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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This Diva Should Have Kept Her Soul!, March 29, 2005
This novel explores the unusual topic of selling one's soul - to the devil. V - the main character, (she isn't allowed to tell you her real name) was once a size 14 with lumpy thighs, a mediocre life and job, and was miserable. That all changed when V decided to sign her soul over to the devil - in exchange for beauty, powers, wealth and fame. There are different levels of the program (called "the Life Enrichment Program"). Your powers increase with each level. There are some catches, of course. In order to move through the levels, you have to recruit other people into the program. You have to practice apathy at all times, and you must be discreet.
So in the beginning of the story, V has already signed her soul over to the devil. The devil's name is Lucy - and she is a beautiful woman who is coveted by many, and writes a weekly column that gives the dish on the who is who and what is what in Manhattan. So V is pretty content at first with her new powers and beauty and fame, but she begins to see that there are many downsides to Lucy's program. Such as, she has to continually try and recruit people into selling their soul. She is not supposed to help anyone or do any good deeds. And when she dares go against the devil's plans, there is definitely hell to pay...
V starts to wonder if she made a mistake in selling her soul. After all, her life just isn't the same without one. Sure, she has wealth, success, power... but what about helping others, falling in love and just plain life contentment? V knows she is in deep, but is there a way out?
I had mixed feelings while reading this book. On one hand, it is very original, bitingly funny and has some hilarious dialogue between the characters. The pace is frantic, and the story is very suspenseful. On the other hand, I had a hard time wrapping my imagination around the plot, which was very far-fetched. I have no problem with fantasy or paranormal novels, but in chick lit - it's got to be somewhat believable. For the most part, this book was.
I have to admit, Kathleen O'Reilly really did a wonderful job of handling such a delicate subject matter (to some). The ending of this novel made up for anything I might have not liked in the story - it was excellent!
Overall, I definitely recommend this book. It pushes the envelope with its daring plot, and will make you laugh out loud more than once.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fantasy meets chick lit., October 4, 2005
I read this book a while ago and I really enjoyed it.
I like books like this... with a fantasy element or twist on reality. It really makes what could have been an average book really stand out from the rest.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading. If you like chick lit, even better.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic summer reading, July 13, 2005
Designer purse maven "V" has a perfect life--a thriving business, a perfect luxury apartment, clothes, a taut, slender body (with no dieting or exercise), and any man she wants. Sounds pretty good, but for one tiny detail. She sold her soul to the devil to get all those things, joining the "Life Enrichment Program." It's sort of like selling Tupperware, except you end up in hell. V's conscience doesn't bother her at all as she merrily recruits others to sell their souls. But then one day she inadvertently does a good deed, which is definitely against the rules, and the wrath of the devil, "Lucy," is upon her. Lucy is even more perfect than V, and she writes an influential New York gossip column that she uses to reward and punish her minions. (She also punishes with fat thighs and poufy butts.)
On the same day as the good deed, V also meets a man. But he's a good man, and he believes he sees good in V. V spends a lot of time and effort trying to convince the guy she's rotten to the core, but all the while she's starting to regret selling her soul and wishing she could have that decision to make over again.
This is a wonderful book. It has all the chick-lit trappings (woman in search of money, fame, fortune, love and perfect shoes, as well as an annoying mother), but it digs deep into the psyche and forces readers to really think about ethics and morals and values and all those squirmy things. The plot takes some wonderful twists and turns, leading to a totally unexpected, but perfect, ending. The writing is lush and lively, too, so the reader can just float along without effort. Fantastic summer reading.
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