This was a miss for me.

Part of my disappointment stems from mis-marketing. This is billed as a romantic comedy in the spirit of Beach Read or Red, White, and Royal Blue, and I wouldn't put them in the same category at all. Those books have a thread of lightheartedness, despite covering serious topics. This book felt heavier all the way through.

I appreciate the story the author was trying to tell (a former child star confronting past trauma and finding love), but it was lost in weak plot development. There were a few truly heartwarming moments, including the ending, but I also felt that the conclusion was abrupt.

Overall, it wasn't for me.

Wow! This was a great book! It definitely was more serious than I thought it was going to be, but still had its cute and funny moments. I really enjoyed the main characters and couldn’t put it down! I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the arc!

I've been unintentionally reading a few Hollywood romance books recently! I loved learning more about the former show, Birds of California, where the characters were in the present day, and their reasons for wanting to or avoiding a reboot of the show. I loved to see the normalcy of Fiona's life after her Hollywood and media covered tabloids called her self destructive, as well as digging a bit deeper to what caused her breakdowns. I also enjoyed Sam Fox, his deception, and seeing him fall for Fiona. This is also narrated by one of my favorites, Julia Whelan!

Thank you to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the copy of Birds of California; I also want to say I had access to the audiobook version as well from Harper Audio so I listened to some of this book while I was commuting (and stomach bug ridden!) and read most of it. I LOVED this book overall, it was engaging, had strong character growth, and managed to be a modern day romance that was as much about Fiona and Sam and their relationship as it was about Fiona, and Sam, as individuals and adults reconciling their past and present and perhaps their future. I thought there was a lot of value in understanding each protagonist as individuals.

3 strengths
1. As noted, I thought Katie Cotugno did a wonderful job developing these characters. For me this story though was ultimately Fiona's as I felt even Sam's chapters were mostly about his perceptions of Fiona and his learning more about her and figuring out their relationship. I miss Fiona, she was a character I really wanted to know and cheer on (and yet... we know her, I feel she represents so many young woman celebrities and their lives).
2. This feels like an h0nest and nuanced examination of why we needed and need the MeToo movement and also to talk about the sexualization and lack of personal agency young women are given when thrust into media careers. The chapter where Fiona talks about "that picture with the lizard" was well done and I valued it.
3. Engaging secondary characters, this book was also strong for me because Fiona and Sam had other people in their lives and these characters were given depth and presence in the story. I liked that the narrative was more than just a romance but also about family, a community theater, and friends.

My only quibble might be that in small places I felt as though the story could have been a more strident examination of the sexualization and abuse of women in Hollywood but yet... I also thought that the book was a lovely and well done romance. In the end I felt that Mx Cotugno found a balance with a story about Fiona placed within a relationship and this was well done. I also note that the audiobook chapters that I listened to were strong and Julia Whelan remains at top form.

content: there is a plot examining Fiona's sexualization and grooming by an older adult male. I found this handled gently and deftly but it is noted for readers who prefer to avoid those topics.

I highly recommend this book, I think it has great spaces for meaningful conversations about sexualization, grooming, and MeToo and also has a lot to offer as a story about a relationship and family and acting.

Fiona St James' name is synonymous with the phrase epic fail. Not only has her face and name been on every Hollywood tabloid for her crazy antics, but those same antics ultimately lead to the cancellation of her famous family-channel show. After a brief stay in a psych hospital, Fiona has lay low, far from the Hollywood scene. She's helping to run the family print shop business and looking after her younger sister since both of her parents have pretty much fallen off the deep end. But then fate walks into the print shop one day offering another shot at stardom. The only question is will Fiona take the bait? ⁠

This book was exactly what I needed after a few heavy WWII fictions. It's witty & sharp with some of the best banter I've read since Beach Read. The topics are heavy, but I never once felt sorry for the MC or sad about her situation. Her strength is palpable, and I, for one, love a strong AF female lead. The love interest is handsome, charming, and clueless in all the right ways. Watching him develop and grow as a person throughout the book is one of the best parts! ⁠
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This book brought back so many memories of mid 2000's Lindsay/Paris/Brittany era, when one of them was always doing something crazy dumb in public. Although I wasn't rich and famous, I was at that same stage in my life: dumb and young! 😂 My friends and I would always do dumb things and later thank god no one was following us with cameras. Our own point and shoot cameras were evidence enough. Things turned out ok for me and my friends, but I could see how being constantly judged or reminded of those mistakes and mishaps would be so damning.

this romance was so cute and the relationship was to die for, but I wish it was longer. I feel like there was so much character development and growth and then a bit of an abrupt ending for our main characters. I could have easily read another 50-100 pages of what happened after the last chapter.

definitely be aware of content warnings going in, the biggest is a warning for grooming and sexual coercion.

