This book started out good however I felt like it just stayed there. It never really moved to the “I can’t put it down” phase. I was waiting for there to be some amazing turn of events. Like Turner and Josh finally realize they are made for each other…

Who here has watched The Office and remembers when Karen’s in her interview at corporate and Jan blazes in, furious about how she’s being fired? Karen’s line, “That was some serious, hard-core self-destruction” pretty much sums up my feelings about the actions of this book’s protagonist. It’s almost hard to read at times when you see how terrible Michaela’s choices are and continue to be, but the author kept me rooting for her in spite of her faults. I needed to know how and when she would find her way through!

I loved the premise of this novel—I mean, who doesn’t want to read about the struggles and foibles of a former child actor? I think many of us “normal people” find some twisted satisfaction when we hear a celebrity has screwed up, because we think, “hey, they’re wealthy and successful, but at least they ___” (can’t keep a relationship, aren’t in demand anymore, fill in the blank with any other failure). So that’s part of what this protagonist is dealing with: the feeling of not knowing where she fits in the world anymore now that she’s no longer acting. So she flails—and fails—a LOT. People have let her down in the past and she doesn’t always deal with that in healthy ways.

Overall, it’s a really entertaining read and one that made me think about purpose and how people see one another. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an early e-version!

A Whip-Smart Rom-Com with Heart (and Pickleball)

Victoria Schade serves up the perfect feel-good romance in Pick Me. Brooke Murphy, a romance ghostwriter in a creative slump, never expected that joining a pickleball league would change her life—but between the laugh-out-loud misadventures on the court and her sizzling slow-burn chemistry with grumpy-yet-gorgeous coach Owen, she’s about to find out.

This is the kind of rom-com that makes you grin, swoon, and maybe even dust off your sneakers. The characters are refreshingly relatable, the banter is sharp, and the emotional beats land beautifully. It’s charming without being saccharine, heartfelt without losing its humor, and has a touch of heat to keep the pages turning.

If you love Emily Henry’s warmth, Beth O’Leary’s wit, and sports romance with a twist, Pick Me deserves a spot in your beach bag—or on your nightstand for when you need a guaranteed mood-booster.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book.
It wasn’t what i expected. The depiction of the effects of fame was really we done. Michaela is a character that can be difficult to love since she makes bad choices and knows it. She’s definitely not a good friend. But as the story progresses, there’s a lot of growth which I enjoyed seeing. She’s finally able to deal with her dysfunctional romantic relationships and her mother. Overall, it was a great book.

I found this book incredibly relatable - I think we've all been in Michaela's shoes at some point or another, questioning everything we've known while we try to figure out what we want. I liked all the 90s references in this one and I loved Michaela’s character - she was messy, fun, relatable, making it easy to follow her story. The complicated relationship with her mother adds a complexity that lets us connect with her even more.

This was a quick, fun read that brought back a lot of memories from my younger days. The ending felt a little rushed and a bit unfinished, but I loved how things ended up for Michaela. I wish there was one final chapter or an epilogue that explained what ended up happening with Michaela. Thanks so much for the ARC!

Wow, I couldn't put this novel down. At its simplest form, it’s a story about a child star (I kept picturing Michelle Tanner or Punky Brewster) who is now in her mid-to-late 20s and trying to figure out what to do with her life. But the novel is so much more layered and deep that that. Michaela is someone who is messy, lost, broken, mistreated. Someone who is stuck like glue in unhealthy patterns yet convinces herself it's as good as it's going to get. It’s a story of a woman struggling but who finds her way out. I’m blown away that this novel is a debut and not an already bestselling author, and I’ll absolutely be reading the next novel from Stephanie Burns, whatever that may be!

A fun premise. A bright spot in the story is Michaela's friendship with another former child star, Josh. I did not end up connecting to the (many) characters and the pacing of the story felt off at times. I think readers interested in self-discovery dramas and explorations of how fame can impact a person may enjoy.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

What a fabulous debut! Burns is a deft hand at taking readers back to the early days of the 2000s where popstars and former children stars splashed across all the tabloids, most often times not for good reason so there's a real nostalgia kick in there for those of us who grew up in this era. Far from the A List is an rare peek behind that glamorous curtain, where not all that shines and sparkles is actually true. Burns blends these ups and downs in a real but warm way, keeping the characters grounded in their struggles but also their hopes in forging new paths.

