Very similar on the surface to "Devil Wears Prada" except the boss isn't as evil--it's the co-workers that are cut-throat. Set in Hollywood's flimmaking industry, "Hollywood..." is the story of a college grad who dreams of working with her idol--a dream that seems impossible. She grows and changes over time, drifting away from her original purpose as she tries to fit the mold.Then it all falls apart and it's up to her to either pick up the pieces or let her dreams go.A quick read in first person. The ending is bland. Overall, not a bad afternoon read or a beach/plane book. Borrow, don't buy. I was so excited to read this book because I really enjoyed Zoey Dean’s How To Teach Filthy Rich Girls (adapted into TV show Privileged) and her A-List series. After seeing the adorable cover of this novel, I knew it would be right up my alley. I definitely wasn’t wrong.Hollywood Is Like High School With Money tells the story of Taylor Henning, a film school graduate from the East who moves to LA to hopefully make it big. She lands her dream job working as an assistant at a major Hollywood movie studio.Taylor gets to work on her first day and finds out that not only will she not be reading scripts or making movies, but that she is in charge of making her boss Iris’s smoothies. The life of a second assistant is definitely not glamorous and Taylor’s co-worker and rival Kylie doesn’t exactly help to make Taylor feel welcome.Taylor needs a plan. She enlists the help of Iris’s teenage daughter Quinn to teach her the ways of Hollywood and power. Taylor and Quinn make a deal that Quinn will help her out, but Taylor owes her one….with one catch. Taylor must do whatever Quinn wants, WHEN she wants it.After learning how to successfully deliver the death stare and how to “fake it ‘til you make it” Taylor turns her career and social life around. Everything is perfect….until Quinn ruins it all. It’s serious damage control time for Taylor, but sometimes all the apologies and sucking up in the world just isn’t enough.I couldn’t put this book down. I’m a sucker for a story about a regular old girl trying to make it big in the city.Taylor was definitely a likable character. She was easy to relate to, and towards the end, I really felt my heart break for her. You know a book is good when you physically cringe at what’s coming up next. Even though Taylor turned into a mean girl throughout the course of the book, you can’t help but like her because she tried so hard to succeed.I’m really hoping that Zoey Dean is planning to write another novel featuring the fabulous Taylor Henning.
What do You think about Ein Biest Für Alle Fälle (2009)?
Typical modern Hollywood chick lit. Cute story, but not realistic.
—Raychull
Pretty juvenile and predictable, but good brain candy.
—tony