I have liked several of this authors YA books and I'm excited to see what else she does in a more adult/new adult genre!

3.5 stars rounded up

Birds of California was a quick, funny story with a take on a more serious topic. How much of a celebs life should we get? When do paps go too far and how can a teen who rises to stardom fast then go on to live their life?

Fiona was a teen star that is now off the radar after getting dropped by her show and having a stint in a psychiatric hospital. When a reboot is on the table her former co-star, Sam, takes a stab at convincing her to join the show. Sam and Fiona had some chemistry when working together and when brought back together the start to explore those feelings.

This was like a tamed down version of The Comeback to me. Not in a bad way, but I almost wanted more of the trauma and backstory. I think that would have helped me understand Fiona more. It felt like serious issues wrapped up very quickly with both her and Fiona’s father.

Sam wasn’t my fav love interest but I do think he had some endearing qualities and a lot of how he acted is how other men would act in the same situation so he did feel real as a character which I appreciated. I also liked that he was from Wisconsin.

Overall I think this makes a great summer read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I generally really enjoy a Katie Cotugno novel, but as this was her first foray into adult novels, I wasn't sure what to expect. Turns out, more of the same awesome as her YA! I admit, going in, the plot made me a wee bit hesitant- the lifestyle of Hollywood isn't really my jam, but as it turns out, neither is it the characters', so it worked out fine.

Fiona has spent the past few years trying to be as far from the Hollywood gaze as she possibly can, after a series of unfortunate paparazzi pieces made her the gossip of the town- and not in a good way. Sam is trying desperately to reignite his career after some disappointments. They're thrown back together when the opportunity is presented to reboot the show that made them both household names, Birds of California. Sam is fairly desperate to get Fiona involved, as the studio isn't interested without her, so he attempts to reconnect and convince her to rejoin the band.

Fiona, of course, shuts him down immediately, but also finds herself enjoying the time she's spending with Sam as a person, outside of the Hollywood bubble. It's also clear that Sam is enjoying spending time with Fiona, but we of course know that Sam does have some ulterior motives. Fiona knows this too, and is obviously skeptical, though she also is having trouble denying her feelings.

The story is very sweet, very full of heart and humor, and also a little heavy at times, which is just the way I like my contemporary stories, frankly. I loved Fiona's relationships with her sister and the woman next door, who is almost like a grandmother to them. I loved that Fiona was kind of forced to deal with a really rough time in her life that she kept trying to bury- because let's be real, that never works. I also like that Sam had to take a good look at his own life, and what he wanted from it.

While there was a lot of character growth, the ending did feel a bit rushed, which is my only qualm with the story. Because it involves such serious topics being worked out, I had kind of hoped for a bit more, but I also think that one of the biggest points was that Fiona needed to get to the place where she could talk about it- and that what happened as a result wasn't as necessary to the story as Fiona beginning to heal.

Bottom Line: I really fell in love with this heartfelt, charming story about what it takes to pick up the pieces and figure out who you want to be.

Where do I start with this one?

For the most part, I enjoyed the story! I like the idea of the plot, the writing is easy to read, and the entire set-up is on par for a classic contemporary romance (not to mention I'm obsessed with the cover design).

But the thing is, no matter how many times I thought, “Oh, I like this,” that feeling was almost always tainted by how much I didn't like Fiona. She's one massive ball of negativity. She's mean, abrasive, has a short temper, and just honestly treats everyone like crap. I get that she went through something super traumatic, but because she goes through literally zero character development, I really struggled to empathise with her. Not to mention the traumatic event barely gets addressed in the book, so that didn't help either.

I think if there had been some sort of resolution to what was making Fiona act out, in addition to her character developing and shown in a different light, my feelings about her would probably be different. But none of these things happen, so I'm just left feeling pretty resentful about her ruining what could have been a cute story.

Oh well.

