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Killing Monica
This is the book fans of Candace Bushnell have been waiting for. From the author of Sex and the City, Lipstick Jungle, and The Carrie Diaries comes an addictive story about fame, love, and foolishness that will keep readers enthralled to the very last enticing scene.
Pandy "PJ" Wallis is a renowned writer whose novels about a young woman making her way in Manhattan have spawned a series of blockbuster films. After the success of the Monica books and movies, Pandy wants to attempt something different: a historical novel based on her ancestor Lady Wallis. But Pandy's publishers and audience only want her to keep cranking out more Monica-as does her greedy husband, Jonny, who's gone deeply in debt to finance his new restaurant in Las Vegas.
When her marriage crumbles and the boathouse of her family home in Connecticut goes up in flames, Pandy suddenly realizes she has an opportunity to reinvent herself. But to do so, she will have to reconcile with her ex-best friend and former partner in crime, SondraBeth Schnowzer, who plays Monica on the big screen-and who may have her own reasons to derail Pandy's startling change of plan.
In KILLING MONICA, Candace Bushnell spoofs and skewers her way through pop culture, celebrity worship, fame, and the meaning of identity. With her trademark humor and style, this is Bushnell's sharpest, funniest book to date
Pandy "PJ" Wallis is a renowned writer whose novels about a young woman making her way in Manhattan have spawned a series of blockbuster films. After the success of the Monica books and movies, Pandy wants to attempt something different: a historical novel based on her ancestor Lady Wallis. But Pandy's publishers and audience only want her to keep cranking out more Monica-as does her greedy husband, Jonny, who's gone deeply in debt to finance his new restaurant in Las Vegas.
When her marriage crumbles and the boathouse of her family home in Connecticut goes up in flames, Pandy suddenly realizes she has an opportunity to reinvent herself. But to do so, she will have to reconcile with her ex-best friend and former partner in crime, SondraBeth Schnowzer, who plays Monica on the big screen-and who may have her own reasons to derail Pandy's startling change of plan.
In KILLING MONICA, Candace Bushnell spoofs and skewers her way through pop culture, celebrity worship, fame, and the meaning of identity. With her trademark humor and style, this is Bushnell's sharpest, funniest book to date
308 pages, Hardcover
First published June 23, 2015
222 people are currently reading
5549 people want to read
About the author
Candace Bushnell
45 books3,354 followersCandace Bushnell is the critically acclaimed, international best-selling author of Killing Monica, Sex and the City, Summer and the City, The Carrie Diaries, One Fifth Avenue, Lipstick Jungle, Trading Up, and Four Blondes. Sex and the City, published in 1996, was the basis for the HBO hit series and two subsequent blockbuster movies. Lipstick Jungle became a popular television series on NBC, as did The Carrie Diaries on the CW.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 673 reviews
August 3, 2018
Could someone please explain to me what I just spent 2 days reading? Maybe I am not the targeted audience which should have been YA with a lot of vulgarity, heavy drinking, drugs, and some sex; but I should have found some entertainment value in this book, shouldn't I have? I mean the character of Pandy is supposed to be in her 40's - well she is before and after part 2.
This is a cliched look into the lives of an author and an actress -how the author wants to write something 'meaningful' and what craziness happens when her meaningful book gets rejected. Oh yeah, it is also about the horrible choices that Pandy makes in picking out a man, marrying him and then getting a divorce.
This book could have been written in the'90's and for all intents and purposes just comes off as reconstituted Sex in the City but without the freshness. I mean come on, this woman is in her 40's, shouldn't she have had some dignity?
The 'mystery' of Pandy's sister -could it have been any more obvious?
And by the way just what are "salty lights" and the "San Geronimo" festival? Yes, I know this is fiction, but if you are going to do a take-off on something real (the San Gennaro Festival perhaps?) at least give it a better name (unless this was changed before publication?)
Flat, cliched, unbelievable characters - outlandish, trite plot - some humorous bits.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
This is a cliched look into the lives of an author and an actress -how the author wants to write something 'meaningful' and what craziness happens when her meaningful book gets rejected. Oh yeah, it is also about the horrible choices that Pandy makes in picking out a man, marrying him and then getting a divorce.
This book could have been written in the'90's and for all intents and purposes just comes off as reconstituted Sex in the City but without the freshness. I mean come on, this woman is in her 40's, shouldn't she have had some dignity?
The 'mystery' of Pandy's sister -could it have been any more obvious?
And by the way just what are "salty lights" and the "San Geronimo" festival? Yes, I know this is fiction, but if you are going to do a take-off on something real (the San Gennaro Festival perhaps?) at least give it a better name (unless this was changed before publication?)
