4.5 stars, rounded up!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC! I was in a bit of a reading slump, trudging through my previous book over nearly a week. I INHALED this book, starting it in the evening of one day and finishing it the evening of the next. The premise was interesting and entertaining and STRESSFUL, but it added to the plot of the story and kept me engaged.

I loved the chemistry that Emmy and Jason had from the moment they laid eyes on each other. The hugs, the dances and Tiktok songs, the sci-fi references, the fade-to-black sexiness, and watching two very different people fall in love made this the perfect rom-com. I will add to this review once I've reviewed my highlights, and will expound more on what I LOVED in this fun, celebrity/forbidden romance. :)

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really loved this one! I am not the best at writing reviews sometimes, but sometimes books take you by surprise and this one did just that. I got invested a few chapters in and couldn't put it done. It was so good! I highly recommend this one. Excellent romance!

As someone who has had the same celebrity crush for an embarrassing amount of time 🤣.. I was really excited to read this book. Imagining falling in love with your celebrity crush can be a fun thing to think about. I liked the characters and general plot of this but at times it fell flat for me. The writing was a little awkward to me at times, some of the jokes and banter were a little weird. This was a little too “insta love” for me and I wish we got more buildup between the couple. I wanted more flirting, cute dates, and interaction between them. I wasn’t completely sold on the relationship in this and towards the end I kind of thought this girl kinda treated her celebrity crush like dirt and they were both kind of awful. I enjoyed this and reading it was a good time.. just not something I loved.

This book was a super fun addition to my current "celebrity romcom" kick! I laughed out loud so many times and loved all of the celebrity talk show chats and texts interspersed with the regular chapters. They were so clever. There were enough twists to keep me guessing. A delightful debut from an author who clearly loves celebrities and all things pop culture (like me).

This book was fun and fast paced! Emmy Ellison has written a book that has taken the world by storm, when it is leaked that the details of the book are based on a current celebrity. With the help of a talk show, the celebrity crush is revealed and Emmy Ellison gets the chance to meet her celebrity crush in person. Jake and Emmy team up together, when Jake hires Emmy to help him fix his social media persona. The two of them together became a dynamic team that I enjoyed watching unfold during the story. The chemistry they had together was so sweet and supportive. I couldn't help but find myself rooting for them! I also had the opportunity to listen to this book and thought that the narrators were great! They allowed the book to come alive! Thank you to Forever Pub for an advanced audio copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I really wanted to love this book.
Celebrity romance, sign me up! However I didn't connect with the characters. I found them to be extremely juvenile, even though they are both adults and each have a kid.
I really had high hopes for this, but the execution just wasn't there. It leaned more on the cringy side as opposed to fun and enjoyable.
Overall it wasn't for me.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central), Christy Swift and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Celebrity Crush publishes on February 11, 2025.

This charming and witty romance novel is a delightful escape for readers who adore stories with strong, career-driven heroines and captivating, heartthrob actor heroes. Filled with lighthearted humor and swoon-worthy moments, this book is perfect for anyone seeking a feel-good, romantic read with a touch of Hollywood glamour. The captivating chemistry between the ambitious heroine and the charismatic actor will leave you enchanted and eagerly turning the pages. With its engaging plot, sparkling dialogue, and irresistible charm, this book is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and anyone who dreams of a fairytale ending amidst the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world.

I went into this with the impression it was going to be a fun fake dating romance between a romance author and the actor staring in the movie adaptation of her novel.
Spoiler alert, it’s absolutely not.

This was purely insta-lust between two of the most flat and unlikable characters with zero redeeming qualities.
I did not feel that there was any believable chemistry or connection between the characters outside of physical appearance. Not to mention the fact that their relationship was incredibly toxic.

I’m all for messy relationships, drama and secrets but this was executed very poorly and the characters came across very unbelievable and immature.

It felt like this book was trying to be way too many things at once and it did not pan out. It was very repetitive and the constant celebrity name dropping was annoying. The repeated use of the phrase “thank god and Tom Hanks” was… a choice.

