- Paperback: 360 pages
- Publisher: Plume Books; Reprint edition (30 April 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0452286107
- ISBN-13: 978-0452286108
- Product Dimensions: 20.4 x 13.7 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,891,967 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
If The Second Assistant: Tales from the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder has one thing to teach us, it's that working for the rich and glamorous is a living hell. This simple truth has already been revealed by such books as The Nanny Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada, but for those who feel that the message bears repeating, Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare's The Second Assistant offers yet another enjoyable, easy-to-read lesson.
The heroine of this gossipy tale is Elizabeth Miller, a young, former campaign worker for a US congressman who finds herself between employment opportunities. Unable to obtain any more socially responsible work, Lizzie is lured into the job of second assistant to an executive at a glitzy Hollywood agency. Once there, she's hit with all the "pick up my dry cleaning", "walk my dog", "hire strippers for my party" torment that the higher-ups can dish out. At first Elizabeth is isolated, out-of-place and underdressed in her new world, but she makes friends, builds her wardrobe and eventually grows to care for her menial job, her Ritalin-snorting boss and the entertainment industry in general. Finally, she reaches the conclusion that thousands of other Californians have before her: what she really wants to do is produce. At times, Lizzie seems far too naïve to survive long in the shark-infested waters that the authors describe, but there can be only one kind of ending to such a lighthearted book, so we know she will somehow muddle through. Hare (who was once a Hollywood executive herself) and Naylor throw in a dreamy guy and a few plot twists that most readers could see coming from space, stir, and serve. Of course, a little frivolity is not a bad thing, and The Second Assistant is certainly an entertaining addition the new underling subgenre of modern fiction. --Leah Weathersby, Amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
A tale from the bottom of the Hollywood ladder
--This text refers to an alternate
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After losing her political job in Washington Lizzie heads to Los Angeles to work for a huge talent agency as a second assistant. Soon she is rubbing shoulders with a bizzarre and eccentric bunch of famous, rich, and powerful hollywood types (often only given first names therefore alluding the real people making the book even more delicious!)
Lizzie is trying to survive in the tough hollywood world while trying to find the meaning of life, and of course some romance. But can she be satisfied working in such a shallow industry where only good looks, fame and fortune matter where everyone from the other secretaries to the coffee barista is willing to do anything to get their big break?
While the plot of a single girl in a dead end job looking for love sounds like many other books this one still manages to be fresh. Lizzie was far more intelligent and less ditzy than most chick lit heroines and she always feels and reacts in a realistic way so that you can't help but relate to her.
I would definitely recommend this book for chick lit fans who think the genre is getting a bit boring, repeditive and silly. The authors are said to have worked in hollywood and the novels really makes you feel like you would know what to expect if you went there too!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was initially a bit weary of this book as it looked very similar to 'The Devil Wears Prada' which was truly awful. So it was to my surprise that I really enjoyed it. The main character Elizabeth Miller appears at first naïve - but to give her credit, Hollywood is a whole new setting and really a world of its own. The characters are dynamic and possess many quirky habits like her boss Scott Wagner who is a Ritalin snorting, hard drinking yet rich agent to the stars. The characters are also plentiful and diverse and very entertaining. Her job starts out innocently enough, which includes fetching coffee and juggling phones for the much sought after Scott Wagner. Soon she is luring hysterical actresses out of their trailers and fetching Scott's drug stash from behind men's urinals.
This is one book that I wish I still haven't read because I really want to read it again for the first time and laugh out really loud throughout. What wins this book for me is that so much happens in it and Lizzie is a likeable character who you want to see do well but know she's got to work for it. She learns from her mistakes but like any other human can easily make them again. It doesn't come that easy! I'd highly recommend this book for a not too taxing but very enjoyable read. I also hope that the authors are thinking of bringing out a sequel to it.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was given this book. One look at the cover, and I wasn't hopeful. I read the first few pages one morning when I woke early. I didn't get up until 3.30pm, the book finished, my day shot to pieces. I thought this was going to be strictly for girls . But no. KELLS loved it.
I was particularly taken by the main character, Elizabeth (or at least I wish I was). Apart from falling hopelessly in love with her, I really felt as if i was being let into the secret world of how a modern, cool girl, lives, thinks, and sees. What a treat! I would love to meet her.
There's no political correctness coming from Naylor and Hare, which not only is a relief, but one of the main reasons the book is laugh out loud. Crazy Hollywood parties, people etc. are dealt with brilliantly, and all through the eyes of our wonderfully straight, easy going heroine. The authors also sail wonderfully close to the wind as to portraying real Hollywood stars.
Congratulations on a wicked book, and please write another one. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
hard to put down
this book is amazing. i have to be honest i picked the book up on the sale section at asda for a pound. i could not put the book down it is not a book just for girls. Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2009 by jack Miller
has become one of my favorites
I usually don't give anything 5 stars-but this is a book that is "un-puttable-down". I can read over and over again over the years and still find it funny and laugh out loud in... Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2009 by Vanessa
Brilliant!
You won't want to put this book down - the perfect summer read, would highly recommend it!
Published on 19 April 2009 by N.
average
girl has crap job in new city, finds something to make her go up in the world and finds boy of her dreams. Read more
Published on 15 April 2008 by Lindymck
Super Summer Read
Want something glitzy and glam for your holiday read? This is just that. Lots of action, an easy story told with energy and wit. Read more
Published on 23 July 2007 by J. Hagerty
and you think your job is bad?
This book was fab, anyone who has ever been an Assistant to an someone who was less than grateful should give this a whirl, funny and entertaining and doesnt take itself to... Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2006 by "queenofpink"
A great summer read!
If you're looking for something to read while on holiday, this might be the book for you. It's about a girl, who, between jobs, takes a job as a Hollywood assistant. Read more
Published on 17 May 2004
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