Disclaimer: Ink Road Books sent me a copy of ‘Becoming Mila’ in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to them for sending me a copy.

Summary
Sixteen-year-old Mila lives in LA with her mom and A-list actor dad, whose fame constantly thrusts their lives into the media spotlight. But when Mila’s antics around town make waves ahead of her dad’s next big movie, something needs to be done. So Mila is dispatched 2,000 miles away to Nashville, Tennessee, where she can cool off for the summer with her aunt and grandfather. The perfect solution – right?
Mila’s not so sure. She’s dreading the idea of a summer away from her friends, not to mention being shipped to the other side of the country. Apprehensive and out-of-sorts when she arrives, it doesn’t take long for her to get off on the wrong foot with the mayor’s son, Blake. In spectacular style.
But Blake’s no stranger to Mila’s issues. He knows exactly what life’s like with a parent in the public eye – the pressures and politics, dramas and dynamics … Perhaps Mila and Blake have far more in common than either of them care to admit.
Review
The glitz and the glamour are what make fame seem so appealing, but what about when you’re living under the scrutiny of somebody else’s spotlight? Mila Harding has lived under her famous father, Everett Harding’s, spotlight her entire life, but as she’s getting older she’s realising there’s more to life than an A-list lifestyle. After one mistake too many in the public eye, she’s sent back to Nashville to be taught a lesson. But she learns far more about life and herself than she could ever have expected.
This book was a sweet, fun teen romance that is full of drama. It’s the perfect recipe for a successful YA romance. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. It took a few chapters before I was invested, but once I was, it became increasingly difficult to stop reading it. I can even admit to staying up until 1 am to finish it!
Truthfully, I’m a sucker for ‘enemies to lovers’ romances and this one roped me in. Mila and Blake start as strangers and gradually realise they have far more in common than they could’ve ever imagined. Both have to deal with their own parent’s fame and know how it feels to never be good enough in their parent’s eyes. They feel too scrutinised and forced to adhere to rules that ordinary teens would never have to be accustomed to. I felt for them as their childhoods were far from normal and their families were too controlling. It was easy to understand their need for freedom, to lead their own lives, and to have their own dreams.
I loved the evolution of Mila’s character and truly appreciated how much growth she had. Sure, she lives a lavish life but she knows it. She understands that not everyone has been granted the same luxuries in life that she has. That level of maturity for a sixteen-year-old shows that her parents raised her well, or at least, her mother did. The trip back to Nashville truly changed everything for her, and about her. It gives her a new lease of life, and a chance to experience the partially normal life of a teenager. Mila’s Aunt Sheri and her Grandpa were so loving and kind. They allowed her the freedom she needed to grow as a person which she lacked back in LA.
However, I do feel like more romance could have been sprinkled into the book, it took a long while to get to that point. But it is a trilogy so I guess an initial slow-burner makes sense. The cliffhanger ending was painful, purely because I wasn’t done with it yet. I needed more so I’m really looking forward to reading Trusting Blake.
Overall, I loved this book and I rate it 4/5 stars. I really recommend it if you like reading YA Romance.