Customer Reviews

Spin

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I came across this book while at Target. I have to say I picked it up and put it back down for about 3 visits. Finally I thought I have to read this, and I am glad I did. I could not put it down from the moment I started on page one. I was drawn in. I mean who goes to a job interview still drunk? I had to know what was going to happen.

Lets face it we have all wanted something so bad....but how far are we willing to go for it? Would you be willing to go to rehab for a job? Instantly I was drawn to the character Kate. She is sassy, funny, and will to let nothing stand in her way of what she wants. The book kept me on edge always wondering how far can she take this and will she get caught? As the pages turned I realize maybe Kate is not there just for the story. Maybe she needs to be there to help herself.

For me this book was a page turner. I could not put it down. I definitely want to read more of McKenzie's future books.

"Imagine if Bridget Jones fell into A million little pieces, flew over the cuckoo's nest and befriended Lindsey Lohan along the way." Okay I might have stolen that quote from the back of the book but it describes Spin perfectly, so I couldn't help myself.

This was a fantastic read and from a new Canadian author no less. Totally relatable, addictive and hilarious, I had trouble putting this one down. Its written long the lines of Sophia Kinsley's Confessions of a Shopaholic series or as I mentioned Bridget Jones's Diary, I also had flashes of Girl, Interrupted (if the loony bin were rehab) And yet despite all the comparisons Spin still manages to have a unique feel to it.

Peppered with pop culture references from movies, TV and music, there's even a chapter by chapter playlist included at the end. I also just love books that are written the way we girls actually think, you know with random disjointed thoughts and crazy insecurities. And how much fun is it to follow a heroine who isn't perfect? Kate, well she's a mess so it was an absolute blast stumbling along with her while she finds herself.

Kate,(Katie, whatever) Sanford has just landed the job interview she's been dreaming about her entire adult life, (other than writing for Rolling Stone that is.) It's an interview with her favourite music magazine The Line. It's also Katie's 30th birthday which is all the more reason to celebrate, right? I mean what harm can meeting her friend Greer and having one little drink do? She'll still get home early enough to be clear headed and fresh for the big interview tomorrow. Well as most of us know there's no such thing as one drink (especially with friends like Greer.)

Katie's botched interview is hilarious, she's late arriving, still a bit drunk and concludes the meeting by excusing herself to throw up and lie on the restroom floor. Needless to say she doesn't get the job. Katie is however just perfect for another assignment they have in mind; entering a 30 day stint in rehab to spy on the new "it" girl of the moment and writing a 5,000 word expose for their subsidiary gossip magazine. (Should she succeed the job she actually wants will also be waiting for her.) It's a no brainer really, at this point Katie has burned almost every bridge she can and has nothing left to loose, besides its only for 30 days.

Katie's observations from rehab while somewhat heartbreaking still retain the comedy. Her experiments with jogging had me laughing out loud as did the descriptions of her dog obsessed counsellor. Of course there's a romance in bloom and hey what do you know she might just have a drinking issue after all. At the very least she needs to grow up and stop telling people she's still in college or at least partying with college kids. The rehab section of the story is predictable but that doesn't make it any less fun to watch the train wreck and cheer from the sidelines. The ending reads like a Hugh Grant movie and I loved it. Cheers

"Spin" is about a young woman, Katie Sandford, a thirty year old struggling writer who loves to party in excess with her friends and who desperately wants to work for a music magazine called The Line. She finally gets the opportunity of a lifetime, an interview with the magazine. She is so nervous and excited she gets hammered the night before and shows up late and severely hung-over for her interview. Definitely not a way to impress a future boss'.However they do see some potential and give her a job with their sister magazine Gossip Central, not the job of her dreams but nonetheless a foot in the door. As a test trial, the editors give her an assignment to write a tell-all story about Amber Sheppard, a starlet, from "The Girl Next Door", a girl who has hit rock bottom and recently entered rehab for drug and alcohol addictions. Katie may be just the perfect person to befriend Amber and join her at the facility to search out the dirty little secrets to a killer exposé.

This is a chick-lit novel at its best, funny, charming, personal and honest with all the OH NO!, AW!, GOSH! You can imagine. The story is filled with delightful twists and turns and the most loveable of characters, some may even compare it to Bridget Jones Diary. Granted, the storyline is a little predictable but it is certainly interesting and very relevant in today's celebrity worshiping culture and of course no women's contemporary fiction would be complete without a handsome love interest, in this case it is done perfectly adding plenty of spice and colour to the mix'. Aaaaw!!!! Those hot moments will get you every time.:)

The novel is absolutely captivating, an enjoyable spin to the rather sensitive subject of substance abuse and the long road to recovery. A beautiful debut novel, well done Ms. McKenzie.

Besides she's a Canadian author, she is a fantastic story teller. I was lured right into this book for its' story. I had to know what was going to happen to Kate. I needed to see what emotions she felt, the things she experienced and what her decisions would be. I just had to know. So, I ate the book up in a few hours and found out.
I laughed out loud. I was tormented in emotional parts, even angered, but this was all good!
I am so happy with the outcome, and really can't wait to read more from Catherine.