Fiona & Sam ⁣
Second Chances ⁣
Friends to Lovers
Former child star and struggling actor
Hollywood post #Metoo ⁣
CW - past trauma (don't want to spoil anything), PTSD, cancer, depression
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This was my first book from Katie Cotugno and I read it in one sitting. I was completely swept up in this story and these characters but I was left a liiiiil bit wanting.There is so much here with Fiona and Sam, together and as individuals and I just wish we could have gotten more of their stories.

Synopsis

Former child actor Fiona St. James crashed and burned in front of everyone. The tabloids said she'd lost her mind. Years later Fiona believes her past is behind her, she’s working at her family’s print shop and hanging out with her younger sister and elderly neighbor. She is extremely private at this point in her life and has no desire to act again.

Sam Fox played her older brother on the television show Birds of California. He loves all the celebrity perks. His current show gets canceled and there is a call to revive Birds of California but the powers that be wont do it without Fiona.

Sam tracks her down and Fiona agrees to lunch together. What happens next takes them both by surprise. Long drives to the beach, late nights at dive bars . . . But then the other shoe drops, the shit hits the fan, and Fiona has to confront some stuff from her past that might end her and Sam.

Thank you to @katiecotugno and @Netgalley for providing me with a copy!

Kind of a lackluster read. It didn’t necessarily grab my attention like other books I’ve been reading.

I enjoyed this one. This is a dual-POV romance. Fiona St. James is a former child actor who has abandoned her acting career in Hollywood after she publicly lashes out (think screaming at paparazzi, drunk and disorderly conduct, verbal gaffes, etc.) Years have passed, with Fiona working in a printer shop and looking after her younger sister. Sam Fox played her older brother on what was once a popular TV show called Birds of California. When his show is cancelled and he becomes strapped for cash, he signs on for a Birds of California reboot, and is enlisted to try and convince Fiona to come back into the spotlight.

It turns out that Fiona has very good reasons for not wanting to participate in the revival, including avoiding the man who played her father on the show. But Fiona and Sam have chemistry and history together, and they grow closer of course. I really loved the development of the relationship here. This does have some heavy themes, so I would not label this as a romantic comedy, but the romance feels believable. It felt like it was Fiona and Sam against the world, but there was of course a lot of drama as Sam continues to try to convince Fiona to join the revival of the show.

TW: sexual harassment, alcohol abuse, drug use

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free advanced copy. I am OBSESSED with this book! Between the dark side of being a celebrity and child actor to the witty banter and the hot sex scenes? I loved it all and I honestly need to read it again soon. Fiona is such a strong woman who kicks butt and for her and Sam to meet again and fall for each other as they are now, with their histories, was beautiful. The cover is also gorgeous. Plus, so many parts of this book are hilarious despite some heavy subject matter at times.

Another lovable addition to Katie Cotugno's backlist. This story, like many of her others, is one that blends the aftermath of tragedy and how beauty in life can be found afterwards. Cotugno's ability to address serious topics while also managing to squeeze in laugh-out-loud moments is what makes her one of the greats. I can't wait to see what she has in store next.

I ... I'm not sure. Honestly, this book feels unfinished? It also feels very much like a YA novel masquerading as an adult romance, and while I know New Adult is a category, it somehow didn't fit that either.

All I know for certain is that I wanted more. Fiona was an incredibly complex character, yet it felt like we only just scratched the surface with her and everything she went through, and she and the rest of the cast felt largely two-dimensional. Furthermore, Fee had this big traumatic, icky thing she's been dealing with for years and then it was just kind of ... revealed? And then the book ended? Like, the reader can puzzle it out easily far prior to when she actually mentions it herself, but I just feel like this topic needed so much more time and care and discussion. For as much as I loved Fiona, I felt like I didn't know her, and it makes me sad when I look back on that.

Also Sam was a stereotypical Hollywood douche-canoe and honestly didn't deserve an ounce of Fee's time, which, to be fair we didn't get to learn much about him either so I could be type-casting him, but I DIGRESS.

Look, there was something about this book that kept me hooked seeing as I read it in like, a day (aside from the fact that it was so short), and I think it was largely Cotugno's writing, because she has whip smart humor and sarcasm, and the banter was on point, but when I finished I was just ... whelmed (yes, that's a 10 Things reference, deal with it) and I wish I had gotten just ... more. This could have been an amazing story and, while I did enjoy it and laughed and highlighted a couple lil passages, it just fell flat in the end. It didn't quite satisfy me, but I also didn't NOT like it either, ya know? It just kind of happened.

