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Scared Scriptless
Maddy Carson is a mass of contradictions. She loves her job as Script Supervisor on a hit TV show, but hates "Hollywood." Super-organized and down-to-earth, Maddy is clearly one of the best at her job, and her strict dating rule - "No Actors!" - helps her keep focused on her career. However, a budding relationship with Craig, one of the executives at her company, may even propel her into the big leagues. Could Wolf County, her beloved hometown in the mountains, be saved from a financial crisis by creating a reality show featuring the eccentrics in the small ski village? Maddy is determined to try, even when she learns that Craig's agenda doesn't exactly line up with her altruistic goal.
Meanwhile, Maddy still has a full-time job to manage, her family to deal with, and a gorgeous new actor, Adam Devin, determined to wear down her resistance. Eventually Maddy must learn to break all her self-imposed rules and simply follow her heart.
Scared Scriptless offers an engagingly relatable heroine, laugh-out-loud humor, and a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how television is made.
Meanwhile, Maddy still has a full-time job to manage, her family to deal with, and a gorgeous new actor, Adam Devin, determined to wear down her resistance. Eventually Maddy must learn to break all her self-imposed rules and simply follow her heart.
Scared Scriptless offers an engagingly relatable heroine, laugh-out-loud humor, and a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how television is made.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2014
33 people are currently reading
1,550 people want to read
About the author
Alison Sweeney
7Ìýbooks207ÌýfollowersAlison Ann Sweeney is an American dramatic actress, author, novelist and reality show host. Sweeney is best known for her portrayal of Samantha 'Sami' Brady on NBC's long running 'Days of our Lives.' In this role, she has earned a Daytime Emmy Award. In 2007, she became the host of 'The Biggest Loser.'
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September 9, 2020I bailed on it about 20% in. The audiobook was a little annoying, but the story itself didn't grab me. Maybe it was 2020, but I hard a hard time identifying with the main character returning from her Hollywood life to her picture-perfect life at a ski resort with her perfect family. None of it felt real or anything I wanted to give another 6 hours of my life listening to.
August 26, 2018
I am shocked how much I enjoyed this! I like Alison Sweeney a lot so I figured I'd give it a go and I was pleasantly surprised. However, I listened to it on audio and she is a terrible narrator. If I ever read this again it would definitely be in physical form- the audio was just too distracting and annoying. She took random pauses and breaths in the middle of sentences and it was super distracting.
Anyway, the story is about Maddy. She's a script writer for a TV show and loves her job but hates the Hollywood lifestyle. She's dating one of the executives on the show (Craig) and has a strict no-actor policy when it comes to her love life.
She takes Craig home to her hometown in Wolf County because she sees how much of the town is failing. Nobody is coming there so the businesses are all dying. Maddy gets the idea to start a reality show about the town and the people there to help boost the economy. Craig runs with the idea and seems to be really supportive and helpful, but his intentions are not good. It's later revealed that he's trying to take credit and exploit, rather than shine a light on, the issues of Wolf County.
Thankfully he is fired and he and Maddy call it quits. She breaks her no-actor rule to start dating Adam, the lead on the show she works on. She fights the relationship for awhile, but their connection is just too strong and they're too good together. I thought this was a cute and pretty realistic relationship, no matter how predictable it was from page 1.
Maddy gets a contract to do the show and everything ends happily.
I think there could've been a better title for this book. I didn't read the synopsis or anything beforehand, but I kept expecting this turn into some sort of cozy mystery or for something "scary" to happen. However I guess its just referring to the fact that she's scared of jumping in to the relationship and into the risky world that comes with trying to put herself out there and fight for what she wants (which is to produce the reality show).
Overall I think this is a really cute story and I would recommend it.
Anyway, the story is about Maddy. She's a script writer for a TV show and loves her job but hates the Hollywood lifestyle. She's dating one of the executives on the show (Craig) and has a strict no-actor policy when it comes to her love life.
She takes Craig home to her hometown in Wolf County because she sees how much of the town is failing. Nobody is coming there so the businesses are all dying. Maddy gets the idea to start a reality show about the town and the people there to help boost the economy. Craig runs with the idea and seems to be really supportive and helpful, but his intentions are not good. It's later revealed that he's trying to take credit and exploit, rather than shine a light on, the issues of Wolf County.
Thankfully he is fired and he and Maddy call it quits. She breaks her no-actor rule to start dating Adam, the lead on the show she works on. She fights the relationship for awhile, but their connection is just too strong and they're too good together. I thought this was a cute and pretty realistic relationship, no matter how predictable it was from page 1.
Maddy gets a contract to do the show and everything ends happily.
I think there could've been a better title for this book. I didn't read the synopsis or anything beforehand, but I kept expecting this turn into some sort of cozy mystery or for something "scary" to happen. However I guess its just referring to the fact that she's scared of jumping in to the relationship and into the risky world that comes with trying to put herself out there and fight for what she wants (which is to produce the reality show).
Overall I think this is a really cute story and I would recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2014
Ali Sweeney has really taken to writing like a fish to water it would seem. I absolutely loved this 2nd novel! In a very fun twist, she's introduced completely new characters and opened up a whole new world to explore, while also bringing back two lovable characters from her first novel, The Star Attraction -- which is great because people who read the first book get a little extra insider feeling, but people who haven't read the first book yet won't feel like they're missing anything.
