We first met Kara McKormick in First Date, where she befriended Addy during the reality show to win a date with the President's son. When we pick up with Kara in Starring Me, she and Addy are still friends, and Kara is hoping to pursue a career in acting. The opportunity arises for her to audition for a teen-driven variety show, but what Kara doesn't know is that the audition is based less on talent and more on her character. Even less expected is that this search for a career will also lead her to God.
Chad Beacon is one of America's current heartthrobs. Having celebrity land in his lap after winning a reality talent contest, he is hoping to broaden his career options by adding acting to his resume. His parents know that if he is to spend a significant amount of time with a female co-star, his heart will become invested in her, and so they, understandably, want a say in choosing the actress.
I really enjoyed First Date, and had been looking forward to learning more about Kara in this sequel. Her spunkiness and her friendship with Addy continued to enrich the story. Kara's family, too, added life and depth to the book, and felt like a family I would love to be a part of. I loved watching her journey of faith, from her complete denial of the existence of God, to the questioning of his existence, to her acceptance and joy at the discovery that He loved her. Her emotions always felt real and honest, and for the most part, the people that helped her get there seemed genuine.
My only issue with the book was perhaps that Chad felt too perfect. He didn't really seem to struggle with anything, and even though his faith was his own, he was very quick to agree with everything his parents suggested. I've known solid teenage Christians, but I don't know if I've ever known someone that in sync with their parents. His character felt a little flat for all the perfection.
Overall, this was a great sequel. And I was still left wanting more! It isn't super deep, but there are some thought-provoking elements to keep it from being too light. Kara's struggles to decide between career and family, even her decisions over which career path to choose, these are things that most readers can identify with on some level. Watching how God orchestrated her path to draw her to Himself can cause us to wonder where He has worked in our lives to draw us to Him.
I give this book 4 stars. I definitely recommend that you read First Date first, and then follow it up with this enjoyable sequel!
You can read Krista's blog HERE. I look forward to reading more from this author!
I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
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