Customer Reviews

As Seen On TV

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'll admit it. I'm a big fan of chick-lit. Granted, I read more "intelligent" books...but, light-hearted and funny books drag me into their web.

This one was awesome.

No, there's nothing overly unique about it...it's a chick book. However, it was a great one to read, and no part of it was boring. That's one of my biggest pet peeves about some chick-lit books. They get boring, and I'm tempted to skip over big chunks to get to the good stuff.

That's what made this book so interesting and worthwhile for me. It's all good stuff. It was hard to put down, and yes, reading about the main character's brush with fame and glimpse into the world of reality tv was incredibly entertaining and a blast to go through with her.

I would recommend this book, as well as ANY of the other Sarah Mlynowski novels. She's a great writer.

I'm a huge fan of Sarah Mlynowski and loved "Milkrun" and "Fishbowl" (which I HIGHLY recommend!) I was awaiting her next book, "As Seen On TV", and so looking forward to it that I preordered it months in advance. What a huge disappointment. This was not up to par with the Mlynowski quality I'm used to reading. The plot was amateur and was something I would expect of a novice chick lit writer, but definitely not the calibre I was anticipating. I would not recommend "As Seen On TV", but definitely pick up her other 2! Now those are great reads.

As an avid fan of Sarah Mlynowski, I was very much looking forward to her next book, after reading "Milkrun" and "Fishbowl". I was a bit appalled at learning that her next book would be about reality television (aren't we all tired of it yet?), but I assumed that she would handle the subject well. However, I was a bit disappointed. None of the outside characters are well developed, even her reality-TV co-stars. There are inconsistencies everywhere: Sunny (the main character) wants to be a business woman, but goes Jello-wrestling on television. She makes a point of being incredibly jealous of her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend, but then we never hear about that again. Her boyfriend says his parents would not approve of Sunny moving in with him, but then they are happy about it. In short, plots that are developed disintegrate.

But I would have to say that the most unbelieveable part of the book is the chain letter Sunny gets. She gets a well-meaning chain letter from her sister about the use of asbestos in tampons, and forwards it to many others. I won't say any more about it, but it becomes an important part in the book. The problem is that tampons do not contain asbestos. The FDA, OSHA and EPA all regulate the use of asbestos, either on their own or in other products. The FDA inspects tampon manufacturing plants, and would obviously report the use of asbestos. OHSA and the EPA have called attention to the danger of any kind of contact to asbestos, so why anyone would think that the government would allow women to INSERT asbestos-laden products into themselves is beyond me. Now for those of you who have not read the book, this paragraph may seem a bit odd, but Sunny sends that letter to everyone she knows, and I suppose at this day and age we think we are all aware of and immune to the scams and hoaxes that circulate the internet, but Mlynowski does the disservice of featuring one as a true story in her book. Go check it out at REPUTABLE internet and government sources; they will all refute the claim.

Now aside from the absurdity of the chain letter, the book is an fairly enjoyable one. Nobody reads Red Dress Ink books for anything but sheer entertainment, and as long as you're not too picky, you may enjoy this one. If it weren't for Mlynowski's name attached to this book, I would not have picked it up. If you are a fan of most of the RDI books you will enjoy this one, but if you're looking for better books in the same vein, I would suggest the book "Carrie Pilby" by Caren Lissner, or "Milkrun" and "Fishbowl," both by Mlynowski.

I love Sarah Mlynowski, but As Seen on TV, is not her best. It is a very enjoyable book, but the main character, Sunny, got on my nerves. Sunny was very annoying. I recommend it, but I think Fishbowl is better.

I'll admit it--Once I started this book, I was hooked. Sunny's adventures as a participant on a reality TV show are fun to read and even funnier to imagine. Sunny's father's girlfriend (whom Sunny knew at summer camp) lands her a once in a lifetime spot on a reality show called "Party Girls," which seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. For a while, even Sunny herself believes the expense account, salons, and celeb status are worth it, too. But, like any self-respecting chick book, Sunny realizes what she has before she loses it all.

Mlynowski introduces some interesting twists in this book--all involving women's issues. Some are developed, while others are not. Either way, I respect Mlynowski's ability to write light, funny, and still meaningful prose.

So curl up with a Cosmopolitan and read until you're partied out!

not a bad way to while away a few hours, but there are no surprises here, and not a lot of laughs. Also (call me picky) it was marred by obvious total lack of proofreading -- for example, the colorado ski town was called "Vale" rather than "Vail" and the past tense of "broadcast" was "broadcasted". These things may not bother some people, but to me it indicates that no one cared enough even to proofread the book.

Sarah Mlynowski's third novel, "As Seen On TV," deals with the life of Sunny Langstein who left her job and her life in Florida to move in with her boyfriend, Steve in New York City. There, she met up with her father's new fling, Carrie, who was Sunny's camp counselor. Unemployed, Sunny was "recruited" by Carrie to appear on a new reality show called "Party Girls." Every week, four girls in "Party Girls" would go to a different bar, to meet up guys and get drunk.

However, in order to participate in the show, Sunny had to pretend that she is single. Which means, she can't tell people about Steve, can't go out with him in public, etc. Sunny, who was doubtful in the beginning, was soon caught in the world of glitz, glamour, and tons of free stuff. She started to take herself a lot more seriously and her relationship with Steve took a setback. Especially, when hot TV star, Matt started paying attention to Sunny.

I really enjoy "As Seen On TV." It is written very well, and is very funny and fast-paced. Mlynowski is definitely one of my favorite chick-lit authors. Her supporting characters are extremely well-developed too. Mlynowski is able to make her characters seem real and readers are able to identify with them. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants relaxing and funny read.

This was a great book that made me laugh out loud in certain parts.

It really took a stab at the current reality TV craze that's racing through the country right now.

Great book!

With the glut of reality shows these days, this novel truly hits home to everyone who ever thought "I could be on that show!" while thinking "WHAT idiot would want to be on that show????"

Sunny Langstein lives in Florida and has been asked to move in with her boyfriend Steve in New York. She procures a job offer in New York, and has packed up her apartment in Florida. She arrives in NYC to find the job offer rescinded. While going to dinner with her father (who abandoned her, her embittered sister and her deceased mother ages ago), and his newest girlfriend Carrie (Sunny's former camp counselor, of all people), Sunny finds herself an offer to appear on "Party Girls!", a reality show that features 4 girls going to a differentbar each week!

As a casting assistant, Carrie helps Sunny land a spot when one of the original cast members is caught shoplifting. Only Sunny has to pretend to be single, as Party Girls are more fun that way (and it's in their contract.) It gives Sunny somthing to do, and while it does not pay, she gets tons of free clothes and manicures, and a $1000 stipend. And she figures this will get her the contacts she needs in New York to break into the business world.

Sunny starts turning into a superficial snob before Steve's very eyes. He hates being a secret as Sunny becomes more famous. Meantime, she and Carrie become closer as her father tires of this girltoy and starts looking for another.

The scenes describing the show are horrifyingly accurate and you start to feel humiliated for Sunny. The cold cruel world of TV!!!!

This is Mlynowski's best work yet -- it is so captivating and makes you wonder if Sunny truly sees this as a desirable world for her or will she seek out her old dreams again?

Reality-tv fanatics & fans of Ms. Mlynowski, THIS is the book for you! I can't decide which book by Sarah Mlynowski is my favorite because all of them are brilliantly written and tremendously funny. As Seen on TV is no exception. It's witty and clever in its jabs at the current phenomenon of reality tv and instant celebrity. This novel is centered around a woman named Sunny who moves to New York and takes a job on the reality series Party Girls! because she's unemployed & thought it would be a good fill-in job with nice perks. At first the gig is just something to pass the time, but once the series takes off & fame sets in suddenly Sunny believes her new career path is set and she wants to be a full-time celeb. You'll devour this book and eagerly read about what happens when an average 25yr old becomes the toast of television & has a brush with fame.