He was mine for ten years, and now he belongs to Hollywood.Spencer Lowe, Hollywood’s newest golden boy, has hit the big time. Coming from a small town in England, he never imagined starring in a movie or becoming a household name. Offers from producers come as fast as offers from women. Indie has been in love with her best friend for years, and their short-lived love affair was the best time of … the best time of her life, but she had let him go so he could follow his dreams. Now she’s alone, stuck inside a nightmare she keeps hidden.
With the premiere of Spencer’s first movie coming up, he books a ticket for Indie and takes her to LA. She wants to give in to their chemistry and dive back into a relationship with Spencer, but if she does, she risks exposing the family secret she’s been guarding her whole life.
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It took me forever to write up this review, the same way it took forever for me to get thru reading it. I’m not really sure how I feel after reading Just Like the Movies.
I had high hopes for this, because one, this is Natasha Preston we’re talking about. And two, I’ve had a lot of friends rave about it. It could just be the slump talking but I had a hard time getting thru it. It was so heavy on the heart that I didn’t even want to finish. The only thing that kept me going was my faith that Natasha Preston was the one who wrote it. It may also be because it kind of hit a nerve. It just it’s kind of hard to relate to the main characters reasoning of the decisions she made. Maybe if it hasn’t hit too close to home, I may have felt a little differently. Not that it happened exactly.
If I try to think about it in a different perspective, the story is overall okay. I love how Spencer is a book boyfriend through and through and how he handled the situation that was thrown to him.
I’m still giving this a 3.5 star. I was able to still finish the story despite my slump, so that’s saying something. And all things considered, the story is swoon worthy.
I loved Waking up in Vegas and i was so excited to get into this book as we met Indie in the first book but we learnt not much baking her except she had secrets about her family and a best friend who was starting out in Hollywood.
This thing i loved about this book was that it was one sided and one loved the other but they both loved each other and they needed a second chance at love.
When we find out what Indie is hiding it doesn’t surprise me but what she goes through during this book you just want to get right inside this book and give her a cuddle.
Spencer was not what i expected either and that’s what made me live him more, his loyal and love for indie was just so special. I loved Wren and Brody in this book might not have been in it much but enough to have a reminder of their story and i loved Mila she is the kind of friend you need around sometimes and i can’t wait for her story next.
I really loved this story it was sweet and sexy and i must admit i shed something tears in this one for Indie she and Spencer are really special characters.
I finished this fab book by Natasha Preston and it was just beautiful. Funny, cute but still had me in tears at one point. Thoroughly recommend
4.5 Movie Stars
I absolutely loved this read from Natasha. She brought everything to this one, love, laughter, emotions and amazing chemistry. She also dealt with some heavy topics but did it brilliantly making me love this book more.
Spence and Indie, wow, their connection was redhot and so beautiful to watch grow from friends to so much more. Their banter was entertaining and I loved how he put her above everything…..swoon!!
Honestly my heart broke for Indie, shes surrounded by amazing friends who adore her but she holds a secret and I wanted to shake her for not realising that she could tell them anything.
This is a second book in the series and can be read as a standalone but honestly you will want to read the previous book Waking Up in Vegas which is Wren and Brody’s story.
well done Natasha on another great read.
I loved Mila and can’t wait for her book next.
Wow! Just wow! This book left me breathless and wanting more.
It has everything you want from a book with just the right level of emotion running through it.
I laughed with the characters, felt the love of the characters and even cried along with them.
I love all of Natasha’s books but this one has to be the best yet!! If you love romance then you will love this!
I can’t wait to read Mila’s story!!
Just like the movies is a sweet romance with a secret. Spencer and Indie are best friends.
Spencer has made the big time and his acting career has taken off. He’s staying in LA while filming his debut. Indie is the girl he left behind. There almost relationship never happened. Now he’s trying to rekindle what they once had. Could these two still have feelings for each other? Can two people in different places both in life and location find the connection they both long for?
Indie has a secret and she doesn’t share it with anyone including Spencer. Her home life isn’t as perfect as her best friends and she doesn’t want him to see the ugly. Can Indie accept Spencer’s love when her home life is a secret?
This is the second book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone. I can’t wait for the next instalment.
I struggled with rating this book. It’s a strong 4 or a 5 if you like the deeper story. I’m not really an emotional reader and this has a great family side story to the romance.
Just like the movies is sweet and endearing.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
WHERE DO I START?!
Firstly, I love Spencer.
Secondly, I love Indie.
