Not in the Script by Amy Finnegan
Series: If Only #3
Also in this series: Wish You Were Italian, Fool Me Twice

Published by Bloomsbury on October 7th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Love & Romance, New Adult, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 392
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Goodreads

Millions of people witnessed Emma Taylor's first kiss-a kiss that needed twelve takes and four camera angles to get right. After spending years performing on cue, Emma can't help but wonder if any part of her life is real anymore . . . particularly her romances. She's been burned by heartthrobs (and the press) one too many times, but there's something about Emma's co-star on her new TV show Coyote Hills that is irresistible. Jake Elliott is gorgeous, smart and actually cares about Emma's charitable foundation. But she's sworn off on-set relationships. They always end badly . . . don't they? This third novel in the deliciously fun If Only romance line proves that the best kinds of love stories don't follow a script.

Emma Taylor has had enough of actors. Her on-screen romances may end happily ever after but her experiences with off-screen romance have been far from a fairytale. With a new show, new house and new start in Tuscon, Emma has sworn off dating anyone she works with. No matter how normal they appear, she knows actors bring more excitement and unwanted drama than the shows they work on. Then she meets Jake Elliott. He seems to be down to earth, smart and best of all – unlike any actor she’s dated before. But her new co-star has his own set of drama attached and their attraction may not be enough to change her mind about dating people she works with.

I love Bloomsbury’s If Only series. Each book is a standalone clean romance with more than just love on the line. They are also not as light and fluffy as their covers may have you first thinking. There is a lot of substance and story within their pages – the If Only series is a great line of modern contemporary stories for young adults.

Not in the Script tells the story of Emma Taylor and the price fame has had on her relationships. It is more than just a romance. Emma has to balance her relationships with her best friend and her family with her work as a teen starlet. Amy Finnegan does a brilliant job of making Emma’s story realistic. I don’t think many of us are or know famous actresses but in this book Emma, Jake and the rest of the Coyote Hills alum. are believable as celebrities yet down to earth enough to be relatable.

This is also the story of Jake and how he strives to find a balance between his dreams and his responsibilities to his family. The switching points of view between Emma and Jake works perfectly to tell their stories. Getting personal insights to both of their lives from their own eyes made me like them each more as characters. It also added to the romance. And the romance in this novel is perfect. Their relationship develops at a great pace and causes a certain element of drama. It is essential to the book yet it never takes over and overshadows Emma or Jake’s other responsibilities to their friends and families. The friendship element is strong with both Emma and Jake having to navigate their pre-fame friends with their present day lives. Their families also play an active role in the novel despite them both living away from their parental homes as they start their adult lives.

Not in the Script is an entertaining story about friends, family and fame. Romance and drama play their part with the characters being realistic in spite of their glitzy occupations. Amy Finnegan’s debut novel was a pleasure to read – the perfect book to read an away an afternoon with. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys relatable romances with gorgeous heroes and extremely likeable leading ladies.

 Thanks to Bloomsbury Australia for the review copy. 

You can read my reviews for other books in the If Only line:

Fool Me Twice by Mandy Hubbard

Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae