Susan May Warren's You Don't Have to Be a Star Book Review

You must be well-read in the genre you are entering.

As a writer pursuing publishing for my first suspense novel, I have read that sentiment often. I won't go into the specifics of why, except that it also helps knowing where you are by comparing other books in the genre with yours.

But I'll let you in on a secret about me: I've read a lot, especially in my younger years, and across different genres. And I didn't need to go to the library because, by my mom's good sense, my family had our own library of titles I eagerly ate up with the ambition to just about read every book on the shelf.

In later years we slowed somewhat in our acquiring of new books, although there was still enough from the tried-and-true greats like the Thoenes, Frank Peretti, Michael Phillips, and Judith Pella, not to mention the classics from Dickens, Austen, and Bronte, to keep me occupied.

That being said, sequestered in the pages of these richly detailed works put me at a disadvantage in knowing how the literary market had changed over the years, and by that I mean in a myriad of ways.

Well, okay, I had some learning to do in the reading department. So I pushed aside my present reading to incorporate some of the latest bites on the market. I quickly discovered I am a fan of Terri Blackstock, (you can read my review of her If I Run series here), and that in other aspects there has been some tunnel-vision in the publishing of some genres to where one of the original genres are nearly being eradicated in the process.

All that to say, I've decided to maintain a log of book reviews on this journey of mine, and not just on my absolute favorites that drive me ecstatic to talk about as in my previous posts.

And here is the latest read I recently finished: Susan May Warren's You Don't Have to Be a Star. The publishing date was a little confusing because Amazon said 2024, yet one small element in the novella made me doubt this, and then I found on Goodreads that the original publication was in 2016. Turns out the edition I had was a recent republication for Kindle.

My thoughts on You Don't Have to Be a Star:

Right off, I have to admit hearing the story takes place in Tennessee elicited a knee-jerk reaction from me being a true-blue, born-and-raised Tennessean. I get annoyed with how the trend in Hallmark chick-flicks and romance literature has swung their capricious gaze to favor the South in all their corny stereotypes of how they think we live in Dixieland.

There was quite a bit of throwing around the phrases honky-tonk and redneck that had me cringing, prodding me to reflect on when I last heard honky-tonk used except when referred to the particular discordant style of piano playing. And come on, we aren't all rednecks here. We have electricity, indoor plumbing, and by following the clothing trends, look about the same as everyone else outside our state. But I digress.

My guess is she likely adds these down-home clichés because the market and reader expect it. It's what's hot.

MacKenzie Grace, the Hollywood star fleeing from a stalker to the secluded mountains of Tennessee, was a likable character, not overly pretentious with her big city ways and amusingly spunky at moments. I appreciated that there wasn't the element of friction with her rejecting the former Green Beret Luke Alexander's protection and having to prove she can take care of herself. I grow weary of that over-trodden trope.

I had to recheck that this novella was a romantic suspense since the suspense part held less action than I'd imagined. The danger never felt that close, and when the plot did start spooling up, it seemed to fizzle out the next moment. Like I said, I am the newbie to this carousel ride, so I'm guessing this is the going rate for the romantic suspense genre? I'll have to do a little more exploring to be certain.

The faith aspect promoted more of a cultural Christianity of "God and Family" and could have been stronger and woven throughout the story more, with only one moment where Kenzie and Luke briefly fall into a discussion with a little more spiritual meat to it. I was disconcerted that they are falling head-over-heels in love when neither of them knows what the other believes. Faith and worldview are kinda a big deal, especially when you are contemplating spending the rest of your life with this person. Otherwise, you are headed for potential heartbreak and headache. Not a plan I'd recommend.

The novella came to a satisfying ending with both hero and heroine overcoming their personal challenges, him with the hauntings of his military past, and her in the compromising she had made of her identity in the pursuit of achieving renown. Making amends in her familial relationships, she emerged with a stronger moral fiber and the fulfillment of her ambitions and personal dreams.

Content aside, I found the writing style clipped and often monosyllabic in the descriptions, illustrating the scenery with blunt sentences, and making the characters' movements sound more like "stage direction" to use a Jerry Jenkins term. While I at times employ this method, I prefer to use it sparingly and in scenes of high tension. Otherwise, it made situations that were meant to be cozy and casual jilted, and, I mean this with due respect, suggestive of an inexperienced high schooler instead of a proven author.

If this writing style is the modus operandi of modern novels, I have to protest. Our culture is continually on a downward spiral in the intelligence department, and we should be encouraging good writing, and yes, including more that requires a person to think. Entertain by all means but offer something to mentally chew on as well.

As authors, we don't need to give in to the trends and assist in dumbing down our readers.

Have you read You Don't Have to Be a Star? What are your thoughts on it, or your thoughts on my thoughts on it? I'd love to hear in the comments!

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~Alissa