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I Really, Really Want It
"I Really, Really Want It" is a controversial, fast-paced and darkly funny thriller set in the world of Celebrity.
Some celebrities behave very, very badly. Andrew Manning is the man who picks up the pieces. And buries the bodies.
One of celebrity’s back room boys, Andrew has spent twenty years repackaging and reviving celebrities whose careers have been overshadowed by scandal and is now the very special agent to a stellar list of stars.
Shelley Bright, singer and fashion icon, wants a divorce from her secretly gay Premier League footballer husband. She asks Andrew to blackmail him, but Shelley has her own destructive secret. Reality TV star Joey Camp’s career goes into free-fall after he launches an expletive-laden attack on The Queen: Andrew resorts to extreme measures to save him. And Janey Jax, international Pop Goddess, what she wants is so twisted and sick that it makes Andrew’s flesh crawl…
Meanwhile, Johnny, Andrew’s partner, begins a descent into “celebrity-induced psychosis.” There are voices in his head, and they tell him to kill celebrities. And as an ambitious, scheming paparazzi appears on the scene, things become even more complicated.
Some celebrities behave very, very badly. Andrew Manning is the man who picks up the pieces. And buries the bodies.
One of celebrity’s back room boys, Andrew has spent twenty years repackaging and reviving celebrities whose careers have been overshadowed by scandal and is now the very special agent to a stellar list of stars.
Shelley Bright, singer and fashion icon, wants a divorce from her secretly gay Premier League footballer husband. She asks Andrew to blackmail him, but Shelley has her own destructive secret. Reality TV star Joey Camp’s career goes into free-fall after he launches an expletive-laden attack on The Queen: Andrew resorts to extreme measures to save him. And Janey Jax, international Pop Goddess, what she wants is so twisted and sick that it makes Andrew’s flesh crawl…
Meanwhile, Johnny, Andrew’s partner, begins a descent into “celebrity-induced psychosis.” There are voices in his head, and they tell him to kill celebrities. And as an ambitious, scheming paparazzi appears on the scene, things become even more complicated.
330 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 2014
40 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Richard Hennerley
75 books179 followersI am to be found firmly adrift in the land of Anywhere, also known as the Land of Stories, loitering with fictitious intent and words aforethought at the end of a sentence that begins with "Once upon a time...."
I live in England. I have some strange ideas in my head. I struggle with understanding what this world is about: is it really all random? I am blessed with a loving partner and family and three beautiful dogs. I eat, drink, sleep and bleed if you cut me. I am different things to different people at different times. I am capable of great kindness, casual and thoughtless cruelty, amazing wisdom and breathtaking stupidity.
I am chameleon, comedian and caricature (thank you, Mr. Bowie). I can reach for the stars or trawl the gutter. I can love or hate with equal ferocity. I have dark and primeval places in my mind that I fear to visit. I am simultaneously crushed and inspired by my heritage. Some days life leaves me bursting with joy, other days I am breathless with fear. I am a twitching bundle of insecurity and contradiction. I am flawed yet breathtakingly wonderful. I am full of a power, grace and spirituality so intense that I cannot even begin to understand it. I am beautiful. I am human. I am me. I am you.
I live in England. I have some strange ideas in my head. I struggle with understanding what this world is about: is it really all random? I am blessed with a loving partner and family and three beautiful dogs. I eat, drink, sleep and bleed if you cut me. I am different things to different people at different times. I am capable of great kindness, casual and thoughtless cruelty, amazing wisdom and breathtaking stupidity.
I am chameleon, comedian and caricature (thank you, Mr. Bowie). I can reach for the stars or trawl the gutter. I can love or hate with equal ferocity. I have dark and primeval places in my mind that I fear to visit. I am simultaneously crushed and inspired by my heritage. Some days life leaves me bursting with joy, other days I am breathless with fear. I am a twitching bundle of insecurity and contradiction. I am flawed yet breathtakingly wonderful. I am full of a power, grace and spirituality so intense that I cannot even begin to understand it. I am beautiful. I am human. I am me. I am you.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 24, 2014
A unique perspective by each character: Andrew Manning- The celebrity “Fixer”, Shelley Bright- the selfish drug-addicted, starlet, The Producer- takes advantage of the young and ambitious, Joey Camps- Reality TV celebrity turned “cancer patient”, Johnny- Andy’s longtime lover and also deranged muscle, and so forth. My concern whenever I purchase a book is, will it keep me engaged? and is it worth the time it will take me to finish it? The answer with I Really, Really Want it, is both Yes and Sorta. The writing is vivid, the characters and plot really move along and it's terrific. And then, for me, out of nowhere it seems to stall a bit and slightly lose its way. The plot seems to grow thinner and less important as you head toward the last pages, but the writing and characters are strong enough that you never quite lose interest. I'm sure this will receive many 4 and 5 star ratings.