The novel revolves around a few months in the life of Maddy Carson -- script supervisor for a major, primetime drama. The first few chapters have a little bit of a slow, but educational, start as we learn all about the different jobs on set - who's who and what they do. Some other reviewers felt like this was too much, but I have to say I really liked learning all the ins and outs of show production. Later in the story, Maddy works on developing a new show concept and pitching it to the network execs - again, I thought all the Hollywood insider bits were fascinating. It's a lot to cover to make sure that readers aren't lost by the industry jargon - and I think it was better to cover it all rather than leave any readers confused. So I give a thumbs up to that where others might just find it tedious.
Other than the behind-the-scenes tidbits, you've got this completely relatable main character, Maddy. She's detail-oriented and ultra-organized. She's from a small town but totally settled (at least physically) in Hollywood now - so you get to see both of these worlds and how they mix (or don't mix). You've got the personal journey that she goes on throughout the novel. And you've got the romances - which I won't say anything about so as not to spoil anything! Oh, and there's a genuine, feel-good family side story too - loved that!
I found myself wishing that this had been a much longer book because I sort of thought it ended too soon - so many more moments that could have been written about. Not that it ended abruptly, just that I had come to know these characters and wished I could stay in their world a little longer. Perhaps in book #3...
Oh - and any Days of Our Lives or Ali Sweeney fans will love the little Easter eggs she throws in - just for fun!
The novel revolves around a few months in the life of Maddy Carson -- script supervisor for a major, primetime drama. The first few chapters have a little bit of a slow, but educational, start as we learn all about the different jobs on set - who's who and what they do. Some other reviewers felt like this was too much, but I have to say I really liked learning all the ins and outs of show production. Later in the story, Maddy works on developing a new show concept and pitching it to the network execs - again, I thought all the Hollywood insider bits were fascinating. It's a lot to cover to make sure that readers aren't lost by the industry jargon - and I think it was better to cover it all rather than leave any readers confused. So I give a thumbs up to that where others might just find it tedious.
Other than the behind-the-scenes tidbits, you've got this completely relatable main character, Maddy. She's detail-oriented and ultra-organized. She's from a small town but totally settled (at least physically) in Hollywood now - so you get to see both of these worlds and how they mix (or don't mix). You've got the personal journey that she goes on throughout the novel. And you've got the romances - which I won't say anything about so as not to spoil anything! Oh, and there's a genuine, feel-good family side story too - loved that!
I found myself wishing that this had been a much longer book because I sort of thought it ended too soon - so many more moments that could have been written about. Not that it ended abruptly, just that I had come to know these characters and wished I could stay in their world a little longer. Perhaps in book #3...
Oh - and any Days of Our Lives or Ali Sweeney fans will love the little Easter eggs she throws in - just for fun!
April 20, 2023
Incredibly predictable. Easy to read. Felt a bit cliché the entire time. Nonetheless, some funny moments and likable characters.
June 13, 2015
I picked up this book for two reasons:
1. The cover
2. Alison Sweeney
More about this on the full review on my
Scared Scriptless is the story of Maddy Carson, a 35 year-old talented script supervisor at the hit prime time show The Wrong Doctor. She is very organized and dedicated to her job. She grew up in a small town in Wolf County, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. After high school, following a family friend’s suggestion, she moved to LA to what she thought was just going to be a sort of internship to get the hang of TV production. But it turned out to be a good career which she has enjoyed for the past 10 years.
Maddy’s life revolves around her job. She hadn’t had a serious relationship since she broke up with her high school sweetheart. We meet Maddy as she starts dating an executive at her job but we also see how an actor is trying hard to sweep her off her feet. Maddy is still unsure if dating her boss is a good idea and on the other hand she has a dating rule: No actors. Will she break her rule and find real love? Well, that’s for you to find out. ;)
But this book is not only about the love triangle. On a trip to her hometown, Maddy finds out that everything is not running so great back home. So we follow her as she comes up with a brilliant idea on how she can save the day and keep everything in town running as smoothly and charming as she remembers it to be.
Scared Scriptless is Sweeney’s second book. Having not read the first one, I can’t say if this is a sequel. Even if it is, it is written as a standalone, you don’t get the feeling that you are missing details or info from the previous story.
The characters in this book feel real and that’s what makes this story believable. But what also makes this book credible, are all the details on how a TV show is made. More about this on the full review on my
Scared Scriptless is a nice read, not so fast paced but an enjoyable story. A story about love, friendship, treason, family bonds, perseverance and happily ever afters. I would recommend this book as a “transition read�, i.e. a cute light story after reading a long and heavy book. Definitely a book that all Days of Our Lives fans shouldn’t miss. If you really, really, really miss Samantha get the audiobook narrated by Alison herself! ;) A book for those who want to be in the reality show or day time drama industry, it gives you an idea of how that sort of environment works. A good summer read that would also look cute in your beach/tote/vacation/summer bag. ;)
Samantha Brady may have left Salem for good, but Alison Sweeney is still around and I’m going to check out her next books in the future.
1. The cover
2. Alison Sweeney
More about this on the full review on my
Scared Scriptless is the story of Maddy Carson, a 35 year-old talented script supervisor at the hit prime time show The Wrong Doctor. She is very organized and dedicated to her job. She grew up in a small town in Wolf County, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. After high school, following a family friend’s suggestion, she moved to LA to what she thought was just going to be a sort of internship to get the hang of TV production. But it turned out to be a good career which she has enjoyed for the past 10 years.
