Customer Reviews

The Accidental Diva

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This fun, quick read is about life and romance of Billie Burke, a 26-year old African American woman working at a major fashion magazine as a beauty editor. She is "fabulous" (meaning fashionable and attractive) and very successful at what she does, even though she has never been in love and hasn't had sex in five years. When she meets the up and coming writer Jay Lane, she falls instantly in love. But the ride is a little bumpy, and she has to learn how to balance her consuming love for this man from the other side of the tracks (and a tragic, troubled past) with having her own life and fulfilling her own responsibilities. She falters, but she eventually begins to figure it all out.

Tia Williams first book was a good, fun read. Her writing is clear and funny, the characters are thoroughly likeable, and the story was well developed and thorough. If it weren't for the almost random and porn-like sex scene on page 59 (and another one towards the end), and the constant celebrity name dropping, I don't think I would have a single complaint.

Here's the thing: I actually read magazines like the one that Billie works for in the book, including the several magazines that Tia Williams has worked for over the years. (I have been a Tia Williams fan myself, admiring her work in the otherwise whitebread world of the fashion industry.) I have been following the fabulous lives of supermodels and various beautiful people since I was in eighth grade. I spend plenty of time as the only fabulous black girl hanging out with fabulous white folks who sometimes make strange comments. I do air kiss my girlfriends, I can picture the Fendi and Coach bags that they carry, and I am thoroughly addicted to lip gloss. Thank goodness for that, because otherwise, the name dropping and industry references and conversations would have been totally lost on me. Either that, or totally annoying. I would not recommend this book to anyone who does not enjoy reading Elle, Vogue and the like.

And while I generally liked and admired Billie's character, I found some of her behavior a little strange. Maybe unbelievable. For instance, that a girl who had never been in love, hadn't had sex for five years, and who was described as intelligent, nerdy, careful, and practical, would suddenly get naked in the back seat of a taxi with a man that she had just met. Huh? I have no problems with "wild and wanton," but the rest of Billie Burke just does not fit with the wild, sex-crazed woman in these scenes.

Overall, the book was a fun read. It was well-written had a lot of funny and clever dialogue. The characters and the scenes did come to life. And if high fashion and air kisses don't annoy you, I think you'll enjoy this book, too.

Can you say fabulous? That is exactly what this book is. The cover is what first caught my attention, then I read the front flap and discovered it wasn't just another "wrong side of the tracks" book. It was real and direct. I felt the characters and their struggles as if they were my own. Billie and Jay were strong in their own ways standing by each other without being judgemental of the others' lifestyle. This book was not only about beauty and fashion, it was about Jays' fight to survive the streets and become a better, more mature person. THIS BOOK IS A MUST HAVE.CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE......

This book suprised me by how good it was. I thought that it was going to be another novel in the already too full genre of ghetto love tales, but I was wrong. Willam's characters were complex and her writing was both fluid and intelligent. I picked up the book in the bookstore, intending to only flip through it because I saw this beautiful sister on the cover, but then I got caught up in the story and ended up buying it! You know a book is good if you buy it in hardcover!!
I hope Tia Williams continues to write and that she continues to explore the different aspects of the black experience. Often I try to relate to many of the black books that are out there and find that it is very difficult to do so having grown up in the south, the daughter of college educated parents. Like books by Jenoyne Adams, Danzy Senna, Kim McLarin, and Dianne Mckinney-Whetstone, William's book seemed to invite people who are black middle class into the conversation about what true blackness is. (Not to make the book sound like it is this heavy, serious thing--because it is truly an exciting read.) I just want people to appreciate this book for everything that it does. Go out and buy the book, you won't be sorry.

