Theodora Twist -- Melissa Senate

Goodness.  There seem to be a lot of Hollywood-themed books lately. I have at least two others in my TBR pile.  I wasn’t sure if I should read them all in one fell swoop or spread them out.  (I decided on spreading them out.  That way there’s less chance of me getting irritable.)

Theodora Twist is a pretty standard she said/she said fish-out-of-water teen comedy drama.  I found it hard NOT to imagine Theodora as Lindsay Lohan. Even though the physical description doesn’t match, the rest is pretty spot-on:  She’s a teen star who has become prime tabloid fodder due to her wild-child exploits (which include being photographed skinny-dipping, smooching (and more, but the photo didn’t show that) two pop stars -- brothers -- at the same time).

In danger of losing her endorsement deals, a three-movie contract with Disney, and all of her “tween-appeal” (because let’s face it – that’s where the money is), Theodora’s agent gives her an ultimatum: Participate in a reality show designed to show that Theodora is Just Another Teenaged Girl -- or the agent walks and Theodora's career crumbles.  Theodora doesn’t want to lose her agent OR her career.

Enter Emily Fine.  She’s a Good Girl.  Her life is normal with a capital N.  She also was friends with Theodora (briefly) just before T's Big Break, and just happens to live in Theodora’s childhood home. What with the new baby and all, her family is a bit strapped for cash, too.  It’s a perfect match.

So Theodora moves into Emily’s room, her school and her life for a month.

It was cute.  There is some pretty frank talk about sex, so be aware about that when dealing with protective parents, but the book provides two very different points of view on the subject -- Theodora has been sexually active (very, very sexually active) since she was thirteen, whereas Emily is Not Ready and pretty okay with that. I can see it being popular with the Gossip Girl girls.  Parents and booksellers might feel better about handing this one out -- it’s better written, the characters actually have some depth, and fame/fabulousness is viewed (at least by the end) as double-edged, rather than Something to Have at Any Cost.