Flat, cliched, unbelievable characters - outlandish, trite plot - some humorous bits.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
May 26, 2015
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
SPOILER ALERT
Up until the last chapter or so of this book, I was on board with it. The idea intrigued me - how to kill Monica, the creation that made the main character into a celebrated author. The entire time I was wondering if Ms. Bushnell would want to kill Carrie Bradshaw if she could. Is it understandable or biting the hand that feeds? The supporting characters were cute and I enjoyed that it was set up into the present and two separate flashbacks (the history and demise of her best friendship and the history and demise of her marriage). I was completely ready to write a three star review and suggest it be read with a glass of champagne, but then...
...Ms. Bushnell insulted the entire transgender community by allowing the "missing" sister to end up being Henry, the very present manager-agent. Pandy/PJ kept hinting at her sister's disappearance, allowing me to think that the sister died or cut off communication or never even existed! In reality, her sister identifies as a male and goes by the name Henry. Henry and Pandy have a great relationship except for the fact that Pandy seems to act like her sister is dead! If Ms. Bushnell wants to utilize a transgender character, that is fine, but she should've done her homework and either a) had Henry living openly and maybe even described any backlash Henry felt from living as a male or b) had Henry not telling others that he was assigned female at birth, but describing how this made Henry and/or Pandy feel. It is not appropriate to make Henry's gender orientation a "big secret" from the readers - the "reveal" was not appreciated.
SPOILER ALERT
Up until the last chapter or so of this book, I was on board with it. The idea intrigued me - how to kill Monica, the creation that made the main character into a celebrated author. The entire time I was wondering if Ms. Bushnell would want to kill Carrie Bradshaw if she could. Is it understandable or biting the hand that feeds? The supporting characters were cute and I enjoyed that it was set up into the present and two separate flashbacks (the history and demise of her best friendship and the history and demise of her marriage). I was completely ready to write a three star review and suggest it be read with a glass of champagne, but then...
...Ms. Bushnell insulted the entire transgender community by allowing the "missing" sister to end up being Henry, the very present manager-agent. Pandy/PJ kept hinting at her sister's disappearance, allowing me to think that the sister died or cut off communication or never even existed! In reality, her sister identifies as a male and goes by the name Henry. Henry and Pandy have a great relationship except for the fact that Pandy seems to act like her sister is dead! If Ms. Bushnell wants to utilize a transgender character, that is fine, but she should've done her homework and either a) had Henry living openly and maybe even described any backlash Henry felt from living as a male or b) had Henry not telling others that he was assigned female at birth, but describing how this made Henry and/or Pandy feel. It is not appropriate to make Henry's gender orientation a "big secret" from the readers - the "reveal" was not appreciated.
January 12, 2016
Okay, where to start with this book?
It's the literary equivalent of eating Sour Patch Kids. You know you really shouldn't but...
Firstly, let me say that I like Bushnell's sharp, satirical style in general. Sex and the City was a bit too mean for me, but I loved her other books and they made a perfect "arsenic cookie" read. Just light enough, just sharp enough.
This book is....here's the issues with it:
The characters (all of them!) are unredeemably despicable. The lead, Pandy, is a selfish, unlikeable party girl who rushes from crisis to crisis and falls victim to "why me" syndrome more often than not. The best friend character is just...kind of a trailer trash heroine who honestly doesn't seem like someone any of us would want along in our lives for more than a few months.
I'm not sure if this is deliberate or not. This is the coldest, oddest, meanest book in Bushnell's oeuvre so far, and part of me thinks that maybe the hateful names--(SondraBeth? Schnowser? A movie director called PP? A movie star named Doug? no way in the land of Chris, Brad, Tom, and Alex, would an agent allow a DOUG to slip through!) Who does she think her audience consists of? 11 year old girls?)--and the over the top plotting is on purpose.
Which leads me to my next point:
There's more than a whiff of complete contempt for the reader, and by extension, loyal fans of Bushnell or Carrie Bradshaw. Fans are portrayed a literal mobs of women mindlessly loving the perfect Monica and refusing to accept anything but more of the same from PJ, the heroine. The plotting, the names especially (an ancestor named Rarebit Welsh, Candace, REALLY? REALLY GIRL?) *Slight spoiler alert here*
A trans character is revealed as such and the character's "cover story" to keep the secret is that she was in Amsterdam. Let that marinate for a minute. Yeah.
Wow. Just....Girl, it's 2015. Caitlyn Jenner, former olympian and star of a huge reality show, just came out on the cover of Vanity Fair as transgendered. People don't need to 'go to Amsterdam' to have surgery and they don't need to hide. Now if we had a reason for this character's secrecy-----haw, haw, of course we don't because every action, plot point, and character is here to serve the heroine. Lord have mercy.