Maddy’s life revolves around her job. She hadn’t had a serious relationship since she broke up with her high school sweetheart. We meet Maddy as she starts dating an executive at her job but we also see how an actor is trying hard to sweep her off her feet. Maddy is still unsure if dating her boss is a good idea and on the other hand she has a dating rule: No actors. Will she break her rule and find real love? Well, that’s for you to find out. ;)
But this book is not only about the love triangle. On a trip to her hometown, Maddy finds out that everything is not running so great back home. So we follow her as she comes up with a brilliant idea on how she can save the day and keep everything in town running as smoothly and charming as she remembers it to be.
Scared Scriptless is Sweeney’s second book. Having not read the first one, I can’t say if this is a sequel. Even if it is, it is written as a standalone, you don’t get the feeling that you are missing details or info from the previous story.
The characters in this book feel real and that’s what makes this story believable. But what also makes this book credible, are all the details on how a TV show is made. More about this on the full review on my
Scared Scriptless is a nice read, not so fast paced but an enjoyable story. A story about love, friendship, treason, family bonds, perseverance and happily ever afters. I would recommend this book as a “transition read�, i.e. a cute light story after reading a long and heavy book. Definitely a book that all Days of Our Lives fans shouldn’t miss. If you really, really, really miss Samantha get the audiobook narrated by Alison herself! ;) A book for those who want to be in the reality show or day time drama industry, it gives you an idea of how that sort of environment works. A good summer read that would also look cute in your beach/tote/vacation/summer bag. ;)
Samantha Brady may have left Salem for good, but Alison Sweeney is still around and I’m going to check out her next books in the future.
January 16, 2016
Maddy Carson is a mass of contradictions. She loves her job as Script Supervisor on a hit TV show, but hates “Hollywood.� Super-organized and down-to-earth, Maddy is clearly one of the best at her job, and her strict dating rule � “No Actors!� � helps her keep focused on her career. However, a budding relationship with Craig, one of the executives at her company, may even propel her into the big leagues. Could Wolf County, her beloved hometown in the mountains, be saved from a financial crisis by creating a reality show featuring the eccentrics in the small ski village? Maddy is determined to try, even when she learns that Craig’s agenda doesn’t exactly line up with her altruistic goal.
Meanwhile, Maddy still has a full-time job to manage, her family to deal with, and a gorgeous new actor, Adam Devin, determined to wear down her resistance. Eventually Maddy must learn to break all her self-imposed rules and simply follow her heart.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Alison Sweeney has been on television for over twenty years, from starring as Sami Brady on Days of Our Lives to hosting The Biggest Loser and recently in the Hallmark Movie Second Chances and much more. She is definitely writing what she knows. This is her second novel following last year’s release The Star Attraction. Again she gives us a look behind the scenes of the world of television.
I loved Maddy Carson. Hyper organized and a very strong woman. She has a strong sense of family that carried her though the ups and downs she faced in this story. Dating Craig was probably not the smartest decision but I loved the way she fought back with just a bit of help from her friends and family.
Wolf County sounds like a wonderful place. I wish there really was a reality show featuring Maddy’s family and the quirky residents there. Seeing how the economy dip and financial crisis affected the area would mirror other communities across the U.S.
The budding romance between Maddy and Adam, AN ACTOR!, was fun to read. He wasn’t giving up and she was not going down that road easily.
Sweeney is wrapping up her final year on Days of Our Lives and that just breaks my heart. I am a true fan of the show. I think I watched it from the start with my mom with a short break for school before VCRs and DVRs. Many of us at college planned our schedules so we could gather to watch the show as often as possible. I don’t think I have missed an episode in years. We get attached to these actors and the roles they play. There will never be another actress that could fill Alison’s shoes as Samantha Jean Brady.
I do wish her well and hope that while I may not see her on my television every day that she will continue the write fun and entertaining stories like this one. This story is a perfect escape, a terrific summer read, a lighthearted book to read on the beach.
Meanwhile, Maddy still has a full-time job to manage, her family to deal with, and a gorgeous new actor, Adam Devin, determined to wear down her resistance. Eventually Maddy must learn to break all her self-imposed rules and simply follow her heart.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Alison Sweeney has been on television for over twenty years, from starring as Sami Brady on Days of Our Lives to hosting The Biggest Loser and recently in the Hallmark Movie Second Chances and much more. She is definitely writing what she knows. This is her second novel following last year’s release The Star Attraction. Again she gives us a look behind the scenes of the world of television.
I loved Maddy Carson. Hyper organized and a very strong woman. She has a strong sense of family that carried her though the ups and downs she faced in this story. Dating Craig was probably not the smartest decision but I loved the way she fought back with just a bit of help from her friends and family.
Wolf County sounds like a wonderful place. I wish there really was a reality show featuring Maddy’s family and the quirky residents there. Seeing how the economy dip and financial crisis affected the area would mirror other communities across the U.S.
The budding romance between Maddy and Adam, AN ACTOR!, was fun to read. He wasn’t giving up and she was not going down that road easily.
Sweeney is wrapping up her final year on Days of Our Lives and that just breaks my heart. I am a true fan of the show. I think I watched it from the start with my mom with a short break for school before VCRs and DVRs. Many of us at college planned our schedules so we could gather to watch the show as often as possible. I don’t think I have missed an episode in years. We get attached to these actors and the roles they play. There will never be another actress that could fill Alison’s shoes as Samantha Jean Brady.
I do wish her well and hope that while I may not see her on my television every day that she will continue the write fun and entertaining stories like this one. This story is a perfect escape, a terrific summer read, a lighthearted book to read on the beach.
September 20, 2015
Madelyn (Maddy) Carson had some very strict rules for her personal life. As a script supervisor for The Wrong Doctor, a soap, she definitely chose not to date actors.