Thirdly, I love Spencer < < yes, he deserves a second mention. Despite some heavy topics, their love and relationship, heck even their friendship, was an absolute joy to read. I loved the banter and flirting between them and how easy it is for them to be their true self with one another. Spencer doesn't have to be "on" as the up and coming movie star and Indie doesn't need to be the poster child for a perfect upbringing and family-life. This book has it all - swoon, sass, heartbreak, gut wrenching heartache, happiness, love and so much lust!! And Mila. God love her straight talking! I am sooooo excited for her book next!! I love me a nerdy hero!!
Just like in the movies the story ends in a HEA. Swoon. “We’re doomed to be side stories in each other’s movies.” ~ Spenser
Indie and Spenser, best friends who will sacrifice everything for the other. Indie sent him away to follow his dream while she hid her secrets. Now Spenser is back and ready to claim Indie as his. The story has many heartbreaking moments and Indie is such a mentally strong character but emotionally wants to “be enough”. I had moments when I just wanted to shake Indie to wake up, and luckily for us readers Indie’s friends Mila and Wren only want what is best for Indie. Spenser’s parents are also a good role model and support for both Spenser and Indie. This is an emotional, swoony second chance love story.
What a lovely book! With a charming friends to lovers storyline, Just Like the Movies made some difficult days infinitely more endurable. Spencer and Indie both needed a pinch on their bums to overcome their shyness and anxieties about admitting their feeling but in India’s case, I could understand her trepidation about acknowledging the state of her home life to those around her. This has held her life in thrall for many years and she richly deserves to have more than a day in the sun.
With humour, sensitive acknowledgement of difficult issues, Just Like the Movies won me over and gave me the good times I expect from a read. Now: bring on Mila!
Five ‘must read’ stars is what I award Just Like the Movies. I have never not thoroughly enjoyed reading a book that Natasha Preston has written but this story is definitely one of my favourites.
I wasn’t prepared for all the emotions that this story would bring out in me and I found myself reaching for the tissues multiple times. I didn’t expect so many tears if I’m honest but how could I not get emotionally attached to these amazing characters, especially Indie who has been through so much over the years.
I have so much love and admiration for Indie. Her strength, love, commitment and determination are just some of the qualities I wish to highlight about this incredible young lady. What I learned about Indie broke my heart at times and I’m certain that you will feel the same way too.
Spencer is an amazing guy and I absolutely loved getting to know him. You could see just how perfect Indie and Spencer are for each other. They adore one another; they only have eyes for each other and I absolutely loved witnessing their interactions. They have a special connection that only the best of friends share. However, the deeper feelings that they have for each other are so much more than friendship, and I hoped that they would take the chance to become a couple and find the happiness that they both truly deserve.
Just Like the Movies is the second book in this series of standalones – Waking Up in Vegas being the first. Brody and Wren’s story is also incredible and I have loved spending some time with them again. The strong friendship that Indie, Wren and Mila have, showed me the importance of having someone in your life who will be there for you through the good times and the bad. I love the times when they are together, they ensured that I laughed and smiled lots too.
I recommend this fabulous story without hesitation. I was unable to put my kindle down once I started reading and I am certain that you will love Indie and Spencer’s story just as much as I do. I could spend all my time in the company of this group of friends and I cannot wait to read Mila’s story when it releases.
* A review copy was provided by the author *
~ 3.5 Hollywood Stars ~
I haven’t read many books by Natasha Preston, but I have enjoyed each of them.
Just Like the Movies was an enjoyable friends to lovers Hollywood themed story. I just wish it WOW’ed me more. I absolutely LOVED Spencer and Indie’s BFF’s, but for some reason I really couldn’t connect as well with Indie (h) herself.
I think I just didn’t get the emotional connection with her like the author wanted us to. As the story went on I really just wanted to smack her and tell her wake up. I also didn’t feel she should’ve kept her secret about her home life a secret for as long as she did.
Like I said I enjoyed the friends to lovers storyline and I am a fan of the Hollywood movie star romance. I enjoyed this one because we didn’t see the normal stuff we usually seen in that type of story. It made this story feel unique and different from others I have read in this genre.
Just Like the Movies is the second book in her series of standalones. This book can be read as a complete standalone. We do see past characters from book one, but this book is in NO way a spoiler for that book, if read out of order. This story is told in Dual POV!! I will say that I felt the story dragged a little too much for my liking. I thought the story could’ve been shortened and not taken anything away from the book. Sometimes, in my opinion, a longer book isn’t always a better book. But just because this wasn’t a 5 star read for me, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a go.
I have read two different sides to Natasha’s writing and I would say Just Like the Movies is her lighter side. If you like a great friends to lovers story this is one to read, but you should also try her suspenseful side!!
I would recommend this book to all romance readers. If you are looking for a low angst, little drama, but still has some of the emotional depth romance readers look for, give this book a try!!!