Customer Reviews

Soapsuds

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I picked up the audiobook of Soapsuds expection to be amused, but nothing more. I was really pleasantly surprised, this book is surprisingly funny and well-written. The story centers on Kate McPhee, a Bristish stage dancer and actress who takes a job on an American soap opera, Live For Tomorrow (just like the author, Finnoula Hughes). The result is part fish-out-of-water story, part coming of age tale. It truly doesn't have much of a plot, but following Kate's experience is still vastly entertaining. Sometimes the Alice in Wonderland references get tiresome, but that is the basic theme of the book.

The first day at work, Kat's impressive acting skills earn her attention of the show's over-the-top alpha female producer, Daphne, but also the show's resident diva, Merideth Contini. The resemblance between Meredith and Hughes' real-life former co-star Susan Lucci is uncanny, and even the characters have similar names- Regina Abel and Erica Kane. (Get it- Cain and Abel?) The detestable Merideth's jealousy and divalike tantrums get Kate's character, Detective Devon Marrick, switching sexual preference straight away. But the change makes newcomer Kate more popular than ever, and leads to a big level of fame for her that she has a tough time getting used to.

Throughout the book, we go through Kate's friendships with other cast members, as well as her relatioonships with men- or rather, the barely-there relationships that can exist when she works 12+ hours a day. She had her heart broken by her ex in London, and he eventually shakes her up further by showing up in LA. There is also a magician, a writer with 4 dogs, and finally, a married co-star who Kate falls for, who happens to be married to her best friend. The rest of the book is just a dishy behind-the scenes look at the soap opera world, but it is fascinating, and comes from someone who knows her stuff. The characters have surprising warmth and depth, and Kate is a very likeable and actually relatable. The narrator of the audiobook is fantastic, and is wonderful at doing vioces. Overall, a great listen.

Who better than Finola Hughes to write the definitive satire of soaps? Hughes has won four Daytime Emmys between 1990 and 2002 and many Soap Opera Digest awards for her roles in General Hospital (1990-2002) and All My Children (1999-2003). She is currently the host of How Do I Look? on the Style Network.

Kate McPhee flees London and a betrayal by her lover and best friend, to work on a soap opera in Los Angeles. Her character on Live for Tomorrow is Devon Merrick, and she is a cop. The script writers want her played in an edgy, hard way, with the possibility that she may be gay.

The book is a bit confusing at times with literary asides from Alice in Wonderland, script excerpts, and odd bits of dialogue, but you get used to the pace, which mimics the pace of Kate's insanely busy life.

Kate's inability to relate to the bitchy, matriarchal "star" of the soap, and the pneumatic California "Barbies" who are sprinkled through the cast, make it difficult for her. She finds friends among the make-up artists and crew, and eventually finds time to make friends in the "real" world.

You will enjoy Kate's growing fame, and her crazy situations, such as showing up at the Daytime Emmy award show in the same dress as her soap's star, who demands she go back to the hotel and change. This causes Kate to miss accepting her award when she wins!

One aside: I did dislike Kate's constant self-image problems when comparing herself to the tall, thin, and stacked young female colleagues. She imagines herself huge, with various rather gross attributes getting worse by the minute. This fades as the story progresses and as Kate realizes she has talents that the others do not possess.

When British actress Kate McPhee learns that her live in lover was cheating on her with her best friend, she needs to get away from them. She accepts a job on the soap opera Live For Tomorrow and quickly realizes that daytime programming is nothing like the theatre work she did back home. She quickly learns to avoid diva Meredith Contini who has been on the show since its inception and refuses to let an actor or actress upset her.

Kate also learns how to cope with the fans who have taken her into their hearts. She has the unique experience of attending a soap opera convention where anything goes; she is paid extra to be interviewed on radio and television shows where she has to be careful of what she says concerning future plots. Kate also gets used to fans believing she is the lesbian detective she plays in a storyline involving vampires. After a major adjustment she realizes that the group is her American family and she belongs there.

Finola Hughes, who originated the role of Anna Devane on General Hospital and All My Children, takes readers backstage so they can see how a soap opera is produced and how much of the character belongs to the star. The actors work long hours under grueling conditions because they need to work, not just for the money but because of the desire to perform. Kate McPhee is a charming chick lit lead protagonist who feels that California, especially Hollywood, is an alien planet. Soap opera fans will wonder if the characters are based on actual people and if so, who and on what show.

Harriet Klausner

You won't be letdown if you buy this wanting a fun insider look into daytime tv. Though fiction, the writer hits a homerun with her take on life in the Soap-lane. Definitely a great beach or pool book!

I found this novel to be a laugh out loud joyride. The characters are likable and interesting in their absurdity. Kate is great, Meredith and Daphne are a riot. I totally recommend this book.

It's been a month or so since I read this so I won't try to summarize this book, but let me say I laughed alot while listening to the audio tape and I was sad when I finished it. It was very very funny and I'd have to say, better than some of the soaps on daytime tv!

I do hope Finola writes more of these sudsy tales, as she is quite adept at it! She should be! She was the queen of daytime tv for years!

I give this audio-book 5 stars!

JMHO //(*_*)\\

Soapsuds by first time author, Finola Hughes, is one of the best summer reads I have come across in years. Her witty, wicked sense of humor combined with her experiences in the soap world and her wild imagination took me on a wacky roller coaster ride that I wished would have never ended! If laughter is in fact the best medicine, go ahead! Empty your medicine cabinet and buy this book today!!

When London stage actress Kate McPhee finds out that her boyfriend and best friend are in bed together, she decides to accept the role offered to her from Hollywood. Off Kate goes to begin her role as gay Detective Devon Merrick on daytime televison show "Live For Tomorrow". Devon is a police detective, a master or martial arts, a love interest for two or more men (and women), and a hard core vampire huntress!

The show's wild and unpredictable producer, Daphne del Valle told Kate to "Sell the hut. Sell the rage. Sell the hunger. Sell the loooooove." And that is exactly what Kate does! She is on her way up the escalator of fame. But even though her character on the show is gay, Kate is not in reality. Yet the public is not listening. The character, Devon, has taken a life of her own. Kate decides that what she needs is a man in her bed. But who? There is a magician, a dog with four dogs, a co-star, and no end in sight. Problem is she has no one near and dear except her cat.

To make matters worse, there is the show's power-wielding dragon ... uh, diva. Meredith Contini considers herself the queen on the show and resents Kate almost from the start. Not wanting competition from Kate, Meredith begins battle plans to have the newbie fired.

**** Welcome to the world of the soap opera, where characters can be killed off or scarred beyond recognition only to reappear the next season with some sort of zany or lame excuse.

Finola Hughes and Digby Diehl team up to bring the Hollywood soap opera feeling to life in novel form. Now you can take a soap opera with you where ever you may go. Whether Kate's off camera life is anything like the one of a real soap star is unknown by me. But it sure is a lot of fun to read. Here you will see some of daytime's secrets in making those dramatic, pulse pounding scenes. For those of us who do not watch daytime television, pick up this novel and see how crazy the life of a TV personality can be. It is enough to make the Stars' pull their own hair out. (Perhaps they should put some stock in wigs.) An excellent drama that will have you laughing often. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Soapsuds is an entertaining book which is basically about life on a soap opera. The main character; Kate, is on Live For Tomorrow dealing with all sorts of interesting people. She moved to LA after finding her boyfriend and best friend together. She's desperately trying to get over that and move on with her life. The book reminded me a lot of the movie Soapdish because it dealt with one main person and the main characters interactions with the other people on the show. I felt that at some times there were too many people in the story which made it hard to follow. Also, I wasn't crazy about the ending because I felt that it wasn't really thought out. Even though, it was an entertaining escape from reality.

I expected this to be an ok effort at best but Ms Hughes surprised me, pleasantly. This novel is a funny, realistic look at what soap acting is like. The main character is very relateable and you find yourself, cheering for her, sympathizing with her, and laughing with her. It is filled with unforgetable characters and situations we've all been in at one time or another. I have enjoyed Ms. Hughes' work on screen and am loving it in print. Bravo!