Starring In The Movie Of My Life
Laurel Osterkamp
PMI Books
February 1,2011
319 pages/eBook
Amazon|BN
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4/5 Books

I’ll admit it: occasionally I like to pretend that my life is a movie, and that I’m the star…

Samantha acts without thinking. Her heart is huge while her sense of purpose is small; she’s willing to fight for those she loves, but she’s never learned to fight for herself. Eighteen-year-old Melody is cold and calculating, and she’s driven by the desire to better herself. As these compelling yet deeply flawed women battle for the affections of 25-year-old Nathan, he becomes increasingly confused and torn between them.

Nathan is Melody’s English teacher, and after he saves her from being raped, she becomes attached. Melody longs for the affection she’s never felt, so she involves people in her self-invented drama, making sure she is at once the star and the director. Meanwhile, Samantha is newly married to Nathan. But Samantha has hang-ups about motherhood and lingering feelings for her ex. To make sense of the world, Sam relates her life to the themes of her favorite movies, while she independently makes a documentary to jump-start her non-existent film career.

Stylistically influenced by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Weiner, Starring in the Movie of my Life is told old alternately from both Samantha’s and Melody’s points-of-view and relates two complete yet combined stories about love, acceptance, and redemption. It speaks to our universal desire to be saved by the ones we love, and the monumental effort required to save ourselves.

Author Laurel Osterkamp

About The Author:
Laurel Osterkamp’s first novel, Following My Toes, (PMI Books) won the 2008 National Indie Book Award for Excellence (Chick Lit category). She drew on her on her experiences as a high school teacher and creative writing teacher as she wrote Starring in the Movie of My Life. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, son, and daughter, and is working on her third novel.

Connect With The Author:
Website|Facebook|Twitter

My Review:
Laurel Osterkamp has created a Lifetime Movie Network worthy novel that should be made into a movie! Well, not really, because sometimes they butcher the movie and it’s nothing like the book. But, seriously. Ms. Osterkamp has extreme talent and created a wonderful novel filled with complexly flawed characters and a plot line that grips you from start to finish.

Samantha and Melody are the women of the dramatic story, and it alternates between their points of view. Samantha,35 year old wife to 25 year old Nathan, has secrets from her past that she hasn’t mentioned. One of the is the ex whom she still cares about. It doesn’t help her out that her ex, Collin, is the manager of their apartment building. Melody is Nathan’s 18 year old English student and he saves her life. Now, Nathan has both of these women in his life and they both want him.

Melody wants what she wants and will do anything to have it. Even if there is a wife involved. She wants Nathan and she’ll get him. Or will she???

Samantha is older than Nathan, yes, but she loves him. She knows her life isn’t perfect. It’s a lot like a movie in her opinion. While she has her secrets about her past, she still loves Nathan, but issues with her family and friends arrive and she veers off the track of being there for Nathan. Will she lose him to Melody? Or will her movie like life be complete with Nathan?

Watching this dramatic story of two women wanting one man, was so much like watching a movie on Lifetime (and let me tell you what, I adore the Lifetime Movie Network!!!). It was a perfect book that played out just like one of the movies I watch. The characters came alive for me, and everything that happened in this novel become real while I was reading.

I highly recommend this 4 Book worthy novel to all those who love their characters flawed, a plot line that will take you on a twist and turn roller coaster ride, and an ending that will leave you dying for more. I am a new devoted fan to Ms. Osterkamp and can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next!

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