2cool2btrue [Paperback]

Simon Brooke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 6, 2005

They're moving on up...

Charlie Barrett, male model, is ready for a career change. It's not that modeling for ten years hasn't been fun -- the Paris shows, the VIP lists, the cool flat and even cooler model girlfriend. But he and Lauren are probably going to get married and have kids someday so it's time for him to find a job that offers more challenge than tilting his head left or right. Lovely Lauren seems poised to break into TV, so when a chance meeting results in Charlie's being offered the job as the face of 2cool2btrue, he readily accepts. "Power couple" here they come!

But something's going down.

2cool is the web equivalent of Armani, Prada, and Gucci. It's the sexiest thing in cyberspace and everyone wants a piece of it. As its marketing guru, Charlie spends his days wading through a sea of luxury products and designer freebies and his nights in a whirl of parties and champagne. When Nora, an American journalist based in London, takes a particular interest in the site -- and in Charlie -- the buzz is definitely on. But suddenly 2cool's owners disappear with a large amount of money and Charlie finds himself investigated for fraud. With Lauren too preoccupied with TV producer Peter to help, the only person Charlie can turn to is Nora. And Nora -- clumsy, eccentric, and increasingly mysterious -- is fast proving herself to be 2hot2handle.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Irresistibly ironic...a wonderfully enjoyable read."

-- Daily Mail

"Brooke's characters are wonderfully observed and blisteringly glorious. Thoroughly recommended."

-- London Independent

About the Author

Simon Brooke was born in Yorkshire, England, but now lives in West London. His checkered employment history includes a stint as a male model and work as a political spin-doctor. Eschewing the possibility of getting a proper job, he now writes for The Times, The Sunday Times, and The Telegraph. His first novel, Upgrading, is also available from Downtown Press.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books; Original edition (December 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743477634
• ISBN-13: 978-0743477635
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,847,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great read, June 14, 2008

By 

Ratmammy "The Ratmammy" (Ratmammy's Town, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: 2cool2btrue (Paperback)

2COOL2BTRUE by Simon Brooke
June 14, 2008

Rating 4/5 stars

I'm finding that I'm really enjoying these older DOWNTOWN PRESS books. Such fun! In 2cool2btrue, male model Charlie Barrett is ready for a career change. Modeling was supposed to be just a transition to what he'd do later on in life. But in the interim he met fellow model Lauren and the two hit it off. Now living together for quite a while, it seems things are cooling off between them, especially now that Lauren is focused on a career in television. They rarely see each other, and she seems to be spending all her time with her new boss.

In the mean time, Charlie is contacted by a man who wants to hire Charlie as a marketing person (marketing happened to be his major in college). This was the chance Charlie had been looking for, a chance to get out of modeling and use his degree. He knew his father had been disappointed when Charlie went into modeling, and now he would be able to prove to his father that he could be as successful with a proper job.

The new job is for a start up company called "2cool2btrue", a hip website that would be the place for all those savvy with the Internet to hang out. It all seemed too good to be true, too. He's given carte blanche almost to spend as much as he wants, and notices that his bosses are splurging left and right on many extravagant things. But Charlie, naive as he is, trusts them and figured that the company is doing great.

But then the unthinkable happens: The two founders of the company disappear, and no one seems to know where they have gone. And then they all find out that the two founders have been embezzling funds, tons of bills are unpaid, and there is no money left to pay these bills. Charlie is now the scapegoat, as he's the only one left that was "in charge" and he was also a cosigner on several checks. Charlie's world is falling apart, and not only that, his father is acting very strangely, more than usual. Charlie needs to find out what is going on.

2cool2btrue was a really intriguing story that kept my eyes glued to the pages until the very end. It's books like this that keeps me coming back for more. What I loved about this book were the quirky characters, and how the author kept me guessing what was really going on, who was being deceptive and who was being up front. Nora, a journalist who keeps hounding Charlie regarding the company's problems, is a total mystery and kept me guessing about her ultimate motives. Was she just out to get a story, or did she have any feelings for Charlie? The really funny twist to the story had to do with Charlie's girlfriend and her boss, and that doesn't play out until nearly the end. Great story, great writing!

4.0 out of 5 stars Review by Tammy for Fallen Angel Reviews, December 6, 2007

By 

Tammy "Reviewer - fallenangelreviews.com" (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 2cool2btrue (Paperback)

As a male model, Charlie Barrett is always looking for the next job and while at a casting call, he is offered the chance of a lifetime. Charlie is astounded when Guy and Piers offers him the job as the face of 2cool2btrue and decides that it's a job too good to pass up since his girlfriend Lauren, also a model, is trying to get into television work.

While Charlie is swept away with the buzz of his new job and the luxury that comes with it, trouble begins and he soon realizes that not everything is as it seems. Charlie is faced with the disappearance of Guy and Piers while his relationship with Lauren drifts further apart. Charlie knows something is very wrong and since Lauren is preoccupied with her TV career, Charlie has no one to turn to except the exasperating and awkward journalist, Nora.

2Cool2Btrue is a thoroughly enjoyable and exciting adventure. The characters throughout this story are engaging and highly detailed. This story contains an abundance of humor and witty banter that gives it the feeling of depth and sophistication. Simon Brooke is a talented writer who has created a fresh and original story. 2Cool2Btrue doesn't miss a beat.

By Tammy
Fallen Angel Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Where The Web And The Modeling World Meet, January 17, 2006

By 

Dorrie Wheeler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 2cool2btrue (Paperback)

Simon Brooke, the author of "Upgrading" is back with "2cool2betrue." Charlie Barnett is now in his 30's and he is kind of tired of the cattle call atomosphere of casting calls for modeling jobs. He knows he is getting too old for the industry. Fast forward a bit and Charlie hooks up with Guy and Piers at a photo shoot. They are very enthused about their latest dot com venture and convince Charlie to utilize his degree and become the marketing man behind their web site 2cool2betrue. It doesn't take much for Charlie to get into his new "proper" job which doesn't seem like much at first but becomes very glamourous and exciting fast.

His relationship with his live in model girlfriend Lauren is a little complex. She doesn't really seem that into him. When she also decides to embark on a new career (in television) it's not clear if their relationship will survive.

You think "2cool2betrue" is just a fluff little light read and then the situation becomes tense real quick when Charlie finds himself a suspect in a crime and he quickly finds out who his real friends are and who will have his back when he needs it most. With a vengence he sets out to clear his name.

"2Cool2BeTrue," is a very interesting read and anyone with an interest in the modeling world will definitly appreciate this title. Even if you were never interested in modeling, this book will really give you a real feeling like you know something about the industry from the less talked about male modeling world. Even though it's well over 300 pages, it's a delightful read that will keep you engaged. One thing I was disapointed about is that the website associated with the book (2cool2btrue) was not yet live when I went to visit.