Review for Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton

Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton 
Publisher: Orchard
Release Date: 7th June 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Summer, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4/5 stars
Source: Received from the publisher for review

Amazon Summary:
"Emma's just arrived in Los Angeles, a million miles away from all her friends, and any chance of a boyfriend. Unless you count geeky Oscar - which she doesn't. Not at first, anyway. Teen heartthrob Alex might have potential too. If she can get him away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi, that is. Two boys, unlimited sunshine, and a new life amongst the stars. Maybe LA's not that bad, after all."

Review 
I loved Jessie Hearts NYC so when I heard that Keris was writing a companion novel featuring Jessie’s best friend Emma I was beyond excited. Keris is one of the loveliest authors and always makes time to talk to her fans on Twitter, her books are fun, romantic, quick reads that make perfect summer stories. I read Emma Hearts LA on a sunny Sunday afternoon in one sitting and closed the book with the cheesiest grin on my face, Emma Hearts LA is total feel good reading and left me in a cheerful mood for the rest of the day.

I have to say that as much as I loved Jessie Hearts NYC I loved Emma even more! It’s funny because I’ve always considered myself to be a New York kinda gal ( I LOVE big cities!) but Emma Hearts LA was just so much more me and I connected to the story more because of that. Emma was a really great protagonist, unlike her little sister who dreams of becoming the next big Hollywood teen star, Emma is less than thrilled at the prospect of living in LA when her mum decides to move them out there. Emma feels like she’ll have nothing in common with the stars and wannabes who live there and she’s sad to be leaving her old life behind even if it does mean being in the same country as her BFF Jessie. Her mum and dad have recently split up and Emma’s relationship with her dad is messy because of it and moving across the world from him is sure to only increase that tension. Reluctantly Emma moves with her family to LA and leaves behind life as she knew it, well, almost, because waiting in LA is old family friend Michael and his teenage son Oscar her geeky childhood friend. Except Oscar’s kinda grown into his geekyness and owns it making him kind of hot to Emma’s surprise. As Oscar shows Emma that life in LA isn’t all that bad Emma starts to fall in love with this way of life. But when the latest Hollywood heartthrob Alex shows an interest in her Emma will have to decide which boy will win over her heart.

One of the main things I love about Keris’s books is that she has this way of writing which really makes you feel like you’re there. Like in Jessie Hearts NYC where I got to experience New York through Jessie in this book I got to experience LA through Emma. Emma’s house on the canal sounded absolutely beautiful and the ocean front walk would totally be my local hangout. I closed this book feeling like I’d been on a trip to LA myself and I love the total escapism you get with Keris’s books.

Once again I loved the characters in this book, Emma, Bex, Alex and Emma’s mum were all great characters and I loved that Jessie was in this book too and that we got to catch up with her. But my ultimate favourite character had to be Oscar. Oscar is the kind of guy I personally go for. He’s dorky, not afraid to be different, is comfortable in his own skin, caring and has a big heart of gold. I love stories where childhood friends blossom into something more so Keris really ticked all the right boxes with Oscar and he quickly became my latest book boy crush.

Overall I loved everything about Emma Hearts LA. If you like books that completely sweep you away to somewhere sunny and exotic, have sweet summer romances, and swoony book boys this is the book for you. Emma Hearts LA is like the perfect holiday, fun filled, care free, hot and romantic, and over too soon. This is summer reading at its best.