Hey everyone, welcome to the show. Great to be
here. Today, we're diving into something pretty
intense. Think dazzling fame, deep love, but
also that sharp sting of betrayal. We've both
been reading Kate Callahan's Not Another Rockstar.
And wow, yeah, it's definitely an emotional ride,
isn't it? It really is. And you know, while it's
like... technically in the romance genre, it
feels like so much more. There are some serious
dramatic elements, suspense too. It kind of pushes
those boundaries. Totally. So, okay. The main
character is Phoebe. She's this really talented
artist and things are going great for her sellout
exhibition, Career High. Yeah. Big moment for
her. Her fiance, Cillian Hunt. He's the front
man for this huge band, Brothers of Anarchy.
He's not there. And that absence just hangs heavy
right from the start. Exactly. And then things
take a turn. Phoebe ends up going to Munich.
Ah, Munich. Yeah, and she finds something out,
something that just completely shatters everything
she thought was real. Yeah, it's a gut -punch
discovery. It really changes the whole trajectory.
So what really stood out for you? Without giving
too much away, of course. For me, it was definitely
the exploration of fame, how it puts this immense
pressure on relationships. Oh, definitely. It
wasn't just, you know, Cillian's job. It felt
like this third entity in their relationship
constantly demanding things, casting shadows.
Yeah, like a destructive force almost. Yeah.
You really see the compromises and the weirdness
that comes with one person being constantly in
the public eye. Exactly. It makes you think about
those unique challenges. And building on that,
what I really loved was Phoebe herself. Her strength.
I mean, she faces some really awful stuff, betrayal,
tragedy, but her resilience, it's incredibly
well portrayed. She doesn't just like fall apart.
No, she finds a way. It's not just about surviving.
It's about actively rebuilding, finding a new
path. Yeah. And finding support in unexpected
places. Yes. That was another thing. These connections
that kind of emerge out of the crisis. Right.
People step up. Yeah. Genuine bonds form and
they become these like. anchors for her it shows
how connection can be so healing even when things
seem totally bleak it does yeah okay but on the
flip side were there things that frustrated you
oh definitely look no spoilers but some character
choices Let's just say they tested my patience.
You're reading it and thinking, really? Why would
you do that? Some actions felt so impulsive.
I know. Almost self -sabotaging sometimes. You
just want to shake them. Exactly. It adds to
the drama for sure. But yeah, frustrating. And
tied into that, I guess, is just the sheer emotional
turmoil. The book doesn't pull punches. You really
feel Phoebe's pain, the messiness of it all.
No, it doesn't shy away from that. Which, you
know, makes it impactful, but it can be tough
going as a reader sometimes. You really experience
that weight with her. Yeah. It's intense. Yeah.
And another thing, the ending. Right. It gives
you closure, sort of. But not everything is tied
up neatly, is it? No, not at all. There are still
lingering questions, unresolved tensions. Maybe
you're left wondering a bit about their futures.
Which I actually kind of liked. It felt more
real. You know, life isn't always neat little
bows. Agreed. That refusal to provide easy answers
definitely adds to the realism. OK, so considering
all that, the great stuff like the look at fame,
Phoebe's resilience, those unexpected bonds.
Balanced against the frustrating decisions and
the emotional heaviness. Where do we land on
a rating? We talked about this and I think we're
pretty aligned. Yeah, I think so. We're giving
not another rock star a strong. Four out of five
stars. Yeah, solid four. It's compelling. It
draws you in deep. You get really invested in
Phoebe's journey. Definitely. Heartbreak, healing.
It makes you think about fame, connection, all
that stuff. It sticks with you. For sure. It's
a story that sparks thought about relationships
under, well, pretty extraordinary pressure and
finding strength when you least expect it. So,
yeah, if this deep dive has got you interested.
You should check it out. Absolutely. There's
a link to buy the book on Amazon right there
in the description below this. And hey, if you
enjoyed our chat, found it useful, maybe give
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really helps us keep doing these deep dives.
We appreciate the support. And we'd love to hear
from you, too. Tell us in the comments maybe
what part of this discussion caught your ear.
Or if you've read it, maybe a favorite non -spoiler
moment. Yeah, keep the conversation going. Let
us know what you think. Anyway, thanks so much
for tuning in today. Thanks, everyone.