September 22, 2014
Hennerley wisely keeps readers guessing about how Andy might pull off all of his celebrity scheming and what might become of Andy’s boyfriend Johnny, who has developed a thirst for violence and destruction. Andy is paid to fix problems for famous people, so their names never end up tarnished, yet he is going through his own personal problems. He makes it so there’s a reasonable explanation or excuse for each of them for every crazy, but true, story that ends up in the tabloids. You get: the snappy characterizations and plot twists that make you want to read to the end in one shot. I was hooked as soon as I grasped the basic plot.
May 11, 2015
This is nothing like I've read before! Delightful and cringeworthy, I was completely hooked. I loved how the reader is addressed in a derogatory fashion... Just brilliant.
January 15, 2015
Yet another title picked based on trumpeted reviews on Amazon that had me asking "Am I reading the same book?"
There's only so much snark I can take before I need some substance to get me through.
There's only so much snark I can take before I need some substance to get me through.
October 29, 2014
I read this wonderful romp quite serendipitously really, but I’m so glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this black, black satire on Celebrity. Adjectives to describe like ‘biting’ and ‘scathing’ spring to mind. And ‘Stygian,’ although it’s blacker than that. This comedy thriller, feeling to me like a witches’ brew of the Monty Python and Kafkaesque, is totally black: black hole-black. No light escapes from this baby.
It began very well for me when, a few lines in, I spotted my favourite mild expletive: ‘sodding.’ That was my personal hook; I knew instantly that I would like the book and thenceforward it really, really had to be read through to its conclusion, no two ways about it.
As others have commented, the over-the-top, deliciously outrageous characters were vividly drawn and I loved to hate them all. The sympathetic exceptions were tragic Joey, who was painted more as a naive victim of Celebrity and success than self-absorbed monster. And the amoral narrator Andrew, who discovers that there are boundaries which even he baulks at crossing.
I found the killings by psychopathic Johnny a bit eye-watering, but they were entirely right for the tone of the book. The astonishingly creative swearing was a hoot and I was frequently in stitches. I’ll never be able to read the c-word and keep a straight face again.
But then, just when I thought the novel was going to end in a bloodbath of mutually assured destruction, Richard Hennerley changed down to a gentler gear, to end in heart-breaking pathos. I really liked the way, too, in which he addressed and involved the reader, pointing the critical finger at the voyeur. And he’s quite right of course; we’re all complicit, as gawping consumers of the sometimes tawdry underbelly of Celebrity. His final reflections on endings and life were extremely thought-provoking, I thought
I won’t be able to take the word ‘innit’ seriously again, either. But seriously, I really, really do recommend this book. It’s unputdownable! I do hope there’ll be more from this author.
It began very well for me when, a few lines in, I spotted my favourite mild expletive: ‘sodding.’ That was my personal hook; I knew instantly that I would like the book and thenceforward it really, really had to be read through to its conclusion, no two ways about it.
As others have commented, the over-the-top, deliciously outrageous characters were vividly drawn and I loved to hate them all. The sympathetic exceptions were tragic Joey, who was painted more as a naive victim of Celebrity and success than self-absorbed monster. And the amoral narrator Andrew, who discovers that there are boundaries which even he baulks at crossing.
I found the killings by psychopathic Johnny a bit eye-watering, but they were entirely right for the tone of the book. The astonishingly creative swearing was a hoot and I was frequently in stitches. I’ll never be able to read the c-word and keep a straight face again.
But then, just when I thought the novel was going to end in a bloodbath of mutually assured destruction, Richard Hennerley changed down to a gentler gear, to end in heart-breaking pathos. I really liked the way, too, in which he addressed and involved the reader, pointing the critical finger at the voyeur. And he’s quite right of course; we’re all complicit, as gawping consumers of the sometimes tawdry underbelly of Celebrity. His final reflections on endings and life were extremely thought-provoking, I thought
I won’t be able to take the word ‘innit’ seriously again, either. But seriously, I really, really do recommend this book. It’s unputdownable! I do hope there’ll be more from this author.
