Review - - Hollywood Hookup

Hollywood Hookup

by Christy Swift

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: February 10, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

A former movie star is thrust back into the celebrity life where she finds herself competing for a date with her longtime crush in this funny and heartwarming rom-com about second chances and rediscovering your true self.

Once a teenage TV star, she’s reinvented her life. Now her very public celebrity crush has put her back in the spotlight.

Josie Days has worked hard to forget who she used to be. Once upon a time, she was one of Mexico’s favorite bilingual teen stars—until one disastrous decision ruined her budding career. These days, Josie’s happy to keep things very off-camera as a makeup artist. That is until her best friend ropes her into a charity game show where the prize is a date with her forever celebrity crush: impossibly charming Irish “It” boy Sean O’Sullivan.

Josie has no interest in winning. In fact, she’s trying to lose—and fast. But Sean is interested in more than a game. The problem? Josie isn’t who he thinks she is. And when the cameras start rolling and her past is exposed, she’ll have to decide if she’s ready for the spotlight again—or if her second act never should have started.

PJ's Thoughts:

Oh, this was a fun one. Josie and Sean kept me grinning pretty much from start to finish. Though it's not all fun and games. Fraught family relationships and self-questioning along the way give the story satisfying emotional heft but, overall, this one keeps the endorphins popping. 

Swift returns to Hollywood for the follow-up to last year's Celebrity Crush. This time it's Emmy's best friend, Josie who is reluctantly shoved into the spotlight and her celebrity crush, Sean O'Sullivan who is right there with her. It was fun watching Emmy navigate her new-found fame but readers new to Swift can easily step into this universe with Hollywood Hookup without missing a beat. 

In a way, this is a delayed coming of age story. Sean is grappling with accepting his hobby as a natural, vital part of his being while dealing with the fear that he may be as obsessive as his older brother. Josie lives with the shame of her teenage antics while keeping her true self a secret from those closest to her...and the world at large. The journey to each of them accepting all parts of themselves is brimming with humor, endearing charm, unexpected twists, and a well-earned happy ending. I enjoyed every bit of it. 

Review - - Celebrity Crush

Celebrity Crush

by Christy Swift

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Author Emmy Ellison is a sucker for a page-turning happy ending, but she’s no longer counting on one for herself. If she stays focused on her career goals instead of her love life, she just might find success. And now that her latest novel is about to become a movie, she’s determined to become the latest social media sensation.

When her secret celebrity crush (the real-life inspiration for her romantic hero) accepts the starring role in the big-screen adaptation of her book, she’s determined to team up with a fake dating scheme—now that he’s in need of some good PR of his own. Ideally, she can ride the wave of popularity all the way to the top of the bestseller lists. But when the harsh spotlight of fame exposes the truth, will they try to turn their on-camera chemistry into a real-life relationship?

PJ's Thoughts:

Okay, who among us has nurtured a celebrity crush at some point in our lives? Who has daydreamed about what it might be like to meet that person, have chemistry with that person, even - OMG - date that person! That is the premise of Celebrity Crush, a new romcom by Christy Swift that had me laughing, swooning, and gasping at the twists and turns of this engaging story.

First of all, kudos to Swift for turning this Cinderella trope into a realistic escapade, giving it a bit of heft among the glitz and glamor. These characters are not perfect. They have issues. They have flaws. They make mistakes. And yes, I still cheered them on. Give credit to Swift's character development in creating empathy for the main couple even when they're being jerks (yes, they both take a turn at that) while also imbuing them with enough everyday humanity to make them relatable. Is their behavior cringe worthy at times? You bet. But then there are those other times when they're funny and sweet, when their banter sparkles and unexpected feelings tug at the heart. It's an intriguing blend that kept me happily turning pages, knowing this is totally what I would expect from stereotypical celebrity culture while at the same time rooting for a happy ending for the single mom who does TikTok dances with her daughter and the celebrity single dad who does his own cooking and puts his little boy's happiness above all else. 

If you're looking for a fun, escapist, celebrity romp, give this one a try. Best enjoyed with a big bowl of popcorn. Buttered, of course.