7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Modern-Day Hollywood Fairytale..., July 7, 2006
... That's the best way I can think to describe this book. I really enjoyed it - I think more than the first. The ending makes me wonder if the authors are setting up for a short series of stories (??).
A "feel good" story that gives readers reason to believe that if they keep on trying, there's nothing that they can't achieve. As in most fairytales, our heroine finally gets her "happpily ever after" but not before encountering a wide range of characters who who join Lizzie on (and sometimes cause interference with) her journey: There's "Prince Charming" (Luke), a "Fairy-Godmother" (Lara), the "Wizard" (Jason/Scott), the "Evil Step-Mother/Sister" (Amber), the "Take-Along Buddy" (Emerald), as well as a wonderful cast of supporting characters that make Lizzie's journey all the more fun and interesting.
Of course some of the situations Lizzie finds herself in are a little extreme and sometimes ridiculous, but that's part of the magic and fun of this character. No matter how many times Lizzie seems to fall and loose her sense of dignity, she always manages to get back up and keep on reaching for the stars (in this case, literally!).
A fast, light read, the book reminds me of a feel-good romantic comedy. With the recent release of "The Devil Wears Prada" and the in-production "Nanny Diaries", I have to wonder if we'll see Lizzie, Scott, Lara, Luke and the rest of the supporting players on the big screen sometime in the future.
Certainly not the best in fiction, but defnitely not the worst. Worth tossing in your bag to take to the beach, pool or park this summer. Thoroughly entertaining, heartfelt, and magical. Sometimes funny, sometimes touching, sometimes a little "roll-your-eyes-over the-top", Lizzie's got that realistic something that makes you love her and root her on while she travels along hoping to catch that one big break that she's forever looking for.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the further adventures of Lizze and friends and what the future holds for them. If you enjoyed the first book ("THE SECOND ASSISTANT") you're certain to like this one just as much if not more. Unlike other authors' second attempt at success ("The Debutante Divorcee", "Citizen Girl", "Everyone Worth Knowing") Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare get it right and their second time around is just as entertaining as the first.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just Average!, August 3, 2006
Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare's "The First Assistant: A Continuing Tale from Behind the Hollywood Curtain," a sequel to "The Second Assistant" continued with Lizzie, working now as the first assistant to Scott, her best friend's husband at The Agency. Despite having a promotion, life at The Agency was still difficult for Lizzie as the person who took her old position, Amber, was out to get Lizzie from day one. On top of that, Lizzie's boyfriend, Luke was out producing a movie at Prague and the actress in the movie was Luke's ex-girlfriend. When Lizzie found out that Luke may be cheating on her, Lizzie decided to accept the position of an assistant to the latest, and hottest teen sensation, Emerald.
This was a rather average chick-lit for me. There was never a strong storyline and by the time I got to the middle of the book, I was not very engaged. The story seemed to lack excitement. I also wished that the authors spent a little more time with Lizzie's love interest. Even though this was not the worst book in this genre, but it was certainly not very memorable.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Naylor needs a new editor, May 29, 2007
To me, "The First Assistant" was amusing but irritating in equal measure due to the utterly predictable plot, the unfleshed-out character, Luke, and annoying basic grammar errors such as "Who's phone is this?" Not nearly as good as "The Second Assistant."
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