The juiciest stuff (from my point of view) is not described. And no, I don't mean sex. I mean---this Monica--who is she? Why is she so delightful? The book about Lady Wallis--who is that? and what is the plot line? That's all disposed of in 2 lines so that (apparently) the author can cram in surrealistic, John Waters-like scenes of crazed fans, drunken vacation fights, a very confusing section where the heroine goes back and forth on pretending to be her own sister, depending on the person she's talking to, and a denouement where her ex husband gets hoisted on an over-sized mannequin leg for his "comeuppance" (this I skimmed in disgust, not sure what the **** happened here, actually)
Or, how about you describe the clothing? The apartments? The "tokens of status" that have always been a delightful guilty pleasure of Bushnell's writing are nowhere, and, class, nothing takes it place.
The saddest part of this was that there were some beautiful gems of writing in the book. Bushnell at her best has a wonderfully deft touch and her descriptions "the pink cupcake of a snowstorm that brought them together" for example, or the scenes of Jonny and PJ falling in love, were so well done that it made the rest of the book seem so much worse by comparison. Bushnell also has Wharton's gift for knowing exactly how much detail and backstory to give during 'flashbacks' and she uses it well here, but again, leaves me aching for the sodden mess that is the rest of the book.
Dear Reader, give this a pass.
It's the literary equivalent of eating Sour Patch Kids. You know you really shouldn't but...
Firstly, let me say that I like Bushnell's sharp, satirical style in general. Sex and the City was a bit too mean for me, but I loved her other books and they made a perfect "arsenic cookie" read. Just light enough, just sharp enough.
This book is....here's the issues with it:
The characters (all of them!) are unredeemably despicable. The lead, Pandy, is a selfish, unlikeable party girl who rushes from crisis to crisis and falls victim to "why me" syndrome more often than not. The best friend character is just...kind of a trailer trash heroine who honestly doesn't seem like someone any of us would want along in our lives for more than a few months.
I'm not sure if this is deliberate or not. This is the coldest, oddest, meanest book in Bushnell's oeuvre so far, and part of me thinks that maybe the hateful names--(SondraBeth? Schnowser? A movie director called PP? A movie star named Doug? no way in the land of Chris, Brad, Tom, and Alex, would an agent allow a DOUG to slip through!) Who does she think her audience consists of? 11 year old girls?)--and the over the top plotting is on purpose.
Which leads me to my next point:
There's more than a whiff of complete contempt for the reader, and by extension, loyal fans of Bushnell or Carrie Bradshaw. Fans are portrayed a literal mobs of women mindlessly loving the perfect Monica and refusing to accept anything but more of the same from PJ, the heroine. The plotting, the names especially (an ancestor named Rarebit Welsh, Candace, REALLY? REALLY GIRL?) *Slight spoiler alert here*
A trans character is revealed as such and the character's "cover story" to keep the secret is that she was in Amsterdam. Let that marinate for a minute. Yeah.
Wow. Just....Girl, it's 2015. Caitlyn Jenner, former olympian and star of a huge reality show, just came out on the cover of Vanity Fair as transgendered. People don't need to 'go to Amsterdam' to have surgery and they don't need to hide. Now if we had a reason for this character's secrecy-----haw, haw, of course we don't because every action, plot point, and character is here to serve the heroine. Lord have mercy.
The juiciest stuff (from my point of view) is not described. And no, I don't mean sex. I mean---this Monica--who is she? Why is she so delightful? The book about Lady Wallis--who is that? and what is the plot line? That's all disposed of in 2 lines so that (apparently) the author can cram in surrealistic, John Waters-like scenes of crazed fans, drunken vacation fights, a very confusing section where the heroine goes back and forth on pretending to be her own sister, depending on the person she's talking to, and a denouement where her ex husband gets hoisted on an over-sized mannequin leg for his "comeuppance" (this I skimmed in disgust, not sure what the **** happened here, actually)
Or, how about you describe the clothing? The apartments? The "tokens of status" that have always been a delightful guilty pleasure of Bushnell's writing are nowhere, and, class, nothing takes it place.
The saddest part of this was that there were some beautiful gems of writing in the book. Bushnell at her best has a wonderfully deft touch and her descriptions "the pink cupcake of a snowstorm that brought them together" for example, or the scenes of Jonny and PJ falling in love, were so well done that it made the rest of the book seem so much worse by comparison. Bushnell also has Wharton's gift for knowing exactly how much detail and backstory to give during 'flashbacks' and she uses it well here, but again, leaves me aching for the sodden mess that is the rest of the book.
Dear Reader, give this a pass.
July 6, 2015
I don't enjoy giving negative reviews, but I'm going to have to have to be honest here and say that this book is a hot mess.
I've read many of Bushnell's other books -- Lipstick Jungle, 4 Blondes, Sex and the City, and Trading Up -- and I remember enjoying them. I was younger then. I don't know if my taste has changed or if this book is an outlier, because this book doesn't make any sense.
The first couple of chapters are a confusing amalgamation of scenes where the main character (and I as the reader!) can't seem to figure out if she or an actress named Sondra is "Monica".
The middle part of the book goes back in time finally provides some context for the plot.
The final quarter of the book is completely convoluted and had me wondering if I was reading a science fiction/fantasy novel, or just the script for some sort of "B" grade movie.
I hate to do this, but 1.5 stars rounded up to 2 only because I liked the author's previous works.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've read many of Bushnell's other books -- Lipstick Jungle, 4 Blondes, Sex and the City, and Trading Up -- and I remember enjoying them. I was younger then. I don't know if my taste has changed or if this book is an outlier, because this book doesn't make any sense.
The first couple of chapters are a confusing amalgamation of scenes where the main character (and I as the reader!) can't seem to figure out if she or an actress named Sondra is "Monica".
The middle part of the book goes back in time finally provides some context for the plot.
The final quarter of the book is completely convoluted and had me wondering if I was reading a science fiction/fantasy novel, or just the script for some sort of "B" grade movie.
I hate to do this, but 1.5 stars rounded up to 2 only because I liked the author's previous works.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2016
This title features on my Worst of 2015 list!
PJ/Pandy/Pandemonia Wallis is best known as the author of a series of books whose main character has gone on to be the central focus of a series of movies, and has become something of an icon for women everywhere.
Pandy’s character Monica is a more successful, more attractive, more feminist version of Pandy herself, and when Pandy got married, so did Monica. But now Pandy’s getting divorced, and people are saying that it’s time for Monica, now in her forties, to venture into online dating.
But Pandy doesn’t want to write Monica books anymore, Pandy wants to write literature, but her first attempt at a serious book has been rejected, her ex-husband is trying to take money from her that she doesn’t have, and she’s experiencing something of a nervous breakdown.
The rest of this review can be found here!
PJ/Pandy/Pandemonia Wallis is best known as the author of a series of books whose main character has gone on to be the central focus of a series of movies, and has become something of an icon for women everywhere.
Pandy’s character Monica is a more successful, more attractive, more feminist version of Pandy herself, and when Pandy got married, so did Monica. But now Pandy’s getting divorced, and people are saying that it’s time for Monica, now in her forties, to venture into online dating.
But Pandy doesn’t want to write Monica books anymore, Pandy wants to write literature, but her first attempt at a serious book has been rejected, her ex-husband is trying to take money from her that she doesn’t have, and she’s experiencing something of a nervous breakdown.
The rest of this review can be found here!
July 6, 2015
The author uses words like "quipped," "jauntily" and "gadfly". Without irony.
I was too distracted by the bad writing to really follow the plot. As far as I can tell, the hero of the story - Pandy - is a raving idiot whom others believe to be clever for no apparent reason whatsoever. Pandy created a fictional character, Monica, who appears in books and movies. Everyone in the world loves Fictional Monica because she is very beautiful and wears awesome clothes and only good things ever happen to her. Since Pandy is a shallow, self-centred moron, some bad things happen to her. The agony of trying to reconcile her crappy life with Fictional Monica's perfect life causes Pandy to suffer so enormously that some weird stuff then happens which I couldn't really figure out because it was all just too stupid.
I was too distracted by the bad writing to really follow the plot. As far as I can tell, the hero of the story - Pandy - is a raving idiot whom others believe to be clever for no apparent reason whatsoever. Pandy created a fictional character, Monica, who appears in books and movies. Everyone in the world loves Fictional Monica because she is very beautiful and wears awesome clothes and only good things ever happen to her. Since Pandy is a shallow, self-centred moron, some bad things happen to her. The agony of trying to reconcile her crappy life with Fictional Monica's perfect life causes Pandy to suffer so enormously that some weird stuff then happens which I couldn't really figure out because it was all just too stupid.
July 13, 2015
Possibly the worst book I have read in a very long time. The writing is awful. The characters are vapid and the plot so ridiculous that the time spent with this book felt interminable. It's going in the trash.
July 7, 2015
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a book with an overly bright pink cover is not something I end up liking. I was really hoping that Bushnell would change that. Sadly, it wasn't to be so.
The only thing I kinda liked about this novel was PandaBeth. Pandy and SondraBeth went on the kind of totally off-the-top madcap adventures that are generally associated with very bro-centric male comedy films. Other than that, this novel doesn't seem to belong to this century. It's too cliched and outdated. I get that its supposed to be a parody, it is over the top by design. But if it was meant to be laugh out loud funny, then it didn't work for me, cause I didn't laugh at all. But maybe that's just me. I've never been one to go for anything that has a laugh track. Grumpy cat is basically my spirit animal.
