Review : Under the Lights (Daylight Falls, #2) by Dahlia Adler

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 On the the review!

Josh Chester loves being a Hollywood bad boy, coasting on his good looks, his parties, his parents' wealth, and the occasional modeling gig. But his laid-back lifestyle is about to change. To help out his best friend, Liam, he joins his hit teen TV show, Daylight Falls...opposite Vanessa Park, the one actor immune to his charms. (Not that he's trying to charm her, of course.) Meanwhile, his drama-queen mother blackmails him into a new family reality TV show, with Josh in the starring role. Now that he's in the spotlight—on everyone's terms but his own—Josh has to decide whether a life as a superstar is the one he really wants.
Vanessa Park has always been certain about her path as an actor, despite her parents' disapproval. But with all her relationships currently in upheaval, she's painfully uncertain about everything else. When she meets her new career handler, Brianna, Van is relieved to have found someone she can rely on, now that her BFF, Ally, is at college across the country. But as feelings unexpectedly evolve beyond friendship, Van's life reaches a whole new level of confusing. And she'll have to choose between the one thing she's always loved...and the person she never imagined she could.

My first Dahlia Adler novel was Last Will and Testament and fell so in love with her writing style and voice. She’s so refreshing and I love her for that. So much. I never read the first novel in the Daylight Falls novel, Behind the Scenes but when I heard the next novel, Under The Lights was about a lesbian couple, I just knew that I had to read it, even if I hate reading series out of order. Let me just tell you though, I fell in love with this book and want to read it over and over again.

Josh is just going through the motions in his life. Sure, he’s not even legally able to drink yet but he’s just kind of stalled. He doesn’t like his family, he doesn’t like his career and just wants to party all day. I found myself relating to him quite a bit actually. Sure, I’m not worth millions and I don’t have teenaged girls fawning over me, but I know exactly what it’s like to not know what to do with your life. Even now, at thirty, I feel it. But with the help of Vanessa he was able to gain focus, to see what he really wants. He may have even fell a little in love with her during all of it.

Now, I don’t think Josh really fell for Van. I don’t think Josh is really used to having female friends and confused familiar love with romantic love. Sure, Van’s not family, but she really became a good friend and don’t close friends end up being family anyway? But either way, I really loved these two. Their banter was hilarious and they really prove how much the two sexes can be just friends. Even in the end Josh knows that Van is and will always be a friend.

Josh’s growth throughout the novel was priceless. I loved seeing him finally come into his own and stand up for what he believes in. For what he knows he wants to do. His journey is not an easy one and dealing with his mother just goes to show how much that is true. Even though Josh may still be a bit of an arrogant ass, he’s still likable and relatable.

Vanessa Park, Korean-American actress extraordinaire. I fell so hard for her. She works and fights hard for herself. She doesn’t have the support of her family but she has her friends even if her best friend has moved across the country for school. But little by little she learns that she can start to rely not only herself but others around her, including Bri, and Josh, and unlikely friend and confidant.

Van and Bri’s relationship made my heart swell. It’s not often you read about two girls falling in love but that’s exactly what happens between Van and Bri. They started out as friends which I loved. They never once went into their relationship thinking there’d be something more. Especially Vanessa. She’s never really been wowed by the guys she dated, real or fake. Sure, she’s been attracted to guys but never really felt that romantic connection. But she meets Brianna and as they start to get to know each other Van starts to realize how much she didn’t know about herself.

Vanessa’s coming out was handled so well. From the moment that she realized she was gay to when she actually says the words it felt real. It felt true. It reminded me so much of myself. Van’s story is something that any queer teen, or even adult should read. Especially if they are thinking about coming out. Van didn’t have the easiest of times and that’s something many of us go through. Our family may not be accepting or our friends may think of us differently, but in the end, we end up happier because we’re being true to ourselves.

Under the Lights is a novel featuring true diversity. From having an Asian lead to gay characters, Under the Lights shines in a category that needs diverse books. I loved every minute of it and wish I could read it for the first time again. I devoured every word, every scene, and every aspect of this book. I don’t see it so much as a romance but a book about friends being there for each other, a book about being true to yourself, no matter who that person may be.

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