When I first started reading this book, I thought it was a little slow and going to be a bore; however, was I wrong. I was totally surprised, it was a really good book. The writing did hold your attention once the book picked up. The characters were each able to hold there own, they didn't get lost or caught up in the story where you forgot who was who. The main character Billie Burke, is a young African-American beauty editor who hasn't had sex in five years. Then along comes Jay Lane, an up and coming artist and down and dirty street hustler; when the two meet the chemistry between them becomes electrifying. Will they be able to build a relationship and survive the baggage they are carrying around from their past? Only time will tell.

(...). Avid reader rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I loved this adorable, fun, funny read. It's beautifully written--the story is layered enough to make it a page-turner, light enough to let you skim along happily. You'll feel you know the characters well by the end, and you'll wish you could find out how their lives turn out. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to read a sequel one day!

I loved this book! It was an easy, fun, delightful, and juicy read (took me about 8-10 hours!). What I love so much about Tia Williams is that she shows black women that we do have a place in New York City, the fashion world, and the magazine industy. For the longest, as a fan of Sex & the City, I felt that because the show never had an BAPs, we weren't in that world. Well Tia proved me wrong! I love her so much. And if you're looking for some fun sex scenes, information on some hot spots in NYC, and a downright fabulous tale, then pick up this book. I will let you know that sometimes, it's predictable, but hey, chick lit is not meant to be Toni Morrison-esque. It's supposed to be fun for the moment!

Yes, this book starts out slow but once you get past the 12th page (i'm being generous) it really takes off. Billy has a very interesting job (sorry, I'm a beauty-nerd) and interesting friends but the character of Jay is really multi-dimensional and jumps off the page. I'd like to read more about Jay some day!! I liked how the author balanced the world of the glitterati and that of the complex yet fascinating black-man with a past. Some cliches are present but the original thoughts are what will have you recommending this to a friend. Near the end of the book, I didn't want it to end as I fully enjoyed being in their world. Cute little ending that will give you a warm fuzzy glow.

I really enjoyed reading The Accidental Diva. When I first began reading this book I thought it went quite slow but when you get past a certain point you cannot put the book down! It's the typical good girl meets bad boy story. The good girl being Billie a self-dependent, all about work girl. Jay being the bad boy growing up in the wrong neighborhood, who turns into an excellent up and coming writer. When they meet both their worlds get turned up side down. The Accidental Diva is a fun and fast read with new surprises every page.

This story is about a beauty editor Billie Burke an African American girl who works in a mosly white industry. She frequently attends beauty parties where the in-crowed hang out. She has never been in love and has not had sex in five years! She meets Jay Lane an ex hustler turned writer/performer, both are from different backgrounds, she a suburbanite and he is from the streets. When they meet he rocks her world! and she can no longer concetrate on writing her articles and meeting her deadlines. They say opposites attract...but attract what? secrets and lies?
Read the book and find out. A very slow start to the book but it soon picks up the pace. We get a good inside look at the beauty industry with all the "air kissing". The author Tia Williams did a superb job with the character Jay Lane"s background I felt Jay was a strong character we could all fall in love with. Maybe Tia should consider writing another story about him. Pandora/Tammy is the girl from Jay's past who is secretly in love with him and the poor guy is too blind to see it! Tia Williams expertise in the beauty industry has proved to be an asset in her writing of this story.

The Accidental Diva
Tia Williams 5 stars

At 26, Billie Burke is the beauty editor at a top fashion magazine, a workaholic who hasn't had a boyfriend or sex in Five years.
Plagued with migraines and tons of free beauty products Billie is ready to take the fashion world by storm until she is knocked off her feet by Jay Lane, a charming writer who grew up rough and street smart unlike the suburban born Billie.

I enjoyed this glimpse in to fashion world and the high energy it portrayed. The story of Billie and Jay was a true account of how opposites attract. I found myself rooting for them. I found Billie to be one of those sisters that everyone easily likes and I could relate to her. I found Jay to be sexy with the right amount of roughness, not overly thuggish. A brother that was charming, sexy and had a brain.

This wasn't just another good girl meets bad boy story. This was a funny; hip story about two people at the start of their careers who get blind-sided by love.(...)