Author: Amy Finnegan
Series: If Only...#3
Pages: 392
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Date Published: October 7th, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Format Read: ARC provided by publisher for honest review
Buy It Here:
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Summary:
The best kinds of love stories don’t follow a script.
Millions
of people witnessed Emma Taylor’s first kiss—a kiss that needed twelve
takes and four camera angles to get right. After spending nearly all of
her teen years performing on cue, Emma wonders
if any part of her life is real anymore . . . particularly her
relationships.
Jake
Elliott’s face is on magazine ads around the world, but his lucrative
modeling deals were a poor substitute for what he had to leave behind.
Now acting is offering Jake everything he wants:
close proximity to home; an opportunity to finally start school; and
plenty of time with the smart and irresistible Emma Taylor . . . if she
would just give him a chance.
-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:
An Open Letter To Not In The Script,
Hey there book. You were a breath of fresh air on lots of fronts for me and you can count me as one of your fans. I liked how you humanized celebrities. So many books focus on the glamor and excitement of fame, and while you dabbled in that, at your heart you showed us what it's really like to be in the public eye, while still being hilarious. I like hilarious and I like real and you are both of those things, so, like I said before, I'm a fan.
-The White Unicorn
I'll just come right out and say it, I'm a big fan of Finnegan's debut. As we all know, I'm very picky with my YA Contemporary Romance novels, but this happens to be one of my favorite romances of the year. Not in the Script is everything a book like it should be. It's sweet, it's snarky and it's got issues that you can see coming from miles away. It's good mindless fun, but Finnegan also manages to do something that a lot of books that deal with fame and TV miss out on. She humanizes the business in a way that I think is very important. It gives the novel an extra edge that takes all the typical romance tropes and makes it mean a little something more than usual.
I love books that follow things that I know about and even though I can't say that I know about how a TV show is put together, I can tell you that I know a thing or two about acting and the way that the people you act with become a kind of family. A messy, messed up family, but a family none the less. Finnegan gets this and ends up throwing a group of people together that don't seem like they'd be friends in real life, but over the course of the book, things change. She really understood this and I could feel the sincerity in the characters interactions, no matter what they were. I guess you could say that's why I liked the book as a whole: it's sincere.
Emma and Jake are adorable together and I loved watching their relationship develop in such a stress inducing setting. All the lies from the media and the lies from the cast members and everything sometimes felt like they were a bit much, but it didn't affect my enjoyment level. It's interesting to see what Emma ends up doing for everyone around her. Good things happen wherever she goes, but it was also awesome to see her start to figure out that she needed to worry about herself as well and make her own life as good as the ones the people around her were living.
Over all I adored all the characters. Brett was a tool bag, but he was tool bag that was likable. Maybe not someone you should trust, maybe not someone you should make your best friend, but he was likable. Kimmi was the diva, but yet she still had her good points. Jake is extremely layered and has so many things going for him. I even liked the parental characters and I loved that Finnegan decided to make them such a big part of the story. I'm always a fan of books that don't forget that someone had to give birth to the characters inside of them.
All in all Not in the Script is the perfect rom/com and I highly suggest it to anyone who wants a romance that they can cheer for!
Rating:
4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!
Clark and Lana, Smallville:
I used to be so
addicted to this show that I wrote two novel-length fanfiction
stories about it. They were over 100,000 words each and had readers
from all over the world checking in daily for new chapters . . . all
rabid fans of Clark and Lana’s epic romance that, according to
Superman
cannon, was destined to fail. Were we all just suckers, or what? But
year after year on that show, those who shipped “Clana” had high
hopes for a break from tradition, even after Lois joined the show
(for me, it was especially
after Lois came along). Tom Welling and Kristin Kreuk had mad
chemistry, though, from the innocent longing of the first few
seasons, to the more grown-up episodes to come. Young Clark Kent was
often more super-awkward around Lana than super-powered,
and that’s why this relationship drew me in from the beginning. I
still miss them together. So forget Superman
cannon, Clark belongs with his first love (And if she doesn’t get
him, then I
do).
Chuck and Sarah, Chuck: Why do all the best shows get cancelled, huh? Four-and-a-half seasons wasn’t nearly enough (I still can’t decide if I’m ticked off that NBC only ordered thirteen episodes for the last season, or if I should be grateful that they gave us about fifty more episodes than they wanted to!). Anyway, I loved Chuck and Sarah together. He was a mere Nerd Herd techie when he was pulled into the crazy and dangerous world of international spies, and Sarah became his kick-butt handler. The evolution of their relationship was so entertaining and sincere that it was impossible not to fall in love right along with them! And the rest of the cast was just as adorable (Captain Awesome needs his own spinoff!!).
