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Theodora Twist
“I’m going to have to come up with something really good to get you back into the public’s good graces. I have no idea what, but trust me. I’ll think of something.”
Well that’s what Theodora pays her agent $100,000 a year for, isn’t it? Theodora Twist is the girl everyone wants to be. She’s Hollywood’s hottest young actress. Producers court her, fans mob her, and the tabloids cover everything.
Emilys life is Boring with a capital B. She’s a 16-year-old nobody to everyone, including her own mother. The only thing remotely interesting about Emily? She lives in Theodora Twist’s former house. But she’s about to get Twisted.
How? On a reality show meant to clean up Theodora’s party girl rep—with Emily’s family as host. It’s just another role for Theodora. Emily is in panic mode. This isn’t just a part . . . it’s her life.
From the Hardcover edition.
Well that’s what Theodora pays her agent $100,000 a year for, isn’t it? Theodora Twist is the girl everyone wants to be. She’s Hollywood’s hottest young actress. Producers court her, fans mob her, and the tabloids cover everything.
Emilys life is Boring with a capital B. She’s a 16-year-old nobody to everyone, including her own mother. The only thing remotely interesting about Emily? She lives in Theodora Twist’s former house. But she’s about to get Twisted.
How? On a reality show meant to clean up Theodora’s party girl rep—with Emily’s family as host. It’s just another role for Theodora. Emily is in panic mode. This isn’t just a part . . . it’s her life.
From the Hardcover edition.
- GenresYoung AdultChick Lit
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 23, 2006
About the author
Melissa Senate
181 books437 followersI'm the author of many novels, including my debut, SEE JANE DATE (also available in cute TV movie form to stream). I write western romances for Harlequin Special Edition. I've had two novels published under a secret pen name, but I will happily share if you message me to ask!
Three new novels coming in 2024!
I also wrote seven Special Edition novels (in the Hurley's Homestyle Kitchen series 2016-2017) under the pen name Meg Maxwell. The Hurley's Homestyle Kitchen series is full of love, romance, sisterhood, relationships, and happy endings, of course. Note: I only wrote these 7 Harlequin Special Titles under the name Meg Maxwell so if you see any other Meg Maxwell novels, that is a different author!
I'm a proud mom and animal devotee who lives on the coast of Maine.
Hope you'll visit my website: http://www.melissasenate.com
Three new novels coming in 2024!
I also wrote seven Special Edition novels (in the Hurley's Homestyle Kitchen series 2016-2017) under the pen name Meg Maxwell. The Hurley's Homestyle Kitchen series is full of love, romance, sisterhood, relationships, and happy endings, of course. Note: I only wrote these 7 Harlequin Special Titles under the name Meg Maxwell so if you see any other Meg Maxwell novels, that is a different author!
I'm a proud mom and animal devotee who lives on the coast of Maine.
Hope you'll visit my website: http://www.melissasenate.com
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 23 reviews
May 12, 2008
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
I admit it--I'm a sucker for light, fun, fast reads that deal with situations I would never in a million years find myself in. Such is the case of THEODORA TWIST, a book that deals with a sixteen-year old Hollywood starlet, a beautiful teen who has experienced more in her young life than I'll ever experience in mine.
The problem starts when Theodora Twist, young star and Hollywood's darling, gets caught one too many times in a scandalous situation. Since she's dating both of the twin Bellini brothers (and by dating, I also mean sleeping with), her many endorsers aren't so sure of her wholesome appeal to the tweens and teens that they're looking to rope into the theaters. Her agent-slash-talent manager, Ashley Bean, has schooled her in the art of being cheerfully untruthful, but Theodora once again lets her stubbornness get in the way of good acting--not only does she kiss both Bo and Brandon Bellini for the benefit of a reporter, but she's later caught cavorting with them in the ocean half-naked.
