Seeing Stars: A Mashad Family Novel - by Candice Jalili Hardcover

About the Book

" "Mona Mashad grew up on camera, with millions of fans around the world tuning in to see her every move. Nothing was off-limits: not her first pimple, her first crush, and definitely not the death of her father, Mashad family patriarch and the best dad ever, Ali. After more than a decade on screen, Mona has discovered the key to being the most followed person on Instagram: never let your guard down and never give your heart away (because if it breaks, the whole world will know). But she didn't expect to meet Lukas Haas: all-around hottie and son of the first female President of the United States. Lukas sweeps her off her feet (literally, she was falling down the Met Gala steps and he saved her), and for just one second Mona wants to let her walls come down. So, it hurts even more when he betrays her (although he claims it's just a misunderstanding) and even more when Mona's mom/manager and the literal POTUS conspire behind their kids' backs to come up with a plan raise both their ratings (by forcing Lukas and Mona to fake date for the delight of fans and voters). Normally this would be fine, after all, Mona is used to living her life for the camera. But then Mona meets Kai. A (hot) surfer and all-around normal guy. Could he be the escape from this fake reality that Mona needs? Or will fake dating America's most eligible bachelor lead to real feelings?"--

Book Synopsis

A spin-off story to the beloved Finding Famous, Candice Jalili is back with another story in the Mashad Family universe: a laugh-out-loud, larger-than-life YA romance that brings reality TV down to earth.

The tabloids wish they could give you gossip this jaw droppingly juicy...

Mona Mashad grew up on camera, with millions of fans around the world tuning in to see her every move. Nothing was off-limits: not her first pimple, her first crush, and definitely not the death of her father, Mashad family patriarch and the best dad ever, Ali.

After more than a decade on screen, Mona has discovered the key to being the most famous teenager on the planet: never let your guard down and never give your heart away (because if it breaks, the whole world will know).

But she didn't expect to meet Lucas Sterling, notorious heartthrob and only son of Jordana Sterling, the beloved President of the United States. Lucas sweeps Mona off her feet--he literally saves her when she falls down the stairs at the Met Gala--and for just one second Mona wants to let her walls come down. So, it hurts a lot when he betrays her, and even more when their moms demand they pretend to keep dating to appease their respective fan bases.

Normally, a fake relationship would be manageable for Mona. After all, she's used to playing a part for the camera. But pretending to fall in love with Lucas when she's still furious with him is no easy feat. And things get extra complicated when she meets Kai. A (hot) surfer and all-around normal guy. For the first time in her life, she can forget the cameras and just be...Mona. Could he be the escape from this fake reality that Mona needs? Or will fake dating America's most eligible bachelor lead to real feelings?

Review Quotes

Praise for Finding Famous: A Mashad Family Story

"A candy bar of a book readers will want to devour in one sitting"--School Library Journal

"A candy bar of a book readers will want to devour in one sitting"--School Library Journal

"Pants-splittingly funny and full of heart, with a romance to root for, this story about discovered family is a delight from start to finish. Hands down the best time I've had in a book all year" --Stacey Lee, New York Times best-selling author of Reese's Book Club Pick The Downstairs Girl

"I wish Finding Famous had been around when I was a teenager! A fun, heartfelt read that turns awkwardness into empowerment."--Firoozeh Dumas, New York Times best-selling author of Funny in Farsi

"Sparkling wit, delightfully real characters, and a ton of heart combine to make Finding Famous absolutely unforgettable. I couldn't put it down!"--Adib Khorram, Award-winning author of Darius the Great is Not Okay

About the Author

Candice Jalili is an Iranian American writer whose work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, The Cut, Rolling Stone, Elite Daily, and more. Finding Famous: A Mashad Family Novel was her YA debut. Candice lives in New York City with her husband, where she is a convenient walk away from her cousins and childhood best friend. She grew up in the Bay Area and spends hours of her days FaceTiming her parents there. You can find her on Instagram @CandiceJalili and online at www.CandiceJalili.com.