A contemporary Cinderella meets Notting Hill in this tale of a regular woman who shops at the Gap and wakes up in bed with the hottest actor in the world.
26-year-old Claire Reilly is on top of her game as one of the youngest celebrity reporters and editors in the business. At Mod magazine, she is a consummate professional, interviewing dreamy Hollywood hunks and staying on top of every story. Unfortunately, her live-in boyfriend seems intent on setting the world’s record for celibacy, yet she finds herself penning articles like “Ten Reasons You Should Have a One-Night Stand.”When Claire lands the plum assignment of interviewing Cole Brannon, Hollywood’s #1 hottie, she knows better than to mix business with pleasure, but the next morning, she finds herself in Cole’s bed...without her clothes. After the tabloids pick up the story, Claire’s life is turned upside down. In struggling to regain her reputation, she’ll learn a great deal about herself...and that you shouldn’t always believe everything you read.
Kristin Harmel is the New York Times bestselling, USA Today bestselling, and #1 international bestselling author of The Paris Daughter, The Forest of Vanishing Stars, The Book of Lost Names, The Winemaker’s Wife, and a dozen other novels that have been translated into more than 30 languages and are sold all over the world.
Kristin has been writing professionally since the age of 16, when she began her career as a sportswriter, covering Major League Baseball and NHL hockey for a local magazine in Tampa Bay, Florida in the late 1990s. In addition to a long magazine writing career, primarily writing and reporting for PEOPLE magazine (as well as articles published in numerous other magazines, including American Baby, Men’s Health, Woman’s Day, and more), Kristin was also a frequent contributor to the national television morning show The Daily Buzz. She sold her first novel in 2004, and it debuted in February 2006.
Kristin was born just outside Boston, Massachusetts and spent her childhood there, as well as in Worthington, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. After graduating with a degree in journalism (with a minor in Spanish) from the University of Florida, she spent time living in Paris and Los Angeles and now lives in Orlando, with her husband and young son. She is also the co-founder and co-host of the popular weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction.
This is another book I overhyped for myself. I expected this to be THE best book of 2018 and unfortunately I just couldn´t love it, which is okay not all books are for everyone. Don´t get me wrong its probably a really good book but it felt as if I`ve read it at least 5 times already. I seriously despise characters that are only made to be hated and this one had a lot of them, the whole she-hates-me-cause-she-wants-to-be-me feels a bit high-schooly to me. I wish there was some character development I guess...
Two fainted smiles, a quarter of a laugh, that's all when we speak about positive reactions about this writing. Otherwise, linear and dull characters, (if not directly stupid...) a Top10PoorBooks for the novel (we have to name it so, event it does not deserve...) and a Top5 or even higher for Claire Reilly, one of the dumbest creatures I've seen. You have as a boyfriend a lazy unemployed selfish creature, who doesn't make love to you an entire month, you catch the idiot banging someone IN YOUR OWN SHEETS and you intend to forgive him... Bleah!!!
'HOW TO SLEEP WITH A MOVIE STAR' has all the right ingredients to make it a modern day Cinderella story. The very handsome and exceedingly nice movie star and the cute, up and coming magazine editor who meet at an interview and are immediately drawn to each other. I thought that I was going to love this book when about fifty pages into it, movie star Cole Brannon and journalist Claire Riley first meet and the sparks begin to fly. However, the book took a turn that I wasn't quite expecting, Claire began to push this gorgeous and very sweet movie star away (who in real life would do that???) and her self-esteem seemed to get lower and lower as the book went on. Claire seemed to make a lot of irrational decisions, such as wanting to take back her cheating boyfriend just days after catching him in the act when all the while Cole was clearly pining for her, for no apparent reason. Also there wasn't a whole lot of Cole Brannon in this book, a character that I, for one, really enjoyed.
'HOW TO SLEEP WITH A MOVIE STAR's heart was definitely in the right place but unfortunately it didn't come together in the way that I had hoped. The ending was good, Cole Brannon was a gem, and Claire's best friend Wendy was the kind of friend we all wish we had but the "Cinderella story" I was looking for wasn't quite there.
* The main character and her best friend were awesome! I love good female characters!
