When It's Real

By: Erin Watt

Narrated by: Caitlin Kelly, Teddy Hamilton

Wealth, fame, and a real-life romance she never expected - 17-year-old Vaughn Bennett lands it all when she agrees to become a pop star's fake girlfriend in this smart, utterly addictive novel from number-one New York Times best-selling author Erin Watt.

Under ordinary circumstances, Oakley Ford and Vaughn Bennett would never even cross paths.

There's nothing ordinary about Oakley. This bad-boy pop star's got Grammy Awards, millions of fangirls, and a reputation as a restless, too-charming troublemaker. But with his home life disintegrating, his music well suddenly running dry, and the tabloids having a field day over his outrageous exploits, Oakley needs to show the world he's settling down - and who better to help him than Vaughn, a part-time waitress trying to help her family get by? The very definition of ordinary.

Posing as his girlfriend, Vaughn will overhaul Oakley's image from troublemaker to serious artist. In return for enough money to put her brothers through college, she can endure outlandish Hollywood parties and carefully orchestrated Twitter exchanges. She'll fool the paparazzi and the groupies. She might even start fooling herself a little.

Because when ordinary rules no longer apply, there's no telling what your heart will do....

©2017 Timeout LLC (P)2017 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Lights, camera, action!!

Starting out I picked this audiobook because of the narrators, but from the first chapter I was just caught up in it. The storyline is thrilling, the characters are young, sassy and vulnerable. The author does a great job of not sugar coating what young adults know and don’t know about sex. She also incorporates the social media craze in a truthful and practical way. At the start of most chapters there would be a screen name and a tweet or post that is very close to the truth, with the brutal or jealous tone it is written in. Our characters are from opposite worlds and have very different personalities. It was really awesome to see the internal struggle they have for each other’s situation and their feelings toward their lifestyle. The change in each over the course of the audiobook is great and well written. The ending is also neatly wrapped up. It is a rom com style of book so you will be able to guess the ending before starting the story, but that is not why you listen to this type of book. It is all about the journey and this one is brilliantly done. It is written in a rotating 2 POV narration. Each is labelled Him and Her. Both narrators do a fabulous job. They both do an extraordinary job of voicing the opposite gender. There are a few more racier scenes in the book (nothing too bad though) that would have had to be extremely difficult to keep in character and they both do a great job. This was my second audiobook by Caitlin Kelly and she is rapidly moving up my favs list with her sarcastic and snarky performances. You really get the feeling she puts her all into her performances. Teddy Hamilton voices the character of a over privledged teen superstar to perfection. Is voice shows arrogance when it has to and vulnerability as well. Both narrators and the author are now on my watch list. Overall, an excellent listening experience.

Cute, simple, rock star story

This isn't the best rock star story out there but it was a fun listen. Though a little predictable, the story was engaging enough to keep me listening. The characters, though not exactly strong, were appropriate for the depth of the story and I honestly didn't see the twist at the end coming. Worth listening to if you are looking for a simple book to pass the time.

I loved it!!

When I started to listen to the book I really didn't think that it was going to be good, just another cheesy romance books about a worldwide pop star and girl that needs money but no. Yes it was kind of cheesy but as it went along the book got cute. I had one problem and that was the ending of the book. I felt that it was rushed but still better than must books. I would recommend this book to people that want to listen to a book that is looking for a cheesy book where to people go through heart breaks that found each other.

predictable but cute

We already know how it's going to end from the beginning but it's still a nice, enjoyable read.

Just perfect

I wouldn't change a thing, I was smiling throughout the whole listen, just completely perfect :)

What a sweet story

I loved this book. I am a 59 year old grandmother who found this story revolving around modern music (which I know nothing about) fascinating and shows how well written. This story proves stereotypes are not always the hearts desire. Which is often true in life. Both narrators were excellent.

Finally some characters with depth!

I am tired of romances with “perfect” people who have no real flaws. Oakley and Vaughn were both very real to me! I loved the character flaws and the love between them. This is definitely worth a credit!

HS romance, YA.

Fun story, for every young girls fantasy of having a rock star fall in love with her.

Loved it!

This one is not as messed up as the Paper Princess series, but it's just as powerful. I totally enjoyed this stand alone live story.

The book was great!

I enjoyed the story line. Kept me glued to hearing it to the very end. I really like how the narrator Teddy Hamilton talks. His voices helps me sleep. Thanks for it all Erin Watt and to the performers.