Hickville CrossroadsBy Mary Karlik
YA Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 255 Pages
May 4th 2020
Summary
Frasier Anderson is one of the hottest teenage actors in the UK, but he’s virtually unknown in the US. Now he’s landed the leading role in a big-budget Hollywood film that could make him an international star.
So how do you prepare a Scot for a role as a Texas high school student? Give him a fake name, a fake accent, and embed him in a Texas high school. He only has to follow three rules:
No drama. No girls. And no telling who he really is.
Jenna Wiley is smart, funny, and has a few no-drama, no-dating rules of her own. Her friendship with new kid Ethan Smith is perfect and might even lead to something more. Except for a few things that don’t add up. Like his mom being afraid to have company. Or their house, which is more staged than lived in. Or his sister, whom nobody talks about.
It all comes to a boil when Frasier’s biggest secrets hit the tabloids and the paparazzi swarm Hillside with Jenna in their sights.
Can Frasier convince Jenna that shy, goofy Ethan Smith is closer to real than the image the tabloids have created?
And can she ever forgive him for breaking the most important rule of all? Because for Jenna, when it comes to love and science, the truth is all that matters.
My Review
HICKVILLE CROSSROADS is a sweet story about on undercover actor and a girl who has sworn off dating who find an instantaneous attraction to each other. Of course things don't quite go according to plan and drama ensues. Fans of YA contemporaries, where romance is the focus, along with plenty of drama may enjoy this one.
I liked Frasier from the start. A celebrity who is also vulnerable and dealing with overbearing parents while trying to act like a regular guy in high school is a bit of a balancing act. Throw in trying to sound American and hide a Scottish accent as well as the fact that you're an actor and there is quite a challenge. I really liked his character and how sweet he is. Jenna is razor focused on her grades and not dating, especially after a betrayal from her last boyfriend and best friend. She's got a full and loud house at home and a strong group of girlfriends. The first day her and Frasier meet, they just click with those awkward, super-charged moments of chemistry when their eyes meet. Yep, cue the sappy music. Lol! Their story is sweet and starts with hanging with Jenna's family and friends while they try to be friends themselves. Of course, but then things happen and Jenna is all-over-the-place dramatic while Frasier has some serious heartbreak to work through. So, lots and lots of drama.
My issues with the story stemmed from an almost insta-love scenario and the level of drama for a guy who was at school for a single week. I just couldn't quite buy all of it, particularly the anger Jenna felt. I think if the author would have let some time pass where they were seriously dating or actually dating (I don't know that one date would be considered really dating) and them get more embedded in each other's lives, it might have worked. I also didn't get a lot of the issues with communicating with each other and Jenna not knowing what was going on with social media as it is. There were just a lot of little things that I felt needed some ironing out.
I liked Frasier from the start. A celebrity who is also vulnerable and dealing with overbearing parents while trying to act like a regular guy in high school is a bit of a balancing act. Throw in trying to sound American and hide a Scottish accent as well as the fact that you're an actor and there is quite a challenge. I really liked his character and how sweet he is. Jenna is razor focused on her grades and not dating, especially after a betrayal from her last boyfriend and best friend. She's got a full and loud house at home and a strong group of girlfriends. The first day her and Frasier meet, they just click with those awkward, super-charged moments of chemistry when their eyes meet. Yep, cue the sappy music. Lol! Their story is sweet and starts with hanging with Jenna's family and friends while they try to be friends themselves. Of course, but then things happen and Jenna is all-over-the-place dramatic while Frasier has some serious heartbreak to work through. So, lots and lots of drama.
My issues with the story stemmed from an almost insta-love scenario and the level of drama for a guy who was at school for a single week. I just couldn't quite buy all of it, particularly the anger Jenna felt. I think if the author would have let some time pass where they were seriously dating or actually dating (I don't know that one date would be considered really dating) and them get more embedded in each other's lives, it might have worked. I also didn't get a lot of the issues with communicating with each other and Jenna not knowing what was going on with social media as it is. There were just a lot of little things that I felt needed some ironing out.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, this was a sweet read. I appreciated that it was clean and I liked the overall story and characters.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Xpresso Book Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
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