The Hollywood Way • Hello, Sunshine

Becca Harrington decides she needs a fresh start after she gets rejected from every single college she applied to. Determined to fulfill her dream of becoming an actress, she packs up her stuff and moves to Los Angeles. She has a year to get an agent and land an acting gig – easy, right? But while Los Angeles might be the City of Dreams, Becca quickly learns that not everything goes according to plan. Will she be able to get her big break or will she be forced to return home in defeat? 

Hello, Sunshine is the kind of YA contemporary that offers an escape from everyday life, which is precisely what I was looking for when I read it. The premise immediately gives off the vibe of a Disney Channel Original Movie or a teen sitcom – a young girl trying to make it as an actress in Hollywood, including all the interesting folks, unexpected good fortune and hilarious mishaps along the way. But Howland does a terrific job balancing all the shenanigans – good and bad – that color Becca’s experiences during her year in LA with Becca’s internal struggle to make sense of who she is and what she wants. I appreciated how well she captured the indecision Becca went through regarding her future, as well as the experience of uprooting your entire life to move somewhere new and figuring out how to make that work. It made this story more relatable than it would have been otherwise, that’s for sure!

Hello, Sunshine was a lot of fun! It was cool to be able to read about Becca’s alternative post-high school experience, for one thing, as most of the books I read feature characters who go straight to college versus trying something else for a year. Additionally, the drama and hilarity that ensued during Becca’s first year in LA were entertaining and relatable in turn. Hello, Sunshine is another well-written YA contemporary from author Leila Howland, and I would recommend adding it to your summer reading list.

Hello, Sunshine by Leila Howland

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion | Publication Date: July 11, 2017

Source: ARC received from the publisher (Thanks!)

Buy the Book: Book Depository | Amazon | IndieBound

Thanks to the lovely folk over at Disney Publishing Worldwide, I get to host a giveaway alongside my review! The winner will receive 1 finished copy of Nantucket Summer (the bind-up edition of Nantucket Blue & Nantucket Red) by Leila Howland. This giveaway is US only.

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