Alexia Garcia has lived a quiet life with her mother and grandmother in Morgantown, West Virginia. It’s not been easy with her mother working all the time, but it’s been okay. The only weird thing is how much Alexia looks like mega superstar Kari Kingsley. So when a picture of Alexia goes viral on the Internet, and Kari’s manager comes calling, offering Alexia a job as Kari’s double, what is Alexia supposed to say? Especially when she realizes that it’d be a chance to meet her father. What she doesn’t expect, though, is how complicated it’ll be being Kari and staying true to herself.

Yes, this is fluff. Complete with swooning romance with hot guy. But, contrary to the impression that the cover gives, it’s well-written, enjoyable, fun fluff. Sure, it’s got the whole princess-and-the-pauper thing going, but it manages not to be cloying. It’s neither “oh look, Alexia is so poor, isn’t that horrible” or “rich people are SO incredibly spoiled.” Yes, there are elements of both; Alexia does deserve more, and Kari is quite spoiled. But Rallison keeps a nice balance between the two extremes. It also helps that Alexia is a winning main character: struggling with wanting to connect with her father, star-struck with being out in California, and just plain unsure of herself. She’s smart and caring, and it’s thoroughly entertaining watching her figure out the ropes of Hollywood. And when the ethical stuff comes knocking, as it most surely will, she handles it with grace and dignity.

The book is fast-paced — if there’s one thing that Rallison has down it’s pacing; there’s no real lag time — and funny. I’m not sure how “accurate” the Hollywood insider stuff is, but it really doesn’t matter; it’s a good portrait of what we normal, everyday types think being a megastar would be like. Sure, the ending’s too perfect, as well. But, you know, it doesn’t matter. Everything turns out happily-ever-after, and we have a perfectly fun, fluffy ride along the way. You can’t get better than that.

Rated: None