Review: Halfway Perfect

Halfway Perfect by Julie Cross & Mark Perini

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What they say: Bestselling author Julie Cross teams up with Ford model Mark Perini to pen a poignant and gritty YA novel about love and the dark side of modeling and the fashion industry.

Eve's time as a fashion model nearly destroyed her-now she's determined to build a career behind the camera lens. But landing a coveted photography internship brings her face to face with her dark past-and her ex.

While Eve is snapping pictures, up-and-coming male model Alex is launching his career-which, for him, involves maintaining a fake relationship with his (secretly) underage co-star, Elana.

But Alex is falling for Eve, and Eve won't let herself get hurt again. If Alex can pull off a fake love with Elana, can he convince Eve to risk a secret affair with him? 

Coming May 5th from Sourcebooks Fire - ISBN: 9781402297199

Author(s) & Book links:
Julie: Website * Twitter  Mark: Website * Twitter
Pre-order: Amazon UK * Amazon US

I received a copy from Sourcebooks (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: In Halfway Perfect Julie Cross joins forces with male model and author, Mark Perini, to produce an honest, and at times dark, look into the world of modelling and the fashion industry. 

Eve left her career as a fashion model under a huge cloud and a lot of secrecy. She has spent the last few years trying to move on and dreams of becoming a photographer.  When the chance to work with a hugely respected photographer comes along Eve finds herself facing the very people and issues she thought she had left in the past.  Eve meets model on the rise Alex, who she thinks is arrogant and shallow until he proves he isn't.

The book was definitely much darker and grittier than I expected. I didn't envisage certain revelations concerning Eve's past, and when they came to light I wasn't sure what to make of the characters involved and Eve's reaction to them. I liked both of the main characters and found myself hoping they would be able to see past their problems, expectations and of course outside interference, to find a HEA. Alex was a sweet combination of hot model (hello undies scene), charming and thoughtful friend (how he looks after Elana) and possessive potential lover.

The secondary characters were a nice mix and I felt they helped balance out the narrative. I didn't like all of them, but we're not supposed to. Alex's sister made me smile and I appreciated the people who came out to support them.

Eve has a lot of things to deal with throughout the book but it was nice to see her try to form a new life for herself. Her relationship with Elana was particularly sweet and served as a nice parallel to her own journey.

4 Stars in my sky!