So when she begins dating one of the show's executives, Craig Williams, she tells herself she is not technically breaking her own rules.
When she gets an idea for a reality show based on her hometown in Wolf County, and collaborates a bit with Craig before presenting the idea to their boss, she is totally unprepared for Craig's betrayal, which definitely makes her question her own rules.
Then when Adam, one of the actors on the show, asks her out and pursues a relationship with her, she begins to wonder if she needs that rule book.
Scared Scriptless: A Novel was a delightful story about life behind the scenes in Hollywood, and the author definitely knows her material, as she starred in Days of Our Lives for several years, and has been on other TV shows as well.
The story is narrated in the first person voice of Maddy, a character I could not help but root for. I recommend this book for all who love stories about Hollywood, and those who have read any of Sweeney's books. 4.5 stars.
So when she begins dating one of the show's executives, Craig Williams, she tells herself she is not technically breaking her own rules.
When she gets an idea for a reality show based on her hometown in Wolf County, and collaborates a bit with Craig before presenting the idea to their boss, she is totally unprepared for Craig's betrayal, which definitely makes her question her own rules.
Then when Adam, one of the actors on the show, asks her out and pursues a relationship with her, she begins to wonder if she needs that rule book.
Scared Scriptless: A Novel was a delightful story about life behind the scenes in Hollywood, and the author definitely knows her material, as she starred in Days of Our Lives for several years, and has been on other TV shows as well.
The story is narrated in the first person voice of Maddy, a character I could not help but root for. I recommend this book for all who love stories about Hollywood, and those who have read any of Sweeney's books. 4.5 stars.
May 26, 2014
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I know Alison Sweeney from Days of our Lives as Sammy and from Biggest Loser but now as an author she is like wow. Just like Maddy, Alison Sweeney is full of energy in Scared Scriptless. Maddy is your average girl with dreams of one day seeing a TV show showcasing her name as executive producer. Love never crossed her mind until Craig and Adam start paying attention to her. She has no time for romance yet something about these two is making her lose her sanity. Saving a town and finding out who really loves her for who she is definitely taking a toll on her. One has ulterior motives and the other is just too normal for her even though he is Hollywood’s hottest actor right now. Loved Scared Scriptless totally blew my mind and even educated me in some way of the behind the scenes. I kept waiting for someone to get killed off lol that’s how good Alison Sweeney was in this book. Great book and looking forward to more from her.
I know Alison Sweeney from Days of our Lives as Sammy and from Biggest Loser but now as an author she is like wow. Just like Maddy, Alison Sweeney is full of energy in Scared Scriptless. Maddy is your average girl with dreams of one day seeing a TV show showcasing her name as executive producer. Love never crossed her mind until Craig and Adam start paying attention to her. She has no time for romance yet something about these two is making her lose her sanity. Saving a town and finding out who really loves her for who she is definitely taking a toll on her. One has ulterior motives and the other is just too normal for her even though he is Hollywood’s hottest actor right now. Loved Scared Scriptless totally blew my mind and even educated me in some way of the behind the scenes. I kept waiting for someone to get killed off lol that’s how good Alison Sweeney was in this book. Great book and looking forward to more from her.
August 30, 2016
Received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a surprisingly enjoyable and super easy read. It's well written and perfectly paced. Took it down over a weekend vacation. A totally predictable story, but not in a bad way. The characters and plot twists are fun. Plus I loved getting an insider's take on the industry. As a fellow actor I found myself snickering and rolling my eyes at many of the "so true" moments about LA and its inhabitants. I could definitely see this translating well to a chick flick.
I've always believed actors are the ultimate storytellers. It's nice to see that translates to the page as well. Can't wait to read more of her work.
This was a surprisingly enjoyable and super easy read. It's well written and perfectly paced. Took it down over a weekend vacation. A totally predictable story, but not in a bad way. The characters and plot twists are fun. Plus I loved getting an insider's take on the industry. As a fellow actor I found myself snickering and rolling my eyes at many of the "so true" moments about LA and its inhabitants. I could definitely see this translating well to a chick flick.
I've always believed actors are the ultimate storytellers. It's nice to see that translates to the page as well. Can't wait to read more of her work.
June 10, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Scared Scriptless immediately called out to me as a book I would enjoy reading, and I did just that. We kind of get the best of both worlds � the crazy and fast-paced lives of those in LA working in the industry, and a take from a small-town girl trying to make it work. There is drama and romance and suspense and hey � even some reality TV in between the pages. Maddy was a loveable heroine who was easy to root for, and fans of chick lit and Hollywood-lit books will be sure to like this one!
Scared Scriptless immediately called out to me as a book I would enjoy reading, and I did just that. We kind of get the best of both worlds � the crazy and fast-paced lives of those in LA working in the industry, and a take from a small-town girl trying to make it work. There is drama and romance and suspense and hey � even some reality TV in between the pages. Maddy was a loveable heroine who was easy to root for, and fans of chick lit and Hollywood-lit books will be sure to like this one!
April 11, 2016
I just spent the entire day laying on the beach, reading this cute book. It was a nice beach read :)
The author has an easy, engaging writing style and I get the feeling that she must've worked in TV before cuz the behind the scenes industry details felt very authentic vs being pulled out of her ass like some other Hollywood books I've read.
The story is super extremely predictable but cute and funny too. And even the last minute drama didn't bug me too much because the author throws in humor that cuts into my eye-rolling.
The author has an easy, engaging writing style and I get the feeling that she must've worked in TV before cuz the behind the scenes industry details felt very authentic vs being pulled out of her ass like some other Hollywood books I've read.