My GOSH I loved this book SO SO much! Meet Michaela Turner, childhood television superstar, now in her late 20s struggling to figure out what move to make next. Feeling pressure to stay on the top partier list at the same time as an old flame wanders back into her life, nothing seems to go as planned.

While I'm no where near a celebrity, I found this book incredibly relatable - I think we've all been in Michaela's shoes at some point or another, questioning everything we've known while we try to figure out what we want for our futures...especially when it seems like everyone else has it all figured out. I LOVED all the 90s references in this one (I feel like this was a nod to Full House, but correct me if I'm wrong!) and I just loved Mick's character so much - she was messy, fun, lovable, and funny, making it easy to follow her story. The complicated relationship with her mother adds a complexity that lets us connect with her even more.

This was a quick, fun read that brought back a lot of memories from my college/mid-20s days. The ending felt a little rushed and a bit unfinished, but I loved how things ended up for Michaela (OK I wish she ended up with a certain someone, but that's besides the point) and was rooting her on the entire way. Thanks so much for the ARC!

As it says on the cover, Fame May fade, but drama is forever and Michaela Turner AKA Daisy Breyer, a childhood TV star, is certainly proof of that. Since she “retired” when she was a teen, she has been bouncing from club to club and man to man. Is it really her fault since her mother left her on her own at age 16?

Now she is starting to take a hard look at herself, but she still manages to fall for old lives along the way….

I wanted to love this book but could not get into it hopefully someone else find it interesting thank you

“Far From the A-List” is by Stephanie Burns. This book follows former child star Michaela Turner, known to many as Daisy due to the role she played on TV for a number of years. Michaela is very recognizable and while proud of her role, hasn’t done much since then. Her best friend is Josh, another former child star though he was part of a boy band. Michaela has an on-again/off-again relationship with Deacon, a member of what was a band and now he’s going solo. This book mainly focuses on Michaela - and her issues of “what am I going to be when I grow up, but how do I learn as a grown-up the things I should’ve learned when I was younger.” In very many ways, this reminded me of Taylor Swift’s song “You Belong To Me.” One of the people is always there, cheering her on, trying to be in her corner, and Michaela is aware of it but instead of realizing it, keeps self-destructing her relationships. For a while, Michaela dates a person with a stable job and who doesn’t know who she played and it seemed like she might have a mature grown-up steady relationship. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happened. In many ways, it was rather sad to see Michaela make the same mistakes again and again, but it was nice to see in the end that she got a clue-by-four and, hopefully, will continue in the positive direction she’s going … though maybe some help from someone will also help her. An enjoyable book overall.

Former child star Michaela Turner is stuck in a life she doesn't want. Famous for the role everyone seems to remember as the precocious young daughter in a sitcom that ended 15 years ago, Michaela just wants to be normal and not be noticed for everything she did before she hit her teens. As a 27-year-old woman, her life is stagnant and she is always fearful that people are recognizing her and saying mean things about how she turned out. Reading the tabloids and scouring the comments is bad for her peace-of-mind, but it's almost a compulsion for Michaela. Add to this a bad news ex who she still drops everything for no matter how many times he rips her heart out, and a mother who stopped caring when she was 16 and you have a recipe for a painful life.

The pacing in Far From the A-List was rather slow, and it was difficult to watch Michaela constantly undermine her own wellbeing at every turn, choosing the wrong person or choice over and over again. I found myself yelling at her multiple times throughout the story.

Having worked with former child stars in another life, I know that the road to and through adulthood can be very tough to navigate and author Stephanie Burns captures the angst of the journey for both Michaela and her bestie, former boy bander, Josh in a way that rings truthfully, especially during the tabloid era of the aughts. An interesting story that could have been 50 pages shorter. 3.5 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.