Between You and Me: A Novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Between You and Me: A Novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Goodreads: From the authors of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Nanny Diaries comes a new novel that takes readers behind the scenes of stratospheric celebrity—what it means to be worshipped by millions and still feel loved by none.

Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have proven again and again that they are masters at exploring the nuances of family relationships—as they intersect with the current trends in the culture at large.

In Between You and Me, twenty-seven-year-old Logan Wade has built a life for herself in New York City, far from her unhappy childhood in Oklahoma. But when she gets the call that her famous cousin needs a new assistant, it’s an offer she can’t refuse. Logan hasn’t seen Kelsey since they were separated as kids; in the meantime, Kelsey Wade has become one of Fortune Magazine’s most powerful celebrities and carrion for the paparazzi. But the joy at their reunion is overshadowed by the toxic dynamic between Kelsey and her controlling parents. As Kelsey grasps desperately at a “real” life, Logan risks everything to try and give her cousin the one thing she has never known—happiness. As Kelsey unravels in the most horribly public way Logan finds that she will ultimately have to choose between saving her cousin and saving herself.

My thoughts: I started out thinking it was a light, easy read. Listen to the big buzzer. Definitely not what I thought it would be but definitely much more meaty than I had anticipated.

What the story achieves is allowing the reader into the world of the rich and famous without all the glitz. Of course, there is glitz, but I found myself thinking about this novel for days afterward. Lindsay Lohan, Michael Jackson, and so many other stars trying to transition into the adult and also normal world have so many more walls to punch down.

The gist of the story is that Logan Wade is Kelsey Wade's cousin. Although once inseparable, tragedy struck, there was a hospital stay, and Kelsey left to L.A. and became famous. The tragedy is not the main story although it explains a lot about the relationships when Logan finally remembers.

Kelsey and Logan haven't seen each other in 15 years. Their father's no longer speak and Logan's mother would never approve. Now Logan is Kelsey's assistant and gets a first row seat in the world of paparazzi, magazine pic spins, slander with no recourse, and the ultimate stage parents who push and push their child who is no longer a person but a multi-million dollar vehicle. Logan watches as Kelsey grapples with the idea of love, marriage, being accepted for who she is not what she can do.

Logan is not a strong protagonist. In fact, she's kind of slutty. This is not a YA book. There is a lot of sex, a lot of strong language, and a lot of adult themes. That said, the book is not without merit. I found it thought provoking and disturbingly probable.

*I received a free copy of this book from publishing company in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.