Adulation

by Elisa Lorello

Celebrity screenwriter Danny Masters has the world at his feet. He’s dating a movie-star bombshell and his latest screenplay is a shoe-in for an Oscar. But he’s empty.

With few accomplishments to her credit, longtime bookstore employee Sunny Smith celebrates her fortieth birthday by setting forty goals for herself. Sleeping with her writing idol, Danny Masters, makes the list.

At the premiere of Danny’s new film, the two have a brief but enchanting exchange outside the theater. And after Danny insults the audience during the post-screening Q&A session, he’s thrilled to see Sunny in his autograph line. But as he gently takes her hand, Sunny spits Danny’s insults back at him.

The next day, to her horror, Sunny discovers a video of her tirade has gone viral. Instead of being angry, Danny is more determined than ever to find Sunny — and apologize. And once their lives intersect again, there’ll be no turning back.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Celebrity

419 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

Elisa Lorello was born and raised on Long Island, the youngest of seven children. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and launched a career teaching rhetoric and composition. She has been teaching first-year writing to university students since 2000, but went on sabbatical in fall 2012. Elisa spent six years in North Carolina, where she split her time between teaching and writing, and returned to the northeast in October 2012.

Elisa is the author of the Kindle best-selling novels "Faking It" and "Ordinary World", "Why I Love Singlehood" (co-authored with Sarah Girrell), and "Adulation".

Some of Elisa's favorite pastimes include chocolate, reading, and walking. She is also an avid fan of Duran Duran, pop tarts, and finding the perfect shade of lipstick.

Reviews

[~IreneOust~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what really sucks?? That fantastic books such as this one barely manage to break a 3.5 star average when so much fluff (to put it mildly) out there gets 4.5 and higher ratings.

I've been a fan of Elisa Lorello's work ever since I read (and loved!) Faking It & Ordinary World. Both books left me an emotional mess (the story was absolutely heartbreaking) but I couldn't put either book down.

This one was no exception. Loved the storyline! Loved the chatacters! Loved the writing! Sometimes a great, well written story about a couple of flawed individuals is just what the doctor ordered.



*** Since I am turning 40 later this year (as did the main character), this book inspired me to make my very own "40 for 40" list! Can't wait to start checking stuff off it :)

[Logan Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time to read Elisa Lorello, and it will not be my last. I have fallen in love with the way she writes. I loved this story because it was about real people that anyone could relate to and real situations that more and more people are having to adapt to this day in time (divorce, children, having a hard time putting yourself back out there after divorce).

Danny Masters is the "Master" of screenplays. He has won several Emmy's and other awards. He is divorced, has a daughter named Ella and is dating the beautiful actress, Charlene. At his premiere of Exposed he runs into aspiring author and stockroom girl, Sunny. Sunny is divorced and has had a hard time getting back into the game of dating. For her fortieth birthday, her two best friends, Georgie and Theo, take her to the premiere after giving her a major makeover and creating the "40 in 40" list. She is crazy about Danny but he wouldn't ever notice a girl like her...or would he? Sunny has had a hard time overcoming her past as her ex humiliated her in front of all of Long Island. Danny can't forgive himself for an accident no matter how long ago it happened or how much he does and gives as reconciliation - it will never be enough.

This book is about forgiveness, confidence in ones self and overcoming the past. If you enjoy romance novels, you will love this book. Adulation was anything but dull. It was fun, romantic and exciting. It made me laugh and made me cry, then gave me chills. I read through this book very quickly because I couldn't put it down. I really hope there is a sequel to this book because Lorello left me wanting to read more. I gave this book five stars.

[DJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars, really.

There was so much I wanted to like about this book. The premise--a hollywood screenwriter meets small indie author and falls in love--was something that seemed right up my alley as far as RomComs go. Seemed so cute, no matter the ages of the future lovers. But there was so much that got in my way of loving this...

And this is my opinions and other people may not see/ have not seen it the same way as I do. To each their own.

One.

The screenwriter is Danny Masters. He had a fantastic run with a faux television show Winters in Hiannis. He's has brilliant movie after brilliant movie. He was even snubbed for an Oscar for one film everyone thought he's win. He's dating a movie star--on and off, but mostly on when it's not off...And then he hits it even bigger with his new film, even garnering an Oscar for once. (Sorry that's a spoiler.)

