I really wanted to love this one, but it was a miss for me unfortunately.

The premise is great, and I generally LOVE a celebrity romance!
I enjoyed it at first, thought it was cute.

Ultimately I didn’t feel like I connected with either of the main characters - it lacked depth.
I found certain bits to be problematic as well.
The chapters that started with the podcast were super cringey, especially in audio.

🎧audiobook thoughts:
Stephanie Willing + Andrew Eiden (aka Teddy Hamilton) are both fantastic as Emmy & Jason, which is why I didn’t DNF this one.
I enjoyed their narration, and just kept hoping for the story to turn around.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Hachette Audio & NetGalley for advanced copies.
All opinions are my own.

Emmy wanted to have a fabulous Hollywood career but she got pregnant and left LA before she had a chance to become a break into the industry as a writer. Now, mom to a teenager, Emmy writes a book using a fictitious version of her celebrity crush as the male lead character and it's a huge success and is going to be made into a movie - sending her back to LA. Once her crush is been exposed on live TV she schemes to have a fake relationship with him which also helps him since he has had some bad PR lately. Of course as in all romance novels - the fake relationship leads to complications.
This was a cute novel (a really fun audiobook) but it was a bit too far fetched for me to fully get into. The "chemistry" between them had no real build up so I couldn't buy into it. I enjoyed that the characters were slightly older and both had kids but that also added to my issue with their decision making. The narrator was my favorite part of the reading/listening experience for me and therefore I was absolutely entertained during the listen (might have done some laundry to continue to listen) but just didn't love the story in the end.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Forever Pub and NetGalley for the ARC to review

i don’t think i was the targeted audience for this one unfortunately, but i can appreciate it nonetheless.
i’m unsure if i am too young or too old for this type of content?? but regardless

basically - it’s based off of a girl who’ve writes a book about her life if she was with her celebrity crush. she’s a social media influencer, uses a lot of hashtags, memes, vlogs, etc. the book gets famous & she admits to who her crush was. they end up having to hang out due to the book & movie tour. a bunch of misunderstandings lead to her wanting to use him for fame? it gets misconstrued. they end up realizing the like each other and both meant no harm. then they end up together.

i found the characters to be slightly underdeveloped :( i didn’t have any connection to any of the characters
i wasn’t very convinced by the connection between the two characters and i wasn’t invested in anything that happened during the plot really.

it is giving the sent vibe as the lodge, which i read last month, but i feel that book did convey the plot better.

i maybe found this just too cringey? i guess. the hashtags & memes & vlogs maybe were just a bit much and i just did not catch the vibe unfortunately

but thank you netgallery for this arc!!!!!!

3.5 stars

Anyone who enjoys messy celebrity romances with morally grey characters will eat this up!

Emmy is an author whose wildest dream is coming true: her longtime crush, famous actor Jason, is going to be playing the hero in the screen adaptation of her novel! The two wind up promoting the book and film together, where the lines blur and they can no longer tell what's for the cameras and what's in their hearts!

I found this to be very entertaining! It's exactly how I would envision life to feel if I were a writer getting pulled into Hollywood. The tabloids! The viral photos! The gossip! It all felt a bit chaotic, which gave it an authenticity. Christy Swift doesn't shy away from giving the reader multi-faceted characters who have serious skeletons in their closets. As someone who tends to prefer the more straight-laced types of characters, this was out of the box for me, but I found it refreshing nonetheless. I enjoyed the slow burn. Many people will appreciate the fact that it's on the lower spice end in terms of love scenes.

I look forward to seeing what Christy Swift does in the future!

Trigger warnings: emergency c-section, cheating

I'd like to thank Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 rounded up

This was cute but a bit cringy. I really enjoyed the main storyline. Emmy and Jason’s social media campaign was super cute. They had a nice banter and good chemistry between them. But the fact that they moved so quickly in their relationship was a turn off for me. Especially when you add two kids into the mix.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever publishing for this ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you enjoy a good celebrity romance, I believe you will enjoy this romance. You have a little bit of everything with a celebrity crush (obviously), comedy galore and lots of drama, but that is to be expected as it is Hollywood.

Emmy Ellison has written a book. Her main character is based on her favorite television star. Hollywood heart thr0b Jason is one of stars on one of her favorite television shows. When her agent gets her a spot on a talk show to promote her book, she is surprised to find that she is about to meet the man of her dreams, as well as a few other hunky men from the same show. This meeting blows up into something she never imagined could come true thanks to social media.

Although this was what most would consider a cute romance, it did have some substance as you learn more about the characters and how they arrived where they are today. There were definitely plenty of humorous scenes and side characters that you will love. I love reading about the glamour and glitz of Hollywood, and this book has that in spades. If you want serious romance without any imagination, you will not enjoy this one. But I say enjoy the ride of these fictional characters as they find themselves in a place they never dreamt possible.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I wanted to love Celebrity Crush, especially because Forever publishing has fantastic debuts coming out beginning of 2025. However; I found the characters to be immature and was not enjoying the dialogue in the first 10 percent of the book. Unfortunately, this book was not for me but it may be for those who enjoy cheesy celebrity romances. I will give Swift another try with her next novel!

Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift has an exciting premise—what if you got to date your celebrity crush? Romance author Emmy Ellison gets that chance when her book, inspired by her favorite actor Jason Connor, is turned into a movie starring him. To boost their careers, they agree to a fake dating scheme, but things quickly get complicated.

While the concept is fun, the execution fell flat for me. Emmy and Jason’s relationship lacked depth, relying more on attraction than meaningful connection. Their decisions often felt immature, which was frustrating, especially since they both have kids. The pacing was uneven—some parts dragged while others felt rushed. The side characters were forgettable, and the fake dating aspect wasn’t well developed.

That said, the book had some charm, humor, and pop culture references that fans might enjoy. It had potential but ultimately didn’t keep me invested in the romance.

This was a fun concept (who among us has not had a celebrity crush, and who among writers has not dabbled in or read fanfiction)? The MMC had the same name as my dad, which was deeply upsetting for obvious reasons 😂

I was so frustrated with their communication (or lack thereof) - everyone talked to them about each other but neither of THEM were honest with each other until it was too late, multiple times! Everyone was a villain. Also does the babysitter go to jail?? I need more information

After romance author Emmy Ellison meets her celebrity crush (and the inspiration for her novel) Jason Connor, she can’t believe her good fortune. With Emmy’s popularity on the rise, Jason agrees to star in the move version of her book but what happens when a harmless celebrity crush turns into something more?

Celebrity romances are usually my jam but unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. I’ll start by saying I did enjoy the pop culture references and liked how social media was incorporated into the story. In our society, social media is a major factor in how people perceive image so it makes sense that Emmy and Jason would utilize these platforms to further their careers.

As for my biggest gripe, I avidly disliked both of the main characters and couldn’t get invested in their relationship. Emmy and Jason's entire connection is built on insta-lust and they never seem to go deeper than their initial attraction. Their chemistry isn’t well established so by the time they finally got together I simply didn’t care. I also couldn’t get behind the fact that their first interaction hinged on how good of a hugger Jason was. This was one of many instances where their actions came across as juvenile despite both characters being well into adulthood.

Emmy and Jason's decision making was worrisome especially when you consider the fact that they both have kids. They were acting like petulant children themselves half the time and I was uncomfortable with how little they thought about their children while integrating themselves into each others lives. For example, the morning after Emmy spends the night at Jason's, she comes into the kitchen wearing a t-shirt and underwear. As Jason makes her breakfast and thirsts over her we find out that his young son is present for the entire scene! It felt like he was added as an afterthought and that unsettled me. The children in this book were used as devices to give Emmy and Jason weightier backstories instead of actually providing the characters with more substance. Even the conflict towards the end of the novel is glossed over and barley given its due. Everything just felt a little too surface level for me.

The entire book came across as very cringey to me and I perceived a lot of the character’s actions to be disingenuous. I would recommend both Emmy and Jason take some courses on communication because I can’t see them lasting much longer after the book’s conclusion.

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was cute overall - a celebrity romance between Emmy, an influencer-turned-author, and the celebrity crush she based her book on, Jason. Both of these characters are older, have kids from previous relationships, and are forced together in almost a comedy of errors. I did like this book overall and it was a quick and fun read. I sometimes struggled with their dynamic and some of their choices, especially knowing that they both have kids in the situation. But as far as this romance goes, it was cute and sweet overall and a quick read for celebrity romance fans.

Emmy Ellison is living every author’s dream: her book Hashtag, CelebrityCrush goes viral, lands a movie deal, and the actual Hollywood heartthrob who inspired her fictional hero—Jason Harlow—signs on to play the lead. Cue fancy parties, skyrocketing book sales, and the ultimate PR opportunity: a fake dating scheme... that Jason might not know the details of. When real feelings get tangled up in the scripted romance, Emmy and Jason must navigate fame, social media scrutiny, and their own pasts to figure out what’s genuine—and what’s just another Hollywood illusion.

From the first Star Trek reference, I knew I was in for a treat. If you’ve ever been obsessed with a sci-fi series and the leading actors who bring those characters to life (cough David Tennant's hair cough), then this book is for you. And even if sci-fi isn’t your thing, don’t worry—the references are balanced enough that non-nerds will still absolutely love it. Also, can we talk about Lost Star Dance Troupe Saves the Universe? I need this to be a real show immediately. Imagine Firefly but with a ridiculously attractive cast and dance numbers? Get a producer on the line STAT!

What truly makes Celebrity Crush shine is its characters. Emmy isn’t just a starstruck writer: she’s a single mom fighting for the life she and her daughter deserve. Jason is a devoted dad navigating Hollywood’s relentless PR machine while trying to stay true to himself. Their chemistry is electric, but what makes their love story so compelling is how real it feels—two people searching for something authentic in a world built on illusion.