Spin - by Catherine McKenzie

ARC-received from LibraryThing/Publisher

Spin is an interesting take on what may or may not happen when one goes into rehab for alcoholism.

Katie is an alcoholic though she does not want to admit it. Alcohol even ruined her chance at her dream job at a music magazine. A few weeks later the same corporation that owns the music mag contacts her but they have different assignment for her. Follow a starlet into rehab, make friends with her and get a scoop. All of this is for a gossip mag that the corporation owns. The carrot dangled in front of Katie? Her dream job.

During the course of this novel I had to ask myself 'is this what rehab is really like'? Do stars and starlets really act out this way while there? Can lasting, close friendships be forged while enduring rehab? Can decades of hurt be cured in a mere 30 days of therapy?
As I was reading, it soon became clear that the realism or lack of such, didn't matter to me. What did matter was turning the pages to continue in finding out just what was going to happen with Katie and Henry and Amber and Amy.

I needed to know if Katie was really going to backstab Amber, was Katie going to fall in love with Henry, would rehab work for her?
While similar to the movie28 Days it is still well worth the time it takes to read.

Kate Sandford is almost 30, but she still poses as a graduate student at times for the free food available at graduate events. She writes articles for the newspaper about obscure but interesting bands, and when she gets an interview at The Line, a music magazine that she has always aspired to work at, she is ecstatic. The night before the interview she goes out with friends to celebrate the combination of her birthday and the interview and, well, over-celebrates a little. She arrives at her interview the next day hungover, reeking like alcohol, and sick to her stomach and it isn't long before the interviewers politely dismiss her. Kate is devastated, but a few weeks later she receives a call. If Kate follows Amber Sheppard, the current celebrity "It Girl" into rehab and writes a tell-all after completing the program she will get another chance to work at The Line. Kate doesn't think twice and hops onto a plane headed for the rebab centre Oasis.

Things get complicated after Kate arrives. Even though she was convinced that she didn't have a problem with alcohol, her time in rehab is starting to open her eyes a little to her own destructive behaviour. Kate also manages to not just meet Amber Sheppard, but befriend her, and then comes the ultimate question: can Kate still write her article without losing her new friend? Kate also meets Henry, a celebrity handler, and sparks begin to fly. Will Henry be able to fall in love with a girl that he met in rehab, and can their relationship last outside of the walls of Oasis?

Spin is chick-lit with a heart, and I absolutely loved it. Kate Sandford is definitely one screwed-up individual at times, with the habit of leaping into things without thinking them through first, but she is the type of character that makes you root for her. Not only was I hoping that she would be able to truly see that she had a problem with alcohol, but I was hoping that she would start wanting to get better, and maybe even fall in love along the way. The secondary characters in Spin are fantastic as well: Amber appears to be a spoiled celebrity at first, but as the story continues we see that she's just a girl who has made some bad decisions, and has managed to make those in the spotlight while the world followed her every move. Henry, the celebrity handler, was fantastic as a guy who didn't need to be in rehab, but certainly didn't have it all together either. Kate's parents were wonderful as well- people who truly want to see the best in people, even if those great qualities are in hiding.

There's a line on the last page of the book that I found absolutely swoon-worthy. I would love to share it with you, but won't for fear of giving away the ending, so you'll just have to read it for yourself! What I can say is that debut author Catherine McKenzie has written a fantastically entertaining and funny yet endearing debut novel and I'm excited to read what she comes up with next.

Kate has an interview and a shot at her dream job - writing for a music magazine. The night before the interview she heads out for one celebratory drink, which somehow turns into more than one...... She makes it to the interview the next day, but five minutes in, has to run to the bathroom to throw up. Needless to say she doesn't get the job. Their sister magazine - a gossip rag- calls later with an offer. Her writing samples were good - would she consider going undercover at a rehab to get the dirt on the latest 'it' girl , Amber? If all goes well, they'll give her the job at the music magazine. She jumps at the chance.

McKenzie has created a flawed but lovable character in Kate. She has goals, but keeps sabotaging herself. But at rehab, she is forced to confront some of those flaws and decide where she wants to go in life. Can she betray the burgeoning friendship she has with Amber and spill her secrets for public consumption? The supporting characters were well drawn as well. Amber is particularly well portrayed and is a poignant commentary of celebrity in our society. Although substance abuse is a focal part of the story, McKenzie strikes a fine balance between serious and humourous. Much of the dialogue and situations were laugh out loud funny, but the foundation of recovery is handled with respect as well.

Spin was one of those books that read like potato chips. Yep, it was an addicting read for me - just one more chapter until I turned the last page and realized I'd finished it already.

This is a debut novel for Canadian Catherine McKenzie. Definitely recommended. I'll be waiting for the second book by this fresh, witty new voice!

Spin by Catherine McKenzie is a fresh and fun, yet serious debut novel from this author! For me it was a perfect escape to another world with characters I loved and a storyline that grabbed me from the beginning to the end.

