Customer Reviews

True Hollywood Lies

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If anyone has ever had a bad few days, it's Hannah Fairchild. Not only has her famous movie-star father kicked the bucket and left his trust fund to his latest conniving wife, but her boyfriend has dumped her for another woman. Hannah's only option at this point is to take a job as a personal assistant to Louis Trollope, who also happens to be one of the most eligible and sought-after actors.

Known for going through beautiful women like water, Louis immediately tries to make a play for Hannah. Hannah knows better though and forces him to remain at a distance. Meanwhile, she hooks up with Mick Bradshaw, screenwriter and who also happens to be Louis's best friend. But Louis isn't happy unless he gets what he wants, and he wants Hannah...

Hannah has to juggle her job (which is never-ending), her love life, and her life in general- including her passion for Astronomy). But where does one end and one begin? All the while she tries to find time for her passion for star-gazing (the kind in the sky, not the Hollywood variety!).

Filled with backstabbing, fun and glamous, True Hollywood Lies is quite the glamour chick lit read. I enjoyed it until the end. Hannah was a great main character- down to earth, strong and intelligent. Author Josie Brown keeps the romantic side plots both sizzling and uncertain- one really never knows who will end up with whom until it happens. The actual story line is also filled with twists and turns.

I cannot say that this book is extremely realistic- after all, what woman has a couple of famous gorgeous men pining for them? - but it's a delightful and suspenseful read.

Overall I definitely recommend this book for a glamourous, sun-soaked yet somehow down-to-earth good read.

This book started off great and quickly lost momentum. The main character was weak and I do not like novels that portray woman as weak and so in love that they find their boyfriends bad behavior acceptable. This was one of those novels. I kept hoping that Hannah would wake up, realize Louis was a cad and dump him. Unfortunately she seemed desperate to save the relationship...and for what? So that he could dump her!

Loved it, loved it, loved it.

I picked up TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES because I overheard a person who works at my local bookstore raving about it. She said that everyone she's ever recommended it to also loved it. I thought that, at the very least, it would be a fun read. And having once lived in LaLa Land, I might find some fun in reliving all the things I liked and disliked about it...

I'm happy to report that the bookseller was right. I could easily relate to the way the heroine, Hannah, had this love/hate relationship with Hollywood (having one myself). Also, she's got the personalities down pat. I could actually imagine that some of those lines as said. The author's bio says that she has interviewed stars and knows the patter, as well as what comes out of the mouths of their handlers.

Also, all the hot spots mentioned in the book are those that the stars really do hit. So for me, it was a great read, almost like visiting again....

As for the plot, Hannah is wonderfully vulnerable, not at all a clueless shoes-and-shopping type, but smart and savvy and filled with some honest pain (it's explained in the book). You can see how she is easily in love with both the men in her life, who are different types but both lovable in their own way. In fact, is surpirsed me to read one of the reviews below which indicate that the ending was "predictable", but I have to say that I disagree. The plot had me wondering until almost the last few pages what choice Hannah would make. I guess that other reviewer is smarter than the average bear (or reader, in this case).

Then again, as with most fun books about women, you know that the heroine will do okay...but I felt that "True Hollywood Lies" was the kind of book you don't ever want to end, which is probably why the other reviewer felt that way.

If you love Hollywood and everything about it this is the book for you. It looks at what goes on behind the scenes as well as what goes on in front. The writing is snappy and the storyling the same. If you want to grab a book and spend 24 hours with it (because when you pick it up you can not put it down) then this is the book for you. So do yourself a favour and read it.

When you read "True Hollywood Lies" you want to shake the characters for what they put themselves through for success in Hollywood. It seemed unreal until I read the article about Scott Rudin in the weekend edition of the Wall Street Jorunal.
Real people are willing to debase themselves in acceding to the wishes of self centered sometimes talented people.
I got ahold of this book on a Friday and finished it by Saturday. Like a car wreck, I could not look away until it was over. Lots of good sex and sunlit scenes with things working out in a plausable and satisfying way. I can't wait to see the movie.

In Hollywood, Hanna Fairchild was born with a golden spoon as the daughter of a famous and wealthy actor. Her passion is the alignment of the stars as she follows astrology while ignoring the Hollywood stars. When her dad suddenly dies in the bed of his teenage mistress, his fourth wife freezes Hannah's trust fund by gaining control of his entire estate through chicanery. Hannah is left with nothing.

Not one to whine, Hannah obtains a job as personnel assistant to British hunk Louis Trollope, a throwback egomaniac from the glamour days of Hollywood. He demands anything and everything including her scheduling his rendezvous and informing him on media happenings that focus on him. At the same time as she works the lies of and to the press, Hannah, Louis and his best friend Mick Bradshaw forge an odd relational romantic triangle with someone bound to be hurt especially when the tabloids get wind of it.

TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES is an amusing chick lit tale starring a likable protagonist who seems confused by what she wants in life. At times Hannah seeks her fifteen minutes of fame and more while at other moments she shies away from the glare of Hollywood, preferring to work out of the media's view. The ease in which her latest "stepmom" gains control of the estate seems off kilter for an intelligent person like Hannah, but the audience will not care once she begins working for megalomaniac Louis in this fun tale.

Harriet Klausner

Hannah is the daughter of a Hollywood icon, but the only stars she's interested in gazing at are the ones in the sky - astronomy is her passion. When her father Leo dies of a heart attack while romancing his latest nubile starlet, Hannah's world is turned upside down when the will goes into probate and she's forced to get a real job as a production assistant for an arrogant British actor. She appears immune from Louis' charms, but doesn't count on falling for his best friend Mick (their initial meeting is hilarious). The two share quiet walks, romantic star-filled nights, and plenty of passion. But needy Louis is not one to be topped and soon he's scheming to end Mick & Hannah's relationship so she can be devoted to him. He does such a good job that they start an affair. When the will is finally settled and she's able to walk away from her PA job, Louis is happy - she can concentrate on him full time. But she returns to her astronomy research and suddenly finds herself missing the one man who she really felt she had a future with - Mick. When Louis forces Hannah's hand to choose her star gazing or him, are either of them prepared for their respective choices?

Brown's debut nove; is a funny inside look at Hollywood, with plenty of gossip, name dropping and juicy tidbits to keep the story moving. Sadly, the end is too abrupt and left this reader feeling shortchanged.

Once I picked up True Hollywood Lies, I couldn't put it down. I stayed up until 3am reading and it was worth every bleary eyed minute at work the next day! The characters jump out at you and sometimes you just want to scream at them to stop them from making all the ridiculous mistakes that people make in the name of love (lust).

This book was a fast read, entertaining and researched well. It uncovered the vast insecurities that lie between our macho leading men and the men who play them. There was also the sub plot which allowed us to dive into the relationship between daughter and father and how it reflects the decisions we make in partnering. A good blend of fun and substance. Well done!

I've just finished reading TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES, and loved every minute. In fact, I couldn't put it down. (My husband didn't appreciate that, particularly at 2:30 in the morning!) Josie Brown gives the reader a front row seat in the lives of celebrities. What I enjoyed most was how she managed to make Louis Trollope, the movie star anti-hero of the book, so arrogant, vulnerable, paranoid and embracing all at once. The twists and turns in the plot kept me wondering until the very end whether he and the book's heroine, Hannah, would end up together. What a great take on stardom, and its affects on relationships and love!