David Villa and Janet Ashby are as different as night and day. He is stunningly handsome, outgoing and confident, the life of every party. She is shy and reserved, more comfortable with a good book than at any social function. What they have in common, however, is genuine musical talent and a desire for fame. Their mutual talent agent, Charlie, recognizes a good thing when he sees it, and when Janet performs with David, Charlie sees a path to the top of the charts for the couple. The only catch is that the duo may need to play up their relationship to garner more attention. Janet and David resolve to set aside their differences for the sake of their career and take Charlie’s advice. In a bold move, the two performers agree to get married for at least a year in the hopes of reaching stardom. Their fans seem to love the idea of a talented young interracial couple, but their families are less than enthused about the nuptial news. Will they be able to maintain the facade of two newlyweds in love despite their obvious distaste for each other?
Carol Styron has penned an upbeat romance novel that focuses on a couple facing racial prejudices from the ones they love the most. The prose is lighthearted and gentle, despite the inherent social issues. What readers will love is the fairy-tale-like story that Janet gets to live out, including her handsome new husband, a ritzy New York City apartment, and a taste of fame. The storytelling is basic, with no-nonsense dialogue and straightforward interactions between the characters. There are moments where the conversations can be difficult to follow due to their choppiness, and other places where the drama simply struggles to come alive. But at times, particularly the scenes of intimacy and the comical moment where Janet’s father catches David in an indiscretion, this urban fiction novel truly finds its footing. Despite the uneven moments and bumps along the way, Marrying For Fame is still a worthwhile guilty pleasure with a lovely message.
