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The Unscripted Life of Lizzy Dillinger
She’s got a movie deal. He’s got the lead role. Can she choose between her family and her Hollywood crush?
Stay-at-home mom Lizzy Dillinger escapes the monotony of her humdrum marriage by writing down her daydreams. When her producer friend contracts her story for a movie and invites her on set, she jumps at the chance to leave the suburbs until the film’s in the can. But Lizzy’s big break gets even better when she learns the hunky character who starred in her daydreams will be played by her Hollywood crush, Ben Winters.
On location in Arizona, the desert gets even hotter when Lizzy and Ben strike up a flirtatious friendship. But her hopes of a celebrity fling shatter when a family visit brings her fantasy crashing into reality. Against the dazzling lights and the glamorous movie sets, her cookie-cutter life back home seems painfully bland. Torn between the man of her dreams and the family who helped define her, Lizzy must search her heart to find where her true passion lies.
The Unscripted Life of Lizzy Dillinger is a star-struck women’s fiction novel about once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. If you like authentic characters, silver screen romance, and a humorous look at life’s hard choices, then you’ll love Marianne Hansen’s story of dreaming big and loving wholeheartedly.
Buy The Unscripted Life of Lizzy Dillinger to step into the limelight for a cinematic masterpiece today!
Stay-at-home mom Lizzy Dillinger escapes the monotony of her humdrum marriage by writing down her daydreams. When her producer friend contracts her story for a movie and invites her on set, she jumps at the chance to leave the suburbs until the film’s in the can. But Lizzy’s big break gets even better when she learns the hunky character who starred in her daydreams will be played by her Hollywood crush, Ben Winters.
On location in Arizona, the desert gets even hotter when Lizzy and Ben strike up a flirtatious friendship. But her hopes of a celebrity fling shatter when a family visit brings her fantasy crashing into reality. Against the dazzling lights and the glamorous movie sets, her cookie-cutter life back home seems painfully bland. Torn between the man of her dreams and the family who helped define her, Lizzy must search her heart to find where her true passion lies.
The Unscripted Life of Lizzy Dillinger is a star-struck women’s fiction novel about once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. If you like authentic characters, silver screen romance, and a humorous look at life’s hard choices, then you’ll love Marianne Hansen’s story of dreaming big and loving wholeheartedly.
Buy The Unscripted Life of Lizzy Dillinger to step into the limelight for a cinematic masterpiece today!
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 25, 2018
It has taken me a while to write my review because I’m not sure how to explain how this book made me feel.
I liked this book. The characters were developed, the storyline is good, the author’s voice is clear throughout. Hansen’s wit and humor kept me chuckling throughout every page (which I couldn’t stop turning!).
But... it stirred up some very raw emotions for me. I did’t expect to relate to Lizzie. Not in an, “I dream of writing a story and then watch it turn into a movie” kind of way. But in an, “it’s so easy to get lost in motherhood and lose yourself” kind of way.
Lizzie’s inner struggle over her relationship with her husband, Nolan, is my deepest fear. I don’t want to become lost in the chaos of being a mother. I try so hard to remember to be a “wife” too.
Anyhoo, sorry for the very personal and sort of random review.
This book has stuck with me. I think about it a lot. It was a fun, easy read but with some serious emotions. I definitely recommend it!
I liked this book. The characters were developed, the storyline is good, the author’s voice is clear throughout. Hansen’s wit and humor kept me chuckling throughout every page (which I couldn’t stop turning!).
But... it stirred up some very raw emotions for me. I did’t expect to relate to Lizzie. Not in an, “I dream of writing a story and then watch it turn into a movie” kind of way. But in an, “it’s so easy to get lost in motherhood and lose yourself” kind of way.
Lizzie’s inner struggle over her relationship with her husband, Nolan, is my deepest fear. I don’t want to become lost in the chaos of being a mother. I try so hard to remember to be a “wife” too.
Anyhoo, sorry for the very personal and sort of random review.
This book has stuck with me. I think about it a lot. It was a fun, easy read but with some serious emotions. I definitely recommend it!
November 17, 2018
it is on Kindle Unlimited if you are there, great cover. i am laughing at Marianne's profile "purchaser of shoes" and she lives in Montana, hello ... best state ever!! don't tell Virginia ...she might get angry with me ...but I have loved Montana since my 1st visit there in the early 90's with my parents ...such a fan. anywho!! hilarious and such a relatable read for me ... love these characters and look forward to more from Marianne in the future. well written.
May 1, 2018
A real great read!
I don't say this often, but I read the whole book in one sitting. It was that good. Lizzy hooked me. I was invested in her from the moment she stepped off the plane and had to deal with Big Red. She's funny, she's bright. She's every writer who's ever written a romance and dreamed of having it turned into a movie. She reaches into your head and brings out your thoughts to give them voice in a sassy and eloquent way. The rest of the cast of characters are perfect bright splashes of color that interweave into the story smoothly.