As a reader, this book did not feel like it was well planned or outlined at all. I think it would greatly benefit from some revision and a clear sense of what story the author is trying to tell.

I think if it was advertised more accurately, this book could potentially reach its target audience. Unfortunately that is not me.

Thank you Forever publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Story Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice Meter: 1/5 🌶 (Closed door/fade to black)

Celebrity Crush was a sweet, humorous, entertaining story!

The romance between Emmy and Jason was cute, and they shared great banter. It was obvious they were attracted to each other; They had that spark. They were, however, immature at times, and I found the development of a deeper connection was slightly lacking.

Overall, Celebrity Crush was a delightful read. It was lighthearted and charming. If you enjoy pop culture, celebrity gossip, and the celebrity/fan romance trope, be sure to check out this debut rom-com.

Release Date: February 11, 2025


______
*Complimentary ARC for review provided by Forever. All opinions expressed here are honest and entirely my own.

Genre:
Rom-com

Tropes:
Celebrity MMC
Single Parents
Closed Door/Fade to Black

DNF'd at 25%.

At the beginning, I was kicking my little nerd feet that we started off with a Star Trek reference - a romance author whose Venn diagram of interests overlaps with mine! But then I quickly realized that if a reader were to play a "take a drink each time you come across a pop culture reference" game with this book...they would die in the first few chapters. I couldn't get attached to anyone or the plot because I was too busy hopping from reference to reference.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the arc, sorry it just wasn't for me!

2.25 stars because while there are a lot of problems, I had fun for a bit and I think the writing on a sentence level was pretty good

This was an interesting one for me because for a good portion of the book I was thinking "okay this is cheesy and cringey but I'm having fun, probably 4 stars" but then about 75% in the 3rd act breakup happens and they are so mean to each other for a while after. I felt the last 25% of the book ruined all of the character and relationship development completely. And then I was explaining this book to some friends and had some more thoughts...

OK spoilers incoming so look away now. The TV show the MMC is on is called Lost Star Dance Troupe Saves the Universe and it is exactly the title...a sci-fi show about dancers saving the universe through dance? And isn't like just marketed to kids ala The Wiggles? I cannot imagine HOW a show like that has multiple seasons (but also I would watch at least one episode lol). And then the movie adaptation of a very common romance novel turns out to be a musical with Duran Duran songs? What? WHAT?! And the author wasn't even aware of that until she goes to the studio near the end of the filming? And also there was this really cringey hug competition at this huge Hollywood party between all of the guys in the show with the FMC that ended so strangely because the show runners were there and the MMC didn't want them to see him being lovely to her? The Venn diagram video was also so weird like why did she have to explain what it is so many times? And why is Hugh Jackman such a pinnacle of manliness/romance in this book? When I think of a swoony celebrity, Hugh Jackman can't even crack the top 10.

OK now the breakup catalyst, she jumps off a yacht to save a dog in the ocean and he just abandons her because his ex girlfriend announces her pregnancy AT A PARTY, ON A MICROPHONE. Why is the fact that someone just JUMPED OFF THE YACHT not a huge ordeal at this moment? Then she gets out and is basically told by someone else that she can't talk to the MMC because TMZ has photos of the MCs topless and hooking up in his backyard that everyone thinks she sent in even though there is nothing in this woman's life that would make anyone think she would send in photos of her mid 30s mom boobs out into a gossip rag, she is an author and in NO WAY do I think that would be a good look for her. But nobody believes she didn't do it and I cannot wrap my head around that. Sure her agent or publicist was saying they should use their relationship to get her book some press but the only things she posted were very not scandalous things they agreed to together or one single photo of her drinking a smoothie with bed head and a blurry MMC in the background. So the MMC seems to get back together with his pregnant ex even though she is still with some other guy AND he doesn't even think the baby is his.

