Thursday 25 June 2015

Killing Monica - Candace Bushnell


Synopsis:


This is the book fans of Candace Bushnell have been waiting for. From the author of "Sex and the City," "Lipstick Jungle," and "The Carrie Diaries" comes an addictive story about fame, love, and foolishness that will keep readers enthralled to the very last enticing scene. 

Pandy "PJ" Wallis is a renowned writer whose novels about a young woman making her way in Manhattan have spawned a series of blockbuster films. After the success of the Monica books and movies, Pandy wants to attempt something different: a historical novel based on her ancestor Lady Wallis. But Pandy's publishers and audience only want her to keep cranking out more Monica-as does her greedy husband, Jonny, who's gone deeply in debt to finance his new restaurant in Las Vegas. When her marriage crumbles and the boathouse of her family home in Connecticut goes up in flames, Pandy suddenly realizes she has an opportunity to reinvent herself. But to do so, she will have to reconcile with her ex-best friend and former partner in crime, SondraBeth Schnowzer, who plays Monica on the big screen-and who may have her own reasons to derail Pandy's startling change of plan.

In KILLING MONICA, Candace Bushnell spoofs and skewers her way through pop culture, celebrity worship, fame, and the meaning of identity. With her trademark humour and style, this is Bushnell's sharpest, funniest book to date.

What did I think?

Pandy Wallis has created a character that she writes about called Monica.  Pandy invented Monica to teach her sister, Hellenor, the wonderful ways of being a good girl.  The Monica books prove so popular that they are made into films and casting for Monica proves difficult, as Pandy modelled Monica on herself.  Then Pandy spots a photograph of a model who will be perfect to play Monica, so she arranges to meet SondraBeth Schnowzer.  The pair quickly hit it off, SondraBeth lands the part of Monica, and they become inseparable and known around town as PandaBeth.

They typically fall out over a man, Pandy gets married and divorced, and her husband Jonny is out to take every penny she has.  Pandy’s agent, Henry, advised her to get Jonny to sign a prenup but she didn’t do it as she was so in love!

Pandy goes back to spend some time at her ancestral home after her historical novel about her ancestor, Lady Wallis, failed to get accepted by her publisher.  Then Pandy, through a case of mistaken identity, accidentally gets reported as being killed in a fire. SondraBeth pays a visit to who she thinks is Pandy’s sister, Hellenor, but it is actually Pandy.  “Hellenor” is now the owner of the Monica franchise, and when “Hellenor” reveals to SondraBeth that she is in fact Pandy, the pair cook up a plan to get revenge on Jonny.

It sounds a bit silly, but it wasn't too bad really.  It is my first Candace Bushnell novel so I don't have the Carrie Bradshaw yardstick with which to measure it against.  I didn’t really pay much attention to the snippets about the real Hellenor, who apparently lived in Amsterdam, but part way through we find out that Pandy has a secret that involves Hellenor.  Then when the real Hellenor makes an appearance we realise that she was under our noses all along!

I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:




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