Posted by West, Kasie. Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss. Harper Teen, 2019. 384p. ISBN: 9780062675798. $17.99. MS, HS ***
Teenage actress Lucy Barnes lands her what may turn out to be her breakout role her senior year of high school in a zombie movie opposite teen heartthrob Grant James. She should be enjoying the sweet life, but instead she has to deal with her overbearing, overprotective father, her onset tutor, Donovan, and the haters writing negative posts about her on social media. Can Lucy find a cute romance and her dream career amidst the drama?
Kasie West has made a career of writing cute, romantic, teen books that lean more toward comedy and drama. Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss isn’t her best, but it’s a fun, light read that hits all of the notes fans of romance are looking for (featuring an appealing, opposites attract love story). The book is a companion to Love, Life, and the List, with characters from that story crossing over. How much readers like this book will depend on how much they like the world of celebrities and social media—some might find it superficial and others will eat it up.
-Natalie McCall, Mill Valley Public Library
Bay Area Young Adult Librarians 