The story is super extremely predictable but cute and funny too. And even the last minute drama didn't bug me too much because the author throws in humor that cuts into my eye-rolling.
August 5, 2016
It was dragging. I gave it 100 pages but just could not finish it.
May 3, 2020
This one was tough to get through.
I'll be honest, when I first picked this up, I thought that it was a memoir, and that I'd get to learn about Alison Sweeney's days behind the scenes on the set of Days of Our Lives. I used to watch the show with my mom sometimes (at an age when I honestly shouldn't have been watching soap operas to be honest) so I was somewhat of a fan.
But this was not the story I wanted to read. Maddy is a pushover who pretends to be a badass who is meticulous about planning out her life, but can't see obvious signs of being taken advantage of. She doesn't stick up for herself and isn't very driven. But then she is, but then she isnt. I felt her to be kind of wishy washy about a lot of things. Some of the things she does toward the end of the story are completely out of character, and I didn't care enough about her evolution to suspend my disbelief.
I do like a lot of the secondary characters. Better than the primary characters, actually. I found myself trying to figure out which characters corresponded to which of Sweeney's DOOL castmates.
I was really bored by the DOOL references though. I got very irritated by them, in fact. If I wanted to be immersed in that world, I'd watch the show.
I did like the closeness of Maddy's family and the small town setting, but that was all. The rest of the story and setting felt lackluster and boring.
One detail that bothered me a ton was the font used for this story. It's some sort of script typeface, and I get the effect they were going for, with this font, and the chapter names being different scenes, but these details were probably the most grating. When I first started reading this I wanted to put it down based on the font alone.
Not sure if I'll give her other books a try, I'm thinking not.
I'll be honest, when I first picked this up, I thought that it was a memoir, and that I'd get to learn about Alison Sweeney's days behind the scenes on the set of Days of Our Lives. I used to watch the show with my mom sometimes (at an age when I honestly shouldn't have been watching soap operas to be honest) so I was somewhat of a fan.
But this was not the story I wanted to read. Maddy is a pushover who pretends to be a badass who is meticulous about planning out her life, but can't see obvious signs of being taken advantage of. She doesn't stick up for herself and isn't very driven. But then she is, but then she isnt. I felt her to be kind of wishy washy about a lot of things. Some of the things she does toward the end of the story are completely out of character, and I didn't care enough about her evolution to suspend my disbelief.
I do like a lot of the secondary characters. Better than the primary characters, actually. I found myself trying to figure out which characters corresponded to which of Sweeney's DOOL castmates.
I was really bored by the DOOL references though. I got very irritated by them, in fact. If I wanted to be immersed in that world, I'd watch the show.
I did like the closeness of Maddy's family and the small town setting, but that was all. The rest of the story and setting felt lackluster and boring.
One detail that bothered me a ton was the font used for this story. It's some sort of script typeface, and I get the effect they were going for, with this font, and the chapter names being different scenes, but these details were probably the most grating. When I first started reading this I wanted to put it down based on the font alone.
Not sure if I'll give her other books a try, I'm thinking not.
September 4, 2021
I’ve been a fan of Alison Sweeney since her time on Days of Our Lives. So I was eager to find out if she’s just as talented as a writer as she is as an actor.
Scared Scriptless is focused on the life of script supervisor Maddy. Sweeney does a good job of showcasing what it’s like working on a television show. From the long days in production to the meetings with executives, it’s a lot for the cast and crew.
Anyway Maddy has a busy schedule helping run a TV drama while also creating a reality show that will help her hometown. Aside from work, Maddy also has a hectic personal life torn between two men, Craig her boss and Adam, an actor on her TV show.
Maddy is a perfectionist, who tries to keep her work and personal life organized. She’s also got a kind heart and is family oriented. Her only flaw is that she’s a bit stubborn, and that personality trait is shown toward the end of the story.
As for Maddy’s suitors. Craig is a slimeball, from the moment you meet him, you know he’s not the right guy for Maddy. As for Adam, he’s the epitome of a dreamy hunk. Even Maddy can’t resist being attracted to him. My one critique is I wish there’d been more development in Adam and Maddy’s friendship turned romance.
Sweeney did a good job with writing, and Scared Scriptless is an enjoyable read about romance and drama behind the scenes in television.
Scared Scriptless is focused on the life of script supervisor Maddy. Sweeney does a good job of showcasing what it’s like working on a television show. From the long days in production to the meetings with executives, it’s a lot for the cast and crew.
Anyway Maddy has a busy schedule helping run a TV drama while also creating a reality show that will help her hometown. Aside from work, Maddy also has a hectic personal life torn between two men, Craig her boss and Adam, an actor on her TV show.
Maddy is a perfectionist, who tries to keep her work and personal life organized. She’s also got a kind heart and is family oriented. Her only flaw is that she’s a bit stubborn, and that personality trait is shown toward the end of the story.
As for Maddy’s suitors. Craig is a slimeball, from the moment you meet him, you know he’s not the right guy for Maddy. As for Adam, he’s the epitome of a dreamy hunk. Even Maddy can’t resist being attracted to him. My one critique is I wish there’d been more development in Adam and Maddy’s friendship turned romance.
Sweeney did a good job with writing, and Scared Scriptless is an enjoyable read about romance and drama behind the scenes in television.
June 8, 2018
If you are a fan of light, easy reading, this book is for you. A rom-com of sorts with a twist in the middle of the book I did not see coming! Characters throughout are developed, and her family back in Wolf Creek is relatable. I could picture myself in the town and talking to the people. She ends up being successful in the end, which is predictable; throughout the book, however, you are not sure she will have success.
