Dishy novel about the glamorous but cutthroat world of Manhattan publishing. Easy and enjoyable read, intriguing plot twists and fun characters.
If you'd like a behind-the-scenes look at the world of publishing, you'll enjoy this novel. Olivia Goldsmith is one of my favorite authors and her descriptions are accurate and delightful. You'll meet the agent from hell, struggling writers that make your heart bleed, and an entertaining inside glimpse of editors and publishers. It's all in good fun, and, again, very entertaining.
Good light typically "Goldsmith read".
I loved this book, I thought that it was great that it showed the worst side of book publishing.. A little look into how the other people live!!
I got quite a kick out of this one.
As great as The First Wives Club. The novel focuses on five up and coming authors but only one who can become a best seller. It's everyone for themself.
fun light reading
Olivia Goldsmith gives the reader an inside look at how the big publishing houses operate. I found the book hard to put down. Each of the characters seems very real as they all compete to get their books published as best sellers.
Not one of her better works. This fictional "tell-all" of the publishing world is so bogged down with name-dropping, inside jokes, and romans a clef that it loses sight of the story of the aspiring novelists. Also, Goldsmith seems to have run out of character names -- there's a Susann and a Susan, an Emma and an Emily, a Daniel and a David, AND two Terrys and two Geralds. WTF???
An excellent read; a pageturner. Intricate look at the publishing world seen from the experiences of several authors - with romance and revenge thrown in.
One of my favorite authors.
Wonderful book. She seamlessly connects five authors and their efforts to get a book published.Engossing, compelling.Before I started reading I thought the book was overly long, but it flew by. Sorry I had it on my shelf for so long without reading it. Highly recommend.
Trivia: Paramount bought the film rights, but never made the movie.
From Publishers Weekly
It is an old adage that books about publishing do not sell, because those likely to be most interested will beg, borrow or steal them rather than buy. In the case of the latest by Goldsmith (The First Wives Club), that would be a pity, because it is a highly entertaining tale with a good share of romance and drama, considerable humor and some cynical fun at the expense of the book business; there are many recognizable characters, and a number of real-life walk-ons. Goldsmith\'s busy plot--which makes publishing seem as glamorous and crazy as fashion or the movies (settings for two of her previous books)--offers four women with novels being considered by high-powered New York publisher Davis & Dash. There is an elderly romance queen with a fading readership; a proud mother trying to get someone to read a magnum opus by her dead daughter; a cool young Englishwoman who has penned a quirkily charming book about a busload of American tourists in Tuscany; and a desperate young woman whose devious husband is trying to steal all the credit for her true-crime roman a clef. Throw in a corrupt publisher doctoring the books to try to make his own sales look bigger, a nymphomaniac and alcoholic editor-in-chief, a staunch young editor and her lesbian agent friend, and you have the makings of a spicy literary stew.
From Publishers Weekly
It is an old adage that books about publishing do not sell, because those likely to be most interested will beg, borrow or steal them rather than buy. In the case of the latest by Goldsmith (The First Wives Club), that would be a pity, because it is a highly entertaining tale with a good share of romance and drama, considerable humor and some cynical fun at the expense of the book business; there are many recognizable characters, and a number of real-life walk-ons. Goldsmith\'s busy plot--which makes publishing seem as glamorous and crazy as fashion or the movies (settings for two of her previous books)--offers four women with novels being considered by high-powered New York publisher Davis & Dash. There is an elderly romance queen with a fading readership; a proud mother trying to get someone to read a magnum opus by her dead daughter; a cool young Englishwoman who has penned a quirkily charming book about a busload of American tourists in Tuscany; and a desperate young woman whose devious husband is trying to steal all the credit for her true-crime roman a clef. Throw in a corrupt publisher doctoring the books to try to make his own sales look bigger, a nymphomaniac and alcoholic editor-in-chief, a staunch young editor and her lesbian agent friend, and you have the makings of a spicy literary stew.
Same author as "The First Wives Club". Romance & Revenge