Now months later its time for the movie press tour and the MCs meet again. She has tried to tell him multiple times it wasn't her that sent these photos in and he won't believe her. They are doing this game show together and they are both being outright hostile and vicious ON CAMERA to each other. He even says to her that his goal is to tank this press tour and get the LA premiere cancelled. At this point, I am NOT rooting for a reconciliation. He is also WASTED and drinking from a flask constantly ON A TALK SHOW EVEN. She drives him home because again, he is trashed. She tells him again she didn't send in the photos and shows him the smoothie photo she posted and suddenly he believes her and decides he wants her back. She says no and just leaves even though this has been all she wanted while they were apart?

OH AND I forgot that she wrote this scene in her book about the guy getting into a bar fight and getting arrested which happened in his realm life and was buried so nobody really knew about it. But everyone know he was the inspiration for this book and with the smallest amount of digging, anyone could have found that out. THIS would have been a much more believable reason for the breakup and for him being fired from this dance show (which he blamed her for because of the hook up photos).

So to get her back he does this incredibly public flash mob with all kinds of his fans there which I'm sorry but that is so manipulative in this case. They get back together and dance a salsa? But then the pregnant ex girlfriend there with her boyfriend who, get this, is not only the actual father of the baby but is ALSO the father to the FMC's 12 year old daughter that she NEVER TOLD HIM ABOUT. And this pregnant ex starts going in to labor at this weird flash mob event thing and tells the MMC "oh its not actually your baby" and he's just like "ok cool" but now they have half siblings together which is kind of a huge deal?? WHAT IS HAPPENING?? So much random things happen in this book that could've used more time to be fleshed out (or cut entirely) but instead we keep talking about Marvel actors and Hugh Jackman...

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC

Celebrity Crush is the debut novel from Christy Swift and I was anxious to read it after reading the blurb.

Emmy Ellison has always wanted to make it in Hollywood, but life had other plans many years ago. Now she's written a book inspired by her celebrity crush and due to it going viral, it has now been picked up and is being turned into a movie!

Emmy ends up meeting her celebrity crush while doing press for the upcoming adaptation. It turns out her crush is cast as the leading man in the movie version of the book. They start spending time together and they realize they have more in common than originally thought. Will a real-life romance work or is it a showmance?

I enjoyed this book, as it was a nice departure for me from real life. It was cute and a fairly quick read!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

DNF @13%

Take a shot every time the FMC mentions how her life would have been if she had made it in Hollywood. Oh. You're 10 pages in and already drunk? Sorry.

This book was just too cringe to continue. The MMC read like such a dude bro and the FMC was embarrassing. The writing was not for me.

I really liked this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect but the story had good pacing with each character having their own personality and issues. I liked how Emmy and Jason both had their struggles and connected over helping each other’s careers. I also liked the push and pull Emmy felt to keep the momentum going for attention while still trying to be understanding to Jason and his situation. It was fun seeing Emmy outside her comfort zone and them both realizing exactly what they want. That ending was a bit extra but it was still a cool story to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

ARC/ALC BOOK REIVEW

Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift

Thank you Forever and Negalley for the #free eARC and ALC of this book!

SYNOPSIS: “Author Emmy Ellison is a sucker for a page-turning happy ending, but she’s no longer counting on one for herself. If she stays focused on her career goals instead of her love life, she just might find success. And now that her latest novel is about to become a movie, she’s determined to become the latest social media sensation.

When her secret celebrity crush (the real-life inspiration for her romantic hero) accepts the starring role in the big-screen adaptation of her book, she’s determined to team up with a fake dating scheme—now that he’s in need of some good PR of his own. Ideally, she can ride the wave of popularity all the way to the top of the bestseller lists. But when the harsh spotlight of fame exposes the truth, will they try to turn their on-camera chemistry into a real-life relationship?”

REVIEW: If you like celebrity gossip magazines and a comfortable, predictable romance, this book is for you! While I did not love it, it still had all of the wonderful underpinnings that I look for in a romance.

Overall, the plot was charming and fun, which is exactly what I look for in this type of story. It was an easy, feel-good read, but I found myself wanting more from the plot. I’m all for predictable and easy but this plot was just too perfectly wrapped up.

Unfortunately, I found our two MCs to be a bit hard to root for. However, the side characters were very engaging!

The constant space and nerd references were too heavy-handed and just far too much for my taste. While I love a punny moment in a romcom, there is art in subtly.