I love that Alison Sweeney was able to pull characters from her first book and put them into this second book. At the same time, it was not necessary to read the first book in order to understand this one; they are completely separate storylines. Just a nice added touch for those who chose to read both! I look forward to reading Alison’s next book.
I love that Alison Sweeney was able to pull characters from her first book and put them into this second book. At the same time, it was not necessary to read the first book in order to understand this one; they are completely separate storylines. Just a nice added touch for those who chose to read both! I look forward to reading Alison’s next book.
March 27, 2020
There is certainly a place in my reading diet for so-called chicklit, and a period of sheltering in place during a worldwide pandemic certain calls for books that will (a) absorb and entertain me, and (b) not stir up any more anxiety. So, this book really hit the spot. I was also interested to see what kind of chops Alison Sweeney, whom I've seen and loved in many Hallmark movies and mysteries, has as a writer. Answer: she's pretty good. And I loved the chance to learn more about the behind-the-camera work that goes into the films and tv I watch. Good story, engaging characters, and I learned something: the script supervisors (formerly known as script girls in the bad old days) work damn hard in a crucial job that virtually no one outside the business even knows exists.
September 20, 2018
Alison Sweeney does it all!
She's a wife and mother. She's an actress and t.v. show host. I know she has directed shows and who knows how many other behind the scenes hats she's worn.
She is also an amazing writer. I love her tongue in cheek comments! "Never trust an actor." Alison, is there anything you CAN'T do? You even conquered your fear of snakes on Fear Factor! You're incredible and to quote John Black from Days of Our Lives, "that's a fact!"
She's a wife and mother. She's an actress and t.v. show host. I know she has directed shows and who knows how many other behind the scenes hats she's worn.
She is also an amazing writer. I love her tongue in cheek comments! "Never trust an actor." Alison, is there anything you CAN'T do? You even conquered your fear of snakes on Fear Factor! You're incredible and to quote John Black from Days of Our Lives, "that's a fact!"
May 30, 2017
Review posted on
Let me just be upfront about something: I am a massive Alison Sweeney fan. I’ve enjoyed watching her on Days of Our Lives since I was in high school. (Neat side story � my mom watched Days with her mom while her mom was ironing, and I started watching Days with my mom while she was doing her ironing too. True story!) I didn’t watch The Biggest Loser until she was the host, either. I appreciate how forthcoming Alison Sweeney is about her struggles with weight and how she’s an advocate for smart, healthy eating. I think she’s one of the more genuine celebrities to come out of Hollywood, so she had my respect before I read anything written by her.
Having previously read her books All The Days of My Life (So Far) and her debut fiction book, The Star Attraction, I was looking forward to reading Scared Scriptless and eagerly dove into it. The heroine, Maddy, is a script supervisor � a job I didn’t know existed, but there are probably tons of things I’m not aware of in Hollywood, LOL. It’s Maddy’s job to make sure all the crazy, tiny details in a TV show are consistent from one episode to the next and that the actors stick to their scripts. She has a lot of black and white in her world, including her personal life. There are rules, and the rules are not meant to be broken.
When the story begins, Maddy is in a budding relationship � although she’s not even certain she’d call it a relationship � with her boss, Craig. I found Craig difficult to like. To start with, he’s her boss (awkward!). He is super into his work (even more than Maddy is!), but clearly Maddy is flattered by his attention, and as a fellow hardworking colleague, they have a number of things in common.
I enjoyed the secondary characters a lot. There’s Billy Fox, who’s the lead in the TV show that Maddy works on. He’s a huge star, good-looking, and their friendship is cute in a sibling sort of way. I loved their interactions and how Billy looks out for Maddy. I’d like to think that most actors are nice like Billy (don’t ruin this for me, ’k?). Maddy’s parents and brothers live in their small hometown of Wolf County. Maddy’s dad is a serious hoot. He says things like “This is slicker than a whistle covered in spit� and “For weeks, I’ve been so nervous I didn’t know whether to scratch my watch or wind my butt.� HA! I wanted to print out everything he said and put it on my PC so I could use the phrases at work; they’re hysterical.
When Maddy returns home for a surprise party for her mom, she learns that the economic downturn has hit Wolf County pretty hard. Several businesses have closed, and her parents� ski resort is likely going to be next. When Maddy and Craig discuss pitching a reality show about her hometown, she thinks this could be her big opportunity to move up the Hollywood ladder as well as help her parents and hometown.
Unfortunately � or fortunately! � there’s a pretty big wrinkle that pops up and his very fine self is named Adam. He pursues Maddy rather relentlessly (yet not overly so), throwing a wrench into all of Maddy’s plans, including her #1 rule: no dating actors! At this point, Maddy needs to decide whether to continue her relationship with Craig, or whether Adam’s worth breaking her #1 rule for. How Maddy arrives at her decision is incredibly dramatic!
I liked how my opinion of the characters changed throughout this story. I started off liking one person and then ended up despising them (and I mean despising). On the flip side, I felt lukewarm toward another character at first and then ended up loving them. Maddy herself grew throughout the book and had some really great “aha!� life moments, some of which were hard to witness while others were fun. It was a really good mix of emotions.
I also liked how the author incorporated the use of texting into this book. It’s a silly thing to mention, except that I really liked it. It kept the book feeling modern while giving a little insight and personality into the friends she���s texting with.