The bad:
* Cole Brannon. Not that he wasn't a nice guy, but he's absent throughout 90% of the story. Claire does her interview with him. Has the drunken meeting in a bar with him. Has the angry conversation with him about the roses where she is a total bitch. Other than those three meetings (and the last one was really short), there is nothing! And that all happened in a period of 2-3 days.
We have pretty much no idea who Cole is as a person, but we're supposed to believe he's madly in love with Claire at the end. They literally don't speak for the entire book! We had more in depth conversations between Claire and the ex-boyfriend Tom. We had more conversation between Claire and her boss. We had a LOT more conversation between Claire and Wendy. I think I know more about Wendy's waiter boyfriend than I do about Cole!
* Over the top mean girls, a rushed ending, and unrealistic epilogue. This book would have been far better if we got to know Cole and Claire more as they started their relationship. Instead, we end the book on their first date and get an epilogue that says "Hey, guess what? Claire won almost 3 mil in her lawsuit and Cole proposed!" I have no investment in Claire's relationship with Cole. Other than her pining over how hot he is, we don't learn anything about him.
This book was mediocre at best. It's not bad as a quick beach or plane read, but I wouldn't go out of my way to read it. I'm glad I picked it up at the library (because of the title) and didn't actually pay for it.
The novel is so dreamy.. It's a too-good-to-be-true novel.. Imagine that you are a young and sweet editor, and a number one American actor had a huge crush on you.. Isn't that unrealistic?? Well, that is what happened in the novel.. And you know, as a teenager, I have always wanted to know how it feels like to meet celebrities in person.. I mean, who wouldn't?? Maybe some people wouldn't like that, but honestly, for a teenager that's consumed by the spotlight, I really want to be like Claire.. But it turned out to be not as good as it seems.. And about boys.. Cole is, actually, like a fairy tale.. I know some men are jerks.. (I love saying that..) And some people always say that some not-too-handsome guys are okay to be with.. You don't need a superstar to be your boyfriend that makes you happy.. But in this novel, Cole, the America super-hot-sweet-charming actor, is actually the good guy.. Wow, that's just too good to be true in real life, isn't it?? Anyway, of course some little light book here and then are always fun to read!! A nice book to start my hols with.. =) What I learn from this book: 1. Gossip kills. 2. Umm.. We're still allowed to dream..
2. Wendy: I wish I had you(minus jean-Michel, of course!)
3.Sweet-shy Cole: really, do I have to say anything???
4. The first meeting between Claire and Cole: I don't think I can keep myself from dying from embarrassment,if I ever face this situation. Go Claire!
5. George Clooney's advertisement: I laughed straight for ten minutes !(half an hour intermittently)
6. the writing: just beautiful!
Dislikes:
1. the way Cole's full name was mentioned every time: DUH! we know his full name! just call him Cole.
2. The male's restroom scene: duh! spy-101, never go to somewhere where you shouldn't be seen dead. and in front of the whole office? you wrote your death sentence, buddy! (sorry, reading tom clancy now, no pun intended!)
3. Cole's (too-many) imaginary girlfriends: seriously, one was enough!
4. Tom (more like, Claire's naivety): every time she mentioned her sex deprivation, I knew he was having an affair. But more annoying, she wanted to take him back!!! Grr....
5. Madeline: seriously, no need for such an editor!
So, It's a tie everyone!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Little black books are treats. They are funny and delightful. They are romantic fluff that you can read without too much effort.
This book was none of those things. Do not read this book.
I wonder how old the writer was when she wrote this? Because it felt like a teenager trying to write an adult story.
The negatives :
The insta-love. The main male lead met the female lead and he fell for her. He was an absolute tool but she liked him.
The highschool drama. What's her name (our female lead) was an editor for a leading magazine but no one respected her. The other girls she worked with kept insulting her. They had utterly ridiculous names. It was tedious.
She kept calling her love interest by his full name. Almost at the end of the book, I had to wonder did he know that he was in a relationship with her? Because they had no interaction.
The ending might have been from a different book because it made no sense.
