As Seen on TV [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Sarah Mlynowski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

Packing up and leaving behind friends and a promising career in Florida to move in with the boyfriend in NYC doesn't epitomize the modern-day woman. But for 24-year-old Sunny Langstein, the decision is a no-brainer, especially when she is given the chance to star on Party Girls, a new reality-television show. The only catch: Party Girls have to be single. If anyone finds out about Steve, she'll be off the show. No problem there - Sunny is good at pretending. But TV stardom is addictive, and before long, Sunny loses track of where she ends and her alter ego, Sunny Lang, the Uber Single Superstar, begins. Torn between celebrity and Steve's unexpected marriage proposal, Sunny finds her life beginning to unravel in dramatic style.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Mlynowski's third novel follows Sunny Langstein to New York, where she's relocated to live with her boyfriend, Steve. Without any real prospects of employment, Sunny accepts an offer from her father's much younger girlfriend to audition for the new reality television show, Party Girls. Sunny wins the part and is whisked off for a makeover (her brown hair becomes black) and a fashionable name change (she becomes "Sunny Lang"). Sunny's costars are Erin, a wild slut; Brittany, a well-endowed lush; and Michelle, a tall, cool redhead who might be a potential friend. Party Girls premieres to impressive numbers, but as the show goes on, Sunny begins to buy into the hype: the recognition, the handsome men at the bars, the glamorous life. Then her relationship with Steve is put in jeopardy when Party Girls turns into a competition with the prize being the chance to host Party Girls II in L.A. A fun and telling look at the world of reality TV and the lure of fame. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Sarah's stories continue to delight us with her wit and hip urban flair." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• ISBN-10: 0373250363
• ASIN: B000F9UENO
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,302,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Single Women

More About the Author

Sarah is the author of MILKRUN, FISHBOWL, AS SEEN ON TV, MONKEY BUSINESS and ME VS ME for Red Dress Ink, GIMME A CALL, BRAS & BROOMSTICKS, FROGS & FRENCH KISSES, SPELLS & SLEEPING BAGS and PARTIES & POTIONS for Random House, and TEN THINGS WE DID (AND PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE) and HOW TO BE BAD (along with E.Lockhart and Lauren Myracle) for HarperTeen. TEN THINGS WE DID (AND PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE) will be out this June. Sarah has been featured in the short story collections, AMERICAN GIRLS ABOUT TOWN, SIXTEEN: STORIES ABOUT THAT SWEET AND BITTER BIRTHDAY, 21 PROMS, FIRST KISS (THEN TELL) and FIREWORKS. Sarah also co-edited the bestselling chick-lit collections GIRLS' NIGHT IN and GIRLS' NIGHT OUT and co-wrote the first ever guide to writing chick lit, SEE JANE WRITE.

Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-one languages and optioned to Hollywood. She was born in Montreal but now lives and writes in New York City.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't touch that dial!, October 12, 2003

By 

CoffeeGurl - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: As Seen on TV (Paperback)

I couldn't put this book down! Sarah Mlynowski is back with another gem. As Seen on TV will have you in hysterics from cover to cover. I like the author's intelligent takes on reality television. Even though this isn't the first novel that centers on the ubiquitous programs (Bachelorette Number One, Girls' Night Out, among others), As Seen on TV has a particular brand of insight all its own. Sunny Langstein moves from Miami to New York to live with her boyfriend. Unfortunately, her job search hasn't gone as well as she had hoped. She agrees to participate in Party Girls -- a reality TV version of Sex and the City -- with the hope that it'll improve her career prospects. However, the star treatments and free perks prove to be too much for Sunny's soaring ego, and soon she finds herself not wanting to be taken out of the spotlight.

Sarah Mlynowski's wit shines in As Seen on TV. The dialogue is sharp, the book has the author's signature prose (a very neurotic character who asks a lot of questions) and the characterization is excellent. I particularly like Steve. It is refreshing to read a chick-lit novel with a protagonist who already has a boyfriend -- a sweet, considerate boyfriend at that. Also, the subplot involving Sunny's wayward and stoic father adds meaning to the story. And I love that the chapters are named after TV shows. A great effort from this talented author and another winner from Red Dress Ink! Highly recommended...

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! Funny, fast-paced look at reality TV, January 31, 2004

By 

Janice (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: As Seen on TV (Paperback)

Sarah Mlynowski's third novel, "As Seen On TV," deals with the life of Sunny Langstein who left her job and her life in Florida to move in with her boyfriend, Steve in New York City. There, she met up with her father's new fling, Carrie, who was Sunny's camp counselor. Unemployed, Sunny was "recruited" by Carrie to appear on a new reality show called "Party Girls." Every week, four girls in "Party Girls" would go to a different bar, to meet up guys and get drunk.

However, in order to participate in the show, Sunny had to pretend that she is single. Which means, she can't tell people about Steve, can't go out with him in public, etc. Sunny, who was doubtful in the beginning, was soon caught in the world of glitz, glamour, and tons of free stuff. She started to take herself a lot more seriously and her relationship with Steve took a setback. Especially, when hot TV star, Matt started paying attention to Sunny.

I really enjoy "As Seen On TV." It is written very well, and is very funny and fast-paced. Mlynowski is definitely one of my favorite chick-lit authors. Her supporting characters are extremely well-developed too. Mlynowski is able to make her characters seem real and readers are able to identify with them. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants relaxing and funny read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fans of chick lit will enjoy this, October 1, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: As Seen on TV (Paperback)

Her boyfriend Steve Stein owns and runs Manna Restaurant in Manhattan while Sunny Langstein works in Fort Lauderdale as an Assistant Manager at Panda. When Steve invites Sunny to move in with him, she accepts. Knowing she needs to find work, Sunny lies her way into interviews until she shockingly lands a contestant role on the TV reality show Party Girls.

Her fifteen minutes of TV fame changes Sunny into an American idol and her relationship with Steve looks like it will be voted off the island. Meanwhile TV idol Matt Rowler makes a bid for Sunny's affection. Soon Steve who loved and liked his Florida Sunshine forces the issue of where they are going, as he detests the glitter TV Sunny. Will Sunny give up her chance as a survivor to host the show next year and reject the manna from heaven Steve offers because he treats her like a cherished person not a dimwitted boob tube icon?

AS SEEN ON TV converges chick lit with reality television into an amusing contemporary romantic romp with a surprising message of adhering to one's value. The story line is handled in a light manner as Sunny gets so embroiled in glamour and bull that she loses sight as to what is important to her. Fans of chick lit will enjoy this parody of the reality TV fare.

Harriet Klausner