I was going to buy a set today, and I had some choices in the price range: Vacation Getaways, Blue Power Jet and the Doc Ock set. I finally went with the Friends Pop Star House for a pretty simple reason - I'm getting a ton of parts on Monday and will want to start a new build, and I needed some of the 5x6 windows or I would get stuck right away. I could also had gotten the bus, but it has mostly black and pink parts otherwise that I don't need.
Anyway, I build the house for now and it's pretty good, like many Friends sets. The pool area is roomy and luxurious - I had the other Heartlake pool set before but this is a private swimming pool. There's loads of glass overall, which will be useful. There is also plenty of cabinets and drawers, which always come in handy for interiors. Overall, it would be a great playset but it's not bad as a part pack either, although I would normally have waited for a lower price. Oh, and it's nice to get a Livi figure, she stands out with that hair and will probably find a place somewhere in my city. Maybe it's time to refresh the concert stage.
A fun thing to note is the cynical inclusion of a security camera, complete with a monitor inside. Heartlake City is the place where the biggest hazard is choking on strawberry cupcakes, and yet they feel a need to remind girls that celebrities need surveillance to be safe. What - is Olivia going to break in and steal her sparkly skirt?
While it will never happen due to budget and space, it would be pretty cool to see a city layout (like Jang's) with all the Friends buildings. After all these years, there's got to be a pretty massive city.