Paparazzi

Evermore Series, Book 3

By: Andrea Smith

Narrated by: Rachelle Williams

Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Chase you till you're mine....

"Get ready for your close-up, Mr. Drake."

I've found a career. Or maybe a career has found me. It's one I never would have imagined; one that I've never respected. But yes, I am paparazzi now in one of the most flush communities in the country. My reputation is well-known. When the tabloids need the shot, I'm the one that delivers.

I am Grace Evangelista.

I'm really Neely, but a cover is essential in my business. And Seth Drake is about to get up close and personal with my expertise. Is it revenge I want? Or is it simply validation that yes, I can be as good at my craft as he is at his? Whatever the reason, he's about to be blown away.

Sometimes the best laid plans go awry for something better. This just might be one of those times....

Adult Content

©2016 Andrea Smith (P)2019 Andrea Smith

Twists and Surprises

Unfortunately for me, I haven't read the stories in this series in order! I strongly recommend that you do. There are so many twists and surprised to learn and enjoy! I felt this book was a little boring and tedious at first (but I have read Book 4) then bam! It started revealing more of the Neely and Seth saga. Oh, so very entertaining!
I was gifted this Audible version from the author through Story Origin. I am choosing to leave this review. The narrator is very easy to listen to. Her male voices all sound very simular. But I wasn't confused at all. She does a nice job.

Another great installment

This is such an emotional story. Ugh I wanna slap them all sometimes but it does keep you guessing. I'm a romantic and pretty sure this story is headed to heartbreak for me but it's too good to stop!

More Deception and Hurt - Will They Overcome It?

Title: Paparazzi
Author: Andrea Smith
Format: Audio
Narrator: Rachelle Williams
Genre: YA/NA, second chance (kinda)
Standalone: Nope
Part of a Series: Book 3 (of 4) in Evermore
POV: Neely and Seth
Steam Level: Some sexual content but not very graphic (or sexy)
4/5

Paparazzi is book 3 (of 4) in the Evermore series. I liked the additions of Seth's POV starting toward the middle of the book. While still not together Seth and Neely are coming close to drifting closer. Both still love each other but both are too stubborn to talk it out. Paparazzi is very angsty and what was alluded to very briefly in passing in book 2 is confirmed in more detail in Paparazzi. I look forward to Seth and Neely finally (hopefully) reuniting. And, while this series is good and keeps you intrigued, there is no reason it had to be four novella-length installments. Paparazzi is probably the same length and the first two combined and it looks like book 4 is about the same length as this one. By now I'm invested in this series but I'm not sure I'd recommend, unless in a boxset. A lot happed but very slowly. The plot is plodding and both Seth and Neely say some things to each other that are cruel and hurtful, just to be cruel and hurtful. Andrea Smith has a lot to overcome to make their HEA (if they have one) come together.

Drake Evans

This was riveting to the point that I hadn't planned to finish it in one sitting but COULDN'T WALK AWAY! This installment to Neely and Seth's story is heartbreaking in SO MANY ways. Plan to shed tears, as well as do a couple of happy dances.


UPDATED 10/2022:
Even though I knew what was coming, this being my second time listening, my heart still shattered. Full on ugly crying. 😭🤧😭

Sincerely, if you are reading or listening to this, I strongly recommend that the last couple of chapters be taken in private. The loss, the heartbreak... it's a lot, and if you've had a similar experience, your response may be even more pronounced. 💔

I enjoyed the narrator, Rachelle Williams, and her southern drawl. She was a great choice for Neely, whose point of view this is told from for the majority of the series.

Story: 5 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.6x

Emotionally charged!

As this story continues, I am completely invested in the outcome of Seth and Neely! Book 3 is packed full of decisions, emotions and drama that is intoxicating. Neely is following her path with photography. In need of money, she finds that the kind of picture taking she dislikes the most is the one that pays the most. And Grace Evangilsta, the most sought after Paparazzi photographer is born. This choice of profession though can lead to finding things out you don't necessary want to know! We get a glimpse of Neely's mom, some memories of Halloween and consequences we didn't see coming. It's highly emotional and all I do is keep routing that someway things will work out! So much to tie up, so many questions to still answer, I am queuing book 4 and going in! Rachelle Williams keeps emotions high and the story flowing with her amazing storytelling!

heartbreaking

Andrea Smith pulls you into this emotional story, from the very beginning. Neely is not the young, immature, self conscience, naive, girl at the beginning of the series. She older, wiser and a self confident woman, that still loves Seth. Neely and Seth are at odds against each other. Neither one wants to talk it out, to get to the truth. Misunderstandings, betrayals, jealousy, and secrets are revealed that tore them apart. It's great to see that Neely gets her revenge on her stepmother and Seth's girl. A heartwrenching, ending that you'll be sobbing. Can they both recover from this?
Rachelle Williams narration is flawless, and emotional. She is amazing. I was gifted this audio and offered my honest review.