The main character of Spin is Kate Sanford and she's a Bridget Jones type of character. I liked her right off. She's one of those characters that I formed a bond with from the beginning of the book. She's funny, a little crazy, vulnerable and just may have a serious problem with alcohol which just makes her all the more real. She's far from perfect and I think that's the trait that pulls people in - she's human.

The book starts out with Kate getting the interview of her lifetime to work at her favorite music magazine. She's beside herself in her excitement so when she gets a call from a friend to go out and celebrate for her birthday coming up, she agrees. What can a couple of drinks hurt? Then she'll come home, get a good rest and be in prime form for her interview. NOT! What starts as a few drinks quickly turns into too many drinks to count and Kate is hammered. She wakes up late the next morning, is late to her interview and even that isn't so bad if she'd just been sober for said interview. Needless to say Kate doesn't even get through the interview, doesn't get the job and goes home defeated and miserable.

Days later Kate gets a call from Bob, another boss at The Line, who works on the gossip side of things. While he didn't think Kate was right for the job she applied for, he does think she's right for going to rehab as a patient to spy on It Girl, Amber Sheppard for them. In return for a good story, she just might be reconsidered for that job of a lifetime she wants. Well, what is a girl to do? Kate is more than positive she doesn't need rehab - she doesn't have a drinking problem - but for this job she'll do pretty much anything so she agrees to go.

Kate heads into rehab and slowly finds herself becoming involved with the program and the people. As time goes by and she thinks about her past she starts to wonder if maybe she does have a bit of a problem with alcohol. Certainly her life has been badly affected by it at times. Not only that but Kate is finding that the people there are real people with real problems and even finds herself becoming close with some of them. One of those someones being Amber - It Girl Amber - the famed celebrity.

Amber's not such a bad person. Kate actually likes her. Now what is a girl to do? Kate is torn. She doesn't want to hurt Amber but she really wants this job, not to mention if she doesn't go through with writing her article she's going to be sued for a sum that she just can't afford. Kate's not sure she's willing to give up the new friendships she's developed just to write this article. There has to be a way around this - but what could it be?

While this novel is funny and amusing, it has it's serious side with the issue of drug addiction. Kate takes a good long look at herself and finds a lot of pieces missing - pieces she has missed having around her like her family. She's realized that just maybe rehab wasn't such a bad idea in so many ways - it gives hope that a new life is out there if you just look for it. Spin is about Kate finding herself again and you will find yourself rooting for her all the way and turning the pages as fast as you can to see what comes next!

I finally picked it up Spin last week and it's been a total time sucker. In the best possible way.

Other than sharing a nickname, I have absolutely nothing in common with Kate Sanford. In fact, I'm pretty sure Kate would hate me. I'd be a hipper version of her roommate, Joanne, the square. In fact, in real life, I might really want to hate Kate. I kept trying to hate her in the book (a few times I actually managed it) but she's weirdly likable. Even when I sorta wanted to throttle her, I couldn't help but grin and mutter, 'Oh Kate.' I guess that's part of the point.

Also, in Henry, Mackenzie has created one of the most crush-worth characters in fiction since Mark Darcy.

Spin was a great, fun read. In 432 pages, the only thing I can fault is some of Kate's taste in music and, even there, I'm willing to make allowances'when you're trashed and on the way to rehab, even 'Hey There Delilah' probably sounds half decent.

Catherine McKenzie's engaging debut novel has proven her as one to watch. Her voice is fresh, new and compelling. SPIN is a witty, fun, laugh out loud novel, yet had a grittier subject matter and I absolutely could not put it down.

Take thirty year old party girl, Kate, shove her in rehab for an undercover assignment to land her dream job, which she originally blew because she showed up still drunk from the night before. Add the 'it girl' of the moment, actress Amber Sheppard, that Kate is to get the scoop on, many dark tales of addiction and this is where we find Kate struggling to have it all.

I found the heavier subject matter of addiction offset nicely by Kate's highly entertaining thoughts and antics along the way, so it didn't come across as too heavy, nor did it feel too light. Kathryn felt this might have been made a little too light, but I think that comes from the first person perspective. Kate doesn't take rehab seriously because she feels she obviously doesn't have a problem with alcohol, so it does come across this way at times, but I think it's a reflection of her character, rather than light being made of the subject.

Kate's character is full of flaws, yet she's vulnerable, funny and just wants to follow her dreams, but seems to keep getting in her own way. I rooted for her throughout her journey to self discovery. Kate's character wasn't the only quirky one in the bunch and the supporting characters were all so well developed that I ended up cheering them on as well.

My only concern when I started reading SPIN was the lack of specific setting. This novel could take place anywhere and at first I wasn't able to get grounded in a place, but this disappeared almost immediately and I found it unique to be able to picture this taking place almost anywhere.

I loved this book, will probably reread it and will definitely be putting Catherine McKenzie on my must read list! Add this to your summer reading! Better yet, go get it now!