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From Publishers Weekly
Books about bright young women learning the ropes of glamorous careers under corrosively evil bosses are catnip to a generation of readers, so this West Coast version of The Devil Wears Prada fills a niche, with brio. Elizabeth Miller gives up an idealistic job as a Washington senator's aide to join the Agency, a super-powerful Hollywood outfit that represents stars, producers and directors. The young L.A. newcomer may not be as clearheaded and full of self-knowledge as she's intended to be (she does jump topless into the agency head's pool with a lecherous producer), but she's a paragon of virtue compared to her boss, Scott Wagner, who is loutish, sex-obsessed, terminally addicted to any abusable substance, lazy and overbearing. Despite her misgivings and scads of unjustified abuse, Elizabeth throws herself into Xeroxing and party planning ("Dancers from Crazy Girls on La Brea. Though only small-nippled girls") and is rewarded by brushes with a parade of A-list personalities (Cameron, Jennifer, George, Harvey). The insider peeks at Tinseltown are more engrossing than the plot, but a hot script and backroom Agency dealings keep the pages turning. Contrivances aboundâ€"Elizabeth keeps meeting key figures at just the right momentâ€"and the jokes often fall flat. The book undoes itself by offering as chapter headings some of the great dialogue from old movies ("What's the going price on integrity this week?"), and there's simply no comparison between what those old scriptwriters and these joint authors offer up. Still, this is a fast, fun, trashy read.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Jumping on the gravy train that was started by such books as The Nanny Diaries (2002) and The Devil Wears Prada [BKL Ap 1 03], this novel by two Hollywood insiders tells the story of a smart young girl caught up in the loathsome world of a Hollywood power agent. Elizabeth Miller, a former congressional intern, has taken a job at "The Agency." Her first task should be a warning of what she's in for--removing all the colored thumbtacks from the office because the boss likes only beige ones. Her main job is to serve as second assistant to Hollywood player Scott. He is the current hot agent, and all the biggest stars flock to him; unfortunately, he is also drug-addicted and addle-brained. During the course of the story, Elizabeth encounters all the things the reader knows she will: megalomaniacal, back-stabbing coworkers; drugs; plastic surgery; and obscene consumerism as well as barely disguised celebrities and other Hollywood folks, all of whom behave badly. While eminently readable, chatty, engaging, and sometimes quite funny, this book doesn't really tell us anything we don't know or haven't suspected about Hollywood and its citizens. Librarians might want to purchase a few copies though; the cult of celebrity worship guarantees a lot of press for this one. Kathleen Hughes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
For those who tried Nanny...Prada....,
By
This review is from: Second Assistant (Hardcover)
Finally! This is the book that does it! If you read The Nanny Diaries and wondered why?? If you read The Devil Wears Prada and -really- wondered why?? This book will answer your questions as to why one struggles with crazy bosses, unreasonable working conditions, and industry madness all while being at the bottom of the corporate food chain.Elizabeth Miller leaves the static world of D.C. politics for Hollywood to work for The Agency, the hottest talent agency in the business. As a second assistant she quickly learns that appearances are everything and nothing is what it seems. We follow her through her dating and work related faux pas and successes, and meet some rather interesting characters along the way. What I liked best about this book is that it isn't sugar coated or completely over the top. Elizabeth and her co-workers are brilliantly written and the scenes from The Agency feel like a reality TV show all their own. The book is fast paced, funny, and a great summer read. So, if you've been looking for a break from the usual "chick lit" read, (I know, I'm tired of that label, too.) get a hold of The Second Assistant. You'll have a ball.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Second Assistant- Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Second Assistant: A Tale from the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder (Paperback)
This book was so amazing. This is the funniest book I have ever read. I finished in no time at all, I found myself glued to it all the time. I hope there will be a series of books after this one. You will find yourself wanting more. I sure do. More more more.... These two writers are now my absolute favorite.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not Good...,
By
This review is from: The Second Assistant: A Tale from the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder (Paperback)
This book wasn't bad. I found it hard to get through. I didn't like the fact that nothing really trully happens in this book. The last two chapters were good when things started to get rolling. They gave you no clues throughout the book on what would happen in the end which I really didn't like. (don't want to say much as I don't want to give any spoliers.)I bought this book and the first assistant, and also dog handling all by Claire Naylor. I do not want to read the Fisrt Assistant yet as I felt the firt one wasn't good at all. I'm three chapters in on Dog Handling and same thing not very interesting.. I think maybe it's her style of writting. Other reviews said this is like Kinsella's writting. It is NOTHING like her's..Her books are amazing..these were just boring SORRY Claire
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