Read It Or List It: Interview with Jasmine Guillory
I’m so excited for today’s episode of Read It Or List It! Jasmine Guillory is a fantastic author and person, so I was so excited when her team reached out. While We Were Dating is my new favorite of her books (though I think I say that every time) and it’s available wherever you get your books!
Synopsis: “Ben Stephens has never bothered with serious relationships. He has plenty of casual dates to keep him busy, family drama he's trying to ignore and his advertising job to focus on. When Ben lands a huge ad campaign featuring movie star, Anna Gardiner, however, it's hard to keep it purely professional. Anna is not just gorgeous and sexy, she's also down to earth and considerate, and he can't help flirting a little...
Anna Gardiner is on a mission: to make herself a household name, and this ad campaign will be a great distraction while she waits to hear if she's booked her next movie. However, she didn't expect Ben Stephens to be her biggest distraction. She knows mixing business with pleasure never works out, but why not indulge in a harmless flirtation? But their light-hearted banter takes a turn for the serious when Ben helps Anna in a family emergency, and they reveal truths about themselves to each other, truths they've barely shared with those closest to them.
When the opportunity comes to turn their real-life fling into something more for the Hollywood spotlight, will Ben be content to play the background role in Anna's life and leave when the cameras stop rolling? Or could he be the leading man she needs to craft their own Hollywood ending?” —Bookshop.org
What I Liked:
The Trope—Famous person dating non famous person is always a fun trope for me! I liked that Anna was an actress because I could relate to a lot of her commentary.
The Steam—Jasmine just keeps getting better and better. Her writing has evolved so much from The Wedding Date. This is not a slow burn 🔥.
The Pacing—Great pacing, everything felt natural!
What Didn’t Work:
It could be a little insta-lovey which isn’t my thing. It didn’t bother me too much but I think part of Jasmine’s story telling strength comes from establishing that deep initial attraction between characters.
TW/CW: Anxiety, parental abandonment
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Steam Rating: 3/5 Overall Rating: 4.5/6
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