The Perfectly True Tales of a Perfect Size 12 [Paperback]

Robin Gold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2007

Delilah White’s perfect New York life is about to take a tumble . . . but change is good, right? Right?!?

Delilah White, television’s semi-famous (to her own shock) and completely endearing Domestic Diva, likes herself just the way she is: a perfect size twelve. When her boss announces that she’s taking an early retirement, Delilah finds herself pitted against her rival, the statuesque Margo Hart, for one of the most coveted promotions in television. As the office politics are heating up, Delilah jumps at the opportunity for a long weekend at her friend’s family estate in the Catskills, only to have Margo make a surprise appearance and start stirring up trouble. Armed only with a pink polka dot bikini and her sometimes overactive imagination, Delilah must balance her budding romance (with a man who just might be otherwise committed) and a sudden meltdown at the office. As one disaster follows another, it takes all of Delilah’s charm, ingenuity, and spirit to come out on top.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gold takes chick lit office politics along on a country weekend in this affable debut about a size-12, 33-year-old aspiring Martha Stewart. After her boss announces her impending retirement, Delilah White finds herself in the running to become executive producer at Domestic Bliss, a TV show that's filmed in New York City but aims the catchphrase "Now that's bliss" at middle-aged, middle American women. Her competition: Margo Hart, a high-maintenance redhead who's not willing to go down without a fight. When the rivals end up at the same Fourth of July gala in the Catskills, they call a truce and Delilah scores a date with the hostess's cute cousin, Jack. But the women can't play nice for long, and the battle of the domestic divas sets the pace for a fun and breezy read. It's easy to root for Delilah as she schemes to put Margo (a believable but consistently evil villain) in her place. Meanwhile, Delilah may have found something worth pursuing with Jack—if only she can figure out where they stand. The ending leaves the door open for a sequel. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Zaftig Delilah White is happy with herself and her job as a producer and sometime demonstrator on a domestic-home-life television program in New York. That changes when the executive producer retires and both Delilah and her nemesis, Margo Hart, vie for the job. Although Delilah believes that the best person will get the job, the pressure is getting to her so she looks forward to spending the Fourth of July with her best friend and coworker, Sofia, at her parents' Catskills getaway. Unfortunately, Margo--slim, surgically enhanced to perfection, and cutthroat--decides at the last moment to join them. As Margo flexes her claws, Delilah finds who she thinks may be the man of her dreams if he only doesn't fall for the stunning and duplicitous Margo. The holiday culminates in one of fiction's most hilarious and outrageous parties as Gold proves that sometimes nice things do happen to nice people in this fun and uplifting story starring a domestic-arts heroine for the ages. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Plume (January 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452288126
• ISBN-13: 978-0452288126
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,585,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delilah White is a heroine for all of us, February 4, 2007

By 

D. Rekem "Momof3" (S. Orange, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Perfectly True Tales of a Perfect Size 12 (Paperback)

I loved this book. Delilah White, a producer of the hit TV show Domestic Bliss, is fun, funny and totally comfortable with who she is. It is hard not to like her. This book was a total page turner. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read the next book and see what happens to Delilah next. Robin Gold has a refreshing, real writing style. Just make sure you have time to read, because once you pick up this book, you won't want to put it down.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nasty race for the top-dog spot, culminating in some particularly nutty antics, May 29, 2007

By 

Bookreporter (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Perfectly True Tales of a Perfect Size 12 (Paperback)

Delilah White may not have it all, but what she does have is "bliss." Bliss, as in "Domestic Bliss," the name of the television show for which she has become an idol to millions of American would-be Martha Stewarts. Her fantastic boss Agnes and her best friend Sofia, the production designer, give her all the support she needs. But when Agnes ventures off the show for greener pastures, her spot as executive producer is open suddenly, and Delilah, the perfectionist, learns she has to remove her kid gloves to make the kind of impression that will win her this coveted promotion.

Naturally, someone stands in Delilah's way: Her nemesis Margo, the girl-with-runway-model looks, also wants the job. Thus ensues a nasty race for the top-dog spot, culminating in some particularly nutty antics at Sofia's wealthy family's Catskills estate, where the Fourth of July festivities mix rather poorly with love, liquor and lies.

You can read this on a train or in a plane. In fact, I think THE PERFECTLY TRUE TALES OF A PERFECT SIZE 12 is the kind of book you can read while straphanging between boroughs on the New York City subway system. Robin Gold's debut is a veritable treasure trove of funny plot lines concerning the stealing of and lying to boyfriends, the way women stick together in a time of crisis (or not), rich people being completely and wonderfully goofy because they have money, the way that drunk women in slinky shoes can't make it across a summer lawn without falling flat on their faces, the misunderstanding of the boss for whom someone has been working for so long, having a crisis of confidence when the good employee suddenly turns "bad" or seems to... The list can go on and on. This is a fun book and a fast read, mostly because you'll recognize everybody in it.

The one thing that it relies on to make it stand out is the fact that Delilah is a size 12. Imagine that! She's a full-fledged, full-figured 12 who catches a guy's eye and feels good about herself in dresses that really hug her curves. So, I guess we could call this Jennifer Weiner-lite. Delilah eats like a regular human, and we cringe when she gets called "porky" or "fatty" in public.

I think what is most intriguing about this book is that, like an old episode of "I Love Lucy," slapstick and pathos mix together in an old-fashioned tale about how the good get what they really want and the bad get what they really deserve. She describes the weekend craziness in pitch-perfect detail, and Sofia's family --- especially Delilah's love interest, cousin Jack --- seem ready-made for Central Casting. But you won't be bored. The story moves quickly, and before you know it, all the world is right again.

So, for those of you lucky enough to get a winter resort vacation, take Delilah along. Put this one in your beach bag and enjoy it with a silly tropical drink or two or three --- just like Delilah and Sofia (or Lucy and Ethel) would if they were there!

--- Reviewed by Jana Siciliano

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love It!, February 6, 2007

By 

C. Abbey (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Perfectly True Tales of a Perfect Size 12 (Paperback)

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of meeting Robin Gold. I was standing in front of a display of her books when a woman (her) walked up and highly recommended this title. I recognized her from the author photo on the display and we started talking. Basically, she talked me into buying the book and I couldn't be happier!

I enjoyed every page of this book. The casual insider information about the production of a tv show is intriguing. The romance element comes off perfectly, and the rivalry between Delilah and Margo had me constantly hanging on for what would happen next! The pacing is great and the climatic scene at a 4th of July party had me laughing the whole way through. I can only hope that Robin's next book stars Delilah as well!

If you were my best girlfriend I'd lend you my copy...but I can't because Robin signed it so it's safely situated on my bookshelf! :o)