קלייר ריילי בת העשרים ושש הצליחה בגיל צעיר להגיע למשרת עורכת בכירה במגזין "מוֹד", והיא מתמחה בעיקרון בכתבות על סלבריטיז. הכוכב האחרון שראיינה הוא לוק בראנון - שחקן לוהט וחתיך על. כשקלייר תופסת את החבר שלה בוגד בה, היא הולכת לבר להשתכר ובמקרה פוגשת שם שוב את לוק. מרוב אלכוהול, קלייר מקיאה ואז מתעלפת ולוק לוקח אותה אליו למלון ומטפל בה, ואחר כך גם מבקר אותה שוב כדי לראות שהכול בסדר אצלה. כתוצאה מכך מתחילה להתגלגל חרושת שמועות שקלייר שכבה איתו (למרות שזה לא קרה), שמגיעה לצהובונים והופכת לנחלת הכלל, דבר שגורם לחייה של קלייר לעבור טלטלה קשה. אבל לא לדאוג - היא תצא מכך מחוזקת בסוף. הספר מבוסס על חוויותיה של הרמל, שהייתה בעבר כתבת בעיתון נשים וראיינה ידוענים. הספר ממש חמוד, ויפה לראות את הגדילה וההתפכחות של קלייר במהלכו, אחרי שבהתחלה קצת התעצבנתי על איך שהיא מרשה לחבר הדוחה שלה ולחלק מהקולגות שלה לדרוך עליה. היה יפה לראות איך היא מתחילה לעמוד על שלה ומגדלת עמוד שדרה. וכמובן הסוף טוב ומתוק.
רומן רומנטי קליל, אבל נטול היגיון (ובאמת שאני לא מחפשת הרבה היגיון בספרים רומנטיים). קלייר היא עורכת מדור הבידור בעיתון נשים. התפקיד שלה זה לראיין סלבס. והיא מקפידה להדגיש כמה שהיא לא מתרגשת מנוכחותם. לכן כשהיא פוגשת בכוכב הקולנוע הלוהט ביותר היום, לוק בראנון היא לא ממש מתרגשת. היא מראיינת אותו והראיון ממש מוצלח, אבל אז היא מגיעה הביתה ומגלה שמערכת היחסים בינה לבין החבר שלה נגמרה. היא יוצאת לבר להשתכר, ובמקרה פוגשת שם שוב בלוק. הוא לוקח אותה לחדר המלון שלו כדי לטפל בה. היא מתעוררת במיטה שלו בבוקר, אבל הם לא עשו סקס. לא ברור איך, אבל הוא מיד מתאהב בה (או ככה לפחות מבינים מההמשך). לא ברור איך אבל היא מנסה לחזור לחבר הקודם שלה, כשברור לגמרי שהוא דוש ונצלן. לא ברור איך אבל לוק ממש מחזר אחריה. לא ברור איך אבל היא ממש דוחה את החיזורים שלו ובהיסטריה שזה יפגע במוניטין שלה (כעיתונאית, כן?). בשלב הזה מתרחש המהלך הצפוי ביותר: מערכת היחסים (הלא קיימת!) מתגלה בצהובונים וקלייר אכן סופגת פגיעה במוניטין. הספר הזה מנסה לדחוס לעלילה כל קלישאה שקיימת בספרות הרומנטית: בוסית מטומטמת - יש. קולגה מרושעת ותככנית - יש. סיפור סינדרלה - יש. דרמה משפטית - יש. אמא מחורבנת - יש. חברה טובת לב שתומכת - יש. נקמה באקס - יש. הבעיה שמרוב דחיסת כל הקלישאות האלה, אנחנו נשארים עם עלילה מהירה מדי בלי שום רגש או פיתוח של הדמויות או של מערכות היחסים. הכימיה בין הגיבורים הראשיים לא קיימת. בקושי קיימים דיאלוגים ביניהם. האיפיון העיקרי של הגיבור הראשי הוא: חתיך ונחמד יחסית לכוכב הוליוודי. אין שום איפיון אחר ואין שום הסבר מה גרם לו להתאהב באופן די מיידי בעיתונאית שבאה לראיין אותו ושמתנהגת מולו כאילו תקוע לה מוט בתחת. הדבר היחיד שאני יכולה לכתוב לזכות הספר זו העובדה שמדובר בקריאה קלילה ומהירה, ושלא סבלתי תוך כדי הקריאה. העובדה של�� הבנתי את מהות הקשר בין שני הגיבורים לא פגמה בהנאה מהקריאה. ולכן נתתי לספר 2 ⭐
How to Sleep with a Movie Star by Kristin Harmel tells the story of Claire Reilly, an entertainment reporter for Mod magazine. Claire is in a slump. Her live-in boyfriend won’t have sex with her and she’s just been asked to write an article about why having a one night stand is wonderful. Clearly, she isn’t in the best place in her life.
