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nholman006's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
marfbody's review against another edition
2.0
quick read, cute, but BADLY WRITTEN. Get this girl an editor! I almost always prefer books to the movies they are based on --- it pains me to say this but the movie is much better :)
samk530's review against another edition
4.0
Nothing like the movie that's based off it (which I will still continue to love) but highly enjoyable!
lanaerae's review against another edition
1.0
I try really hard to only read books that I think I will like, no matter how I get them (buy, borrow from the library, advanced copies from publishers). This one I was unsure of, but the library had it available and I am not opposed to reading something trashy or catty or pretentious so hey why not.
Turns out this was just mean, selfish, stupid people and little story. All you need to know is that Andy works for Miranda. Miranda is a fashion editor -- THEE fashion editor. When she says jump, everyone does. When, like Andy, you are one of Miranda's assistants you're supposed to know that she will say jump 10 seconds before she does and already be in the middle of the jump when her lips open. Assistants to Miranda generally try to do 1 year and if they have made it that far then Miranda helps them get virtually any job they want anywhere. That's pretty much why Andy had taken the job -- it could mean so much for her writing career.
The main point of the book seems to be for Andy to explain just how stupid and horrible her rich, famous, powerful boss is. And yup Miranda is miserable BUT Andy is too. A story like this needs to be snarky and fun to work. This, as I said, is just mean. No one is really likable in this story, not even Andy's perfect everyone loves him boyfriend -- not that there is much wrong with him but just her saying he is a saint means little. We didn't get to know him very well. We did get to know Miranda and Andy. While I am sure we are meant to hate Miranda, I found Andy as bad or worse. She's a whiner. She's selfish.
There is no one to root for here. There is no story. There is just meanness, whining, poor me, ignoring of those who actually matter. Oh and a happy'ish ending that is about as dull as they rest of the story.
Turns out this was just mean, selfish, stupid people and little story. All you need to know is that Andy works for Miranda. Miranda is a fashion editor -- THEE fashion editor. When she says jump, everyone does. When, like Andy, you are one of Miranda's assistants you're supposed to know that she will say jump 10 seconds before she does and already be in the middle of the jump when her lips open. Assistants to Miranda generally try to do 1 year and if they have made it that far then Miranda helps them get virtually any job they want anywhere. That's pretty much why Andy had taken the job -- it could mean so much for her writing career.
The main point of the book seems to be for Andy to explain just how stupid and horrible her rich, famous, powerful boss is. And yup Miranda is miserable BUT Andy is too. A story like this needs to be snarky and fun to work. This, as I said, is just mean. No one is really likable in this story, not even Andy's perfect everyone loves him boyfriend -- not that there is much wrong with him but just her saying he is a saint means little. We didn't get to know him very well. We did get to know Miranda and Andy. While I am sure we are meant to hate Miranda, I found Andy as bad or worse. She's a whiner. She's selfish.
There is no one to root for here. There is no story. There is just meanness, whining, poor me, ignoring of those who actually matter. Oh and a happy'ish ending that is about as dull as they rest of the story.
charmingrogue's review against another edition
3.0
After finishing the book, I read some reviews on here - wow, there are some really scathing reviews! I didn't hate the book. It's not one of my favorites, but I didn't finish it just out of obligation (edit: after writing this review I apparently did have some issues with the book, but I still don't hate it). I'm not into fashion, in fact I think a lot of runway styles are actually really ugly. I really liked the movie, but it's been years since I've seen it, so the differences weren't readily apparent.
I did have a problem with Andrea (and her job). She took the job because it was her only offer, I get that. I ended up in my last job for the same reason. However, her attitude bugged me. She seemed very entitled. She took the job in order to side-step years of working her way up in publishing. What's wrong with working your way up? She was treated truly terribly by Miranda. Who in their right mind would put up with that, especially when she wasn't really interested in fashion? Wouldn't an extra year or two of working at the bottom be worth being able to sleep, have a life, and not destroying your relationships? Even so, she decided to stay at the job. But her attitude sucked. I hate to agree with Miranda about anything, but I have to say I thought she was sort of right to call out Andrea on her attitude (this was when they were in Paris). Yes, the job sucked and I wouldn't have stayed there for anything. But Andrea chose to, while making it clear it was beneath her, that they couldn't change her (even though they did), and making faces and snide comments and sighing when told to do something. She would also take longer than necessary on things like coffee runs, in order to smoke and talk to her friends on her phone, all while basically stealing from the company by expensing everything possible and buying coffee for homeless people and giving huge tips to service people. Not that those aren't good things to do, but the money wasn't hers. It was unethical. I can't imagine how these magazines stay in business if that kind of cavalier accounting is the norm.
Basically, the main reason characters like Andrea bother me is it seems to reinforce the stereotypes people seem to have about my generation. I'm a little older, I'm almost thirty now, but for years I've been listening to people talk about how my generation are all self-centered, entitled, think the world revolves around us, that we think we shouldn't have to work our way up, etc. And characters like this don't help. Not everyone in their twenties is this clueless about life.
I did have a problem with Andrea (and her job). She took the job because it was her only offer, I get that. I ended up in my last job for the same reason. However, her attitude bugged me. She seemed very entitled. She took the job in order to side-step years of working her way up in publishing. What's wrong with working your way up? She was treated truly terribly by Miranda. Who in their right mind would put up with that, especially when she wasn't really interested in fashion? Wouldn't an extra year or two of working at the bottom be worth being able to sleep, have a life, and not destroying your relationships? Even so, she decided to stay at the job. But her attitude sucked. I hate to agree with Miranda about anything, but I have to say I thought she was sort of right to call out Andrea on her attitude (this was when they were in Paris). Yes, the job sucked and I wouldn't have stayed there for anything. But Andrea chose to, while making it clear it was beneath her, that they couldn't change her (even though they did), and making faces and snide comments and sighing when told to do something. She would also take longer than necessary on things like coffee runs, in order to smoke and talk to her friends on her phone, all while basically stealing from the company by expensing everything possible and buying coffee for homeless people and giving huge tips to service people. Not that those aren't good things to do, but the money wasn't hers. It was unethical. I can't imagine how these magazines stay in business if that kind of cavalier accounting is the norm.
Basically, the main reason characters like Andrea bother me is it seems to reinforce the stereotypes people seem to have about my generation. I'm a little older, I'm almost thirty now, but for years I've been listening to people talk about how my generation are all self-centered, entitled, think the world revolves around us, that we think we shouldn't have to work our way up, etc. And characters like this don't help. Not everyone in their twenties is this clueless about life.
gruppyup's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly better than I expected. I haven’t watched th movie recently but to my memory, Andy’s friends are much better and well developed than in the movie. I also feel like Andy stays true to herself for longer and doesn’t realize that she’s becoming a Miranda minion as quickly as she actually is which I really enjoyed and felt like was more true to life. The story was pretty entertaining and fun but it was a bit too long and at like 10% of the book is just name brands which was at least easy to skim.
Also interesting: just noticed the book was copyrighted the same year the concord was retired (which Miranda flies). Rip Concorde
Also interesting: just noticed the book was copyrighted the same year the concord was retired (which Miranda flies). Rip Concorde
laurabeth9's review against another edition
4.0
just finished this one. Can see why it was made into a movie. Such a quick read and can be humorous at times.
chewedgum's review against another edition
3.0
I don't usually like movies better than books, this is an exception. Weisberger just isn't a great writer, but I did enjoy the plot of the book.