September 23, 2014
Andrew, a professional fixer for the rich and famous in the UK, is the one called in to solve the complicated, confidential and controversial problems of the elite. Shelley, a self-centered actress wants a divorce from her gay, professional footballer husband. Shelley knew when she married Jack that he was gay but still entered into the marriage knowing it would boost her career. Jack agreed because it would solidify his sex symbol image. Shelley thinks because she spent so much time dealing with Jack being gay that she is entitled to his entire fortune. She wants Andy’s help to make this happen. Joey Camps is a reality star that has just insulted the Queen on live TV. His career might be over, so of course he looks to Andy to help him fix this problem. Charlie is another celebrity fixer, but he needs Andy’s help for a famous pop star client, Janey Jax. She has a completely immoral ritual she performs every 3 months to keep her young. In order to get the disgusting “ingredient” she needs for her ritual, Charlie looks to Andy. Then you have Johnny, Andy’s boyfriend. Johnny has been with Andrew for years and they love each other, but Johnny has developed a dark and dangerous craving for violence that he doesn’t want to share with Andy. Don’t get me started on that Producer. He just made my skin crawl. This work of fiction makes you question things you know about the “real” celebrity world and whether any of the celebrities you know actually resort to these methods to “fix” their problems. I was entertained from beginning to end.
December 5, 2014
This deliciously dark tale of vile celebrities and wannabes and the sinister people who make and break them had me hooked from the start. Not a journey for the faint hearted or the easily offended, but for those readers who want to get their teeth into something gritty, funny, thought provoking and extremely clever, then look no further. I Really Really Want It is told mostly from the point of view of Andy, right hand man to the stars, and keeper of everyone's secrets. Other chapters are told from the third person point of view of characters such as the tragic Joey Camps, and Andy's psychotic other half Johnny. There were parts of this book that shocked me so much I cringed. Other parts made me laugh out loud. Towards the end i found myself genuinely involved in the characters lives and problems, and when it ended, I wanted more! I want to know what happens next to these vile people! The author therefore does a magnificent job of allowing the reader a dirty sneak peek into the murky world of celebs, (Andy even addresses you, the reader, drawing you in further and making you feel eerily part of it all) creating toxic hateful characters and yet somehow making you like them! I hope there will be more very soon from this writer. It was invigorating to read something that really smacked you around the face and made you think.
October 30, 2014
The blurb says 'a controversial, fast-paced and darkly funny thriller set in the world of Celebrity' and it is! Read over the weekend, everything else got kicked into touch whilst I finished the book. It is dark but the humour keeps it balanced. Another one like this please!!!
April 12, 2017
This story is dark. Dark, dark, dark. It is a scathing look at modern celebrity and why so many people want to be famous. The main character is Andrew, fixer extraordinaire. And you dear reader are invited along to see the seedy, nasty, cruel, grotesque underworld of modern 'Celebrity'.
The book contains adult language, violence, adult themes, horror themes and just plain horror of humanity.
The book contains adult language, violence, adult themes, horror themes and just plain horror of humanity.
September 16, 2014
I’m still of two minds about this title: clever prose that is so bitingly ironic and dark with a protagonist that, to this point, I still don’t know if he was simply playing a part of what he thought was expected of him, or if he was really that enmeshed in the game.
Hennerley has penned a dark and occasionally gruesome tale about the quest for celebrity, and the reality that is behind the façade. The most relevant question is, how badly do you want it?
And the people in this book really want it… like that deep down childhood refrain that your life will be over if you don’t get that ONE thing. And, aside from some pretty horrific behaviors, most of the characters in this story are childlike: refusing to see consequences, or even care about them, each character brings a core of selfish, self-aggrandizement: they are so wonderful because they WILL it so, and the tabloids feature them.
Most unusual is Andrew – the king-maker or breaker who repackages and totes out the wanna-bes, the has beens and the marginally relevant. Honestly – think Seacrest without the obsequious personality: Andrew doesn’t really care what you think about him. Or, if he does, he knows that he can spin things to change your opinion. Years in the business, he has wealth, power and a certain caché that, while oily and greasy is the one thing that keep people bowing and scraping: he knows where the bodies are buried. His approach is part Machiavellian, part puppeteer and part politician: talking out of both sides of his mouth.
