Double Exposure
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Ugh another not so great NetGalley backlist read 🙄 I love the cover on this book, it really pulled me in, but honestly what I liked kinda stops there. I found this one boring, the characters were one dimensional, I didn’t really feel like the story was evolving, it was really just listening to eight hours of two people dating, breaking up, thinking of each other while dating other people, drug use….and repeat. 🥱 I just was not invested in the story one bit. Celebrity romances aren’t my first choice, but I definitely think there are better ones! It tried to be deep, but I just wasn’t buying it. Once again, if I read the e-arc I originally got, I would have dnfed. ⭐️⭐️
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Thank you Elissa R Sloan, NetGalley, and William Morrow Paperback for the e-arc, it’s out now for you to try!

I think the story had an enticing premise—an insider’s look at celebrity culture, scandal, and the blurred line between truth and perception - it was the execution that lost me.

Sloan’s writing had moments of real insight, especially when exploring the emotional toll of being in the public eye. The themes of control and exploitation were really intriguing but the structure (multiple timelines and formats) made the story really choppy for me and hard to stay immersed. There were moments that hooked me completely and others that felt distant or uneven. Ultimately, it is a thought-provoking read that doesn't quite reach its full “romance” potential.

2.5 rounded up
**Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the ARC and the chance to read and review. All opinions are my own**

If you're into behind-the-scenes celebrity drama and second-chance romance, this one could hit the spot. It follows Maiko and Adrian—Hollywood’s golden couple—as fame fractures their relationship, and then life keeps throwing them back together

The writing pulls you into that L.A. swirl, though I found it predictable at times and the dialogue occasionally felt flat . That said, there's a deeper emotional core here: tough topics like career burnout, grief, and the clash between personal growth and public image
goodreads.com
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Ultimately, it’s a thoughtful look at timing and transformation more than a glossy Hollywood fantasy. If you like swoony, slightly melancholic character journeys wrapped in celeb culture, give it a try.

Double Exposure by Elissa R. Sloan is a sharp, nostalgic look at the dark side of early 2000s fame. It unpacks secrets, romance, friendship, and the cost of being in the spotlight. The pacing is tight, and the pop culture references hit just right. It’s emotional and heavy at times - I recommend looking into trigger warnings before picking this one up if there are topics you prefer to avoid (although they are handled with care).. Overall, compared to her previous books, this one feels more mature and layered, while still delivering the drama fans love.

Double Exposure by Elissa R. Sloan is a mesmerizing dive into the glitz and glamour of early 2000s Hollywood, peeling back the polished veneer to reveal the haunting truths lurking beneath. Sloan masterfully captures the intoxicating allure of fame—the red carpets, flashing cameras, and designer-clad friendships—while exposing the exploitation, betrayals, and toll of life in the spotlight. With a little bit of romance thrown in, this poignant blend of nostalgia and drama is perfect for readers fascinated by the dazzling yet complex world of Hollywood.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Double Exposure by Elissa R. Sloan!

The story of right person wrong time. Lots of back-and-forth second chance romance. There are quite a few trigger warnings, so be sure to look those up before reading the book for yourself.

One of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors! Elissa R. Sloan is such a talented writer and I wholeheartedly enjoy her trips into nostalgia and fame every chance I get. This is Sloan's first romance and while it might not be the steamy fest that the more seasoned romance fans amongst us are looking for I loved watching this relationship unfold and exploring a new side of Sloan's writing. Hands down one of my favorite authors writing today and I will always come back to her!

DOUBLE EXPOSURE is the latest novel by Elissa R Sloan, telling the story of Maiko and Adrian, actors who meet many times throughout their adulthood and navigate friendship, love, loss, and more.

I enjoyed elements of this story - I really felt the chemistry between Maiko and Adrian, and I thought Sloan deftly navigated a variety of tricky topics. However, at times I had trouble with the dialogue and plot elements, ultimately resulting in a bit of a disappointing experience. Likely a great read for some but not one that I will return to or recommend strongly.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It goes from the perspective of the two main characters and how they met and how their journeys have intertwined over the years.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I think the author, Elissa R. Sloan, did an excellent job with the characters and plot line of the novel. I found myself thoroughly enthralled from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down. It was and fascinating story about Maiko and Adrian that dealt with some deep subjects. I recommend this one to other readers.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and William Morrow

This was one of those books that I devoured in only two or three sittings. The story of Maiko and Adrian had me hooked from the start. While I thought some of the dialogue was a bit off and the ending felt a bit rushed compared to the whole story, this was an entertaining story that delved into deep and emotional topics.

A love a good Hollywood behind-the-scenes story and that's what we get in Double Exposure.

