1 gossip writer + 1 A-list movie star = 1 fake relationship…or does it?After breaking a story that rocks Hollywood, Talia is the top gossip writer around. One night will put all of that into question. The writer becomes the story when she gets caught doing the walk of shame from A-lister Zee Jaxon’s home. To save both of their reputations he suggests a fake relationship. Pretending should be … Pretending should be easy. It shouldn’t mean the fake feelings become real. Accepting the real feelings means the lies they’ve told are even harder to hide.
When the truth comes out can their love survive or will everything just fade to black?
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Going on a date that never shows up, Talia sees the opportunity for a story, she works for The Dirty Laundry and always had a way of being in the right place at the right time. It didn’t matter that the story was about Zeke Jaxon’s fiancé and Zee was her brothers’ best friend, she hated him.
After attending a party, she never thought she would be the gossip everyone was talking about, having no idea what happened, then seeing the news and Zee saying it’s serious but complicated between them.
She knew Zeke was going to say she needs him now, she said no when he suggesting helping her, but she knew it was the only way to save her job, but she has to move in with him, they can convince everyone they’re in love.
Talia can’t work out why Zee is pretending to be with someone like her, it can’t be helping him in anyway. The problem is see’s seeing different sides of him and she can see why women fall all over him. She keeps reminding herself they can’t fall in love they hate each other. The lines keep blurring, not knowing what is real and what’s for show, but she reminds herself he’s only acting, and he wouldn’t want someone chubby like her, but is he acting with all the mixed signals she’s getting.
I love Hollywood stories, especially when a gorgeous actor falls for a plain woman. In this case, Talia was not only plain but also overweight. She was a brilliant writer who was wasting her talent in a gossip magazine. Zeke Rogers, famous for his Defender hero movies, was also her twin brother’s best friend and they all grew up together in Georgia.
One night Talia was waiting for her date and she happened to see Zeke’s fiancé in a romantic date with Zeke’s agent. She reported it in her gossip magazine and brought havoc into Zeke’s life. For reasons we won’t know until later, Talia hates Zeke, so she wasn’t fazed by this. However, the situation backfired for her and she was forced to fake a romance with Zeke to fix both her reputation and Zeke’s. Then they embark on a trip to Georgia to visit the parents and to get away from the gossip for a while. And that’s when things get hot and Zeke pulls a 180 turn into the works.
The plot was good, the story was entertaining, but the execution left something to be desired. I sense that the author is still developing her voice and that accounts for the writing to lack finesse. One thing I did like was that the author had a great balance of dialogue, action and character musings, so it didn’t lag nor got boring anywhere.
I found Talia to be very smart aleck some times, and very insecure other times. The issue with the body image was too frequent, too harsh. Talia was frequently obnoxious with her brother and Zeke, and yet when she met her old school nemesis who shamed her for being fat, she crumbled down like a cracker. Zeke wasn’t any kind of exemplary gentleman. I didn’t feel a strong moral fiber, many times when Talia was being shamed he didn’t defend her or acted late. I wasn’t impressed. Eventually, both the author and the characters got their stuff together and the book improved a lot towards the end.
There was a cute Southern feel to the story, with both mothers involved and Talia’s twin brother as a sort of comic relief. The parts about the naked grandfather didn’t appeal to me, I didn’t find them all that funny, and actually a bit gross. In future, it would be good if there wasn’t all that slapping and hitting between characters. It wasn’t violence but it was a bit too much slapstick. Over all, it was entertaining, even if it wasn’t completely well structured.
This story is quite funny and entertaining, it kept me turning the pages all through the night.
Talia is quite funny especially her no filter when it comes to Zeke. Zeke is very romantic. However, they just can’t seem to make things work for them to be together.
Since this is book 1 in a series, I hope to see other stories about the other characters to had major roles in this story.
Tabloid by Jackie Paxson was an opposite’s attract fake relationship romance. Talia and Zeke have known each other for years. Zeke is famous, sexy and charming, even as he drives her crazy. Talia is gossip writer who has curves and not the type of woman you would normally see with a celebrity. But when circumstances has them faking a relationship, all bets are off. Suddenly fake feelings become real in a world full of lies and secrets where image is everything. Can they a way to be together? Tabloid by Jackie Paxson was an adorable read.
Read and reviewed for Reviews From the Heart.
Happy reading!
3.5 Stars
Movie star and gossip writer is a match made in tabloid heaven. This was a fun at times sweet story to read. Talia and Zeke have known each other for years and it shows in their dialogue with each other. They have an antagonistic relationship with each other. I really like the back and forth banter between them, it helps the reader understand them a bit better and it made me laugh. Zeke is the typical Hollywood star. He’s the life and soul of any party whereas Talia shuns the spotlight. I was happy that we didn’t go quickly from hate to happy sunshine and rainbows too quickly.
There were times the writing style through me off but it’s a good debut novel so I’m sure with more experience the author will deliver a more polished book.
I really enjoyed this book!!! I loved Talia and Zeke so much. As much as I loved them all the side characters (well except a few) were great as well. I was laughing so much during this read!! As much as I laughed I also caught the feels too. Talia is a very relatable character. I could very much identify with some of her insecurities. The only thing that I had a hard time with is that it is written In third person. I probably would of finished it faster if it was in first. I personally find books written in third person harder to stay focused while reading and tend to get distracted easily. With that said I would definitely recommend this book!