But, this is one of the many things that irked me. Maybe I've been in the writing game for too long or I have researched everything from screenwriter to poet to novel and all in between. Danny Masters would NEVER be nommed for an Oscar. Anytime a movie gets the Oscar attention, it's always te directors, producers, and actors who get the creds and statues. Maybe on that alternate Oscar thing that's held the week or days before for lighting and small categories would a screenwriter get any props. It's a fact I've researched...and I couldn't swallow this guy getting these honors unless he had a hand in producing or directing.

That's a just me thing I couldn't get past to enjoy this.

Two. Sunny Smith is a Long Island bookstore stockroom manager who wants to write. One night, for her birthday, she gets to see Danny Masters' new film and enjoy a Q&A with him on the panel afterwards.Sunny seems to have this "moment" with Danny before the event where the world stops revolving and only the two of them exist. That is until he spouts off an insult and it peeves her so she tells him off.

From that moment on, she is this whole other person. Who still whines about her ex from seven years before, who dates this guy, Josh, she has a LOVE/HATE thing for, and still fangirls over Danny Masters, even though he insulted her.

It was totally her not me.

She explained how her ex dropped her like a zillion times. Once would have been enough. But then everytime the story began to surface, a new little fact popped up and bobbed there. There was never a hint or a build to the thing. Yet, her story, like the proverbial fish, kept getting bigger and bigger, though not necessarily better.

Then she goes into self pub. Her books sell and start to take off. Next thing I know, she's quitting her job and living on her book sales. Must be nice, and yet so fake. Most authors, indie and otherwise make barely enough for a nice meal out, sadly.

Just another fact I couldn't get on board with.

Then, the POV thing. I get it. Two completely different characters should have two completely different voices. But this went from Danny's POV in third person to Sunny's POV in first. It's like staring out driving on this road, getting in to a good coasting speed then you have to STOP and take time to switch into four-wheel drive to start again. So fine, you get back to coasting then you have to STOP and go back to what you were doing before. It got annoying! And FAST!!! I started making all of it in first person POV...just to make it easier to keep in the mindsets...

It didn't work for me at all.

Outside of that, it seemed the characters where too whiny and overly smitten from moment one. Then not smitten from moment two. Then the pining and whining and UGH!!! NO!!! I understand romantic tension. I THRIVE on romantic tension. But this was just them whining about their lives with these moments of the author having a great idea and sticking it in the story, making it longer and less tolerable. For so long this book dragged. Until the tail end of the book when the two finally got together...sort of maybe not really.

I wish I could have loved this book. I SO WANTED TO LOVE THIS BOOK! But no. I despise ending the year on a negative review. Again, this is just stuff that irked me beyond belief that made it difficult for me to like it. On the upside, I didn't send it to my DNF list...I just kept hoping for that happy ending all romances and RomComs should have in spades.

*HEAVY SIGH* This concludes the end of 2015 and ends my book count for this year at 114 books read. (Well above the planned 65.) Hoping for an amazing read to come along in 2016! Happy New Year!!!

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

So...a stock room bookshop worker turns 40 and has a midlife crisis, but manages to meet her celebrity crush who meets her for two minutes but can't get her out of his mind, even though he has a stunning actress as his girlfriend. Totally could happen. Time to return to my job at Blackwell's.

[Lucy (why do I bother to read chicklit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danny & Sunny were stuck with me long after I finished this one :)

[Sherrill Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

See Roberto & Sarah's reviews. A lightweight read.

Danny Masters / Gold is haunted by someone he smashed into with his car when he was drunk, years ago, but he vowed never to drink again and in one chapter (I think) she forgives him and he forgives himself. Never mind that Raj (his interesting therapist) had been telling him to do so for years.

Other than that, this book provides a simplistic picture of an Emmy writer, who meets his soul mate, loses her thru a "misunderstanding", and finds her again.

"There is a difference between typing and writing." "He had failed to be who he truly was." "I'm not worthy to be in your presence." Meh.

[Jonathan K (Max Outlier) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd probably have rated it higher if I was a woman since at its core its a romance novel. As a writer/screenwriter I enjoyed the concepts, though Act III for me was predictable in all ways. Well written overall, but not something I'd recommend for lovers of great story, unusual characters and twists.

