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Turning Tables [Hardcover]

Heather MacDowell (Author), Rose MacDowell (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)


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Hardcover, March 25, 2008 --  
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Book Description

March 25, 2008
Downsized from her boutique firm, Erin panics as she watches her career ambitions plunge into free fall. Why else would the savvy twenty-eight-year-old take a job as…a waitress? A favorable word from a family friend gets Erin in the door at Roulette, Madison Avenue’s newest exclusive haunt and home to a celebrity chef with a talent for cutting-edge cuisine and spotting the weakest link.

Life behind the apron is even worse than she imagined–from mangling orders to overimbibing at a wine seminar, Erin finds herself in hot water with the egomaniacal chef and the owner’s outrageous wife. And then there’s the dismissive, surly clientele, all but Daniel Fratelli, a flirtatious TV news producer. Is Daniel really as down-to-earth as he seems? Or will he eventually succumb to one of the many glamorous uptown girls in his own social circle?

Determined to prove that she won’t crack under pressure, Erin begins to master the art of waitressing–becoming part shrink, part slave, and part foie gras hustler. But her continuing series of disastrous missteps quickly sends her right back to the bottom of the food chain. Forced to prove her commitment by organizing the storage area and alphabetizing produce after hours, Erin wonders if she’ll ever make it back to the real world. But with a little help from her quirky best friend, she comes up with an idea that might take her life in a whole new direction–and that’s just the first course….

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Penned by twins who've paid their dues in the restaurant biz, this whip-smart debut chronicles a brief slice of the life of Erin Edwards, a marketing manager who loses her job and cashes in family favors to snag a wait-staff position at Roulette, a top-flight New York City restaurant. Erin, devoid of waitressing experience, has a disastrous first day and comes under the scrutiny of Steve, the restaurant's grouchy owner, and chef Carl, who's as charming as he is terrifying. Luckily for Erin, seasoned waiter Cato Poole offers to mentor her. With Cato's help and friendship, Erin learns the ropes. Though Steve and Carl make it clear that they've got their eye on her, Erin manages to canoodle with a co-worker and a powerful television producer customer. This page-turner reads like recent restaurant-linked memoirs, with accounts of unrealistic expectations, slippery tactics, critic- and rival-driven anxieties and general kitchen mayhem. Chick lit standards like gossipy scenes with the best friend are mercifully short, and though the novel ends on a cheesy note, the rest of the ride is tons of fun, especially for those who've done time in the service industry. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Turning Tables is tons of fun! Heather and Rose MacDowell’s twin voices blend seamlessly to create a delectable fusion of humor, heart, hope and keen observation—peppered liberally with some great waitress horror stories.” –Claire Cook, author of Life's a Beach and Must Love Dogs

"Turning Tables is like a top chef's tasting menu, offering one delight after another with plenty of delicious surprises along the way."—Claire LaZebnik, author of Knitting Under the Influence and Same as it Never Was

"Heather and Rose MacDowell's debut novel, Turning Tables, is a hilarious read which rings true. It's the perfect book for anyone who's ever been forced to take orders..." —Leanne Shear and Tracey Toomey, authors of The Perfect Manhattan and Cocktail Therapy

“A spirited debut…. The setting sparkles.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This page-turner ... is tons of fun, especially for those who've done time in the service industry.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Turning Tables is full of factual insights for curious foodies.”—Sacramento Bee

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 324 pages
  • Publisher: The Dial Press (March 25, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0385338562
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385338561
  • Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,462,496 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

27 Reviews
5 star:
 (16)
4 star:
 (10)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (27 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, March 25, 2008
By 
This review is from: Turning Tables (Hardcover)
For some reason, when I picked up this book I thought it a Memoir - even though the word NOVEL appears right on the cover! Once that got cleared up, I could enjoy the book.

I have bemoaning the demise of chick lit lately - but after reading this book, I can say that publishers can still put out some good chick lit once in awhile.

The story of a Marketing Exec who ends up waitressing at a higher end restaurant is absolutely delightful. The storyline is engaging, the characters are fun (for the most part) and surprisingly, the storyline is more about the girl getting the job instead of the girl running after the prince. Of course, as in good chick lit, there is a healthy dose of romance, but fortunately, the romance is not corny or too out there.

The writing style is fun and I really, really liked this book. Hopefully a sequel will be in the making.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, March 25, 2008
By 
Cleo (California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Turning Tables (Hardcover)
I was lucky to get an advance copy of this book, which is a terrific behind-the-scenes view of high-end restaurants. The characters are real and engaging. Biting humor, social satire, and a fun story.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Just like my job, August 27, 2008
This review is from: Turning Tables (Hardcover)
From the first page I was hooked. It's very well written. It's funny, embarrassing, and realistic. I work in a pretty classy restaurant and everything rings true to life. Cato is my Tony, Ron is my Michael, and Alain is my Brad. If you have worked is a restaurant the you should read this book.
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