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So 5 Minutes Ago
Being a celebrity publicist at a Los Angeles PR firm isn’t the glamour job Alex Davidson thought it would be. Her love life is zilch, her newest client—an actor fresh out of rehab—keeps hitting on her, and all she has in her refrigerator is a half-empty bottle of Pinot Grigio. But her wisecracking gay assistant and her spark plug of a best friend give her reasons for crawling out of bed in the morning (well, most of the time).
Everything changes the day her firm is bought out by a rival agency and Alex finds her once secure job of wanly ministering to a roster of B-list celebrities suddenly at stake. It looks like Suzanne, Alex’s old boss and mentor, is being shown the door. And G, her new boss, wants bigger clients and more exposure. But certain things just don’t add up: Why did G refuse to help Suzanne when a big client—a hot Latina singer/actress hell-bent on world domination—decided to bolt from the firm? And why is he being so nice to Alex all of a sudden? Knowing that in Hollywood there are always strings attached, Alex does a little digging and uncovers a dirty scheme that, if brought to light, will rock the entertainment industry. Will the temptation to betray Suzanne and accept a lucrative offer from G be too powerful for Alex to ignore? Or can she save her job, keep her soul, and score a victory for women in Hollywood?
So 5 Minutes Ago is a laugh-out-loud novel about one young woman’s attempt to make it in the shark-infested waters of Hollywood. Set in the sun-drenched L.A. of celebrity-magazine photo shoots, velvet-roped VIP parties, and red-carpet events, Hilary de Vries’s debut novel takes us on a wildly entertaining romp with enough juicy behind-the-scenes action to satisfy even the most insatiable celebraholic.
Everything changes the day her firm is bought out by a rival agency and Alex finds her once secure job of wanly ministering to a roster of B-list celebrities suddenly at stake. It looks like Suzanne, Alex’s old boss and mentor, is being shown the door. And G, her new boss, wants bigger clients and more exposure. But certain things just don’t add up: Why did G refuse to help Suzanne when a big client—a hot Latina singer/actress hell-bent on world domination—decided to bolt from the firm? And why is he being so nice to Alex all of a sudden? Knowing that in Hollywood there are always strings attached, Alex does a little digging and uncovers a dirty scheme that, if brought to light, will rock the entertainment industry. Will the temptation to betray Suzanne and accept a lucrative offer from G be too powerful for Alex to ignore? Or can she save her job, keep her soul, and score a victory for women in Hollywood?
So 5 Minutes Ago is a laugh-out-loud novel about one young woman’s attempt to make it in the shark-infested waters of Hollywood. Set in the sun-drenched L.A. of celebrity-magazine photo shoots, velvet-roped VIP parties, and red-carpet events, Hilary de Vries’s debut novel takes us on a wildly entertaining romp with enough juicy behind-the-scenes action to satisfy even the most insatiable celebraholic.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
3 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 18, 2014
I am cheering because I am done with this awful book. Why o why can't I put down bad books? I knew it would be bad as early as the opening paragraphs when the main character's whole day was ruined by the horror, the drama of being woken up by the sound of water sprinklers. Are you kidding? It set the tone and virtually any inane detail was enough for the author to attempt to create a drama filled day. And if she described the main character putting her hair in a ponytail with a pencil one more time, I was going to scream. What? Did the author need to meet a page quota so went back and insert a pony tail sentence 100 times? Maybe she could have at least had the pencil play into the plot? Like the stupid red chopstick. I feel the same about the character's use of the f word. I can't decide if it fit the character and it seemed inserted randomly throughout her comments.
Synopsis: Jaded thirty something Hollywood publicist becomes immersed in corporate hijinks after the agency she works for merges with another agency. She doesn't know who to trust except her wealthy gay male assistant, Stephen.
Synopsis: Jaded thirty something Hollywood publicist becomes immersed in corporate hijinks after the agency she works for merges with another agency. She doesn't know who to trust except her wealthy gay male assistant, Stephen.
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August 9, 2011This book is total crap and reads like a long "Star" magazine article only since it's fiction, who cares? Why did I read this? Why did I finish it? Perhaps only to help me realize that mindless dribble qualifies for publication to spur me on to write my first novel. TOILET PAPER!
July 28, 2017
An insider view of Hollywood and doing what is right in the end.
January 12, 2018
I wondered why this book was rated only at a 3 mostly. I feel like the last half of the book got tired of its own plot. It's a super fun read with snark and cynicism, but it lacks heart.