[jen m · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this author- the stories are real and the characters are believable. Planning to read more

[Kara Jorges · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a fan of Lorello’s “Faking It,” and even though the sequel fell flat, I decided to give her another try. Once again, I’m left thinking that sometimes women’s fiction is just a poorly executed romance novel.

Bookstore stockroom manager Sunrise Smith is reaching her 40th birthday, and her two best friends encourage her to make a “40 for 40” list—40 things to accomplish. Topping the list is sleeping with Danny Masters, a celebrity screenwriter Sunny has had a crush on for years. Her friends give her a push in his direction by getting tickets to the premiere and a Q&A for Danny’s latest movie. While they’re in Manhattan, Sunny and Danny bump into each other on the street and feel an instant connection before an enthusiastic fan interrupts. Then, Danny makes an insensitive remark about his fans during the Q&A, and Sunny torpedoes any kind of relationship with Danny by insulting him and walking away. Another fan records it on video, which goes viral and makes the whole world wonder just who and what Sunny is to Danny Masters.

Everything was fine up to this point, and then the story took a bad turn. Rather than some sort of relationship developing between Sunny and Danny, the two of them retreat to their separate corners and ruminate about each other a lot. They’ve both got a lot of demons and insecurities to battle, so many pages are devoted to their inner angst. Danny is already in an on-again-off-again relationship with an actress, and Sunny, who hasn’t dated in seven years, begins a romantic relationship with a superior at work. Most of the book is about these other relationships, rather than building one between Sunny and Danny and, quite frankly, it bored me. I just don’t care about their exes. Fill me in with a couple of paragraphs, and then tell me Sunny and Danny’s story. I had serious issues with the “connection” between them, too. They were both adults over 40, so it seemed silly for them to be so obsessed with one another—especially Danny, who was famous and had a girlfriend already—after a five-minute conversation. A spark of interest, yes, but the level of fantasy on the part of both characters was not the least bit believable. While I’m complaining, I also found Sunny’s relationship with her friends, and the friends themselves, to be cloyingly clichéd and overdone.

While I like books that divert from a standard “formula,” straying too far only underscores why the “formula” is popular in the first place: it works. This story did not. It focused on everything I didn’t care about and didn’t even begin to delve into the things that mattered.

[Ulises · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I thought that there was no good to be found in the $1.99 list on Amazon, along comes Adulation, a book that spoke to me on so many levels, it's instantly become one of my favorites.

Adulation is a dual-perspective narrative about an acclaimed Hollywood screenwriter named Danny Masters with plenty of awards and even more personal demons, and a bookstore stockroom manager named Sunny Smith who writes unpublished novels, adores Masters, and hates herself. Their stories intersect early on, and Lorello then works arduously to make their stories intersect again in a way that is plausible, engaging, and rewarding.

The narratives, despite switching from first to third person narrations, are strong and excellently written. The story progresses naturally and seamlessly. It's enough of a page-turner, especially toward the end, and the story will speak to anyone who's ever turned 40 and seriously struggled with self-doubt and anxiety. The characters, even the minor ones, are all well constructed, and even Smith's eventual ascension is predictable but well within the scope of believability.

I'd easily recommend Adulation on its literary merits. For me, I guess the novel was a little something more special.

As a struggling writer myself who's entered his 40s and has had all kinds of doubts and questions about the validity of my creative work, Adulation really spoke to me. At the risk of being TMI, the characters' struggles with self-worth, with their anxiety about being phonies, with their relationship anxieties, and their struggle to determine if they're doing what they're meant to be doing, it all resonated with me. Throughout the book, I felt I was both Masters and Smith, sharing in some of their demons, and finding real personal satisfaction as they work through their respective struggles.

In the end, this book also made me realize that I need to keep writing. Like Sunny Smith's character, I felt that I drifted from my main passion: writing fiction. As I read this novel on the subway, I wanted desperately to just call in sick, go to a coffeehouse, and write, write, and write some more. So I guess the book was something of a kick in the butt for me, and if/when I publish Inventing Vazquez, Equinox, and all those other books in my creative queue, I'll have Elisa Lorello to thank.

Even so, I thank you, Ms. Lorello, for writing such a fantastic book!

