Crystal Blogs Books: Review of Walk on By (Best Things in Life #1) by Stacey Solomon

"Will you get out of that shower, darling? Really, you've been in there ages. What have you been doing, having a Herbal Essences moment?" - Rupert

Walk on By
Series: Best Things in Life #1
Author: Stacey Solomon
Publisher: Totally Bound
Release Date: February 5, 2015
Source: publisher for review

Purchase Links: Amazon - B&N - Totally Bound
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Ever since Charlotte Taylor was a little girl she’s wanted fame and fortune. She sings with the voice of an angel and is soon plucked out of obscurity and launched into the limelight as the overnight sensation ‘Lola’.

Charlotte attends wild celebrity parties and moves in circles with the rich and famous, but the people living the life of celebrity aren’t all she imagined them to be and neither is her life. Struggling to find the real Charlotte again she battles against the crazy life she’s thrust into, desperately trying to swim to the surface.

Blake Hudson is a self-made man. Successful in his own right, he’s busy making his own mark on the world. Self-assured, strong and determined, he’s not looking for a permanent relationship. But when he meets the sweet and charming Charlotte, he’s captivated. But the world of celebrity and business collide and commitments, half-truths and unintentional deception don’t make for smooth sailing.

Hilarious consequences ensue through this romantic comedy, but can Lola and Blake overcome the challenges that life and fame throw their way to find their own happy-ever-after, or will Lola just have to Walk on By?

I adore romantic comedies. It was the genre that first drew my attention to romance and it is like my security blanket when I have a book slump. So when I saw Walk on By in Totally Bound's new releases email, it immediately got my attention. What I didn't know what that it is part of their new "Celebritease" line (romance written by celebrities) nor did I realize that it is actually the first book in a new series (more on that later). Initially, I was a little skeptical going into the book, but that faded away the minute I read the beginning of chapter one. At that point, I was hooked. I had in tears during many parts of Walk on By.

Since my notes for Walk on By are a little scattered, I'm going to do this review bullet style...

Characters - I loved all of them! Charlotte is very much a daydreamer. In the past, she dreamed about what it would be like to be famous. Now she dreams about finding her soul mate and worries if she'll be able connect with him. She's afraid of losing her true self to Lola, her stage persona, but at the same time, she's a little afraid of going back to Charlotte.She's still new to fame and that often clouds her judgement as people are always telling her what she should do. The only person that really has her back is Rupert (or Roo Roo), her gay best friend. I loved Roo and I wish I had one like him. He tells her like it is and isn't afraid to slap her when she gets out of line. He often gave her the best advice. And then we have Blake, Charlotte's love interest. We don't really get to know much about him in Walk on By other than he's sexy, sweet, and has a secret. The evil three S's. ;o)
Romance - The budding romance between Charlotte and Blake is very much a whirlwind romance. We don't get to see much, other than the very beginning and some diary entries from Charlotte. I would have loved a couple extra chapters if it meant more insight and interactions between them.
Sexy Time - Holy crap! I was SO not expecting that. I thought it was going to be sweet and not a lot of detail. Holy Hannah, that was sizzling hot.
The Ending - A little warning, Walk on By does end with a cliffhanger. Was I peeved? A little, but if it means we'll get another novella with Charlotte and Blake's romance, I'm good with that. It makes me feel a bit better about the whirlwind aspect of their relationship.
Writing Style - LOVED IT! Holy crap, Stacey's style was spot on. It got me laughing from the first chapter and I continued to giggle until the end. I have to say, Rupert had the best lines out of all the characters. Charlotte's thoughts were no slouch, either. There are a couple scenes between her and Blake that had me rolling.

If Walk on By was a movie, it would be a romantic comedy with a dash of slapstick. It was fabulous. Stacey's characters grabbed me from the first page and kept me up all night. My one concern was the abrupt ending. It lead me to believe that the next book will start off where Walk on By ended. If that is the case, I'm a little more forgiving. I can't wait to see what Stacey has in store for her characters next. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long to find out.