Thin, Rich, Pretty

April 5, 2010
Harbison (Shoe Addicts Anonymous
) delivers an enjoyable summer novel that's heavier on '80s nostalgia than originality. Twenty years ago, Holly and Nicola were best friends at camp, united in their hatred of the cabin bully, Lexi. Now, Holly, who owns a Washington, D.C., art gallery, is “pre-engaged” to controlling Randy, who will propose if she can drop 20 pounds. Nicola is an actress in L.A., struggling to follow up her one sleeper hit, but being turned down left and right for roles because she doesn't look right. As Holly sheds the weight, Randy's unpleasantness becomes impossible to ignore, and Nicola undergoes plastic surgery that leaves her unrecognizable even to her grandmother (and doesn't get her any work). Meanwhile, Lexi's father dies and her stepmother cuts her off, leaving her destitute. When Holly runs into Lexi, she realizes that undoing a prank she and Nicola played on her years ago at camp could potentially reverse her fortune. There's nothing outstanding here, but it does the trick as a beach book.

Starred review from May 1, 2010
Holly and Nicola became fast friends at summer camp 20 years ago, united in their hatred of rich, spoiled Lexi, who loved making fun of the shy Nicola and the overweight Holly. Now in their late thirties, Holly is an art gallery owner, Nicola is a Hollywood star, and Lexi, well, she's just been tossed out of her home when her father dies and her stepmother seizes everything. When the three meet up again, secrets from summer camp come to the surface, and they realize it's time to grow up, each in her own way. VERDICT A fast and fun read by Harbison ("Hope in a Jar"; "Shoe Addicts Anonymous"), sure to appeal to anyone who came of age in the late 1980s. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ"2/15/10.]

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2010
Twenty years ago Holly and Nicola were the awkward outsiders at summer camp, and rich and popular Lexi was their nemesis. As adults, all three women are having trouble finding their place. Holly, a successful gallery owner, is struggling with her weight and a manipulative boyfriend. Nicola tries to revive her slumping acting career with plastic surgery, making her just another pretty face. Lexi is left nearly penniless and with few real-world skills after her fathers death. Through a chance meeting, Holly and Nicola find out Lexi was not nearly as charmed as they thought, and they set out to right a wrong they committed as kids. Harbison, author of Shoe Addicts Anonymous (2007), uses scenes from the womens camp days to show how childhood insecurities linger, but doesnt dig deep in this sweet story about friendship and coming into your own.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)