In this fun, lightweight and gossipy first novel, veteran Hollywood reporter de Vries explores the life of a Hollywood publicist who's looking for love, better clients, a little appreciation ("a publicist is one notch above a maid") and some "authenticity that doesn't come saddled with celebrity." "I hate my life because everyone thinks I have the most FABULOUS job and no one wants to hear anyone
complaining about mopping up after stars," rants Alex Davidson; her agency, DWP, represents only faded stars, though, so while golden boy–cum–druggie Troy Madden is just the kind of client she knows best, he's not going to make her life any easier. When cutthroat BIG buys out DWP, Davidson's future at the firm is in jeopardy. Amid the professional shakeup, though, she falls for Charles, because "in L.A., a WASPy heterosexual male with a sense of humor and his natural nose approached deity status." The plot thickens when G, a name partner of BIG, resorts to unsavory tactics, including kickbacks, and pulls Davidson into the quagmire. The plucky protagonist turns into a modern-day Nancy Drew, solves the mystery and appears to win her man. The story, which has sharp prose, crisp chapter endings and snotty cameos of real stars, develops into a fluffy page-turner. Although improbable fictional celeb names like Scooby, Scrappy and the Phoenix are distracting, this entertaining novel is sure to appeal to stargazers. (Feb.)
