Kate Forster

I don’t care what anyone says about covers – they attract me! But in very shallow ways – my first thought of the cover of Close Up was, ‘which lipstick is that?’ (I really need a coral red colour like that) and was shortly followed by, ‘I want those sunglasses’. Inside the covers though is a book where the majority of the characters have all the tangible things they could possibly want. Naturally, it’s the things that money can’t buy that they want – love, family and show more success. The road to obtaining that is one hell of a ride!

Let me backtrack for a moment. Kate Forster is an Australian author, but this book is firmly centred in Hollywood. It’s the kind of juicy Hollywood story that I love to devour over the course of a weekend – spurned lovers, fierce friendships, a race for an acting role, fights that make you squirm in your seat and that all-elusive happiness. Close Up has it all - watch out Jackie Collins!

The book is centred around three women - Maggie Hall is an incredibly successful actress who age is just starting to catch up with. A genuinely nice person; a gift of a pair of designer heels to a washroom attendant sends her and friend Zoe on a crazy ride of drama and coincidences. Zoe is Maggie’s best friend and agent, but has a desire to produce the book that all Hollywood is talking about – The Art of Love. After securing the film rights and hiding drunken writer Hugh in L.A., she’s out to make a deal studio bigwig Jeff. Can she get past Jeff’s blustery façade and demands for actors?

Dylan’s trying to make ends meet as a washroom attendant, valet parking person…anything that allows her to stay in L.A. while she hunts for her birth mother. After meeting Maggie Hall, a job working for her ex-stepson post heart transplant sounds easy. But she didn’t think she would fall for Elliott – or that Aussie heartthrob Will would be such an idiot…

Meanwhile Maggie is trying to get the role of Simone in The Art of Love. But is her growing friendship with the author true, or just very, very good acting? Add in some flashbacks to two young girls abused and alone and this makes for a plot at breakneck speed! I loved the plot of Close Up – sure, you may have already guessed the answer to how the main characters fit together, but the ride is damn good. Forster has a talent for writing arguments that I was embarrassed to witness because the emotion came through so strongly. But there are some beautiful moments too where everything comes together just perfectly. Some of the coincidences in the book are probably too out there to be true, but if they can’t happen in fiction, where else can we dream?

The supporting characters are wonderful and really lift the book from Hollywood romp to wonderful book. Elliott, Maggie’s ex-stepson (and son of Will) is a shy character who has been through a lot – a heart transplant and a crazy-angry father have him wanting to stay in his room for eternity. It’s wonderful to see him blossom with Maggie’s support, followed by Dylan’s friendship and love. Will (who I really hope is not based on any Aussie star) is just unlikeable – he doesn’t seem to care for much beyond a starlet and throws his weight around, expecting all to bow in submission. It’s nice to see a little payback occur! Jeff, studio head with a triad of divorces, is beautifully gruff and has some of the best insults-come-compliments in the book. His presence lit up the page.

I loved this book – a perfect weekend read (but make sure you don’t have much else to do, because you won’t stop reading)!

Thank you to Penguin Australia and The Reading Room for the copy of this book.

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Favorite Quotes:

Clara had found the evidence in Judy’s kitchen while looking for a bowl for nuts, and she had wanted to put Giles nuts in the container there and then.

‘I knew the woman who lived there. Sheila Batt. Like name, like person. She was an old bat. Died in her bed upstairs. I am surprised they didn’t find her hanging from the eves by her toes.’ Clara made a face of horror but Tassie shrugged. ‘We all have to go sometime. Better to be in your bed than on the toilet like show more Elvis.’

‘I did think something was in the air today, as I had a very itchy left eyebrow.’ Clara peered at Tassie’s eyebrows, which were drawn on with an eye pencil. ‘What if the right one was itchy?’ she asked. ‘Left is a lady visitor, right is a gentleman visitor. I don’t think the right one is even functioning anymore.’

You don’t get to choose if you have a baby or not really. The baby chooses you. Some women aren’t ready to have them and that’s fine and some yearn for them so much they scare them away. I yearned. Still do sometimes, even though my insides are now pickled and George has been dead for thirty years.

My Review:

How have I not read this talented scribe’s work before? I adore her! Goodreads reports twenty-six different books to her credit, where have I been? I am kicking myself for not noticing her stand-out skills sooner, as I was an instant fan and an ardent devotee of her clever humor shortly after sinking into page one, and will also confess to savoring every perfectly chosen word and wittily written storyline ALL the way through. I giggle-snorted and gleefully wiggled in my chair with uncontainable delight at the unexpected nuances, captivating characters, and thoughtful little touches and perceptive insights that made this fabulous little tale a sublime and magical read. It was divine. show less

In "Christmas Star", the central "star" conceit is genuinely fun and initially engaging. There’s a light, festive cleverness to that element that feels well-suited to a holiday read and promises something playful and heartwarming.

Unfortunately, that promise is undercut by Julia’s relentless complaining about Becca. What might have worked as justified frustration or emotional tension quickly becomes overdone. Rather than sympathizing with Julia, I found myself thinking methinks she doth show more protest too much. The imbalance makes her grievances feel less grounded and more like sour grapes, which weakens the emotional credibility of the story.
As a result, the book shifts from entertaining to uncomfortable. Instead of being swept along by the plot, I felt like I was stuck listening to that friend who complains nonstop—where you start out nodding politely, then gradually realize you’re no longer enjoying yourself and can’t quite figure out how to disengage.

There’s a good idea at the heart of this story, and the “star” element hints at the warmth and charm it could have delivered. But the excessive negativity dulls the sparkle, leaving a read that feels more draining than festive. show less

In "Christmas Star", the central "star" conceit is genuinely fun and initially engaging. There’s a light, festive cleverness to that element that feels well-suited to a holiday read and promises something playful and heartwarming.

Unfortunately, that promise is undercut by Julia’s relentless complaining about Becca. What might have worked as justified frustration or emotional tension quickly becomes overdone. Rather than sympathizing with Julia, I found myself thinking methinks she doth show more protest too much. The imbalance makes her grievances feel less grounded and more like sour grapes, which weakens the emotional credibility of the story.
As a result, the book shifts from entertaining to uncomfortable. Instead of being swept along by the plot, I felt like I was stuck listening to that friend who complains nonstop—where you start out nodding politely, then gradually realize you’re no longer enjoying yourself and can’t quite figure out how to disengage.

There’s a good idea at the heart of this story, and the “star” element hints at the warmth and charm it could have delivered. But the excessive negativity dulls the sparkle, leaving a read that feels more draining than festive. show less