Review: Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance - Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin

Where I got it: My collection

Rating: 2.5 stars  

Cover Rating: 4.5 stars (Super fun and cute!)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: February 1, 2011

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Page Count: 229 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon

Jenna & Jonah are really Charlie and Fielding, but there contract states otherwise. Not only do they have to pretend to be in love on set, but off set too. They don't really get any choice in who they hang out with, what they eat or do. They are trapped by their contract until the show is over. Things are manageable until someone starts a rumor that Fielding is gay. They both have to escape for awhile and let this rumor runs it's course while they are out of the public eye. Fielding owns a ramshackle cabin in the middle of nowhere, so that's where they hide out. Away from all the paparazzi and cameras they can both relax and be themselves, but they aren't sure who they are anymore without their Jenna & Jonah personas. They can't even tell what they are feeling, because they are so use to having to pretend. Without someone telling them what to do and how to feel at all times, things might just fall into place. Charlie is still too worried about her career though and Fielding is ready to escape the business entirely. They may have to stick each other out for a while longer though, but now it might not seem like so much work.

This was a cute story and I'm sure if you like High School Musical, you definitely would watch Jenna & Jonah. You may even love this novel more than I did too. It was a fun, cute read, but the characters were just to shallow. Even when they were being deep, it was like ditzy girls saying profound things. I could never fall in love with the characters. I was interested enough in how they would end up in the end, but it was sort of obvious what conclusion we'd be met with. If you like cutesy stories than this one is right up your alley, plenty of teeny-bopping for all. I liked it well enough, it was something light to read. There's great revelations about how to be yourself, all versions of yourself, so a good message is always welcome in a teen novel. Like I said though, I just couldn't picture the characters as being deep, which is probably because of their Jenna & Jonah characters. It happens all the time. I know each of you have an actor that starred in a role and you will always think of them as that character, instead of anything else. I mean, how hard is it to watch Water for Elephants, without expecting Robert Pattinson to start running superfast, or scowl at Reese Witherspoon in a love/hate way. (Water for Elephants was a fantastic movie by the way ;)) Anyways, that's just how it works. If you need a light and fun read, check this one out.

First Line:
"I will never like a boy like Fielding Withers (and, yes, I know I used the word "like" twice in one sentence, but meaning different things)."

Favorite Line:
"I grab a spreading knife as though I can butter an intruder to death."