Ashley's job is damage control, and she comes up with what she believes is the perfect resolution to Theodora's wild child image. She'll be the star of her own reality show, Theodora Twist: Just a Regular Teen! The goal of the show is simple--prove to the world's population that Theodora isn't the spoiled, pampered, sexually-active teen that she really is, but the down-to-earth, normal teenager that you don't get to see on television and the big screen. Although Theodora was born Dora Twistler, she has no intention of ever being that person again. And spending a month living in her childhood home with Emily Fine and her family, going to high school, hanging out at the mall, and going to prom is not her idea of fun.
For Emily, she's not sure what to think about having the elusive and mysterious Theodora Twist in her house, sharing her bedroom, having her every move and conversation taped for possible broadcast on television. Sure, she's now popular and in-demand, but that's only destined to last as long as Theodora is in town. When she leaves, Emily knows she'll go back to the boring, nobody girl she's always been.
But Emily and Theodora both have a lot to learn, about friendship, self-esteem, and family. As Theodora learns that the death of her father is still haunting her, and Emily realizes that being famous might not be all it's cracked up to be, a friendship is born that has nothing to do with fame and fortune.
THEODORA TWIST is a quick, fun read that will appeal to readers on many levels. The sexuality of Theodora may bother some, but it's never shown as a preferable lifestyle, but rather the results of a life lived in Hollywood's spotlight. I truly enjoyed this quick read, and guarantee that others will, as well.
I admit it--I'm a sucker for light, fun, fast reads that deal with situations I would never in a million years find myself in. Such is the case of THEODORA TWIST, a book that deals with a sixteen-year old Hollywood starlet, a beautiful teen who has experienced more in her young life than I'll ever experience in mine.
The problem starts when Theodora Twist, young star and Hollywood's darling, gets caught one too many times in a scandalous situation. Since she's dating both of the twin Bellini brothers (and by dating, I also mean sleeping with), her many endorsers aren't so sure of her wholesome appeal to the tweens and teens that they're looking to rope into the theaters. Her agent-slash-talent manager, Ashley Bean, has schooled her in the art of being cheerfully untruthful, but Theodora once again lets her stubbornness get in the way of good acting--not only does she kiss both Bo and Brandon Bellini for the benefit of a reporter, but she's later caught cavorting with them in the ocean half-naked.
Ashley's job is damage control, and she comes up with what she believes is the perfect resolution to Theodora's wild child image. She'll be the star of her own reality show, Theodora Twist: Just a Regular Teen! The goal of the show is simple--prove to the world's population that Theodora isn't the spoiled, pampered, sexually-active teen that she really is, but the down-to-earth, normal teenager that you don't get to see on television and the big screen. Although Theodora was born Dora Twistler, she has no intention of ever being that person again. And spending a month living in her childhood home with Emily Fine and her family, going to high school, hanging out at the mall, and going to prom is not her idea of fun.
For Emily, she's not sure what to think about having the elusive and mysterious Theodora Twist in her house, sharing her bedroom, having her every move and conversation taped for possible broadcast on television. Sure, she's now popular and in-demand, but that's only destined to last as long as Theodora is in town. When she leaves, Emily knows she'll go back to the boring, nobody girl she's always been.
But Emily and Theodora both have a lot to learn, about friendship, self-esteem, and family. As Theodora learns that the death of her father is still haunting her, and Emily realizes that being famous might not be all it's cracked up to be, a friendship is born that has nothing to do with fame and fortune.
THEODORA TWIST is a quick, fun read that will appeal to readers on many levels. The sexuality of Theodora may bother some, but it's never shown as a preferable lifestyle, but rather the results of a life lived in Hollywood's spotlight. I truly enjoyed this quick read, and guarantee that others will, as well.
October 10, 2010
Why I read this: I decided that after The Mortal Instruments series (which I loved), I wanted to read something that didn't have anything to do with vampires, werewolves, witches, etc.
Plot: Theodora Twist, a 17-year-old movie star, has been getting herself into trouble since her first movie role. After a crazy night out with her boyfriends (she is dating the Bellini Brothers, twin rockstars), her agent feels that if Theodora doesn't do something fast to show people that she is, in fact, a regular teenager, she will loose her fans and, most importantly, her career. Theodora's agent comes up with the perfect plan: a reality TV show starring Theodora, Theodora Twist: Just a Regular Teen! The show is basically to show everyone that despite being a super famous movie star, that Theodora is still a regular teen and that she does go through problems that regular teens face. For the show Theodora must spend a month living with the family that now lives in the house she grew up in. The house happens to be inhabited by Emily Fine (who happened to be friends with Theodora before she became famous) and her mother, stepfather and new baby sister. Theodora must live with the family and do everything that Emily does; go to school, go to prom, shop at Old Navy instead of Gucci.
Characters: Theodora was not at all like I had expected her to be. When I read the synopsis, I thought she would be a complete bitch to the family unless the cameras were around. She ended up being normal. She didn't need to show to prove to anyone that she was a normal teenager, because she was. She faced the same exact problems Emily faced; both of their fathers died when they were 12, they were in love with a boy (in Theodora's case, 2 boys) who only wanted them for sex, and they just needed someone to be there for them, to talk to.
Relatability: It was relatable because the two girls face many of the same problems any teenager faces even if they came from completely different places.
Cover Commentary: The cover is cute. I wouldn't say if was one of the best I've ever seen, but it fits the book well.
Plot: Theodora Twist, a 17-year-old movie star, has been getting herself into trouble since her first movie role. After a crazy night out with her boyfriends (she is dating the Bellini Brothers, twin rockstars), her agent feels that if Theodora doesn't do something fast to show people that she is, in fact, a regular teenager, she will loose her fans and, most importantly, her career. Theodora's agent comes up with the perfect plan: a reality TV show starring Theodora, Theodora Twist: Just a Regular Teen! The show is basically to show everyone that despite being a super famous movie star, that Theodora is still a regular teen and that she does go through problems that regular teens face. For the show Theodora must spend a month living with the family that now lives in the house she grew up in. The house happens to be inhabited by Emily Fine (who happened to be friends with Theodora before she became famous) and her mother, stepfather and new baby sister. Theodora must live with the family and do everything that Emily does; go to school, go to prom, shop at Old Navy instead of Gucci.
Characters: Theodora was not at all like I had expected her to be. When I read the synopsis, I thought she would be a complete bitch to the family unless the cameras were around. She ended up being normal. She didn't need to show to prove to anyone that she was a normal teenager, because she was. She faced the same exact problems Emily faced; both of their fathers died when they were 12, they were in love with a boy (in Theodora's case, 2 boys) who only wanted them for sex, and they just needed someone to be there for them, to talk to.
Relatability: It was relatable because the two girls face many of the same problems any teenager faces even if they came from completely different places.
Cover Commentary: The cover is cute. I wouldn't say if was one of the best I've ever seen, but it fits the book well.
September 9, 2012
I read an ARC of The Love Goddess' Cooking School in 2010, and I liked it so much that I put Melissa Senate on my list of authors to ready everything by. Since then I've picked up four more of her books, but this is the first one I've gotten around to reading. Theodora Twist is a YA novel, and I've kind of drifted away from YA over the last two or three years, so I wasn't sure how well I'd like it, but it was quite enjoyable.
Theodora is a 16 year old actress who's Hollywood star is quickly rising, almost as fast as her wild reputation. She's wrapping up a press junket for her new movie, and fielding questions from reporters eager to know more about her relationship with the Bellini brothers, twin singers who she is dating. Yes, she's dating both of them. At the same time. In private of course. To the reporters she keeps insisting “We're just good friends”. Until she gets fed up with the questions and causes a sensation which infuriates her agent.
Emily Fine is a 16 year old high school student, living an ordinary life in an ordinary town with her mother, stepfather and baby sister. She happens to live in the house Theodora grew up in, and for a few weeks in junior high she and Theodora were good friends, until Theodora dumped her with no explanation.
