Review: Diamonds are a Teen's Best Friend by Allison Rushby

Diamonds are a Teen's Best Friend by 

Allison Rushby

Nessa Joanne Mulholland, aka Marilyn Monroe's No. 1 teenage fan, is used to moving house. This time, however, she's relocating in movie-star style—crossing the Atlantic on board the Majestic, headed for Paris from New York City. And it really would be in movie-star style if it wasn't for the fact that she's bringing her cringe-fest professor dad along for the ride (Dad's specialization: human mating rituals—need Nessa say more?). Oh yeah, and sharing a cabin that's five decks below sea level and next to the engine room. Still, at least Holly Isles is on board. Yes, really, that Holly Isles—star of stage and screen. Suddenly, things are looking up. Looking a little Marilyn, in fact, because events are strangely mirroring Nessa's favorite movie of all time, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Watch!

As Holly Isles, world-famous actress, confides in Nessa over mocktails.

Listen!

As Nessa coaches Holly in the amazing "Nessa's Lesson's in Love"—the ultimate man-catching rules to finding true and lasting lurv.

See!

Nessa fall for Holly's too-cute nephew, Marc. . . and

Cover your eyes!

As it all goes terribly, horribly, embarrassingly wrong.

There's no doubting it. This is going to be one pitchy crossing.

My Review:

So, first off, I have to admit that I've never watched any Marilyn Monroe movies. It's probably considered blasphemy in Nessa's eyes, but, alas, the review must go on.

I didn't have a hard time understanding the plot of the story, even though I was unfamiliar with Monroe's works. It's all kind of a cute, fun read. There's some dancing and awkward situations and just a lot of smiling potential in general.

I loved how absorbed Nessa was by Monroe's legacy. It was quirky, and yet sophisticated at the same time, that a thirteen-year-old girl could be so into something that happened years before she was even born. What I didn't like about all of this though, is that at times Nessa's thoughts seemed beyond her age level. And Holly, the mega star Nessa befriends, seems like a teenager when she's most definitely not. (We never learn her or Marc's real age.) And Marc, Holly's nephew, is a little too protective of a grown woman, it was kind of strange. Also, I didn't understand how Marc and Nessa could be friends so quickly when they barely spoke to each other during the cruise.

However, all minor issues aside, this book was entertaining. I read it in less than four hours and I officially feel like a member of Marilyn Monroe's fanclub after hearing Nessa's story.

*Note: I received a copy of this book to review from Netgalley. This in no way altered my opinion/review.