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New Women's Fiction on the Horizon
Books reviewed: Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him, The Best Day of Someone Else's Life, Hollywood Ending
Some great new women’s fiction books are on the horizon.
“The Devil Wears Prada” collides with the art world in this behind-the-scenes tell-all style novel, “Lulu Meets God And Doubts Him” by Danielle Ganek, now available in paperback.
“Gallerina” Mia McMurray took the starter job of receptionist for her temperamental British boss, Simon, as a way to step into the art world herself as a painter. But she hasn’t touched her own work since coming to New York and really doesn’t harbor any secret desire to become a gallery owner herself, and is adrift. She watches as a bemused witness as the contemporary art world in Manhattan explodes over the new ’it’ artist, Jeffrey Finelli, whose art wasn’t near as interesting until the artist himself died. Now suddenly everyone wants one of his pieces, but the biggest fight is over the painting, ‘‘Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him.’’ A wealthy collector, a name actor, a famed Irish artist, an aspiring art world ’shark’ and even the muse herself, Lulu, all want to own the painting.
As Mia watches from the sidelines, she ends up befriending Lulu, the artist’s niece, and toying with a relationship with a cute art adviser. But as the art world turns it eye on the heir apparent to the Finelli family, Mia can’t help but wonder, what about her dreams and her own art?
For those who enjoy a look at the other side of Manhattan and the art scene, this book is a peek into that world. Though a bit of anti-climactic ending, it is an interesting new take in the genre of bad bosses and trendy jobs.
“Lulu Meets God And Doubts Him” is published by Plume. It is $14 and 277 pages long.
?
For all of those women who have had to suffer through hideous and expensive bridesmaid dresses to stand up for a friend on the ’best day of their life,’ they will laugh out loud at the experiences of a serial bridesmaid and wedding guest in Kerry Reichs’ “The Best Day of Someone Else’s Life.”
Vi Connelly started her romance with weddings as a flowergirl at her aunt’s third wedding. She finds her new adult responsibilities in her best friends’ from high school’s back-to-back weddings - all in a three-week period! Vi finds herself spending elaborate sums of money on ugly dresses and shoes she’ll never wear again (all in navy blue!) and participating in theme showers, bachelorette parties and preparing her speeches for the occasion. Just when she thinks its over, she’s pulled back in again as various acquaintances proceed to invite her to weddings that she feels obligated to attend - one a month for a year! That’s a lot of flying, expense, and wedding presents to buy, not to mention dates.
This leads Vi to try to rekindle her romance with her high school boyfriend that she’s never let go of, despite her friends’ and families warnings on the subject. Whether from that or overdose of wedding cake, Vi’s soon saying bah humbug to the whole ordeal. Is Vi’s romance with romance dead or can someone else revive it?
A fun concept and relatable to all of those who have ever attended a wedding or been in the wedding party, it is sure to get a laugh. And the press release sent out in the form of an invitation to be a bridemaid was hilarious and well-thought.
“The Best Day of Someone Else’s Life” is published by Avon. It is $13.95 and 464 pages long.
?
Light romance set against the backdrop of London is the world of Robyn Sisman’s “A Hollywood Ending.”
Paige Carson, daughter of a legendary rocker and an actress mother is stretching her own wings in Hollywood. Already honored with an Oscar, Paige is on her way to a successful career, but she’s starting to be talked about as “difficult” and the only roles being sent her way is that of the girl needing rescued. When she takes a part as a CIA agent, she thinks she has finally found a part with merit, only to be sabotaged by her leading man and finds her part slowly dwindling. Having enough, she walks away and hopes her agent can find her better work.
But competition is fierce and Paige isn’t the ’it’ girl anymore. Add to the fact that her rock star father is having a new baby with his young wife, and Paige decides a change of scenery is in order and heads to London for a chance to do Shakespeare on stage.
Paige likes her role as Rosalind and even her new co-stars, though she’s finding the work to be more difficult than she thought. Add in a landlord who is also a documentary-maker who thinks Paige is nothing but an American bimbo, and Paige has her work cut out for her.
But is romance blossoming as well?
A light, romantic comedy with exciting settings, this book has all the makings of a great summer beach read.
“A Hollywood Ending” is published by Plume Books. It is $14 and 307 pages long.