That same week, Claire is assigned to interview Cole Brannon, Hollywood’s hottest star. At this point in her career, interviewing celebrities is nothing to Claire. She gets in, gets the information and gets out. She walks into the interview with Cole with the same expectations but is caught off guard by her interest in him. He is just as beautiful as his photos boast, but not only that, he’s genuine and kind.
After the interview, Claire walks into her apartment and catches her boyfriend cheating on her with a random woman. She is devastated and quickly kicks him out. In her emotional state, she heads to a bar and gets drunk; when she wakes up, she is in Cole Brannon’s bed with no recollection of what happened the night before. Cole assures her that they did not sleep together and that he merely helped her because she was too drunk to get home.
Claire tries to stay away from Cole and his charms, but he keeps showing up. After vicious rumors are spread in the media about Claire and Cole, Claire is devastated, but can’t hide her feelings.
Another great book by Kristin Harmel. I love the ideas she comes up with because they are always exactly what I want to read. The idea of a regular every day girl having a movie star fall head over heels is definitely an interesting story line.
Claire is a great main character even though there were a few times I wanted to smack her and tell her to stop being so stubborn. I loved her career and I loved getting a glimpse into the world of magazines.
I’d actually really love to see this book get made into a movie…I think it could really succeed!
Çok eğlenceli bir kitaptı :)) Romantik komedi sevenler kaçırmasın ;) Ünlü bir dergide editör olan kahramanımız Hollywood'un gözde bekar oyuncusuyla röportaj yapar ve daha sonra yaşanan talihsizlikler ve işyerindeki rekabetinde etkisiyle adı aşk dedikodularına karışır.. Ama film yıldızımız hiç de sandığı gibi diğer ünlülere benzememektedir.. Havalı, kibirli bir tip değildir ve kahramanımız yıldıza aşık olur tabi yıldızımızda kıza karşı boş değildir :)) Tabi işyerindeki düşmanlar, rekabetler, eski erkek arkadaş gibi dertlerle uğraşan kızımızın mutlu sona erişmek için başına gelmeyen kalmaz.. Okuyun derim benden tavsiye :D
אני מאוד אוהבת את הספרים ההיסטוריים של קריסטין הרמל ולכן קצת מוזר לקרוא ספר קליל בסגנון רום-קום. חשוב לתאם ציפיות שזה לא הסטנדרטים של "הדירה ברחוב אמלי" הנפלא.
בספר הזה הגיבורה הראשית היא טיפוס שמצד אחד מצליחה מאוד בקריירה שלה בכך שהגיעה לתפקיד עורכת בכירה במגזין נחשב בגיל 26 הצעיר. אך בחייה הרומנטיים היא נראתה לי ככישלון- הקשר שלה עם החבר שגר אצלה בבית נראה, מהרגע הראשון, שהוא לא הגיוני ומיד חשדתי שהוא בוגד בה (איזה גבר נמנע מסקס חודש מרצונו...). בנוסף, התקשורת שלה עם כוכב הקולנוע המפורסם לקה בחסר.
הספר הזה היה חמוד, צפוי והעביר לי את הזמן במהירות אך לא הרגשתי שהיה מצוין כפי שניתן לצפות מסופרת מנוסה. רק מאוחר יותר הבנתי שזהו ספר שנכתב בתחילת דרכה של הסופרת, טרם שיכללה את כתיבתה.
It is always interesting to read the first book of an author you like. It is a good thing I didn't start with this book, as it is not my style, contemporary romance with a 26 year old protagonist. I am so glad I am not dating in today's world. This is a short, sweet story about a magazine writer, which is what Harmel was doing. I can happily say she has improved and her most recent books have been wonderful. She has a new one coming out in June of 2023, The Paris daughter, which I received an advanced copy, and I loved it. Historical Fiction is more up my alley.
