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The Next Big Thing [BARGAIN PRICE] (Paperback)

~ (Author) "All my life I'd been waiting for things: calls that never came, guys who never showed, invitations that got "lost in the mail..." (more)
Key Phrases: boom mic, Confession Chamber, Tomb of Temptation, Los Angeles (more...)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

It's a plot torn from the pages of TV Guide: six overweight women live in a house of temptations and compete to see who loses the most weight. But it's far more satisfying than your average prime-time fare. The main character, Kat, always believed that life begins when you're thin. When her best friend, Donna, reads about a casting call for "From Fat to Fabulous," Kat decides she has nothing to lose but her belly. Of course, fame comes with a price. The tabloids dub her "Kat the Brat," and the show's surprise guest, her online boyfriend, dumps her on national television. Not to despair, however; Kat's story does have a happy ending. Edwards addresses image issues with wit and candor, and what's most refreshing is that losing weight doesn't make Kat's life perfect. Fans of Jennifer Weiner's realistic female protagonists will find a new favorite here. Aleksandra Kostovski
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.


Review

"A fresh, funny treat for anyone with a weakness for dishy desserts or reality TV." -- Jennifer Weiner

"A terrific read that kept me laughing and cheering until the last page." -- Sarah Mlynowski

"Engaging, better-than-average chick lit. Edwards is good where it counts." -- The Boston Globe

"From the first page to last, Johanna Edwards's debut novel is fabulous fun." -- Jennifer O'Connell

"Hot book pick...sizzling satire." -- US Weekly

"Required reading." -- The New York Post

"Tell-all honesty and pitch-perfect sass...like reality TV, highly addictive." -- Jennifer Paddock --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley Books; Later Printing edition (March 1, 2005)
  • ISBN-10: 0425200280
  • ASIN: B000BPG2KQ
  • Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,049,083 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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More About the Author

Johanna Edwards
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Johanna Edwards Page
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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First Sentence:
All my life I'd been waiting for things: calls that never came, guys who never showed, invitations that got "lost in the mail." Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
boom mic
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Confession Chamber, Tomb of Temptation, Los Angeles, Kit Kat, Lane Bryant, Nick Appleby, Charles Dickens, Kat Larson, Richard Geddlefinger, Zaidee Panola, Johnny Depp, Kat the Brat, Weight of the World, Gigi Rucker, Greg's Gym, Match Made, The Great Gatsby, The Real World, Alicia Combs, Burger King, Cindy Vander, Gray Mercer, Joe Millionaire, The Southern Belle, Weight Disportionate
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Customer Reviews

67 Reviews
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 (33)
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 (20)
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 (7)
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (67 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Great execution on an really interesting premise, July 19, 2005
By Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
This review is from: The Next Big Thing (Paperback)
Memphis Belle, Kat Larson has spent the better part of her life being the butt of fat jokes. When she discovers that a new reality show (Fat 2 Fabulous) for women size 16 and over is scouting for participants, she eagerly signs up. This is just the medicine for her inability to get herself into shape and to meet the internet love of her life (who she coincidentally has never actually met, and the only picture he has of her is a grainy shot she doctored with Photoshop). Because after all, losing weight will make everything in her life fall into place, right?

She and her on-line lothario Nick (who resides in London), exchange daily emails and occasional phone calls, laced with phone sex. He professes his love for her, and constantly wants her to visit him in London. He is under the mistaken impression that Kat is a size 4; it is obvious from their first conversation just how shallow Nick is.

Once she is accepted, she hooks up with her new roomies, they discover that the show is not just about losing weight. There is the hunky exercise guru who works the camera more than the contestants; the horribly healthy meals that they are served (of course, counter-acted with the tomb of temptation - a pantry full of everything you could ever want to gorge out on); and the contestants themselves, who for the most part squabble and fight with the evil Alicia who is so full of herself that it is surprising that she would want to be associated with a show with the word "fat" in it.

The show is full of lots of surprises - in addition to the dieting they have to participate in games in order to secure money and prizes (ultimately, the person with the largest bank wins in the end). They get money for exercising as well as losing weight and winning games. Like "Survivor," they even get a chance to have someone special come visit them. You can probably guess whom Kat's "someone special" is.

While Kat obsesses over the way that the public has perceived her, she finds a tender ear in the show's host, Jagger, who has obviously taken a liking to the sarcastic southerner.

At times, it is hard to like the character of Kat; she can be caustic and whiny, but by the end, she manages to provide a lot of insight on what it is to live in an oversized body. In addition to losing weight, she manages to learn a lot about herself. There are a lot of characters, but each is so well-defined that the story does not get muddled. There are also a lot of laugh-out-loud moments when six cranky women are stuck in a house with no padlock on the junk food vault. The pacing of the story is excellent and keeps the reader glued until the very end.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining fluff, October 27, 2005
By Always Reading (sunny california) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Next Big Thing (Paperback)
I enjoy reading well-written chick lit, and this was no exception. The plot here is fairly simple: Kat is overweight and in an internet-relationship with an Englishman who believes her to be a size 4 - she lied because he said he doesn't like fat chicks. So she goes on a reality show to lose the weight, hoping to improve her body so she'll finally be ready to meet her internet boyfriend in person and be a positive role model for overweight people.

The plot is written in a sweet manner and there are some funny parts, though none that make you laugh out loud. It is fun to watch Kat deal with her onscreen competitors and try to lose weight at the same time.

Not everything in the book seems realistic (even with the high bar set by reality tv shows!) but it is still amusing to follow. You do get annoyed with Kat because of her constant lies to Nick about her weight and her constant shout outs to her employer, but even her inability to be happy with who she is doesn't completely ruin the novel.

I'd recommend this if you're looking for chick lit that falls outside of the usual *girl meets boy/falls in love with boy/problems arise/they make up and live happily ever after* chick lit novels that are out there.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars More than a little predictable..., September 20, 2005
This review is from: The Next Big Thing (Paperback)
Again this is one of those novels that I couldn't wait to read. I was hoping it would give me a happy large woman to cheer for...but instead it gave me a sullen whiner who seemed to snip at everyone. I couldn't rally behind her. I didn't really like her. The story line was actually pretty cool. Almost like The Biggest Loser meets Surreal Life meets Survivor...but it fell apart and ended up becoming unbelievable as the girl everyone loves to hate ends up being with the smarmy host who we're supposed to believe is a really nice guy...it becomes a sickeningly sweet over the top unbelievable romance instead of something real with heart and humor. Sorry this one just isn't worth your time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute
This book is not going to change your life but you'll enjoy it, especially if you like reality television. Read more
Published 10 months ago by T. Feuerbach

3.0 out of 5 stars It's OK. Looking fwd to more
I enjoyed this book. There were some parts that dragged and I actually fell in love with some of the other characters rather than the main character Kat. Read more
Published 14 months ago by corporatecatwalk.com

5.0 out of 5 stars The Next Big Thing!!
Once I started reading this book it took me about 2 days to finish it. I just could not put it down. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Amanda J. Standaert

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun!
After reading a book that just gave me a headache I needed something to pick my spirits up and this book did. It was fun, light, and enjoyable.
Published on August 28, 2007 by Sammy Dan

3.0 out of 5 stars Reality TV Meets Weight Loss Woes
What do you do when your online British boyfriend sends you a size 4 Gucci dress and you tell him it fits perfectly, even though you're a size 18? Read more
Published on August 15, 2007 by Christine Zibas

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute!!
I liked this book alot. It was a cute story and quick reading. Didn't get bored one bit, I recommend!
Published on July 4, 2007 by Patience Gray

5.0 out of 5 stars From Fat to Famous
Kat works at an ad agency and at over 200 pounds has always wanted to be thin, especially after starting a "relationship" with Nate from England. Read more
Published on June 8, 2007 by Courtney Rabideau

4.0 out of 5 stars Light Entertainment *Spoilers*
3.5 stars. This is my first book by Ms. Edwards and I wasn't disappointed. The heroine of this novel was sort of middle of the road for me. Read more
Published on March 23, 2007 by nodice

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute, girly book
This book is about a woman, Kat Larson, whose weight affects everything she does. From shopping, to dating, to eating in public, Kat feels as though people overlook her good... Read more
Published on February 10, 2007 by Tina

5.0 out of 5 stars A lot of fun to read..
This story is about Kat Larson. She is a lonely 27 year old woman who has a weight problem. She also has job she is not thrilled with and a practically nonexistent love life... Read more
Published on January 12, 2007 by TheSleepyReader

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