Misery Loves Cabernet [Paperback]

Kim Gruenenfelder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 2009

Charlize “Charlie” Edwards finally has it all: a house in Silverlake, L.A.’s hippest neighborhood, two fabulous best friends who always have her back, and a great (though hectic) job as the personal assistant to Hollywood’s hottest movie star, Drew Stanton. But best of all, Charlie has a newly feathered love nest with Jordan, the sexy photographer she recently started dating.  Maybe Charlie’s journal of smart-alecky life advice—which she’s always been better at writing than following—has finally helped put her on the right track. 

Unfortunately for Charlie, Drew is causing complete havoc on his new movie set, her eccentric family is descending upon L.A. for the upcoming holiday season, and her love life may be back to square one.  Jordan has left L.A. to work on a film shooting in Paris, where the women are gorgeous, sophisticated, and possibly after her man.  And Drew’s handsome new producer, Liam, is an old crush who has reappeared to tug at Charlie’s heartstrings. Charlie’s torn between the misery of waiting for Jordan and the tingly feelings she has for Liam. But there’s nothing misery—or seduction—loves better than a great glass of cabernet.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The sequel to Gruenenfelder’s debut, A Total Waste of Makeup (2005), finds endearingly neurotic Los Angeles denizen Charlie Edwards facing a separation from her hunky boyfriend, Jordan. When Jordan announces that he’s going to Paris for several months to work on a film, Charlie suggests they take a break—a decision she regrets. Her best friends, Dawn and Kate, try to cheer her up, convincing her to go to a Halloween party where she runs into Liam, a handsome movie producer who wants Kate to convince her employer, megastar Drew Stanton, to star in his independent film. Eccentric Drew agrees, then starts making demands that include moving into Liam’s house, where the movie is being shot. This forces Liam to relocate to Charlie’s house, fanning the flames between them. Charlie is torn between wanting the gorgeous Liam and missing Jordan, who is never far from her thoughts. Gruenenfelder’s second novel provides plenty of laughs courtesy of its colorful cast of characters. --Kristine Huntley

Review

"Delightfully funny... loaded with hilarious one-liners... [and] filled with tips for the heroine's future great-granddaughter that are insightful and witty." --Romantic Times (4 stars)

Praise for A Total Waste of Makeup:

"A sweet tale of the Hollywood dating scene." --Chicago Sun-Times

“Gruenenfelder, a Hollywood screenwriter, knows her setting and her craft. Well-written characters and a wicked sense of humor help this debut stand above the usual chick-lit fare.”
–Library Journal

“The perfect love guide for every girl (and their granddaughters and grandnieces).” --Cecilia Ahern, author of P.S. I Love You and Rosie Dunne

"A hilarious cast of characters and the funniest, coolest heroine since Stephanie Plum...you will not be able to put this one down." --MaryJanice Davidson, author of Undead and Unappreciated

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 358 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (April 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312348754
• ISBN-13: 978-0312348755
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

KIM GRUENENFELDER grew up in and around Los Angeles and began her career in TV at the age of 19. She has written feature films, episodic teleplays and two stage plays. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son, and continues to avoid anything even remotely resembling a real job.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A laugh out loud read, July 20, 2009

By 

Cheryl Koch (CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Misery Loves Cabernet (Paperback)

Charlize aka Charlie Edwards works as a personal assistant to one of Hollywood's famous movie stars, Drew Stanton. It is not as easy and glamorous as one would think it would be working for a celebrity, especially when that person is Drew Stanton. Luckily for Charlie, she has her two best friends, Kate and Dawn by her side.

Just when Charlie begins to believe everything is going good for her, someone throws her a curve ball. First the guy she is seeing Jordan is offered a job in Paris. He will be gone for three months. Charlie doesn't think it will work between them doing the long distance relationship thing but she gives it a try anyways. Then her boss gets fired from the movie he is starring in...all due to an incident involving a hippo named Ida and a movie producer's swimming pool.

When Charlie spots her crush, Liam O'Connor, famous movie producer at a Halloween party, all bets are off between Jordan and her. Besides the statistics involving couples and long term relationships are not very good.

Misery Loves Cabernet is a fabulous, wonderful, witty and charming book.I absolutely loved Charlie and all her friends. Charlie and her friends need to have their own television series. I would definitely watch it.

I couldn't put this book down, in fact this book is a one-sitter! When you meet all the people that Charlie has to put up with, it makes her seem normal and everyone else dysfunctional. There are so many favorite moments for me in this book. One of the best had to be towards the very end when Charlie's grandparents arrived in their Winnebago to spend Thanksgiving with the family. Charlie's grandmother presented everyone with a list of items that had everything from Yogi Berra to baseball strikes on it. The list involved things that no one can mention during the holiday season.

For other great moments like these, you have got to pick up a copy of Misery Loves Cabernet today.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Misery Loves Cabernet . . . and so do I!, May 5, 2009

By 

Iron Pen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Misery Loves Cabernet (Paperback)

Finally, a story about women and relationships that doesn't neglect the most important of all female relationships - the one a woman has with herself. This novel had everything I loved about it's predecessor and then some. It was engaging, real, and most of all hilarious. A must read in my book! (Bad pun intended).

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Same old, same old, January 10, 2010

By 

M.Johnston "suz in china" (Chengdu, Sichuan, China) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Misery Loves Cabernet (Paperback)

I bought this book based on the reviews and was sorely disappointed. I am so tired of the 30-something, desperate for a husband/boyfriend, "He's Not That In To You", genre. It makes me want to apologize for my gender. This book does not hold a candle to any Sophie Kinsella novel in writing, cleverness, character or subject matter. A real letdown. The only saving grace was the Thanksgiving-with-the-relatives scenario.