Jim and Pam, The Office: I’ve never been so thrilled to be a voyeur. Because of the mockumentary style of the production, I felt like I had a front row seat for watching two real people fall in love. Deep love. I met my own husband while working in a corporate office environment, so I totally related to the cute and almost always awkward ways in which two people can find excuses to go the desk of the other . . . and flirt (discuss business, I mean!) Like, all day long. Another cool thing about Jim and Pam is that even after they finally figured stuff out, it didn’t dampen their chemistry one bit. It just became more fun, watching them build a life together.
Rory and Logan, Gilmore Girls: In my opinion, Logan was the only love interest for either Gilmore girl who could match their wit. He could dish out the snark just as quickly as they could, and serve it with a side of swoon. Logan and Rory’s conversations were often the epitome of how to write entertaining banter between characters, and I’d frequently rewind scenes so I could hear every word all over again. My only complaint? Um . . . I’m in desperate need of a seven-years-later epilogue. The CW better get to work on that, or I’ll have to write an epilogue myself.
Buffy and Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: This is what you call a serious conflict of interest. Buffy’s job was to slay vampires, so her attraction to fanged heartthrob, Angel, was a bit of a dilemma—especially after a certain point in the series when it seemed inevitable that Buffy would literally have to stake her claim. You know that scene after Angel lost his “soul,” and Buffy had him tied up and had to make the most important decision of her life? Yeah, I cried like a blubbering baby. But the amazing thing about this show was that Buffy was such an amazing character that I really liked her with just about any love interest they paired her with. Even Spike! (Note: if you binge-watch Buffy, which you really should, resist the urge to judge the rest of the series by the first season. In the beginning, the special effects are nearly unbearable.)
Ross and Rachel, Friends: Is there a more famous couple in all of sitcom history? I think not. Their relationship was definitely epic in all of the best ways. They were star-crossed lovers for ten years, and the best thing about their storyline is that whenever they broke up, it all felt believable. And whenever they got back together, it was also believable. That’s an incredibly difficult feat to pull off in a sitcom that was, at its core, chock-full of slapstick antics. I miss this show!
Matthew and Mary, Downton Abbey: Nooooooooo!!!!!! Whyyyyyyyyyy?!?!?!?! How could you do this to me?!?!?!?!?! That’s all I’m going to say.
Chuck and Blair, Gossip Girl: I’m picking these two because they provided nonstop entertainment whenever they were in scenes together. They loved hard and they hated hard, and there was never really anything in between. They belonged together more than any other couple on the show, because no one else deserved to be with either of them. If you watched Gossip Girl, you’ll know that this is a compliment to everyone else. ;)
Mary and Francis, Reign: When these two are given good scenes, they’re the hottest couple on current television. But . . . Reign happens to be on the CW, so all too often, completely stupid and unbelievable obstacles interrupt their adorable flirting. Just stop it. Let them be happy. One more thing about the show itself: As crazy as it gets sometimes, the drama is nothing compared to what the actual Mary, Queen of Scots went through. You can’t make that stuff up! But if you don’t know how her story went in real life, and you watch Reign, do not look up her history. Just watch the show unfold. It will be interesting to see how closely they follow actual events. They’re dealing with one of the most interesting royals in history, so there certainly isn’t any reason for embellishment!
Robin and Marian, The BBC’s Robin Hood: Next to Clark and Lana, these two are my next favorite TV couple! I used to sit on the edge of my seat, hoping for a scene between them. This is another series to binge-watch that I’m guessing very few of you have seen. And the last scene of this series . . . guys, I was BLOWN AWAY! It was some of the most powerful few minutes I’ve ever watched on TV. Jonas Armstrong is one of the most charming, comedic, underrated actors of our day, and he’s absolutely irresistible as Robin Hood! And his sweetheart Marian is certainly no damsel in distress. This couple’s relationship was the perfect mix of sugar and spice, and I’m betting I could get just about any romantic to watch the series after they see this fan-made (and free of any major spoilers!) video featuring Robin and Marian: Accidentally in Love. Enjoy!
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Amy's Top Ten TV Couples!
Chuck and Sarah, Chuck: Why do all the best shows get cancelled, huh? Four-and-a-half seasons wasn’t nearly enough (I still can’t decide if I’m ticked off that NBC only ordered thirteen episodes for the last season, or if I should be grateful that they gave us about fifty more episodes than they wanted to!). Anyway, I loved Chuck and Sarah together. He was a mere Nerd Herd techie when he was pulled into the crazy and dangerous world of international spies, and Sarah became his kick-butt handler. The evolution of their relationship was so entertaining and sincere that it was impossible not to fall in love right along with them! And the rest of the cast was just as adorable (Captain Awesome needs his own spinoff!!).
Jim and Pam, The Office: I’ve never been so thrilled to be a voyeur. Because of the mockumentary style of the production, I felt like I had a front row seat for watching two real people fall in love. Deep love. I met my own husband while working in a corporate office environment, so I totally related to the cute and almost always awkward ways in which two people can find excuses to go the desk of the other . . . and flirt (discuss business, I mean!) Like, all day long. Another cool thing about Jim and Pam is that even after they finally figured stuff out, it didn’t dampen their chemistry one bit. It just became more fun, watching them build a life together.
Rory and Logan, Gilmore Girls: In my opinion, Logan was the only love interest for either Gilmore girl who could match their wit. He could dish out the snark just as quickly as they could, and serve it with a side of swoon. Logan and Rory’s conversations were often the epitome of how to write entertaining banter between characters, and I’d frequently rewind scenes so I could hear every word all over again. My only complaint? Um . . . I’m in desperate need of a seven-years-later epilogue. The CW better get to work on that, or I’ll have to write an epilogue myself.
Buffy and Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: This is what you call a serious conflict of interest. Buffy’s job was to slay vampires, so her attraction to fanged heartthrob, Angel, was a bit of a dilemma—especially after a certain point in the series when it seemed inevitable that Buffy would literally have to stake her claim. You know that scene after Angel lost his “soul,” and Buffy had him tied up and had to make the most important decision of her life? Yeah, I cried like a blubbering baby. But the amazing thing about this show was that Buffy was such an amazing character that I really liked her with just about any love interest they paired her with. Even Spike! (Note: if you binge-watch Buffy, which you really should, resist the urge to judge the rest of the series by the first season. In the beginning, the special effects are nearly unbearable.)
Ross and Rachel, Friends: Is there a more famous couple in all of sitcom history? I think not. Their relationship was definitely epic in all of the best ways. They were star-crossed lovers for ten years, and the best thing about their storyline is that whenever they broke up, it all felt believable. And whenever they got back together, it was also believable. That’s an incredibly difficult feat to pull off in a sitcom that was, at its core, chock-full of slapstick antics. I miss this show!
Matthew and Mary, Downton Abbey: Nooooooooo!!!!!! Whyyyyyyyyyy?!?!?!?! How could you do this to me?!?!?!?!?! That’s all I’m going to say.
Chuck and Blair, Gossip Girl: I’m picking these two because they provided nonstop entertainment whenever they were in scenes together. They loved hard and they hated hard, and there was never really anything in between. They belonged together more than any other couple on the show, because no one else deserved to be with either of them. If you watched Gossip Girl, you’ll know that this is a compliment to everyone else. ;)
Mary and Francis, Reign: When these two are given good scenes, they’re the hottest couple on current television. But . . . Reign happens to be on the CW, so all too often, completely stupid and unbelievable obstacles interrupt their adorable flirting. Just stop it. Let them be happy. One more thing about the show itself: As crazy as it gets sometimes, the drama is nothing compared to what the actual Mary, Queen of Scots went through. You can’t make that stuff up! But if you don’t know how her story went in real life, and you watch Reign, do not look up her history. Just watch the show unfold. It will be interesting to see how closely they follow actual events. They’re dealing with one of the most interesting royals in history, so there certainly isn’t any reason for embellishment!
Robin and Marian, The BBC’s Robin Hood: Next to Clark and Lana, these two are my next favorite TV couple! I used to sit on the edge of my seat, hoping for a scene between them. This is another series to binge-watch that I’m guessing very few of you have seen. And the last scene of this series . . . guys, I was BLOWN AWAY! It was some of the most powerful few minutes I’ve ever watched on TV. Jonas Armstrong is one of the most charming, comedic, underrated actors of our day, and he’s absolutely irresistible as Robin Hood! And his sweetheart Marian is certainly no damsel in distress. This couple’s relationship was the perfect mix of sugar and spice, and I’m betting I could get just about any romantic to watch the series after they see this fan-made (and free of any major spoilers!) video featuring Robin and Marian: Accidentally in Love. Enjoy!
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About The Author:
Amy Finnegan writes her own
stories because she enjoys falling in love over and over again, and
thinks everyone deserves a happy ending. She likes to travel the
world—usually to locations where
her favorite books take place—and owes her unquenchable thirst for
reading to Jane Austen and J.K. Rowling. Her debut novel, NOT IN THE
SCRIPT, came about after hearing several years of behind-the-scenes
stories from her industry veteran brother. She’s also
been lucky enough to visit dozens of film sets and sit in on major
productions such as
Parks and Recreation and Parenthood. You can follow Amy on Twitter: @ajfinnegan, Instagram: StrangerThanFictionWriter, Facebook: Amy Finnegan, Author. Or Visit her at AmyFinnegan.com.
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