Review: When I'm With You - Cecilia Gray

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Review: When I'm With You - Book #3 Jane Austen Academy Series - Cecilia Gray - December 2012

Years ago, I stumbled upon The Jane Austen Academy series, and it's become one of those comfort reads I return to when the mood strikes. As a devoted mood reader, I have to wait for exactly the right moment to dive into each installment, and recently I found myself craving something fun and cozy. A YA retelling of Northanger Abbey? Perfect.

When I'm With You centers on Kat, a character whose dual nature immediately captivated me. Off stage, she's awkward and naive, someone who hasn't quite found her footing in everyday interactions. But put her on stage, and she transforms completely confident, radiant, utterly alive. When she lands a position as Josh Wickham's PA on a real movie set over Christmas break, with the added bonus of working as an extra, it seems like a dream come true.

What follows is a sobering education in the darker side of Hollywood glamour. Cecilia Gray doesn't shy away from showing how quickly the entertainment industry can chew up innocent dreamers like Kat. The jealousy, manipulation, and spotlight-hoarding of certain celebrities ring painfully true. Trust becomes a commodity in this world, thinly spread and easily shattered. When Kat uncovers some troubling truths, the cost is devastating , she loses both her love of acting and the boy who captured her heart, returning to Jane Austen Academy fundamentally changed.

The heart of this story lies in watching Kat's friends help her rediscover her inner light and learn that external validation isn't what makes her shine. It's a message that resonated deeply with me, reminding readers that our worth isn't determined by others' opinions or the fickle nature of fame.

Cecilia Gray leaves us with a cliffhanger involving Franny overhearing the principal discussing investors who want to demolish the school , a setup that has me already anticipating the next book. It's exactly the kind of stakes-raising twist that keeps me coming back to this series, even if I have to wait for the mood to strike just right before diving in again.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bjbZnv





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