April 6, 2022
Boring
January 5, 2020
What a waste of paper.
July 6, 2018
Note: This review was originally written in the early 2000s and published for a no longer running website: AudiobookCafe. This review is focused on both the book and audiobook. Grab your cell phone, bottled water, planner and join Alex as she battles the press to protect the image of her client, battles her client to protect her sanity, and battles her boss to keep her job. Life as a publicist is crazy, hectic, and unrewarding, but somebody has got to do it. However, Alex is starting to wonder if it should be her. As a publicist, she must protect the image of her clients and play spin-doctor when things go astray. At the DWP agency, she mostly re-launches the careers of Hollywood stars that have fallen on hard times. She gives their image a total makeover and sends them back into Hollywood to find their way back to the top. Yeah sure, it sounds easy—but when you have a client that is perpetually drunk and/or high, as well as a complete womanizer, it can certainly be a challenge.
Besides a troublesome client, the DWP agency has unexpectedly merged with a larger press agency known for their drastic overhauls when merging and taking over other agencies. As the story unravels, Alex quickly watches the underminded tactics of the merging company, BIG and their hidden intent to dissolve DWP. A sublet war of threats and discharges sugar-coated with niceties and smiles quickly ensures while Alex determines what side she should be on or if she should just give up and find a new career.
Alex is the typical sassy, bright, sweet, somewhat-klutzy, and strong-willed woman that in recent years has been an archetype for “chick lit.” Like similar heroines, she’s having trouble both with her job and her personal life. Rather Alex’s personal life is non-existent as her career dominates her life. Most people she meets are the “Hollywood type” that she is just not interested. However, she does find herself quickly becoming involved with Charles, a manager at DWP from the New York division. Of course, as the company is jumbled around and rumors spread about BIG’s course of action, Charles and Alex have their issues about the future of DWP, their careers, and their budding relationship.
Laura Hamilton reads this audiobook with all the spunk and sass one would associate with a young female publicist in Hollywood on the brink of breakdown. Partially high-maintenance but moreso hyperactive, Alex comes to life with Hamilton’s reading. With youthful vibrancy mixed with sharp attitude, Hamilton makes one’s time listening to Alex, quite intimate.
De Vries tells a fantastically fun story with plenty of jokes and laughs to keep listener enthralled. Alex finds herself in numerous awkward and amusing situations, including dealing with her stoned client while at a photo shoot as well as being caught in the office with Charles on the verge of having sex. From one chapter to the next, the story moves quickly keeping the listener entertained and wondering. The nature of her book is fast-paced (after all, in Hollywood, life happens much faster), but making this book abridged might not have been the best decision. The book moves so fast that the end hits the listener a little too quickly and almost wishing for more. Give us more of Alex and her exploits!
What’s interesting is that the author uses both real and imagined names when discussing Hollywood actors. The imagined names strike great interest because there is always the possibility that they are modeled after someone and for fear of a lawsuit are given a pseudonym.
“So 5 Minutes Ago” recants a lonely girl’s adventures in the eternal thunderstorm known as Hollywood. Akin to many females, she’s up against a sexist system and comes out on top in the end, but certainly with her share of war stories. However, de Vries’s story is not nearly that melodramatic, but rather fun, witty, and entertaining; a great audiobook to listen to when looking to escape your own daily rut.
Besides a troublesome client, the DWP agency has unexpectedly merged with a larger press agency known for their drastic overhauls when merging and taking over other agencies. As the story unravels, Alex quickly watches the underminded tactics of the merging company, BIG and their hidden intent to dissolve DWP. A sublet war of threats and discharges sugar-coated with niceties and smiles quickly ensures while Alex determines what side she should be on or if she should just give up and find a new career.
Alex is the typical sassy, bright, sweet, somewhat-klutzy, and strong-willed woman that in recent years has been an archetype for “chick lit.” Like similar heroines, she’s having trouble both with her job and her personal life. Rather Alex’s personal life is non-existent as her career dominates her life. Most people she meets are the “Hollywood type” that she is just not interested. However, she does find herself quickly becoming involved with Charles, a manager at DWP from the New York division. Of course, as the company is jumbled around and rumors spread about BIG’s course of action, Charles and Alex have their issues about the future of DWP, their careers, and their budding relationship.
