Sunday

Review: Hidden Gem #1 by India Lee




Book Blurb

Lavishly disguised pop singer, Queen Bee, is known abroad for her high-fashion wardrobe and killer vocals. In the states, she's just Gemma Hunter – shy suburban teenager in her strange new role of high school junior.

Luckily, Gemma is taken under the wing of the fiery and popular Madison, who leads her into the high school life of the charmed. Her world as Gemma quickly becomes everything she ever wanted in a normal life - that is until international teen heartthrob, Tyler Chase, announces his celebrity crush on Queen Bee. Suddenly, Gemma's alter ego becomes a household name as the handsome singer’s loyal “Tyler Chasers" create a frenzy to discover her true identity.

And just when Gemma thinks she can hide from the celebrity drama in her high school life, Lucas - her next door neighbor as well as Madison's boyfriend - develops an interest in her that goes far beyond platonic, and Gemma soon learns that rumors aren’t strictly for the stars.

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Toot's Review by Stacy Sabala

Gemma is on break from being Queen Bee, a European pop sensation.  She hasn’t gained popularity in the States yet, but time will come.  Her parents and her aunt want her to come home and be a normal teenage girl for a while.  Gemma is nervous.  She has to keep Queen Bee a secret and be “normal”.  She doesn’t know how.  The first person she meets is her cute neighbor.  He saves her from drowning in the lake.  Not the most graceful introduction.  She develops an instant crush as she feels a connection to him.  Unfortunately, he is taken by one of her new friends.  Gemma tries to forget him and date someone else.  Things go well until jealousy and insecurity rear their ugly heads.
Queen Bee’s popularity starts to pick up in the States thanks to an R&B heartthrob.  She has to make appearances yet keeping her real identity secret.  Gemma feels torn by both worlds.  She doesn’t know who she really is or should be.  When everything in her “normal life” as Gemma comes crashing down, she has to figure out how to combine the two.
I liked this story.  Gemma was pretty spoiled and the author really focused on designer labels and a higher social group then most teens know, but she really showed how Gemma struggled.  Gemma had no clue how to be just Gemma.  I liked seeing her enter the real world of high school and deal with what teens do everyday.

You knew that there would be a mean girl who was secretive and vindictive.  There was going to be the boy she couldn’t have.  Parts of the storyline were predictable.  However, the Queen Bee aspect throws a different dimension.  She has the whole country trying to guess who she is.  She has irate fans wanting blood thanks to Chase.  She has to go to extreme measures to be both people.  I found it really fascinating.  That world is completely foreign to me.  I found it to be a good read.  I give it a 4 out of 5.





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