And, people will go far to get Andrew’s assistance and that boost in name recognition: eliminating competition and threats, and a psycho who is hearing voices telling him to kill the famous, this is a fast-paced twisty turny story that will leave you breathless. Be aware that there are gruesome and gory scenes; personally I think that they were fitting but could have been cleaned up some as the story and race to the end is that good. An interesting skewering of celebrity culture with a look in from behind the curtain.
I received an eBook copy of the title from the publisher for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Hennerley has penned a dark and occasionally gruesome tale about the quest for celebrity, and the reality that is behind the façade. The most relevant question is, how badly do you want it?
And the people in this book really want it… like that deep down childhood refrain that your life will be over if you don’t get that ONE thing. And, aside from some pretty horrific behaviors, most of the characters in this story are childlike: refusing to see consequences, or even care about them, each character brings a core of selfish, self-aggrandizement: they are so wonderful because they WILL it so, and the tabloids feature them.
Most unusual is Andrew – the king-maker or breaker who repackages and totes out the wanna-bes, the has beens and the marginally relevant. Honestly – think Seacrest without the obsequious personality: Andrew doesn’t really care what you think about him. Or, if he does, he knows that he can spin things to change your opinion. Years in the business, he has wealth, power and a certain caché that, while oily and greasy is the one thing that keep people bowing and scraping: he knows where the bodies are buried. His approach is part Machiavellian, part puppeteer and part politician: talking out of both sides of his mouth.
And, people will go far to get Andrew’s assistance and that boost in name recognition: eliminating competition and threats, and a psycho who is hearing voices telling him to kill the famous, this is a fast-paced twisty turny story that will leave you breathless. Be aware that there are gruesome and gory scenes; personally I think that they were fitting but could have been cleaned up some as the story and race to the end is that good. An interesting skewering of celebrity culture with a look in from behind the curtain.
I received an eBook copy of the title from the publisher for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
September 30, 2014
Talk about a dark comedy.
The humor is definitely dark in nature. There are parts that will make you laugh and others that will have you sitting there with your mouth hanging open re-reading to make sure that you read the words correctly.
The book is centered on a "fixer" of the celebrity world. Uniquely for me was that this book takes place across the pond but the most despicable characters turns out to be American.
While this book is written on extremes it appeals to that base thought of what the rich and famous get up to and get away with that most of use secretly and not so secretly think.
It contains everything you would expect like sex, murder, marriages of convenience, black mail, spying, and one thing I can't even write about here. You'll just have to buy the book to find out what it is.
The book is written in a style that has become popular in movies and T.V. where the characters talk right to the audience through the camera. Throughout this book the main character comments to and talks directly to the reader which was odd at first but was really a very creative change. I cannot say if this would be a good trend for all authors or genres but it works here.
The humor is definitely dark in nature. There are parts that will make you laugh and others that will have you sitting there with your mouth hanging open re-reading to make sure that you read the words correctly.
The book is centered on a "fixer" of the celebrity world. Uniquely for me was that this book takes place across the pond but the most despicable characters turns out to be American.
While this book is written on extremes it appeals to that base thought of what the rich and famous get up to and get away with that most of use secretly and not so secretly think.
It contains everything you would expect like sex, murder, marriages of convenience, black mail, spying, and one thing I can't even write about here. You'll just have to buy the book to find out what it is.
The book is written in a style that has become popular in movies and T.V. where the characters talk right to the audience through the camera. Throughout this book the main character comments to and talks directly to the reader which was odd at first but was really a very creative change. I cannot say if this would be a good trend for all authors or genres but it works here.
November 23, 2014
Richard Hennerley's debut novel is nothing short of a cleverly written story, which grabs your attention immediately and draws you further and further into the heart and soul of the characters lives and their storylines. Not only that, but the author cleverly and ingeniously includes the reader as an integral part of the storyline.
Andrew Manning is the central character that the book is based around. To me, Andrew is the celebrity 'backroom boy' equivalent of The Ghosts of Christmas Past/Present/Future, with the reader playing the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge and experiencing what the darker side of a celebrity's lifestyle has to offer.