Laura Hamilton reads this audiobook with all the spunk and sass one would associate with a young female publicist in Hollywood on the brink of breakdown. Partially high-maintenance but moreso hyperactive, Alex comes to life with Hamilton’s reading. With youthful vibrancy mixed with sharp attitude, Hamilton makes one’s time listening to Alex, quite intimate.
De Vries tells a fantastically fun story with plenty of jokes and laughs to keep listener enthralled. Alex finds herself in numerous awkward and amusing situations, including dealing with her stoned client while at a photo shoot as well as being caught in the office with Charles on the verge of having sex. From one chapter to the next, the story moves quickly keeping the listener entertained and wondering. The nature of her book is fast-paced (after all, in Hollywood, life happens much faster), but making this book abridged might not have been the best decision. The book moves so fast that the end hits the listener a little too quickly and almost wishing for more. Give us more of Alex and her exploits!
What’s interesting is that the author uses both real and imagined names when discussing Hollywood actors. The imagined names strike great interest because there is always the possibility that they are modeled after someone and for fear of a lawsuit are given a pseudonym.
“So 5 Minutes Ago” recants a lonely girl’s adventures in the eternal thunderstorm known as Hollywood. Akin to many females, she’s up against a sexist system and comes out on top in the end, but certainly with her share of war stories. However, de Vries’s story is not nearly that melodramatic, but rather fun, witty, and entertaining; a great audiobook to listen to when looking to escape your own daily rut.
December 28, 2010
If I previously thought that chick lit will always be the best go-to book for a light read, then I am now going to change that opinion. This book was too negative and whiny and I could not get through each chapter without thinking that I would love to strangle the main character Alex if I were given the chance.
The story is about a Hollywood publicist in her thirties, Alex Davidson, who finds herself torn between her loyalty for her previous DWP boss Suzanne, and the new boss of DWP - G, amidst juggling her career keeping B-list Hollywood clients' careers afloat, her personal and love life, and her family.
This book had so much promise because once I read the blurb in the book, it just screams "Girl Power!" and that was why I could not wait to read it. I. Was. Wrong. The potential girl power story turned out to be a major bitch fest of a thirty-something woman against the whole world. I would have been able to look past that if the rest of the story is great but the lukewarm climax and ending, the fictional celebrity names like 'Scrappy,' 'Scooby,' or 'Phoenix,' and shallow minor conflicts that tried to create tension where there shouldn't be did not help this read to be salvageable.
But bland, whiny plot aside, I thought the writing was good, dialogue crisp, characters vivid and realistic. I would have loved even bitchy Alex if the plot were different or written more creatively. Among the characters however, I loved Steve, Alex's assistant, the most. He's such a fun, down-to-earth, and efficient assistant and friend to Alex, I would have loved to meet him if he were real.
So overall, this book is light, interesting due to its Hollywood theme, but not really that earth-shattering. If you would like to get an inside peek on Hollywood, you may pick up this book, but only for the sole purpose of looking into the inner workings of that formidable industry. Otherwise, steer clear of this book. A good read this book does not make. Only something to waste time while I dunno, waiting for your break in Hollywood, I guess.
The story is about a Hollywood publicist in her thirties, Alex Davidson, who finds herself torn between her loyalty for her previous DWP boss Suzanne, and the new boss of DWP - G, amidst juggling her career keeping B-list Hollywood clients' careers afloat, her personal and love life, and her family.
This book had so much promise because once I read the blurb in the book, it just screams "Girl Power!" and that was why I could not wait to read it. I. Was. Wrong. The potential girl power story turned out to be a major bitch fest of a thirty-something woman against the whole world. I would have been able to look past that if the rest of the story is great but the lukewarm climax and ending, the fictional celebrity names like 'Scrappy,' 'Scooby,' or 'Phoenix,' and shallow minor conflicts that tried to create tension where there shouldn't be did not help this read to be salvageable.
But bland, whiny plot aside, I thought the writing was good, dialogue crisp, characters vivid and realistic. I would have loved even bitchy Alex if the plot were different or written more creatively. Among the characters however, I loved Steve, Alex's assistant, the most. He's such a fun, down-to-earth, and efficient assistant and friend to Alex, I would have loved to meet him if he were real.
So overall, this book is light, interesting due to its Hollywood theme, but not really that earth-shattering. If you would like to get an inside peek on Hollywood, you may pick up this book, but only for the sole purpose of looking into the inner workings of that formidable industry. Otherwise, steer clear of this book. A good read this book does not make. Only something to waste time while I dunno, waiting for your break in Hollywood, I guess.
