Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift
Emily Ellison is a romance author and on her way up the New York Times bestseller list and her book has been optioned for a movie. Promotional plans for hyping the book and movie have the secret Hollywood crush she wrote into the story set up with a fake dating scheme. Emily is so excited to meet her crush and she gladly goes along with photo shoots and more.
Jason Connor has been an actor for years and has had continued image problems. He’s asked to meet and pose for photos with the author that used him as her hero in a book. He’s flattered and more than willing to play along with his agents advice to make a romcom come true. At least as much as the public will know. But he finds himself falling for Emily and he’s not sure how to handle all the feelings.

🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook copy of this book. The audiobook is narrated by Andrew Eiden and Stephanie Willing. Both do a phenomenal job with their POV chapters including emotions, and character voices. From apathy to joy the enthusiasm of a good story came through making it entertaining to listen to as it progressed. I think these two narrators made a great pairing for this romcom. I listened at 1.5 for a standard conversation speed.
The audiobook narrators made the characters come off the page making it my preferred format. The podcast characters were a bit over the top but it’s Hollywood.

A romcom crush from page to screen and from writer to actor. A clean, feel good read with engaging banter. Definitely an author to watch.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Hachette Audio

This may be my favorite rom-com I have read this year so far! I am most definitely buying a physical copy of this book after listening to it. The narrators did an amazing job bringing the characters to life and was laughing when Emmy finally met her celebrity crush, Jason, and how spellbound she was around him; grimacing at their awkward moments; and hoping that they would eventually try to work it out. Listening to this book made my car rides to work so much better.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️.💫5 (2.5 Stars)
Steam: closed door, just kissing

Narration: I’m not a huge fan of the male narrator, I don’t like the female voices he does. The other narrator was good! But I found myself not liking the MMC chapters because of this.

This was an okay read. I enjoyed the first bit and loved the hugging contests ect,however my loving of this changed fast.
The miscommunication trope was way overdone. I wanted to scream at both characters to just talk. I didn’t feel the romance but did laugh a few times. I enjoyed some moments so giving. this 2.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, Hachette Audio and forever for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift in quick, rapid-fire thoughts.

-sneak inside the book publishing world with Emmy Ellison
-peak behind the celebrity curtain with Jason Connor
-witty and clever banter
-actual funny moments
-all the pop culture movie references
-both main characters have a child
-fade to black steamy scenes

Audiobook notes: Andrew Eiden (cough, cough, cough, aka Teddy Hamilton) was exactly the voice needed for Jason; sassy, smug, and sexy all came across! (I may have had some excitedly explicit language during his opening chapter!) Stephanie Willing was perfect, too! Quirky, relatable, and endearing - a wonderful choice to voice Emmy!

This is such a fun and funny read that's a bit nerdy!

Thank you NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Hachette Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

Author Emmy Ellison has written a romance novel using her celebrity crush as the inspiration for the MMC. During an interview about her upcoming book, Emmy is given the chance to not only share who her celebrity crush is, but also to meet him. But when her book becomes a movie and Emmy's celebrity crush accepts the role as the leading actor, Emmy finds her feelings for him might be more than just a crush.

This was a super fun read. I loved the playful relationship between Emmy and Jason. The whole book was very upbeat as Emmy got to watch her dreams come true.

There were a lot of social media and pop culture references throughout the book so if that's not something you enjoy, this book probably won't be your jam. I loved it, though, and I appreciated that the references were everything from Duran Duran to Alien to today's popular TikTok dances.

I listened to this one on audio and loved that it was done as a duet with Andrew Eiden narrating the chapters from Jason's POV and Stephanie Willing narrating the chapters from Emmy's POV. Both narrators did a wonderful job, and I especially loved the interlude chapters where Stephanie narrated the podcasters.

Read if you like:
Dual-POV
Hollywood drama
Banter
Social media/pop culture references
Romantic comedy
Fantasy fulfillment
Single mom/single dad
30s MCs
Closed door romance

This was so freaking cute!
And the narration? Amazing!!!
Who hasn't had a celebrity crush at some point in their life? If you said "me", you lying.
I know I have had several and if I ever got to meet them I would likely turn into mush.
And if Janet Jackson or Sam Elliot gave me a hug?
Plan my funeral.
It was wonderful that the FMC had no chill about meeting her celebrity crush, and actually freaked out a bit.
And the slow development of feels with cute activities to bond over were a joy to read.
I also loved that the author dipped into the darker side of fame here, so many books just show the shiny bits. This encompassed more feels as a result.
This does not read like a debut and I cannot wait to see what Christy Swift does next!!!
Much love to NetGalley, Hachette Audio & Forever Pulishing for my AlC.

