Bite

by C.J. Tosh

GO ON. DO IT. BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW. It's Sam Leighton's job as a celebrity journalist to get the scoop on Hollywood's top celebs. But when rumors fly that she cozied up too close to an Oscar-winning Australian, she finds herself looking for a new job -- and a new life. Enter Tom Sanders, one of her closest friends and the life-style editor at a business magazine. To console Sam, he invites her out for dirty martinis, and they fantasize about the magazine they'd start if they could. It would be smart and sexy. It would be all about the ways you can have fun in the world. Then it dawns on Maybe they could. NOW SWALLOW. Sam and Tom take the message of their new magazine -- it's called Bite -- to heart. They rent cool offices. They test-drive story ideas. They hire a staff of friends old and new. And before the first issue comes out, the new staffers do all the other things young people do. They pickle their livers and obsess over unattainable loves. They dish about celebrities and bicker among themselves. And ultimately they learn one big Life is short, so take a big bite. Hilarious and witty, Bite offers a delicious behind-the-scenes taste of life at an upstart glossy where everyone's just trying to grab a little piece of the good life!

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2003

Reviews

[Julia Geller · Rating 2 out of 5]

ummmm … okay I’m confused.

Idk I grabbed this book at a thrift store for a fun light read. It’s sexy and glamorous, for sure but there were way too many names and random storylines to follow. Takes forever to pick up the pace and all the names sound the same and there’s a web of character relationships to keep track of that don’t seem relevant to the storyline at all. Love the dual perspective and the dynamic between the two protagonists is fun fun fun, but that’s about all that kept me going.

Anyways I wish I was a glamorous magazine editor in Manhattan that had a trust fund and a dream 😌

[John Arden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, just don't look for a lot of substance.

[Melissa (Vacation Mode) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Samantha Sam Leighton is at the top of her career. She's a magazine journalist who makes a living interviewing famous people, until the rumor of a scandalous event gets her fired. She then goes into a deep depression and can't seem to drag herself from the couch to decide what to do next. To complicate matters, Sam is torn between two men. She has a wild obsession with emotionally and physically unavailable Chris, who drops in from time to time when not on a dig in Egypt. Her 'in-between' guy, Jack, is great for the occasional date and hot sex, but he's mostly just a warm body to combat the loneliness. Will Sam be able to choose once and for all, or is she 'destined to die alone'?

Tom Sanders, who is gay, is Sam's best friend. He works for another magazine as a lifestyle editor, but he's bored with his job and wants more excitement and independence. His dream is to start his own magazine, and when Sam gets fired, that's all the push he needs. Tom brings Sam onboard as his co-editor and Bite is born, envisioned as a sexy, smart magazine that appeals to people on their own level - nothing pretentious. They bring some of their friends and co-workers along for the ride. Liza, Sam's friend, is tired of her rich socialite life and is itching to get to work as the art director. Veronica, Tom's co-worker, is a fabulous photo editor. Throw in a few other outrageous people, and the magazine just might work. Will they have what it takes to overcome the multitude of obstacles thrown in the way of their debut?

At first glance, I thought Bite was a typical formulaic chick lit novel - a single girl journalist, working in New York, obsessed with an unattainable man, and with a funny gay male best friend. However, once the characters are introduced and the reader gets a feel for the plot, things pick up and the story flows at a great pace. Bite is saucy, sexy, irreverent, and a wonderfully fun read. I cheered for the characters to get their magazine off the ground, and to make it a huge success. Sam's dilemmas with love will resound with readers experiencing the same issues. It's easier to look at a problem from the outside, and looking at Sam's romantic struggles can help readers to figure out their own. The authors, Rebecca Ascher-Walsh and Erik Torkells, writing under the pseudonym C. J. Tosh, know the magazine business firsthand. Their expertise shows in the insider details of publishing, editing, and launching a new venture, and brings the story to a higher level.

For a change from typical offerings, Bite is a fresh and often hilarious look at life, love, and relationships - with a bit of work thrown in for variety. As Tom and Sam say, 'Life is short, so take a big bite.'

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good but I wouldn't call it great. It was light hearted, which was what I was looking for after some darker topics I've read lately. I didn't think the characters were trite (they very easily could have been). I did like that regardless of their age each character was still learning and growing both emotionally and mentally. But....while I would love to live the lives of these anyone of these characters, it just wasn't plausible. My rich parents aren't going to ride in a pay for everything. MTV isn't going to want to do a reality show about my life.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book almost gets it but not quite. Filled with conversations about who is sleeping with who, gossip, etc etc. Kind of fantastical. The cultural references are a little old (published in 2003). Eh okay.

[Nancy Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as part of a local library incentive 'blind date with a book'. It was wrapped in a brown paper bag. However, I thorougly enjoyed this read. Dealt with modern day issues with normal people.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Chiclit!

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I( read this book a very long time ago, so I don't remember specifics, but I do remember that I enjoyed it lol Worst review ever? I think so. XD

[Cj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining young professionals start a magazine. Lots love life info makes it a bit soap operaish. And it's long. And predictable. But fun.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan

[Rachel Gioia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun little read. It's fun to live vicariously through fictional characters living the good life and hobnobbing with celebrities. The concept is fun. Enjoyable read.

[Slone]

a good beach read

[Sayoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

typical pop-fic TP...