Book Review: BEFORE HE WAS FAMOUS by Becky Wicks

Book:  Before He Was Famous (Starstruck #1)

Author:  Becky Wicks

Publisher:  Becky Wicks Books

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

“You have to let me go.”- Chloe

“Never Chloe that’s just the thing.  I’ve tried to let you go my whole life and I can’t, can I? I can’t ever let you go.  I think about you all the time ….I’m sick of pretending I don’t love you.  I'm in love with you.  It’s only ever been you.”- Noah

Synopsis Via NetGalley:

One guy, one girl. One in the spotlight. One in the shadows.

Falling in love with your best friend isn’t always a great idea, especially when he’s Noah Lockton - the sexiest, most famous new talent on the planet. When 21-year-old small-town photographer Chloe Campbell is offered the chance of a lifetime – to join her celebrity childhood friend Noah on tour as an exclusive blogger for a New York magazine – she’s certain both have put what happened four years ago behind them. But his eyes still burn; his voice is still a jackhammer to her heartstrings; all his songs are about her. Is it possible that that night still haunts them both?

The music industry is a machine, spinning hype and rumors as much as his records. It’s not just Noah’s girlfriends who’ve got it in for Chloe (there’s no stopping the Twitter-obsessed, cat-loving pop-star Courtney Lentini for starters). Pretty soon, the jealousy and media frenzy surrounding these so-called-friends takes a life-changing turn and it seems making love means making enemies at every turn. When tragedy threatens to pull the final curtain on their relationship, both Chloe and Noah must make a choice. As much as this world leaves them starstruck, is living their dream really worth living without each other?

My Summary:

Chloe and Noah have been best friends since they were kids.  Being neighbors and having parents who are also close friends didn't hurt the friendship either, until Chloe's father dies and they commit what Chloe thinks is a mistake that can ruin their friendship.  So they pretend nothing happened and she sends Noah away.

Though they remain the best of friends, there is now something hanging between them... Something they ignore and never talk about.

When Noah wins at a talent show and becomes the biggest paparazzi magnet in New York, he invites Chloe to stay with him while she begins a new job as a photographer for a popular magazine at the same time recover from a bad breakup.  

She begins an exclusive photo blog of Noah which means she is always in close proximity to him. 
Noah has no illusions about Chloe versus other women.  He always knew that Chloe was IT for him.  But biding his time and waiting for her to realize this becomes too hard and he gives in.

Fear of the unknown and losing Noah like she lost her father is just too much for Chloe.  So she breaks his heart and pulls away.  Then something happens that threatens to take away Noah from Chloe forever.  Could it be too late for them after all?

My Review:

Hot.  Spicy.  Sweet.

I really enjoyed reading this book, mostly because of Noah.  What a man!  He’s a guy any woman would kill to be with:  Gorgeous, loving, loyal plus plus.

Having Chloe so reluctant to be with him, despite the fact that they have been best friends and loved each other forever is just so hard to understand.  Most of the time I wanted to wring her neck.  It gets frustrating especially when she thinks about WHY they shouldn’t be together.  She has so many excuses but it boils down to just one thing.  Fear.  Fear of losing and being abandoned.  Fear of being broken after the fact.  Noah’s main concern has always been Chloe.  Without question, he is more in love with her than the other way around.

Main characters aside, the book is written well.  I could barely put it down and was glued to my kindle the whole time.  I like that the book was written with the POVs of both Noah and Chloe.  It’s refreshing to know what Noah was feeling and thinking instead of the usual Girl-only thoughts and questions. 

Kudos to the author for writing really great lyrics for Noah’s songs plus the Peter Pan references.  They make the entire story all the more sweeter.

The support characters are great.  My favorite hands down is Noah’s brother Jack who tries not to meddle yet in the end, is the one who unknowingly gets them together.  How?  Just read the book and enjoy for yourself.