And umm... grumpy cat says: No :P
The only thing I kinda liked about this novel was PandaBeth. Pandy and SondraBeth went on the kind of totally off-the-top madcap adventures that are generally associated with very bro-centric male comedy films. Other than that, this novel doesn't seem to belong to this century. It's too cliched and outdated. I get that its supposed to be a parody, it is over the top by design. But if it was meant to be laugh out loud funny, then it didn't work for me, cause I didn't laugh at all. But maybe that's just me. I've never been one to go for anything that has a laugh track. Grumpy cat is basically my spirit animal.
And umm... grumpy cat says: No :P
March 30, 2016
In KILLING MONICA, Candace Bushnell spoofs and skewers her way through pop culture, celebrity worship, fame, and the meaning of identity. With her trademark humor and style, this is Bushnell's sharpest, funniest book to date.
LIES! This was not funny or the book I have been waiting for. Candace Bushnell disappointed me and wasted my time. This book was stupid and annoying. Don't read it. Save your brain. Save your money.
BTW, it's not cute or entertaining to read about an over 40 year old woman acting like she is 20.
LIES! This was not funny or the book I have been waiting for. Candace Bushnell disappointed me and wasted my time. This book was stupid and annoying. Don't read it. Save your brain. Save your money.
BTW, it's not cute or entertaining to read about an over 40 year old woman acting like she is 20.
July 5, 2015
Let's be realistic. SondraBeth Schnowzer sounds a LOT like Sarah Jessica Parker, and funny how Pandy rhymes with Candy. I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. Finished in one day out of sheer torture
August 12, 2015
P.G. Wallis’s dream came true when her first book was published. The main character, Monica, was much loved by the public. Now, after several Monica books and movies, P.G. wants to break loose and write something different. Unfortunately, her fans, publisher, ex-husband and many others don’t want to see the end of Monica. Is P.G.’s only choice to bump her off?
This sure was an enjoyable read. Light, fast paced, sometimes goofy and with a nice little message in the end. A perfect read for summer vacation or anytime you are looking for something simple and fun.
Dare I tell you this is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Bushnell? Gasp! It won’t be my last. I think I have a lot of catching up to do.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.
This sure was an enjoyable read. Light, fast paced, sometimes goofy and with a nice little message in the end. A perfect read for summer vacation or anytime you are looking for something simple and fun.
Dare I tell you this is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Bushnell? Gasp! It won’t be my last. I think I have a lot of catching up to do.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.
July 9, 2015
That hot pink cover and Bushnell's name will catch a lot of suckers, but I can't believe her publisher dared to release this poorly written book.The "killing of Monica", which is presented as a main plot, doesn't take place until almost the end of the novel.Until then, the reader is forced to slog through a needlessly long review of the main character's past.So boring...Any action that does take place in this story is ridiculous.
Lucky for me I got this novel from the library.
Lucky for me I got this novel from the library.
July 19, 2015
So dumb. I read it anyway.
June 1, 2021
June pick for #buzzwordathon. I liked this one more than I thought I would. This is my second book by Ms. Bushnell. I read “One Fifth Avenue” long time ago, I gave it 3 stars when I joined Goodreads because I don’t remember anything and I unhauled my copy but I liked it. I bought “Killing Monica” on sale two years ago, mainly because there aren’t many books with my name on the title. I’m being honest here, I know Ms. Bushnell is quite the controversial figure in the book community, so I won’t be sending any personal recommendations. I was never a big fan of “Sex and the city”, watched it at the time and quickly forgot about it. The same happened with the TV adaptation of another of her books “Lipstick Jungle”, that had a brief two-season series starring Brooke Shields and Kim Raver years ago. It was light and forgettable, and so are her books. Her style is similar to Lauren Weisberger’s books, light reads to pass the time and then move on. “Killing Monica” is not a perfect book but it is not as bad as some reviews made it look like. The premise is cool, it has its funny out loud moments, but the execution fails, mostly in its third act. Pandemonia “Pandy”, aka “PJ”, Wallis, is a writer who’s tired of writing her “Monica: a girl’s guide to being a girl” book series, which Hollywood adapted the four books into movies with high success - for the studio. Pandy is not “Living La Vida Loca” nowadays. She’s being blackmailed by her soon to be ex-husband Jonny (a chef with mob debts and also a gigolo), her contract with the publishing house is forcing her to write another Monica installment, although P.J. has written a historical fiction novel that they don’t want to print unless she agrees to continue with the Monica series. And the actress (SondraBeth Schnowzer) who became rich and famous by playing Monica on the big screen behaves like she’s actually Monica in her everyday life. SondraBeth is a mediocre actress who has no chance of a career beyond the Monica movies, and she used to be very close friends with P.J. until she stabbed her in the back by stealing her then hot actor boyfriend Doug. So, P.J. has been living under Monica’s shadow, and she won’t be free until she gets rid of Monica, or “Killing Monica”. It’s the typical story of a writer who has become a slave of the character that made her/him famous. The book has a lot of misunderstandings because it’s a light comedy. I enjoyed it. I’m keeping it (for now) because, at least, this one made me laugh, which has not happened lately in the chick-lit/rom-com genre
August 11, 2015
Just finished reading and LOVING Killing Monica by CB.
