“you’re the one person in my life who wants nothing but me and it’s terrifying and awesome at the same time”

For some reason, I’m not the biggest fan of rockstar romances. It is very rare that I enjoy them. This book was pretty meh for me.

I loved it.

Oakley Ford è un cantante famoso, abituato ad avere tutto servito su un piatto d'argento, ma ora questo comportamento gli si sta ritorcendo contro, e ne sta risentendo la sua stessa musica. Vaughn Bennet è la classica brava ragazza che si fa in quattro per aiutare la sorella a prendersi cura della famiglia dopo la morte dei loro genitori, ma purtroppo le spese sono sempre più numerose e i soldi non bastano mai. Quindi quando la sorella la informa che nell'agenzia in cui lavora le vogliono proporre di fingersi la fidanzata di Oakley, sembra una buona idea per permettere ai loro fratelli di andare al college. Quello che entrambi però non sanno è che anche se un amore nasce nella finzione, può tranquillamente diventare reale. Gli ostacoli sono dietro l'angolo e avere a che fare con una celebrità non è facile, ma per Oakley la vicinanza con Vaugh gli sta facendo bene, e finalmente sembra andare tutto per il verso giusto, ma quanto potrà durare la felicità vera in mondo pieno di filtri e finzione, e se attraverso un semplice bacio i brividi che esso provoca fossero reali?

Il duo di autrici non smentisce mai. Mi avevano già conquistata con la serie Royal. In Real Love niente è scontato anche se la relazione tra i due giovani protagonisti nasce in una sala riunioni, non potrà restale tale per sempre. All'inizio Oakley mi stava parecchio antipatico a causa del suo comportamento da super star, ma quando capisce che con il suo atteggiamento altezzoso non andrà avanti nelle scene musicali ancora a lungo, decide di crescere e smetterla di comportarsi come un bambino viziato, difficile quando sei una pop star famosissima e figlio di due attori di Hollywood. Il romanzo è divertente e si legge anche facilmente, adatto per chi è alla ricerca di una lettura semplice e leggera ma ricca di emozioni

I loved The Royals Series, and I have been waiting to see what some other story from Jen and Elle would be like. When It's Real is a just a simple, straight forward hate to love story. Though the characters involved are far from simple. Oakley Ford rose to fame as a teen sensations in the music world. At nineteen, he's lived a dozen lifetimes. Nothing is off limits, girls, parties, booze, drugs. It's all come to a head and his image is in desperate need of some repair. His management team is worried he's going to becomes just another washed up teen singer. All Oakley wants to do is rehab his sound and work with one the biggest record producers in town. The catch...the producer isn't going to even bat an eyelash at him, until he changes his partying ways and makes some serious changes in his life.

Vaughn Bennett, lost her parents in a car accident her senior year of high school. Leaving her and her older sister to raise their twin brother's on their own. The struggle to make ends meet, and pay the bills is beyond real. When an offer comes in from Oakley's management team to be his fake girlfriend, she can't say no. Even though there are so many reasons why she shouldn't.

It's a rough start for Oakley and Vaughn. To her, he's stuck on himself, and who he is. To him, she's got a boyfriend, and won't let him into her world because it's just a job to her. The lines are blurred, when they develope an easy friendship. Needless to say, neither one of them can handle it when feelings start to become real. The realness of it doesn't come easy for Oakley and Vaughn. His PR Teams constant meddling, fake friends trying to expose their relationship for what it is, crazy fangirls pushing their buttons, and Oakley's own paranoia create a less than stress free environment.

If you have read my past reviews, you know I LOVE a good character growth arch. When It's Real was no exception. Oakley needs to grow up period. He so used to getting what he wants when he wants it. Everyone kissing his bum, telling him he is fabulous. So, when Vaughn enters his life, it's like a wake up call and a breath of fresh air all at once. Vaughn is so busy trying to make her parents memory stay a live, by making choices for herself that aren't true to who she is. Oakley gradually wakes her up to the idea that maybe the choices she's made to be teacher isn't the only option for her. He broadens her perspective, and makes her realize that her parents memory will live on, and that she needs to start living for herself.

It was really refreshing to read a book like this, that doesn't over sexualize these young characters. It was part of the story, but not the focus of the story. Honestly, as I was reading, I kind of forgot that this was YA book. The story was captivating, and really gave you a birds eye view of what it could potentially be like to be a "normal" in a relationship with someone famous. I liked this book. It is a sweet, push and pull story. I do have to say the twist at the end, was unexpected. I love it when a book can blow your mind like that.

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review...

apart from the 'im-a-cool-girl-next-door-and-im-not-like-most-girls' theme that should've died by now, everything else is pretty good

This book was really good and sweet and I enjoyed it a lot. Never a dull moment, it felt like, and it could always hold my attention. I read it for class, so it took me a little while to get through, but that might have made it better. The only thing I didn’t like was the third act breakup, which those always suck and I’m not ever surprised it happened. It was just stupid. But I love Oakley and Vaughn a lot. 4 stars

This was a good YA Romance. It was light, fluffy and fun. Exactly what I was looking for.

When it's real was provided via netgalley as an ARC, for which I'm very grateful! I was dying to read this book, since I've already heard so many good things about this author and the story-line sounded like something I was going to love..

PRO/CONS:
+ very lovable and well developed characters. I really loved Oak and Vaughn as main characters. Vaughn is definitely just what Oak needs; a down to earth 'normal' girl to ground him from his crazy life as singer. And for me it was obvious from the start that Vaughn's boyfriend, W, was a real first class douchebag, yuk.. So I was definitely #TEAMOAK right from the start haha, even though Oak behaves like a spoiled brat at first. Oak is a chracter who puts on a show for the outside while his real self is behind 'walls' and I really liked the person behind those 'walls'. He was just perfect for Vaughn!! I loved seeing him open up to Vaughn and find an anchor in her. Loved reading about him falling in love with her and the other way around as well. I liked Vaughn because of her down to earth character and just being 'normal'. It makes relating to a character that much easier I think. I loved seeing Vaughn with Oak but also with her family; her sister Paisley and the twin brothers.

The rest of the minor characters in the book were perfectly ok as fill-ups in this story. Even with the little precense some of them got, I just liked them because of HOW the author writes them 'in' the story. It just clicks..

+ - the whole story-line is a big cliché, from beginning till end which makes most of the story-line predictable. I kind of expected this before starting this book, after reading the synopsis so it's something I made peace with. I mean, there's only so much that'll happen in a story like this, right?

- Towards the end, when you'd expect a lot will happen in a story like this, it just didn't feel spectacular enough for me.. I expected a bit more I guess? It was over too soon and just felt a bit 'too easy'. It lacked some angst is the right way to put it I guess. But if you like a fluffy, light read, this is totally your cup of tea xD

CONCLUSION: Overall, it was a really enjoyable and fast-paced read and I give this book a 3/3.5 star rating. It was definitely a book I couldn't put down while reading it because I was totally hooked to these characters and their development throughout the story - I can't say it enough; I really liked the characters!!

This is just that sort of book you pick up when you're in need of a romantic, enjoyable, fast paced read. A read without a lot of drama which makes it a light and sweet.