Characters from the author’s previous book, The Star Attraction, popped up in this one. I’ve read other books where authors bring in characters from other series or previous books and I usually feel like I’m missing out on too many inside jokes or references, but that wasn’t the case here. If you read The Star Attraction, you’ll enjoy seeing some of those folks again � but don’t worry if you don’t know who they are because it doesn’t detract from the story, either.
As I started to read, I kept telling myself, “I’m reading a book by Alison Sweeney; she’s so cool!� But by the 3rd or 4th chapter, I wasn’t thinking this anymore because I was so into the story. I actually enjoyed this book more than The Star Attraction, and if she continues to improve in each book she writes, I’ll definitely be tuning in.
Bottom Line
Scared Scriptless is a great choice to take with you to the beach this summer, especially if you enjoy light, breezy books that include glimpses of what happens behind the scenes at a television studio.
: B+
Review copy provided courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley
Let me just be upfront about something: I am a massive Alison Sweeney fan. I’ve enjoyed watching her on Days of Our Lives since I was in high school. (Neat side story � my mom watched Days with her mom while her mom was ironing, and I started watching Days with my mom while she was doing her ironing too. True story!) I didn’t watch The Biggest Loser until she was the host, either. I appreciate how forthcoming Alison Sweeney is about her struggles with weight and how she’s an advocate for smart, healthy eating. I think she’s one of the more genuine celebrities to come out of Hollywood, so she had my respect before I read anything written by her.
Having previously read her books All The Days of My Life (So Far) and her debut fiction book, The Star Attraction, I was looking forward to reading Scared Scriptless and eagerly dove into it. The heroine, Maddy, is a script supervisor � a job I didn’t know existed, but there are probably tons of things I’m not aware of in Hollywood, LOL. It’s Maddy’s job to make sure all the crazy, tiny details in a TV show are consistent from one episode to the next and that the actors stick to their scripts. She has a lot of black and white in her world, including her personal life. There are rules, and the rules are not meant to be broken.
When the story begins, Maddy is in a budding relationship � although she’s not even certain she’d call it a relationship � with her boss, Craig. I found Craig difficult to like. To start with, he’s her boss (awkward!). He is super into his work (even more than Maddy is!), but clearly Maddy is flattered by his attention, and as a fellow hardworking colleague, they have a number of things in common.
I enjoyed the secondary characters a lot. There’s Billy Fox, who’s the lead in the TV show that Maddy works on. He’s a huge star, good-looking, and their friendship is cute in a sibling sort of way. I loved their interactions and how Billy looks out for Maddy. I’d like to think that most actors are nice like Billy (don’t ruin this for me, ’k?). Maddy’s parents and brothers live in their small hometown of Wolf County. Maddy’s dad is a serious hoot. He says things like “This is slicker than a whistle covered in spit� and “For weeks, I’ve been so nervous I didn’t know whether to scratch my watch or wind my butt.� HA! I wanted to print out everything he said and put it on my PC so I could use the phrases at work; they’re hysterical.
When Maddy returns home for a surprise party for her mom, she learns that the economic downturn has hit Wolf County pretty hard. Several businesses have closed, and her parents� ski resort is likely going to be next. When Maddy and Craig discuss pitching a reality show about her hometown, she thinks this could be her big opportunity to move up the Hollywood ladder as well as help her parents and hometown.
Unfortunately � or fortunately! � there’s a pretty big wrinkle that pops up and his very fine self is named Adam. He pursues Maddy rather relentlessly (yet not overly so), throwing a wrench into all of Maddy’s plans, including her #1 rule: no dating actors! At this point, Maddy needs to decide whether to continue her relationship with Craig, or whether Adam’s worth breaking her #1 rule for. How Maddy arrives at her decision is incredibly dramatic!
I liked how my opinion of the characters changed throughout this story. I started off liking one person and then ended up despising them (and I mean despising). On the flip side, I felt lukewarm toward another character at first and then ended up loving them. Maddy herself grew throughout the book and had some really great “aha!� life moments, some of which were hard to witness while others were fun. It was a really good mix of emotions.
I also liked how the author incorporated the use of texting into this book. It’s a silly thing to mention, except that I really liked it. It kept the book feeling modern while giving a little insight and personality into the friends she���s texting with.
Characters from the author’s previous book, The Star Attraction, popped up in this one. I’ve read other books where authors bring in characters from other series or previous books and I usually feel like I’m missing out on too many inside jokes or references, but that wasn’t the case here. If you read The Star Attraction, you’ll enjoy seeing some of those folks again � but don’t worry if you don’t know who they are because it doesn’t detract from the story, either.
As I started to read, I kept telling myself, “I’m reading a book by Alison Sweeney; she’s so cool!� But by the 3rd or 4th chapter, I wasn’t thinking this anymore because I was so into the story. I actually enjoyed this book more than The Star Attraction, and if she continues to improve in each book she writes, I’ll definitely be tuning in.
Bottom Line
Scared Scriptless is a great choice to take with you to the beach this summer, especially if you enjoy light, breezy books that include glimpses of what happens behind the scenes at a television studio.
: B+
Review copy provided courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley
June 21, 2018
Quick Read. Loved hearing about the inside works of the working hollywood world. The slight love story in it is nice too, not the overwelhming point of the book. great book.
July 4, 2018
This was just OK. The romance was flat and conflicts too staged.
I think it may have actually been better to read than listen to this book.
I think it may have actually been better to read than listen to this book.
July 18, 2018
3.5 I watch DOOL as a kid when Alison was on it. She was a great villain. I do like behind the scenes books, which I think this is.
December 18, 2018
Cute book. Easy no-brainer read- which is just what I need most of the time.
