Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite

Hollywood Heartbreak: New York Dreams by Kody Christiansen introduces us to Kaleb, a well known female illusionist whose journey took him from Texas to New York and then to Hollywood. A story that is tragic, inspiring and very true. Kaleb goes onto national TV as an alter ego known as Sarah Summers and gets lost in the famous and sometimes toxic Hollywood culture. Kaleb abuses alcohol and drugs in a story of success, love, rock bottom, and the struggle to come back from that. Wow is the very first word that comes to mind when I think about the experience I had while reading this book. All of us have ups and downs in life, but few can probably say they have experienced the extreme highs and extreme lows that Kaleb has. This story is emotional and follows such a journey that I found myself wondering what could possibly happen next. The ebb and flow of the book is good and sometimes you can almost find yourself forgetting this is all based on a true story. This is not a fictional tale being told for extremes, but someone's real life. I held my breath in parts, cried in others, and laughed as well. I was joyful when Kaleb managed to pick himself up from the pit of being addicted and on the streets of New York to find life again. A true inspiration to all of us. It leaves the reader with a feeling of the ability to overcome almost anything.