Like They Do In The Movies by Nan Campbell

I’ve come to rely on Nan Campbell to deliver thoroughly entertaining stories with substance. I enjoyed reading this book very much, and would probably have read it in one sitting if life hadn’t got in the way.

Secrets that threaten to come out and ruin everything are usually very uncomfortable for me, especially when they’re about a character misrepresenting themselves, or hiding part of themselves, but Campbell writes it in a way that made the unpleasantness take a backseat, in huge part because I came to like the characters so much. Which was not a given, as the first word I wrote in my notes concerning Fran was that she was obnoxious. That’s probably my main criticism about this book, that Fran seems to have undergone a personality change in a few pages that, while welcome, happens too quickly to count as character growth. It made rooting for her a lot easier, however, and I chalked up her arrogance at the beginning to frustration with her life and bitterness that disappeared as she got to know Chelsea and see beyond the movie star.

Chelsea on the other hand is lovely from the very beginning, which doesn’t mean the character doesn’t have flaws. One of the things I love about celebrity romances is when I feel like I can relate to someone whose life couldn’t be more different from mine. The “they’re people, just like us” factor. Chelsea may be a movie star, she may be rich and famous, she’s still struggling with her job, her ex, her kids.

If you enjoy romcoms and old movies—there are mentions of quite a few of my favourites—give this book a chance. It’s sweet and funny, with some unexpected twists and some more predictable ones that make it both exciting and familiar. I can see it become a comfort read over the years.