Stars collide

the long version

Happily-ever-afters abound in the opening act in Thompson’s new Backstage Pass series. Kat Jennings and Scott Murphy are the stars of the hit TV sitcom Stars Collide when they realize that their own real-life pathways have begun to sweetly entwine. Couple this burgeoning romance with the on-screen marriage of their fictional television characters and with the escapades of Kat’s somewhat confused grandmother, and hilarity ensues. Surrounded by well-intentioned friends and relatives who sometimes seem only to make matters worse, Kat must somehow manage to uphold her chaste reputation, keep the paparazzi at bay, and hold on to the man whom she has begun to fall in love with. An eclectic mix of the sort of zany characters Thompson is known for adds levity to this modern, star-studded romance. Glimpses into a Hollywood television studio and a series of lively comedic events make for a contemporary low-key inspirational romance that will appeal to readers who enjoyed the setting and humor of Rene Gutteridge’s Occupational Hazards series. --Elizabeth Ponder