[Roberto Scarlato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danny Masters, a screenwriter with an incident from his past weighing over his head, is trying to come to terms with his age, his relationship and his career. Sunny Smith is a stockroom manager at a bookstore called Whitfield's. She has written works, is coming to terms with her age and is trying to move on from a bad divorce. When these characters converge, they affect the others life when Danny bites off more than he could chew and gets aggravated at an audience at a Q and A movie premiere. After his tirade, Sunny confronts him to give him a piece of her mind. What she doesn't know is calling Danny Masters a failure strikes a chord, leaving him to evaluate his complicated life and decide what he wants for himself and how he will get back in touch with the woman who stood up to him.

Really there are two novels at work here, Sunny's story and Danny's story. This book has surprisingly accurate revelations about life, love and how to get over troubled pasts. This is a great book for the hopeless romantic in all of us as well as anyone who has an interest in film-making. Its also fun to see how Danny and Sunny's lives with interconnect as they live their lives. Really connected with these characters and it ended well.

[Ann-marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my fourth book by this author. I enjoy how she is so detailed and how her books are believable characters that you might come across in everyday life. Sunny is turning forty and is not fully happy with her life. She has been i a rut since her divorce seven years ago and she still at job in bookstore she had since she was in college. She is a closet writer who has not been braved to publish anything and has major crush on the famous screenwriter Danny Masters. This book is about her getting her dream chance of meeting him during one of his film interview session. Just as she is getting over meeting her crush he says somethings to the audience and when it came time to meet him she answers back in a way her friends Georgie and Theo cannot believe. So begins the book with the chapters written back forth on Sunny's thoughts and Danny thoughts. I also agree with a previous reviewer I would have like ore of Danny and Sunny interaction together. I felt the book could have ended a bit sooner but I like how the author dealt with Danny's and Sunny's issue. Terrific read.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this book on a deal, because it sounded up my alley.

And I read this book on my way back from a cruise in 2014. I liked that Sunny was 39 and about to turn 40 (just like I was). Something about her 40 in 40 hit home with me.

The main character, Sunny, seemed like a real person. I liked that she had friends that wouldn't let her settle or think less of herself. And that while she was working through her stuff, she had them to hold her accountable. Life happens and things get overlooked. No exception in this story. Nice to see how it all played out in that regard.

The story wasn't necessarily the best (got tired of the word adulation a tad, but it wasn't horrible), but I really liked the ideas that I got from it and I was entertained by it.

Biggest thing: You could say it changed my life... I did quit my dead-end job less than 2 months later. In a strange way, this made me see what I needed to see. :-)

[Calli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read most of Elisa Lorello's work, and enjoy it tremendously. A very talented writer with a distinct voice and style, her books have always been very good; I would dare say 'Adulation' is an example of her potential approaching its most fully realized. As always, the characters draw the reader into the story---Lorello is quickly becoming a master of characterization. In fact, Danny Masters reminded me a bit of a character one would find in a John Irving book (which is truly high praise, given that he is my all-time favorite). Lorello deftly handles two independent storylines (one in first person and the other in third) and intersects them very organically, allowing the reader to fully invest in both. Another fine example of 'chick-lit' for the thinking woman---I highly recommend this fun read.

[a. joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real life 'grown film's romance, superbly written

Let me begin by saying, this ain't my first Lorello.

I was captivated by the authenticity of Faking It and the poignancy of Ordinary World. As with these novels, I quickly invested in the heroine's life - her idiosyncrasies and fears, as well as her the path she took to Danny. Ah, Danny. As with all of this author's, he is a whole person rather than a hot body, and his complex web of emotions and vulnerabilities are explored beautifully.

While more commercial than her earlier work, Lorello provided a bona fide literary experience for this true lover of the romance genre, with narry a dom, shape shifter, billionaire, M.C. fiend nor rock god in sight. 5 Stars!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story about Sunny Smith who has a major crush on Danny Masters a celebrity screenwriter. She is turning 40 and not happy about the way her life is turning out. Her friends decide that she should make a list of 40 things to achieve in 40 weeks although she is not keen on the idea. She never expects to meet Danny and when she does after a memorable first meeting it doesn't turn out as she hoped. They both feel a connection but struggle to decide if you can instantly know when you meet your soulmate. This is a good read but the characters can be a bit annoying at times and I don't feel this book is as good as her previous novels.

