From Publishers Weekly
In her debut novel, Wing uses Sun-Tzu's classic
The Art of War and her own difficult transition from New York to L.A. to craft a brainy, satiric chick lit novel that forgoes a typical looking-for-love plot in favor of a happy-couple-against-the-world story. Tried and true New Yorker Stacey Knight is marrying the man of her dreams, businessman Jamie, who recently acquired a sinking Hollywood studio, necessitating their move to L.A. During the wedding reception, however, the antagonistic Trio of Terror studio heads Simon, Barb and Phil volley the first shot in a smooth but sinister dinner toast. As her enemies go all out, Stacy plays the victim for an irritating length of time before getting wise. The twists and turns, once they become clear, are entertaining, but Wing's characters aren't terribly likable, especially compared to some of the well-drawn minor characters. Though her concept, weaving in passages from Sun Tzu, is clever, the read slows to a crawl under the weight of difficult-to-follow conversations, a strange narrative style and frequent use of two-dollar words.
(Dec.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"Saucy and full of biting wit, Jodi Wing's THE ART OF SOCIAL WAR is about as much fun as you can have reading words off a printed page. Like a BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES crossed with MEAN GIRLS, it's hilarious and deadly and fun to the bitter end!" (Mimi Rogers )
"THE ART OF SOCIAL WAR is a smart, witty, yet cautionary tale... Jodi Wing's newcomer-turned-insider narrative is a look at what happens when girl world intersects with the boys club in a town where winning is everything." (Carol Wolper, author of THE CIGARETTE GIRL and MR. FAMOUS Carol Wolper, author of THE CIGARETTE GIRL and MR. FAMOUS )
"The gloves are off in Jodi Wing's hilariously witty account of Hollywood's social battle ground. For anyone who has ever wondered what it really takes to make it here, THE ART OF SOCIAL WAR delivers a knockout punch!" (Thea Andrews, correspondent for Entertainment Tonight )
"A sassy, out-spoken woman in Hollywood? What's not to love? I couldn't put this book down." (Kim Delaney, actress )
"a brainy, satiric chick lit novel that forgoes a typical looking-for-love plot in favor of a happy-couple-against-the-world story....entertaining" (Publishers Weekly )
"Jodi Wing's debut novel--The Art of Social War--is a satirical home run. A hilarious and dead-on exploration of the people who run Hollywood and those who try their best to love them. You won't be able to put it down." (Aaron Sorkin )