In Development

By: Rachel Spangler

Narrated by: Ann Etter

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

From a young age, Cobie Galloway made a career of playing the girl-next-door on the silver screen. Only, she's not a teenager anymore. Ready to challenge herself artistically and earn the part she's always dreamed of, she's forced to face the realization that in order to win the roles afforded to edgier actresses, she might first have to audition by playing someone edgier in her day-to-day life.

Pop star Lila Wilder built a multimedia empire by always having her finger on the pulse of what's hot. However, as she struggles to produce her next smash hit record, she's finding it hard to keep her name in the public eye, and a string of tumultuous relationships with Hollywood boy toys no longer captivates anyone's attention.

Both women tentatively agree to a headline-grabbing fauxmance, with two simple rules: Always stick to the script, and never forget that on the stage of public perception, nothing is real. Can two women find love in a world of carefully crafted illusions, or will a successful charade mean the potential for something more gets left on the cutting-room floor?

©2018 Rachel Spangler (P)2019 Rachel L. Spangler

Story was great! Voice for Lila, not so great

I did Enjoy the story as well as the pace and flow... but the voice choice for Lila nearly ruined the whole book for me. I almost stopped listening numerous times because the voice was just like nails on a chalkboard for me. I don't know if she was going for Miss Piggy, Mikey Mouse, or a Michael Jackson, but whatever it was, was just not a good choice. Had I not been reading it for a book club I would have thrown in the towel. I recommend just reading the story for yourself, don't audible it. Sorry.

Another new favorite

Rachel Spangler did a wonderful job developing the characters of In Development. I fell a bit in love with Cobie and got frustrated with Lila. But in the end a wonderful love story that touched on so many current topics - the #metoo movement, conversion therapy and women’s empowerment. So many hard subjects to talk about but that need to be addressed. Thank you Rachel - you gave me a lot to think about! Keep writing and sharing your stories!

Lila's voice...

The story was pretty good but occasionally Lila's voice errs on the side of Miss Piggy

Nicely done.

First book in a long time that I enjoyed. Wished she told her sister the same thing her
sister told her.

Good but have been great

Overall, the story is on point for trope . As is, the story is 3.5 stars for the following reasons:
1. Lylla is just not a likeable character until almost the end. You wonder why Cobie is putting up with her.
2. the narration is hard to handle at times and doesn't really separate the 2 main character voices enough
3. I repeat I couldn't stand Lylla until the last 3 chapters...

Best Rachel Spangler yet!

I’ve enjoyed all of Rachel Spangler’s books that I’ve had the pleasure to read &/or listen to. But this one, I think, is the best! Between the character development; at a great pace, not too much at once but also not leaving you asking ‘what is she talking about?’ To the plot development; again keeping me on the edge of my seat wanting to know where this is going, but enjoying where I’m at right now in the storyline. The little surprises along the way to the great ending add to why I’m restarting the book as soon as I finish this review. Thank you Rachel for doing what you do!!

Grab a comfortable spot for this one.

This was enjoyable. What does one get when they pass off a faux-relationship between a well-renown musician and movie star trying to write the next great hit and change their own-screen image respectively? An affair that becomes the talk of the town, but what's real and what not? Lila and Cobie will have to figure that for themselves but that'll be hard to do when it's all a rouse to begin with.

great story, awful narration

the story is great. but the voices the narrator chooses are terrible. made it pretty hard to finish tbh.

wonderful

completely wonderful book! very powerful and uplifting in its theme of strong women! A must read.

Couldn’t get past the narrator

The voices of the narrator just seemed too old for the characters who I pictured in their twenties. Was hard to get past while listening. I liked the story though.