[Klaudyna Z. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed in this one, I have to admit. I hated that Danny and Sunny didn't get together until the end. The back and forth POV's of Sunny's and Danny's made it almost seem like I was reading two separate stories. It was definitely well written but I was disappointed in the story itself. I felt like it took the whole story for there to even be a beginning between Danny and Sunny and I felt like based on the premise of the book, that's what it was supposed to be about. Instead it was about the self discovery of two people separately before they can be together. Which, again, was ok, but that's not what I was expecting in this book.

[Leigh UK · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started off this book thinking that it would end up in my "could not finish" pile. It does start pretty darned slow but you see, that's the magic. It sort of sneaks up on you. This book is really about loving yourself, overcoming the incidents in life that knock you back and though you seem to be carrying on, your internal compass is really totally skewed. It's just sheer luck the timing of me reading this book - seeing as I'm 40 and also waking up to the things that I do to hold myself back. I absolutely loved seeing both characters wake up and reclaim their lives. A slow burn with real depth. Beautiful book.

[Nessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. There were times when I was starting to lose interest though and then right when I was about to put it down came the interesting facts about Danny's past. I really like how the author puts advice about positive living in her novels, it has been very helpful for me. I did get a little offended when Georgie snapped at Sunny and she accepted his opinions on her past relationship as facts. I understand tough love and being honest but it bothered me. overall this story was good and I liked how it went back and forth between Sunny and Danny.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very light read which I didn't enjoy very much. I bought the kindle version of a dollar through an amazon local deal, and I'm glad I didn't pay the full price for this. I found the storyline to be highly unrealistic and the characters annoyed me, especially the main character, sunny. She whines about everything from her name to pretty much every other aspect of her life except for her job. When someone in her life tries to point this out to her or pull her out of her slump she overreacts, picks a fight, and storms off...only to apologize in the next few hours or days.

[Sarah Vale · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring, dull monotonous..... would give it no stars if I could.

The basis story is good but it wasn't written well. Couldn't fall for the characters and their stories as there was no depth. And could not get into the love story as it was them meeting at the start of the book for 3 pages, then nothing till the last 2 pages when they finally meet up again. I kept reading waiting for them to get together and getting to know each other but as that didn't happen I was very disappointed.
Brought this book due to such high ratings. Waste of money

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved all of Elisa Lorello's books. This one is , well I don't want to call it chick-lit, because its more intelligent than that but it is an easy, romantic read with a massive feel good factor. My only criticism was with the first part of the book where I got bogged down in some very long sentences. 70, 80, 90, 100 words in a sentence did my head in but luckily the whole book wasn't like that and once I was into it I couldn't put it down.

[Therese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say, I have never read a book like this one. Main characters didn't really get together until the last sentence in the book. Then there isn't a sequel to read their story. This book is about them meeting two different times for 5 mins each and that is all. I liked the writing and other than the speed of what you knew what inevitable, it was a good read.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to read a book of love where the female wasn't a 20-something year old. This was a fun read. Some things in it were a little unrealistic, but that's OK. It's a story and sometimes it's good for a story to have some unrealistic parts. I enjoyed the way the author created the story and how she intertwined the 2 main characters lives. I will definitely read more by this author.

[Louise Pledge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate giving three star ratings, but to be honest with myself, I must. Not only was there too much offensive language and illicit sex, but the story had a hard time holding my attention. I almost quit several times, then decided I wanted to know if the heroine ever got together with the celebrity of her dreams. Then it felt like there was too quick and unbelievable of a resolution.

[Paullette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really disapointing--I put it down a couple of times and probably should have left it there, but some compulsion made me read on. So many things were so clearly wrong that I'd like to say the book would be easily fixed, but...I don't know. I'd say skip it.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved these characters and the original story line. It was a an unusual romance in that there was very little face time between the main characters, yet I was invested in their individual stories.

[Beth Livingston]

I was really disappointed. After starting the book I felt obligated as well as wanted to finish it. I kept wanting something exciting or captivating to happen to want me to continue and hen when I thought it was it was over and it never happened.

[Kaylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this was a good and easy read. Another one I couldn't put down. I had resisted buying this one, even though the price is low at $1.99. In the end, I'm glad I read the sample and then gave it a shot.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading about the two main characters, living completely different lives, on opposite sides of the country. I was anxious to know how the characters would meet, but I didn't want the book to end. I didn't realize that I had also read another book by this author, Faking It.