Synopsis: Romance author Emmy Ellison has finally achieved her dream of having her book adapted for the big screen. The book is inspired by her secret celebrity crush, who accepts the starring role in the film. Cue a fake dating PR scheme that just might lead to an off-screen romance, too.

Thoughts: Things I loved: lots of pop culture references, podcast interviews/vlogs, banter, main characters in their 30s. Things I didn’t love as much: lots of miscommunication and instal-love/lust. That being said, this one is really cute and fun and doesn’t read like a debut novel to me, so I’m excited to see what this author comes up with next!

Read this if you like:
🎥 Hollywood
🎥 authors
🎥 fake dating
🎥 forced proximity
🎥 single parent
🎥 closed door

This book was a really fun read. My favorite parts were when both MCs were describing each other and I had a major feet kicking moment alone at home! Emmy and Jason are both lovable and relatable (even though one is famous). I loved the "viral" items in the book like the memes that came up time and again. This was a true Cinderella Story that had be rooting for Emmy from the very beginning!

I listened to the audiobook version of this book. I'm a sucker for a dual narration because it feels more immersive to have a male voice for a male MC. Both narrators did an amazing job adding inflection to the right words and just adding that extra little spark to the book! I will look to purchase this one when it's released!

Thank you to Christy Swift, Hachette Audio, and NetGaley for the ARC!

I'm almost mad at myself for finishing this one -- it started out okay but the male narrator is so smug that he ruined an otherwise mediocre book. I liked the woman narrator but she couldn't save this farfetched and, ultimately, disappointing book. I hated the last 1/3 of the book and just wanted it to be over. Hope you have better luck!

Celebrity Crush comes out tomorrow on February 11, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.

Thank you Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was truly so cute. I was immediately captivated by the premise and how sweet it was, and it surprised me with the depth and heart this story contained. The main characters, Jason and Emmy, were perfect for each other, and I love that their flaws were on display.

As far as the audio is concerned, I always gravitate more to a multiple POV/multiple narrator audiobook, and this one was great! I was able to engage in the story more because of the great narration.

Thank you again for the ARC!

The story was quite fun and it is super easy to read. 🥂 I liked the narration and i think that they did an incredible work 🙏🏼

The first 4 chapters intrigued me and i knew that i wanted to continue the story. The main characters feels real, but knowing that they are celebrities they act weird sometimes as well.

I am not super fan of the ambient generated between celebrities and how they act for fame etc... The drama of the story was typical, lack of truast and communication, and of course the media ate that month lol.

The story was gripping the first half, then i feel that it decreased a bit 🤏🏻

Overall, it is enjoyable but it has some parts where i was not really into it and then i was interested again in some topic, it was a cycle. 🔁

This was a fun romance I love that they are both parents and you get to watch their journeys to find happiness and our fmc living out her dream of being an author the audio book had amazing narrators

I found this story to be a bit boring. It had promise, but the characters lacked depth and I didn’t see the growth I like throughout a book.

I was lucky to receive an ALC and the audio performances were great! Each narrator portrayed the main and side characters very well and kept me interested.

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁: I loved all the pop culture references as an Aliens girlie, huge appreciation there! This book was really fun, MCs had lots of chemistry and I loved they were in their 30s. I liked that the FMC was social media savvy and operation Keanu Reeves was one of favorite parts other than the “sandwich incident” iykyk. This is just an enjoyable book and I was shocked to find out it was a Debut from the author, well done!

Emmy wrote a romance novel with her MMC being inspired by her real life celebrity crush. She never thought the book would become popular and get made into a movie. Then that said crush accepts the leading role to her movie. Now she is sitting on a talk show promoting her book and is having a hugging contest with her crush and few other celebrities - how is this real life!

Jason is about to loose his role and is in dire need of some good PR. So he branched out and signed up to do a new movie playing the romantic lead, he knows the movie is based on him but he’s not aware to what extent. Things are not going to plan and he is in more hot water than before and he’s in need of an image makeover.

Emmy and Jason have been thrust together a few times for publicity for her upcoming book and movie. They are on friendly terms so Jason recruits her to help him with his image as she is a social media guru. But can these two keep it professional or will the lines blur. Hollywood isn’t meant for everyone and feuds can start easily and ruin lives.

This one is a fun read be sure to check it out when it debuts in February 11th.

𝑭𝒂𝒗 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆: “This whole thing is like a dream that I know I'll have to wake up from. It's torture.” - Emmy

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

Author
* Author & Social Media Influencer FMC
* Bad Reputation Celebrity MMC
* Cinderella Story
* Single Parents
* MCs in Their 30s
* She Based MC in Her Book on Him
* Pop Culture References
* Dual POV
* Fade to Black

👽📚⭐️ 👽📚⭐️ 👽📚⭐️ 👽📚⭐️ 👽📚⭐️

Other quotes I loved:

"It's the only way to be sure."
Oh, to the snap. He finished my favorite Aliens quote. I've been waiting my whole life for someone to do that.
He stares at me as I sit, frozen. "Is everything okay?"
"You Michael Biehned me," I finally say.
"You Sigourney Weavered me first."