Publisher: @foreverpub
Pub date: 2/11/25

A Rom-com in book for. This book had everything you would see in a Rom-com movie, from the viral TikToks that catch the attention of big time celebrities, to the leaked revealing photo drama. I will say the random "vlog" from outside the story were a bit harder to follow at times but they don't take away from the story.

I received this ARC from publishers via Netgalley

#CelebrityCrush #NetGalley

DNF @ 48% (review reflects only the portion read)

I had high hopes for this one. Celebrity Crush by Cristy Swift is a contemporary romance about a writer who's book goes viral when she talks about who the MC is inspired by. Emmy Ellison once had big dreams, now she would settle for meeting her career goals and seeing her daughter happy. When a poll about who her celebrity crush and the inspiration for her new love interest goes viral, Emmy is swept away in book promotions and interviews. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she'd actually get to meet her crush or hang out with him in real life.

I liked Emmy and Jason. The POV alternates between them throughout the book which is my favorite style for these contemporary romances as the reader gets to see when both characters fall for the other. Together they make a good team. They have great chemistry and banter is on point. There are some funny moments that had me laughing out loud, and I loved Emmy's daughter and best friend.

Where I struggled to connect with the story was the immaturity of both characters. Emmy and Jason are in their thirties here, yet a lot of what they do, what they say, or how they act is more reminiscent of late teens or early twenties. I had a hard time connecting with them as a result. There was also a lot of references to social media which is to be expected in this day and age, but some of the references felt out of place and took me out of the story. By mid-way through the book, the immaturity and how the characters seemed to be using each other for their own gain instead of falling for each other made me realize this book wasn't for me. Maybe I'm just getting too old for these types of contemporaries?

If you are a fan of sweet romance and romantic comedy, you may have better luck with this one than I did.

This was a lighthearted, Hollywood actor x romance author debut romcom that made me laugh and delivered an emotional punch to boot. Single mom turned author, Emmy Ellison never expected to get to meet her celebrity crush IRL but when fans uncover he's the one she based her book's hero on, the PR team takes advantage, flying her out to LA to meet him and help promote her book. What follows is a whirlwind weekend together that blows up in her face. Can they salvage both their images and find true love in the end? Good on audio, this fade to black romance was cute and fun, the perfect snack for a February romance. Looking forward to seeing what Christy Swift writes next. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift was a cute, fairly lighthearted celebrity romance. Emmy Ellison is a romance author whose debut novel was inspired by her celebrity crush—and the world wants to know which heartthrob was her inspiration. When she finally meets him in person, in front of a live studio audience, no less, her crush kicks up a notch. He’s a walking PR nightmare—but he’s trying to turn over a new leaf and clean up his act. So Emmy decides to help him out with some social media promotional posts. He will come across as relatable and her book gets even more exposure. But will this crush turn into something more lasting?

Read this if you love single parent romances, celebrity romances, and romances that involve authors of romance books. There is some on page smooching, but it’s more fade-to-black than I expected. (Not a bad thing, just a thing.)

Did I *love* it? Was I 100% invested in their relationship? No. There was a big secret she was keeping from him and I never like that particular micro-trope, and I don’t love jealous exes who are lying liars, but it was a cute enough read and I enjoyed reading it. Thank you to Forever Romance for my ARC.

Is Emmy in love with her celebrity crush?

Author Emmy Ellison never thought that her dream of having a New York bestselling romance and signing a movie deal for her book would ever happen. But now she was Los Angeles meeting the guys from her favorite sci-fi dance TV show on a talk show and hopefully avoiding telling everybody exactly which of them is her actual celebrity crush.

Emmy hoped to use her crush on Jason Connor to help increase sales of her book but her plans changed when he was cast as the lead in the movie version and the more she was around him helping him with relatable videos to help the movie. But was Jason really in love with her or was he just using her to improve his image like her last time in Los Angles.

If you love romances with a lot of current pop culture, you need to read how Emmy fell in love with her celebrity crush Jason.

P.S. I would love to see a sci-fi dance TV show!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.