Received an arc for a honest review.
What sets off a fake relationship is the walk of shame. I found both Talia and Zee’s characters to be likable from the start. The storyline flowed smoothly from beginning to the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lia and Zeke have a love/hate relationship; she loves to hate him. He is her brother’s best friend and an actor. Good read and romance. I hope to read more about these characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really, really liked this. While the story slowed in parts, I couldn’t put it down (it’s currently after 4 a.m. for this reason). Talia and Zeke have a great love hate relationship and the supporting characters are fantastic, adding great color and dimension – especially Grandpa and Jeremiah. A few get their comeuppance, which always feels a little gratifying. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book.
Audible.
This was my first book by Jackie Paxson and I enjoyed it. An interesting mix of several tropes: frenemies-to-lovers, celebrity, and best friend’s sister told entirely from Talia’s POV. The was some sex, but this was heavy on the actual relationship. Excellent world building and we got to know many secondary characters I hope we’ll see in future books.
Honestly, what probably held this back from being 5 stars was the need for a beta reader or editor. There were several times where things were clunky or awkwardly phrased, the same adjectives were used multiple times in a row for various objects, or a sentence was repeated but rephrased.
It was still an enjoyable story though.
Holly Holt has a pleasant voice and I enjoy her narrations. I did feel like some of the male voices were a bit stilted but it won’t keep me from seeking out her work in the future.
I received a free copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love the plot of this novel! I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers and a Hollywood storyline and this delivers it in spades. It has a good pace with nice steamy moments to keep you interested. Looking forward to what comes next!
Jackie Paxson reeled me in with her synopsis of a Hollywood movie star and a gossip rag writer falling in love with Tabloid, her new release. Tabloid is set to be the first in Paxson’s Dirty Laundry series. In this book, Paxson features a false, make-believe relationship that turns into something unexpectedly more.
Talia and Zeke couldn’t be more opposite. He’s hot, flirty and famous. She’s behind the scenes, voluptuous, but an ordinary girl who happens to have a knack for exposing celebrities deepest darkest secrets. What could possibly go wrong?
A fake relationship. These two childhood frenemies hash a plan to “fake date” but all that changes as enemies turn lovers and feelings happen.
Paxson had me just by describing the book and while her synopsis does hold true to the story there was just something missing for me. Maybe it was the point of view it was written in? Something kept me from being sucked in completely by one of my favorite tropes. However, I will say as a debut novel, Paxson kept it interesting with her fun, comedic moments and witty banter between characters. Although this one didn’t exactly get my engine running it did however spike my curiosity making me excited to see what Paxson will do next!
Tabloid is a fabulous read. I love Talie’s tell it how it is attitude. She will have giggling and full on laughing out loud throughout the read. You also feel for her in many ways to but I will leave it to you to discover that. As for Zee aka Zeke, one version of him I really liked the other not so much. This Hollywood actor is more then he seems. Even his friends I loved but hated. There are a few swoonworthy moments when it comes to Zeke. Being old friends Zeke and Talie have a lot of chemistry and it’s fun to watch Talie fight it as much as she can. You can understand why as you read on. This fake relationship puts them in this situation where you just hope as friends they don’t screw it up. Be on the look out for grandpa and the rest of Talie’s family. I’m looking foward to more of the Dirty Laundry sereis. As a first time read of Jackie Paxson all I have to say is I want to one click more to come.
This was such a good read. It was a fast and easy read from start to finish. The story was amazing and unique. Talia is a writer for a gossip column and Zeke an actor. A fake relationship, what could go wrong? I don’t know why but it’s a guilty pleasure of mine when it comes to the stories with fake relationships. It’s like a hallmark movie, you know what’s going to happen but you still love it. The bumps in the road in this story work with everything and it flows really well. I loved the characters especially Talia, she doesn’t have a model’s body but is still beautiful to the leading man which makes you feel like it could be you in the story, if you identify with the average woman. Zeke is the best leading man in a book like this, he doesn’t let his career choice dictate his love life, he follows his heart. I enjoyed this book and will look for more from this author in the future.
Tabloid by Jackie Paxson a five-star read that will make you see lights. This is the first novel in the Dirty Laundry series and I cant wait for the next story, I didn’t know what to think of this story as I hadn’t seen anything by the author before, but I am a luddite and I love the cover so I figured what the heck give it a go and I am so glad I did. It blew me away, I was sobbing like a crazy person at times and my heart broke for Talia, she really was put through the ringer. I wanted to shake Zee but I loved Zeke so much, their story was sublime and the secondary characters were so good, they just made me eager with anticipation for who’s story we will find next.
For a debut novel this is an amazing story which is well written and flawless, and this is certainly an author to look out for in the future. Talia is a gossip writer, and she scoops the dirt on her brothers’ best friend A-Lister Zeke. When the tables are turned on Talia taking the walk of shame, Zeke comes up with a fake relationship to protect both of their reputations. This story is filled with witty banter, explosive chemistry, and is an all round entertaining read. I was totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner, and I cannot wait to read more in this exciting series.