Contact Amy Mendenhall at amendenhall@newsandsentinel.com or visit her blog at www.newsandsentinel.com. Read past columns at amendenhall.livejournal.com
“The Devil Wears Prada” collides with the art world in this behind-the-scenes tell-all style novel, “Lulu Meets God And Doubts Him” by Danielle Ganek, now available in paperback.
“Gallerina” Mia McMurray took the starter job of receptionist for her temperamental British boss, Simon, as a way to step into the art world herself as a painter. But she hasn’t touched her own work since coming to New York and really doesn’t harbor any secret desire to become a gallery owner herself, and is adrift. She watches as a bemused witness as the contemporary art world in Manhattan explodes over the new ’it’ artist, Jeffrey Finelli, whose art wasn’t near as interesting until the artist himself died. Now suddenly everyone wants one of his pieces, but the biggest fight is over the painting, ‘‘Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him.’’ A wealthy collector, a name actor, a famed Irish artist, an aspiring art world ’shark’ and even the muse herself, Lulu, all want to own the painting.
As Mia watches from the sidelines, she ends up befriending Lulu, the artist’s niece, and toying with a relationship with a cute art adviser. But as the art world turns it eye on the heir apparent to the Finelli family, Mia can’t help but wonder, what about her dreams and her own art?
For those who enjoy a look at the other side of Manhattan and the art scene, this book is a peek into that world. Though a bit of anti-climactic ending, it is an interesting new take in the genre of bad bosses and trendy jobs.
“Lulu Meets God And Doubts Him” is published by Plume. It is $14 and 277 pages long.
?
For all of those women who have had to suffer through hideous and expensive bridesmaid dresses to stand up for a friend on the ’best day of their life,’ they will laugh out loud at the experiences of a serial bridesmaid and wedding guest in Kerry Reichs’ “The Best Day of Someone Else’s Life.”
Vi Connelly started her romance with weddings as a flowergirl at her aunt’s third wedding. She finds her new adult responsibilities in her best friends’ from high school’s back-to-back weddings - all in a three-week period! Vi finds herself spending elaborate sums of money on ugly dresses and shoes she’ll never wear again (all in navy blue!) and participating in theme showers, bachelorette parties and preparing her speeches for the occasion. Just when she thinks its over, she’s pulled back in again as various acquaintances proceed to invite her to weddings that she feels obligated to attend - one a month for a year! That’s a lot of flying, expense, and wedding presents to buy, not to mention dates.
This leads Vi to try to rekindle her romance with her high school boyfriend that she’s never let go of, despite her friends’ and families warnings on the subject. Whether from that or overdose of wedding cake, Vi’s soon saying bah humbug to the whole ordeal. Is Vi’s romance with romance dead or can someone else revive it?
A fun concept and relatable to all of those who have ever attended a wedding or been in the wedding party, it is sure to get a laugh. And the press release sent out in the form of an invitation to be a bridemaid was hilarious and well-thought.
“The Best Day of Someone Else’s Life” is published by Avon. It is $13.95 and 464 pages long.
?
Light romance set against the backdrop of London is the world of Robyn Sisman’s “A Hollywood Ending.”
Paige Carson, daughter of a legendary rocker and an actress mother is stretching her own wings in Hollywood. Already honored with an Oscar, Paige is on her way to a successful career, but she’s starting to be talked about as “difficult” and the only roles being sent her way is that of the girl needing rescued. When she takes a part as a CIA agent, she thinks she has finally found a part with merit, only to be sabotaged by her leading man and finds her part slowly dwindling. Having enough, she walks away and hopes her agent can find her better work.
But competition is fierce and Paige isn’t the ’it’ girl anymore. Add to the fact that her rock star father is having a new baby with his young wife, and Paige decides a change of scenery is in order and heads to London for a chance to do Shakespeare on stage.
Paige likes her role as Rosalind and even her new co-stars, though she’s finding the work to be more difficult than she thought. Add in a landlord who is also a documentary-maker who thinks Paige is nothing but an American bimbo, and Paige has her work cut out for her.
But is romance blossoming as well?
A light, romantic comedy with exciting settings, this book has all the makings of a great summer beach read.
“A Hollywood Ending” is published by Plume Books. It is $14 and 307 pages long.
Contact Amy Mendenhall at amendenhall@newsandsentinel.com or visit her blog at www.newsandsentinel.com. Read past columns at amendenhall.livejournal.com
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