My only sadness is I truly believe she made the wrong choice in the end. I understand her reasons, but without giving away the ending here, she' meant for something better. I sincerely hope there is a sequel where we can follow the adventures of Lizzy as she let's the wind lift her into her dreams.
I don't say this often, but I read the whole book in one sitting. It was that good. Lizzy hooked me. I was invested in her from the moment she stepped off the plane and had to deal with Big Red. She's funny, she's bright. She's every writer who's ever written a romance and dreamed of having it turned into a movie. She reaches into your head and brings out your thoughts to give them voice in a sassy and eloquent way. The rest of the cast of characters are perfect bright splashes of color that interweave into the story smoothly.
My only sadness is I truly believe she made the wrong choice in the end. I understand her reasons, but without giving away the ending here, she' meant for something better. I sincerely hope there is a sequel where we can follow the adventures of Lizzy as she let's the wind lift her into her dreams.
November 7, 2018
Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)
I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for the last six years, and could easily relate to how Lizzy feels. There is monotony at times, the daily workings of tending to your family, and often that means your own wants and needs aren’t met. It’s not so much that those in your inner circle wouldn’t want to ensure that you’re happy and fulfilled. It’s that you yourself forget what’s needed to feel that fulfillment.
Lizzy feels that lack of fulfillment, and along with those emotions are past experiences that not only affect how she feels, but the way her husband feels, too. There is a lot of baggage between this couple. It lends into her immediate attraction to Ben, a man who she has had a crush on from afar for several years. While reading through their interactions, I kept wanting to read on to see what I imagined would eventually happen. And while I knew the right choice would be to see her distance herself from Ben, I couldn’t help but want to see something come to fruition. Through her thoughts and dialogue, I could sense how youthful Lizzy feels when she’s around him. How free. It was hard not to want that for her.
There was a lot of banter in the dialogue between Lizzy and Ben, as well as the conversations she has with her friends. They make up a nice support system during her time of need. While I felt the dialogue at times could get really heavy in places where I would have liked to see more plot, it was in those moments where we learn a lot more about a woman who used to be a lot different than the person she is today. And, we don’t really know until the end of the story what she is going to do with her future, or who will be there. It made for an interesting read.
While I’m not entirely sure what my own decision would have been, had I been in her shoes, it was nice to live that experience vicariously through Lizzy. We’re given a very realistic approach to the struggles so many of us face when it comes to matters of the heart, and wanting to do the right thing for our own personal happiness, while still living a fulfilling life.
I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for the last six years, and could easily relate to how Lizzy feels. There is monotony at times, the daily workings of tending to your family, and often that means your own wants and needs aren’t met. It’s not so much that those in your inner circle wouldn’t want to ensure that you’re happy and fulfilled. It’s that you yourself forget what’s needed to feel that fulfillment.
Lizzy feels that lack of fulfillment, and along with those emotions are past experiences that not only affect how she feels, but the way her husband feels, too. There is a lot of baggage between this couple. It lends into her immediate attraction to Ben, a man who she has had a crush on from afar for several years. While reading through their interactions, I kept wanting to read on to see what I imagined would eventually happen. And while I knew the right choice would be to see her distance herself from Ben, I couldn’t help but want to see something come to fruition. Through her thoughts and dialogue, I could sense how youthful Lizzy feels when she’s around him. How free. It was hard not to want that for her.
There was a lot of banter in the dialogue between Lizzy and Ben, as well as the conversations she has with her friends. They make up a nice support system during her time of need. While I felt the dialogue at times could get really heavy in places where I would have liked to see more plot, it was in those moments where we learn a lot more about a woman who used to be a lot different than the person she is today. And, we don’t really know until the end of the story what she is going to do with her future, or who will be there. It made for an interesting read.
While I’m not entirely sure what my own decision would have been, had I been in her shoes, it was nice to live that experience vicariously through Lizzy. We’re given a very realistic approach to the struggles so many of us face when it comes to matters of the heart, and wanting to do the right thing for our own personal happiness, while still living a fulfilling life.
October 18, 2018
"Everyone wonders about the road not travelled."
A story of dreams and what ifs? Lizzie’s internal struggle over her relationship with her husband and her life. She has become miserable in life of a wife and mother. Very relatable to many women in long term marriages/relationship especially for those whose career path or dreams have changed while living in the chaos called motherhood and wife. While it stirs up serious emotions, it is a fun and easy read. Fun dialogue that keep the story flowing. Well written and hilariously told. I highly recommend especially for the over 30 crowd.
A story of dreams and what ifs? Lizzie’s internal struggle over her relationship with her husband and her life. She has become miserable in life of a wife and mother. Very relatable to many women in long term marriages/relationship especially for those whose career path or dreams have changed while living in the chaos called motherhood and wife. While it stirs up serious emotions, it is a fun and easy read. Fun dialogue that keep the story flowing. Well written and hilariously told. I highly recommend especially for the over 30 crowd.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews