Review: "Blushing" by Katie Delahanty (The Brightside #2)
Note: This ARC was provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Olivia Bloom is in love with and engaged to Berkeley Dalton and they would want nothing more than to shout it out to the rest of the world. Only they can't. Berkeley's evil publicist wants to keep everything secret, believing that news of the engagement will hurt the film that Berkeley is producing and supposed to star in with none other than his ex-girlfriend. Berkeley is ready to step aside and simply be a producer on the film but Olivia insists that he take the starring role, believing he'd be perfect for it.
Not wanting to be apart during filming, Berkeley suggests that Olivia work as part of the production's costume department, an opportunity Olivia jumps at because it's always been her dream to be a costume designer. With her needing to change her hair color and her name so that she isn't recognized as Berkeley's girlfriend, having to pretend she doesn't know Berkeley, and watching her fiancé work with his ex, Olivia quickly realizes that this is going to be way more difficult than she had initially thought.
As filming begins, Olivia and Berkeley are forced to sneak around since Berkeley's publicist has warned them to not be seen together in public. Olivia's close friend, Blair Hamilton, is also working as a junior publicist of sorts and is becoming too chummy with Berkeley's ex-girlfriend and current co-star. Add to that an overly flirtatious and Instagram-obsessed costume assistant who thinks Berkeley wants her and the director's assistant who has a thing for Olivia and things spiral out of control.
In the middle of all the stress surrounding their secret engagement and her presence on the film set, Olivia is beginning to be overwhelmed by the idea of marrying Berkeley. She's not sure if she'll ever be enough for him, seeing that she's still searching for something she's passionate about to, at the very least, come close to her fiancé's passion for music. Will their relationship survive Olivia's insecurities and nagging feelings of doubt and guilt or are they destined to fizzle out by the end of filming?
Blushing is the second book in The Brightside series by Katie Delahanty and picks up soon after Berkeley's marriage proposal in the first book, In Bloom. I can just imagine how difficult it would be for two people who are very much in love to have to hide their feelings and the fact that they're already engaged from everyone around them. Forced to stay apart from each other, meddlesome individuals strain things further for the two for their own self-serving and, basically, thoughtless reasons.
One of the great things about this series is the cast of characters. In addition to Parker Mifflin and Mrs. Kat Bloom being my favorite supporting characters, I loved that there was more of Amanda "Boots" Conrad, Olivia's cousin and BFF, and the introduction of Justin, whose last name I can't recall. A suspicion of mine regarding Mark VanCleer, Berkeley's band mate and best friend, from something Berkeley said in book one was somewhat confirmed here. I hope his story will be featured soon. ^.^
Can I just point out that Berkeley Dalton has got to be one of the nicest and most understanding fictional celebrities I've encountered? Goodness, if this guy actually existed, people would really go nuts for him. He's pretty close to perfect and Olivia's doubts in the book had me wanting to knock some sense into her. Berkeley is prime book boyfriend material and I wouldn't be surprised if he already had his own legion of fans in the wonderful world of new adult (NA) books. If only he were real... Le sigh.
This story still had that humorous tone with a hint of mystery (all those strange notes!) and drama. If this is the last book in the series focusing on Olivia and Berkeley, it was a fitting end, but I'm looking forward to the next book, regardless if it's still about Olivia and Berkeley or the other supporting characters. ^.^ Blushing more than lived up to my high expectations, earning it 4.5 stars. ♥ I've already pre-ordered the book, so make sure you do the same. Books one and two are only 99 cents each! ♥
Release Date: 23 February 2015
Date read: 18 February 2015
Learn more about author Katie Delahanty here.
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