Now Theodora is coming back to her home town to live with Emily and her family for a month. She's to attend high school with Emily and do everything she does, like a normal teenager. It's for a reality show designed to show America that at heart, Theodora IS just like every other teenage girl in America.
The book is written in first person POV, with the chapters alternating between Theodora and Emily. I was a little jarred at first, with Theodora talking about her sex life which began at 12 or 13. But other than their life styles, the girls' voices aren't much different, and a couple of times I had to pause to remember which one was narrating at that moment.
As with any teen novel, there is a small clique of mean girls, here known as the Samanthas, though only two of the four are actually named Samantha. I can't remember much to distinguish the one Samantha from the other, but whenever a Samantha was talking to Emily or Theodora, I pictured Dalia (played wonderfully by Carly Chaikin) from the TV show Suburgatory.
I can't say how well the average teenage girl would like this book as neither of my girls would've been interested in it - one of them only liked serious books with a strong female antagonist facing hardship and/or adversity, and the other didn't read much of anything other than the first few Pretty Little Liars books. But overall I found it to be a very enjoyable and amusing read.
Theodora is a 16 year old actress who's Hollywood star is quickly rising, almost as fast as her wild reputation. She's wrapping up a press junket for her new movie, and fielding questions from reporters eager to know more about her relationship with the Bellini brothers, twin singers who she is dating. Yes, she's dating both of them. At the same time. In private of course. To the reporters she keeps insisting “We're just good friends”. Until she gets fed up with the questions and causes a sensation which infuriates her agent.
Emily Fine is a 16 year old high school student, living an ordinary life in an ordinary town with her mother, stepfather and baby sister. She happens to live in the house Theodora grew up in, and for a few weeks in junior high she and Theodora were good friends, until Theodora dumped her with no explanation.
Now Theodora is coming back to her home town to live with Emily and her family for a month. She's to attend high school with Emily and do everything she does, like a normal teenager. It's for a reality show designed to show America that at heart, Theodora IS just like every other teenage girl in America.
The book is written in first person POV, with the chapters alternating between Theodora and Emily. I was a little jarred at first, with Theodora talking about her sex life which began at 12 or 13. But other than their life styles, the girls' voices aren't much different, and a couple of times I had to pause to remember which one was narrating at that moment.
As with any teen novel, there is a small clique of mean girls, here known as the Samanthas, though only two of the four are actually named Samantha. I can't remember much to distinguish the one Samantha from the other, but whenever a Samantha was talking to Emily or Theodora, I pictured Dalia (played wonderfully by Carly Chaikin) from the TV show Suburgatory.
I can't say how well the average teenage girl would like this book as neither of my girls would've been interested in it - one of them only liked serious books with a strong female antagonist facing hardship and/or adversity, and the other didn't read much of anything other than the first few Pretty Little Liars books. But overall I found it to be a very enjoyable and amusing read.
November 10, 2012
“I’m going to have to come up with something really good to get you back into the public’s good graces. I have no idea what, but trust me. I’ll think of something.”
Well that’s what Theodora pays her agent $100,000 a year for, isn’t it? Theodora Twist is the girl everyone wants to be. She’s Hollywood’s hottest young actress. Producers court her, fans mob her, and the tabloids cover everything.
Emilys life is Boring with a capital B. She’s a 16-year-old nobody to everyone, including her own mother. The only thing remotely interesting about Emily? She lives in Theodora Twist’s former house. But she’s about to get Twisted.
How? On a reality show meant to clean up Theodora’s party girl rep—with Emily’s family as host. It’s just another role for Theodora. Emily is in panic mode. This isn’t just a part . . . it’s her life.
Theodora is hollywood's hottest young actress who is dating two twin brothers at the same time.
Emily is your everyday regular, boring teenager.
What do you get when you take everything away from a actress and put her in her former home with her ex-friend?? trouble.