Seth's POV Is Introduced, Filling In The Blanks!

Tears Will Be Shed Before This Emotional Story Concludes, And At Least One Big Secret Remains Between The Couple.


This is the third book in the four part Evermore series. The first part tells the story of the friendship formed between young Neely and her Malibu neighbor Seth when her family moves from Tennessee. The pair becomes best friends for years and finally transitions to boyfriend and girlfriend when she is fifteen and he is sixteen. Neely wants to be an artist and enjoys painting, and Seth wants to follow in his mother's footsteps to become an actor. But when her father's affair hits the tabloids, Neely's mother returns to Tennessee, taking Neely with her. The pair keeps in touch until she breaks up with him during her one and only visit before he leaves for college in New York. Seth had wanted more from her than she was ready to give, and when his mother shared her own concerns about Neely and the relationship, Neely knew it was best they not make promises.

In the second book, Neely has returned to Malibu two years later. Her mother is finally getting the help she needs for her alcoholism, so Neely is finishing high school in California. Living with her father's mistress-turned-wife proves to be a challenge, but Neely is a survivor and makes it work. She turns to her artwork once again, the only thing that gives her purpose.

After using her new camera to take pictures on the beach on New Year's Eve, Neely tries but doesn't escape Seth's notice. She had heard his family was out of town and thought it was safe. An awkward exchange ends quickly, but when Seth shows up drunk later that evening, he doesn't seem interested in discussing the past.

Neely faces challenges both with her new stepmother and Seth. Neither can be trusted, and their motivations are not always clear. As she works through her dark times and discovers new facts, she has the support of a new friend to help her through.

This book opens one year following the epilogue of book two, when Neely appeased her stepmother and agreed to stand in for one scene as Seth's love interest on the show. Neely is now five weeks away from receiving her associate degree and plans to quit school then work full time. Her friend Jazzy is the only person in her life now, for the most part. Jazzy has repeatedly told Neely that she isn't living up to her full potential, and despite her deep wells of patience, Jazzy seems to be growing impatient with Neely's obsession with Seth Drake.

Neely had changed her major to Commercial Photography at the beginning of her second year. Painting had lost its meaning to her a year ago, when she had last seen Seth. She has been working part time for a hollywoood private investigator, taking pictures of cheating spouses. She needs money, so eventually she gives in and accepts a job working for a tabloid, which happens to pay well. She has become a paparazzi, which she can hardly justify given her disdain for the profession. She continues to follow Seth via the tabloids, punishing herself for the awful way things ended one year ago.

As the story unfolds, Neely flashes back to episodes over the past two years, remembering everything that went so wrong with Seth. Seth's career and love life appear idyllic from afar. The contrast with her own sad and empty life is night and day, but she doesn't find it within herself to move on.

Midway through, Seth's POV is introduced to the series, and several chapters tell his story both now and in the past. He discusses what happened to him when Neely left him that summer, what he was thinking when he arrived at her house drunk, and what really happened the night of the bonfire on the beach. He tells what happened in rose garden, and sheds light on his love life since.

This emotional story finally begins to fill in the blanks, and tears will be shed before it concludes. At least one big secret remains between the couple, though. It will have you grabbing for the final book in the series to see if Seth Drake and Neely Evans finally get their happy ending.

Seth and Neely's angsty story places a wholesome southern beauty in the midst of the next generation of the Hollywood elite. Neely begins to assimilate in this story, in spite of her struggles. The story is well-written. The plot is somewhat complex. The characters are carefully crafted. They feel genuine. The story is written in first person mostly from Neely's POV, with several in Seth's. I rate this book 4.5 stars.


As for the Audio: it is well performed and consistent with the book.

Very emotional, and unpredictable.

