Act Like it (London Celebrities, #1)

by Lucy Parker

[stacey_is_sassy]

There is no way I could kiss someone I hate...

I really admire stage actors. I don’t know how they memorise so many lines or remember the exact spot they’re supposed to stand. Sure, I get that if you do it enough times you’ll remember but I would find the audience very distracting. I also don’t know how actors can be intimate…without the intimate feelings attached. You kiss the same bloke every night for months, and not feel anything? How do you do that? You kiss the same bloke every night, who also happens to be your ex who cheated on you…without feeling a need to throw up/stab him in the eye/kick him in the groin? How the hell do you do that? I guess I was never meant for the stage.

Did I ever tell you that my siblings are both into drama? Well, it’s a bit of a joke in my family that I am the complete opposite of them. Growing up, I still remember the drama teacher at school shaking her head at me and saying, “You’re not at all like your sisters, are you?” Probably seems a little harsh but the facts are the facts, I couldn’t act to save myself.

With my experience with my sisters, I found that I could relate to the characters in the story better. There is one thing I found myself agreeing with, without even realising I felt that way until I read it. It’s very hard to tell when an actor is not acting. Are they genuinely upbeat and happy all the time or are they putting on a front? Is their appearance of interest in my rants about stuff, genuine, or are they thinking about their own stuff? I suppose we can all put on an act when dealing with people but I guess we are more suspect when we KNOW they can put on a good performance.

I really enjoyed Act Like It. I’m in a reading group that has been RAVING about Lucy Parker for ages. I was keen to check this new author to me out, but I kept getting distracted. Up to date with stuff and FINALLY having some free reading time, I bought my first Lucy Parker and settled in to see what all the fuss was about.

I think I was supposed to dislike Richard at first. I’ll be honest here and say that I REALLY GOT RICHARD. Oh boy, would I love to have enough money and clout to actually be free to call out STUPID people. Wouldn’t it be awesome to just walk away from people who annoy you? What I wouldn’t give to be able to tell someone their wrong and give them a detailed accounting of where, how and why they're so stupid. Sure, Richard’s reputation was a little tarnished and he may be a wee bit lonely…but for 5 seconds, I wanted that freedom.

I liked Lainie from the start but I couldn’t fathom how she could work with her ex, Will, and be intimate with him on stage? I also struggled with her acceptance to step in and help get Richard’s reputation cleaned up. So, she was expected to kiss her ex in front of her new man. It’s all an act of course, but geez, how do you turn off feelings? Again, I guess I was never meant for the stage.

This story was very engaging. I really liked the characters, found the storyline interesting and loved seeing the slow burn romance develop between Lainie and Richard. I would describe the intimate scenes as…watching through a filmy curtain. You’re given the shapes, know what is really happening but don’t have all the details. I wouldn’t say I was satisfied, but at least I didn’t have the door slammed in my face.

I’m so glad that I’ve met Lucy Parker’s characters and I will definitely go back for more of her entertaining style of writing.