Sunday 30 September 2012

Sunday Spotlight: Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton


My new Sunday Spotlight feature (which actually bears a striking similarity to my old Saturday Spotlight feature) will showcase some of my favourite recent books reviewed for the superb Bookbag site.


Emma's not thrilled to be moving across the Atlantic to LA - unlike her mother and her younger sister Bex. Her mum has a new job and Bex is set to meet with a Hollywood agent. All Emma has to look forward to is a reunion with Oscar, the dorky boy she knew when growing up. When she meets Oscar, though, he's unexpectedly cute... and then TV star Alex Hall appears on the scene as well. With two boys interested, great weather, and locations from movies and TV shows at every turn, maybe LA is actually a pretty good place to live...
I enjoyed Keris Stainton's Jessie Hearts NYC and Emma was my favourite character in it, so I jumped at the chance to read this new book! I certainly wasn't disappointed - Emma is still fabulous, and it's great seeing her come to terms with her parents' divorce and gradually adjust to life in America. The relationship she has with her sister is sweet, and as for the boys... wow! It's brilliant to actually get a love triangle where both guys are likeable - if it's a choice between a nerdy boy and a teen heartthrob who comes with paparazzi included, I'm always going to go for the geek, but as wonderful as Oscar was, Alex was also really sweet and I wasn't sure who Emma was going to end up with.
As she did so well in Jessie Hearts NYC, the author captures the city brilliantly and it almost feels like a character in its own right! If you've read either that book or the fabulous Della Says OMG!, you'll know that she has a really easy to read writing style which is fresh and funny. It's a quick and completely engaging read which I raced through.


If you've already read Emma Hearts LA, don't miss the Secret Story Keris shared with me yesterday over on YA Contemporary!

For more about Keris, check out her website, blog, or talk to her on Twitter. She's also one of the three authors - along with Keren David and Susie Day - behind the fabulous UKYA site, which you should definitely read! 

In addition, the three of them have previously been interviewed here. Check out my interview with Keris, Keren and Susie here.

No comments:

Post a Comment