June 15, 2019
I don’t mean to be unkind, but lordy! It reads like a Hallmark movie. I do enjoy a fun bit of chic lit occasionally, but this was almost painful in parts. Sorry I wasted a credit on it.
October 17, 2020
Surprisingly good!
August 27, 2021
Cute easy read. Different story line. Not a lot of in depth character description. But not bad for an easy fun read
August 28, 2021
Not a fan.
April 2, 2025
Really enjoyed it.
I’ve watched “Sami� on Days of Our Lives as long as I can remember so in my head, it was Sami voicing the book.
I’ve watched “Sami� on Days of Our Lives as long as I can remember so in my head, it was Sami voicing the book.
February 1, 2017
A fun novel.
December 27, 2021
I read this book years and years ago. Just making a note of it here for my digital catalogue!
July 20, 2014
Maddy Carson loves lists and details and these aspects of her personality are what make her a fantastic script supervisor on the set of a successful TV drama. A small-town girl at heart she has very specific rules about Hollywood, one of those being that she will absolutely not date actors! She will, however, take a chance on love and date one of the executives at her company. When Maddy discovers that her beloved hometown of Wolf County is in financial trouble and her parents may have to sell their ski resort and move because of the economy, she concocts an idea for a reality show that could solve all of their problems. However she makes the mistake of involving boyfriend Craig in the project and when he turns out not to be the stand-up guy that Maddy thought, can she still manage to pull off selling her show?
Confusing matters is the fact that Maddy seems to be falling for Adam Devin, one of the new actors on the drama that she works on, despite her rule about not dating actors. As Maddy works her day job, tries to save her hometown from inevitable financial ruin, and tries to resist Adam's advances, she learns that sometimes she has to let go in order to grow as a person.
I haven't read Alison Sweeney's debut novel yet, and I didn't even realize that some of the characters in it reappeared in Scared Scriptless until after I was done reading! It definitely reads as a stand-alone novel, which is great for those who only have the opportunity to read one or the other. Reading it was an enjoyable experience. The writing was surprisingly good. Somehow Alison Sweeney has managed to become a triple threat- she can act, she can host The Biggest Loser, and she can write! Had I not known that she was the person writing it, I would not have not have guessed. There have been times that I have read books written by a celebrity and been unimpressed with the writing but this was not the case with Scared Scriptless! The plot was interesting and this book offered a fascinating look into what happens behind-the-scenes of a TV drama! I'm absolutely positive that Alison's extensive television experience lent a lot of authenticity to Maddy's experiences.
There were a few little things that bothered me about Scared Scriptless. My primary complaint was with Maddy, the main character. I liked her in a lot of ways, but in other ways she was just too timid and she had absolutely no confidence in herself or in her abilities. It was hard at times to stand behind a character that didn't believe that her ideas had any validity. I kept waiting for Maddy to start standing up for herself but it didn't really happen in the way that I was hoping. Another small complaint that I had was that the final quarter just wrapped up too neatly. I love a happy ending, but some of the ways that Sweeney chose to conclude the book seemed unrealistic, especially for Hollywood!
Despite the small things that I didn't love, Scared Scriptless was a great book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is curious about Hollywood and what happens behind the scenes. Those parts of the book were a lot of fun! I hope to go back and read Alison Sweeney's previous book, The Star Attraction, because I would love to know more about the handsome Billy and his background! He was definitely one of my favourite characters even though we don't get to see him as much as I would like in this book. This light read will be the perfect addition to your beach bag this summer! My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy for review.
Confusing matters is the fact that Maddy seems to be falling for Adam Devin, one of the new actors on the drama that she works on, despite her rule about not dating actors. As Maddy works her day job, tries to save her hometown from inevitable financial ruin, and tries to resist Adam's advances, she learns that sometimes she has to let go in order to grow as a person.
I haven't read Alison Sweeney's debut novel yet, and I didn't even realize that some of the characters in it reappeared in Scared Scriptless until after I was done reading! It definitely reads as a stand-alone novel, which is great for those who only have the opportunity to read one or the other. Reading it was an enjoyable experience. The writing was surprisingly good. Somehow Alison Sweeney has managed to become a triple threat- she can act, she can host The Biggest Loser, and she can write! Had I not known that she was the person writing it, I would not have not have guessed. There have been times that I have read books written by a celebrity and been unimpressed with the writing but this was not the case with Scared Scriptless! The plot was interesting and this book offered a fascinating look into what happens behind-the-scenes of a TV drama! I'm absolutely positive that Alison's extensive television experience lent a lot of authenticity to Maddy's experiences.
There were a few little things that bothered me about Scared Scriptless. My primary complaint was with Maddy, the main character. I liked her in a lot of ways, but in other ways she was just too timid and she had absolutely no confidence in herself or in her abilities. It was hard at times to stand behind a character that didn't believe that her ideas had any validity. I kept waiting for Maddy to start standing up for herself but it didn't really happen in the way that I was hoping. Another small complaint that I had was that the final quarter just wrapped up too neatly. I love a happy ending, but some of the ways that Sweeney chose to conclude the book seemed unrealistic, especially for Hollywood!
Despite the small things that I didn't love, Scared Scriptless was a great book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is curious about Hollywood and what happens behind the scenes. Those parts of the book were a lot of fun! I hope to go back and read Alison Sweeney's previous book, The Star Attraction, because I would love to know more about the handsome Billy and his background! He was definitely one of my favourite characters even though we don't get to see him as much as I would like in this book. This light read will be the perfect addition to your beach bag this summer! My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy for review.
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