This was a pretty good book. Definitely "chick-lit" but "chick-lit" with substance and brains!
Not being an overly avid fan of "chick-lit" my expectations from these authors are usually somewhat sub-standard to the rest of the literature world. Too many sappy, unwitting writers have crept into the chick-lit world and lowered what seems to be the norm for what people have come to expect. Chick-lit tends to mean a book of just girly stuff, light reading with no brains needed. When I find an author that truly knows how to write and keep someone's attention without having to resort to sappy, 'chick' stuff, I'm not only surprised but impressed. Well Chick-Lit writers beware, there's a new kid on the block and she writes with poise, intelligence and a hint of comedic air that will make all other chick-lit writers have to step up to the mark! Kristin Harmel gives a wonderful look at the world of modern chic magazines and keeps a hint of snickers and goofaws there to keep you from getting too intense. While she shows the ins and outs of the 'too chic for themselves' upper office types, she also pulls you in with the realistic view of those poor writers that truly do join the ranks of magazines to make a difference, only to be scoffed at and humiliated by the snooty editors and writers that make life in the chic lane too unbearable.
Bringing you in with a down to earth main character, Harmel keeps you wanting more to see if the girl you're rooting for gets her justice. While the title suggests the novel could be a slightly risque version of instruction books, it's far from that! The main character and her best friend find a way to not only keep their own values and morals but perhaps show those who thought they're one up on the common gal pals what life is really about.
You simply can't put the book down as you go through the trials and tribulations of a young writer, her best friend and their careers together. Rooting for the plain styled editor and writer you find yourself grinning from ear to ear as she pulls one over on her nemesis. And you never know, you might actually truly learn how to sleep with a movie star if you pay attention! A wonderful suggestion for any reader of chick-lit and even some that have slightly higher expectations for that genre, you might finally be satisfied with Harmel's wonderfully touching novel! She definitely has set the bar up a notch in the standards of 'chick-lit'. Keeping the reading light enough to enjoy any time, any place it also isn't so lacking in sustenance that you don't feel the need to use your brain to read. I loved the light reading with a twist of humor and reality, added to just a touch of enchantment that you expect from this type of genre. Two thumbs up for sure!
Olamaz ya..Cidden yüzümde kocaman bir sırıtma ifadesiyle bitirdim kitabı. Çok sevdim hikayeyi, karakterleri (cadı sindra ve tom dışında)... Cole Allah'ım o nasıl bir yaratıktır öyle.O düşünceli halleri, gülümsemeleri ve alçakgönüllülüğü yok mu?Bitirdi beni. Ben kitaplarda dediğim dedik çaldığım düdük diyen erkek karakterleri severim ama Cole bi başkaydı. Claire ise ilk başlarda Tom konusunda ciddi anlamda saflık ve salaklık yapsada sonradan çok acıdım kıza.. Her şeyde bu kadar üst üste gelmezki..Tüm negatiflikler ve sorunlar kızcağızımıza yöneldi... Hemde milyonlarca insanın önünde..Ama olsun sonuç mutluya, her şeye değer.
Olaya gelecek olursak Claire 'mod' dergisinde editördür ve ünlü oyuncu Cole Brannon ile bir ropörtaj yapacaktır. Claire karşısında kendini beğenmiş,ukala bir ünlü beklerken tam zıddı bir karakterle karşılaşır. Derken çiftimizin yolları kader mi tesadüf mü bilinmez bir çok kez karşılaşır. Kader onları birleştireyim derken öyle bir tesadüfler zinciri olur ki çiftimiz ayrı düşer. Ehh magazin ve basın dünyası bu...Bir dedikodu, entrika,rekabet olmazsa olmaz. Kitabı okuduğunuzda bi kaşık suda boğmak istediğiniz Sindra(ismi yanlış yazıyor olabilirim ama müstehak o kadına) her şeyi altüst ediyor..Sonlara yaklaştıkça Claire için ağlayasım geldi resmen..herkes mi bu kıza karşı.. Ama neysem ki her şey çözülüyor orası ayrı...