I do think, however, if you're looking for a quick story about former castmates on a cancelled ABC Family-like show who reenter one another's orbit due to a potential reboot and then kind of sort of fall in love, I definitely think you should give it a try. Just be cautious and understand this is going to read like a YA novel (even though it's not) and it's going to just be largely surface-level.

[Thank you to Harper Perennial and Netgalley for my review copy of this book]

First, thank you to the publisher for providing me an ARC. As always, I absolutely appreciate it.

This was a very relevant and topical story surrounding Hollywood, the dark dealings that young stars deal with, and how femme folk are treated in Western society. I really liked those elements and thought the book could've just been that and may have been a tad stronger for it.

Then there was the romance. Of course, the readers don't see the whole past relationship but the characters have known each other for years, drifted apart and then came back together. Even so, the relationship felt a bit rushed. I didn't love Fiona and Sam together.

There's a lot that's not answered here and that's always a mix of enjoyment for readers. Didn't bother me too much, but I think that may disappoint some.

I was instantly attracted to the gorgeous cover for this book and ended up really enjoying it. This was a Hollywood romance between two former co-stars who are reunited as Sam, struggling to make it big after his show gets cancelled, is tasked with convincing Fiona to return to the spotlight and sign on for the reboot of their old show. Sam quickly realizes it's going to be a hard sell as Fiona has no interest in returning, ESPECIALLY if it involves working with her former director. I loved seeing these two reconnect and learn more about each other beyond the assumptions they'd made. Perfect for fans of Twice in a blue moon by Christina Lauren. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.

CW: sexual abuse of a minor

I could not put this down. I adore books about Hollywood and actors and while this was not a breezy rom-com, it has a lot of humor interspersed with some very heavy topics.

Fiona St James is a former teen star, whose antics and public lashing out led to her show, Birds of California, being cancelled. Since then, she’s largely remained hidden working in a family business and doing local community theater under a fake name.

Sam played Fiona’s older brother and left the show before it’s end to explore other opportunities. When those stopped coming, he is now desperate to revive his career, pay his debt and help take care of his mother who is sick.

Fiona is dead set against doing a reboot and Sam has been tasked with changing her mind. But instead has found how much he enjoys her company instead.

Fiona is a mess. After a trauma that I believe was not a surprise when revealed, her impulsive behavior spiraled and she still struggles to control it even today.

The way that people and paparazzi feel they can say whatever they want or put their hands on women was really incredible and makes you stop and think.

I also feel that Sam was a mess. He had blown all his money and was too worried about attention. He was at times embarrassed by her and worried she would hurt his career which I can see but it detracted from the romance for me a bit. A tiny bit.

When it was over, I truly wanted more but was happy for Fiona to get to tell her truth and find contentment with her small, but loyal, group of family, friends and loved ones.

Lots of potential CW in this one so check those out if you need them.

I really enjoyed this one so much. Funny, serious, steamy it had it all. It read similar to a YA book but with sexy times.

Thank you to NetGalley for my gifted arc to read and review.

More and more, the hot mess characters are my favorite. I love how messy and relatable their lives are, even if their life is so unlike my own. I was thrilled to receive 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐀 by Katie Cotugno, her adult debut to read and review thanks to Harper Perennial + NegGalley.

Fiona grew up a child actress — from beloved sweetheart to a teen with a tumultuous ending to her career that caught the attention of press and fans alike. Years later, she’s asked to return for a reboot and he previous costar and teenage crush Sam shows up unexpectedly to try to convince her to.

I loved the details Cotugno added with the birds and florals, adding beauty and deeper meaning to the struggles of each of our characters. Having read her YA titles, I was thrilled to see her take on these tougher topics (***readers be aware of the trigger warnings + content in this title) I really enjoyed how it was written in the dual POV as both characters came to terms with their past, and find one another in a new role.

“There’s a part of her that wants to keep fighting —to end this now, to get it over with once and for all— but she’s surprised to find that another, bigger part of her just wants to hold on.”

Thanks to Harper Perennial for the free book.
I think books about fictional past Hollywood stars can be either hit or miss for me, and this one was more miss than hit. I liked how Fiona was strong in her conviction to never act again. She knew who she was and what she wanted. My problems were with the keeping the reader in the dark for so long. I think the story would've been so much more powerful if the things revealed in the last 5% had taken the last 35% instead. Sam's story also didn't feel complete. The reader always knew what was going on with him, and his ending is left very ambiguous. I liked these characters, I just wanted so much more from this story.