THE VIEW WAS EXHAUSTING

Issues of perception and truth are explored as a fake relationship exposes real feelings.

Whitman “Win” Tagore, a British Indian actress, is on the precipice of universal critical acclaim. The only thing standing in the way is her less-than-favorable reputation. When Win leaves a cheating ex-boyfriend an angry voicemail that is picked up by the tabloids, she and her publicist must devise a way to get her back in the public graces and back on the directors' call sheets. Enter Leo Milanowski, a former supermodel and wealthy son of a hotel mogul, who agrees to pose as Win’s on-again, off-again boyfriend whenever she needs a reputation boost. It becomes evident even after their first encounter—told as a flashback—that their chemistry is undeniable, and the public eats it up. Win must grapple with how the world sees her, her desire to further her career, and whether to allow herself to give in to what might be real feelings for Leo. In the hands of lesser authors, this story might have been shallow and clichéd. However, Clements and Datta give the novel grit, depth, and originality as they explore how Win must balance her need for self-preservation with her desire to expose the intersection of racism and sexism in the film industry. This tension is particularly poignant as well-meaning Leo pushes Win to speak out against the injustices she faces, such as a producer’s referring to her as “exotic”: “Leo had always thought she should talk about it openly. If Win wanted, she could become the spokesperson for her generation….She had tried to explain to him the tightrope act of making vague political statements...while avoiding anything more specific....White directors would be afraid to work with her, and white audiences would feel alienated by her.” While it is fairly clear from the start how Win and Leo’s story will end, this will-they, won’t-they journey is packed with emotional resonance.

Nuance and humanity are brought to the celebrity story.