Review: Behind the Scenes by Dahlia Adler

Series: Daylight Falls #1
Publication: June 24th 2014 by Spencer Hill Press
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Format: eBook, 328 pages
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High school senior Ally Duncan's best friend may be the Vanessa Park - star of TV's hottest new teen drama - but Ally's not interested in following in her BFF's Hollywood footsteps. In fact, the only thing Ally's ever really wanted is to go to Columbia and study abroad in Paris. But when her father's mounting medical bills threaten to stop her dream in its tracks, Ally nabs a position as Van's on-set assistant to get the cash she needs.

Spending the extra time with Van turns out to be fun, and getting to know her sexy co-star Liam is an added bonus. But when the actors' publicist arranges for Van and Liam to "date" for the tabloids just after he and Ally share their first kiss, Ally will have to decide exactly what role she's capable of playing in their world of make believe. If she can't play by Hollywood's rules, she may lose her best friend, her dream future, and her first shot at love.

Sometimes, before I read a book, I don’t read its synopsis. Maybe because I want to surprise myself? Or I just like it that way. I was taken “off-guard” to Dahlia Adler’s Behind the Scenes. I was expecting that it’s another Hollywood drama that I’m used to watch before and got sick of it, but this… is different.

I should be honest here, if I didn’t won the sequel Under the Lights, I would have not read this awing book.

Dahlia Adler wrote Behind the Scenes with a strong positive emotion of regard and affection to her characters, especially Ally, the protagonist. Ally Duncan, a high school senior with remarkable dreams set out to be best friends with Van, a Hollywood star. Ally has no interest with the industry but when her father is sick in a hospital bed because of a skin disease and left them out with family financial crisis, she apprehends being an assistant to her BFF—replying Van’s emails, picking up shopping bags, talking to publicists, etc. Still Ally is in need of more cash, and then here comes Liam to add help. Liam and Van lets Ally sell their used clothes to fans and Liam lets Ally her French tutor. And where did it go? Falling for Liam. Yeah, the usual.

The thing that surprised me is that I was delighted on reading Behind the Scenes. There are some points that are foreseeable but most of it is “pleasure” to read.  Maybe because I was in need of friendship reads those days. I also like how the friendship of Ally to Van and her relationship to Liam was well written and dissevered. It was never unfair. Readers would be greatly pleased with Ally’s relationship to the people around her. It’s what young adults need most to read and apply.

Thus, Behind the Scenes is a pleasing and delighting read of desirable and positive qualities of relationship towards friends, family and special someone. It is not just any Hollywood drama.

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