About The Book
Natasha Jones has everything - a successful acting career, an Oscar, a wonderful husband and beautiful kids. But what does she have to go through to get there? From humble beginnings in a small town, Natasha's path to stardom is paved with setbacks, heartaches and moments of doubt.
In the glittering world of fame and fortune, where dreams are spun from starlight and ambition fuels the relentless pursuit of success, one woman's journey stands testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Beneath the facade lies a story of unwavering determination and unyielding courage.
Where The Light Is Hottest is a gripping tale of ambition, perseverance and the enduring power of hope. Through Natasha's journey, we are reminded that the road to success is rarely smooth, but for those who dare to chase their dreams, the rewards are beyond measure.
My Review
I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for Where The Light Is Hottest by Catherine Yardley. This is a warts-and-all story of the struggle for fame, and the battle to keep it once it's achieved.
Actress Natasha Jones has it all, a loving husband, a wonderful family, a beautiful home and an Oscar. She's at the pinnacle of her career. The problem is that once you reach the top there is only one way to go and that is down. Having won an Oscar, Natasha assumed she'd be fighting off directors and producers, but instead, her life seems to be falling apart.
The narrative alternates between Natasha's battle to remain relevant and successful alongside the story of her early days when her dream was to become a famous actress. We follow Natasha from her roots in Glasgow to an impoverished life in London since the acting world is London-centric. London is expensive so Natasha has to take on three jobs simply to survive. Audition after audition becomes the norm, competing against similar women, just to get noticed, to get her first step on the ladder.
Natasha has principles, unfortunately being new to acting she has to compromise these if she wants to work. Once she makes it she's determined that she'll never give up those principles ever again. I liked Natasha's strength and sympathised with the situation she was placed in early in her career. If anything this made her more determined never to concede ever again and moulded her ambition in the future.
Alongside the struggle for work, we get glimpses of Natasha's life after she becomes famous. We see that much of it is gloss and doesn't reflect reality. The press is constantly on the prowl, looking for ways to bring down those they've placed on a pedestal. Friends can't always be trusted. And it's hard work, always having to look immaculate, stay slim, don't react, all while working fourteen-hour days.
There are references to the recent #MeToo movement. Real names aren't mentioned, the characters are more of an amalgamation of real people. You begin to realise how difficult it is to find work for up-and-coming actors. As Natasha realises, the real power in the industry lies in the hands of producers and directors, who are predominantly male, this becomes the catalyst for her career choices in the future.
Where The Light Is Hottest by Catherine Yardley is available in paperback and ebook format. My thanks to Pegasus Publishing and Rachel's Random Resources for a review copy.
Purchase Link - https://tinyurl.com/Where-The-Light-is-Hottest
Author Details
Catherine Yardley is the author of Ember and Where The Light is Hottest.
She’s also the editor-in-chief of Frost Magazine and a freelance writer who's
featured in The Bookseller, Mslexia, Metro, Huffpost, Writing Magazine and
Writers’ and Artists’ amongst others. She lives in London with her husband and
children.
No comments:
Post a Comment