What do you think?
Rate this book
My Own Personal Soap Opera: Looking for Reality in All the Wrong Places (Paperback) - Common
Is life stranger than fiction, or vice versa? Frankie McNally has found the perfect solution for life's perplexing 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.
318 pages, Unknown Binding
First published April 1, 2010
42 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 20, 2010
really a 2.5 rating
Ugh...I so hate writing not-so-positive reviews. But this book just did not do it for me. In fact, I put it down for a while and read some other books in between. Which I never do.
It's just the main character, Frankie, annoyed me. I thought she was whiny and way too into this "I'm the boss" thing. I don't care that you have books in your queue online about how to manage people (and she said this sooo many times). Anytime something happened, Frankie kept reverting back to "but I'm the boss so it's my way" mentality and it just got old.
The whole love triangle between Frankie and the older Victor and same age Luke was interesting. For a while there, I couldn't decide who I liked more but I liked the end choice.
I've read other positive reviews of this book, so maybe it's just me, but this wasn't my cup of tea.
Ugh...I so hate writing not-so-positive reviews. But this book just did not do it for me. In fact, I put it down for a while and read some other books in between. Which I never do.
It's just the main character, Frankie, annoyed me. I thought she was whiny and way too into this "I'm the boss" thing. I don't care that you have books in your queue online about how to manage people (and she said this sooo many times). Anytime something happened, Frankie kept reverting back to "but I'm the boss so it's my way" mentality and it just got old.
The whole love triangle between Frankie and the older Victor and same age Luke was interesting. For a while there, I couldn't decide who I liked more but I liked the end choice.
I've read other positive reviews of this book, so maybe it's just me, but this wasn't my cup of tea.
April 18, 2010
Growing up I occasionally watched “The Doctors” and “As the World Turns” with my Mom. So when I heard the title of Libby Malin’s latest release, I knew I had to read it.
“My Own Personal Soap Opera” is the story of Frankie McNally, the head writer for “Lust for Life,” a daytime soap. Frankie has a good life, but she tends to be a little insecure thanks to her lousy ex-husband, Brian.
Frankie’s life begins to get more confusing than the soap she’s writing for. First, her ex has written a novel with a character based on her. Next, the soap’s ratings are dropping. The show’s main advertiser sends in a dashing older man, Victor Pendergrast, with management skills to help pull the show out of the slumps. Meanwhile, the hot leading man, Luke Blade, is busy trying to seduce her. She has a secretary that always seems to be gone when she needs her. To top off the chaos, a jewel thief begins copying the show’s storyline.
While Frankie tries to work through her developing feelings for both Victor and Luke, she has to deal with the public’s increasing interest in the thief’s storyline, thanks to the real criminal. Ratings begin to increase but Frankie feels they should cut the thief plot out of the story before someone is hurt.
The growing attraction between Frankie and Victor will keep you spellbound. As the two fight their feelings for each other, they also battle their own inner demons of insecurity.
Author Libby Malin pulls in the character of Victor’s matriarch aunt who’s starting to lose the distinction between reality and Crestview, the home of the Lust for Life characters. The tender moments between Victor and his Aunt Gussie create a heart for this storyline. I say this because most of us remember watching soaps with family members and fun times we shared, much as the characters in this story do.
The antics of the writers and the lengths Luke will go will have you laughing, sometimes even out loud. Among the ups and downs of writing a soap opera and dealing with real life, the reader is reminded of the mysterious thief. Clues are peppered among the plot, but the mystery isn’t revealed until right at the end.
You don’t have to be a soap opera fan to enjoy this book. My Own Personal Soap Opera shows that life can be funnier and, in some cases, more unbelievable than a television show. Once you begin this adventure, you won’t be able to quit until you reach the end. If you are a soap fan, you’ll never view your show the same way again. From beginning to end, this is a delightful read.
“My Own Personal Soap Opera” is the story of Frankie McNally, the head writer for “Lust for Life,” a daytime soap. Frankie has a good life, but she tends to be a little insecure thanks to her lousy ex-husband, Brian.
Frankie’s life begins to get more confusing than the soap she’s writing for. First, her ex has written a novel with a character based on her. Next, the soap’s ratings are dropping. The show’s main advertiser sends in a dashing older man, Victor Pendergrast, with management skills to help pull the show out of the slumps. Meanwhile, the hot leading man, Luke Blade, is busy trying to seduce her. She has a secretary that always seems to be gone when she needs her. To top off the chaos, a jewel thief begins copying the show’s storyline.
While Frankie tries to work through her developing feelings for both Victor and Luke, she has to deal with the public’s increasing interest in the thief’s storyline, thanks to the real criminal. Ratings begin to increase but Frankie feels they should cut the thief plot out of the story before someone is hurt.
The growing attraction between Frankie and Victor will keep you spellbound. As the two fight their feelings for each other, they also battle their own inner demons of insecurity.
Author Libby Malin pulls in the character of Victor’s matriarch aunt who’s starting to lose the distinction between reality and Crestview, the home of the Lust for Life characters. The tender moments between Victor and his Aunt Gussie create a heart for this storyline. I say this because most of us remember watching soaps with family members and fun times we shared, much as the characters in this story do.
The antics of the writers and the lengths Luke will go will have you laughing, sometimes even out loud. Among the ups and downs of writing a soap opera and dealing with real life, the reader is reminded of the mysterious thief. Clues are peppered among the plot, but the mystery isn’t revealed until right at the end.
You don’t have to be a soap opera fan to enjoy this book. My Own Personal Soap Opera shows that life can be funnier and, in some cases, more unbelievable than a television show. Once you begin this adventure, you won’t be able to quit until you reach the end. If you are a soap fan, you’ll never view your show the same way again. From beginning to end, this is a delightful read.
March 31, 2010
Libby Malin's My Own Personal Soap Operais the hysterical tale of Frankie McNally, head writer for the long-running soap opera Lust for Life. Growing up, Frankie watched the show every day with her mother, and it still one of their biggest connections. Frankie is doing all she can to hold things together at the struggling serial, with a writing team that could be a cast of characters on their own show, and a disinterested producer only looking for his next step on the corporate ladder. When Victor Pendergast, head of the corporation that sponsors the show begins taking an active interest in scripts and the daily behind-the-scenes doings, Frankie's low confidence in herself and weak sense of authority roll into overdrive, causing her to say and do foolish things, usually around Victor. The two manage to pull together a balanced working environment based on strong personal interests in keeping Lust for Life alive. With Victor's strength and Frankie's creative ideas, the two are able to pull together a team that can breath Life back into Lust!
Being honest, I must say that at the beginning of My Own Personal Soap OperaI found Frankie's low self-confidence and constant straining to assert her authority annoying. But as she saw her ideas working out, and trusted Victor's belief in her, she became the person I wanted her to be.
In the end I was confident that she could lead her staff and bring up the ratings on Lust for Life. My Own Personal Soap Opera is a super-fun read, especially as we move into beach reading season!
Being honest, I must say that at the beginning of My Own Personal Soap OperaI found Frankie's low self-confidence and constant straining to assert her authority annoying. But as she saw her ideas working out, and trusted Victor's belief in her, she became the person I wanted her to be.
In the end I was confident that she could lead her staff and bring up the ratings on Lust for Life. My Own Personal Soap Opera is a super-fun read, especially as we move into beach reading season!
April 10, 2010
Frankie McNally is the head writer for the soap opera television show, Lust for Life. It is hard to come up with new materials; thus the slippage in ratings. I mean…there are only so many times you can kill someone off before it is old news. Frankie gets the break she was looking for in an unexpected way. A jewel thief is copying the plot from the show in their heists. Some would say this is the greatest form of flattery. Things are sure to get wild when they involve Frankie.
My Own Personal Soap Opera is the second book I have read by Libby Malin. Just like the last book, My Own Personal Soap Opera had some very funny, crazy, kooky moments. My favorite moment had to be at the beginning when Frankie was talking on the phone about offing someone. She kept getting all these strange looks, including one from a police officer. While this book did make me laugh, I wish I could have laughed all throughout the book versus just in several areas of the book. I knew soap operas could be crazy but I didn’t know they could get psycho crazy. Now that is a whole nether level. Frankie’s real life was much more exciting then the television show, Lust for Life. Frankie was the star of the story. The rest of the characters were more secondary. Though, another good read by Libby Malin.
My Own Personal Soap Opera is the second book I have read by Libby Malin. Just like the last book, My Own Personal Soap Opera had some very funny, crazy, kooky moments. My favorite moment had to be at the beginning when Frankie was talking on the phone about offing someone. She kept getting all these strange looks, including one from a police officer. While this book did make me laugh, I wish I could have laughed all throughout the book versus just in several areas of the book. I knew soap operas could be crazy but I didn’t know they could get psycho crazy. Now that is a whole nether level. Frankie’s real life was much more exciting then the television show, Lust for Life. Frankie was the star of the story. The rest of the characters were more secondary. Though, another good read by Libby Malin.
August 12, 2010
Once upon a time, I was hooked on soap operas so when I saw this book, I thought it looked like an amusing story premise. What I didn't realize was that in the 8-10 years since I quit watching soaps is that my taste for over-the-top story telling has disappeared completely. I suspect I would have enjoyed this book at one time, but it was just too overwrought for me. Libby Malin did a great job imitating the soap opera style of storytelling; it just isn't a style that I enjoy anymore.
April 12, 2010
I have to admit I thought the whole book was pretty hilarious. The opening scene of Frankie talking on her cell phone to her mother describing what the characters in her soap opera Lust For Life would possibly do and the reactions of those around her are priceless! This is definitely a great summer read.
April 20, 2010
link to my blog review
http://bit.ly/9jqxDt
http://bit.ly/9jqxDt
July 20, 2010
Urgh!
August 25, 2010
Fun romp through the TV soap opera world.
August 13, 2016
Not really my sort of book, but really well-written. Someone who likes humourous contemporary romance more than I do would probably love it.
May 18, 2013
light and easy read... funny at times... but pretty fluffy, which it was supposed to be.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews