Chasing Harry Winston

August 25, 2008
Lily Rabe throws herself enthusiastically into her narration; she sounds like she’s having a ball, and listeners will, too. Rabe especially has fun with over-the-top Brazilian sexpot Adriana, making melodramatic pronouncements and calling everyone “querida” in a sexy, throaty exotic accent. She’s also great as Emmy, the marriage-and-family–obsessed member of the trio: Rabe’s sobbing, outraged delivery of Emmy’s rant about her boyfriend dumping her for his personal trainer is simultaneously touching and hilarious. Leigh is the “straight man” of the group, but Rabe’s performance conveys her doubts about her engagement realistically and sympathetically. This fun audio brings out the best in the novel. A Simon & Schuster hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 7).

April 7, 2008
The Devil Wears Prada
author Weisberger delivers a hilarious, silly and entirely predictable chick lit romp. Book editor Leigh, chef Emmy and wealthy Adriana make a pact to change their disappointing lives within a year. Emmy vows to find the father of her future babies, and Latin temptress Adriana decides to settle on just one of her rich suitors. But Leigh is uncertain about what changes to make; she's lived in the shadow of her legendary literary father and accomplished boyfriend so long, Leigh barely recognizes what makes her happy. The protective wrapping dissolves when she gets the nod to edit bestselling, married author Jesse Chapman—and ends up polishing more than his prose. Emmy—after a year of trying to bed a man from every continent—might discover Mr. Right when he's least expected. As for the relentlessly slothful Adriana, she deflects engagement, but manages to snag something more important. Bookish Leigh defends chick lit as having “sensible structure and coherent language†in a package that's “witty, clever and fun to read.†Weisberger is, of course, also talking about this book, and her assessment is right-on.

May 1, 2008
Weisberger's latest novel chronicles the lives of three glamorous New Yorkers à la "Sex and the City". Sexy Adriana lives off her rich Brazilian parents' money while devoting herself to her beauty; serious Leigh works as an editor at a prestigious publishing company; and sweet Emmy is a scout for a prominent restaurateur. All nearing the big 3-0, the gals take stock of their lives over a fabulous meal at the Waverly Inn. Emmy decides to expand her horizons by having sex with random men, and she challenges the promiscuous Adriana to find a committed relationship (Leigh is exempt as the others believe she has a perfect life, even if she doesn't). The three follow paths amply strewn with consumer goods and cattiness, each eventually finding what she really needs. While this book lacks the outsider-looking-in social critique that made Weisberger's best-selling "The Devil Wears Prada" so entertaining, don't underestimate the number of readers who enjoy following characters willing to spend $8000 on a "makeover" for a parrot. Weisberger's legion of fans make this an essential purchase for all popular fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 2/15/08; visit the author online at www.laurenweisberger.com/index.php.Ed.]Lisa Davis-Craig, Canton P.L., MI

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