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 as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Beneath the facade of glamour lies a story of unwavering determination and unyielding courage.
Where the Light is the 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.
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.
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Giveaway to Win a Paperback copy of Where The Light is Hottest by Catherine Yardley (UK Only)
My thoughts: I can’t say I particularly liked Natasha, the protagonist of this book about an actor’s rise to fame via RADA and small parts in plays and on TV, to Oscar winner and successful founder of a woman led production company.
She’s a bit too charmed and at times her life looks a little too easy to be completely won over by her. She marries a handsome lawyer, they have two children, her career isn’t too badly affected. There are some deeply unpleasant moments, on set with co-stars, off set with sleazy producers, but compared to some of the stories that have come out of #MeToo and similar campaigns, Natasha is one of the lucky ones.
I just didn’t find her very likeable as a character, she just didn’t click for me. However I did enjoy the book, I liked her friend who is very aware of the privileged life she enjoys, and always picks up the bill, trying to balance her family wealth with kindness. I liked Natasha’s husband, he seemed like a genuinely nice man.
Maybe it’s because I have some friends who followed the same path as Natasha but weren’t so lucky. Not because they’re not talented, but just because there are hundreds of talented bright young things pouring out of drama schools every year, and auditioning for the same roles. I don’t know.
Maybe she just wasn’t the character whose story I found most interesting, her friend Scarlet definitely struggled more and yet, wasn’t always the loyal and die hard that Natasha wanted her to be – as changeable as humans often are.
Anyway, I don’t want anyone to think this wasn’t a good read, I found it interesting and the relationships were my favourite bit, how even as you become very successful, it’s the people that matter, the ones who’ve been with you all along.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
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