August 16, 2012
This is one of those “girl-from-back-East-goes-to-Hollywood-and-makes-good” type of novels that I adore so much. I mean, come on... what are the chances that a middle-aged gay man from North Carolina would ever get to move to Hollywood and work with movie stars on a daily basis ? Answer that question and you'll see exactly why I live so vicariously through these types of books.
This is the story of Alex Davidson, a pretty, mid-thirties publicist that's working at a rather well-know agency that handles B celebrities (and former A celebrities whose careers have hit the skids). As you might imagine, this can lead to quite a few wacky adventures with the paranoid and extremely eccentric clients. There’s a client that obviously Matthew McConaughey (Troy Madden) and one that's obviously Cher (The Phoenix). Since the author was (is ?) a publicist in real life, I have to wonder if she did indeed have these people as clients at one time. Hmmm.
With the help of her sassy gay assistant, no-nonsense best friend and The Phoenix, she finds herself involuntarily involved in some rather serious interoffice politics and has to take down the crooked Hollywood bigwigs that are about to put a lot of undeserving people out of work and besides it’s the right thing to do... Alex is a good girl and if she can correct some injustice, she will.
I liked this book and but wished the author had made it longer and fleshed it out a bit. Unfortunately, I was left feeling a little deflated at the end.
This is the story of Alex Davidson, a pretty, mid-thirties publicist that's working at a rather well-know agency that handles B celebrities (and former A celebrities whose careers have hit the skids). As you might imagine, this can lead to quite a few wacky adventures with the paranoid and extremely eccentric clients. There’s a client that obviously Matthew McConaughey (Troy Madden) and one that's obviously Cher (The Phoenix). Since the author was (is ?) a publicist in real life, I have to wonder if she did indeed have these people as clients at one time. Hmmm.
With the help of her sassy gay assistant, no-nonsense best friend and The Phoenix, she finds herself involuntarily involved in some rather serious interoffice politics and has to take down the crooked Hollywood bigwigs that are about to put a lot of undeserving people out of work and besides it’s the right thing to do... Alex is a good girl and if she can correct some injustice, she will.
I liked this book and but wished the author had made it longer and fleshed it out a bit. Unfortunately, I was left feeling a little deflated at the end.
May 21, 2021
Alex Davidson is a publicist at a top Holly wood firm, DWP. But her life is a mess. She is young, divorced, dissatisfied with her career, at odds with family, and then her firm merges with another - making the future uncertain. Soon, she is caught-up in a power play between G and Suzanne, confused by the new attentions of Charles and busy as ever keeping old clients happy and new clients out of trouble. In the end, she saves the agency, gets the guy, and starts to plan for a better future.
Completely apparent (transparent) that the author covers Hollywood as a freelance journalist. I never quite got how Charles fit in to the BIG-DWP scheme. Was he a boss? An employee? A consultant? Steven, her assistant, was too stereotypically gay - and just one dimensional. Even Alex's family problems were never fully detailed, let alone resolved. Nice that she could play "hero", but unrealistic to think that things would work this way.
Completely apparent (transparent) that the author covers Hollywood as a freelance journalist. I never quite got how Charles fit in to the BIG-DWP scheme. Was he a boss? An employee? A consultant? Steven, her assistant, was too stereotypically gay - and just one dimensional. Even Alex's family problems were never fully detailed, let alone resolved. Nice that she could play "hero", but unrealistic to think that things would work this way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2016
I was surprised how far in to this story it took me to appreciate the characters and humor, but about half way through this short work I really began to enjoy the story. It was interesting trying to guess (in some cases) who the real life model for some of the celebrity characters could have been (if this were not a complete work of fiction, that is) and I enjoyed that more than the actual name-dropping in the book. Although short, it was probably about the right length for a story about public relations in Hollywood and culture that supports such an industry - or is that really the other way around?
July 24, 2007
I'm not a huge fan of this book. I actually listened to the second in the series first a couple of months ago and thought it was also just okay. I did like the second one a little better although both are pretty slow moving.
In both books the main character is pretty whiny and she has all these demanding terrible clients that don't really seem that bad. Both books had a lot of potential but they never really made me interested.
Of all the chick lit books out there I wouldn't recommend this book or the second in the series, "The Gift Bag Chronicles."
In both books the main character is pretty whiny and she has all these demanding terrible clients that don't really seem that bad. Both books had a lot of potential but they never really made me interested.
Of all the chick lit books out there I wouldn't recommend this book or the second in the series, "The Gift Bag Chronicles."
May 2, 2010
Honestly, I didn't finish this one. I tried. I meandered through this book for about a month, picking it up, putting it down. It just didn't grip me. The dialogue was good for the most part, and the premise seemed like it should have worked. It just...lacked. For those of us looking for romance in a romance categorized book, that explains a lot. I didn't finish it, but I got three quarters of the way through. There was some dating, but...romance was still not there.
Sorry Hilary, but I won't be recommending this one.
Sorry Hilary, but I won't be recommending this one.
December 1, 2008
This book is not so great. I have only recenctly discovered how much I enjoy chick lit, and this didn't really rise to that level.
The protagonist is neurotic; her prince is stereotypical, and the plot line requires you to pay a lot of attention to a Hollywood studio drama that I had trouble with. I guess that is why I don't live in LA...
So, I got it at the discount store and read it on the beach, and it was good for that.
The protagonist is neurotic; her prince is stereotypical, and the plot line requires you to pay a lot of attention to a Hollywood studio drama that I had trouble with. I guess that is why I don't live in LA...
So, I got it at the discount store and read it on the beach, and it was good for that.
July 15, 2016
The most I can say for this one is "meh." Certainly not as good as some of the other Hollywood girl-making-her-way novels I've read. The main character, Alex Davidson, was very unsure about her own future, about her job, about her family. She spends most of the book just trying to hold on to her career, even though she hates it and then the "big conspiracy" of the plot tends to get murky and have no real beginning or end. Just a blah sort of novel.
May 8, 2010
I listened to this "book" ona long car trip. As an audio book, it took sometime to get into & the language left a bit to be desired but by the end I was looking forward to finding out the ending. I think that if I had actually read this book, I would have been disappointed but for company on a long car ride? Not bad.
July 27, 2016
The title of this book says it all. Normally I like the Hollywood story but this one just never developed. The characters remained shallow the entire book. The audio version of this book is irritating as the voice over actress has the same voice for all characters and tries to read the book like she is talking but it's all around unsuccessful.
October 11, 2007
I'm taking out books based on titles and I seem to be drawn to these fluffy "Melrose Place" type books lately....It was a fast read about a woman in PR in Los Angeles.....ligth, fluffy and well it is what it is.....If that is what you are in the mood for...go for it - it's okay
January 17, 2008
Eh. I can't give this one much more than 2 stars, and that might actually be a stretch. I felt like the plot progressed VERY slowly and it didn't hold my attention all that well. Her first book, The Gift Bag Chronicles, was far superior.
October 29, 2008
The only thing I really liked about this book was the education of how "inside Hollywood" works. I didn't know much about publicists and agents or what they did before reading.
So 5 Minutes Ago is like the no-frills version of The Devil Wears Prada. Read that one instead.
So 5 Minutes Ago is like the no-frills version of The Devil Wears Prada. Read that one instead.
February 20, 2009
Amusing, but I thought Hilary was trying too create another in the genre of The Devil Wears Prada or The Nanny Diaries. Still, for the sort of fluff it is, it might be a fun summer read, but reading it in January had me rolling my eyes until I needed crutches for my eyelids.
June 20, 2011
I listened to the book on tape. It was interesting and good enough to listen to in the car, but I didn't love the story. I didn't hate it by any means, but the characters did not move me nor did the plot. I will leave it at "okay."
July 25, 2013
I knew from the first few chapters that this was not a winner (bad writing, dumb plot) so I'm not sure why I kept plugging away but the fact that it took me like 3.5 months to finish it should be review enough. I was basically trying to read anything else BUT this book!
December 3, 2025
1.5 stars. I don't know how this book came across when it was first published, but the references are very dated and oftentimes borderline offensive (use of the R word, calling people dykes, regular references to Latino/as being cleaning and wait staff).
Read
May 19, 2007This book is okay. There isn't much of a story line.
January 4, 2008
Ok. Nothing special.
July 9, 2008
Probably 2 and a half. It did not thrill me. It was a quick read, but I did not love the characters.
May 17, 2008
I need to re-read this book. It has been so long I don't even remember anything in it. I only recall that it was a quick read.
June 10, 2008
another summer read. not bad, somewhat predictable, could have been better but good library checkout.
Read
February 17, 2009Quick read. Fairly entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews