When It's Real

For me I didn't dislike anything. If you're a young or young-ish girl then I would absolutely recommend this book. It's everything that I read in terms on genre so that just made it even better. I think this book is witty, and felt my heart hurt a little at some points. However, the jabs at 1D could be toned down, don't mess with my boys: ?

I'm a fan of her other books and saw this on my recommended, after seeing it for months I finally read it. So much better then I expected from a musician/poor girl story, Erin really made the genre her own. Thanks!

The dynamic writing team known as Erin Watt has delivered another entertaining and compelling mature young adult romance. With the latest release of When It's Real, readers young and old will enjoy this modern day fairy tale romance.

Although this book is classified in the YA / Mature YA genre, I feel like this book is more appropriate for ages 16 and up. It does have mature situations without being graphic. Although most teens are exposed to quite a few of these situations daily in school, among peers, and through social media, I think older teens have the right amount of maturity to read this book.

A modern day Cinderella story where the ordinary girl lands the pop star prince.

Oakley Ford is a jaded pop star on the road to destruction. His manager and PR team has been doing too much damage control. It's time for Oakley to buckle down and get back to his music rather than partying and making tabloid headlines. Oakley has been on his own since he was fourteen. He divorced his Hollywood Royalty parents when his career took off. He has always lived a spoiled and pampered life. His indulgences are out of control.

Oakley's manager and PR team hire Vaughn Bennett, a mature ordinary teenage girl to pose as Oakley's girlfriend for one year. The idea is to project a positive image of Oakley's life and get Oakley back in the studio. Vaughn and her family are in desperate need of money and this situation seems to be the answer to their financial problems. Vaughn will have to make a lot of sacrifices in order to fulfill her contract. The biggest sacrifice of all is giving up her long time high school boyfriend.

Vaughn is at crossroads in her life. She doesn't know what she wants for her future. Oakley is also at crossroads in his life. He doesn't want to be the pop star Prince. He wants to make a different kind of music. Music that isn't canned. He's reached a block and something has to change. After meeting Vaughn he begins to see a different side of life. A life outside of the Hollywood glamour.

Vaughn may have been hired to save Oakley's reputation but she has really saved his soul. Oakley may have been the dream Prince every teenage girl wants but he taught Vaughn how to dream again and reach for the stars.

Erin Watt has delivered a compelling teenage fairytale romance that explores many issues and feelings that all teens experience on their road to becoming mature adults. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think most teen readers will too.

Super adorable read, I really enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. I love getting both sides of the story to gain perspective of each characters views and emotions. I love Oakley's character!! Definitely recommend.

This book exceeded my expectations. It was so well written and I smiled like an idiot the entire time. Oak and Vaughn are perfection and the side characters are just as perfect in my opinion! Highly recommend

I'm pretty sure I liked this better than the royals. This is for anyone who can't get enough of fake relationship romances. It's real good. Both characters are relatable and the author(s) really unfold the characters falling in love in a believable way. I loved it.

4.25 I love Erin Watt Stars
When It’s Real is a New Adult Standalone. I’m a mega fan of The Royals, although at times I wanted to pull my hair out because of all the angst, but that is what made that series so great right? When It’s Real is a more sweet read, there’s still angst, but it’s not at the same level at The Royals and that was okay for me.

I really enjoyed When It’s Real. I found it an easy read and I read it in one sitting. I enjoyed the storyline, the characters and the overall feel of the book.

Vaughn is the Heroine you kind of want to be. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her, hence her Van shoes, worn t-shirts and sloppy jeans, but she’s fine with that. Her parents died in a car accident a few years ago and with the help of her sister, they both take care of their twin brothers together.
I enjoyed Vaughn’s past, there’s something endearing about it and you kind of just want to hug the girl.

Oakley is a super famous musician and as much as I hate the singer, I pictured Oakley as Justin Bieber. Only in the sense Oakley became mega famous at a young age and as he is going into adulthood he’s looking to change up his tunes.

I understood Oakley as well. He’s a hard character to love, but I truly liked him. I felt he was a little entitled and snobby, but that’s his character. He pays Oakley to be his girlfriend for a year to lighten his image.

I liked the interaction between Oakley and Vaughn. I didn’t see them as a love connection at first, but I enjoyed the slow burn they started to have for each other. It’s kind of hard to form something since Vaughn is kind of guarded and set in her ways.

The chemistry between Oakley and Vaughn lacked a bit at times, but it didn’t hinder my reading experience, it just wasn’t over the top make me have all the feels kind of chemistry.

I enjoyed the side characters with Oakley’s bodyguard and Vaughn’s family. Overall, the book was sweet. I kind of wished it was two books, only because I felt like the characters had tons of room to grow. The authors are really good at building up characters, so I felt like I could have had more Oakley and Vaughn learning from each other.

Regardless I will see read everything Erin Watt writes because they write good books.

I was so excited when I first heard that Elle and Jen were teaming up again to give us When It’s Real. I had LOVED Paper Princess and this story sounded like it would be just as amazing. A troubled celebrity, a “normal” girl, and a fake relationship? Hell, yes! Sign me up for the drama and chaos that was sure to ensue.

The only problem is, instead of drama and chaos, I found myself surrounded by characters that I couldn’t much stomach and a story that left one too many loose ends untied.

The character development could have used a little work. The scenes with W made me cringe and I felt like he was thrown in for dramatic effect. I never really felt a connection between Oak and Vaughn so it didn’t bother me the way it should have when things became rocky, and Vaughn’s twin brothers ended up being the most likable characters for me.

As far as the story itself goes, I didn’t find myself getting into it until I was almost half way through. It’s not that it was bad, per se, it just didn’t hold anything special for me. Nothing that made it memorable. Nothing that made me stop to contemplate what I’d just read. The tweets at the beginning of each chapter didn’t really add to the story and some scenes seemed like they were tossed in just because.

It’s (un)fortunate that Paper Princess was their first collaboration because it set a standard that would be hard met by almost any author. I know they have what it takes, because they’ve done it before. I’m just waiting for them to do it again.

Sadly, When It’s Real didn’t meet my expectations. I liked it enough by the end thanks to some side characters and the beauty that comes from the struggle of finding oneself, but I can’t stay that this story will be one that I can remember a year from now.

2½ Stars

I haven’t read YA in a while, I liked the sound of the synopsis and it was a kindle daily deal, so I thought I'd give it a go. So pleased I did as I really enjoyed this real life feel-good, funny, sweet & sexy book. 'When It’s Real' is a Young Adult Contemporary Romance by dynamic author duo Erin Watt. 'When It’s Real' takes a relatively well-worn theme – ‘normal’ girl agrees to pretend-date a pop-star – but handles it so well it doesn’t matter that you know what will happen in the end.

Oakley Ford is a Rock Star with a bad reputation who is trying to turn over a new leaf and be taken seriously. Vaughan Bennett is a waitress helping her struggling family after their parents die. Oak’s management decide to overhaul his image with a normal sweet (fake) girlfriend. However Vaughan and Oakley have huge clashes from day one things aren't as easy as they sound on paper...

Told in first person, from dual perspectives, this romance is fun, witty, will they?! won’t they?! sweet, sexy, all with Hollywood scandals, drama & twists.
"You're the one person in my life who wants nothing but me and it's terrifying and awesome at the same time. Don't ever leave me. I love you. You're my heart."
'When It's Real' is just what I needed on a lazy Sunday. Even though predictable, it didn’t stop me devouring it in one sitting. 4.5 Stars...
I am a verified purchaser in Australia

I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads

5 rockin' stars

Erin Watt is a new-to-me author. I own her Royals series, but I've yet to read it- I will soon rectify that.

When It's real is too young to be NA but a bit too old to be YA, so I'm just going to go ahead and say it's a mature YA. One narrator is an innocent 17, the other a jaded 19 yet innocent in matters of the heart. There are sexual situations, but not above the norm for teenagers (descriptions are light, and fade-to-black, so if you know what's going on, you do- if you don't, you won't). If I had a child, I'd let them read it 14+. If I were a teen, I would've gone nuts over this book (as an adult, I did too). Plus, I felt there were several good messages that would impact a teenager for the positive.

Vaughn is our heroine, a 17-year-old orphan being raised by her older sister, as they jointly raise their 12-year-old twin brothers. Their struggles make Vaughn completely relatable. She's the girl-next-door, innocent, caring, giving, highly intelligent, yet she is also flawed.

Oak is our hero, a 19-year-old rock star. He has the weight of the world on his shoulders, unable to know who to trust in a world of fake, and he's blocked when it comes to his music. He's in need of a muse and a mature makeover, so he no longer comes off as Justin-Bieber-esque. Oak is a bit of a d-bag, but he's relatable, flawed d-bag. He's 'our' d-bag with a heart of gold and in need of a real hug from someone who loves him, not wants something from him.

Without writing out a plot summary/book report... Vaughn and Oak had great chemistry, tension, a realistic friendship that grew over the course of the book. Oodles of teenage angst due to the storyline. When It's Real had the recipe for an intoxicating young adult novel.

I give mad props to Erin Watt for focusing on the negatives of the recording industry, instead of going the vapid way out, making it all about sunshine and rainbows, and the thrill of having money and anything your heart desires. While Oak loved the spotlight, the thrill of thousands of fans screaming his name, he also craved a family, normalcy, anonymity- all things he recognizes in Vaughn.

At the core of the story, Oak has biological relatives but no real connection, yet Vaughn's family is tighter due to tragedy. So their connection is forged by being able to share and show each other what is most important in life, balancing out the good and bad.

I highly recommend to young adult fans (may be a bit too mild for NA fans who are looking for the usual gut-twisting angst and explicit sex present in most NA books) and for those young at heart looking for an injection of the warmth from first love.

After Vaughn's parents deaths, she decided to take a year off to help pay out the debt her parents accumulated. And when the opportunity of being the fake girlfriend of the famous Oakley Ford that comes with an amazing paycheck, everything will be okay, right?

This book is probably one of the best books I read this year. I can't complain, I love the story telling in this. I love that it was told in both the perspectives of the main characters. We learn that Vaughn holds in her beliefs very well. And Oakley has a very deep personality. The aspect of slow-burn romance is so nice too. It feels as though there was no point in the where it started, it just came naturally.

I also like that this book is not just romance. I appreciate that both the characters are looking for where to place themsleves in the world. The self-discovery subplot is really nice too. And the addition of family love makes all these so good.

If the author were to write adult books, I would totally read Paisley's love story too. It's so unique in itself that I wanna see it!

Ever since I read 738 Days and Starlight Nights by Stacey Kade (not YA books btw, you were warned), the famous-partner troupe has changed my perspective a lot. These mentioned books has the most realistic things that happen to a famous person. And this book made a good attempt in doing so, but not the best. There are times when I thought things were about to get real because of the famous-person-status, but it felt short for me. I realized that books with this troupe looks more into the appeal of dating the most attractive person, but not everything about fame is included.

Plus, there were times where I thought it was so dragging. Relevant, yes, but also dragging.

I really enjoyed the plot very much. Just the flow of the story will take you on a roller coaster ride.

I read this as an audiobook, and besides the Twitter conversations being read (it was a bit awkward), I thought the two narrators carried Vaughn and Oakley very well. Their voices matched their emotions so much, I loved it.

This book was amazing! And I would love to read the next one!

2.5 stars

When It’s Real is the story of a girl named Vaughn who is hand picked to be the new girlfriend of Oakley Ford, a famous pop star. Oakley needs to polish up his public image, showing he can be a devoted boyfriend and not just the playboy partier everyone thinks he is. Vaughn agrees to do this because her family needs the money, her parents passed away leaving her and her sister in charge of their siblings.

At first, Vaughn and Oakley cannot stand each other. She thinks he’s rude and he thinks she’s a prude. But as time goes by a small friendship forms, and we all know where it goes from there.

I was so very sad that I didn’t like this book. I love Erin Watt, Paper Princess and Broken Prince are some of my all time favorite books EVER. And for that I’ll read anything this duo writes. But I failed to see the attraction between the two main characters in this one, to me they had zero chemistry and just sort of landed together. The book started out very strong but near the middle just slowed down. I also felt the book was too long.

Watt did a great job portraying celebrity life, all of its positives and negatives. It can make dreams come true, but at a price. I really liked how Oakley wanted to express himself differently and that he wanted another side of his story to be heard.

I think many people will love this book a lot, but it just wasn’t for me.

What I loved about this book is that it is what I would call a "guilty pleasure" in the sense that I would sit and read this in one sitting and not feel bad about it. I fell in love with the characters in this book. It made me really love them as people. The thing about these authors writing together is not that they are "phenomenal" It's that they took a book that almost is like a trope and made it different. I had bought this from Barnes and Noble because they had a price drop and I instantly fell in love. Oakley and Vaughn together...they just mesh so well. Oakley is your typical teen star - he made it big when he was younger, but now that he's older he want's to be taken seriously, he wants to change up everything (think JT) and so he decides that what he needs is a nice downhome average girl who can make him look sensible. This is what his team "of people" are telling him. Make himself look good by dating the average girl and he sooo willing to do that. Vaughn, on the other hand, is the opposite - she's dating someone and she's fine with that but the opportunity to date Oakley is to hard to pass up. I am the complete opposite of most reviewers...I loved Oakley and didn't warm up to Vaughn until halfway in...but I did warm up.

This is the complete opposite of The Royals Series of books - no angst, no suspense and no wanting to throw your Kindle at the wall. It was just a really great story told in a really great way. Some books tell the same story over and over, but I didn't find that in this book. Not at all, overall it was just a heartwarming story of what happens when you find the one you're supposed to be with even when there are obstacles in the way.

When It’s Real combined two of some really good tropes. You have the celebrity romance aspect which is always a favorite for me. Plus, it’s also a fake relationship turned real romance. When you combine those two together, you get an amazing story.

You see, Oakley’s image is deteriorating and people are tired of seeing him always out partying. Not to mention, one of the biggest producers out there refuses to take Oakley seriously and work with him. So, Oakley’s team comes up with a plan. Maybe if Oakley is seen settling down some with a wholesome girl, maybe people will see him in a new light. Which is where Vaughn comes in. Her sister works for the talent agency that Oakley’s manager’s brother runs. Oakley’s manager spots a photo of Vaughn in her sister’s office when he was visiting his brother at work. One thing led to another and Vaughn is being approached to be Oakley’s new “normal” girlfriend. Since her parent’s passing a couple of years ago, Vaughn and her sister have been struggling to make ends meet. So, while spending a year pretending to be some spoiled musician’s girlfriend isn’t at the top of her list of things she wants to do, she can’t turn down the money that comes with the job.

I really enjoyed this story. It was so less dramatic than Paper Princess, but not any less addictive. I love celebrity romances and this one delivered. While there wasn’t any over the top drama, you did have a jealous boyfriend, jealous fans, and some teenage angst. However, we also got a ton of swoon-worthy scenes. Even thought Oakley starts out as a bit of a douche, he quickly changes his tune and is actually attentive when it comes to Vaughn. Heck, even in the first meeting between these two, even though he’s irritated by the fact he needs a fake girlfriend, he notices that she’s hungry and makes a point to have food ordered for her. Granted, he was the reason she was sitting in that meeting for hours, waiting for him to actually show up, is neither here not there. I just really liked that the author’s softened Oakley up some, while still maintaining his edge.

Even though Oakley did things for Vaughn, she also did a lot for him, too. She tried to give him normalcy. She threw him a birthday party, she invited him over for a BBQ, she even set rules for her friends so that she could bring him to a high school party. It was the little things like that that really made you see Oakley in a new light. You could tell he craved a normal life, but at the same time was used to, and sort of loathed, playing the celebrity role 24/7. He was also always so sure someone was doing or saying something in order to get in his good graces to benefit themselves instead of just wanting to be his friend. So, it was those little moments where Vaughn pulled him into her world that made me fall head over heels for this couple.

I could honestly go on and on about this book. I loved the characters, I loved that we got to see some behind the scenes with Oakley, and I loved that for being something that seems unlikely to ever happen, the authors made you believe in it. There was no crazy over the top drama. Oakley wasn’t some condescending jerk that belittled Vaughn at every turn up until he realized he liked her. He was so respectful of Vaughn that you couldn’t help but fall in love with him. This was an amazing story and I’m soon coming to realize that Erin Watt is a force to be reckoned with. These two authors really know how to write an engaging story.

I JUST LOVED THIS BOOK!!! I'm a huge #RockStarRomance fangirl! And this story was sooo adorable!
It's not your typical erotic, on-the-tourbus, live rock-shows, kind of thing.
It's a sweet story written for the younger crowd. But this older blogger still loved it!
It's all so adorable! The way they're both fighting for their future. The way poor Oakley is trying so hard to make new, and better music.
The way Vaughn tries to resist him. Because the real guy behind the star, is someone she really likes. A lot.
I loved watching them both doing a lot of growing up and finding themselves.
This was such a perfect book. Full of fun and laughter. Romance and feelings. Family, friends - real and fake. Love and hate.
I loved every second of it! I so want to see this book made into a movie! And I also want to travel back in time to when I was 17 and be Vaughn! Well, at least the #rockstargirlfriend part.☺ Vaughn is SO my spirit animal ('cause just like me, she hates cats and is afraid of butterflies!☺)

►► WHEN IT'S REAL was the most adorable #RockstarRomance! Sweet, funny, serious, moving. Just beautiful! Run to your nearest the store for your own Oak - this one is MINE!!! ☺

I've been in a reading slump. As in, I would start reading a book, put it down, come back later, put it down again, and continue until I finished. It's not that the story line to such books were uninteresting, nor was the writing awful; for some reason it didn't captivate my attention to the point where I was seriously losing sleep, or I was so invested in the story that I ignored everything else around me.

This book. This crazy, beautiful telling of the ultimate rock-star/ ordinary-girl romance, ended the slump, and I was captured from the first chapter and pulled the infamous all-nighter reading. I believe it was the more modern references of how the characters interacted that captured my attention. The circumstance of how the main female, Vaughn, ends up crossing paths paths with the grammy-winning pop star, Oakley "Oak" Ford, was plausibly realistic. The "set-up" plan on how they would manufactured as a real couple and the events that unfolded thereafter really pulled me into their story. I loved how much the story centered on social media interactions - which in current day is how many people, especially those in the age group of the characters (17-24) typically interact. It made events that happened feed more into the suspension-of-disbelief.
Integration of communication through Twitter created an additional layer of dialogue and really set the tone of how popular Oak's character really was and painted a greater picture of Vaughn's transition from "ordinary girl" to "pop-star girlfriend" . Each chapter is prefaced by tweets: random fans, trolls, Vaughn, and Oak - followed by scenes of the characters using the Twitter app, texting, emailing, etc to further communicate. The jealous troll tweets made me angry. The supportive tweets instigated cheers. And the the ping-pong back and and forth flirting created feelings of anticipation and swoon.

Yet, what I really sustained my attention was the never-ending surprising turn of events, each of them leading the characters to further into a path of self-discovery. Oak is spontaneous and flirty, but still really lost. Vaughn is down-to-earth, extremely loyal to her family, yet afraid of her future.
It's a story that teaches an often forgotten lesson: be honest with yourself and face your fears. If you really sit and identify your fears and let them be known, you'd be surprised at who will be by your side to support you through them.

Erin Watt is a new-to-me author. I was surprised to learn after I read this book that she's actually 2 authors, one of which I have read several books (5 star reads). I totally look forward to picking up more titles from her !!!

This a YA based romance told in dual POV.

When Vaughn Bennett meets pop star and teen idol Oakley Ford she is totally unimpressed. He’s late, rude and well, a bit stuck up. She used to be a big fan of his music, but that attitude! Vaughn unfortunately has to suck it up because she’s been hired to be his fake girlfriend to help improve his image.

It took Vaughn and Oakley a long time to warm up to each other, so the first two thirds of the book was all about the tension between the two of them. Oakley was also used to getting everything he wanted, so his lack of courtesy towards Vaughn really made him out to be a jerk. That lack of courtesy wasn’t just one sided though, Vaughn was also not very nice to Oakley for that same period of time. This may have been why I had a hard time with these two characters. I’ll admit that when they finally learned how to be friends with each other I grew to like them more and had an easier time with their transition to love.

I thought it interesting that Vaughn and Oakley were both so independent. Vaughn because her parents died in an accident leaving she and her older sister to raise their younger brothers. Oakley was raised by actor parents and had emancipated himself at 15 from them so he could make his own decisions about his career. His parents pretty much dropped out of his life at that point leaving him to raise himself. Vaughn and Oakley’s history should’ve given them a commonality, and it was certainly used, but not until much later in the book when they stopped antagonizing each other and became friendly. Once they did, those similarities did provide that bond, but I wanted it much sooner!

This was a book that should’ve been easier to like. I thought the plot was interesting, and the characters back stories made them human and sympathetic. When they finally really became a couple I really did enjoy the story, I just wanted them to get there a little sooner than they did. However, once they got over that hump I found that I easily forgave them for taking so long to get there, and Erin Watt really does craft a good story. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rating: 5

Spoiler free Summary:

During christmas time I was reading about the suggested books by one of the publishing houses that I follow on Instagram. I came across this one and fell in love. I knew right away that I had to read it.

Have you ever read fanfiction? If you answered yes then you will totally get what I am about to say! Since I was 16 I have been very into fanfiction, particularly Mortal Instruments fanfiction. While reading all of them, you begin to notice somewhat of a them throughout all of them. They are usually going along with the story, having a pregnancy scandal, or have something to do with a band. I always love when the main male character was in a band and the normal girl main character fell in love with him. If you are like me then this is the book for you! I was finally able to live my favorite fanficition in novel form.

This book honestly had everything that I needed in life. I LOVE the plot line. This book has a sassy main character, bickering, love, and what we all need most: a happy ending. This was the perfect book for me to read after finishing a very long book, helping me not fall into a reading slump.

The main character (Oakley) is your typical star. When reading about him during multiple points in the book I just kept thinking of Justin Bieber. Especially when she mentioned his vogue cover in his underwear. Or I guess it could also be like Nick Jonas. He needs to fix his reputation and what better way than to get a normal down to earth girl to pretend to be his girlfriend for a year. It sounds like the perfect plan, but the thing with perfect plans is that they never quite end up going how you wish.

Honestly, one of my favorite parts about this novel is how she incorporated social media. I feel like it is such a large part of todays society, especially when you are talking about big celebrities. What amazed me is that she even made up twitter handles! They were quite wonderful and it really helped the imagination picture the twitter conversations that was happening between the two characters twitters.

I would definitely read this again, I loved it that much. Please do me a favor and go pick this book up ASAP!

With " When It's Real " by Erin Watt comes another highly anticipated book .
I really couldn't wait to get my hands on it, and what can I say - I LOVE it !!
When It's Real is a stand alone full-length contemporary romance novel without cliffhanger.

Meet a teen rock star in need of a image makeover and the teen girl hired to be his fake girlfriend.
Oakley Ford, popstar, child of famous movie stars, hottie and troublemaker needs a new image, badly. He's stuck and tired. His team decides on an overhaul, means a normal girl as fake- girlfriend. Everything is planned out, every little thing.
And there she is, Vaughn Bennett, 17 year old with three siblings and part-time waitress. Somehow she's lost.
She agrees, but doesn't like Oakley very much. She thinks he's self-centered, a shallow jerk.
Vaughn thinks for the time being she can put up with his behaviour.
As if. Nothing is as it seems.

When It's Real is a wonderful, wonderful story about young love, drama, heart break, finding yourself and your way in life.
I read this book in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. This book is beautifully thought out, beautifully told and beautifully written, I love the characters and I love the words, every single one. I could feel the characters emotions in the words.
When you liked The Royals Series , you will love this book !
Erin Watt, the NY Times Bestseller duo, wrote with When It's Real another wonderful book and I HIGHLY recommend it.
I really wish I could give more than 5 Stars. Thank you so much Erin Watt !!!

When It’s Real is the story of a pop star named Oakley Ford that needs his public image cleaned up or polished a bit showing that he can be a good guy instead of the playboy who parties all the time. In walks Vaughn a girl in need of money. She has siblings and even though she isn’t the oldest, she feels a sense of responsibility to help her family. Which is how Vaughn is discovered and how she ends up in the amazing deal that all she has to do is pretend to be this pop star’s girlfriend and money will come pouring our her ears! It will help pay for so much especially since she and her siblings are orphans.

Of course, Vaughn and Oakley don’t get along and can’t stand each other which I LOOOOVE in my books. But of course, as time goes on and small and simple things happen, they find that they hate each other less and less and a small friendship begins to blossom. And of course, well know where that leads in this type of story.

I liked Vaughn she was believable. Oakley, I think so too. I can understand fast attraction cause that is what this all was but it was a little too fast for me to be totally believable. I guess I don’t have much or any for that matter experience or knowledge about stars and how they act. I hear mostly horrible things about all of them except maybe a very select few so. But then again I don’t know.

I enjoy stories like this where they hate each other and then fall for each other. I like when they are forced into a situation that makes two characters who hate each other have to be around each other especially if there is some sort of little attraction. I like that, so this was my type of book.

So I can’t really say what it was exactly that made this book only okay for me. I do think part of it was that it happened all a little too fast for me, there wasn’t enough of a slow burn. The silly things that made them get all hot and sweaty for each other were little eye rolling for me which made me like the story a little less. I don’t mind cheese but this lacked something that made it all seem a little believable.

Overall I enjoyed it but felt it could’ve been a little better in the slow burn area.

Sexual Content: heavy
Language: moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate
Violence: mild

Before I write anything, we must first appreciate the names of the lead characters...

Oakley Ford, translation: an ode to sweet shades and a freaking Ford Raptor.

Vaughn Bennett, translation: any girl that can rock a male dominant name is gold and HELLO Miss Elizabeth Bennett. You know I went all Pride & Prejudice when she was referred to as Ms. Bennett. #winning

The story is set in the fame and misfortune that is Young Hollywood, hence I refer to these books as Hollywood Glam. And I am always a sucker for Hollywood, scandals and of course a spitfire heroine.

Oakley Ford, was a young and entitled rockstar. Sometimes I would think I was reading about Justin Beiber and then I would think maybe Nick Jonas mixed with a little anger flare of Kanye West (you know in those total douche moments). He was fun but Vaughn was the real gem. That chick had spunk and yet she was still pretty naive to love. The twists and turns kept me interested until the very last page. Plain and simple, it was really a good, fast read.
And I am just going to throw this out there... When It's Real could actually be a Hollywood Starlets story! ... We will never know, well played Erin Watt.
If you love Contemporary New Adult with Hollywood Glam, then this is the book for you!

For some reason I was looking forward to this book in an unusually high enthusiasm, at least for me when it’s concerning a YA contemporary. I know that practically the characters can be put into the NA category but as I later going to detail the reasons I didn’t.
I loved the cover it’s simple but esthetically pleasing. Also the synopsis is really intriguing and even so my previous experiences with the writing duo books presented a different opinion than the masses I decided to read this book.
So the writing style is great, I didn’t have any problem with it before either. It’s clean and easy to read. The story flows fluidly and quite dynamic. However the plot felt a bit flat and one-dimensional for me. At least at the first ¾ of the story. Honestly I could part the book into two parts the first ¾ and the last 70 or so pages. The later I enjoyed immensely I even loved it but the first I struggled with a lot. And the sad thing is that if I didn’t have the strange habit of not DNF-ing a book even if I hate it then I probably wouldn’t have finished this one. Lucky for me I did it. Also I would probably rate it lower but since most of my problems with the story stemmed from a reason that’s not entirely the book fault rather my impatience with the YA genre I didn’t. Because it’s a really great YA story it’s just that it’s harder and harder for me to tolerate the stupid teenage angst and drama they usually represent.
So other than my opinion about the beginning of the storyline I had some problems with the characters too.
Vaughn is really sassy, strong and smart also independent. I liked how she is willing to sacrifice things in order to help her family and her little jabs to Oakley were just to die for. However she is also directionless and good at faking so the role is kinda perfect for her. What I didn’t like about her was that she went into with the whole arrangement with a certain amount of prejudice and in the beginning pof her relationship with Oak she only saw the bad things about him. Yes, she did it deliberately to protect herself but still. She not only went into this deal with prejudice but without really considering the details and the consequences which caused a lot of bad decisions on her part.
As for Oakley, he started on a bad note with me. He represented a conceited, full of himself and spoiled brat and even so I could see the drawbacks in his life it took me for a while to like him. He showed his vulnerable side quite a while in the book every time I reached the point that I going to like him, he did something stupid that changed my mind. When things didn’t go his way he acted out and hurt the ones around him. However at the end I loved him, the boy he transformed into thanks to Vaughn.
I liked them together they were cute and funny but also really childish at moments. They really didn’t act their age most of the time and it bothered me a bit.
This is a light and quick read, and perfect for YA contemporary fans. Since I’m not one of them it wasn’t perfect for me but for the last 70 or so pages I glad I read the book.

Oh Erin Watt...you've done it again!

After devouring the first three books in the Royals series (you can find my review for Paper Princess, book 1, here), I was in Royals withdrawal. Meanwhile, When It's Real, Erin Watt's standalone YA contemporary, was getting rave reviews so I thought that maybe, just maybe, this book could hold me over until Fallen Heir. Plus, I'm a sucker for any type of fame related book. Cases in point: Janette Rallison's My Double Life and Abbi Glines' Breathe. Luckily, When It's Real was everything I had hopped it would be and much, much more!

When It's Real is told in the alternating perspectives of Vaughn, the girl-next-door, and Oakley, a grammy-winning, multimillionaire signer. From the start Vaughn was incredibly likable. I could relate to her unwillingness to stir the pot. I also admired how much she sacrificed to help out her big sister and little brothers - not everyone her age would do that. Most importantly, she was sassy with a capital S, and it's no secret that I love sassy characters (I'm also sassy so I can relate.). She always had a great retort for everything Oak had to say, especially in the first half the story, and some of it had me laughing out loud. She constantly managed to bring him down to Earth, one of the few people who actually could. At first, I wasn't Oak's biggest fan. He was kind-off a jerk, but as the story continued and he began to become more humanlike and less godlike, I liked him more and more. At his core, Oak is just the standard jilted musician, craving normality and meaningful relationships, and really who wouldn't if they were in his shoes. It doesn't matter how much money you have, if you're not happy then you're missing part of yourself.

The plot of this followed the standard ro-com: boy meets girl, boy and girl hate each other, boy and girl eventually start to fall for each other, unwillingly and willingly. While I knew how this was going to end from the start, I still loved every single minute of it. I loved seeing the relationship between Vaughn and Oak develop, as not only did it cause for a lot of swooning on my part, but I also loved the character development that came from it. Vaughn and Oak grew a lot of the course of the book, and by the end, it was awesome to see how far they came. Additionally, I loved the pieces about Oak's writer's block, Vaughn's relationship issues, and Vaughn's sister and Oak's bodyguard's slightly forbidden romance. All these subplots caused me to race through this book, and I loved the occasional twist and turn that came up.

Erin Watt's writing in this was on point. I could see definite improvement from the Royals series. She did a great job of fleshing out the characters as well as making the POVs of Vaughn and Oak flow seamlessly. As I've said before in other reviews, multiple POV books don't always work for me, but in this one, it worked incredibly well. Without seeing both sides of the story, I don't think When It's Real would have been the same.

In all, When It's Real is basically the equivalent of an ice cream sundae, one from a side-of-the-road ice cream stand...you know the good stuff. Both start off super sweet, and as you go, you can't help but be hooked in by the deliciousness of it all, and by the end, you know you're full and satisfied but you're still craving more. When It's Real is absolutely adorable, and it proves to me that no matter what Erin Watt releases I'll be the first in line to read it!

Grade: A+

Paisley has exciting news for her sister, Vaughn, Oakley Fords manager saw her picture in Paisleys office and wants Vaughn to become Oakley new pretend girlfriend. He needs to change his image, to get the public back on board with him and his music, to not think all his is is the pretty party boy that they seem to think he is now. He needs a 'wholesome' relationship with an ordinary girl. But Vaughn isn't exactly on board with this, although they will be paying her good money.

*** “Look, if you’re serious, the answer is still no. In fact, there are so many reasons for me to say no that I don’t know if we have time for me to list them all. But here’s one—I don’t even like Oakley Ford.”
“You played his album on repeat for, like, three months.” “When I was fifteen!” Oakley Ford was a phase. Like BFF necklaces and Hannah Montana. Plus, his antics got really unappealing. After the tenth or so picture of him making out with some random girl at a club, he got kind of slimy in my eyes.

Vaughn knows they could really use the money, to help her family out since Paisley has been working so hard to support them. And it's o lay for a year, it doesn't matter she has a boyfriend, he will understand, right?

Right off the bat, I was drawn into this story. It was what I was expecting at all! Yes, Oakley is a spoiled rich boy with an attitude and thinks every girl should think she's the luckiest girl in the world to even be in his presence. And yes, Vaughn is a sweet girl who doesn't care what others think of her and no matter how they try to change her image, she will still wear her ripped jeans and shoes that are more comfortable then stylish. They wanted a sweet, wholesome, ordinary girl after all.

The more you get a glimpse into Oakley life, you see there is more to him than just being the rich son of two famous movie stars. He has real talent, and he really is sweet and cares for those that are his true friends. Always being in the spotlight, it's hard to know who exactly is your true friends.

The more time Vaughn spends with him, on her 'required' dates, the more she sees past his arrogance facade and the true artist that his is.

The story drew me in, kept me hostage as I turned the pages, with anticipation on wether Oak and Vaughn would be able to overcome all the obstacles in their way.

The characters are very well written. Vaughn is my favorite, she is sweet and sassy! Just the way I love my heroine! And I love her siblings, I really hope we get a story about Paisley! Oak really redeems himself in the story and I became a huge fan once we saw his true self! I really loved how they corresponded a lot via twitter. Some of the tweets had me cracking up!

I have been a big fan of this duo since I read their Royals series and this one did not disappoint! If you like reading about a rockstar and a sweet hometown girl, this is for you!

Review by Michelle

I absolutely, positively LOVED this book! It is rare to have a book cause me such distress after I am done reading it, but this book definitely did. I am VERY sad that it is over. I have fallen into one of the worst reading slumps EVER and the only thing that is getting me through is looking forward to the amazing books that this author duo writes! I loved every second of this book and am not so secretly hoping that this is not the last we get of this captivating world and charismatic characters!

Although this read was sweeter, cuter and had a bit of fluff compared to the extreme angst, drama and crazy cliffhangers that was delivered in the Royals series, it was still addictive and I was completely consumed by the plot. I loved that it was written in first person, with the voice alternating between the two main characters. It really allowed readers to understand the motives and emotions that these characters were experiencing.

I LOVED the characters in this book! Vaughn, the main protagonist, is one of my favorite leading ladies. Even though she is young, she is wise beyond her years because of the tragedies she has had to overcome. A lot of the obstacles she faces in this book are relatable and I loved seeing her growth from them. Oakley Ford is absolutely amazing! He was a hard character to love at first, but as his layers began to peel apart, he slips his way into your heart. I did have a hard time not seeing Justin Bieber when I read certain parts about Oakley’s rock star lifestyle and how it impacted his behavior. I also loved seeing Oakley’s transformation from the beginning of the book, but I needed more. He just started to find himself when the book ended and I wanted to continue on the journey with him.

The romance in this book was one of my favorite parts! It had a bit of everything! Hate to love, fake relationship, love triangle and friends to lovers. I loved the slow burn romance with a dash of angst. It was so cute to see all of the loving mannerisms that Vaughn and Oakley did for each other. The forehead kisses, holding hands and small touches made their relationship feel more genuine and real. I really loved where this book ended, but I also wanted to see how their relationship progresses in the future.

I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who loves a good contemporary romance! It is a bit different than the Royals series, but it was just as amazing in its own way. I know that this book is marketed as a standalone, but I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want more from these characters. I would love more books focusing on Vaughn and Oakley, but if not, at least get a spin-off from a different couple from the book (hint, hint!). This is defiantly going to be a book that I will re-read again and again!

3.5 stars
A sweet enemies-to-friends-to-more story about living up to expectations and obligations vs.seeking a future to achieve personal happiness. All while finding that fake love has never felt so good.

If there is one piece of advice I could give, is that if this is not your first Erin Watt book, going into it with a fresh mind. While this is YA like the Royals, there are hardly any other similarities, so don't expect the same pace and drama. If you haven't read any of their books, this book is true to the genre - a slow burn with an endearing couple who are plagued with insecurities.

Have you ever wondered how much of the Hollywood drama and coupledoms (Bennifer) are real vs. a publicity stunt? This book tackles that subject, with a relationship that begins under a very fake setting, and morphs into something else along the way.

On the surface, Oakley Ford is your typical egomaniac performer, who believes the world revolves around him. Whether it was the author(s) intention, I kept thinking of Justin Bieber's rise to fame and missteps along the way. This story picks up with Ford's career in a standstill - no new music, several scandals, and falling popularity. So his PR team cooks up a fake relationship with a "normal" girl to build a more wholesome image for him. Vaughn is that girl.

I felt bad for Vaughn's circumstances. Her parents have passed and her family is struggling to make ends meet. Given her current relationship status, she does a very selfless thing to help, putting financial security before love. But as a reader, I kept hoping that one circumstance would lead her back to that place. I will warn you that while that may happen, it takes time. As I noted to before, I would consider this a slow burn, and given Vaughn's innocence and the genre, I had no problem with that.

As an adult reader, you have to get in a special mindset when reading YA. While I have matured over the years (hopefully), the characters have not. They are insecure, no matter how much fame and money they have. They crave acceptance and praise, but not in a fake way. That made this story intriguing, as Oakley constantly struggled to win Vaughn's admiration, in an honest way, not because she was being paid. On the flip side, Vaughn is aware that this isn't Oakley first rodeo with a fake relationship. How can she believe it is real?

This book is about the path the two take from fake to real, and how that path takes them both to a happier place, personally and professionally. There isn't as much drama as I would have expected, until the last 10%, and the angst was minimal, imo.

If you are looking for a light Hollywood love story, check this one out.

This is a sweet, smart, mature YA read with well-developed, loveable characters, great banter, sizzling chemistry, and a gorgeous romance. It’s a fake relationship between a hot pop star and a ‘normal’ girl, and it’s gorgeously romantic, low angst and deliciously feel-good. I loved it.

Oakley Ford is the son of two Hollywood superstars, and a hugely successful pop star. He’s been in the business since he was 15 years old and is now only 19, but he already has a reputation as a wild party boy. He’s desperate to break free from the type of music he’s known for and explore his developing ‘grown up’ style, but he’s experiencing a writing block, and the producer he’s desperate to work with won’t touch him. He needs an image overhaul, and his Manager and Publicist have an idea for him to date a ‘normal’ girl to get him back in the public eye and show that he is settling down.

Vaughn Bennett is a 17 year girl wish way too much responsibility on her shoulders. After her parents were killed in a car accident, she and her older sister have worked hard to make ends meet and support themselves and their two younger brothers. But she is the girl-next-door that Oakley’s publicists are looking for so when the offer of a lifetime is presented to her, she warily agrees to pose as his girlfriend for 12 months for money that will save her family. But she has no idea what she’s in for.

Oakley is a bit of a jerk. He’s arrogant, entitled, and he doesn’t know what to make of Vaughn. She is the complete opposite of everything that he is used to - people normally fall all over themselves wanting to be close to him and make him happy, but Vaughn doesn’t seem impressed by his celebrity or his sexy good looks that usually bring women to their knees. Vaughn is strong and sassy, and though she’s feeling a bit lost in her life, she is determined not to let Oakley walk all over her. Her part of their arrangement is complicated by the fact that she already has a boyfriend, but she wants to help her family, so she goes along with all of the arrangements, not realising that she is about to turn Oakley’s whole world upside down.

Their relationship is completely planned – from the ‘meet cute’ to the social media interactions, private dates, public dates, and pre-planned levels of intimacy. But what happens when they both start to feel so much more for each other than they ever anticipated?

This is such a beautiful love story. It’s realistically paced, and I could feel the emotion as things begin to shift between them from snarky banter to tentative flirting and so much more. It’s sweet, exciting and just gorgeous, and I fell right along with them. I loved how the deeper, ‘real’ parts of Oak were explored. This book is a true journey for him as he examines his life, opens up to Vaughn and figures out who he truly is, and I love how willing he was to embrace all that Vaughn had to offer.

I loved the strong family themes, the way that the public vs private lifestyles were portrayed and the strong musical influence. And I really enjoyed the secondary romance that was glimpsed throughout the book. The drama is minimal and there is very little angst, but Oak and Vaughn’s story and their gorgeous romance kept me captivated from start to finish, and I finished this book with a huge grin on my face.

A true guilty pleasure read. I loved it.

After devouring The Royals Series in a matter of days I jumped at the chance to read When It's Real. I freaken' LOVE Erin Watt's writing style! Its scandalous, Its drama and its so freaken' crazy and outlandish that it could actually be real!

When It's Real is a mature YA written in the Dual POV of Oakley Ford and Vaughan Bennett. We start with Oakley's POV which gives us a brief look into the Rockstar life he's somehow created for himself.

From the outside, Oakley Ford looks like a spoiled Rockstar with a public image that is not to flash. He's the troublemaker, the womaniser and the brat. And I fell head over heels for Oakley! Oakley is misunderstood and in the middle of suffering through writers block. He hasn't had a hit single out in quite some time and is still riding the coat tails of his previous Album success. But he's suffering, he wants to be so much more then what he is. He wants to write music that means something to him and speaks from his soul. But he's stuck.

Enter Vaughan Bennett. A 17 year old girl who's lost and just wants to help her family. Vaughan graduated High School early so she could work full time to support her family. Waitressing was the job she had, Rockstars Fake Girlfriend was not the job she wanted. But with a pay packet like Oakley's management is offering. How could she turn it down?

I loved Oakley's POV in When It's Real. I found his character development to be quite fast and complex but it totally fitted in with the timeline of the plot. And i found him easier to relate too and I loved that he was more honest about how he felt where as Vaughan seemed to be struggling to acknowledge how she really felt. Because of that I enjoyed reading his POV more then Vaughan's. I found Vaughan's development to be a little stunted but I also believe that was intentional. It's hard to remember that Vaughan is only 17! And while both characters were found there wasn't a point where i thought they were too young or too immature.

“You’re the one person in my life who wants nothing but me and it’s terrifying and awesome at the same time. Don’t ever leave me.”

When it's Real is a sweet story, there was drama and intrigue but I actually loved reading a story that was so sweet and heartfelt. It spoke to that part of me that still loves reading YA books. I loved that the intimate scenes were behind closed doors so it still had that little bit of intrigue. When Its Real captured my attention form the first chapter through Oakely's eyes and kept it right up until the last line.

And while I absolutely loved When it's Real I couldn't help but be slightly disappointed in the ending. Compared to the development of the rest of the plot it seemed to move to quickly and this took When It's Real from a 5 Star to a 4 Star read for me. It could also be that I've become accustomed to Cliff Hangers from this phenomenal writer! The ending didn't stop me from loving When It's Real.

What do you do when a teenaged popular musician is out of control and you want to reinvent his image? Why you hire a "normal" (non-famous, wholesome) girl to pretend to be his girlfriend and help clean up his image of course! This book reminded me a lot of what it would be like if Justin Bieber's publicists decided it was time for him to pretend to clean up his image by settling down with a plain Jane fan. If you love Hollywood romances, then you definitely will not want to miss When It's Real.

When It's Real is a young adult romance. For those of you who are wondering the appropriate age for this read, I'd say 15+ as, although the intimate scenes are pretty clean and limited, there is one scene that gets pretty hot and heavy. Of course, as is frequently the case with YA romances these days, this book is also suitable for adult romance readers.

Oakley Ford is a teen heart throb. Born into the limelight given his two super famous movie star parents, it was a virtual certainty that he would be famous too. However, when he shows an interest for the microphone over the big screen, his self-absorbed, narcissist father pretty much abandons him. His mother too is too busy with her own career, so at 16 he files for emancipation and continues pursuing his dreams. What he soon finds, however, is that most everyone wants to be part of his entourage just for the material and other things he can bring them, not because they particularly like him for who he really is. Rather than eschew these superficial friends, however, he continues with this circle not ever having known anything else and soon finds himself with a tarnished reputation for being a self-entitled party boy: an image that his publicists aren't very happy with as a large portion of his audience are young, teenaged girls.

Cue the lights for Vaughn Bennett. Vaughn is Oakley's opposite. She has had to grow up real fast after her parents passed away. Rather than rebel, however, she graduates high school a year early and decides to work to help support her household which includes twin younger brothers who are still in school. Vaughn's older sister has been shouldering most of that load but once the life insurance proceeds are all gone they soon find themselves with a mounting load of bills. Fortunately, for Vaughn, however, her older sister (Paisley) works for the PR agency that represents Oakley and when they see her picture hanging in Paisley's cubicle they make Vaughn an offer she can't refuse. $20K a month for a whole year just to pretend to be Oakley's "wholesome" girlfriend. She doesn't even have to give up her relationship with her existing "boyfriend."

However, what Vaughn never could have imagined is her intense dislike of Oakley's "conceited", attitude which sparks heated interactions between the two when Vaughn chooses not to hold back what she really things of Oakley's super star antics. Interestingly Vaughn has a different effect on Oakley--she's like a breath of fresh air for him as no one ever really calls him out on his behavior or is truly honest around him. Moreover, she's not constantly searching for ways to leverage her relationship with him. Instead, for the most part, she seems perfectly content just doing her "job" and not trying to spend any extra time with him. This intrigues Oakley and after a while he is dropping his super star persona and letting Vaughn see the real him which starts stirring all types of feelings. Can a relationship that started out as a fake ever become the "real" thing?

I was initially surprised at how negative Vaughn was on Oakley. Given her desperate need to help her family, I would have thought she may have tempered her interactions with him more. Then again, it's these fiery interchanges that spark the interest between them, so in the end they are essential to the plot.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this story is that everything is not always what it seems. While super stars lives seem glamorous their status affects their lives in ways that we as "normal" people don't always appreciate. Social media, in particular, has now magnified this effect a hundred fold. When It's Real does a good job of highlighting these obstacles and how sometimes these adversities can lead to "acting" out.

In the end, we all just want to find that special someone who loves us for who we really are, and I really enjoyed how When It's Real leaves you with this valuable and important message which applies equally to super stars and everyone else.

Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.

Erin Watt has created yet another sweet and completely captivating romance in 'When It's Real,' which takes place in the world of celebrities, fame, and fortune, where reality is harsh and love is impossible.

Oakley and Vaughn's characters were from completely different worlds, but I genuinely felt for them equally in where they were coming from in their lives. They were both so complex and had such difficult pasts to deal with … Poor Oakley (I love the name by the way) was so damaged and had completely shut down his feelings and hope for real happiness. Being so successful and at such a young age, he should seemingly have everything he could ever want. However, he had constantly been let down in life. Only his music nurtured his soul, and when he lost the ability to create nothing was left but anger and resentment.

Vaughn was sweet, simple, and appreciative. She lived wrapped up in the warmth, support, and love of her younger brothers and older sister. Desperately holding on tight to her past and the unexpected loss of both of her parents, Vaughn is kind of stuck in a holding pattern of complacency, not really knowing or really particularly looking for her place and direction in life. She would do anything for her family and was only concerned about living up to what she perceives everyone’s expectations of her to be.

Oakley and Vaughn’s relationship transitioned quite naturally in the story and was certainly fun and entertaining to follow! Although it was understandable, due to being thrown into their fake relationship together, they were both just completely awful to each other in the beginning. Their dislike for both their situation and each other was certainly immense. However, their banter was really witty as the two battled and eventually began to understand each other, find common ground, and build a friendship. They really were a great balance for each other and their insecurities. The flow of their relationship grew so naturally and effortlessly, and the slow buildup of sexual tension between them was perfectly paced and certainly palpable.

The musician and celebrity lifestyle was conveyed so well in this story, and it was very interesting to know more about the inner workings of the industry, as well as the personal effects of it. Honestly, I haven’t ever really put much thought into how violating it could feel for celebrities when their fans overstep their personal boundaries. Seeing the flipside of it with the negative tweets from the fans and their overall behavior and criticism for their lives was incredibly sad, and I just can’t imagine that lifestyle. I felt so sympathetic to Oakley, in his lack of any kind of normalcy in his life, as well as Vaughn, in seeing how his celebrity status also affected her own. I think the social media included in the story with the tweets, Instagram, etc. also really helped to convey how out of hand fans can be with their character attacks and even with the simplest acts like getting ice cream.

This duo can certainly write! This suspenseful and unique storyline just pulled me in like a spider to its prey. The story wasn’t overly angsty, and it had just the right amount to remain light-hearted yet keep me wrapped up and engaged all the way through. The dual point of views really helped to submerge deeper into the true feelings and challenges that Oakley and Vaughn faced, and I just couldn’t resist turning page after page to see what would happen next with this complex couple. I also want to mention that I thought their marketing for this book was really good as well. I know this was in the Young Adult genre and maybe that's why, but I was especially happy to see a cover that was unique and not yet another half-naked hot guy!

I truly enjoyed and loved Oakley and Vaughn’s romantic journey. It was incredibly sweet and the conclusion really did leave me with the shivers. Although the story had a perfect ending, I honestly really didn’t want this one to end!
*** 4 1/2 Stars for Me! ***

Reviewed by Rachel & Sharon Thérèse

“I want wild.”
“Then you’ll get it.”

The title couldn’t have been more apt and if you like sparkly star-shaped reads as the outstanding cover implies, don’t think twice about one-clicking this young adult novel. Jen Fredrick and Elle Kennedy teamed up to write the highly successful series, The Royals under the pseudonym, Erin Watt. Now Erin’s back in full force with her first standalone aimed at teens who love to swoon over bad boy rock stars. We have to admit that it took some getting into, but was it worth insisting? Yes, no doubt about it! In fact, we’d even go as far as saying our teenagers are going to love it and don’t panic, the beautifully written steaminess is what they’d expect and want at this age. Although the storyline isn’t new, the author’s managed to spin a tale and make her variation of rich boy, poor girl truly original.

“I can’t believe my girlfriend is such a prude.”
‘I can’t believe my boyfriend is such a douche!’

The message brought home is loud and clear. Life isn’t fair and at times in all its unfairness, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. The heroine needs a bit of cajoling to take part in a project of sorts which would benefit everyone close to her. All said and done, she thought her life was more or less on the right path after suffering a loss and who needs to complicate it any further! Also, she’d be doing the male protagonist, Oakley Ford, a huge favour. Not that we thought he deserved it, yet other folks in his entourage had this crazy idea that it was necessary to help his image. Now then, it’s not often that we say how irate we get with a character but honestly, Oakley brought out the worst in us with such an ease, it was ridiculous. In fact, later on in the read we wouldn’t even give ourselves credit—we actually started liking the guy and we didn’t want to! He’s by no means easy to get on with. His personality traits have been developed so damn well we wondered if the author has had first-hand experience with lads of this age. Man, maybe not an egocentric rock star but we certainly thought Watt had hit his quirks on the nail. What we did like a lot was the contrast between the gal who’d eventually make the spoilt boy see that not everything revolves around him. Neither of them like each other or keen on the idea of spending time together, but it is what it is and they’re going to have to make the most of it.

“Okay, Mr. I-Name-All-My-Albums-After-Me Ford.”

We’d put Vaughn in the girl next door category. We couldn’t find fault with this unpretentious lass who’s between a rock and a hard place. She’s got simple tastes to go with her simple life now full of complications. Her way of handling moral issues, worrying about what she was doing and what people thought of her, everything she did and everything about her we found just so plain sweet that she warmed our hearts. She made us smile and cry a few tears and her reaction to the first kisses! Yep, she kissed the boy! Or rather he kissed her. To say we enjoyed watching their relationship flower would be an understatement.

“It was not just a kiss. You’re supposed to be the good girl. Not the girl gone bad!”

What has to be mentioned is how well the banter comes across. Flowing nonstop, it brought home to one of us how out of touch she is with teen slang. And the tweets! The formatting is the best we’ve ever seen in a book; it’s easy to follow and made us realise just how much the internet and its contents affect young people. The insight we were given in the music business was a real treat, too. It’s clear to see that the author has done her homework in that respect. Oakley and Vaughn’s story is told in past tense from a HIM and HER perspective which helped us readers engage in their thoughts, their doubts and their triumphs. It’s most certainly worthy of reading. Bravo Ms Watt!

“I’m never going to believe another thing I see on the internet,”

Erin Watt continues to realistically capture teenage angst in all its varying degrees as well as the overwhelming and contradictory emotions that are attributed to growing up in their newest mature YA romance release, When It’s Real.

Let’s be honest…teenagers are over the top when it comes to dealing with almost any situation…their hormones are all over the place and who they are and what they stand for are just being developed. In the simplest terms, teenagers are a work-in-progress, so when their lives become more than they can handle, whether it be due to a loss or instant fame at a young age like our hero and heroine experience, there are bound to be issues where they don’t think things through or do what’s expected or safe quite simply because they don’t take the time to look at the big picture and understand the complications of their actions.

Oakley Ford became a household name at an extremely young age, indulging in all that comes with stardom, and while boys will be boys, especially when they’re left to their own devices, Oak’s image has taken a hit, causing his label as well as his manager to get creative in rehabbing how the public views him.

Enter Vaughn Bennett

Vaughn fits the “normal” girl persona that Oakley’s team wants as his fake girlfriend, and while Vaughn has a number of reasons why she shouldn’t take on this role, the only one that matters is what motivates her to follow through with their farcical relationship.

But in a place where everything is already fake and masks are worn to conceal who everyone truly is, how does an ordinary teen separate what’s fake and what’s real, especially when she doesn’t even know who she is or what she wants out of life?

Erin Watt does a fantastic job of illustrating the contradictory nature of Hollywood as well as the price that’s paid for choosing to live in its fishbowl environment. Oakley Ford appears to have everything he’s always wanted, but none of it’s real…none of it has a lasting impact; in fact, all it does is make him appear even more self-absorbed and screwed up than he already was. It’s a “plastic existence” until Oak realizes what’s important, which only happens once he gets over himself and truly sees the new kind of normal that Vaughn can offer him, even in their fake relationship.

Both Oakley and Vaughn are imperfect characters and that’s why they will resonate with readers…even those who are way passed their own teenage years. There is such transformation and awareness that comes with growing up and when extreme situations become part of the picture, things are bound to get shaken up, leaving these young adults with a whole lot of food for thought as well as a reason to self-assess and figure out a way to change for the better because they want to…not just because they have to.

The one overpowering idea that teenagers want to grasp and truly feel is that they belong…what that looks like and who or what they belong to is not universal, but being aware of the fact that they have a say in their own lives and the direction it takes gives them control, which is what Oakley and Vaughn desperately need, and even though their desire for it stems from two very different situations, together, they seem able to face the reality of things…to exist in a life and a society that clearly want something from them, but they get to decide what that is as long as it’s real!

4.5 Poison Apples

I'm SUCH a huge Erin Watt fan. Whether they're writing as this duo, or separately as Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick, I adore their words and their characters and their stories more than I can say. So it'll come as no surprise when I tell you that I was pulled into When It's Real immediately. I found myself whipping through these pages so quickly, I had to force myself to slow down and savor it. I was lost to this addictive story of characters volleying between pretending and figuring out what's real. Sexy, smart and layered with drama and sharp dialogue, Erin Watt delivers a refreshing storyline in When It's Real, a mature YA romance about an orchestrated rock star romance that gets messy, unpredictable, and all too real... And I loved every single word. 

There's something just ADDICTIVE about a good YA romance. But more, there's something deliciously magical about an ordinary girl getting swept up in the world of celebrity and actually capturing the heart of an unattainable rockstar. It's a dream come true for most but for Vaughn Bennett, it's anything but. She has her own ideas of exactly who the bad boy rockstar is and Oakley Ford is just as quick to decide he's not impressed with his fake girlfriend either. And so begins a sweet and salty publicity stunt full of push and pull, sharp banter, and an unwanted attraction set amidst the glitz and glamor of superstardom and the dregs of social media. 

I swooned over Oakley Ford the way every fangirl lusts for her favorite rockstar. As a musician, as a celebrity, Oak is magnetic. Every strum of his guitar had me completely enamored. Every sweat soaked t-shirt he pulled off after serenading thousands on stage had me melting. But Oak the boy, the fake boyfriend, the ordinary guy leading an extraordinary life... well, he completely stole my heart. I truly don't remember the last male character that slayed me the way Oak did. Beneath the rock star persona, behind the misunderstood image of a bad boy that defies his handlers and provides juicy stories for the tabloids, is a sweet, adorably vulnerable guy and I just FREAKING LOVED him. 

I thought this was such a smart story. The social media strategizing, the illusion created for the media, the orchestrated paparazzi photos and the way Oak's team manipulates his fandom into believing this relationship, all the while what's going on behind the scenes is anything but sweet and easy... I just loved it. I was so into this book. I was so in love with these characters. I was so enveloped by the seamless, polished writing of Erin Watt. I was so impressed with every aspect of this storyline, from the unforgettable romance to the journey we take with these characters as they find themselves, I truly never wanted any of it to end. I love love loved this book. When It's Real can officially go up there with the Royals as another amazingly addictive storyline by one of my absolute favorite writing teams. This is the real deal, this book, a solid rockstar romance that completely stole my heart. 

When It’s Real by Erin Watt is a new YA contemporary novel by writing duo, Jen Frederick and Elle Kennedy, about famous teen rock-star, Oakley Ford, who is in need of an image makeover because he’s become known more for his bad-boy antics instead of his music. After not having written a new song or released a new album in two years, Oakley needs help and he wants the assistance of renowned producer, Donovan King. However, King won’t give Oakley the time of day unless he cleans up and shows he’s serious about making music. And what better way to do that, at least in the eyes of his manager and PR team, than getting a steady, wholesome, and non-scandal producing girlfriend. Now where to find one?

Seventeen-year-old, Vaughn Bennett finished high school early and is spending the year off to take care of her younger twin brothers. Working to help her older sister, Paisley, pay for their living expenses after their parents passed away, money has been tight. So when Paisley comes to her with an outrageous and out of the blue job opportunity that could mean the end the to their financial worries, it is hard for Vaughn to say no, even if her job means pretending to be the fake girlfriend to the pretentious, and total jerk, Oakley Ford.

From their first meeting, Oakley and Vaughn start things off on the wrong foot, but as they are placed in more situations together where it is them versus everyone else they begin to move past what their first impressions of each other were.

What I really enjoyed about When It’s Real was that the relationship between Oakley and Vaughn is gradual and progressive. It doesn’t happen right away, where they are automatically falling into each other’s arms or that they completely understand one another from the moment they open their mouths during their first meeting. Instead it happens over time as they talk more and begin to share more about themselves. What starts off as a fake relationship definitely begins to feel real, and you can see that in how Ms. Watt has written the scenes between Oakley and Vaughn. It makes the moments between Oakley and Vaughn that more sweeter. The ending…would have loved a longer epilogue, but it was still good. I also liked the supporting characters of Paisley and Big D, especially Paisley. She is a great sister and very supportive to Vaughn.

Overall, When It’s Real by Erin Watt is a wonderful YA romance novel filled with two characters that will win you over and have you cheering for them to get their happily ever after. I eagerly recommend and can’t wait to read more by this author team.

(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

When I heard the two authors behind Erin Watt were coming out with a new book, it was an instant pick-up for me. I loved the Royal boys in their other series. While this one lacked a bit of a punch, When It’s Real is still a delightful book with a musician hero and the “normal” girl who upends his world.

Oakley Ford is in a rut. His fans have been clamoring for new music from him, but nothing’s vibing with him. He thinks working with a big-name producer is just what he needs, but the guy in question won’t give Oak the time of day. It leads to him agreeing to a PR stunt—a fake relationship with a “normal” girl. One who can’t stand him.

Vaughn has taken on the role of parent alongside her older sister after their parents died. She’s taken a year off from school trying to figure out her next move and saving money for her twin brothers’ futures. The chance of a lifetime comes when she’s asked to pretend to date musician, Oakley Ford. The money’s too good to pass up, but what happens when everything starts to feel all too real?

I haven’t read many books where the main character is a famous singer, but I liked how this one was done. Successful but struggling popstar has to pay a girl to date him and try to get his mojo back. It’s an interesting premise, and even though I’m not the biggest fan of the fake relationship plot, I love seeing how walls (and assumptions) crumble. And boy, were there a lot of walls for them both!

It isn’t an easy beginning for these two. Even though Oak is Vaughn’s employer, she thinks he’s conceited and doesn’t care about anyone but himself. But there’s a sadness and loneliness that she sees every now and then that has her digging a little deeper. Oak, for his part, can’t remember the last time he had anyone be real with him. The exception to that is the girl who’s supposed to pretend to like him. He’s a little reluctant to let anyone close, but Vaughn is Vaughn. Abrupt, but sweet too.

There was a good amount of plot that kept me flipping the pages, and these two had some good chemistry! There was quite a bit of unnecessary drama for me, however. Vaughn has a college boyfriend even before she agrees to fake date Oakley. I wish she hadn’t because it ended up being more of a distraction. Then Vaughn’s real boyfriend stays lingering in the background, causing extra chaos that muddies the waters. Honestly, I thought the book would have been better spent with Vaughn finding herself and Oak’s career.

Overall, When It’s Real had it’s swoony moments, it’s lighthearted, humorous ones, and the drama I expect in an Erin Watt book. I recommend it for their current fans as well as new ones looking for a sweet young adult romance.

4 stars!

You know when the weather is perfect, and you’re driving with the windows down, music blaring, singing along to your favorite song? You get that feeling of utter satisfaction that you want to hold on to forever. Well, that’s how I felt when I was reading When It’s Real. Yep, it’s that good. Though that’s a complete understatement, since it’s hard to put into words just how sweet, fun and swoon worthy this book really is.

Oakley Ford is a famous pop star who can’t seem to keep out of trouble. And unfortunately for Oakley, his less than desirable antics are constantly splattered all over the tabloids. When his popularity with his fans start to dwindle, there is only one thing to do- clean up his image. That’s when Oakley’s manager drops a bombshell: the fastest, and most sure fire way to revamp Oakley Ford is with a sweet, innocent, normal girlfriend. Welp, how bad can that be?

Vaughn Bennett has zero interest to play girlfriend to Oakley Ford. Unfortunately for Vaughn, she has a lot of interest in the amount of money she will earn by being Oakley’s image booster. After all, it’s not just Vaughn that needs the money, but her siblings as well. So what if she has to flirt with him on social media and hold his hand from time to time. It’s not like they have to get along. It’s not like she actually has to like that self centered jerk. It’s not like lines will be crossed. Right?

Eeek, just writing about it makes me want to go back and re-read it!

The relationship between Vaughn and Oakley is PERFECTION. When the two first meet, they don’t really like each other, and there is some amazing banter between the two of them. The friendship they form surprises them, and I have to applaud how authentic it felt. There is this vulnerability between then that gave me chills. They are a lot alike, yet vastly differently, and they compliment each other really well. It is a bit of a slow burn, and the chemistry between them is off the charts.

I really appreciate how well-written and developed Vaughn and Oakley were. Oakley is cocky and kind of an ass at times, but there is SO much more to him than meets the eye. He is thoughtful, genuine and unexpectedly really romantic. Seriously. He made my heart skip a beat a few times. Vaughn is strong and independent. She’s caring, intelligent and put others before herself. She had a true old soul feel to her, yet still had the battles that every teen girl goes through. I also really love her family.

I know some of you are thinking “But I don’t like YA….”

Come on now. This is Erin Watt we are talking about! You are going to love it! The writing is amazing, and even though this plot has been done before, it felt fresh. I promise it’s not all fluff, there are some issue that both Vaughn and Oakley are going through, and they both have a mature feel to them.

Do yourself a favor and read When It’s Real. You won’t regret it!

I am a reader that always struggles when starting a new book, doesn’t matter how much I have been dying to read it or how much I love the author’s writing, I always find myself procrastinating to pick up my kindle when I know it’s to start a new book. This one probably took me three or four attempts just to get past the first few pages, something needing to be done always distracted me, but I finally said enough is enough, this one sounds like a great read and I love the collaborated work of the authors that come together to be known as Erin Watt. Well once I finally got my mind set to picking this one up and sticking with it, by the end of the first chapter I was hooked and by the end of the day, I was done.
Vaughn isn’t your typical 17 year old. Her and her older sister are have been raising their 12 year old twin brothers for the past two years after a tragic car accident killed both their parents. In trying to help her older sister out with keeping them afloat, Vaughn took summer courses so she would graduate early. She planned to take a year off to figure out what she wanted to do but also work to help make money to pay the bills. Oakley is your typical 19 year old Pop star. He has emancipated himself from his parents, loves to party, loves to drink and he loves women which all tends to land him in the news, and not in a good way. Oakley also finds himself in a bit of a creative block at the moment. To get him back on track, his agent and publicist decide to find him a fake girlfriend to clean up his image, some girl that is more “normal” in their eyes that will help give him some good press.
I normally am not a fan of YA reads but must say that although this one was a YA read, it didn’t have the YA feel to it. I have loved everything this dynamic duo has collaborated on and knew I needed to check this one out. The moment Oakley and Vaughn were in the same room with each other, I fell in love with them as a couple. I loved the dynamic the author built between them and the banter was perfect, to the point I could feel myself smiling as I read. I was a bit giddy in spots watching things develop between these two, starting out as hate and slowly turning into something sweet and oh so special. I love when a book does that, truly sucks me in and makes me feel completely part of their story and never wanting it to end. Which I hope is this case, even though this book may be done, I am so hoping to see more of their story through getting Paisley an Ty’s story.
This book is told in dual POV and I love that we got both character’s POV. In getting both we got so much more of the story, we got to see the real Vaughn and the real Oakley, something I don’t feel we would have truly gotten in full depth had it only been a one sided POV. I absolutely loved the main two characters but the whole cast of characters in this book truly made the story.
Oakley was cocky and arrogant, and was your typical rock star but that wasn’t the real him. I loved how bit by bit we got to see the real guy behind all that fame and fortune. He was just a guy that truly never got much of a childhood due to having famous parents and becoming a star shortly after becoming a teenager. He was just a lonely guy who had it all, well except for the love of someone that loved him for him and not what he had or what he did.
I instantly connected to Vaughn. Yes she once totally swooned over Oakley and didn’t deny that he was very hot to look at but she didn’t allow all that to turn her to mush in her presence. I loved how sassy she was and I loved how she didn’t put up with his attitude and cockiness. I also loved the heart of gold she had. She was willing to put her life on hold to help her older sister out to make things better for her family.
This was a really phenomenal and very real feeling story that I can’t say enough about. There were so many great moments, moments that had me giggling at the banter between these two, moments that had me totally swooning over Oakley Ford and those special touching moments that gave me those butterflies and shivers all at once. Oh to have Oakley Ford sing to me and look at me the way he looks at Vaughn. I may have procrastinated in picking this one up but I must say once I did, it didn’t take me long to not be able to put it down and completely inhaled this one in less than a day. I tend to not give many books 5 stars but for me this one truly was a fabulous 5 star read and one that will be on my top ten for 2017.

Oakley Ford needs to get his writing mojo back. It's been two years since he released an album and he has yet to write anything he deems worthy for his fans. Because of his song-writing block, he's been drinking and getting into trouble, which the tabloids all crave for. What Oakley wants is to work with a music producer who's said to be the best, but this producer won't work with Oakley until he matures and gets his act together. Oakley's manager's plan is to find a fake girlfriend for Oakley, someone who's down-to-earth and not from the music industry. When he sees a picture of a girl on one of his employee's desk, he starts to to put this plan into action.

Vaughn Bennett's parents were killed in a car accident. From that moment, Vaughn had to grow up and help her sister take care of their twin brothers. She even graduated early from high school so she could work and help financially. When Paisley, Vaughn's sister, tells her that Oakley's manager approached her and said he wanted Vaughn to be Oakley's fake girlfriend, Vaughn is ready to say no to be Oak's GF. She's seen the way Oakley is: arrogant and a complete d*uche. What makes her hesitate is the fact that she will get paid $20,000 thousand a month. Vaughn knows the money is very needed to put her brothers through school and pay off debts so she agrees.

Their first meeting was exactly how I thought it'd be. They were close to hating each other. At first, Vaughn was slightly excited to meet Oakley, seeing as she used to be a fan of his. But once he opened his mouth, Vaughn could have cared less she was in the presence of the Oakley Ford. Oak can't really stand Vaughn because she says exactly what she thinks, but he's also intrigued because she's the first person to not fall all over him. Something that almost had me questioning the story was the fact that Vaughn had a boyfriend when she started "dating" Oak. But once the story went on, I realized he was there to play a part in the story for Vaughn's sake (it is explained very well). It's not a love-triangle at all, which I was beyond thankful for because the guy is a conceited jerk who doesn't even care for Vaughn.

This story gave me all the major feels! It's so freaking cute and adorable and exactly the type of light read I needed. I'm usually iffy about rock star novels but Erin Watt delivered this story perfectly. My heart was bursting with love for all of the characters and their story. I wanted more out of the story because it was so good! I'll definitely be re-reading this book. I'm telling you, it put me in such a good mood! Vaughn is probably my fave character. She was sarcastic, a spitfire, always honest, and didn't have problems sharing what she thought. She was always real with those around her, especially with Oakley. In a way, she kept him so grounded and would knock his ego down quite a few times. Go, Vaughn! Despite Oak being a rock star, he actually had standards in the sense that he wasn't a man-wh*re at all.You'd think he would take advantage of the opportunity of being with all the girls that throw themselves at him. But he knew better than that. He was in the music industry because he loved music, not because of the fame.

Everything about this story was fun, heart-warming, swoon-worthy, and the romance was the sweetest and cutest thing ever, yet full of all the witty banter! When It's Real is the perfect summer read!

Erin Watt has nailed another mature YA romance! It has the heart and the angst that goes with teen love, but still has that maturity in an authentic way.

Oakley longs for real. In a world riddled with people looking to get something from him, he feels alone and isolated. Only when he pays for a girlfriend, does he find something real, and in this real relationship, readers get to see the real Oak shine through! They see the boy who has grown up in the spotlight and longs to be loved, to be valued for more than what he can do for another person and to be seen for who he is behind the public persona. The reason for the evolution of his character is the introduction of Vaughn. She has the weight of the world on her shoulders, which has resulted in her life being stagnant. Oak, however, gets her thinking and moving forward, asking her to consider what she wants, what are her passions, and what would make her happy. Through their relationship, she becomes braver and lives life harder and fuller.

Because this is a YA novel, it is low on the physical intimacy aspect, but Erin Watt delivers the emotional connection. The banter and "hate" when they meet develops their chemistry, and as the two begin to make themselves emotionally vulnerable to each other, the chemistry only begins to smolder. This is a physical pay-off, but it is low-steam and happens latter in the book, but yet again it is YA, and it completely fits the tone of the novel and the character development of Oak and Vaughn.

The plot of When It's Real is well paced. Readers will not feel rushed or like the story is dragging. The story flows naturally in a way that allows readers to like the characters, fall in love them as they fall in love with each other, and root for them to get that HEA. Readers will also like the conflict. It wasn't what I expected, but I liked it. And while I enjoyed the final chapter, hello swoon-factor, I wish the epilogue would have been a little bit more. I like the updates and the information readers are given, but it wasn't enough for me (I guess that is a sign of loving the characters).

I've been in love with Erin Watt since the Royals, and I don't see my love affair ending. Not a general lover of YA, these two write Young Adult novels that captivate me. Their characters hold the attributes of teens, but are written in a way that makes them relatable, and their stories, while angsty, ring true for the teen world. I absolutely love it, and will surely read anything the publish.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't had the opportunity to check out The Royals series yet, so When It's Real was my first book by this talented author duo and it most definitely will not be my last. I was sucked into the story immediately - fascinated by Oak's world (so very different from the lives of us normals) and the connection he made with Vaughn. I was mesmerized by their story and fully engaged with it as I read raptly and voraciously from start to finish.

There's a pretty epic slow burn going on between Vaughn and Oak and I felt like it took a long while to catch flame. This is essentially a fake relationship/enemies-to-lovers combo so there is a legitimate reason for the slow start and while every single thing that happened in this book is what needed to happen (that is: I never felt like there was unnecessary drama), I felt like sometimes it slowed the romance down a bit, drawing out the wait, making me feel anxious and needy. Rest assured, that only made it all the sweeter when the romance fired up in spades later on in the book and there was plenty going on to hold my attention while I waited for the feels to start sparking.

The connection between Vaughn and Oak, once formed, was completely adorable and satisfying. Together they are more sweet and emotional than fiery, though their relationship is not without a fair amount of heat (in what I felt was a perfectly acceptable mature young adult way). Their banter, both antagonistic or flirty, was smart and so much fun to read. I loved watching them grow together and within their relationship, and seeing the role they played in each other's lives transform and deepen over the course of their story.

I also was completely invested and in love with many of the secondary characters. I adored Vaughn's relationship with her family, particularly her sister who it seems may have a story to tell herself (maybe?? *fingers crossed*)?! And Vaughn's relationship with his bodyguards was also a treat to read, especially because that relationship also experienced some growth and maturing over the course of the book, making it rewarding in its own right. These relationships just rounded out this already excellent story and made me love it all the more.

In the end this rock star falls for average normal girl romance often read like a sweet, swoony fairytale. If you're into books that make your pulse flutter, cause your mouth to smile uncontrollably, and leave your heart full and happy? You are definitely not going to want to pass this one by.

I loved The Royals Series, and I have been waiting to see what some other story from Jen and Elle would be like. When It's Real is a just a simple, straight forward hate to love story. Though the characters involved are far from simple. Oakley Ford rose to fame as a teen sensations in the music world. At nineteen, he's lived a dozen lifetimes. Nothing is off limits, girls, parties, booze, drugs. It's all come to a head and his image is in desperate need of some repair. His management team is worried he's going to becomes just another washed up teen singer. All Oakley wants to do is rehab his sound and work with one the biggest record producers in town. The catch...the producer isn't going to even bat an eyelash at him, until he changes his partying ways and makes some serious changes in his life.

Vaughn Bennett, lost her parents in a car accident her senior year of high school. Leaving her and her older sister to raise their twin brother's on their own. The struggle to make ends meet, and pay the bills is beyond real. When an offer comes in from Oakley's management team to be his fake girlfriend, she can't say no. Even though there are so many reasons why she shouldn't.

It's a rough start for Oakley and Vaughn. To her, he's stuck on himself, and who he is. To him, she's got a boyfriend, and won't let him into her world because it's just a job to her. The lines are blurred, when they develope an easy friendship. Needless to say, neither one of them can handle it when feelings start to become real. The realness of it doesn't come easy for Oakley and Vaughn. His PR Teams constant meddling, fake friends trying to expose their relationship for what it is, crazy fangirls pushing their buttons, and Oakley's own paranoia create a less than stress free environment.

If you have read my past reviews, you know I LOVE a good character growth arch. When It's Real was no exception. Oakley needs to grow up period. He so used to getting what he wants when he wants it. Everyone kissing his bum, telling him he is fabulous. So, when Vaughn enters his life, it's like a wake up call and a breath of fresh air all at once. Vaughn is so busy trying to make her parents memory stay a live, by making choices for herself that aren't true to who she is. Oakley gradually wakes her up to the idea that maybe the choices she's made to be teacher isn't the only option for her. He broadens her perspective, and makes her realize that her parents memory will live on, and that she needs to start living for herself.

It was really refreshing to read a book like this, that doesn't over sexualize these young characters. It was part of the story, but not the focus of the story. Honestly, as I was reading, I kind of forgot that this was YA book. The story was captivating, and really gave you a birds eye view of what it could potentially be like to be a "normal" in a relationship with someone famous. I liked this book. It is a sweet, push and pull story. I do have to say the twist at the end, was unexpected. I love it when a book can blow your mind like that.

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review...

Shel: When It's Real checks off all the boxes for us and is adding to what we now know we should expect from an Erin Watt book. It has fantastically snarky dialogue, lots of great tension, and two interesting teenage characters--Oakley and Vaughn. Let's start with those two, shall we? The writing duo Erin Watt has a way of making me strongly dislike their male protagonists only to turn the tables on me and have me totally loving them. When I first "met" Oakley he was so easy to dislike--so arrogant and spoiled and frustrating--but as the novel progressed, so did Oakley. He gradually became less douchey and more vulnerable and open, even as he held on to this sort of swaggering confidence; it was this combination of alpha vulnerability that turned things around for me and a large part of that had to do with Vaughn. Vaughn was more like able than Oakley but she was not without her own flaws (as we all are); namely her weaselly boyfriend W (ugh, that guy was a loser with a capital L) and using her snark as her armor when with Oakley. As she shed her armor and allowed herself to be open and more vulnerable with Oakley, she seemed to trigger him to want to do the same. I especially liked that the writers created her to be less than confident on her next steps --I think it's great to see a main characters not have all the answers and yet are allowed the room and space to explore rather than make a hasty career/school decision. Oakley and Vaughn were a fun pairing to read.

Court: Shel did such a wonderful job of telling all of the things to like about the characters, so I'll take a moment to gush about the authors. There was absolutely so many things to like about this book, and I am still in a gigantor book hangover. Erin Watt has absolutely made all of my book dreams come true. 1) We love stories about famous people...sue us, it is an addiction. 2) We also love stories about famous people associating with normal people (desperate fantasy? Probably...lol) and 3) we love stories when the author (or in this case author(s) are so seamless in their storytelling that we cannot get enough of this book. Oakley and Vaughn's story is a very dysfunctional way to get to know each other, and I could not wait to find out what happens next. They are fun to read, and thank goodness we had dual POV. Erin Watt writes so well together, that you literally think it is the same person and I really love this dynamic. I loved them when Paper Princess came out, and now I obsessively obsess about every single thing they make a peep about in their writing world...because honestly, you should know who they are or you are missing out. I

Shel: Part of the fun was never knowing what one would say to antagonize the other; I liked how the tensions started with their first meeting and continued to simmer in the background as their feelings morphed into what we see at the end--that tension kept it interesting . The dialogue and texts and tweets weren't just what moved the plot along they enhanced the entire reading experience--there was a lot of laughing and swooning going on. Court: As I said their way of getting to know each other had me a bundle of nerves and experiencing angst and dying to know what would happen next, but at the same time hoping it would never end. I laughed out loud, I might have teared up once, and I absolutely devoured this book!

Shel: Not only were the main characters interesting, the secondary characters were too. The various conversations and situations with body guards, friends, and family members, and others helped round out Oakley and Vaughn and have me hoping that we may revisit them all in the future. I enjoyed them all so much that I'm already hoping they'll be a holiday short or a newsletter special or a cross over into the Royals so that I can see them all again--I miss them already. Court: ME TOO! Would it be productive to re-read this book until the next Erin Watt book comes out? I cannot get enough. I was wishing for more pages, and was wishing that I could slow down but the characters had me so engrossed that I could. not. stop!

Shel: Erin Watt fans--this isn't the high drama of the Royals (thank god, I barely made it out alive) and we think you're going to love When It's Real because it's not that high drama but something that is equally good and stands on its own. Court: I agree. This was a perfectly finessed book in every way. I loved every scene, and really was so glad of so much growth in each character and the plot was so well developed and the setting was one that I love so much. And I'll stop now that I am just writing in incoherent run-on sentences, but you get the gist. You will not regret giving this book a try!

4,5 stars

I‘ve heard this one got mixed reviews but honestly I don’t care!
It’s been some time now since I’ve read a book in one sitting but that’s what happened here.
Maybe this story is imperfect and I know the trope has been used and abused (hot singer falling for the girl next door after a fake relationship has been staged by his PR team) but it just worked for me.

I don’t know what kept me reading and reading like that.
Maybe I just needed a sweets tory without too much angst?
Maybe I needed some spunky girl taking the hot singer down a peg?
Maybe I needed a handsome singer with green eyes, blond hair, lots of muscles and a raspy voice to die for (I loooove deep raspy voices they’re the best to sing ballads, rock, blues, country… anything!)? Maybe I needed to live some times in the crazy life of celebrities hounded by paparazzi and spied on social media (there’s a lot of tweeting happening in that story)?
Maybe…

Whatever the reasons everything worked really good for me. So good I nearly forgot to feed the family. The hungry cries of my kids stomachs reminded me that there still was a world outside of When It’s Real!

Now let’s go back to the story and try to have something coherent in this review.

After having read the blurb you already know that Oak short for Oakley is a young successful singer that needs to rebuild his image in the public eye. He needs it so much as he wants to work with King, THE magic producer. Only problem: King can’t take Oakley seriously.
That’s where Vaughn plays her part. Vaughn has lost her parents two years ago and lives with her older sister Paisley and their younger twin brothers. They’re fighting to have a decent life and offer a future to the twins. When Oakley’s managers asks Vaughn to play Oak’s fake girlfriend for one year and earn a lot of money, Vaughn can’t refuse.
She may seem a gold digger said like that but you could not be more wrong.

I loved Vaughn as she is the girl next door, down to earth, supportive and ready to help her family. She also has quick remarks and I loved the banter between her and Oak. Oak is piqued in his ego when Vaughn does not fall at his feet.

In the beginning Oak was a big jackass and Vaughn took great pleasure in taunting him. No he was not the Seventh Wonder even if he was very easy to look at and had a fantastic voice!

So the book revolves around their relationship and broach the downside of celebrity where you’re never wanted for you alone but for your fame and money.

Vaughn’s character was easy to relate to thanks to her “normal “life. She is not a super-hot model. She is smart and loyal but does not already know what she wants to do with her life. Her insecurities, the reasons why she stayed with her boyfriend were the little flaws that made her so easy to identify with.

Vaughn was just the right fit to help Oak grow up and become less infatuated. I loved witnessing Oak’s evolution. From hot but conceited jackass he opened up and showed his weaknesses for everyone to see. He made amends when he treated someone badly. He ditched his entourage to really make his own decisions. He matured.

So if you want a story featuring a sweet romance between a hot singer with the girl next door sprinkled with some social media circus and twitter gossips give this book a chance.
I hope it will be a “one sitting read” for you as it’s been for me.

“You’re the one person in my life who wants nothing but me and it’s terrifying and awesome at the same time. Don’t ever leave me. I love you. You’re my heart.”

Erin Watt always hits that sassy and sweet mark with her New Adult Romances. "When It's Real" has main characters that spark in a battle of wills and with high energy adorable chemistry. This books features a delicious mash-up of an enemies to lovers and faux girlfriend trope. Oakley Ford's a nineteen-year-old music superstar. He's already earned a few Platinum and Diamond albums since launching his career during his early teens. Now his reputation is that of an out-of-control womanizing partier. His label and manager want to turn that image around. Frankly, Oakley's tired of the lifestyle. He feels that even people he considers to be his friends are using him for his money and celebrity. Oak's the son of Hollywood royalty and his parents are jealous of his success. His fans feel he's their property and grab him without warning, so he hates being touched, unless he initiates it.
Vaughn Bennett's a seventeen-year-old high school graduate deferring college for a year to help her family. Her parents died and she's working to help her sister pay the bills and raise their younger twin brothers. She has a steady boyfriend named "W" who likes getting his way and is pressuring her for sex. Vaughn isn't ready for that commitment even though she loves W fiercely. Vaughn tells people she wants to be a teacher because that was what her parents were. But isn't passionate about anything nor has the drive to follow any path. She's lost and her only lifelines are her family, W, and her friends. Vaughn is a fascinating character; a combination of strength, loyalty, confidence and self-doubt. She can wisely advise others but lacks the confidence for herself.
Erin Watt adds so many subtle touches and side stories that truly make "When It's Real" rich and captivating. The side characters are fun, charming, and delightful. Oakley and Vaughn are adorable, feisty, vulnerable, and lovable. The storyline is engaging and captivating while the pace keeps you thoroughly hooked. There's a lot of conflict in the form of antagonism, misunderstanding, doubt, and vulnerability. Add in the interference and machinations from agents and publicists and a successful relationship would be challenging for anyone. Bottomline Vaughn and Oakley are fabulous and "When It's Real" is addictive.

This novel was provided, voluntarily read, and honestly reviewed
lightningcitybookreviews.com

Favorite Quote: “You can’t treat girlfriends like props, brother. Not even fake girlfriends.”

Meet Oakley Ford.

Nineteen-year-old heartthrob and celebrity pop star Oakley Ford is ready to make the leap to a serious musician but his antics on and off the stage has made him persona non grata among record producers. He wants the very best to produce his next album but unless he cleans up his act, it’s a no go. His manager decides what Oakley needs is an image overhaul and the first step is finding him a noncelebrity, all-American girlfriend.

Meet Vaughn Bennett.

Vaughn is a seventeen-year-old waitress who is helping to raise her two younger siblings with her older sister Paisley. She graduated high school early and put off college to help out when their parents were killed in a car accident. When she is first approached to pose as Oakley’s faux girlfriend, she says no. That is until she finds out the obscene amount of money they will pay her. Money that will take the financial burden off Paisley and set up her brothers’ college funds. Of course, she will have to get rid of her own boyfriend and learn to hide her dislike of Oakley. It’s only for a year and it’s not like they are going to fall in love for real.

Right?

From their first meeting, Oakley and Vaughn lock horns and butt heads. As their prickly animosity grows into a heady attraction, Oakley and Vaughn will discover a lot about themselves and each other.

Right before I started When It’s Real, I read an article about Harry Styles and how his new supposed girlfriend (food blogger Tess Ward) was being ripped to shreds by 1D fans. I remember thinking what the hell is wrong with these people? Why would they set out to make this person feel terrible and how hard it must be for her to read the awful things they are saying. Watt addresses this behavior and young celebrities in general and makes you wonder how much of what we see and hear is real and how much isn’t.

“Are you talking about April Showers? That was fake? Oh man, I believed in ShOak. My childhood dreams are crushed.”

When It’s Real is a standalone YA romance contemporary that offers up a cute and amusing story of self-discovery and growth when a teenage celebrity falls for a young woman who isn’t impressed by him or his fame. It had a bit of a Pride and Prejudice vibe to it which I enjoyed. Watt takes an antagonistic relationship and slowly turns it into something wonderfully real between our protagonists. They focus on love, loss, and choices; showing us two teenagers who were forced into adulthood and the different ways they’ve dealt with it.

I’ve drunk, smoked, ingested and experienced nearly everything the world has to offer in the past five years. Am I already the washed up pop star before I hit my twenties?

The story is pretty straight forward. The trope is predictable though the journey is entertaining. Heavily character driven, the lack of drama and ridiculous antics give us real people with real issues. They are easy to relate to. Their joys, fears, wants, and needs are laid bare and we are allowed to experience with them the everyday growing pains of life. Told in dual narrative, the execution flows smoothly and the dialogue is appealing. We are never left to guess at our protagonists’ emotions and thoughts. They are refreshingly honest with one another and themselves.

“You realise there are millions of girls out there who would kill to be sitting beside me right now?”

“Yeah? Then why are you paying me to do it?”

I enjoyed meeting Vaughn and Oakley. Both are intelligent, hard working, snarky teenagers who act like teenagers. Vaughn has a little bit of a drama queen in her that manifests during stress while Oakley just tends to act out when upset. Their chemistry builds slowly, fueling the romance and we get to enjoy the show. Watt doesn’t use tired cliches or insta love to facilitate this romance. Their evolution from enemies to friends to lovers is slow and steady, requiring this couple to spend time together getting past their respective negative first impressions to discover their connection.

“You’re the one person in my life who wants nothing but me and it’s terrifying and awesome at the same time. Don’t ever leave me.”

Solid secondary characters round out the story. Vaughn’s family is an integral part of the story, offering a lifeline to Oakley and Vaughn to cling to in their quest to find common ground. Oakley’s staff maintain a solid presence and reveal all how invasive and intrusive. We have the users, abusers and jealous exes to add a little spice to the story. An enjoyable secondary romance blossoms behind the scenes and after the one and only real bout of over the top melodrama, we are left with a satisfactory HFN.

I will admit I did have a couple of issues I couldn’t overlook. Vaughn’s boyfriend was a glaring plot device and I admit I was shocked he wasn’t utilized more to create conflict. I also had an issue with Vaughn and her drunken misstep. Her actions were out of character, her explanation was weak, and Oakley’s instant acceptance was odd. It felt very out of place in the storyline.

While When It’s Real isn’t a dramatic or high energy ride, it is an enjoyable lightweight read that will appeal to those who prefer more a sweeter laid back romance.

Grade C+

"When you were at the club singing, every person in there thought you sang to them. It doesn’t matter what your sound is. People are always going to want to hear you."

Oakley Ford is a rock star. He is the son of famous movie star parents. You might think he has it all, so far-from-it. He is in need of an image makeover. His troubling ways are starting to catch-up with him and the tabloids are eating it all up. Oak's team want to reinvent his image and that includes him having a fake girlfriend. They want the public to see he's changed his ways and has settled down with his troublemaking ways.

Vaughn Bennett is the quintessential girl-next-door. Especially being the "normal" girl other than the other girls that have been involved with Oak. She's the perfect girl for the job. Vaughn wouldn't be caught dead in taking the job, but financial circumstances have her saying yes.

Vaughn and Oak's first meeting is anything but peachy. They're ice cold to each other, you can cut the tension with a knife. Vaughn is regretting her decision in being Oak's fake girlfriend. But, she knows her family needs the money, so she'll take one for the team.

"I think I might be crushing on Oakley Ford…and it freaks me out."

Vaughn starts seeing Oak in a different light. She starts to realize that he isn't that guy the tabloids have pegged him to be. Feelings for Oak start surfacing and there isn't anything fake about them.

"I want to kiss her forever. We should stay like this forever. Generations from now, they’ll find us in the rubble, two lovers who died kissing."

Oak and Vaughn were so cute together. The progression of their relationship from not liking each other, and then to becoming friends and then more than friends was such a joy to read. Really really really liked Oak and Vaughn as a couple, so adorable.

"I know I’d be fine without you. I’d live a perfectly good life. But I don’t want a perfectly good life. I want a messy, exciting, happy, sad, emotion-filled, loud life with you."

This was my first Erin Watt book I've read, and it most certainly won't be my last. I've heard amazing things about 'The Royals' series and I can't wait to devour all of those books!!!

Make sure to add 'When It's Real' to your TBR stack, you won't be disappointed.

I have a confession to make: When It's Real is my first Erin Watt novel. *emerges from the shame corner* I’ve read books by Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick but I have yet to dive in to author duo’s series, The Royals, partly because I was waiting for all the books to come out before starting, and partly because I don’t read many YA novels. After reading When It’s Real, though… I. NEED. MORE! This book is addictive. It’s entertaining. It’s attention-grabbing. Did I mention it’s addictive? I couldn’t get enough!

I love a good rock star romance and a fake relationship is one of my favorite tropes so I was particularly intrigued by the concept of When It’s Real. What does a bad boy teen rocker do when in need of an image overhaul? Hire a pretend girlfriend, of course. Vaughn Bennett, a down-to-earth, “normal” seventeen-year-old girl has her life turned upside down when she signs up to be girlfriend to world-famous rock star, Oakley Ford. What starts off as an emotionally-detached job, however, soon transforms into a friendship, then something more as Vaughn and Oak blur the lines between what's real and what's for show.

With their teasing, slightly antagonistic banter and ever-present undercurrent of sexual tension, it’s the relationship between Vaughn and Oakley that makes every sentence of this book so riveting. This is a romance, but it’s also a journey of self-discovery for both Vaughn and Oakley. As a reader, I loved being privy to the behind-the-scenes drama because, you know their romance is “fake” but you also experience them getting to know each other. Defenses are lowered, pretenses are dropped, and real feelings are developed. It’s messy and complicated, but also sweet, romantic, and undeniably compelling.

My advice about going in to When It’s Real? Carve out a few hours of uninterrupted reading time because this book is impossible to put down once you get started. This book might’ve been my first Erin Watt novel but it definitely won’t be my last.

*complimentary copy provided by author for an honest review

When It's Real by Erin Watt rocked my world and then some!! A perfect rock star romance with a rich, hot, obnoxious bad boy behaving badly and the cute, normal girl-next-door type who wins his heart.

Oak Ford has lost his mojo and his way and his bad boy party lifestyle are finally catching up to him. The solution to his problem? A fake girlfriend, or so his manager and PR company think. Cue Vaughan Bennett, and the start of our love story.

I adored this book, savoring every beautiful page from start to finish. There is nothing overly intricate in the plot or the character development but it's the superb execution of same that is the winner here. I loved the musical influences and the twitter feed was hysterically funny. The writing is brilliant as I've come to expect from this author and it flowed perfectly.

I kept thinking Justin Bieber as I was reading this book even if the description didn't wholly fit. I loved the snarky banter between our couple at the start and how they gradually opened up to one another. Vaughan was a bit of a sap when it came to W and I wished she had more gumption as it seemed at odds with the rest of her personality.

Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the Oakley Ford show. Man, I loved him from the get-go and my heart ached for him. The romance was slow building and real and everything my romance-loving heart desires.

This is a bit different from the Royals series. It's not angsty or dramatic and it's definitely less steamy despite the rock star backdrop and all that entails; however, this is trad-pubbed so I imagine the author had to toe a strict line. It doesn't matter anyway, it didn't detract from my enjoyment at all, it's more of an observation.

In summary, this was a superb read and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. Yes, it's not a new story but it doesn't matter. It's a wonderful read and one that had me hooked throughout. I really look forward to reading more of this author in future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via the author's assistant and I have voluntarily reviewed same. Thank you very much, Erin Watt, you have another showstopper on your hands!

I absolutely fell in love with Erin Watt's writing style when I read The Royals Series. That was such a fascinating, intense and addictive series to follow. I was happy to find out that their next project was going to be a YA romance featuring a teen rock star. Fans of YA contemporary romance novels will be happy to know that there is a new book boyfriend in town! Oakley Ford is a teen phenomenon that will melt your heart!

I really enjoyed When It's Real. YA is not really a genre I read often so I was nervous about starting this reading journey. Vaughn Bennett and Oakley Ford need to play pretend to save Oakley's reputation and bring his music inspiration back on track. Vaughn needs the money so she agrees to play Oakley's fake girlfriend. What she did not expect was to develop real feelings for her fake rock star boyfriend. Things get complicated when Vaughn's real life gets tangled up with her fake life. People get jealous and the paparazzi are hungry to get the full scoop on the new girl that stole the heart of the most popular teen on the music scene. Playing pretend can get you burned, but falling unexpectedly in love makes it all so worth it.

I had so much fun on my reading journey! Vaughn and Oakley's chemistry was great and I loved their banter. It did take me a bit of time to connect with the story at the beginning. It only started to hold my attention around the 30% mark. Even if I did have trouble at the beginning, I really enjoyed the rest of the story and how Vaughn and Oakley opened up about their personal struggles.

The supporting cast of characters was AMAZING! I loved the scenes between Vaughn and her siblings. Vaughn and her sister are fantastic role models for their brothers. They have a beautiful and strong bond. My heart broke for Oakley's family situation. I wanted to jump in the book so bad and give him a hug. Erin Watt did a fantastic job with this book! It can be read as a standalone so this is the perfect way to discover Erin Watt's writing style.

I give, When It's Real, by Erin Watt, 4 fun, fantastic, falling for your fake rock star boyfriend stars!

What can I say about Erin Watt that I haven't already said? I LOVE them! Erin Watt is DOMINATING the Young Adult Romance genre right now! When it's Real was a great follow-up to the Royal series.
Do you remember when you were a young girl, fantasizing that your favorite pop star was going to show up at your door, profess his undying love for you, and then you'd live happily ever after in your mansion by the sea, taking week long Mediterranean cruises on his private yacht? No? That was just me then? Well, in When it's Real, I felt like one of my childhood fantasies was coming true! (Substitute Oakley for Justin Timberlake, of course.) But as with any Erin Watt series, there is always a twist...
I was sucked in from the first page, and found myself chuckling out loud at a few parts. I spent most of the day, and it was the weekend I was supposed to be moving, sneaking in parts of the book on my phone, because I couldn't get the story out of my head! I needed to see what would happen next!
Oakley stole my heart. While he had a hard exterior, he had a soft core, and I loved when he exposed that side of him. Vaughn has led a hard life the last few years, and I definitely admired her strength. The chemistry was real between the two, and I loved the antagonistic relationship between the two. The relationship was relatable (except the whole celebrity piece of it) and realistic. Some times, you want a good "love at first sight" type of story, but there is something magical and relatable about a slow burn romance, one that follows realistic timelines. Put those two pieces together, and you can see two of the many reasons I loved this book!
The storyline was multi-dimensional, with many of the secondary characters having an integral part of the storyline, and their relationships with the main characters were complicated. During the book, you can see these relationships evolve and grow, and I was just as anxious to see what direction those relationships would as the main characters!
Overall, I really liked this story, and I hope they continue this on as a series, featuring other characters!

One of the BEST YA books that I have ever read!!! Erin Watt wrote an amazing, emotional, roller coaster of a ride story and the characters were divine and real.

Vaughn is such a refreshing character. She was sweet, hard working, smart, and vulnerable. She too care of her family and did what needed to be done, even though she was young, she had an old soul. I respected Vaughn's character because she had respect for herself and even though things were tough for her and her siblings, she never gave up. Vaughn also had a vulnerable spot and no one could tap into that, because she put up a shield and pretended everything was fine, at least until she met Oakley.

Oakley is a privileged kid who has more depth to him than he lets people see. His love for music was greatly portrayed in this book and I loved the excitement that would come from his character whenever he had inspiration for a song in his head or when he got to work with his all-time favorite producer. At first, Oakley's character came off as spoiled, mean & a player, but that's not who he truly is. When he meets Vaughn, she isn't throwing herself at him, instead she is scowling at him, and it is so new and kind of intriguing to him. I loved how he teased her and his comments about W cracked me up!!! Oakley showed his true self to Vaughn, because she was different and he knew it, so he trusted her.

These two aren't love at first sight, it is a definite slow burn, but in such a good way. I loved watching Vaughn humble Oakley and Oakley loosened Vaughn up and made her open her eyes to certain situations that she didn't want to open her eyes too. They each taught each other different things and even though they were young, they each know what they had was REAL.

The emotions that this book pulled out of me were strong and I loved every second of reading this book. Erin Watt has been one of my favorite author's sine Paper Princess, and now this book, yes, Erin Watt is definitely in my top 5 favorite authors. This book is in my top 5 favorite YA books and I cannot wait to see what this duo comes out with next!!

Erin Watt releasing a YA? A standalone? About a rockstar? I think I may just combust!!! This writing duo has made my year with the Royal's series. Books like theirs are why I fell in love with reading, and when I started reading When It's Real I had the same feelings of contentment as with their other books. It was everything I love about YA, and unlike other books in this sub genre, it wasn't super angsty, and I have to confess I am not a fan of the drama llama. So this book was pretty much it for me.

Oakley Ford is a super famous teen celebrity, and Vaughn is the seventeen-year-old girl who has just been hired to clean up his image. She's the answer to all his problems no matter how much he dislikes the thought of having a fake relationship. Vaughn is desperate for the money, and isn't thrilled with having to pretend to be Oakley's anything. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and she has a perfectly good reason for doing it. They have a rocky start, actually a pretty bumpy one, but once they truly get to know one another; they both realize that this fake relationship may be the best thing that could have ever happened to them.

Oakley is your typical spoiled, and arrogant celebrity. He has a whole team of people around him, controlling his every decision. He wants to be taken seriously, and Vaughn is just a hurdle he needs to get over. He's not a bad guy, but his life isn't normal, and he's young, and his mistakes are just those lessons he needs to have to learn what the actual world is like. Vaughn lives in the real world and shows him it's ok not to be perfect, and to be who you are. She isn't ashamed of who she is, and her family is one of the only things that is important to her. Oakley's complete opposite in every way imaginable.

This story will suck you in beginning with the first page. If you love Erin Watt like me, you will be more than happy with this book. My only complaint is that this is a standalone, because I want more. These characters became important to me. I want more from them. So, yes, read this book, and do it now. You will not be disappointed.

I am not a YA reader, not even a little bit, but, Erin Watt (pseudonym representing the collaboration between Jen Frederick and Elle Kennedy; two of my top favorite authors) will make me read pretty much anything.
I was super hesitant going into this book. One reason being that I simply don't read YA, as aforementioned, the other being that I LOVED The Royals series so damned much. I mean obsessed to the point that it bordered unhealthy. That series is one tough act to follow, but, Erin Watt didn't disappoint with When It's Real. I was sucked in pretty much immediately and couldn't stop turning those pages if my life had depended on it.

When It's Real combines a rock star romance with an enemies-to-lovers trope. Each some of my favorite stories to read. Vaughn and Oakley, well, they could not be any more different. Different worlds, different lives, different problems to face, and yet they are reluctantly brought together to be in this pseudo-relationship that ends up turning into a connection more deep and powerful than they could have imagined. Oh, but, it isn't pretty at first. No, these two bicker and go for the other's throat at every turn. The dialogue in this book was so damnws witty, an aspect I fell in love with in the Royals series, and I was beyond thrilled to see the talent Erin Watt has for dialogue showcased so brilliantly here.

The Characters and their stories, both individually and shared, totally stole me away. I was completely immersed, getting pissed at the characters, swooning over them, and remembering the inevitable heartache and struggles most of us experience in our younger years. This story was sweet, swoony, funny, and just so much MORE than what I'd expected from a YA read. Now, was this as intense or angsty as the Royals series? No, definitely not. The two books couldn't be more different, and I was very glad about that fact. This was so fresh and new and almost a total contrast to what Erin Watt gave us in Royals. BUT, similar to the Royals was the slow-burn between these two characters. This was very much a tit-for-tat sort dynamic, that I, personally, really enjoy. I mean, the banter and wittiness of the dialogue was out of this world. Totally impeccable.

I'm so happy to say that Erin Watt is not a "one hit wonder" author. Jen Frederick and Elle Kennedy are freaking magical together. They got me to read a freaking YA book and not only enjoy it, but LOVE IT!! I can't wait to see what their next project is. I can't get enough of their collaboration. Genius on every level.

I received a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads

I absolutely loved this book. It had everything I like in a rock star romance but with a sweet innocence of the YA genre. Although not quite YA but not quite NA it has a nice mix of steamy moments without too much detail, just enough to make you get that nice little thrill. Oakley Ford's character as the teen pop sensation (think Justin Beiber) was perfectly portrayed and very well written. Bratty and prone to getting his way but trying to become a better song writer and change up his music, Oakley is hoping to snag the very desirable King to produce his next record. King wont have a thing to do with Oakley until Oak shows some maturity. Oakley is told he's going to be dating a "normal" mostly to snag King. His publicist and manager have picked the girl for him, Vaughn Bennett. She's just what they need to clean up Oakley's image, a young, fresh nobody, a normal teenage girl with a wholesome background.
Vaughn has been floating since her parents died. Not really sure where her future is or should be going. She's approached to spend a year being Oakley Ford's girlfriend for a very large sum of money. Money that her family could desperately use since their parents died leaving her twin younger brothers to be raised by her and her sister. Vaughn has a boyfriend but decides this is important for her family and hopes W (yep, he goes by W) will understand it's all fake. The love triangle is well written with enough strife to be interesting but not overdone. I totally "shipped" Oakley & Vaughn and wanted them to have their HEA! The twitter feed portions were nicely added showing everything a normal girl would face dating a huge celeb with the internet involved. Oakley's famous parents aspect was on point and well played. I only wish the end wasn't as rushed, seemed a bit all squished at the end but maybe I just wanted more. I do have a bit of a book hangover!! One of my best reads so far for 2017.

Oakley Ford and Vaughn Bennett could not be more different. At least that's what it looks like to those on the outside. And, it shocks Oakley's Fandom when he begins a relationship with Vaughn. After all, she's NORMAL, just like them. But, the fans don't know that this relationship begins as a set up. It's 100% promotion meant to clean up Oakley's bad boy image. The feelings and emotions shared by Oak and Vaughn are soon very real, but neither quite know what to do When It's Real.

The dynamic duo that is Erin Watt (Jen Frederick and Elle Kennedy) is absolutely fantastic yet again! They have delivered another story with compelling characters and an engaging storyline that will draw you in and leave you wanting more! When It's Real is more of a slow burn than the intense, fast-pace of the Royals Series by Erin Watt. But, the story is interesting and the characters possess the same wit, charm and banter that I expect from these authors.

When It's Real is billed as more of a Young Adult read. The character's ages are definitely YA, however there are a couple of steamy-ish scenes (that I loved) that would prevent me from handing it over to the 16-year-olds I know. I actually wish that the characters would have been a little older and the book skewed New Adult instead. BUT, that being said, I still loved the book.

If you're looking for a wonderful story with characters that you'll fall in love with while they fall in love with each other, When It's Real is a must one-click! I hope Erin Watt plans to write many, many, many, many more books together because I want to read them all!

An advance copy of this book was received. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review. This book received a 4.5 rating on BFF Book Blog. BFF Book Blog also uses a set of icon ratings. This book received additional icons for: supporting characters, character development, heroine, angst and romance.

I am a sucker for any romance featuring a small town girl and famous guy. After seeing the synopsis for this one, I couldn't request a copy fast enough. I made the mistake of starting this book at bedtime, thinking I could sneak in a few chapters before sleeping. I remember looking at my clock around 1:00 a.m. and forcing myself to shut down the Kindle to catch a few hours of sleep. Five minutes later, I was up and reading once again. I could not put this book down. It was definitely worth the night of lost sleep, and I could not wipe the silly grin off my face. This is one of my favorite contemporary romances of the year, and I couldn't have enjoyed it more.

I adored Vaughn from the beginning. She is full of sass and determination, but she is carrying so much weight on her young shoulders. She's mature for a seventeen year old, and has an optimism that makes her endearing. I especially admire how she constantly puts Oakley his place. Their banter was some of my favorites moments of the book.

"Careful babe, or you're gonna give me a complex"
"You already have a complex. It's called egomania."

Despite the circumstances, they quickly develop an intense and slow burning relationship. I literally could not sleep wondering if these two would ever admit to their true feelings. It was the best torture and something I always long for in romance novels. It was the perfect balance of emotion and humor.

This is as real and as awful and as wonderful as it gets.

Even though the plot wasn't unique and somewhat predictable, I still loved it immensely. I think it's a testament to the amazing writing skills of these two authors. If you are looking for an entertaining and well written book, I highly recommend When It's Real! It's technically YA, but it's more along the lines of NA. I'll be suggesting this one to book friends all summer.

Well well well Erin Watt have done it again what a bloody fantastic book, I did not want to put it down and it just took me back to why I do love a good YA novel, I haven't read one in a while and this for me was perfection.

I know we look back at the Royal series and that was beyond awesome one of my fav series, but what I loved about this book was it was soooo soooo different but the same amazing writing and I do love that in an author/s that they can still captivate me in different genre

I loved the whole story line, I love the stardom of Oakley and the normal girl in Vaughn and I don't think there is ever a time that no girl ever fantasied about being with a singer or famous person geesus I think I had about 15 boyfriends by the time I was 16 with all my celeb crushes and I think this book pulls out the perfect fantasy.

I also loved the setup of this book with the tweets and how it made the book fun to read, that was one of my favorite parts of the book. I am a big music fan so just having songs and lyrics incorporated always makes it a winner for me.

Vaughn was just a normal girl trying to help her sister and 2 brothers out making ends meet. I loved her innocence and her sassy mouth. She was a fantastic character and I really liked her.

Oakley was written perfectly for me, he was cocky but never apologized for it and was just living life to fullest until his career was going down the tube, but throughout the novel I loved the changes and really thought he was a great character.

I loved how innocent and not too sexual this book was, it was a breath of fresh air, where I could laugh, had a cry and one stage and I just felt the whole time I was cheering for the couple who had a fantastic chemistry throughout the book.

Thank you so much Jen Frederick and Elle Kennedy for an amazing book.

5 Big big big Stars

I don’t read a lot of Young Adult novels. I feel like there’s just too much unnecessary drama in many of them or they contain problems that seem insignificant to me now. Trust me when I say that I get enough drama every day from my own three teens. So yeah, I’m selective when it comes to YA books. When It’s Real is light on drama and just plain fun.

Oakley is a 19-year-old pop superstar whose career is in jeopardy due to partying and scandals. He needs to clean up his image ASAP, so he hires a squeaky clean, normal girl to pose as his girlfriend. Vaughn is 17 and struggling to support her family financially. She reluctantly accepts the job of playing the humble girlfriend. Of course this book is a complete fantasy, but I enjoy a good fairytale from time to time.

This could easily be a Pretty Woman type of story where the heroine gets swept off her feet with makeovers and a wealthy lifestyle. I love Vaughn’s non-conformist attitude and how she isn’t impressed by Oakley’s fame. In fact, she is snarky and unafraid to show her disdain for him. He isn’t just another disgraced tabloid target. He’s an extremely conceited, selfish jerk, and it’s difficult to feel sorry for him in the beginning.

Vaughn and Oakley’s living situations make the storyline straddle the line between Young Adult and New Adult at times. However, with the social media posts and high school friendships, the story maintains a youthful feel. I really enjoyed how Oakley’s agent and PR person are incorporated into the plot.

When It’s Real is very different from Erin Watt’s Royals series. Don’t expect an angsty, sexy story. There’s an appealing attraction between the couple, but on a PG-13, wholesome level. This enemies to lovers romance has a wonderfully gradual build up that’s satisfying and sweet. It made a nice change of pace for me to read.

*ARC received

This book is just as addicting as the Royals!

This fantastic writing duo brings us a sweet and heartfelt story about a boy that despite being surrounded by people all the time he always feels alone and a girl that has the weight of the world in her shoulders.

Oakley is a famous singer, he is been making a name for himself for a long time but now his bad boy reputation is catching up with him and on top of that his inspiration for writing new lyrics is running low, so his "team" comes up with the brilliant idea of creating a fake relationship with a normal girl, in enters Vaughn who shares the responsibility with her sister of taking care of her little brothers. It all starts very innocently but soon real feelings start to appear and neither of them know what to do with them.

I really loved the relationship that Vaughn has with Oakley, I enjoyed getting to know them and I enjoyed reading about them getting to know each other, this is one of my favorite tropes ever so I was super happy but also presently surprised at all the ways that Erin Watt takes that trope and makes it into something so much more.

We see different family dynamics, we see how being supported by the ones you love the most can make or break you at times and also we see how hard it is sometimes to live in the now and take each and every opportunity that comes your way and how hard work really pays off.

I just felt so happy and giddy when I was reading this book, it was hard for me to stop reading and I just wanted them to be okay, by the end of the book I was freaking out thinking maybe things weren't going to go the way I wanted them but I shouldn't have worried because Erin Watt sure knows how to write an ending as impactful as the entire book.

I'm not sure if this is a standalone but I wouldn't be against reading more form these two characters or from the people that are close to them.

I love Erin Watt and everything they have written so far, and this brand new standalone from them is no exception! As soon as I knew they were releasing it, I just knew I needed to get my grabby hands a hold of a copy... And they didn't let me down! They had a hard bar to meet following the brilliant 'The Royals' series, and this was just as brilliant. It was totally different and a book I simply could not put down.

The word flowed from the pages and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole story line, the characters and all of the little twists and surprises which added to a small amount of drama and angst (and it really is a small amount!!). It wasn't Over the Top, but personally I think it all worked pretty perfectly.

Vaughn is a great female lead character. I loved her sassiness, and the fact she wasn't totally starstruck and glassy eyed at Oakley, She gave him grief and treated him no differently to anyone else. Oakley is a super famous singer, going through a bit of a rough patch, releasing no new music and lacking a lot of inspiration. He's been in the press but for all the wrong reasons.

His PR team decide it's time to take some drastic measures to improve his image. And this is where Vaughn comes in! Oak really doesn't come across as particularly likeable at the beginning, but he really did grow on me throughout the book. And by the end he certainly redeemed himself!

This was a super slow burn romance, put I think considering the circumstances it worked well. Told in dual PoV from both 'him' and 'her', there was great flow. The characters had a great connection and I loved their banter at times, with some very funny moments, but also some incredibly sweet (sometimes a little cheesy) times too.... Yes, there was an element of predictability in the story, but that did not take away from my overall enjoyment.

**I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.**

All I can say is WOW!!! When It’s Real by the author duo known as Erin Watt was a fantastic, contemporary read (and friends that comes from someone who doesn’t care for contemporary). Following the story of a former teen heart throb wanting to remake his rockstar image and the girl hired to be his fake girlfriend, I could not read it fast enough! I loved the characters, the story, and the combustible romance that followed.

Oakley Ford is an enigma. I honestly wanted to hate him. He is arrogant and entitled, two things I personally cannot stand, yet Oak grew on me. The son of a former Hollywood power couple, Oak has a role he was born to play and he is trying to break that model. He doesn’t want to be the teen heart throb pop singer any more. He wants to be taken seriously, he wants to reinvent himself. And honestly, I had to respect that even if the how is questionable.

Vaughn Bennett is the answer to Oak’s problems….sort of. At least that is what his management team convinces him of. Vaughn is a highly, independent girl with a ton of emotional baggage. Her parents died when she was young, leaving her and her older sister to raise themselves and younger brothers. It’s forced Vaughn to become an adult too early. She doesn’t know how to relax and she finds comfort in the familiar. When promised a ton of money to be Oak’s fake girlfriend, she waffles. I don’t blame her, in fact I admire her for it. The money is enough to make their living situation comfortable and pay for her brothers’ college tuitions. Yet she’d have to be something she isn’t to someone she really doesn’t like after their first meeting.

The plot is character driven which is something I have always loved. I love seeing the progression a character makes. In this story, it not only follows Oak and Vaughn’s relationship, but also them as they grow and understand their own baggage. Vaughn is broken in ways she didn’t realize and Oak is just starting to repair himself so he can pursue the life he wants. I loved reading their story and seeing their growth on the pages.

Overall, I highly recommend this if you are looking for a fun, beach read or a swoon-worthy weekend. When It’s Real encompasses everything I love about a good romance: complex characters, humor, and friendship before lust. If you enjoy Kelly Oram (who I LOVE) or enjoyed The Royals series, you want to grab a copy of this book!

4 stars for - When It's Real - by the incredible author pairing of Erin Watt. This is a complete stand-alone, totally separate from the Royals series. While the book is classified as part of the young adult genre I think it would be best enjoyed by those who are at least in their late teens as it deals with more adult issues.
Vaughn Bennett is not your average seventeen-year-old girl. She graduated high school a year early so she could stay home and help her older sister raise her twin twelve-year-old brothers after their parents died in a car accident. The life insurance their parents left them with barely covered the cost of the house they live in so it's up to Vaughn and her sister to ensure their brothers' futures. So when the opportunity arises to work for one year as Oakley Ford's girlfriend there is no way she can turn down that kind of money.
Oakley Ford is a hot mess and has been for quite some time. At nineteen he has seen and done things that people twice his age only dream of doing. With both of his parents being famous actors - Oakley had been in the spotlight long before his career in music began. Nobody seemed to mind until he started getting into a bit of trouble for his hard partying ways. With his manager deciding that his image needs a overhaul a sweet and wholesome "girlfriend" is hired to clean up his image. Oakley never expected to fall for the fake girlfriend though and now that it's real he has no idea what to do...
This was sweetness, drama, angst and love all rolled into one like only Erin Watt can do. Not only did I fall in love with Vaughn and Oakley, but all the other characters have me wanting to know more about them too. I really hope for more in the future :)

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book

I have to say that this one surprised me. I am not into books about singers/bands or rockers. But this one I have to say I devoured it in one go

Oakley Ford is a teenage star. But lately he has not been inspired to write anything, he has writers block. And his whole bad boy partying image didn't help at all. So his PR and manger team came up with a 'fake relationship' with an ordinary girl next door type to help his image and maybe get him writing again.

Vaughn is a nineteen year old graduated early and now works as a waitress to help out her older sister with her twin brothers. So when her sister tells her that her company wants Vaughn to pose as Oakley Fords 'fake'girlfriend and they were paying her for it, how could she not say yes to help her sister with the bills and the twins college fund.

But Oakley Ford is a huge douche and she might have loved his music when she was younger but now she can't stand him. But as Vaughn and Oakley spends more time together she gets to see what his life is like in the limelight and Oakley gets to know Vaughn as not a groupie wanting anything from him, but just him the person he is.

“Half the time when you open your mouth, you say something that makes me want to punch you.” Vaughn gives a rueful smile. “But when you sing…you make it really hard to hate you.”

I enjoyed this book so much. I can't imagine how Oakley could live his life in the limelight all the time, but I liked the parts where he was just himself and spent time with Vaughn just being an ordinary teenager.

Great mature young adult story about teen star and a ordinary fake girlfriend. I rarely read this type of books, but it’s Erin Watt so you know, you have to!

Vaughn Bennett, seventeen. She’s funny and stubborn. Down-to-earth, trying to help her family who found themselves in a difficult situation.

Oakley Ford, nineteen. Very popular young star. Kind of a spoiled brat. He wants to do more adult music, but first must clear his behavior.

She was chosen by his management team to be his fake girlfriend. As a normal girl she was supposed to throw a positive light on his behavior. At first they do not really like each other, are totally opposites. But forced to stay together began to understand themselves more.

Well written, with humor and engaging plot. I really like his sweet moments and how he is growing during the plot. Their first meeting and constant bickering will be very amusing entertainment.

Romantic and sweet young love with a few small ones in bed. That is why it is certainly not for younger readers.

Fantastic start and all the first half of the book. I was intrigued and delighted at the idea of the story. But after half I had the feeling that not much is going on. For this rather abrupt ending, it gives a sense of unfinished story.

Although it’s really enjoyable book. Light and sweet about growing beautiful young love to thousands of fans and in front of the cameras of paparazzi. Just remember too much expectations may not help you enjoy it. But give it a shot!

Do you love reading Cinderella type stories? In When It's Real by Erin Watt, we are presented with Oakley Ford who is your typical spoilt Pop Star. He wants to be taken seriously, but how can that be when he is out each night with a different girl on his arm and living the party life. Enter Vaughn Bennett, her sister works for the company that manages Oakley, and it seems that his manager has a plan in motion. To set Oakley up with a good girl and a nobody. To show that he is becoming more responsible in the public's eyes. Vaughn's parents passed and left her and her siblings in debt and trying to survive. Oakley's manager is offering a lot of money for this deal, and it could help her put her younger brothers through College. The only problem is that Vaughn isn't exactly single, she has been dating a guy called W. Can Vaughn explain the situation to W and get his approval to fake -date Oakley? What happens though when the lines start to blur, and Vaughn and Oakley find themselves falling for one another? Enter a love triangle as Vaughn still, has feelings for her "real" boyfriend W. Who will Vaughn choose when she is asked to make an ultimatum of Oakley or W ? When It's Real by Erin Watt was a good teen read and is your usual Popstar meets Everyday girl Cinderella-type story.

As a HUGE fan of Erin Watt's Royals series, of course I jumped head first into this book! And blind to boot. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting other than another epic fictional adventure but man oh man, this duo delivers hard!

Truthfully, it took me a little bit to get into this story but once I'd fallen for the pop star vs. normal girl story line and it's cast of characters I was one smitten kitten. Yes! Parts of this story had me purring *wink* I tried to resist the temptation and general luring that comes with Oakley, but a girl is only so strong to resist such advances. I was a goner.

When It's Real is genuine and sweet. It had me reminiscing back to my younger days of boy band crushes and the whole fascination with the celebrity world as a whole, and young love; stirring up butterflies of fantasies gone by. GAH!

Oakley and Vaughn are complex, a bit complicated with a whole slew of emotional baggage. Though they are teens, it's by no fault of their own. Life is messy whether you're born into wealth and the celebrity life style, or born into the normal world. From the resistant push to the unwavering pull, through ups and downs and personal growth, this story that started as a fake charade turns into one of the most adorable realities. Love is a wonderful thing!

Erin Watt have successfully turned my world upside down with another stellar addition to their literary goldmine of addictive reads! A fresh, new direction for this duo, making When It's Real a top read of 2017.

4.5 stars
I'm in love, absolutely in love with Erin Watt.
This amazing duo has managed to give us a fantastic story about a young, famous music star and a normal girl who catches his heart.

Honestly, I haven't read a YA book in a long time, so I was a little worried when I started reading this book. But I shouldn't have been, because I absolutely love it!

The banter between Oakley and Vaughn is like fireworks, especially at the beginning when they can't stand each other. I wish I had been in the same room to be a witness of their dialogues!
I had a great time reading about the PR stunts they had to pull up, some of them where really out of the world! And I almost died laughing about the "why" paragraph (if you read the book, you will understand!).

I liked that this book saw a character growth for both Oakley and Vaughn. Oakley was for sure the character who changed the most: at the beginning of the book he appeared like a lost boy, cynic, without a guide in a world full of opportunists and gold-diggers. Thanks to Vaughn, he starts to find his way and his voice, and finds again a purpose in his life.
Vaughn's change is more subtle, but she learns to let go of her past, take control of her life and do not let fears drive her actions.

So yes, it was a great great read, and I strongly recommend everyone to read this book!

“Living in Our Own Story Blog", ARC provided by the author in exchange of an honest review <3

When it's Real is a young adult novel by the amazing Erin Watt. I became a fan of this author duo with their Royals series. I really enjoyed this book and I was flying through the pages.

When It's Real follows Vaughn and Oakley. Vaughn is a normal teenager who has had a rough couple of years and had to grow up fast then most due to unexpected situations. She is approached to be the fake girlfriend of Oakley to help clean up his image. They are both still young and live completely different lives. You get to read about how their fake relationship goes and see if they can both help each other. "Because when ordinary rules no longer apply, there's no telling what your heart will do..."

This book was a great read. I really enjoyed it and felt connected to these characters, I wanted them to succeed, I wanted them to be happy, and I wanted to stop thinking of Justin Bieber while picturing Oakley! The story had a beautiful flow and the main and sub characters were really likable. It was a quick read for me because I really enjoyed it and it was heading toward a 5 star read. Then the ending happened. It felt super rushed. We went through this whole story of Vaughn and Oakley and then just kind of boom its over. That's why I had to only give 4 stars but that is my opinion and if you are a big fan of Young Adult/New Adult this one is for you! I'm hoping that Erin Watt can give us a book on Vaughn's sister and Oakley's bodyguard! They really piqued my interest!

When It’s Real was everything I’d hoped for and so much more. It was charismatic, heartwarming, smile-inducing. I absolutely adored it! It was one of those books I so easily found myself lost in.

“Half the time when you open your mouth, you say something that makes me want to punch you. But when you sing…you make it really hard to hate you.”

I’m a huge fan of Erin Watt’s Royals Series and knew I had to read this book when it was announced. When It’s Real is a change in direction from the Royals, but it’s still crafted in a way only Erin Watt can do. I loved the story line and the idea of a rock star fake-dating a normal girl. The main characters Oakley and Vaughn—loved them! They’re both a little broken and lost in life when they meet, but the journey in growth these two went on was awe-inspiring. Vaughn discovering what path in life she wants to lead, and just growing into a young woman. And our rock star, Oakley Ford; my favorite part about his journey was him learning to open up to others, finding his voice, and witnessing his sharp edges soften a little with the influence of Vaughn.

“This is as real and as awful and as wonderful as it gets. I’d hold her forever if she’d let me.”

I highly recommend When It’s Real to anyone who has a love for the Young Adult/New Adult genre. It’s the perfect coming-of-age story with just a touch of angst-romance!

5 Stars from Brianna!

In a world of fake, can you find real?

Erin Watt is absolutely amazing and these ladies are quickly becoming automatic one-click, must read NOW authors. When I read the Royals and was completely ruined by them in all the right ways... I just knew Erin was special (and I love it when I'm right!).

When It's Real was an amazing and captivating book (completely different from their first writing venture)... and I'm not even much of a YA fan but hey it's the epic Erin Watt so I figured I might as well give it a go. So the 5 Stars? Obviously I thoroughly loved it.

He needs a fake girlfriend to help rehab his image after losing his focus.... and she's the one who is going to do that and so much more.

Sweet. Light. Fun. Cute. Engaging. This book had all the makings for an intriguing read. Vaughn and Oakley were addicting, complicated (but aren't we all at that age) and complete opposites in all the right ways. Their story was so good... undeniable chemistry, relatable topics, great banter, sizzling chemistry, and cover to cover drama to keep the pages turning.

Erin Watt is the composition of two best selling authors but with their seamless writing and flawless storyline, you'd never be able to tell. Give these ladies a try today.... you won't be disappointed!

I highly recommend this book.

4 stars

If Erin Watt knows how to do one thing, it's write books that are different. They take a subject that we think we've read before and put a completely different twist on it.
In the beginning, I wasn't sure if I was going to like When it's Real. The two main characters are younger and I just figured it was going to have a lot of high school drama in it it does have drama, just not that kind thankfully. They're dealing in a whole bigger ballpark.
Oakley Ford needs to rebrand his image. At 19, he has to change the way the world views him. Well, that is, if he wants to continue making music the way he wants to and for his current record label.
Vaughn is dealing with more than your average 17 year old. Instead of worrying about what college to attend, what parties to go to after graduation, she's worrying about making sure they keep the roof on their heads and food on the table for their little brother. Her and her older sister are raising them. Well, they're trying to. The last thing she needs is to be "dating" Oakley Ford.
Once I got past the beginning, I really got into it. As expected things start to change, lines start to cross, true feelings are exposed. So what happens when the one thing holding Vaughn back is out of the picture? What happens next when they stop pretending? Is any of it ever real?

**Read and reviewed for FMR Book Grind**

From the writing dynamo, Erin Watt comes a relatable, young adult romance about first love, family, and the struggles of transitioning into adulthood.

"When It's Real", tells the story of a wild and spoiled young male who, at the young age of 19, is already on the verge of being a washed up musician. Concerned, his well-paid team of assistants and manager decide his image needs an overhaul. They hire "the girl next door" to be his fake girlfriend for one year with the hopes that not only will his image improve, but maybe he will be inspired to write new music. Vaughn Bennett, at the tender age of 17, is helping raise her 12 year-old-twin brothers with her older sister. Two years ago their parents died, leaving the two older girls responsible for keeping the family together. Money is short, so when propositioned with a large amount of money to be a fake girlfriend to the obnoxious and self-absorbed Oakley Ford, Vaughn puts her family first.

Readers who devoured The Royals series should find they appreciate this latest book from Erin Watt. These two authors write spectacularly on their own, but when coupled together, they are a force to be reckoned with.

**I received an Advanced Reader Copy. This did not influence my opinion of the book, nor my review.**

When It's Real by Erin Watt is a much anticipated standalone rock romance. Following on from the success of The Royal Series, I was really looking forward to reading something different and this certainly did not disappoint!

Oak is a God of a rock star and he has been releasing records since he was fourteen, however for the past two years he's been musically blocked. His manager and PR team thought up a plan to help him move forward in his career. The plan? Find a "normal" girlfriend for Oak.

Vaugh's family has financial issues and she somehow got noticed by Oak's team and they picked her to be that girlfriend. She was reluctant to do so but she only gave in because a lot of money's involved. She's not at all impressed by Oak and wondered how she can pretend to be with him for a full year!

Quite predictably, Oak and Vaugh started off quite hostile toward each other but gradually over time things started to change. I loved reading about their romance and how they influence each other. It was a pretty sweet read with some slightly steamy and hot scenes (though not as hot or steamy as the Royal Series).

Thoroughly enjoyed reading When It's Real and I hope Erin Watt will have more books similar to this in the future!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

4.5 stars
Oakley Ford needs a new image if he wants to work with the producer that could take him to a new level. When his handlers see a picture of Vaughn Bennett, she seems like the perfect girl to clean up his bad boy reputation.

Money is a powerful motivator and Vaughn decides to go along with the plan. She becomes almost as managed as Oakley, plus she has to actually spend time with the rockstar's humongous ego. Things start out a bit rocky between Vaughn and Oakley, but as they get to know each other, things change between them.

There aren't many twists in this story, but it didn't matter. It was the gradual development of the relationship between Vaughn and Oakley that had me loving both of these characters, which was a feat in itself, since Oakley reminded me of an actual pop star I'm not fond of. But by the end of When It's Real, I really had a good old fashioned crush on Oakley myself. When everything falls to pieces for Oak and Vaughn, I felt it. My only complaint was that the ending was a bit abrupt, but I loved it and what it represented regarding this two young adults.

When It's Real is a very sweet new adult title with a very cute and satisfying (fr)enemies-to-lovers romance that kept my interest. It left me with a smile on my face, and that is a very good thing.

When It's Real by Erin Watt

This is my first book by this duo and is one I quite enjoyed. It's the story of bad boy pop star, Oakley and the proverbial girl next door, Vaughn. Oakley's management team have decided that he needs an image overhaul and believe the best way to do this is to recruit the sister of one their staff to this new role of pretend girlfriend. They're hopeful that Vaughn, with her innocence and wholesome looks will present a softer and somewhat tamed side to Oak. This is actually a mutually advantageous pairing: Oak gets a cleaner image presented to the world and, with the money she'll be getting paid, Vaughn can contribute greatly to her family situation.

I really liked the characters even when they weren't at their most likable, for example Oak at his douchiest was still a likable guy! And while many would have kowtowed to Oak and his fame, Vaughn certainly held her own and gave as good as she got. A pushover she was not.

Overall, I thought this was a great read and it's certainly encouraged me to bump up the duo's previous books on my TBR. I found the writing style engaging and it had me eager to keep returning back to the story.

*arc received from Netgalley in exchange for honest review.

**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.

I really enjoyed this celeb romance novel from Erin Watt; so different from the Royals series, but just as great.
It wasn't a cutesy, love at first sight encounter; in fact these two want nothing to do with one another. Vaughan and Oakley couldn't be further away from each other in terms of lifestyles and personalities. She's a young woman pulling her weight to keep her family fed and comfortable. She, along with her siblings are orphans who have stuck together and fought through heartbreak and what felt like the end of the world. He's a young pop star wanting to grow from the musician he's been typecast as. He's assumed to be just another spoiled, arrogant and one dimensional pop star. In reality, he's had to work harder because of who his famous parents are.

They both step into each other's worlds and discover who they really are without other people's biased views, which made the romance feel organic and believable. I loved the way they got to know each other and their tolerance slowly turned into love. There were times where the lengthiness and slow-moving plot became apparent. Nevertheless, there was an abundance of sweet and humorous moments that made up for that.

I am in love with the writing duo that is Erin Watt. No seriously I adore their writing. I would read absolutely anything from them. That being said, this book is nothing that you would expect coming from them after reading The Royals series. That does not make this story any less addictive though.

This story is so sweet and so adorable. I just smile thinking about it. The connection between the two main characters, Oakley and Vaughn is just beautiful. While I was not a fan of Oakley for quite a while in the book, you really get to see him and you learn to fall for him as you read more because these characters are so well developed. You get to see so many different facets of their personality. I love Vaughn and her family. I thought she was sweet and funny and I thought she was perfect for Oakley. She played off of him very well.

I literally said awww.. a few times as I was sitting there reading this book. It will definitely make you swoon and will make your heart warm. It's a beautiful story and definitely goes to show that you cannot go wrong with an Erin Watt story, whether it be twisty and suspenseful or sweet and swoony. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

**I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads**

I quickly became a fan of this author duo when The Royals series came out and I couldn't wait to see what they did next! When It's Real has exactly the kind of addictive quality we've come to love from Erin Watt. So, it's no surprise that I was immediately sucked into Vaughn and Oakley's story.

Oakley Ford, a teen pop star, is in need of an image makeover and his team decides to accomplish this with a fake girlfriend. Oakley's fake girlfriend, is supposed to help show the media that his party days are a thing of the past and his new wholesome girl is helping to settle him down.

Vaughn's family is strapped for cash and playing Oakley's fake girlfriend is worth way more than her waitress job and the kind of money she couldn't possibly pass up. The amount of money his team will be paying her will definitely be worth putting up with all the crazy publicity, parties, and a self- centered pop star.

When It's Real will easily win over fans both young and old. The characters were well developed and I easily fell in love with them all. Plus, the chemistry between Vaughn and Oakley was on point! I can't wait to see what Erin Watt has in store for us next!

Oh the feels on this story! This is my first Erin Watt and while YA is not my usual genre I will read the rest of their work! I can't believe two separate authors can come together and create something so fluid. It always amazes me! Erin Watt certainly has passion and it comes alive in between the pages of this story!
I loved this book with so much love and adoration...While it's a traditional plot, Erin Watt wrote several different scenes making When It's Real an original story!
Now the critical part, as an adult, I found the character's mentality on the juvenile side even for their 18-20 ages. I would have liked to see less of the brooding egotistical traits and more on the other factors in the story. Her parents, for example... I just needed more. Gosh it's hard to talk without spoilers!

The character depth however was not lacking one bit. Even the shallow main character surprised me in the end! There was so much detail in this story that made it that much more special to read! Erin Watt did a wonderful job and I am anxious to read what's next!

After the huge success with The Royals series, which I loved, Erin Watt's first standalone is sweet and fun, very different from their previous books. Don't get me wrong, it was still a page turner!

It wasn't as dark as Paper Princess and more light-hearted, with less angst and drama. The couple was great together, they were sexy and had good chemistry. However, I expected the plot to be more original and the characters were a little cliché at times. I know what this duo is capable of! The secondary characters were ok, but overall lacked some charm.

I don't usually read YAs but Erin Watt is an exception! I had a nice time reading When It's Real.Cute!

After the huge success with The Royals series, which I loved, Erin Watt's first standalone is sweet and fun, very different from their previous books. Don't get me wrong, it was still a page turner!

It wasn't as dark as Paper Princess and more light-hearted, with less angst and drama. The couple was great together, they were sexy and had good chemistry. However, I expected the plot to be more original and the characters were a little cliché at times. I know what this duo is capable of! The secondary characters were ok, but overall lacked some charm.

I don't usually read YAs but Erin Watt is an exception! I had a nice time reading When It's Real.

It’s been some time since I’ve read a story about falling for that very first time. As soon as I heard that this dynamic duo was releasing such a book I couldn’t barely contain my excitement and it is exactly as I imagined.

When It’s Real is about a teenage pop-star named Oakley Ford who is thought to be losing his edge. His management predicts he is about to become a has-been and so they come up with this elaborate ploy to get him back on track by changing his image. A part of this is inserting a young and innocent Vaughn Bennett into his daily routine.

At first, I didn’t know what to think about this “partnership”. On paper, they made perfect sense but in reality? Nothing about them did! Erin Watt proved me completely wrong, however. I loved how Vaughn made such an amazing impact on Oakley. Her simplicity changed him. She made him realize that there was so much more to life than what he had.

There were a few things that were left unaddressed but I enjoyed it nonetheless. If you’re looking for a beautifully written, young and fresh, wholesome and sweet love story then this is a book is definitely for you. Personally, I think anything written by Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick is a must-read.

Vaughn Bennett is going to do whatever is in her power to do to help out her family. When her sister’s employer makes her an offer she can't refuse, she does her best to take care of her siblings, as well her boyfriend and everyone in this crazy situation.
Giving full disclosure, I was prepared to not like this celeb rocker book because I just want the next Royals book so badly. I'm so very, very glad I gave it a chance. I adored When It's Real and bought my daughter her own copy as well.
It moved pretty quickly from the hating each other to the hot for each other part, but as someone who works in a high school, I can vouch that it does really move that quickly. Putting that aside was a great story of a young man who rose to fame too quickly and had a family life he would like to forget, and a young woman who had to grow up too quickly when her parents were lost in an accident. They are determined to hate one another and just get the job done, but as they begin to see different sides to each other, they start to fall for one another.
As newer YA reader, I give When It's Real 4 stars and eagerly await the next Erin Watt installment.

At first, I was afraid I wouldn't like When It's Real as much as I've loved Erin Watt's Royals series. I was afraid Oakley was being made out to be like a Justin Bieber-type, but as I allowed myself to dive deeper into Oakley and Vaughn's story I realized I couldn't be more wrong. I loved When It's Real, every single minute of it!

While Vaughn did slightly remind me of Ella from the Royals Series, I found her struggle to balance friends, work, relationships, and helping her sister Paisley care for their younger brothers to be genuine and relatable.

Oakley, meanwhile, transformed from a self-absorbed jerk into a decent guy as he began falling for Vaughn and I loved his friendship with Ty and the way he, with Vaughn's help, began to mend his rocky relationship with his mother. Erin Watt portrayed what we sometimes forget about celebrities: that they're just people too. People that make mistakes and deserve some sense of privacy. What they do for a living doesn't mean we have the right to invade every aspect of their life and the normal things we take for granted are things they rarely get to truly enjoy.

I easily fell for Vaughn and Oakley, enjoying the chemistry they tried to deny, hurting for Vaughn as she dealt with W - who was a total creep - and when the trolls on social media said horrible things about her and celebrating with both of them as they fell in love and learned from each other about what really mattered.

Overall, if you love hate-to-love romances with a dash of humor and characters that will ruin you (in a good way), When It's Real is a contemporary young adult novel that you'll definitely want to toss in your beach bags and take with you this summer because you won't want to put it down!

Every once in a while I love to lose myself in a fun story. When It's Real by Erin Watt definitely fit the bill for me.

I loved this story. The characters were well written, well established. The story was fun. I kinda wish that this wasn't a standalone, but the first in a series.

The story pairs Oakley Ford - rock star celebrity god and Vaughn Bennett - all around sweet, girl next door. Oakley has had his run with the fun, no responsibility, no consequences lifestyle and now it's beginning to impact his image in a negative way. His "people" decide he would benefit by being shown with a girlfriend - one to help clean up his image.

Enter Vaughn. She is the younger sister to Paisley - who works for the public relations outfit that represents Oakley. Vaughn is one who is focused on taking care of her family. She expedited her high school graduation so that she could work for a full year to save up for college and to help her sister and twin brothers out. She also has a long-term boyfriend W.

This is a easy, quick paced fun read. It is perfect for a summer day.

4 Stars!

This is my first Erin Watt book, but I have been hearing about this writing collaboration for awhile now. I was pretty excited to read their newest YA novel and I am hooked!

You have Oakley, a teen pop star who can't seem to stay out of trouble. His image needs a serious overhaul. Enter Vaughn, a regular teen working hard to help her cash strapped family. When she is approached to pose as Oakley's girlfriend in an attempt to rehab his reputation, she accepts. What could go wrong? Right?

First of all, I love a good convenience romance. I haven't read this much in the YA genre and when I have it is mostly a revenge thing. Here, I liked how they approached it. Vaughn is a great character. She is hard-working and does everything for her beloved family. More importantly, she is immune to Oakley's charm and issues. Oakley screams spoiled Hollywood brat and I found him a little hard to like in the beginning. But, he grew on me eventually. He and Vaughn were pretty cute, though. I have admit, I was rooting for them even before I needed to.

A sweet, funny YA romance!

When It’s Real is a Young Adult Contemporary Romance by dynamic author duo Erin Watt. Oakley & Vaughn are just a couple of California kids – who have problems that need solving in their worlds where they’ve had to grow up way to fast. Who would have guessed that this bad-boy rocker & little miss normal could actually be each other’s perfect solution.

Told in first person, from dual perspectives, this romance is fun, witty, sarcastic, will they, won’t they, sweet, sexy, big -nothing's beyond your reach- dream making magic, all with a Hollywood scandalous twist. Super heartfelt emotions running throughout, these characters are mature beyond their years in so many ways; I almost forgot how young they really are. Full of great unfiltered, honest dialog & real life themes of ‘life is hard, but together we can conquer the world’ makes you feel good enough to “want a messy, exciting, happy, sad, emotion-filled, loud life…”

I haven’t read YA in a while & I’ve been missing out! I really enjoyed this real life feel-good, funny, sweet & sexy book!

Such a huge fan of this author duo Erin Watt! I loved their Royal Series and was so excited for a new book from them. They have quickly become a must read author for me. I devoured this book once I started. This is one you don’t want to miss.

Oakley is in a band and needs to make his image better. He is a huge hit with the younger crowd and wants to transition his sound now that he’s older. The best way to do that is to date a nice average girl. He needs someone who will help him to be taken more seriously.

Vaughn has had a rough couple of years after her parents died. When an opportunity lands in her hands she can’t pass it up. Vaughn and Oak don’t get along so well and continuously butt heads. I loved the pace of their relationship.

I loved the banter and sexual tension between these two. The flow of the story was perfect and pulls you in. This was a fun, fast and easy read that once you start you won’t want to put down. If you’re in the mood for a YA book I recommend this one!

OMG you guys! The feels! Erin Watt has written a sweet story about a lonely boy and an ordinary girl that you are going to fall in love with. I adored Oakley and Vaughn! She gave him everything he never had. He showed her how to follow her dreams. Squee! Just thinking of them makes me smile! When It's Real was sooo good! I loved the connection between Oakley and Vaughn and how much they grew as a couple throughout their journey. Though it is such a completely different story, they reminded me of Kiera and Kellan from Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens! Maybe it was the whole sensitive, sexy, rock star meets an innocent, smart, girl-next-door that did it or maybe it was the undeniable chemistry between Oakley and Vaughn. Whatever the similarities, I LOVED it! The twitter feeds were super fun and original and brought a little something extra to the story. Seriously, you guys have to read this! First The Royals Series and now this? Erin Watt is definitely an I Love Story Time favorite!

♥ Review by Lys

Erin Watt is my favorite combo author ever! I don't know why it took me so long to read When It's Real but I'm glad I got to it eventually. I'll admit the description didn't quite appeal to me at first but considering how much I love The Royals I knew I had to give this a try. Oakley & Vaughan are the cutest, their love story will really warm your heart and times and break it at others. I love how Erin Watt loves making her leading ladies innocent, it's sweet. They also really love identical twins starting with S's (Sawyer & Sebastian, Shane & Spencer). If you're a fan of YA and romance this is the book for you. Be warned that the epilogue is too short to be too satisfying, and I'm still dying to know Vaughan's passion which I secretly think I know what it is but wish they would have concluded. There are things I would have liked closure on, but all in all I'm satisfied with the book. Will definitely reread it!

Rating: 4.75 stars

~"Yes, I'm yours. And you, Vaughn Bennett, are mine."~

Oh wow! #TeamReal rocks it!!!! Erin Watt is always creating story that start from one of the most anticipated to highly recommended read. A witty, lighthearted story a little bit of pang that you'll surely love. Oakley Ford is my new rock star favorite!!

I've been following Erin Watt since the Royals Series and again, they didn't disappoint on this book! Reading this book is like a teenage dream-fireworks remix. These duo really knows where to hit a spot to coax different kinds of emotions. Really there's a point that I'm laughing one second and swoon the next. It's fantastic!

Meeting Oakley Form might be dream come true for Vaughn but the consequences associated with it is something she either can't ignore and can't consider. When her sister informed her that she'll posed as Oak's fake girlfriend so that a certain producer would take Oak under his wing. The amount that the'll pay her would definitely save her family with the financial struggle.

By then, Vaughn got a glimpse of the Oakley Ford life. Famous, fun and fake. When and how they'll met is already planned by his PR team. Even their public dates is very much staged. Yet, she also got to look past the fame and the glamour. Oakley is more than just a pretty face and beautiful voice. He's passionate, dedicated and real.

The conflict happened when Vaughn's action jeopardize Oakley's rep, the people that's rooting for them are also the same people that destroy the reel for them to become real.

~"You're the one person in my life who wants nothing but me and its terrifying and awesome at the same time."~

OMG!! I'm walking on sunshine after reading this!! Really, when the Erin Watt duo is writing, you really don't want to miss everything. They are the doing the classic Heart, Heat, HEA with a brilliant twist. I am looking forward for more from this duo and WHEN IT'S REAL is highly recommended!!!

***copy was provided by publicist for a fair and honest review***

When It's Real is Erin Watt's latest book, and it's unlike there other books. It's a sweet and captivating read that I just could not get enough of. It was so fresh and unlike any other book I have read like it. This one is going to be a fave.

I adored Vaughn and Oakley. Seeing their relationship grow into something so beautiful was the best.

When it comes to these two authors, I know I can expect nothing but the best.

Once I started this book, I just couldn't stop. I devoured every last word. The storyline was incredible, the characters were amazing, and the book in general was EVERYTHING.

I can't wait to see what these ladies come up with next. I never thought they would top the Royals series, but they definitely came really close.

I just can't stop raving over this book. 5 star read for sure. It's a 2017 top favorite that I HIGHLY recommend. Check out this brilliant book for yourself, ITS AMAZING.

I rub her arms. Kiss the top of her head. Remind myself that this is about her and that I’m a terrible human being for enjoying the closeness between us. This is the only time she’s willingly allowed me to hold her. There aren’t any cameras here. This isn’t for show.
This is as real and as awful and as wonderful as it gets. I’d hold her forever if she’d let me.

It is so hard for me to give you all the reasons why I gave this story 5 stars because I loved it from the first word on.
As soon as I started reading the first few pages of this book, I fell in love with the writing, even if I've read her Royals. I have a feeling that she took it to another level with When It's Real. Erin has a fun, fresh, addictive voice that just compels you to keep reading.
And the characters she creates... I fell in love not only with Vaughn and Oak but also with her sister, her twin brothers, ... even his security guy.

A bomb!

I really enjoyed previous books by Erin Watt so when I saw they had a new one coming out I just jumped right and and didn't bother reading what the book was about first. I loved the wonderful story line in When It's Real.

Oakley is a teen pop star on the edge of losing the limelight. He has hasn't written new music in years and is popping up in the tabloid for all the wrong reasons. He's team want to overhaul he image. Oakley is kind of cocky but he's also funny.

I loved Vaughn. She is a normal girl that gets pulled into being Oakley's fake girlfriend.
Vaughn hasn't had an easy life. She definitely is a family person and put them first.

The banter between Vuaghn and Oakley was pretty funny at times. They start off not really liking each other but slowing the start to like each other. As the get softer with each other they are also finding themselves.

I really enjoyed this one.

I still have yet to read Erin Watt's Royal series, that being said when I saw the blurb for When It's Real I just had to sign up. I am a die hard fan of Rock Star Romances, the two main characters loathe one another. Can't be in the same room without bashing heads. Vaughan and Oakley are polar opposites, one being a famous Icon and an average young girl.

One thing I loved about this book was the slow burn, what started as bitter hate turned into something neither expected..... love. On the outside Oakley is your typical spoiled bad boy, get's what he wants. While Vaughan is struggling to live day by day.

From the get go these two start off on the wrong foot. They could never be together, she wouldn't fit into his world. But they both get the shock of their lives when they find out how much they mean to each other. I loved how sweet and sour these two could get. It's a long angsty road for the both of them.

I will warn those that were fans of the darker Royal’s series (Paper Princess etc.) that this book is nothing like it and for that I was happy. I loved The Royal’s series don’t get me wrong, but I love it when the author’s switch it up and give us something fresh and new. That is exactly what I got with When It’s Real! I truly enjoyed every chapter and I couldn’t put it down.

This book gave me a rock star romance, slow burn, frenemies to lovers, and bad boy rocker to girl next door romance all rolled into one! The character development throughout the story was fantastic and I really loved both Oakley and Vaughn. There is a lot that goes on between these two and the supporting cast. As a reader, I enjoyed the journey of witnessing their individual transformations as well as their transformation as a couple.

I don’t want to give anything away, so you will have to read this sweet, sexy, fun and engaging read!

4 stars for When It's Real By Erin Watt

This was my 1st book by her and I loved it!!!! It's a perfect story where Rock Star Oakley Ford has a bad image and needs a fresh new look so his publicist looks for the everyday girl to be his pretend girlfriend Vaughn. Vaughn has it rough and can really use the money as she and her sister lost their parents and we trying to raise their twin brothers. So when the opportunity comes to make good money to be a fake girlfriend she takes it. It's amazing to watch their chemistry and friendship grow to love and all the things that try to get in the way. Does real love happen or is it all fake???? Vaughn and Oakley take you on a wonderful journey to remind us all to do what you love and you will enjoy life most!

I highly recommend this book! It was light and sweet and a Awesome YA read!

-FMR BOOK GRIND REVIEWER

An entitled musician and a carefree girl next door? what's NOT to love!!

This book is fun and flirty and easy to read. The characters ares so intriguing, you'll want to finish it in one sitting. It gives you all those good, sweet feels. I love how, while YA, the characters are represented maturely and you still get those moments that feel sexy.

In When it's Real, the "I am who I am and suck it if you don't like it, quick witted" girl and "everyone loves me, so why aren't you swooning over me" boy are forged into a fake relationship, one they both will gain from.

But it doesn't take long for those touches and stolen glances to feel entirely to real.
In Oakley's world, you fake it till you make it.
In Vaughn's world, fake people finish last.
What happens When it's Real?

My first book by this author and I thought it was a good read. A little tame for my taste but reading this lead me to the Royals which I’ve just started and Imloving it. This book, When It’s Real is very compelling, once I started reading, I ignored everything and everyone so I obviously enjoyed it. I was a little lost at the beginning, but I got there. I didn’t understand why Vaughan wanted to be Oakleys fake girlfriend as she already had a boyfriend. I was a bit disappointed in the end as I still had many questions unanswered, sI I’m hoping there will be another book following. I do recommend and believe it is well worth the reader’s time. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book.

Oakley and Vaughn drive each other bananas, but the way Oakley teases is just sexy, "is that what she tells herself? “Really? Because our lips will be pressed together. My hands will be somewhere on your body. Maybe your ***. In your hair. My tongue’s gonna be in your mouth.” With Oakley the teasing never stops, “nah, I’d rather snuggle up with you. But if you want to think of me as a dog, I wouldn’t mind it at all if you rubbed my belly and petted my hair.” Oakley is all about game plans, “first, I’m going to kiss you and then I’m going to shower. After showering, I’m going to kiss you some more. Once I’ve taken the edge off, I’ve got to do a meet-and-greet with some fans. When that’s done, we’re going back to the hotel and kissing some more.” I loved this book, it was such a fun read.

I love Erin Watt and when I seen the request for When It's Real I couldn't pass it up.

Vaughn is your average, everyday girl. Oakley is your not so average, not so everyday type of guy. She's completely normal and he's a rockstar. Nothing could go wrong with that, right?

I love how this wasn't an instalove. Vaughn and Oakley actually couldn't stand each other and their banter was off the charts hysterical!! I loved these characters and the side characters just made the story even more complete.

There was so much love, dislike, jealousy, animosity, sweetness, and just downright awesomeness packed in this one book that will leave me thinking about it for weeks to come.

There were some things left unanswered but other than that I loved it!

WHEN ITS REAL was amazing!!! I started it around 5:pm and finished around 9:30! What a ride!! Oakley may or may not be the love of my life! His lyrics were so sweet, it was like i could hear the music playing in my head. Vaughn was such a brave, man warrior, yet still the perfect example of a normal girl. It is really easy to imagine your surroundings, because she is such a relatable character. Okay is a such a charming guy, Everyone who reads this will fall in love with him! Erin Watt really knocked it out of the park with this new book. I can't wait to see what they come up with next! WHEN IT'S REAL is live MAY 30, but pre order it now, once you get this amazing story in your hands... you're not going to put it back down.

I loved the Paper Princess series, so I had a lot of expectations for this new release by the duo authors. Unfortunately, this fell short for me.

This was way to slow, did not pick up for me, and did not bring anything new to the storyline of a singer falling for a normal girl. I never connected with the story. I found myself skimming conversations hoping something different would happen, but it never happened. It was just a disappointment to me overall.

I did enjoy how the authors incorporated text messages and social media into the story, as it was unique.

Overall, this one was not for me but I am still a fan of Erin Watt and will buy what they put out next.

Rating: 4 stars

When It's Real is a sweet story about two very different teenagers who come together in the beginning as a pretense but soon enough, it couldn't be more real. Vaughn and Oakley develop feelings for each despite the fact that they belong in very different worlds. This book made me swoon at times. I really had fun reading the characters interactions- they were definitely explosive together! I could feel so connected to them throughout the whole story. Books about teenagers are not really my thing but I could not stop flipping the pages for more once I got started. This was actually my first book by the Erin Watt duo and I will absolutely be reading more from them..

The relationship between Vaughn and Oakley is a bit of a slow burn. Things take some time to heat up and for these two to actually be able to stand being around each other. It takes some time for Oakley to stop letting his immaturity get in the way. He has some trust issues and rightfully so. Poor Vaughn is caught in such the middle of a mess. One she didn't really want to be in but felt forced into to help her family situation. Putting their guard down doesn't come naturally for either of them. It doesn't help that their every move is coordinated and public. It's all very "Hollywood" - ridiculously addicting amounts of staging, scandal and drama that'll have you devouring each page!

Oh Gosh everything about this book is awesome from the beautiful cover, the enticing blurb and then you have a wonderfully written story that pulls you in from the first page to the last.

Erin Watt are truly a magical writing duo that have brought some great books so far but I'm my opinion this book is the best and o absolutely loved it.

Vaughn needing money does something that she never thought she'd do and Oakley needing to clean up his act embark on a journey of sorts together there's a few bumps along the way but they were oh so good.

I can't wait for the next book by this pair of first class writers I'll be waiting with bated breathe !

MY REVIEW: Review with some Spoilers!!!!

Dear Human-beings! I died and ended up in heaven while reading this.

This books starts with Oak’s perspective. He is a very famous pop-sensation, who hasn’t been publishing any new songs since two years. His life is just something - he doesn’t even „party“ around anymore, because he has enough (he’s been there and done it all) until his manager tells him, that one of the biggest producers, might want to work with him, but only if he grades up his lack of being a grown man (did that make any sense?!) - he is consenting for anything. (even fake dating a ordinary/normal girl)
Next we get to know - Vaughn (YES, that’s her freaking awesome name)
We soon get to learn that she, her elder sister and their two little twin brothers, are living together. They are barely getting through, caused because their death parents didn’t deposit money for them.
Well yes, Vaughn: She is awesome! A quirky, sassy, beautiful, selfless and kind hearted person.

If you still didn’t guessed what happens.. This happens:
Vaughn’s sister works for a guy, and his brother is Oakley’s manager. Oak’s manager sees a picture on Vaughn’s sisters workplace and thinks that Vaughn is the perfect fake-match for Oakley.
Even though Vaughn has a boyfriend, she agrees on being Oak’s girlfriend, because her salary each month is $ 20’000.-
So this is how all this starts.

The Idea of this story is not something new for this world. We all know this kind of story and we all love it!
The story is well though trough. You really do have the feeling that the authors have had been through in something like this in real life. *cough*

I cringed a lot! A little too much even!
But I love to cringe - It makes the book more fun.

And the chemistry between them both - a perfect combination out of hot and sweet!!! 
And - boy - was overwhelmed by sass. :)

There are no steamy scenes. I didn’t even get that she had a orgasm until I reread the line twice.. So it’s totally PG16 even PG13 :D

Its entertaining to read, how they develop from strangers to enemy and then finally to lovers. How they cope and love together. It fascinated me. And those random tweets in between every chapter were just one of the best idea’s ever (it was like a buy one for two scene; because alone the tweets were praise worthy)

But there is something that rubbed me on the wrong way:
There were some scenes - they were just so dumb.
I wanted to walk through a wall.
Obviously the good scenes compensated the bad one’s. But I am still not found of some scenes.
They were childish and I was annoyed by how infantile the characters reacted - I mean there are some limits, okaaay?!?
But as I already mentioned it, the good scenes will let you forget the bad one’s immediately!!!!

This story is too sweet and so compact. Didn’t wanted to put my kindle down. I literally devoured it like these chicken tikka sandwiches from Subway!
(I love 'em)

I just ended this book a few minutes ago and ugh, I don’t know what to to with my life.
Every time after I read a really good book. I have breathing problems for like 15 seconds. After this book I had them for like 2 minutes.

When it’s real - I must say, is not better than the Paper princess Series.. sadly! But it’s still one of my highlights from this year. I really enjoyed reading it. Time just flew by. Can’t wait for the queens to write the next book.

RATE: 4 out of 5!!!

When It's Real was a really good rock star romance. I loved the characters and everything about how they met and developed their 'relationship'. The slow burn to their romance was perfect, and Vaughn and Oakley had the best dynamic. Great chemistry and sarcastic banter made the pages fly by. I loved that she could care less about him and his celebrity status, and that he craved that normal interaction more than anything. I had a lot of fun reading this book.

I voluntarily received an advance review copy of this book and chose to review it.

Holy lord! I loved this book! Different from the Royals, but Vaughn and Oakley will destroy you nonetheless. I loved the vulnerability both characters had as well as the growth of both of them throughout the course of the book. I truly never wanted this book to end. There was drama and laughter as well as real touching moments. This book was perfect in every way. I love these two, and somehow everything they write is gold! Run, don't walk, and grab yourselves a copy of this book, you won't be disappointed!

Last year I managed to get myself hooked on Erin Watt's (a.k.a. Jen Frederick and Elle Kennedy) Royals series (Paper Princess, Broken Prince, and Twisted Palace) and I knew that I would try anything else of theirs after loving those books, so when I had an opportunity to read this latest book of theirs, I jumped at it.

And I'm so glad that I did! This was a fun, cute read that I'm pretty sure I'd read again several times.

We got to hear the story from both Vaughn and Oakley, which was fun, and Erin Watt did a great job of making each voice distinct and clearly different from the other. By doing that we were also showed certain aspects from the others eyes without having too much of the story given or explained away.

I also really enjoyed the little look into celebrity relationships and behind the scenes contracts. They did such a great job with all the little details and I could really relate to Vaughn being overwhelmed, and Oakley's blase attitude.

This was also the perfect read while we wait for the Royals continuation with two more books from Easton. So if your looking for something to fill the gap while you wait, this might be perfect for you.

I loved Oakley and Vaughn! It started a little slow for me, because I did not like Oak at first. But he redeemed himself! Oakley is a rock star whose reputation needs some repair. Vaughn is in need of money to help her family, whose parents have died. Her sister works for Oakley's PR firm. They hatch a deal where she is paid $20000/mth for a year to date Oakley. Only thing is, she already has a boyfriend. Can this deal work or is it doomed from the start? Loved Paisley and Ty as side characters too! The sister and the bodyguard were a cute touch! 5 stars

Y'all. This book.

I luuuurved me some Oakley and Vaughn. Like for real, hardcore, heart-beating-fast in my chest LOVED them.

Now, let's be real... with past works Erin Watt has set the bar pretty high. Right? Right.
Well, y'all... Not only did they meet that bar, they SURPASSED it. Like, left it in the dust.

When It's Real was sososososososososososo good. It kept me up flipping pages, no sleep or food required.

I mean it. This book was so good, that it left me wanting more and more and more. <3

The ladies of Erin Watt are back at it again!!!! So when I found out that they were writing a standalone, I knew I couldn't wait to get my greedy hands on this book. When It's Real was such a charming, sweet and entertaining read! This book had it all from humor, banter, love and smart dialogue. With their riveting pose, this book reads like one of those Netflix and YA movies that you can't help but fall in love. From the opening pages, readers will be hooked. A must read for everyone who is looking for a light sweet read!

When It's Real, by Erin Watt, is a story about unexpected love between two people who should have never met. It's a teenage romance ripe with drama: a famous pop star who has it all, a normal girl with nothing but her heart to lose, complicating exes and ex-friends and fans alike. I went into this book knowing nothing about Erin Watt, and I have to say I am impressed with the novel’s potential.

The story is somewhat contrived; a fake relationship, arranged by Oakley Ford’s agent, between himself and Vaughn Bennet, who was selected for her girl-next-door normalcy. Their initial impressions of one another are far from favorable, though Watt keeps the narrative balanced by alternating their points of view. She adds extra flavor by giving us peeks at fans’ social media accounts. (The novel sometimes reads like polished fanfiction. I can already picture the tags.)

Along the way through her year-long contract, Vaughn and Oakley fall for each other—for real—but think it's one-sided, and Vaughn’s old boyfriend breaks up with her—for real—out of jealousy or spite or insecurity. Watt is excellent at portraying feelings, but that doesn't change how unbelievable the premise is. Sure, there are stars in relationships with “normals,” but hiring a person for a fake relationship sounds like a recipe for disaster in reality. Regardless, the book is pure, fun escapism, perfect for a park or a poolside.

Overall: 3.5/5 stars. The plot has a predictable Hollywood ending, despite a few weak twists, and the vivid emotions can't quite make up for the flat premise. Still worth a read if you need a cheesy smile.

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Awwww...

I'm a sucker for love stories, and this one doesn't disappoint. I especially love when the author gives us a look inside the main characters mind by writing in first person from each characters perspective. It makes you fall in love with the characters and just really makes you feeeel the story unfold. Oak and Vaughn were awesome to get to know, they are characters with substance, they have a past, present, and future that is whole and tangible. If you're on the fence about it, just take a chance and read it. If you hate it, then you can come back and let me know how much I steered you wrong, but I don't think that'll happen.

I love the writing duo that is Erin Watt. The Royals was a fun series with over the top drama but it had heart and characters I could relate to.

"When It's Real" lacked both . I didnt like or care about Oakley. Typical rich celebrity looking for an image change. Yawn...

Vaughn was just OK, but too naive. She does stand out to Oakley but what was suppose to be banter between them felt flat and wasn't witty or memorable.

YA is not my normal genre, but I really enjoyed this book much more than I expected to. It was a really easy, entertaining read and kept my attention well. The character development and writing were very good, and it just left me with a good feeling. There was some drama, but I expected that, but you also really get a lot of the developing friendship / relationship which is what made me give it the high rating. I recommend it (for 18+, some mature content)

Such an entertaining read! I loved this book from the start to the finish. I could hardly put it down! There were lots of twists and surprises in the book, which kept it super exciting! Vaughn seemed like a very respectable and down to earth girl. Her tragic loss kept her holding on to someone who was no good for her. Oakley Ford was missing something he never realized he needed. I loved reading about their story and their coming together. There's even a little extra romance from an additional couple!! This gave me a believable perspective of someone who lived that Hollywood lifestyle. Never before did I even contemplate the things that go on when you're famous, but this book seemed like it could really be true! This will be one book I'll definitely read again!

I usually don't read much YA books but when you add in 2 of my favorite authors collaborating ..point me in the right direction and I'll follow!

when it's real is a fun guilty pleasure read.

Hot sexy playboy rockstar? ✔
Down to earth girl next door with snark? ✔
And a great flowing storyline to tie everything together? ✔✔✔

definite must read!

What a wonderful story! Well written. I loved the indepth characters loved how they are portrayed, their emotions and dialogue. No frustrating yes, no,maybe, it was just a beautifully written indepth easy reading wonderful story. Thank you to Erin watt for another fantastic book!

4.5 stars

When It's Real by Erin Watt was such a fun, sweet and heartwarming read.
I loved it!
The writing is well done, the characters Oakley and Vaughn were likable, entertaining and the chemistry between was smoking!

I really enjoyed reading When It's Real, it was one of those books you didn't want to put down and I highly recommend it.

I got sucked in by a book blog into reading this and for once I'm glad I didn't also get sucked into buying the book too. I locked in a reservation with my library and was able to read it in 2 days! I laughed and at times I couldn't put it down. It was geared toward rockstar love...my fave, and if you want simplicity this is your next book!

20 pages in, I realized I'd read it in ARC format, but kept going and read it all the way through in 4 hours. Just as much fun to read this time as it was the first. Great characters with plenty of sizzle between them. Definitely a great read for those who like YA romance with a bit of steam.

once again Erin Watt does it, I fell in love with Oakley Ford and Vaughn Bennett so much.
the chemistry, banter, arguing and swoonworthy material all make it a 5 rocking stars book.
what a great coming to age sort of rockstar story.
these ladies are most defenetly a must read everytime.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of this book

What started as a PR stunt quickly turns into so much more than fake dating. The contract is for a year of fake dating but right off the bat they are fighting the chemistry between the two of them. I absolutely loved this book and couldn't get enough of it. I can't wait to see what's next after this book!

I really enjoyed this book. It pretty much described what I used to image dating Justin Bieber would be like when I was 15. The only think I really disliked *spoilers* was how Luke practically walked away unscathed after trying to take advantage of a seventeen year old girl. I believe Oakley mentioned that he was 25? I was pretty disgusted and wished the author went more into how wrong it was. But aside from that, I couldn’t put it down and it was over way too soon. I would recommend to other pop star and boy band lovers.

Erin Watt has done it again! I love rockstar romances and this one was great! I love Hollywood romance books and this one didn't disappoint! When It's Real was a great story with a celebrity and a fake normal girlfriend! This is a perfect summer read!! I would deff recommend it!

***ARC received in exchange of an honest opinion***

When It's Real is a very enjoyable read. The characters are relatable enough and the story has "hooking you up" potential.

I do believe it left some things unsaid, almost like lose ends, but it was nice to see the charcaters growth. Some parts fell flat for me, but overal, it was a book ai enjoyed reading and I'd definitely recommend it for fans of NA romances (it's not quite NA in my opinion, but it's somewhere between a YA and a NA book).

I liked the heroine, but she annoyed and frustrated me sometimes. I had a hard time connwctimg with the hero. I liked him from start, but it took me some pages to actually connect with him.

I think some things in the story could have been given a bit more focus on or maybe at least a line or two more. I still recommend it! (less)

I really enjoyed this book. I knew first I had to read it because I absolutely loved the Paper Princess series then two the blurb sold me. Such a cute story. A slow burn but so refreshing. Made me fall in love with musician books all over again.

So I love the paper princess series, and from everyone’s reviews I was worried this wouldn’t meet those expectations. Well Kids... expectations blown away. I sucked this story down in a day and for me that is a challenge. This story was perfect in every way. When an author makes you connect to characters and look forward to watching the growth of them then they are creating some magic on those pages. I am already awaiting her 2018 release. If you haven’t read this then go grab it now!

Erin Watt does it again. The duo behind Paper Princess is at it again with their new book When Its Real I just loved Vaughn and Oakley's story. While he could be a dick some of the time and she can be stubborn its a great combination and really works in this story.

I don't know...cliché but entertaining is my feeling. I didn't love the guy character and thought some stuff was just underwhelming, like having the main source of conflict at the end be a misunderstanding. Overly, it was still readable, though.

I absolutely loved this book. Though in the beginning I wanted to strangle the hero, I enjoyed his character ARC and growth. The herione, though a tad repetitive, was also interesting and appealing.

I just loved this book!! I don't think I've ever read this author but she is at the top of the list now! Emotional, gripping, heartbreaking, and hope for humanity all rolled up into this amazing book!!!! A must read for everyone!!

There were a few plot points that were awkward or lacking but I enjoyed the character building and the romance. Oakley not firing certain people at the end seriously bothered me but it was a cute, fun celebrity romance book.

One day read. Loved the vulnerability of Oakley. Was a bit worried at first with his attitude but then again Vaughn gave as good as she got. I like that Vaughn was so grounded and didn't give in to his fame living.

I flew through this book! It was a breath of fresh air to read something that grips you from the beginning all the way to the end. I loved the chemistry between the characters. I love the way the characters develop and grow. It made me feel suspense as well as excitement. It was high, it was low, but ultimately it was a quick read that left me satisfied, yet still craving more. READ THIS BOOK!! You WONT be disappointed!

This book is better than the Royals series. Though the conflict in the end (the reveal during the concert) was meh, I still think it's a solid book overall. As of writing, I've already read this book 4x it's that good!

I liked the book, but after paper princess, I was expecting more! That said, it is YA so there's not too many steamy scenes, yet I think there are too many steamy scenes for YA. Does that make sense? Lol.

I thought maybe this would be a predictable girl falls for movie star cheesy kind of story.....
But I loved it! All the way through! Well written! I don't say this much about books but I would reread this again. Great YA romance :)