Synopsis
Five months ago, Amanda Nathan was a dumped, scorned, and tragically bored moderator for the Internet’s largest gossip community “HDU,” spending her small town days and nights hiding her pitiable life from catty neighbors. Then, she became an overnight sensation after negotiating a contract to stage a romance with Hollywood’s favorite womanizer, going from moderating the pages of HDU to gracing them daily.
Now, there are no contracts involved in Amanda’s life — she’s on top of the world with not only a job on the TV writing staff of Leadoff but a Hollywood publicist, a pumped up wardrobe, and a real-life, contract-free boyfriend in the former womanizer, Liam Brody.
But how long will the good times last in an industry known for the worst kinds of drama? Amanda’s high fashion closet isn’t exactly free of skeletons considering her past with actress Casey Mulreed, creator of Leadoff’s rival TV show, Legacy — a prodigy and darling so loved by America that her recently outed addiction can’t keep her from the very top of the industry, where she has every last intention to stay. And of course, keeping that crown requires butting heads with Amanda — to say the least.
Good thing this time, the small town girl from Merit, Missouri is just a tad more prepared to handle that signature Hollywood scandal…
4 / 5 stars
My review of HDU HERE
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My Review
Can I start by saying how much I LOVED HDU? So when I found out there was a sequel about Liam and Amanda, I was super excited! And it just so happened that I was scouting amazon one morning and luck came my way as Dirt had been released that day! HELL YES!
If you have yet to read the treat that is HDU, then if you are a fan of gossip sites, NYC, film stars, bitchy friends with a slice of fake lovers on the side then definitely grab HDU then read more about Liam and Amanda in Dirt. You will not be disappointed at all. Check out my HDU review first before reading this as this is a continuation of the first book. I have to say, it did take me a while to get into Dirt but once I did, I loved it!
So we all know what happened at the end of HDU, oh yes we do…well those who have read it do. So yes, this will probably contain spoilers so you have been warned. Read at your own risk 😉
At the end of HDU, Liam turns up at Amanda’s place and it’s definitely clear to see that this fake relationship has turned into something real, that he wants Amanda and now is the time for they to finally be together after all the shit they have gone through and being apart for a while. Although together, they are still getting to know each other despite the fact they both love one another. HDU was pretty full on with the contact so yes, it is believable to love each other despite not really know too much about each other. Amanda should know more about Liam, since she used to bitch about him online yet Liam hides a lot of his private life from the tabloids, so there really is a lot to divulge to Amanda.
Now together, things are starting to look up. Amanda has Liam, a new job working on a TV show and her best friend Ian back, after his stint in rehab. She’s happy but of course, there is always people who will put her down and that comes in the form of Connor (Liam’s BFF) and Casey – Amanda’s former BFF in the Hollywood world. Casey is causing trouble for Amanda and just as she and Liam are happy, shit hits the fan and Amanda and Liam have to pretend they have split up after just getting together. What are Liam and Amanda going to do?
Liam has definitely grown a hell of a lot since HDU. He’s in love, he will do anything for Amanda, treat her like the only girl in the world and he HATES it when they are forced to pretend split up whilst he focuses on filming and promoting his new movie as the drama has caused chaos to his movie. But he can’t stay away, he needs to be with Amanda and will find ways to sneak around and see her. Liam is whipped, like seriously and I kind of like that.
He’s protective of Amanda and will do anything for her, as you can tell in one certain scene which involves a paparazzi. Liam is more absence in this book, but no less important. He’s only away because of his movie but he would rather be with Amanda. Towards the end, when everything comes out about what Amanda has been up to, he still wants her but she thinks he’s better off without her. But dear god, what he gives up and does proves just how in deep he is with her. He would follow her to the end of the earth if it meant he had her forever.
Amanda goes through a lot in Dirt. She’s got a job that she seems to hardly go to, she’s being manipulated and blackmailed by Casey, she and Liam have ‘split’ up and she’s being stalked. That’s enough to give you a heart attack, but she tries to take it in her stride, trying to get one up on Casey. I found myself wishing she would talk more smack and pull some punches at Casey. Who cares if she leaked everything from her inbox, she should have told Liam what was happening and not trying to deal with it on her own. Thank god she told Ian though, those two are awesome together and I’m glad they tore Casey a new one, that bitch deserved everything that was thrown her way.
I was quite proud of her telling Liam that they are better off apart, even if she didn’t want to leave him. She had caused she much shit that she really needed to sort herself out, but hunky Liam isn’t one to just leave something. I’m glad he went after her and I’m glad of how it needed, even if it did end with both of them together jobless LOL.
Dirt is a great sequel to HDU. Jam-packed full of drama, love, secrets and of course, the famous gossip sites that documented every step. It’s still witty, funny, bitchy and gossipy, but it has spunk, from all the characters and that is what makes this sequel a great one.
So if you have yet to experience the wonders of Liam Brody, get right to it!
Z. Elizabeth 