My review for Hollywood & Vine by Olivia Evans.
{MINOR SPOILERS}
I finished Hollywood & Vine within 24hrs, which is not surprising considering how phenomenal it was. Beautifully written and extremely captivating. I was so enraptured by it, I just could not put it down.
Anders Ellis is an asshole, Josie Bane has a smart mouth and they’re both as stubborn, relentless and hot-headed as each other, but neither one of them are apologetic for who they are. Anders pushes Josie’s buttons, and she pushes back just as fiercely. Their constant banter is endearing and can’t help but make you laugh and shake your head at their antics.
"Does it get exhausting?” Anders ripped the wrapper from the granola and took a bite.
“Does what get exhausting?”
“Being a smart-ass all the time.”
Josie moved to the bed and snatched the granola bar away. Breaking off a huge piece, she popped it into her mouth and shrugged. “I don’t know. Does being an asshole ever get exhausting for you?”
“I’m not an asshole.”
“And I’m not a smart-ass.”
“You’re impossible.” Anders huffed and snagged the remainder of he bar.
“It seems we at least have that in common.”
“We’ve got to start somewhere, right?”
Josie not only has to deal with having to keep her relationship with Anders a secret, she has to cope with her feelings of uncertainty manifested by insecurity at seeing Anders’ photo plastered all over the tabloids with false headlines. And when Anders agrees to a fake relationship with his co-star, Aubrey Nash, without discussing it with Josie first, it’s not a surprise she has a ‘girl power’ moment and refuses to be walked all over by him.
“I’m not a doormat. I won’t compromise myself. For some reason, I like you, and I think you like me too, so for that I’m willing to give a little, but I won’t throw me away. I won’t back burner myself because of your issues.”
Speaking of Aubrey… Every story needs a villain, and Aubrey certainly fits that bill. She’s conniving, manipulating, and a straight up liar. She tries to take what isn’t hers and when she doesn’t get what she wants, she turns into a stage five clinger and makes it her mission to ruin Anders life.
"I don’t want to leak the story about the girl. I don’t want to look like a fool by having the man I’m dating cheating on me with a stripper. I’d rather end them."
But that’s not all that is amazing about this story. The friendship between Josie and her best friend, Madison, is amazing at best. Madison is one of the greatest friends in literature that I’ve read in a really long time. She’s there for Josie whenever she needs her, she calls her out on her bullshit, plays the Devil’s advocate when she’s giving Josie advice instead of just telling her what she wants to hear to make her feel better. But she also gives Josie her space, and is supportive in every decision Josie makes. They’re both filled with sass and snark, and the things that come out of their mouth will make you crack out a laugh-fest so ridiculous, it makes you look like you’ve run away from the crazy-house.
"Are you going to tell me why you look like you haven’t slept? And why you don’t have even a hint of a thoroughly-fucked glow?”
“I’m not going to ask how you can recognize my thoroughly-fucked glow because I might throw myself into oncoming traffic.”
Anders and Josie have flaws; they’re scared of their feelings and of the potential of being hurt, so they lash out at each other instead of reigning in their tempers and hashing out their issues like civilized adults. But that’s what is so appealing about the story, it makes these two people real. They’re so caught up in their emotions, they sometimes don’t think before they speak. And let’s be honest, that sort of thing happens all the time in real life. You connect with them on such a level, you feel everything they feel. They mess things up, they make mistakes, but they redeem themselves so well it makes you let out a sigh of relief. Especially when it’s Anders.
"I just want you, Ivy. You’re so much more than enough. You’re everything.”
Olivia’s style of writing amazes me. She makes you laugh like you’re a hyena on crack, fills you will so much rage toward someone, you want to transport yourself into the story to maim them (*cough* Aubrey *cough*). She knows how to make you swoon, as well as pull your heart through the ringer. So much so, it brings you to tears. And that’s just all in one novel.
"I think I miss you.”
Josie’s stomach fluttered as her mouth fell open in shock. Of all the answers she expected, that wasn’t one. “You think you miss me?”
Anders looked around the room before locking eyes with her. Determination set in his features as his head and heart fought against one another. “Yeah. Don’t ask me why, because you’re the biggest pain in the ass I’ve ever met, but I do.”
“Well.” Josie paused, trying to find an appropriate response. “That’s unexpected.”
“How the fuck do you think I feel?” Indignation colored his tone, but a playful half-smile softened his words.
“How awful for you.”
“The worst.”
