FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN is a standalone contemporary romance novel by Kylie Scott. I love Kylie Scott’s books, but especially when she writes about rock stars. She and author Olivia Cunning are two of my favs when it comes to that category of romance. Kylie Scott knocks it out of the park again with FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN. This story is told strictly from the female protagonist (Ani Bennet)’s perspective. I think telling the story that way makes the reader naturally empathize more with Ani, including the uncertainty when it comes to her eventual love interest, and seemingly retired rock star, Garrett Hayes.
This story takes place in a small town in Northern California. Lots of trees and earnest townsfolk. Ani is a former city dweller, taking a bit of a timeout in the town she grew up in. It’s never totally explained until the last section of the book, but she has PTSD because of a traumatic experience she had while living in the city. Ani is an example of the kind of female protagonist I’ve come to expect and enjoy reading about in a Kylie Scott novel. She has a dry sense of humor and her life experiences have left her with a certain degree of refreshing pragmatism. She’s not a wilting daisy, but she’s not over-the-top and obnoxiously reactionary either. She’s very real. I think that’s one of the qualities that Garrett ends up finding so attractive. If not outright attraction, there’s a definite awareness evident between Ani and Garrett, but they get to know each other and form a friendship before any lip locks happen. Oodles of sexual tension mixed with amusing interactions. One of the things that slows down the slide toward intimacy between this couple is Garrett working through his grief over his wife’s death. As a reader, I I’m not a fan of too much angst in a story. For me, that wasn’t an issue in FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN. There is emotional upheaval to a degree, and a bit of relationship drama mixed with an exquisite amount of romantic and sexual longing – but no amount of angst that makes you want to slam your head against the wall in frustration. This is a good thing. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop when Ani and Garrett finally accepted being together, but that never happened. They were just two people working their issues and falling in love in a way that’s delightful to read about.
FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN is a little sexy, a little sweet, but mostly just good storytelling. Garrett’s Great Dane named Gene is a great supporting character. I’m hoping that Kylie Scott continues writing in this world and provides stories about Garrett’s bandmates.
Two years after his wife’s death, rock star Garrett Hayes hasn’t moved on. But he has moved out of L.A. Where better to escape his past than a small town in the northern California mountains? If only he could get the townsfolk of Wildwood to leave him the hell alone.
Ani Bennet returned to her hometown for some much-needed serenity. The last thing she needs is a grumpy, too hot for his own good, rich and famous rock star living next door—and rent-free in her brain.
She set her fangirl tendencies aside and deleted his photo from her cell when they became neighbors. But when Garrett asks for help, she can’t say no. The problem is, spending time together is making those fangirl feelings resurface—and bringing them to a whole new level.
What chance does a small-town girl have with world-famous rock star? It’s time for Ani to set her fears aside and find out.
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