Review: Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler

Title: Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler
Publisher: Touchstone
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A fledgling entertainment writer stumbles into the gig of a lifetime writing a teenage pop star’s memoir and soon realizes that the young celebrity’s squeaky-clean image is purely a work of fiction.

Struggling writer Holly Gracin is on the verge of moving back home to upstate New York when she gets hired to write the memoirs of eighteen-year-old Daisy Mae Dixson, a former Nickelodeon child star who has moved seamlessly into both blockbuster movies and pop music.

Holly quickly realizes that Daisy’s wholesome public image is purely a work of fiction, as Holly finds herself trailing the star as she travels around the world on yachts, gets stalked by paparazzi, and sneaks out of five-star hotels in the dead of night.

As Holly struggles to write a flattering portrait of a teenage millionaire who only eats “nightshades” and treats her employees like slaves, Daisy has a public meltdown—and suddenly, her book is the cornerstone of resurrecting her image. But working at all hours trailing a pop star has taken its toll, and Holly must decide if becoming the ultimate insider is worth losing a starring role in her own life.

Fun, juicy, and inspired by Rachel Stuhler’s own stranger-than-fiction experiences as a celebrity ghost writer, Absolutely True Lies is an entertaining look at how the lifestyles of the rich and famous aren’t always what they seem.

Review:

Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler is a highly entertaining behind the scenes look into the life of a popular teen actress. When out of work Holly Gracin is hired to ghostwrite teen star Daisy Mae Dixson’s memoir, she is ill-prepared for the utter craziness that lies ahead.

For someone who has been living and working in L.A. since she graduated from college, Holly is somewhat naive and completely lack in guile. She also has NO idea what she is getting herself into when she signs on to write Daisy’s biography. Holly is in full blown panic mode for about the first half of the novel as she tries to navigate the unfamiliar waters of both her job and Daisy’s over the top lifestyle. Things go from bad to worse when she refuses to stand up for herself after Daisy’s manager begins to take advantage of her. Holly is also struggling to get the information she needs to write the novel and when she does finally hit her stride, Daisy’s outrageous antics result in a very public scandal that could destroy her wildly successful career.

At first, Daisy appears to be just as presented: wholesome, vapid and superficial. But then Holly gets a few glimpses of the spoiled and demanding starlet who cannot be bothered to remember the crew member’s names or show up on time to the set. Daisy lets everyone else make decisions for her and she is woefully out of touch with the real world. When Holly travels to Italy with Daisy and her entourage to film an episode of her TV show, Daisy completely falls apart and she quickly goes from media darling to tabloid fodder.

Absolutely True Lies by Rachel Stuhler is mostly a light-hearted, fun read but there is also a surprising amount of depth to the storyline. It is a well-written book with an interesting cast of characters, a charming plot and an unexpected romance. A delightfully unique novel that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.