Lick: Stage Dive 1 (Kylie Scott, Pan Macmillan)

Kylie Scott is a USA Today bestselling romance author who lives in Queensland. I mention this because her latest book is firmly set in the US—Las Vegas, LA and Portland. After Evelyn’s debauched 21st birthday she wakes to find herself married to one of the hottest rock stars in the world. This is the story of the ‘hangover’ and how Evelyn navigates the strange-yet-exciting new world she finds herself in, and the tension between her down-to-earth self and the allure of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Lick is very much old-school romantic fiction. There are a few nods in the direction of erotic fiction—a hot, successful alpha male and a lovely girl trying to get her head around attracting this great guy—but with none of the kinky stuff. If well-marketed, this book will appeal to younger audiences of mass-market romantic fiction. It is a fun, easy read, the characters are likable, and there isn’t too much wasted description around brand-name clothes or cars. Lick is the first book in the ‘Stage Dive’ series, with further titles centred around other members of a fictional rock band.

Rachel Wilson is a Melbourne-based media academic and former bookseller

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews