REVIEW: UNRIVALLED by Alyson Noel

Title: Unrivaled

Author: Alyson Noel
Series: Beautiful Idols #1
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, Triller
Publisher: Harlequin 
Source: ARC
Pages: 368
Release date: 10th of May, 2016

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BLURB:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël comes the first book in the Beautiful Idols series. With mystery, suspense, and an insiders-only look at Los Angeles that echoes Gossip Girl’s racy and real New York, fans of Pretty Little Liars and readers who crave pulse-pounding romance will love Unrivalled.
EVERYONE wants to be someone.
Layla Harrison wants to be a reporter.
Aster Amirpour wants to be an actress.
Tommy Phillips wants to be a guitar hero.
But Madison Brooks took destiny and made it her own a long time ago.
She’s Hollywood’s hottest starlet, and the things she did to become the name on everyone’s lips are merely a stain on the pavement, ground beneath her Louboutin heel.
That is, until Layla, Aster, and Tommy find themselves with a VIP invite to the world of Los Angeles’s nightlife and are lured into a competition. The prize, or rather the target? Madison Brooks.
Just as their hopes begin to gleam like stars through the California smog, Madison Brooks goes missing. . . . And all of their hopes are blacked out in the haze of their lies.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review! Was really excited to read it as blurb sounded really promising!
Also today is the publication day of this book, so whoop whoop happy book birthday! 

 

THE WORLD: Okay so we have California where all the glamorous things happen. I would say the world is just like ours but really it is the world of celebrities and wanna be celebrities. The people we read about in tabloids, yeah that is the world I am talking about. In other words, very expensive glamour. Tho, I wonder how much of this world is true in the book because some details...I wonder...would love to know.

CHARACTERS: The book follows three main characters and we get to read from all three perspectives. Now, what really intrigued me that even tho you would think you have these preset bad and good characters, with their development things end up not as they seem. The so called good character somehow turns to be not such a good character and the mean arrogant one ends up being a sweet victimized girl. I am talking about Layla and Aster of course. The thing is, I do not like Layla and that is probably going to be obvious in this review. Why? Because she is one of these people who say they hate something but really they are absolutely loving it and giving a chance does anything to get to the top. Jup, basically Layla always states how she hates fame and fake people who do anything to because a celebrity. But when she gets a chance...jup she does not even think about it twice. Crush all in her way. Now Aster on the other hand, she is rather mean and arrogant in the beginning but at least she does not pretend. She is good and she knows it. But later in the book we get to know her better and then really you just automatically start loving her. Frankly, what happened to Aster...horrible just plain horrible. I really care for her. And that leaves us with the third character: Tommy. Now he is the sorta neutral character in the book and so everybody likes Tommy, I cannot really imagine why wouldn't you. He is friendly and caring and well really just a friend material. Go Tommy!

Besides three main characters we also have Madison Brooks, the big celebrity that really causes all the madness. Ryan aka Madison's boyfriend and just not a good person in general. And then Ira...a club network owner and runner of the contest. Ira is a mystery...I am yet to figure him out.

LOVE: There are rather a few hints but nothing really serious. Layla and her boyfriend, Layla and Tommy, Aster and Ryan, Madison and Ryan. Hollywood for sure :D

PLUS: I actually expected less from this book. I read Evermore and Blue Moon by Alyson Noel and even so I liked them I was really impressed with Unrivalled. This book really showed different side from Alyson Noel, cannot wait for the next book in the series!

MINUS: So this is nothing to do with an author or the book itself but I really cannot stand Layla. I hope she will not redeemed. Die Layla die :D Oh and this is not a spoiler, just wishful thinking.

OVERALL: Impressed and very intrigued for the next book! Very very worth reading, this book will pull you in and I must admit, it is way better than Gossip Girl of Pretty Little Liars!

 

What did you think of UNRIVALLED?