Review: Sarah Skilton's FAME ADJACENT.

Have you ever wondered what happened to a child star from your past? Not the ones who went on to different high-profile projects, but the ones who fell from the heights of fame, into the dirty, non-craft-services-supplied existence we call real life?
 
Holly Danner is the latter version of that child star in Sarah Skilton’s Fame Adjacent, a novel I couldn’t get enough of.
 
Unlike her other former castmates, Holly didn’t go on to land more entertainment opportunities. Now, there’s an anniversary of her show planned and she was the only main castmate not invited. But unbeknownst to everyone associated with the event, she has every intention of going, after she finishes a six-week internet addiction course.
 
There’s only one big problem (actually, there are more than that, but to Holly, there’s only one): the anniversary has been moved up, and in order to attend, she has to leave the program early and hitch a ride with Thom, a recent graduate. 
 
Fame Adjacent is part cross-country caper and part let’s-make-confessions-and-bare-our-souls-to-each-other romance. Moments of hilarity are interspersed with painful revelations, which helps explain how Holly and Thom grow so close, so quickly. And yet both Holly and Thom have some ground to cover if there’s any hope at all of them being together…
 
This book is so fun and funny, sometimes sly and sometimes over-the-top. It’s also incisive and substantive, with plenty of big question issues to chew on: like how we—as a culture—idolize celebrity and fame and social media perfection; and how we sometimes feel like we haven’t done enough, especially when we view ourselves in light of those aforementioned things we idolize; and how we have to figure out a way forward.
 
I adored how Fame Adjacent is an adventure featuring an indomitable heroine who never runs out of bold ideas, or heart. And how she’s sometimes self-absorbed, but always (eventually) aware and apologetic.
 
Fame Adjacent is a romance, and it’s a wonderful one. It’s also a story about being imperfect  (aka human) and fiercely loveable.
 
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing, but all opinions provided are my own. 

The Naptime Writer also recommends: Ruthie Knox's Ride with Me; Jennifer E. Smith's YA Field Notes on Love; and Tessa Bailey's Too Hot to Handle, for other road trip romance. 

Q: What's your fave road trip you've taken? Mine was when Daniel and I drove from Kentucky to California to visit family. I was scared to go because we were broke, but he told me that we wouldn't have the opportunity again, and he turned out to be...right.