Here's how they put it on Amazon. I really don't know how to summarize it myself.Bette Robinson is a twentysomething Emory graduate who shunned her parents' hippie ideals in favor of a high-paying yet excruciatingly boring job at a prestigious investment bank. One day, after a particularly condescending exchange with her boss (who sends her daily inspirational e-mails), Bette walks out on her job in a huff. After a few weeks of sleeping late, watching Dr. Phil and entertaining her dog Millington, Bette's uncle scores her a job at an up-and-coming public relations firm, where her entire job seems to revolve around staying out late partying and providing fodder for clandestine gossip columns. What follows is one episode after another of Bette climbing up the social ladder at the expense of her friends, family, and the one guy who actually seems worth pursuing.I usually don’t review books I didn’t like, partially because I write myself and know what an arduous job it is to have something finished, printed and sold. For the respect I have towards all authors and writers, published and unpublished, I don’t want to underestimate anybody’s hard work. Well, this book is on the edge of not having been reviewed at all.This book was on my nightstand for a while now. I delayed it constantly, reading a page or two eventually. It took me long (I’m not going to tell how long-it’s embarrassing) to finally finish it, and sincerely, I wonder now why I even did. I was so disappointed.I didn’t read The Devil Wears Prada, but heard glorifying reviews. I thought I’d get a taste of it with this one.Maybe it’s my fault. I can’t sympathize with Manhattan party animals and women who postpone their suicide because they will get a Berkin bag in six month. I couldn’t empathize with Bette either. Though Lauren broke her spine over convincing us how Bette adjusted to the world of PR, to me, she looked as if she had no idea what the hell she was doing there. I kept reading only because I thought and hoped for the love story to swap me off my feat. Sorry, it didn’t.The only bright point is Bette’s gay uncle and his partner. The two of them are hilarious, intelligent and sophisticated. Her parents were interesting as well, a couple of anti-globalization hippies.(Is there something wrong with me for preferring alternative social groups over the pop mainstream?)I understand that someone is fond of books like this, but I really feel like I could have used the time better. I didn’t like it, but you might if you were a fan of The Devil wears Prada.Ah.Try it yourself is the only sensible conclusion here.
I bought this during the great self-imposed No Book Buying Moratorium of 2006. Why? Because I was stuck at Newark airport due to "weather". I was halfway through the last book in my carryon when they announced that we'd be at least 2 hours delayed, and knowing that I had a 3+ hour flight in front of me after that wait, I felt confident that buying a book during The Moratorium was excusable.This book fascinated me for a dozen reasons, not the least of which is that I find celebrity very intriguing. And celebrities who are only famous for being famous (I mean you, Paris Hilton) -- well, they're even more entertaining :)Here's a part that's particularly telling: "Is it weird that there's someone taking pictures of us eating dinner?" He'd chuckled. "Of course not, dear, that's precisely why we're all here. If there's no photo in the party pages, did the party really happen?"And there you go. A Paris Hilton-esque version of "if a tree falls in the forest ..."This was sort of a similar plot to The Devil Wears Prada in that the main character at first eschews her role in her new job, then embraces it, and then finally realizes she doesn't like the person she's become and how she's alienated all of her friends and family to the exclusion of all but her BlackBerry, etc., etc., etc. And I liked it a lot :)And of course the ending was utterly charming ... and gives you a nice warm feeling in your tummy.And I think it would be a very fun movie, if they could get tons and tons of celebrities to make cameo appearances.Another thing that totally shocked me was the company Bette worked for. Let's just say it's a big surprise. Because of this, I'm going to share this book with some work friends, I think.
What do You think about Everyone Worth Knowing (2006)?
I have a hard time putting an audio book on my "Read" shelf - but what the hell. I find that I will listen to books that I don't necessarily want to read. This book is a prime example. I read Weisberger's first book and liked it well enough. This is her second and it has the same feel as the first. Well meaning girl gets caught up in glamor lifestyle - Has a melt down - repents - gets love. I think this book would have really annoyed me to read - but for some reason - having it read to me by Eliza Dushku while flying down the freeways to work everyday in my car made the book really enjoyable. I even found myself lamenting not being able to hurry up and finish last night when I was on the second to last disc on the way home and the story was hitting it's pinnacle. I guess that means I liked it.
—Jennifer
I am not your typical "chick lit" fan, but I must confess that I really like this author - she writes bright, funny, light-hearted books and she can actually compose a sentence! This novel contains none of the poor grammar or flimsy plot structures you would find in Sex and the City (the novel - loved the series) or The Nanny Diaries (saw this movie last night and it was a hundred times better than the weak novel). On the other hand, I think that every girl-oriented book about a young woman making her way through the strange world of upper-crust NYC will always be a pale imitation of The Devil Wears Prada. This includes the present work by the same author. I do recommend Everyone Worth Knowing to any woman looking for a fun, refreshing read that won't make you feel like you're lowering your literary standards in the process.
—Beth
Read "the Devil Wears Prada", change the names. I can't believe the author ripped off her own book like that! HORRIBLE.I'm assuming that Weisberger has the shortest memory in history, and her publisher also suffers from the same affliction. "Everyone Worth Knowing" is the EXACT SAME BOOK as "The Devil Wears Prada"- all she did is change names and evil, soul sucking jobs and kept the format so predictably familiar that I was laughing half way through. The name dropping is all there, and if you're really curious how shallow the "jet set" of New York are, this may hold your attention span for all of three seconds... but still, it's the SAME DAMN STORY, to a tee. In fact, I bet a tonne of the dialogue is the same too. Yes. It's that bad. I don't need to read another Weisberger book because I can tell you exactly what will happen. I'm actually quite appalled by this to be honest. HOW FUCKING UN CREATIVE ARE YOU WEISBERGER? Thank god I only got this book from the library and didn't waste any actual money! 0/10.... what a waste! It makes me sad to think of all the talented writers out there, with ORIGINAL IDEAS and this one is just a crappy remake of her last book.
—Jennifer Johnson
