Thursday, Mar 18, 2010

Book Review… My Own Personal Soap Opera by Libby Malin

Author: Libby Malin

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

ISBN #:   978-1402229428

Type:  Fiction:Women’s

Pages: 336 Trade Paperback

Published:  April 1, 2010

Purchase:  $11.19 (HERE) 

The Summary

“Is life stranger than fiction, or vice versa?

Frankie McNally has found the perfect solution for life’s perplexing problems: as head writer for the daytime soap Lust for Life, she works them out on the air!

Meanwhile, Frankie’s being courted simultaneously by the dashing older man sent in to save the show’s sagging ratings and by the soap’s totally hot leading man. And just when Frankie thinks the plot couldn’t get more complicated, a jewel thief starts copying the show’s storyline-a development that could send the show’s ratings soaring, if it doesn’t get Frankie arrested first…

 In her signature blending of the hilarious with the poignant, Libby Malin’s latest light-hearted novel combines the best of life and of fiction into an entertaining and incredibly satisfying read.“

Meanwhile, Frankie’s being courted simultaneously by the dashing older man sent in to save the show’s sagging ratings and by the soap’s totally hot leading man. And just when Frankie thinks the plot couldn’t get more complicated, a jewel thief starts copying the show’s storyline-a development that could send the show’s ratings soaring, if it doesn’t get Frankie arrested first…

In her signature blending of the hilarious with the poignant, Libby Malin’s latest light-hearted novel combines the best of life and of fiction into an entertaining and incredibly satisfying read.“ 

Summary provided by www.Sourcebooks.com.

The Review

Libby Malin

Being such a fan of  Fire Me,  I secretly had high expectations for this Libby Malin novel.  Admittedly, I was pining for the same dose of wit and clever antics in Soap Opera.   Although it didn’t disappoint, but I must honestly say that I didn’t get as many “LOL” moments with this one.  Despite that, I found that its characters were amenable and easy to cheer for.  An added plus was Malin’s sharp, enjoyable writing style.

This story delivers is a strong heroine, Frankie McNally, a driven career woman who finds herself torn between two lovers.  Her two choices couldn’t be more diametrically different and, frankly, I could see the “pros” and “cons” of choosing either man.  These two leading men give Frankie the best of both worlds.  One would make the perfect husband and the other the most magnificent lover.

Being a HUGE fan of CBS soap operas in the past (and, one I still watch today), I looked forward to the behind-the-scenes look at how these shows are made.  I think that Soap Opera gives the reader a detailed glimpse of that world and just how “unique” it truly is.  If you are a fan of ChickLit and soap operas, this story provides the perfect mix.

Soap Opera shines in the way that it does keep the reader on her toes.  It leads, yet is not too predictable in providing clever twists and turns in the plot.  You’ve got all the makings of a delicious dish for your spring-break read… or, save it for the summer pool-side reads.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

I will put Soap Opera on my “Fun Reads in 2010″ List, however I won’t “oooh” and “aaah” over it as much as Fire Me.  You can’t go wrong with either one and I’m certain that ChickLit lovers get the best of both worlds by reading both! 

3 Comments