Monday, 19 June 2017
The Truth about Gemma Grey
Release Date: 19th June 2017
Genres: Chick Lit / Romantic Comedy
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Life isn’t working out quite as Gemma had planned. Her breakthrough job
turns out to involve writing clickbait articles about cats. Her boyfriend Jack
is off travelling the world with his glamorous BFF and her mum’s social life
puts Gemma’s own to shame.
Then, after a late-night online rant, Gemma’s YouTube channel goes viral
and everything changes.
Suddenly, she’s living the dream – only it’s not turning out entirely as
she imagined.
Gemma realises she’ll have to choose between fame, real love and being
true to herself – because she can’t have it all. Or can she?
The story begins with Gemma Grey very excited about telling her boyfriend about her new job in London. However, he has some news of his own. Plans of his own that don't involve her. Gemma, a vlogger soon uses this medium to tell the world exactly how she feels and soon is launched into a surreal type of fame with her Youtube channel suddenly becoming the hottest thing out there with lots of interest from people who want to make her an internet sensation. This opens up lots of opportunities for Gemma and soon she is living her dream...................or is she? Meeting lots of people, being recongised on the street, having a bit more money are all the things Gemma had dreamed of but her experiences as a 'professional' Youtuber take her to places, and into the arms of people she would never have met otherwise, Gemma soon realises that her dream is in fact turning into a bit of a nightmare. That combined with a house-share that isn't quite all she had hoped it would be soon makes Gemma realise that there's more to life than posting video tutorials on how to contour your makeup!
I really really enjoyed this book. The theme is so current and I felt very sorry for Gemma trying to manage her 'normal' job with trying to remain popular online and gain as many followers as possible. Those of you who are bloggers or vloggers will understand the obsession and the hard work. I have a stepson who is desperate to be a famous Youtuber and therefore I found this book particularly interesting.
The book contained plenty of interesting and complex characters. I thought Gemma's boyfriend Jack to be a complete pig for treating her like he did. Gemma's housemates provided an interesting backstory that would take Gemma down a path she hadn't expected and along with it her vlogging. The Berry boys exhausted me every bit as much as they exhausted Gemma but I loved them! And as for Raffy.............well. Thats another book boyfriend to add to my ever growing list.
A really enjoyable read with lots of messages about loving who you are and not needing the approval of others. Its a story about finding your own way and realising that sometimes dreams need to change and grow. I'm so pleased that within the book Gemma herself grows and matures in character and strength and soon realises that she can use her talents and contacts to help others. I knew this would be a really enjoyable read but I don't think the blurb can truly get across that this book is a little bit more than chicklit. While there's fun, comedy and romance there's also so much more. There's a deeper story going on. Well done Sophie Ranald! A recommended read from me.
ABOUT SOPHIE RANALD
Sophie
Ranald is the youngest of five sisters. She was born in Zimbabwe and lived in
South Africa until an acute case of itchy feet brought her to London in her
mid-20s. As an editor for a customer publishing agency, Sophie developed her
fiction-writing skills describing holidays to places she'd never visited. In
2011, she decided to disregard all the good advice given to aspiring novelists
and attempt to write full-time. After one false start, It Would Be Wrong to
Steal My Sister's Boyfriend (Wouldn't It?) seemed to write itself. Her second,
third and fourth novels followed, and a fifth is due for release in Spring
2017. Sophie also writes for magazines and online about food, fashion and
running. She lives in south-east London with her amazing partner Hopi and
Purrs, their adorable little cat.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SophieRanald/
Twitter: @sophieranald
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7233995.Sophie_Ranald
Website: https://www.sophieranald.com
I really enjoyed reading about the book and the author. It seems that Sophie's own story has a happy ending. Definitely one to download.