Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Family Affairs

by Jen Calonita

Book Overview

The filming for her movie has wrapped, and teen star Kaitlin Burke returns to the set of primetime drama Family Affair. After 10 seasons of filming the hit TV show, Kaitlin would have thought that she could see any curveballs coming, but with a plotting new actress on set, all bets are off.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316117994
• ISBN13: 9780316117999
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
• Length: 314 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 13 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 12

Customer Reviews

Enemies United

Like stories such as X2: X-Men United, sometimes the bad and good guys must come together to defeat a greater evil. They have to put aside their differences for a time and join forces. They may go back to their old ways after the battle is over, but for a brief time they can consider themselves comrades. Such is the premise of the third book in the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series. This was probably my favorite book in the series. I love how Skye and Kaitlin put aside their rivalry and join together to defeat Alexis. The duo end up realizing that they can bear to be together and find themselves defending each other in tough situations. Alexis is the character you love to hate. She puts on a innocent and cute face in front of all the TV execs and media, but inside she conniving and spiteful. She's a newcomer to the Hollywood life, an unknown who got "discovered" but she wants to break out and become a huge star. She will do anything to achieve it even if it means bringing down powerhouses like Skye and Kaitlin. What I think is sad, is that if she had tried to truly befriend them, she probably would have had a better chance of succeeding. It's also fun seeing Kaitlin try to live a normal life with her friends and boyfriend. Loved seeing her try to get her driver's license. It's interesting to think that someone in Hollywood might not ever need to know how to drive, if they have a chauffeur waiting on them on all the time. I'm glad that her and Austin are still doing good. And still geeked that they are still Star Wars fans! Like the first two books in the series, this book is packed with tons of Hollywood insider information that helps the reader to understand the industry better. The reader really gets to see what it's like to film a TV show (Family Affairs sounds like a nigh time soap) and also the workings of the paparazzi. There is also again nothing offensive in the book at all. It's such a delight to read a YA book that doesn't include teen drinking, sex or language especially since it involves celebrities and the Hollywood lifestyle. Jen Calonita has written another winner and I can't wait to read what's up next for Kaitlin and her Hollywood life. HIGHLY recommended.

Daughter loves this series!

My fourteen year old daughter received the first book in this series for Christmas and loved it. She has since downloaded the next two on my kindle. I had to wrestle it away from her to read my book. I am making her wait for the fourth book until our trip to Michigan, since she goes through them so fast. So, I would recommend any books for young adults that get them excited to read!

Enchanting Review: Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Family Affairs

SECRETS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFE: FAMILY AFFAIRS JEN CALONITA Contemporary Young Adult Rating: 4.5 Enchantments Kaitlin Burke's life is finally back to normal--or so it seems. Filming of her movie Pretty Young Assassins is finally over and she's back on set of Family Affair, but things are about to get shaken up when a fresh new face joins the show. At first, Kaitlin thinks the tabloid stories about her are once again being leaked by her arch rival and co-star Skye McKenzie, but when Skye begins to be targeted as well, all fingers point to the hot new co-star Alexis. Can Kaitlin keep her cool while the hot new diva does her best to oust her from the show or will things finally reach a boiling point? SECRETS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFE: FAMILY AFFAIRS is definitely one of my favorite books of the `Secrets Of My Hollywood Life' series. I really liked how Kaitlin and Skye were forced to become `frenemies' in order to survive against the hot newcomer turned diva Alexis. The scene with Kaitlin and Skye leaving the set near the end of the book marks my favorite scene of the series. Truly had me laughing at loud at where the two of them actually ended up. I look forward to seeing how Ms. Calonita continues their `frenemy' relationship in the next book. [...]

a fun read, even for adults

This is the third in a series of books about a fictional teen tv and movie star and what it's like to be an "it girl." I am an adult who is reading these books along with her 14-year-old sister. I enjoy the books. After she read this one, my sister said she thinks it's the best of the three. I can agree with that. One thing I like is that, as opposed to adult-oriented "hollywood insider" novels, this one shows the perks and strains of being famous and what it's like to be on the inside of the Hollywood machine without throwing in the coarse sex details and the jaded pessimism that comes of living in an image-obsessed, self-oriented society. So, I can recommend it. I give it five stars for being a success in its genre. It's a fun, non-challenging read that will make you appreciate being boring to the tabloids while making you wish you could get the spa visits and free gifts the celebrities get. It's fun.

Best yet

Kaitlin Burke is back to spill more secrets about her life as one of Hollywood's hottest young stars. Filming for "Pretty Young Assassins" has wrapped up and Kaitlin's back on the set of "Family Affair". But this time, there's an even bigger problem than co-star Sky Mackenzie. There's a new girl on set, Alexis Holden. Everyone seems to love the new star, all except Sky and Kaitlin, who are convinced Alexis is out to destroy their careers. I enjoyed the first two books in this series, but this is by far my favorite and I couldn't stop reading it. Kaitlin is such a great character. She's likable and realistic. She's not spoiled and despite being a celebrity, she's facing normal problems, like driver's education and deciding what she wants her future to be, something all teens can relate to. Kaitlin's just another teenager, despite starring in a popular TV show, and she wants the world to know she's more than just a popular actress. I also really liked seeing Sky in a position other than Kaitlin's nemesis. In the first two books, this rather two-dimensional portrayal of Sky annoyed me, but in this book, we see another side to the girl and if she's not exactly likable, she's understandable. The other characters are entertaining as well, though not especially nuanced. I enjoyed the writing in this book; Kaitlin's voice is strong and friendly, and the references to designers and other celebrities are nicely worked in. I also loved the script excerpts and tabloid articles that were interspersed within the narrative. Basically, I loved this book. It was just what I needed after two AP tests. It's fun and cute and CLEAN. Hallelujah that there's a young adult series with a moral standard. This entire series is definitely worth reading.