this book delivered. But don't be fooled, this book has a lot more layers than just a light romance. And that's what makes it so great.