"That's for you, Emmy Ellison, for choosing me.'
A warm zinging sensation flutters over me, like I imagine it feels when your spaceship is scanned by aliens with one of those humming sweeps of blue light. "I'll always choose you, Jason Connor."

I really loved the narrators for this book! They were very fun and quirky and i felt it had me enjoying the story more. I really liked these characters and thought their stories were both very strong and worked well with the storyline. When it comes to the romance part i thought their love story was sweet. It was a naturally chemistry that felt true to the characters. I just felt the storyline at times didnt match with the characters if that makes sense. Some of the actions they’d take didn’t seem authentic to them and also i think i might just not be a fan of the power dynamic of a celebrity and their crush. But with that being said, i think it speaks to the authors writing and characters that i still liked it with finding out i dont like that trope.

Emmy Ellison has always had big dreams of being a screenwriter. They have been crushed by a director who left her with doubts about her talent along with other "parting gifts". But a writer writes and she decides to write a novel. She uses everything she likes about rom coms and bases the story, Hashtag Celebrity Crush, on her real life crush, Jason Connor, a famous actor. When the novel blows up and social media figures out who the celebrity crush is, things start getting interesting.

Jason Connor works at a famous sci-fi TV show. He should be living the dream but life has been a vortex of screw ups that have put him in hot water with the show's production company. So, when the opportunity to "play himself" in the movie version of Hashtag Celebrity Crush, he takes it. He wasn't expecting of develop a crush too...

This one was charming and funny and full of shenanigans. You will have a fun time following these two fumble away into an HEA. You have the ex, their respective kids, the agents, the celebrity gossip podcasters and tv shows all adding to the fun. It's chockfull of pop culture references and perfect for the TikTok crowd.

The audiobook is narrated dual style by Stephanie Wiling and Andrew Eiden. Stephanie shines here with a vibrating performance. I loved how she even managed to differentiate two characters just by the way they laugh - you'll see. Andrew gives us a wonderful performance as the well intentioned, loving and funny Jason who seems to have a penchant for getting himself into a pickle. 

It's a relatively short audiobook, perfect for that day when you want to just sit back, relax, have some laughs and just enjoy a sweet yet screwball-y story.

Thanks to Christy Swift, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook.

I enjoyed Celebrity Crush a lot more than I thought I would. It was actually quite funny and not overly romantic. I loved all the modern day influencers, podcasts, blogs, blogs. etc. The narrators were sort of obnoxious, but they grew on me as the story went on. I also liked the L.A. scene with the cast parties, stylists, filming, agents, etc. Overall, it was a cute book! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read Celebrity Crush.

I’ll start by saying if you read this, I highly suggest the audio version! Andrew Eiden is the absolute best narrator. I would read anything narrator’s by him! With that said, the book was cute. I enjoyed the plot but the characters felt surface level for me. The romance was hard to believe. I’m glad I read this, but just fell alittle short for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC.

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 want to start by saying that I love the concept of this book where an author with a crush gets the chance to meet and have a real life Cinderella moment with the hero who inspired her story. Unfortunately the execution of this one was poor at best and downright infuriating at worst.

This book is essentially one long miscommunication trope between two terrible people who I couldn’t really emphasize with because they were both terrible people.

Emmy seems like she would be sympathetic as the single mom whose Hollywood dreams got crushed but she showed absolutely zero loyalty to her supposed crush and frankly was kind of a cold hearted b. Also she spends almost no time thinking it caring about her child and I’m not one to mom shame but there were some red flags there about her parenting style.

Then there is Jason who as far as I can tell isn’t calculating and cold like Emmy but honestly maybe a little naive and childish. He let his ex push him around, he let his agent push him around and then he opened himself up immediately to Emmy just because she had a crush on him and it made him feel good about his life falling apart around him. Also the fact that he’s a celeb and hasn’t figured out birth control but supposedly went through an f boy era is wild to me. His biggest downfall is he is way too trusting of all the wrong people and honestly I mostly felt sorry for him.

My biggest issue is there is almost zero character growth. Both of them essentially are just as awful by the end as when we first meet them. I guess on one hand I feel they deserve each other so maybe that’s a positive.

I will say I did feel the narrators did a fantastic job with this story. The female narrator especially did such a good job with all the other creators she voiced.

I am not one to DNF but if I did it would have been this one. Unfortunately this one was not for me and I wouldn’t recommend picking it up.