Swift’s storytelling is sharp, funny, and full of surprises. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, she threw in a twist that left me grinning. The mise en abyme (or, let’s call it Celebrity-Crush-Ception)—where Emmy’s book about a celebrity crush turns into a movie starring her actual celebrity crush—is so cleverly done. My only minor critique? The leaked photo scandal wraps up a little too quickly, but that’s a tiny nitpick in an otherwise fantastic read. If you love fake dating, Hollywood romance, and slow-burn chemistry that sizzles, this book is for you. And if it’s a little wish-fulfill-y? So what! That’s exactly what I needed. Highly recommend!

The celebrity trope is one of my favorites in romcoms. Naturally, I was expecting Celebrity Crush to be lighthearted and fast. This story has a lot of depth. Both of our leads are struggling with their own image and need for validation. In some ways they are using each other with opposite goals in mind. They aren't great at communicating their conflict to each other. I liked that both characters were a little older, had kids, and were in the midst of career transition. I loved Emmy yet was mad at her for not being fully truthful with Jason. Overall, I thought the concept for the book was super fun- meeting your celebrity crush! Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for this eARC!

I definitely read this book at the right time. January was full of fantasy reads, and I needed a light easy romance.
Celebrity Crush is about romance writer Emmy Ellison who based her book off of her celebrity crush. When her celebrity crush accepts the role to play the MMC in the movie adaption they decide to play up the good PR and do some photoshoots and promotions together.

I read this in a few days. The plot moved along at good pace and I enjoyed reading it... However I felt I was maybe.... too.... old for this? There was a huge focus on social media- the characters were always on their phones, obsessed with likes, follows etc. I think this is very realistic for a certain demogrpahic- but just not for me (as I post my review on social media 😂). I felt like Fitbit was a paid advertiser with the amount it was talked about.
The characters- I had major issues with both main characters. At times they were likeable- but overall they were super flawed (in not a great way). There wasn't enough communiction, and way too much involving their kids that made me feel icky.
I was also confused about Jason's main acting job- is he an Avenger type? Is he a Wiggles character? 🤷‍♀️

Spice level: Fade to black

Overall I definitely had some issues with it, but also enjoyed reading it so ended with a 3.5 star.
Would recommend if you want a quick enjoyable read, and can overlook some of the above points.

Thanks to Forever Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the arc. This title releases February 11th.

This book just throws you in to the deep end. It’s confusing, not timeless, full of too many sci-fi allusions and entirely plot-driven. You get no sense of who the characters are (and they all suck). There’s no intimacy building, no descriptions and it’s all very cringy with “memes” and “TikTok dances” everywhere. I wanted a story, not a social media plan.

The plot seemed promising. The execution needed to be waaaay different.

Thank you to Forever for the ARC.

Who wouldn't love a chance to date their celebrity crush, right? Emmy has written a book based on her real-life celebrity crush, and he is also slatted to play the main character in the movie adaptation. In her chase towards celebrity status, she teams up with Jason, said celebrity crush, in a fake dating scheme. He's in need of his own good publicity after a situation with his ex. There is humor, and charm and TONS of personality throughout the book. This one is for those of us who had dreams of marrying our celebrity crushes. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the free eARC. All opinions are my own.

Instagram post will be live 07Feb25.

An author gets to meet her celebrity crush and the inspiration for her successful novel. It had all of the elements I usually enjoy, but I just could not get into this. I wish I had a better review. Not for me, but that doesn't mean someone else won't love it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever Publishing, Hachette Audio & Christy Swift for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This story is for the chronically online pop culture enthusiasts. Our FMC is not only an influencer, she's a super fan of a wildly popular scifi TV show. It's a full deep dive into what could happen if you met your celebrity crush- rose to fame/scrutiny and couldn't trust your own feelings. "Does he like me? No, he's just a celebrity and makes everyone feel this way. Wait- it seems like he really likes me?"

I loved the plot of this story- AND found the progression to be a bit painful- but isn't that what it would feel like if you couldn't trust your heart? Christy Swift did NOT romanticize what it would be like to have a celebrity fall in love with you. She illuminated every piece of self doubt, outside influence and more.

Narration was superb- as per usual with these narrators. No surprise, no notes.

I absolutely loved Celebrity Crush. Emmy is a fairly famous social media star and author who writes a book called Celebrity Crush. It’s fiction based on her actual celebrity crush. Her secret crush is revealed early on and the plot explodes from there. This book was very well written. It pretty much captivated me from start to finish. There wasn’t once where I wanted to stop reading and that doesn’t always happen. It had great conflict, well developed characters and a very fun plot! Nowadays, I’m looking for books to distract me from the real world. This book surpassed my expectations. I can’t wait for more from this author. Huge thanks to Forever Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

I loved living every teen girls "celebrity crush" dreams and how we also see the downsides to fame and pretending to be in a relationship. Four stars! can't wait for more from this author.