A note of caution...
For those expecting the usual fall-in-love-and-live-happily-ever-after chick-lit fluff (that we all like to read on occasion), this novel, I am happy to report, is not that. KM is far more interesting, has more depth and is much more of a social commentary than is the case with the average predictable-ending chick-lit summer read.
Killing Monica is part madcap farce + part scathing satire + part feminist commentary on media, money and men.
Needless to say, not everyone is going to fall immediately in love with or even understand, this rather unconventional story, but I admire the fact that CB had the guts to take a lot of risks with the subject matter and the creation of characters that are way more flawed than sugar coated.
For those of us who have worked in the entertainment "business" and have encountered our own versions of producers and/or studio heads like PP, we know that PJ Wallis's experience is not at all far-fetched. (The absurdity of the still male dominated eco/ego-system inside the movie business is why I gave up screenwriting and directing years ago and went back to writing short stories.)
I think every woman on the planet (myself included) totally enjoyed watching Sex and the City during its run on HBO. The difference for me is that I actually liked the book with its witty gritty social realism more than the show. And I think it's that same sensibility to Bushnell's unconventional unvarnished commentary on men, marriage, media and the movie business in Killing Monica that had me captivated with this novel from beginning to end.
A note of caution...
For those expecting the usual fall-in-love-and-live-happily-ever-after chick-lit fluff (that we all like to read on occasion), this novel, I am happy to report, is not that. KM is far more interesting, has more depth and is much more of a social commentary than is the case with the average predictable-ending chick-lit summer read.
Killing Monica is part madcap farce + part scathing satire + part feminist commentary on media, money and men.
Needless to say, not everyone is going to fall immediately in love with or even understand, this rather unconventional story, but I admire the fact that CB had the guts to take a lot of risks with the subject matter and the creation of characters that are way more flawed than sugar coated.
For those of us who have worked in the entertainment "business" and have encountered our own versions of producers and/or studio heads like PP, we know that PJ Wallis's experience is not at all far-fetched. (The absurdity of the still male dominated eco/ego-system inside the movie business is why I gave up screenwriting and directing years ago and went back to writing short stories.)
I think every woman on the planet (myself included) totally enjoyed watching Sex and the City during its run on HBO. The difference for me is that I actually liked the book with its witty gritty social realism more than the show. And I think it's that same sensibility to Bushnell's unconventional unvarnished commentary on men, marriage, media and the movie business in Killing Monica that had me captivated with this novel from beginning to end.
July 15, 2019
En principio me desilucioné un poco del libro por las reseñas, y ya cuando lo he leído comprendo lo que querían decir. Es un libro que se deja leer pero en muchos momentos carece de... chispa, de algo genial que te mantenga interesada en averiguar por qué la famosa autora protagonista, quiere matar a Mónica, y es que te cuenta cosas estrafalarias hollywoodenses que no hacen mas que repetirse. El final es apresurado y uno que otro giro me agradó aunque ya lo sospechaba.
May 31, 2015
Some fun moments, some really ridiculous moments, overall a fun, light read, but the handling of the big reveal about Hellenor really bothered me. Using it just for shock value felt disrespectful of a community that is already marginalized and underrepresented in literature.
March 10, 2018
DNF - Was totally bored, sorry and I loved her previous book:(
June 23, 2015
A special thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased the audiobook.
Candace Bushnell creator of the much loved New York Carrie Bradshaw’s (Sarah Jessica Parker') Sex and the City, a series featuring female friendship, single life, hot Manhattan spots, fashion, drinking, sex, shoes, and Mr. Big-- A self-proclaimed shoe fetishist, Carrie focused most of her attention and finances on designer footwear, primarily Manolo Blahniks, Louboutin and Jimmy Choo.
Bushnell returns with KILLING MONICA an attempt at portraying another character, a Manhattan writer, desiring to kill off her main character in order to reinvent herself-- and switch to historical fiction.
Pandemonia J. Wallis, a best-selling author of a series about a successful woman in New York surrounded by female friends – The Monica books. The series has been a hit, bringing PJ wealth, fame, and recognition. However, her audience wants more Monica. She wants her character to go away. To die. She wants to kill her. So she can be free to reinvent herself. Now 40-something author wants a do over.
However, the actress playing Monica (Sondra Beth Schnowzer), former best friend--with stunning looks and millions of viewer fans is a pain. Monica has grown to despise her. She has taken over her character and acts as though she owns it. A lot of bad friction here, since she slept with her boyfriend, and now cheating ex-husband has taken all her money in a divorce.
The two friends/enemies, and characters, cannot even compare to Carrie Bradshaw and Sex and the City gals; where the focus was on the sex lives of four female best friends, three in their mid-to-late thirties, and one of whom is in her forties. (Samantha Jones-my favorite, Miranda Hobbes, and Charlotte York). They actually had deep conversations. They were realistic. Nothing like these self-absorbed, champagne-drinking, air heads, fake, and non-interesting characters.
In addition, PJs publisher has rejected her new historical fiction book, and she hates men - miserable all the way around. Then there is Henry, PJs agent, and the sister-- which will leave you shaking your head with a twist at the end.
Unfortunately, not able to recommend this one. Do not expect another Sex and the City. Nowhere even close. No nice heroine. The book will most likely leave readers with a lingering negative thought: how does the author really feel about Sarah Jessica Parker, who ran away with her character, Carrie? Carrie took on the character, leaving Bushnell in the background—same as character in Killing Monica?
JDCMustReadBooks
Candace Bushnell creator of the much loved New York Carrie Bradshaw’s (Sarah Jessica Parker') Sex and the City, a series featuring female friendship, single life, hot Manhattan spots, fashion, drinking, sex, shoes, and Mr. Big-- A self-proclaimed shoe fetishist, Carrie focused most of her attention and finances on designer footwear, primarily Manolo Blahniks, Louboutin and Jimmy Choo.
Bushnell returns with KILLING MONICA an attempt at portraying another character, a Manhattan writer, desiring to kill off her main character in order to reinvent herself-- and switch to historical fiction.
Pandemonia J. Wallis, a best-selling author of a series about a successful woman in New York surrounded by female friends – The Monica books. The series has been a hit, bringing PJ wealth, fame, and recognition. However, her audience wants more Monica. She wants her character to go away. To die. She wants to kill her. So she can be free to reinvent herself. Now 40-something author wants a do over.
However, the actress playing Monica (Sondra Beth Schnowzer), former best friend--with stunning looks and millions of viewer fans is a pain. Monica has grown to despise her. She has taken over her character and acts as though she owns it. A lot of bad friction here, since she slept with her boyfriend, and now cheating ex-husband has taken all her money in a divorce.
The two friends/enemies, and characters, cannot even compare to Carrie Bradshaw and Sex and the City gals; where the focus was on the sex lives of four female best friends, three in their mid-to-late thirties, and one of whom is in her forties. (Samantha Jones-my favorite, Miranda Hobbes, and Charlotte York). They actually had deep conversations. They were realistic. Nothing like these self-absorbed, champagne-drinking, air heads, fake, and non-interesting characters.
In addition, PJs publisher has rejected her new historical fiction book, and she hates men - miserable all the way around. Then there is Henry, PJs agent, and the sister-- which will leave you shaking your head with a twist at the end.
Unfortunately, not able to recommend this one. Do not expect another Sex and the City. Nowhere even close. No nice heroine. The book will most likely leave readers with a lingering negative thought: how does the author really feel about Sarah Jessica Parker, who ran away with her character, Carrie? Carrie took on the character, leaving Bushnell in the background—same as character in Killing Monica?
JDCMustReadBooks
June 28, 2015
I'm relieved to see that many of my fellow reviewers have chosen to give this book 1-2 stars, because that's about all it deserves. I saw it on the library shelf and grabbed it (without consulting Goodreads first!) and figured it had to be fun chick lit for a summer weekend. After all, it was from the woman who brought us Sex and the City! Well, in my estimation it was boring and pointless and I'm kind of kicking myself for reading it to the end (it was a rainy day and I succumbed). If done well, chick lit can be an entertaining indulgence but this certainly was not.
July 17, 2015
This book redeemed itself in the last fourth of the book. Not a lot of substance, especially in the beginning. Of course, I did not expect much but it was pretty bad... Glad I continued reading, things got funny the more I read. This book probably would have been a lot more enjoyable lying on a beach with a fruity drink in my hand...definitely a light beach read and there are probably much better choice out there.
May 31, 2017
Oh gawd, what happened to you, Bushnell? This is the worst thing I've ever read! Don't bother reading this.
My Rating: - 10/5
My Rating: - 10/5
November 6, 2017
sometimes I just need a funny quick read and this one sure fit the bill.
July 11, 2015
She brings her to life, then plots to kill her.
Pandy is worldwide famous for creating the books/movies franchise Monica. Plus, her best friend is SondraBeth, the actress that plays Monica on the show. But Pandy is tired of writing only Monica books, dating actors, and above all, constantly comparing her life to Monica's. Maybe it's time to put an end to this, maybe it's time to kill Monica!
Candace Bushnell will always be attached to her characters of Sex and the City, and I wondered if perhaps, this book was her way of reflecting how she feels. Sadly, the camaraderie between SondraBeth and Pandy is the type of friendships we all try to avoid. SondraBeth is constantly monopolizing all the conversations, stealing Pandy's conquests and using her. In fact, everyone is always using Pandy, making her an uneasy character to get attached to.
Not my favorite Bushnell novel.
Pandy is worldwide famous for creating the books/movies franchise Monica. Plus, her best friend is SondraBeth, the actress that plays Monica on the show. But Pandy is tired of writing only Monica books, dating actors, and above all, constantly comparing her life to Monica's. Maybe it's time to put an end to this, maybe it's time to kill Monica!
Candace Bushnell will always be attached to her characters of Sex and the City, and I wondered if perhaps, this book was her way of reflecting how she feels. Sadly, the camaraderie between SondraBeth and Pandy is the type of friendships we all try to avoid. SondraBeth is constantly monopolizing all the conversations, stealing Pandy's conquests and using her. In fact, everyone is always using Pandy, making her an uneasy character to get attached to.
Not my favorite Bushnell novel.
July 13, 2021
I have always disliked the term "beach read" or "summer read", but I simply can't find another description for this novel and its breezy approach. Would I recommend it? Probably not, as Bushnell seems to have settled into a narrow and fairly unlikeable niche -- the rich New Yorker and their many foibles. And let's face it -- there are only so many times one can read about this subgroup without gagging a little at the lack of values, personal insight, or in some cases morality.
May 3, 2016
Do not read this book. It is horrible in every way possible. Poorly written, badly edited, profoundly stupid plot. Although it is a very quick read even the short time it took to finish it felt like an eternity.
July 1, 2015
How this got published I have no idea. It was childish, unrealistic, and not in character of Bushnells' previous novels. Very disappointing.
September 4, 2015
So stupid and childish
The characters were simple and not likable at all. The story was awful too. It meandered and became outrageous Not worth the time....painful
The characters were simple and not likable at all. The story was awful too. It meandered and became outrageous Not worth the time....painful
November 9, 2018
Me ha parecido brutal la manera en que Candace refleja un mundo que conoce de primera mano. Nos muestra la parte machista del mundo de la farándula que muchas anhelan pisar, lo que te roba y a la vez te muestra el mundo editorial cuando estás ahí y planeas volar por otras partes y no te lo
permiten. La obra me parece una autentica y divertida. Crítica a ese mundo mientras MATAR A MÓNICA se vuelve en una necesidad y una pesadilla. Con personajes variopintos, amores, desamores, traiciones, engaños, lealtades claras, amistades leales y un incondicional representante, vamos a disfrutar de una obra que de verdad hace las delicias de una obra que nos da un pellizco de realidad cuando se trata de este anhelado y secreto mundo tras bambalinas.
Candance Bushnell ha sido una gratificante pluma, me ha encantado la ligereza y naturalidad con la que muestra una viva in-vogue, mientras nos cuenta una aventura enrevesada y divertida, como ella es. Me ha encantado volver a encontrarme con ella. ¿y a ti te gustaría hacerlo? ¡Feliz lectura!
permiten. La obra me parece una autentica y divertida. Crítica a ese mundo mientras MATAR A MÓNICA se vuelve en una necesidad y una pesadilla. Con personajes variopintos, amores, desamores, traiciones, engaños, lealtades claras, amistades leales y un incondicional representante, vamos a disfrutar de una obra que de verdad hace las delicias de una obra que nos da un pellizco de realidad cuando se trata de este anhelado y secreto mundo tras bambalinas.
Candance Bushnell ha sido una gratificante pluma, me ha encantado la ligereza y naturalidad con la que muestra una viva in-vogue, mientras nos cuenta una aventura enrevesada y divertida, como ella es. Me ha encantado volver a encontrarme con ella. ¿y a ti te gustaría hacerlo? ¡Feliz lectura!
May 5, 2017
Let's just say I expected more from the main character Pandy (or rather from CB). CB's characters are supposed to be strong, independent and intelligent women, and Pandy was initially "packaged" as such too, but her letting things go out of control with the Jonny character didn't bode too well for my expected plot. As a comedy, the story didn't work as well. The only potentially funny scene would be the after-effects of Jonny lying on the bug-infested bed, but then the treatment was quite predictable. The revelation in the end about Pandy's mysterious/missing sister didn't evoke an "Aha!" moment at all, sorry to say.
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