Laguna Nights (Laguna Beach, Book 1) by Kaira Rouda Pages: 250
Also by this author: Laguna Heights (Laguna Beach Book 2)
Goodreads
Madison Alcott left her Laguna Beach childhood in the past as soon as she could, never imagining she’d be forced to return. Caring for her ill mother and holding down a high-pressure position at the best resort in town, Madison’s life is as good as it could ever be in Laguna Beach. And blissfully, nobody knows her as Holly anymore, the name she used on television. Everything changes when her high school boyfriend appears in the lobby. He was the reason she’d left Laguna in the first place when he humiliated her on national television.Josh Welsh’s star has been dimming ever since he shot to fame as the high school heartthrob on the reality TV series Laguna Nights. Hoping to reignite his career, he agreed to host a travel show, with the first episode shooting in his old hometown of Laguna Beach. Of all the negative scenarios associated with filming in Laguna, Josh hadn’t calculated a run-in with Madison, or that the same deep connection he felt for her in high school would still be there.Madison and Josh’s reality TV relationship exploded years ago but when the new series forces them together, they must face Laguna Nights past and present.
My Review:
This book is exactly the kind of drama you would expect from a story about reality tv stars! I could actually picture a few in my mind as I was reading this! Josh is the classic wanna be famous kid who is trying to turn his 15 minutes of fame on a reality show into a career. However, it hasn’t been successful. Madison is the girl who was bullied and heartbroken on national TV and now hides away. So, here is what I liked:
1. About 1/2 way though the book I almost gave up on it because it was going exactly the way I expected. But then it takes a turn and I wasn’t expecting that. So, good job Kaira!
2. Madison is very relatable. I was the heavy, less than popular girl in high school and it was hard enough. I can’t imagine having cameras follow you and document it! Your heart goes out to Madison and you just want to be her friend.
What I didn’t like:
1. Josh was a narcissistic ego monster and it was difficult to like him. He knows he did a terrible thing to Madison but for 15 years he never did a thing about it. Then suddenly he’s back in town and loves her? I had trouble buying it.
Overall, if you like the train wreck of reality tv, you will like this book. I enjoyed it and found myself constantly making comparisons to characters on past reality tv shows (Real World, The Hills, etc) and I enjoyed the drama 🙂
Definitely a great read. Not being a bit watcher of reality TV, it was eye opening for me!