The creative minds that brought us Paper Princess and the rest of The Royals saga have a brand new story for you to obsess over, and When It’s Real is worth every incredible second.

About ‘When It’s Real’

Under ordinary circumstances, Oakley Ford and Vaughn Bennett would never even cross paths.

There’s nothing ordinary about Oakley. This bad-boy pop star’s got Grammy Awards, millions of fangirls and a reputation as a restless, too-charming troublemaker. But with his home life disintegrating, his music well suddenly running dry and the tabloids having a field day over his outrageous exploits, Oakley needs to show the world he’s settling down — and who better to help him than Vaughn, a part-time waitress trying to help her family get by? The very definition of ordinary.

Posing as his girlfriend, Vaughn will overhaul Oakley’s image from troublemaker to serious artist. In return for enough money to put her brothers through college, she can endure outlandish Hollywood parties and carefully orchestrated Twitter exchanges. She’ll fool the paparazzi and the groupies. She might even start fooling herself a little.

Because when ordinary rules no longer apply, there’s no telling what your heart will do…

‘When It’s Real’ book review

There are a myriad of reasons why The Royals swept us all off our feet, but the two biggest reasons are the geniuses behind the crazy, intense world: Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick. Their writing pulled us into the story and never let go, and that is exactly what has happened, yet again, with When It’s Real.

We all grew up idolizing a celebrity or two, whether they were in boy bands, indie stars or Hollywood heartthrobs, so this story is a little bit the dream we all dreamed coming true once and for all. Who didn’t imagine getting the chance to snag your favorite celebrity’s eye at their concert or movie premiere?

We’ve all dreamed it, but in When It’s Real we got a chance to live it out.

When we first meet Vaughn, we learn that life hasn’t been easy for her, what with her parents dying and her big sister stepping up to be the sole breadwinner until Vaughn can finish high school. It quickly becomes clear that Vaughn suffers from that sense of indecision and unknown that middle children know all too well. She’s intensely relatable in all the ways, and we love her for it.

Oakley Ford, on the other hand, is the celebrity we all dreamed of being with. He’s dreamy Hollywood royalty, and has a passion for the music he puts out into the world. He’s not a stuffed shirt passing off others’ songs as his own, and he’s not the kind that worries about selling out to “the man” either. This kid just loves his music and wants to grow as an artist. *swoon*

The long road that Vaughn and Oakley have to navigate to figure out exactly what they want is a delightful journey. Together they endure struggles with her friends, his parents, the press, and his representation. Oakley needed a confidant and trusted ally in his battle for privacy and realness. Vaughn needed an honest and candid person that wouldn’t make her puzzle out the true meaning behind his words.

Little did these two know that all it would take to find the person they needed the most would be his agent chancing upon Vaughn’s picture in her sister’s cubicle. Whether they’re happy forever or just for now (they’re still young after all), Vaughn and Oakley bring each other peace in an otherwise chaotic and twisted world. It may have started out as a fake relationship, but when it’s real, you just know.

When It’s Real is available now! Get your copy at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Indiebound,
and don’t forget to add it on Goodreads, too!