This is the third installment, and the story is just getting better. The story is very emotional, intense, and intriguing. Neely and Seth journey is a must read/listen, with an original storyline that'll have you crying when you least expected.

Rachelle Williams continues to do an amazing job with her perfomance!

Loved it

Loved it, amazing audio delivery, anxious to get started on the 4th book in the series, first 3 was awesome.

They can't catch a break!

Neely's love for photography and her need for a job have her taking a short-term job as a private investigator. It's not what she wants her future to be, but it's a place to start. Her talent with the camera evolves into catching photos of celebrities in action and she becomes very successful at her craft. She is what she's always looked down on...a paparazzi. She is known as Grace Evangelista, her "professional" name. Before this installment of the Evermore Series, Paparazzi, Neely and Seth have been split by angry words and misunderstandings. Instead of talking to each other, they argue. Instead of trying to get to the truth, they react to their feelings instead of thinking something through. Now that Neely's back in California, she's going to have to face some uncomfortable truths. Neely and Seth have been in love for so long, almost from the day they met all those many years ago, but can't quite get it right. Too many lies have been told, secrets kept and meddling done to keep them apart.  Neely's mother is a disgrace for all the sins she committed against her daughter's happiness. Her stepmother is disgusting for the little games she plays to undermine Neely. But Seth and Neely are their own worst enemies. They don't face a problem head on because they are both too quick to jump to false conclusions rather than finding out the truth. This story is intense, surprising, angst-filled with some sweetness. I almost fear, but have to see what Andrea Smith has planned for them in the next book! 
Rachelle Williams once again does a dynamic narration of the audiobook with each character's voice clear and natural.

can't stop crying

such a good story, so well written. i love how the same words came out of both minds (if u read it you will know what i mean). going to read no.4 right now. just beautiful.

Paparazzi: a necessary evil?

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish, despite shedding a few tears. It was wonderful to see Karma at work. Highly recommended.

Great!

This instalment was so much fun but tinged with a bit of sadness. I absolutely loved how Neely used her photography to right a few wrongs done to her in the past. Thoroughly entertaining. Looking forward to Seth and Neely finally talking things out properly.

I voluntarily reviewed a gifted copy.

Wow

This book has been an absolute roller coaster. The characters went through a massive change here as more secrets have been revealed. There are so many ways that this could go and all I can hope is that there will be a happy ending for the main characters. Beautifully written and narrated

I'm totally hooked on this series of books!!

The third emotional installment of Neely and Seth's dance of life. In each other's heart but never quite in each other life. Neely's life and work are action packed, but maybe not in the career of her picking, but something she is good at nevertheless.

I feel this series has resonated more with me because according the the dates, these characters would have been a few years older than me and I remember how emotions ran high but communication ran low at that age.

Narration perfect as always!

heartbroken

Okay, this is book 3 in Andrea Smith's Evermore series. I highly recommend reading this series in order to get the most from this amazing story line and characters. This book continues with the lives, loves and hurts that are Neely and Drake. Their love is so strong that it is a constant bond or bind with these two. Secrets are revealed and reactions are explained...but in the end "it dons't matter...so long as it one or the other" and they are in each other's lives as either friends or lovers. Will they be able to be honest and over come all they've done to and for each other. Here's to hoping book 4 will have a HEA (fingers crossed). This book literally had me in tears!

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Fantastic

This book has a gritty undertone that will have you wanting more. Great characters with lots of emotion. Excellent narration.

Evermore book 3!

I just love this series and how this young couple have grown to adults that still carry love in their hearts no matter the circumstances.
Neely is now paparazzi to A list celebrities under an alias. But, what does that mean to her families past and her future?

Book 3 in the Evermore series that needs to be read in order.

🎧#audiobookobsessionreviewer

great book

neely has become paparazzi the one thing she knows Seth hates and gets the exclusive stories without him knowing and more about there time away from each other has teens is revealed

Book 3

Omgoodness! I have to know what’s going to happen next. My heart is breaking for these two. A huge secret gets let out in this book. So many non truths happening it is sad and just a lack of communication but I think its all about to come full circle. I wish Neely and Seth would have had more interaction in this book. Btw I can’t stand Neely’s mom or step mom they both make me crazy! Mild cliffhanger, I think the next book is the final in the series. Narration is great I love her Tennessee accent.

🎧Audiobook Obsession