This book did not entertain me from page one, but I guess it was interesting, seeing as readers can read the life of a teenager and a young actress. I stopped on page 65 of this book, and its not because the book was bad, but I was just not interested. I took this book from my little cousin to see what it's about, and I thought the summary was ok. So, i decided to try reading the book on my free time....just wasn't interesting.
ENDING SPOILER(skipped to end to read ending):
Theodora seemed to improve throughout the book, as she is not that spoiled anymore. Her two boyfriends broke up with her after she finds out they were cheating on her with another set of twin girls from another band. She ends up going out with a guy named Ben to the prom(who is a regular student). EMily gets her happily ever after at her prom, with a guy named Ray who she, I quote, said, "he's so hot!".
Well that’s what Theodora pays her agent $100,000 a year for, isn’t it? Theodora Twist is the girl everyone wants to be. She’s Hollywood’s hottest young actress. Producers court her, fans mob her, and the tabloids cover everything.
Emilys life is Boring with a capital B. She’s a 16-year-old nobody to everyone, including her own mother. The only thing remotely interesting about Emily? She lives in Theodora Twist’s former house. But she’s about to get Twisted.
How? On a reality show meant to clean up Theodora’s party girl rep—with Emily’s family as host. It’s just another role for Theodora. Emily is in panic mode. This isn’t just a part . . . it’s her life.
Theodora is hollywood's hottest young actress who is dating two twin brothers at the same time.
Emily is your everyday regular, boring teenager.
What do you get when you take everything away from a actress and put her in her former home with her ex-friend?? trouble.
This book did not entertain me from page one, but I guess it was interesting, seeing as readers can read the life of a teenager and a young actress. I stopped on page 65 of this book, and its not because the book was bad, but I was just not interested. I took this book from my little cousin to see what it's about, and I thought the summary was ok. So, i decided to try reading the book on my free time....just wasn't interesting.
ENDING SPOILER(skipped to end to read ending):
Theodora seemed to improve throughout the book, as she is not that spoiled anymore. Her two boyfriends broke up with her after she finds out they were cheating on her with another set of twin girls from another band. She ends up going out with a guy named Ben to the prom(who is a regular student). EMily gets her happily ever after at her prom, with a guy named Ray who she, I quote, said, "he's so hot!".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2007
Although shorter than I would have liked it to be, I thought it was interesting as well. This book is written in two perspectives: Theodora, sixteen year old sensational actress, and Emily Fine, a normal sixteen year old who couldn't be more normal.
After being exposed to some juicy gossip, Theodora's bad-girl image has shot up a notch. Her manager Ashley decides then that something needs to be done to save Theodora's career, and thinks up of the reality tv show idea. For one whole month, Theodora will be living with Emily, doing what Emily does, eating what Emily eats, worry about what Emily is worrying about, all the while being filmed by two camera-men.
For Emily, having Theodora around is weird. Ever since the announcement, she's getting invites to parties and dates to the Prom. But Emily knows better. They're all trying to suck up to her and get close to Theodora. She can tell her real friends from the fake ones.
I liked the general idea of this story. It's all about looks and popularity and trying to get what you want one way or another in high school. The author uses distinguishable voices for two completely different characters and spins an interesting story.
After being exposed to some juicy gossip, Theodora's bad-girl image has shot up a notch. Her manager Ashley decides then that something needs to be done to save Theodora's career, and thinks up of the reality tv show idea. For one whole month, Theodora will be living with Emily, doing what Emily does, eating what Emily eats, worry about what Emily is worrying about, all the while being filmed by two camera-men.
For Emily, having Theodora around is weird. Ever since the announcement, she's getting invites to parties and dates to the Prom. But Emily knows better. They're all trying to suck up to her and get close to Theodora. She can tell her real friends from the fake ones.
I liked the general idea of this story. It's all about looks and popularity and trying to get what you want one way or another in high school. The author uses distinguishable voices for two completely different characters and spins an interesting story.
