Appetite: A Novel [Paperback]

Erika J. Kendrick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 2009

MANY CULTURES • ONE WORLD

With her exotic looks and killer body, Kennedy Lee is a rising star in the reality TV and soap opera worlds. Now she’s really hit the big time and landed a role on the hugely popular daytime drama America’s Next Sweetheart.

As this great news coincides with Kennedy’s birthday, her friends take her out for a wild night on the town. So wild, in fact, that the next morning Kennedy wakes up with a hard-bodied hunk in her bed, a vicious headache, and no recollection of how this gorgeous guy ended up beside her–naked. Not only that, but it’s her first day at the new gig, and Page Six has already chronicled her previous night’s exploits, calling her “America’s Next Lush.” Now Kennedy must endure dirty looks on the set, abuse from the soap’s bitchy diva, and the shocker that the guy who broke her five-year celibacy streak is none other than her co-star, Jesse James. As she battles catty actors, snarky production assistants, malicious gossip, and her growing appetite for food and sex, she struggles to fit in, find her true Prince Charming, and eat a slice of red velvet cake without any guilt.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“As the ex-wife of an NBA player, I appreciate the insight this novel gave me into the lives of the cheerleaders–the ‘other’ players on the team–and as a woman, I appreciated the fantasy of true love with a smart, handsome, talented, and wealthy Prince Charming.”—Rita Ewing, author of Brickhouse

“Irresistibly juicy . . . Chock-full of backstabbing divas, to-die-for couture, and sizzling sex, Confessions of a Rookie Cheerleader is a must-read. Three cheers for Hannah!”—Tia Williams, author of The Accidental Diva

About the Author

Erika J. Kendrick is the author of Confessions of a Rookie Cheerleader. She was a professional cheerleader for the Chicago Bulls and is the president of the New York chapter of the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment. Kendrick lives in Manhattan.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: One World/Ballantine (June 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345494989
• ISBN-13: 978-0345494986
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,306,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hollywood Drama, January 7, 2010

By 

Urban Reviews "Your Source for the Best in AA... (Online) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Appetite: A Novel (Paperback)

What comes to mind when you think of the word "appetite?" Maybe it's satisfying your cravings and desires, or fulfilling a void that needs to be filled.

Meet Kennedy Sun Lee, a budding actress on the hot soap opera ANS-America's Next Sweetheart. Kennedy's 30th birthday ends in a splashing way and aking up with a strange man in her bed is only the beginning. Hiding an eating disorder, blackmail, sex, rumors, and paparazzi make up Kennedy's life. Things spiral from bad to worse when Kennedy meets the "man of her dreams." What choice will Kennedy make to salvage her reputation in the eyes of her peers and the paparazzi that's tracking her every move? Will Kennedy take control of the vices that have been controlling her life for so long?

Jesse James is the hot co-star on ANS who just happens to end up in the bed with Kennedy. A spiral effect emerges when Jesse James uses this opportunity to his advantage. With hopes of a budding music career and expanding his horizons in the television business, will Jesse James cause an all out war on the set of ANS or has Jesse James finally met his match?

Sam has it all...looks, charm, and being the executive producer of ANS sweetens the deal. When the next up-and-coming starlet Kennedy arrives on set, sexual tension and favoritism cause drama on the set. Sam and Kennedy enter into a rollercoaster affair, without Sam mentioning one important detail. Will Sam be able to conquer his career and his love or will his indiscretions come to slap him in the face?

Appetite enters the world known as Hollywood. Drug use, groupies, and sex are not exempt in this novel. With most novels, I cannot put the book down, but this was not the case with Appetite. It was a hard read for me to follow, and I had a hard time finishing the book. The storyline had some excitement, but there were some parts that I could not get into and grasp. I did enjoy how the author went into Kennedy's past to show how she became the person she is and why she made the choices she did. The choices that were made left Kennedy with consequences that she had to face and handle to move on with her life. Appetite was just hard for me to get into.

Reviewed by Kristin
for Urban Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dream Weaver..., November 14, 2009

By 

L. Romich "Book Nympho" (Akron, oH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Appetite: A Novel (Paperback)

APPETITE by Erika J. Kendrick is a the story of Kennedy Lee, who has a body that most women would kill for and exotic looks that make men fall at her feet. Somewhat depressed on not landing on the hit daytime soap opera ALL MY CHILDREN, she lands a role on another daytime soap, AMERICA'S NEXT SWEETHEART.

The night of her birthday she spends a wild night on the town with her friends only to wake up next to a naked stranger and an article in the paper about her exploits the night before, labeling her as "America's Next Lush." To make matters worse, she walks in on set and sees the unknown stranger, who just so happens to be none other than Jesse James, her co-star.

APPETITE by Erika J. Kendrick was a trendy read. It reads like an actress' diary of sorts. Her first day on set, her personal life, and her hopes and dreams are detailed in the story. It also has an underlying serious note to the story...something serious in her past causes her to have an eating disorder. Will she be able to overcome this and will she find happiness and come to grips with her past? One issue I had with this novel is that she should have been aware of who Jesse was as soon as she woke up next to him. The storyline suspended belief and at times was not plausible causing me to pause and shake my head. I also feel as if Ms. Kendrick could have focused more on Kennedy's parents with more clarity on the issues she had with them. If you enjoy a good soap opera...you will definitely enjoy this book.

Reviewed by Leona
APOOO BookClub

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars very boring and hard to get into, May 13, 2010

By 

Latricia "SUCH A LADY" (Chicago,IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Appetite: A Novel (Paperback)

I DID NOT LIKE THIS BOOK IT STARTED OFF INTERESTING BUT AS YOU TRY TO GET INTO ITS BORING. THE MAIN CHARACTER KENNEDY LEE IS BULIMIC AND FEELS GUILTY BECAUSE SHE HAD A ONE NIGHT STAND WITH THE CO STAR AND NOW SHE IS FALLING FOR THE PRODUCER AND WANTS TO TELL HIM. I CAN'T FINISH SO I DON'T KNOW NOR DO I CARE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE END. I'M JUST GLAD I BORROWED THE BOOK INSTEAD OF BOUGHT IT:(