So, I requested an ARC of Fairytale based on the premise alone without realizing that this was actually the second book in a series. I did not read All Our Yesterdays from the same series, so I cannot comment on how these two stories intersect and my opinions will come solely from what is in this book.

The summary promised an oral history of the trials and tribulations of a Britney Spears-like figure in her rise and fall from fame. Fairytale definitely delivered on that front. The story of Olive Sherman is told through interviews and stories from those who know Olive, which I think is one of the greatest strengths of this novel. This use of the format feels very reminiscent of Taylor Jenkins Reid and it felt almost like a nineties/two-thousands take on her book, Daisy Jones and the Six. That positions her in a sort of fantasy position for most of her own story, which is one of the most gripping elements in this book. We are, essentially, like Angie discovering Olive through perceptions others have of her. The title Fairytale takes on a new meaning through this writing choice.

There were moments throughout the book that left me just the slightest bit bored and because of her fantastical mysteriousness, I sometimes struggled to care about what Olive was going through. We know that we're supposed to care for her but we have not yet been given the information for why we should root for Olive to succeed. Maybe more diary entries would help with this.

A high point for me in this book are Joan's interviews and especially her stories about Carson, wonderful bisexual representation and depiction of grief.

If there were two recommendations I could give they would be:

1. A new book cover

The cover as it is now provides no intrigue for picking up the book and doesn't seem to capture, in my opinion, what kind of book this even is. It looks more like a Rupi Kaur-esque poetry book than a faux-memoir exploring the hardships of life in the limelight.

2. A thorough read through for typos.

I noticed a missing word specifically in the January 16 2004 diary entry (see: He keeps saying isn't mad about..). These diary entries are very important for contextualizing Olive in how she sees herself, so making sure these are in tip-top shape is very important.

Overall, a great sophomore novel from Eleanor Wells with some room for improvement. I would recommend to those who enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six and anyone who may be intrigued by this review. Double thank you to Netgalley and publishers for providing me an ARC of Fairytale. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. If you want to leave your thoughts below, please do!

this book was a great and informative read of the price of fame. we are seeing lots more on this darker side to this "fame dream" and quite often im seeing how its more of a nightmare come true if anything. what the artist has to do both to get and in their fame era often feels like to much darkness. its a game swimming and sharks and very bag eggs. and the sacrifices feel too much for anyone to justify.
we are told in this book about the life of Olive. she was a superstar. but all was not well. she did of course as many do start a s a nobody but worked her way up to becoming a star. but her journey was peppered with the daker side of that stardom. Angie who is writing the story deftly finds the details of Olives life. she interviews both the woman herself and characters who have been there along the way.
we are given a real insight to the industry. we are given what it really means to get there and once you are in it.
not only that but its also about what happens when you get there. when you have chased the dream and found it it. what have you found? and who of yourself have you lost along the way with this never ending need for more and more. where is the end goal of making it big?
i was invested in both Angie and Olive for different reasons. my heart went out to Olive and her determination was unwavering.
this book was really very good. i enjoyed it way more than i thought i would. and the style and layout of this books only add to it plus points.
i also really chuckle at the title. because how often, as we know, is a fairytale ever actually that.

I enjoyed this way more than I thought I did.

Fairytale follows Angie Hernandez as she sets out to write a biography or Olive Sherman. A singer/actress that rose from humble beginnings to a superstar. Along the way we learn about her messy history in showbiz as well as her relationships that have seen her through the years.

I love books that chronicle the trials and tribulations of fame. I appreciate that the author didn't try to sugarcoat Olive's rise to fame by making it seem like a perfect dream come true. Olive's story was intense and the structure of the story (interviewing the people in her life and who worked closely with her as well as interviewing Olive herself) gave much insight into the character and really brought her to life. Even though there is a lot of story to cover, this feels more like a character driven piece for me. Each character was so unique and memorable that, despite having a huge cast of characters, I was never lost.

I really liked the format of this book. It felt like reading one long vanity fair or rolling stone profile. Olive’s story in particular, I don’t know if it stood out from similar stories. I liked Olive though. Overall, I preferred Fairytale to All Our Yesterdays.

This was an enjoyable read. It tells the story of Olive as Angela interviews important people from Olive’s life before and during her career. I love that it detailed the good, the bad, and the ugly of her growth as she attempts to navigate through the entertainment industry. I love that Olive was interviewed last, because it gives detail to everyone else’s interviews. It was a good read. I easily connected with the characters.