We see the relationship between Maiko Fox and Adrian Hightower a young, beautiful power couple in Hollywood and what led to their unfortunate break-up. We see Maiko and Adrian from their meet cute and their rise to stardom, and fall for one. I liked being able to see the transformation of the relationship between the two characters over numerous years. They seemed like two magnets that were always forced together, even when they didn't want to be. Although I enjoyed the story overall, I did wish that the writing went a little further into the story than we got. The struggles both face felt very surface level. I thought Elissa could have gone further into how both characters overcame the struggles in their individual lives and their life together when they were a couple. The ending was also a little too neat for my liking. I don't need a nice bow on top of all of my stories, but I know a lot of readers do.

I like that Elissa has found a niche for herself writing about the darker side of fame in her novels. I'm here for it and any novels she writes in the future.

Thank you to William Morrow for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

This is my second book by this author as I am a sucker for anything that touches the pop culture realm. They both have been good, but I do think they are missing something that takes them to the next level.

This book was SO good! I really loved the characters, Adrian and Maiko were both fallible people but very lovable. I loved how this book handled abortion, I thought that was really special. There was no shame, it felt really real. I love books about famous people, so hearing about the two of them move up in the spotlight was really fun. I highly recommend this book. Vibe wise, it kind of reminded me of Tia William's Seven Days in June. It was so emotional and good. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC!

Double Exposure by Elissa R Sloan was such a great read. I had so much fun reading this one. I was invested in the story line from beginning to end. The characters all seemed really well fleshed out and dimensional. I loved reading the perspective of both main characters throughout the book. A big issue I have with romance novels is how cringey it can get, but this book never gave me the ick, and that's saying a lot. Another characteristic of a good book for me is the chapter lengths. Double Exposure got an A+ on that for me.

Without getting into spoilers- I do wish that the author spent more time on the heavier subject matter, it felt a bit more like a reporting rather than a personal storyline in that sense. I also feel like the ending was a bit rushed, I would've like a little bit more depth into that, However, the rest of the book was perfect to me so I won't complain too much.

Overall, I did love "Madrians" love. Also the spice level was perfect.
I definitely recommend this book for romance lovers and cringe haters.

Following the characters through struggles with addiction, unexpected pregnancies, and personal trauma, I felt drawn into their world and couldn’t look away. Thanks a lot for the ARC! ♥

I was really excited about this book after hearing about it on social media. I really liked parts of this book, and I wanted to keep reading and had to find out how it would resolve, but there was also quite a bit that did not work for me.

I felt like it was trying to take on too much -- infertility, emotional and physical abuse, abortion, addiction, grief just to name a few. Some of the dialog felt like an after school special as the characters addressed these sensitive topics.

I did find myself caring tremendously for Maiko and Adrian. I really wanted the best for them, despite often wanting to shake some sense in to them.

I love reading books about Hollywood and all the parts in the movie industry were very interesting. I loved the news articles and online comments sprinkled in the novel, and I also loved what a large scope of time it covered.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

This one started out really strong for me, I really enjoyed the first 25% or so of this one and was very invested. However, it went downhill quickly from there.

The book was so surface level and the dialog was terrible. This book could have been really good because the plot was very interesting but the characters felt really underdeveloped. Somehow, I did still enjoy the book but I think that is solely because of the plot.

At times it felt like an after school special. This book tackled abortion, miscarriages, infertility, death/grief, and domestic violence and doesn’t do a very good job of addressing any of it.

I can’t say I’d recommend this one- I did actually like it but it just wasn’t well done.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the arc .

While the life of a celebrity is one few will experience, I found this to be a beautiful journey of love, loss, growth, and healing. Mind your triggers, but I absolutely believe this to be a journey many, women in particular, can relate to.

Straight out of the gate, heavy women's topics are a reoccurring element. We get a women's perspective through Maiko's experiences, and we get a males perspective from Adrian as his partners deal with these huge life events.
This book is heavy. I had a bizarre and overwhelming sense of temperature, color, and taste while experiencing the ups and downs of this story.

"Madrian." New. Beautiful. Their age and hunger for their careers, coupled with the modeling and movie industry standards made this period feel hot and cold. An acquired taste, like green olives, caviar or brown ale. Many shades of blues and spikes of pink and red.
"Collaboration." Very bittersweet. Maiko and Adrian, for all intents and purposes, are thriving. This period for them, to me, felt like sugar-free candy and that diet that just isn't yielding results. You're healthier for it, but you're not satisfied. Luke warm coffee, muted yellows, and oranges.
"Sparrow." This period felt like one big bruise. Truth and reality are riddled with loss, uncertainty, and suppressed feelings. Very cold, dark reds and purples, wine after a long day, and gluttonous desserts.
"Maiko and Adrian." At their darkest, it felt as if someone turned on the light. All colors became vibrant, food became richer, and warmth finally seeps in.

This book reads as if it were a movie. I can't help but believe it to be intentional, but if not, I'm impressed nonetheless! The timeline spans twenty years. Twenty! Not once did I feel that the pace was rushed or did I find it to be lacking. Again, impressed!