A Hollywood Ending [Mass Market Paperback]

Robyn Sisman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 2008

Paige Carson - starlet, diva, mess. The daughter of an 80s soap star and a rock god, it's no wonder Paige has no idea what 'normal' means. And Hollywood life isn't helping. She's sick of working with her latest co-star, a boorish Aussie heartthrob, sick of being told she's over-the-hill at 29, and sick of dates that are nothing more than PR stunts. So when she's offered a Shakespearean role on the London stage, it seems the perfect chance to get away from it all, gain some artistic cachet and catch up with her best friend who quit the States and the music business for a new life as lady of the manor with her British husband. But Paige is in for a surprise. London is damper, dirtier and far more carb-heavy than the life she's accustomed to. As opening night looms, Paige must learn not only how to ditch her Dick Van Dyke attempt at a Brit accent, but how to stand on her own two feet for the first time. And though she may not have her therapist on speed-dial, on her way she'll find real friends and maybe love, too.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A fun read' BELLA 'Paige Carson gets a shock when she moves from LA to London to further her career - being a Hollywood princess, she's not used to doing things for herself, plus her dodgy British accent is less than Shakespearean and her stuck-up neighbour is far from gentlemanly! It looks like Paige needs a lesson in adaptation...' OK! 'This warm, frothy little number is as substantial as a good cappuccino but just as welcome for those coffee break moments' THE AMERICAN 'Sisman is destined for a return to the bestsellers list with this deliciously entertaining, enchanting romcom that cinema buffs, celebrity fans and chicklit lovers will adore' DAILY RECORD 'Robyn Sisman has created a deliciously glamorous holiday read for summer 2008. ..A Hollywood Ending is a real page-turner. It would make a great holiday read for anyone who wants to be transported to the sparkly high-ilfe of celebrity. It's also got plenty of home-turf humour and, as the title suggests, a flawless finish' OXFORD TIMES 'Glamour, heartbreak and envy - fabulous escapism' CANDIS 'Witty, generous and engaging' GOOD BOOK GUIDE --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Robyn Sisman was born in LA, but lived in Illinois, Geneva, Oxford and Munich as a child. She worked as an au pair, an English teacher in Ethiopia and eventually as a secretary in publishing - from where she worked her up to a glittering career - before changing it all and becoming a mother and bestselling novelist. Married to the biographer, Adam Sisman, Robyn now lives in Bath. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Plume (April 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452286131
• ISBN-13: 978-0452286139
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,363,567 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:

4.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable contemporary romance, May 6, 2008

By 

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

This review is from: A Hollywood Ending (Mass Market Paperback)

Fearing her career is diving into made for TV movies older women roles; Oscar winner Paige Carson needs a major success. She made a poor choice when she agreed to star in a horrific remake of Cleopatra. Paige is also losing juicy parts to younger actresses.

However, Paige is euphoric when she is selected to star with superstar Jackson Rolfe in what looks like may be the box office hit of the year. However, her inane co-star makes Paige reconsider her career as he is as unprofessional of an actor she has had the misfortune to meet. When London stage calls her to perform Shakespeare, Paige leaves behind Hollywood dirt and the latest tabloid lies and shenanigans especially her rock star superstar father. In London she finds herself attracted to her snooty landlord, Ed Hawkstead, a documentary filmmaker struggling to break out; he to his chagrin reciprocates as he does not want to want this Hollywood fluff dubbed by the press as Princess Paige.

This enjoyable contemporary romance stars two likable opposites whose initial stereotype of the other makes each detest their feelings, but this is more Paige's tale since the first part focuses on her woes and Ed does not enter the stage until act two (about halfway into the novel). Still as Paige and Ed become acquainted they realize their preconceptions were false and allow their hearts to lead them. Readers will enjoy the romance between this fine couple.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sisman shines like a star in A Hollywood Ending, June 29, 2008

By 

Leah M. Brown "Leah Marie Brown, Author" (Mentally in Paris, France) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Hollywood Ending (Mass Market Paperback)

We are only a few weeks into summer and I have already breezed through a small stack of fun, frivilous, no real educational value but total candy for the brain, beach reads: Jane Green's Second Chances, Something Borrowed and Something Blue by Emily Giffin, A Dangerous Dress by Julie Holden. They were all good books, but A Hollywood Ending by Robyn Sisman was definitely my favorite.

I know the novel is set in Hollywood and features a confused, slightly air-headed, but flawlessly beautiful movie star (which means 99% of the readers will find her difficult to connect with), but I found it a charming tale about a woman's desire to strip aside all that is phony and wasteful in her life and get down to what is substantial and satisfying.

Paige Carson is a Hollywood born and raised, Oscar winning diva suffering a serious crisis of conscience. She loves what she does (acting in movies) but hates all that seems to go with it (ie. the backstabbers, media hounds, vapid wannabees, and blood-sucking parasites that live off the truly talented). She decides to put her Hollywood life on hold, head across the pond to jolly old England, and star in a play...by Shakespeare, no less.

Her life in England is far different than her pampered, coddled, sun-kissed existence in La La Land. She worries about being a convincing stage actress, has to find for herself on the mean streets of London (read: walk several blocks by herself, no limo, GASP!), and she has a cranky, snotty landlord.

In no time at all, Paige learns the lessons she needs to learn to be a happier, more grounded (read: less Hollywood-like) person and enjoys a perfect, Kabbalah-water fueled Hollywood Ending.

Don't buy this book if you want to learn about the history of the French Revolution, the complexities of microrobotics, or the ideologies of Tibetan monks.

DO buy this book if you want to spend an enjoyable day lying in a hammock, devouring a light, breezy beach read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's an ok read from Robyn Sisman, June 19, 2008

By 

Quirky Girl - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Hollywood Ending (Mass Market Paperback)

Where shall I start? First of all, I want to say I am a huge fan of robyn Sisman. I like her style of writing and although her story isn't mind boggling, I have to say that she has a way of spicing ordinary storyline. It's true I expect more from her and I have to admit that A Hollywood Ending is one of my least favorite. Like the other reviewers here, I agree that the romance between Paige and Ed is quite rushed. Furthermore, Paige transformation from a ditzy superstar into a humbled actress isn't that convincing. And I have to add that there are a number of spelling errors throughout the book. When I read the acknowledgment part, I'd learned that she had lost the first draft of this book in a fire. Perhaps that explain some factors that contribute to the imperfection of this book. Nevertheless, she is a wonderful author with great insights into the things she writes about. And in this case, the differences between show businesses in Hollywood and England. To me, Robyn Sisman will always be one of the original chick lit writers and is still one of the best around.