Starred review from October 17, 2022
YA thriller writer Olson (This Splintered Silence) makes her adult debut with this breathtaking friends-to-lovers romance. Liv Latimer became a teen star through Girl on the Verge, a landmark high school drama that lasted six seasons primarily due to the chemistry between Liv and her handsome costar, Ransom Joel. It was hard to separate playing at love for the cameras from their close friendship in real life, but Liv managed to be happy keeping things platonic—until a misunderstanding drove them apart. Post Verge, Ransom has become a blockbuster movie star, while Liv, who values her privacy more than ever after the invasive tabloid response to the death of her father, is something of an indie darling. When the cast of Verge is brought back together for a 20th reunion special, the pair see each other again for the first time since their adolescence—and the sizzle between them is stronger than ever. Olson makes the sexual tension palpable as Liv weighs whether getting involved with Ransom is worth the potential heartache. Meanwhile, agents, publicists, and social media all home in on Liv and Ransom, some pushing a romance while others work to keep them apart. This tantalizing glimpse behind the scenes is sure to wow. Agents: Holly Root and Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary.
March 1, 2023
Years have passed since Liv Latimer was thrust into the spotlight as the lead on the renowned teen TV drama Girl on the Verge. An older Liv prefers the quiet life, but the cast is coming together for a glitzy 20th-anniversary special. Now Liz will not only have to once again contend with fame but she'll also have to confront her feelings for former costar and best friend, heartthrob Ransom Joel. Her tale is mostly told from Liv's point of view, and narrator Andi Arndt will have listeners rooting for the couple early on. Arndt adeptly portrays Liv's complicated emotions and conflicted relationship with celebrity, juxtaposing effusive internal monologues, filled with longing for Ransom, with guarded, careful dialogue. During chapter interludes, Arndt seamlessly shifts to the chatty gossip columnists and bloggers who prolong the "will they/won't they" tension throughout the novel. Listeners may have some difficulty knowing who is speaking when multiple characters inhabit a scene, but this insider peek at Hollywood is nevertheless enjoyable. VERDICT Nineties kids who were obsessed with touchstone teen dramas of the early aughts (The O.C.; Dawson's Creek) will be delighted with YA novelist Olson's (This Splintered Silence) adult debut.--Laura Hammond
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