Ben kitabı oldukça sevdim..başlarda biraz durağan olsada Cole sahneye çıktıktan sonra herşey rayına oturdu ^^) Yer yer sinir krizleri geçirdim,kızdım,güldüm eğlendim.Kısaca öneririm zira ben çok sevdim :)
How to Sleep with a Movie Star by Kristin Harmel was a lot better than I expected. Claire Reilly has just caught her boyfriend in her bed with another woman. Claire is heartbroken and decides to drown her sorrows at a bar. There she runs into Cole Brannon, a famous and handsome movie star she had interviewed earlier that day for the entertainment magazine she works for. Cole is unlike the other movie stars she's interviewed and makes sure she gets home safely and that her ex-boyfriend is no longer around.
Unfortunately, the tabloids publish a story that places Claire in Cole's bed. Claire's reputation is ruined, and she blames Cole. Her life continues to spiral downward, and she can't seem to stop it. Can she see that not everything is as it seems before she loses the man of her dreams?
I picked this book up on sale and wasn't really expecting much, so I was pleasantly surprised when I couldn't put it down. The writing was wonderful, and the characters were more than enjoyable. Cole was adorable and Claire was realistic. I loved reading this and am glad I gave into my impulse to buy it. I have to say that the title is a little misleading, and that's mainly why I was so surprised. It held a lot more depth than I was expecting. Wonderful!
Kristin Harmel debut novel is fun with romance and laughs. The chapter "How to do Tequila Shots" was so funny. A line I liked was, "Note to self: No more deep breathing on subway stations."
This was her first book, but it is sadly my last since I have now read all 14 books she has written. I'm an admirer of her, and all of her work. As you go through her list of books you will see the way she makes every word so smooth and easily readable. Her historical fiction novels are so powerful. Her YA books are perfectly touching.
Her new novel "The Forest of Vanishing Stars" out this Tuesday July 6, 2021 is a must read and have book. A keeper for your library. I read the ARC and you will be shocked and amazed also. Enjoy.
I adored this book! Though it was pretty predictable for most of the book (it took a definite turn a little more than halfway through, which threw me-- good!), I thought it was terrific. It was a fun way to get to the know the inside of the women's magazine world (not the rags) and though it's obviously a fantasy, it still seemed real. I'll have to read more of Kristin Harmel.
Excellent novel!! My first by Kristin Harmel and definitely not my last. This was truly a Cinderella story, complete with the Wicked Triplets and gorgeous Prince Charming who is more interested in the real woman than the plastic and fake ones of La La Land. Highly recommended to all Chick Lit Fans.
I really enjoyed this book.. A great chick lit.. I had taken a hiatus with chick lits and this one really entertained me. I couldn't stop turning the pages and polished the book off in just about 4 hours!
I'm off to check out other books written by Kristin Harmel.
En verdad no me esperaba nada en cuánto empecé a leer, estuvo entretenido y no creí que nombre del título lo adquiera de esa forma. Fue bastante ingenioso cabe reconocer.
Cole Brannon se me hizo un personaje masculino muy tierno, no es como lo pitan los medios. Es una masita, a diferencia de Tom, el novio de Claire (qué hombre más detestable); se ve un gran contraste. En cuanto a Claire, se me hizo un personaje que se pudo empatizar con ella, sus inseguridades me recordó a las mías. La desmotivación al darse cuenta que su carrera que aspiró desde muy pequeña, ya no le generaba placer me conmovió.
Me hubiese gustado conocer un poco más de Cole, ya que la historia era contaba a través de los ojos de Claire. Lo único que no me gustó fue el hecho de que se tardó demasiado para presentar al protagonista o tal vez yo lo sentí así. Pero la traducción estuvo bastante buena, la redacción de igual forma. Amo mucho 🛐
I found Claire's lack of self-esteem to be frustrating and unrealistic. The direction of the plot was obvious even though the main character remained oblivious and surprised. Cole never got to see the good side of Claire, their interactions consisting of her fobbing him off and being rude. I saw no reason for him to actually like her at all. I also found the use of adjectives distracting. The author can clearly write, the dialog flowed although at times was also predictable. I also found the characters one-dimensional and lacking in any mystery.