July 20, 2009

Review: The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale



As many aspiring screen writers know, selling a screenplay is almost impossible. When Mormon housewife Becky Jack sends in her very first screenplay she’s pleasantly surprised when she gets the call that a studio is interested. Becky flies off to Los Angeles and in the offices of the production studio she meets Felix Callahan.

Felix is the devilishly handsome British actor who Becky has always had a crush on. With nerves and fear bubbling up to the surface Becky can’t stop insulting Felix but he’s one step ahead of her tosses his own insults right back at her. Surprisingly the banter sparks interest on both sides and they end up having dinner together.

Afterward, Becky heads home, laughs about the encounter with her husband Mike and goes back to her daily life secretly cherishing the time she spent with Felix. When a layover puts Felix in Salt Lake City he drops in on Becky and a tentative friendship begins between the actor and the housewife. What follows is a twelve year friendship filled with a lot of ‘should we’, ‘can we’, ‘do you think’ and more ups and downs than a roller coaster.

This book was so sweet. I absolutely loved the relationship between Becky and Felix. They were daring, witty and fun and I couldn’t get enough. I think without such witty dialogue I might have enjoyed the book at lot less because situations like this never happen in real life. The ending was a complete surprise but I was definitely satisfied by it.

The only thing that kept me from rating this a full five stars is the anticipation I felt through most of it. I was constantly thinking that by the next page things were going to take off at break neck speed but the journey was pretty mellow despite the ups and downs of their lives. Overall I highly recommend this one to lovers of contemporary fiction and chick-lit lovers.

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7 comments :

bermudaonion said...

This does sound like a fun read. Thanks for the review.

Anonymous said...

I've read good things on this one, and each positive review I read makes me want to read it a little more! :D It does sounds like fun!

Toni said...

Sounds like a fun one. I can always do a "sweet" read..what is not to like. Thank you.

Kat Bryan said...

It's nice to see authors coming up with new angles. I don't believe I've read a romance with a Morman heroine.

DarcyO said...

This sounds like a great read. Thanks for the review!

Anonymous said...

The book sounds like I will read it, but not in the near future. I have many other must-reads before this one.

bgcchs@yahoo.com

Cindy said...

Great review! Thank you! This sounds like a fun read.