How to Be Famous

by Alison Bond

Lynsey Dixon never plans anything. She has no commitments and no responsibilities apart from her job at a London talent agency that specialises in neurotic actresses like Melanie Chaplin. After keeping her calm head in a crisis, Lynsey is offered a transfer to Los Angeles to help Melanie settle into a new television show. Lynsey can recognise an opportunity when she sees one. An opportunity for serious star spotting and sunny days. Melanie Chaplin is excited to be famous, but being famous can make you forget yourself. Soon she is wildly in love with a married man and pregnant by her womanising co-star, Fabien Stewart. Being a star can be stressful. And why, when her career is soaring, is she jealous of the young wannabes nipping at her Jimmy Choo heels? Serena Simon is the most beautiful girl in the world. She didn't exactly choose Hollywood. When you look like Serena, Hollywood is the only place to go. She has a plan and it's working. Fame is only a photoshoot away. Any minute now someone is going to find out that this sexbomb is a teenage runaway, just fourteen years old. When Lynsey finds Serena she agrees to help her. But junior assistants are not supposed to help anyone but their bosses. It's their little secret. But secrets rarely stay that way, especially in Hollywood. Melanie's reputation takes a nosedive as fame goes to her head. Serena tries to make it as a teenager in a very adult world. They both look to Lynsey for advice and support. If she wants to keep her head in Hollywood, Lynsey Dixon needs one hell of a plan.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

528 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing became really obvious as I was reading and that was that parts of this really didn’t age well!

However, I was kind of surprised to find that an easy going read could be so long. There were storylines - Serena’s especially - that were actually really engaging but some were just annoying. It was like the author forgot who Melanie actually was as she appeared to become a kind of nymphomaniac despite being introduced as the sweet, kind ‘everyone likes her’ character and the two personalities didn’t seem to gel together very well at all. The part where she has a child seemed thrown in randomly and she seemed to bond with the baby awfully well considering she actually doesn’t want it (she even says so during the story).

Anyway, Melanie rant aside, it kept me entertained for a couple of days so it really wasn’t that bad, and sometimes you just need an easy read right?

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I loved this book judging by the purple glittery cover (Ironically the reason I picked it up).
I loved the pace, the storylines, the descriptions, how relatable the characters were, and the surprises dotted throughout! I didn't however enjoy the paedophilic descriptions of Serena. I understand voicing the characters thoughts about her but the narrators descriptions made me uncomfortable... 'ripe'. Otherwise I would've given this book 5 stars!
I inhaled this book which I usually find very hard to do, i finished it within a few days, the hours just flew by I was so engrossed in it all.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

New author for me, thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.

[Meera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a brilliant book...it is so underrated🩷

[Pistachio · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's okay... Not the best. Maybe it's more for young adults than I thought. But with all the talk about sex... it must be for teens.

[Noecito Castillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book kept me entertained flying from Malta to Spain. It certainly wouldn't deserve a Nobel but it's fun.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not really my kind of book... I found it pretty boring and will probably have forgotten all about it a month from now...

[Janine Causley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent loved every single page

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different to the usual chick-lit fare, this book has some seriously dark and disturbing characters. Although in true chick-lit tradition we have a happy ending for all it is not the one expected.