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Pop star sensation Hunter Kennedy has lived in the spotlight most of his life. With world wide tours, groupies, and more money than any teenager knows what to do with you would think the fast lane offered up happiness, only Hunter's silver platter is anything but. Hunter loves his music and for the most part his fame, but it came at a price as a young boy that he didn't grasp until later, and giving up privacy, true friendships and normal teen years has taken its toll. Not that he's complaining, but with fame comes loneliness and unhappiness which has led to depression mixed with heavy drinking, pill popping and dangerous pranks. One night a choice that Hunter likes to refer to as the prank gone wrong, landed him in rehab and therapy to deal with his issues, not something he planned on. Although nothing really changed in rehab Hunter knows what he did was wrong, and with rehab coming to an end he is eager to get back to his music. His mom however has other plans and decides he needs a break from the spotlight and a chance to rest from the craziness of his popularity. Her solution: send him to his Aunts house, where he will live in disguise and pretend to be someone else as a hired double fills in for him on the other side of the world. At 17 and still a minor, Hunter has no say in this decision and he's mad about his forced rest but can't really do anything about it, nor can his agent until they can get him emancipated. Sentenced to a year in Colorado he learns that he wont just be hanging out with his aunt, but that he has been banned from his guitars, has to go to public school and the worst of all, that the family next door has been recruited to help him out so he can blend in with his new surroundings.

The kids next door happen to be Vere (a somewhat cute geeky girl) and her brother, highschool kids that will be driving him around, being his friend and teaching him about normal teen life. The first meeting is hilarious as the kids figure out who Hunter really is and although the shock wears off pretty fast, Vere is not at all impressed with Hunters snarky attitude. Even though he's a tad snotty, she sort of sees the lonely aloof guy with razor blue eyes and decides that she must save him. Determined to be friends, Hunter truly becomes her pet project and she takes the opportunity to build a real relationship with him all the while transforming him into bonafide-super geek Dustin.

Hunter even geek-tastic is still beautiful, and when he takes his glasses off Vere cant stop herself from falling deep into them, of course that could never happen though cause shes a geek and he's a rock-god and she has a crush on her brothers best friend, a guy who has been her butterfly's in the belly since Kindergarten.  What Vere doesn't know though is that for the first time ever Hunter has finally made a real friend, he knows Vere isn't after him for his money or his popularity, she treats him like everyone else and he actually feels happy around her, he likes everything about her personality and gravitates towards her joyful look at life, could this be love or could it be the peace his mom wanted him to experience?. Hunter knows Vere likes another guy but cant stop the feelings that are building inside him and while playing the part of geeky best friend, he's managed to fall in love with her. Underneath the dork, he's nervous, happy, restless and still trying to deal with his past problems but it doesn't change the fact that for this brief moment he feels...normal. 

Things that are normal though can't last long in Hunters world, his agent, his fans nor his band have forgotten where he is and are fighting to get him back. The craziness of the past and the pressure of the future are spiraling towards him and about to collide with Dustin the geek and Vere, the first girl he's ever loved.

Unmaking Hunter Kennedy was a perfect read for the light, fun tone I was looking for. What surprised me outside of the book fitting my overall fluffy mood, was how happy it made me. The plot while a touch serious (due to a few dramatic issues concerning depression) was for the most part hysterical. The main characters played off each other perfect, the conversations and scenes made for a great comedy and the writing flowed nicely even with its predictability. I loved the chemistry Hunter and Vere had, their dynamic was very entertaining and in the end it was a fun read that made me laugh out loud a dozen times. Character development was done very well and some of the heart touching scenes between the characters showcased perfectly timed steps for the reader watching them fall in love.

Overall clean for ya romance, laced with great tension, great first kisses and every swoon cheese worthy outcome that makes romance lovers smile. Starting 2013 with this book was a great choice.

Rating

Unmaking Hunter Kennedy is recommended to mature teens 15&up and contains: Language, mild sensuality-mostly dialog, kissing-mild violence, drug/alcohol use, and depression issues.

4/5- YA-Romance