August 9, 2017
I really enjoyed this book! It had a great perspective on both sides of the girls. Theodora is a wonderful character who has half of her heart in hollywood and the other half as a "Regular Teen Girl". She isn't sappy. It shows how hollywood can affect a young girl and her life. How she feels loss and heartbreak the same way. Emily is also a fantastic character. She stays true to herself and still has a sense of reality. I really enjoyed that about her. All the character were great! The storyline was also great. I liked how the relationships were including between the family. It shows that a surprise baby can put a wedge between the parents sometimes but really they need to talk it out and remember that no matter what they still love each other. I enjoyed how the storyline progressed and ended. Overall an easy read and it's worth it.
January 24, 2016
My book Theodora Twist is a taking in Oak City.This book is about 2 girls one regular teenager,heername is Emily Finethe other is a world wide popstar who was Emily's friendand left in middle school to the HOLLYWOOD WORLD,her name was Dora Twisler before shewent to the HOLLYWOOD WORLD AND her agents changed it to Theodora Twist.Let me tell you about Emily Fine ; her father died and her mother was depressed until she met Stew and they were soon married and they soon had a child who was Emily's step-sister.Theodora is very much like Emilyin some ways ; for example Theodora's father past away before she became a popstar,Theodora's mom was to depressed but she found a boyfriend to keep her happy for now.Theodora isn't just a bad popstar but she also has a loving and soft side.To Theodora Emily Fne is the only one who know that secret.
November 21, 2010
Not done yet, but...
I'm not sure about this book because it seems just like every other "Fame and Fortune" tale. Some average, typical girl becomes famous overnight after being covered with a made up name, bias opinions, untrue friends, and an overall fake life then makes terrible mistakes in her life only to end up where she started... but changed. Yeah, whatever. I'm sticking with it though in the hopes that the first fifty pages just give the entire story an undesirable start but makes up for it with an inspiring, suspenseful, key-to-life ending. Will Theadora Twist's next 100 pages make it or break it? To be determined. =)
I'm not sure about this book because it seems just like every other "Fame and Fortune" tale. Some average, typical girl becomes famous overnight after being covered with a made up name, bias opinions, untrue friends, and an overall fake life then makes terrible mistakes in her life only to end up where she started... but changed. Yeah, whatever. I'm sticking with it though in the hopes that the first fifty pages just give the entire story an undesirable start but makes up for it with an inspiring, suspenseful, key-to-life ending. Will Theadora Twist's next 100 pages make it or break it? To be determined. =)
February 3, 2010
I've enjoyed most of Melissa Senate's book, but this one didn't do much for me. It was nice to see a change come over Theodora by the end of the book. However, the book was too superficial for my taste. I think it was too short. She could have expounded a bit more on Emily & Theodora and it would have been better.
July 26, 2007
Predictable, but engaging.
Read
June 21, 2010I really liked this book
June 21, 2010
It was good
September 23, 2010
It was very slow in the bginning, but then once you are into the book it gets better
February 28, 2011
This was a good way to show how the life of a normal girl can become very unnormal.
April 18, 2011
It was an ok book. I did not feel as though it was a book i needed to keep reading and i found myself wanting to finish it so i could start a new book.
June 6, 2012
I love Melissa Senate as an author for adults, not so much as an author for YA! Probably because it was too real at times, giving me PTSD related flashbacks to my own teenage years.
June 13, 2017
31/5/17
Whaaaaaaaaatttt WHEN DID I READ THIS???
I just read the first few pages and couldn't continue?? How in the world did I rate it 4 stars??
Ok I'll read more and not judge so quickly
Whaaaaaaaaatttt WHEN DID I READ THIS???
I just read the first few pages and couldn't continue?? How in the world did I rate it 4 stars??
Ok I'll read more and not judge so quickly
January 22, 2014
cute fun story about hollywood and regular girls in a reality show.
March 20, 2014
I love her adult novels but I am just a bit too old for these.
August 23, 2014
Review by C.E.: "I liked this book more than I thought I would."
Read
July 15, 2009teen novel
March 13, 2014
good story for a teenager
Displaying 1 - 22 of 23 reviews