The characters that the author breathes life into will have you experiencing a plethora of emotions, as you find yourself willing the author to have written the novel in the way that you, as the reader, hope each of the characters will unfold. To say that the characters are refreshingly unorthodox is a complete understatement, which gives the novel a far more 'genuine' feel.
The only downside I had to the novel, was that it had to come to an end!!!
I really hope that there will be future novels from this very enticing author.
March 13, 2015
Do you really, really want to be famous and enjoy the glamour of a celebrity lifestyle? What are you willing to do, and is there anything you won’t do? If you have the talent, the drive, and the luck, and are prepared to engage in anything as a means to an end, powerful behind-the-scenes people will help you get there and keep you there no matter how scandalous, foolish, or evil your behavior becomes. Andrew Manning is one of the go-to guys who will help hide your secrets and repackage you if necessary, and his devious methods have made him as rich and powerful as any showbiz personality. With gruesome details and foul language, this story is not written for the faint-hearted, but is an absorbing yarn with clever and witty dialogue. You will get a glimpse into the world of fame and fortune and the depths to which some people will sink to protect their wealth and reputation. The book needs a copy edit to remove some of the errors, but I really, really liked it.
September 24, 2014
This is a dark, twisted book that uncovers the uncomfortable, yet realistic shadows of the celebrity world. Andrew takes the celebrity’s problem and turns it into a payday for himself and a solution for him/her. It makes you question everything you know about today’s rich and famous and the secrets they could be hiding and what they might be getting away with. I found myself staying up late, turning pages to connect the dots through all the foreshadowing, but only getting small tastes of what’s to come. The plotting, the characterizations, and the dialog are consistently excellent. Hennerley captures the subtleties of several different kinds of relationships between celebrities and their entitlements, from a few very different perspectives.
January 21, 2017
I was expecting something totally different when I took on this book. It wasn't clear, but I think this is a fictitious memoir about dealing with dysfunctional celebrities in London, England. The first person voice had too much profanity for my taste, which put me off pretty early in the story. I found a number of typos, or else they are dialect, which was too heavy for my American ear to discern. The narrator is a millennial gay male, which didn't bother me, but somehow I was expecting, perhaps because of the cover, a female narrator.
I think this might be a good read for a niche audience, LGBTQ and or Hollywood Money Reality TV Scene. I certainly have a lot of friends that would get a kick out of it.
I think this might be a good read for a niche audience, LGBTQ and or Hollywood Money Reality TV Scene. I certainly have a lot of friends that would get a kick out of it.
October 26, 2014
I Really, Really Want It by Richard Hennerley
I received this ebook for a honest review. I love the way this book is written. Each chapter is written from each character's perspective, and during the main character's chapters he talks to you, the reader, as if you are right there with him. It's quite clever! I really, really (; was excited to read what was going to happen next. One of my favorite quotes from this book: "... Never assume anything about them, people are not black and white, they're a very complex shade of grey and making assumptions about any one individual can have fatal consequences." Thank you Richard Hennerley for the honor of reviewing your novel.
I received this ebook for a honest review. I love the way this book is written. Each chapter is written from each character's perspective, and during the main character's chapters he talks to you, the reader, as if you are right there with him. It's quite clever! I really, really (; was excited to read what was going to happen next. One of my favorite quotes from this book: "... Never assume anything about them, people are not black and white, they're a very complex shade of grey and making assumptions about any one individual can have fatal consequences." Thank you Richard Hennerley for the honor of reviewing your novel.
November 5, 2014
Some books get your head nodding all the way through and this was one of them. I thought the them was original and the plot was inspired. It really wasn't so hard to believe the lengths stars might go to so they can remain on top. All together a very enjoyable read and very well written.
April 1, 2015
Kind of rambling story about a celebrity "fixer". Complete reversal of "your" & "you're" through the ENTIRE book. 2.3 stars.
March 26, 2017
Ridiculous and a waste of time.
This book was ridiculous. The way the writer told the story seemed elementary. When the narrator addresses the reader, I almost put the book down. The story line around Joey was decent, But the other characters/celebrities were insubstantial. I wouldn't recommend this book.
This book was ridiculous. The way the writer told the story seemed elementary. When the narrator addresses the reader, I almost put the book down. The story line around Joey was decent, But the other characters/celebrities were insubstantial. I wouldn't recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews