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Nice Girls Finish First
Kirby Green might lose everything because of a double-dog dare. Or, she might just discover who she really is.
Kirby didn’t get to be a Vice President of Marketing by being nice. But when she fires her entire staff within a few weeks (they all deserved it, really ), her new boss is hardly impressed. Wanting to prove his point, he issues a If Kirby can get someone— anyone— to call her nice, she can take that long-awaited dream vacation to Italy with her best friend, Jules. If she can’t, she can kiss the Coliseum goodbye. Oh, and her job too.
Now Kirby has exactly thirty days to bully someone into saying she’s nice—and to show her boss who’s boss. If she doesn’t fall hard for him first.
Kirby's assistant—and aspiring opera singer—Brianna has the opposite problem. She's so nice she's in danger of fading into the woodwork. Can Brianna teach Kirby a lesson on nice while learning to be the Diva she's always dreamed of being?
From the author of American Idle , the book Publishers Weekly called a “zany debut,” comes an irrepressibly hilarious novel about learning how to be yourself—even if it kills you.
Kirby didn’t get to be a Vice President of Marketing by being nice. But when she fires her entire staff within a few weeks (they all deserved it, really ), her new boss is hardly impressed. Wanting to prove his point, he issues a If Kirby can get someone— anyone— to call her nice, she can take that long-awaited dream vacation to Italy with her best friend, Jules. If she can’t, she can kiss the Coliseum goodbye. Oh, and her job too.
Now Kirby has exactly thirty days to bully someone into saying she’s nice—and to show her boss who’s boss. If she doesn’t fall hard for him first.
Kirby's assistant—and aspiring opera singer—Brianna has the opposite problem. She's so nice she's in danger of fading into the woodwork. Can Brianna teach Kirby a lesson on nice while learning to be the Diva she's always dreamed of being?
From the author of American Idle , the book Publishers Weekly called a “zany debut,” comes an irrepressibly hilarious novel about learning how to be yourself—even if it kills you.
307 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 22, 2019
Kirby Green and her best friend, Jules, plan to leave for a three-week Italian vacation in a month. Kirby needs a break from her cutthroat career as vice president in charge of marketing for a sex toy company. "Nice" is not an adjective anyone would use to describe her, especially since she just fired most of her department, including her secretary. "Who needs more friends?" Kirby thinks, and pushes her way toward the top in business.
This attitude doesn't really fly with her boss, Banning Stuart. He gives her an ultimatum: in the next thirty days, Kirby must find someone to call her "nice" or she risks losing her vacation--and her job. With the help of her very nice new secretary Brianna (who happens to want to develop a little of Kirby's backbone), Kirby sets out to do what most think is impossible--soften up and become a nice person.
Alesia Holliday's second chick lit novel has a winning combination of humor, engaging plot, and romance. Although Kirby is hardnosed in business, her demeanor does have something to do with her childhood and not wanting to turn out to be a doormat like her mother. As she goes through her transformation, Kirby begins to realize that not everything is as it appears on the surface, and she needs to give everyone--including herself--a break.
The chapters are told in the alternating first-person viewpoints of Kirby and Brianna. This works extremely well and is never confusing. It allows the reader to get an inside knowledge of each of the character's motivation. The plot moves quickly and never bogs down with either character. The romantic subplots give spice to the story and keep the reader guessing until the end as to whom (if anyone) Brianna and Kirby will end up with. Holliday has a true gift for enchanting humor and laugh-out-loud moments, nobody takes himself or herself too seriously. Nice Girls Finish First is head and shoulders above most chick lit novels.
This attitude doesn't really fly with her boss, Banning Stuart. He gives her an ultimatum: in the next thirty days, Kirby must find someone to call her "nice" or she risks losing her vacation--and her job. With the help of her very nice new secretary Brianna (who happens to want to develop a little of Kirby's backbone), Kirby sets out to do what most think is impossible--soften up and become a nice person.
Alesia Holliday's second chick lit novel has a winning combination of humor, engaging plot, and romance. Although Kirby is hardnosed in business, her demeanor does have something to do with her childhood and not wanting to turn out to be a doormat like her mother. As she goes through her transformation, Kirby begins to realize that not everything is as it appears on the surface, and she needs to give everyone--including herself--a break.
The chapters are told in the alternating first-person viewpoints of Kirby and Brianna. This works extremely well and is never confusing. It allows the reader to get an inside knowledge of each of the character's motivation. The plot moves quickly and never bogs down with either character. The romantic subplots give spice to the story and keep the reader guessing until the end as to whom (if anyone) Brianna and Kirby will end up with. Holliday has a true gift for enchanting humor and laugh-out-loud moments, nobody takes himself or herself too seriously. Nice Girls Finish First is head and shoulders above most chick lit novels.
June 29, 2021
I laughed... a lot. It was a fun light read
July 16, 2022
This book while honestly pretty predictable was a super heartwarming and cozy read.
I loved the two main characters (Kirby and Bree) and how they truly helped each other just become more.
I loved the two main characters (Kirby and Bree) and how they truly helped each other just become more.
January 28, 2008
once again, a book that's not bad enough to put down and abandon, and actually has really great moments, but not necessarily a great read as yet...grrr. I'm due for a brilliant book already, normally I don't go this long and attempt so many books before I stumble into one I just can't put down. I'm still waiting, but until then, I'll keep going with the four that are average at best at this point.
In the end, the book doesn't even measure up to average.
Woman who is in upper management in some sex toy company is bet by her boss, the sexy man she finds to be annoying, overbearing, and of course irresistible, that she cannot find someone to call her nice, her losing would mean she loses her job...I should have just laid it aside when I was up to par on the plot, but I read on to find out her assistants story as well.
Her assistant is (at least) the polar opposite of her boss, overly nice, doormat character who's in a relationship with a man who doesn't support her dreams, is a jerk much of the time, and should she stay with him or not, sums up her story.
Predictable, painful dialogue. I'm still amazed I bothered to finish. Will I never learn?
In the end, the book doesn't even measure up to average.
Woman who is in upper management in some sex toy company is bet by her boss, the sexy man she finds to be annoying, overbearing, and of course irresistible, that she cannot find someone to call her nice, her losing would mean she loses her job...I should have just laid it aside when I was up to par on the plot, but I read on to find out her assistants story as well.
Her assistant is (at least) the polar opposite of her boss, overly nice, doormat character who's in a relationship with a man who doesn't support her dreams, is a jerk much of the time, and should she stay with him or not, sums up her story.
Predictable, painful dialogue. I'm still amazed I bothered to finish. Will I never learn?
October 16, 2010
Kirby Green and her best friend, Jules, plan to leave for a three-week Italian vacation in a month. Kirby needs a break from her cutthroat career as vice president in charge of marketing for a sex toy company. "Nice" is not an adjective anyone would use to describe her, especially since she just fired most of her department, including her secretary. "Who needs more friends?" Kirby thinks, and pushes her way toward the top in business.
This attitude doesn't really fly with her boss, Banning Stuart. He gives her an ultimatum: in the next thirty days, Kirby must find someone to call her "nice" or she risks losing her vacation--and her job. With the help of her very nice new secretary Brianna (who happens to want to develop a little of Kirby's backbone), Kirby sets out to do what most think is impossible--soften up and become a nice person.
This attitude doesn't really fly with her boss, Banning Stuart. He gives her an ultimatum: in the next thirty days, Kirby must find someone to call her "nice" or she risks losing her vacation--and her job. With the help of her very nice new secretary Brianna (who happens to want to develop a little of Kirby's backbone), Kirby sets out to do what most think is impossible--soften up and become a nice person.
May 7, 2010
This is the second book that I've read by Alesia Holliday. I'm not sure if it's the fact that some time has passed since I've read the first one (American Idle) or if my life has just changed, but I don't think that I enjoyed this one as much as the first one.
When I started reading the story, I found it to be a bit slow, and hard to get into. But as I read more, I found myself enjoying the story and almost carrying about the characters. The ending was a little predictable, but it's great to see that "Nice Girls" can finish first.
When I started reading the story, I found it to be a bit slow, and hard to get into. But as I read more, I found myself enjoying the story and almost carrying about the characters. The ending was a little predictable, but it's great to see that "Nice Girls" can finish first.
July 20, 2014
Overall, this book was good; easy to read and engaging enough for me to want to keep on reading it. There were some inconsistencies in the characters but that didn't really disturb the plot at all. Also her style was a bit predictive especially when she would finish a section off with a particular sentence and begin the next section with the exact one. The first time - it was a nice segway..... but after the third time, it became annoying. All in all though, a good light read.
March 9, 2008
When I picked this one, I had no idea it was a sequel. I've never read American Idle. Apparently it's not necessary, as this character was just an accessory in the first book, as best I can gather. This heroine knows tough girls come out first, but the dare is for someone to call her nice. Pretty good read.
July 8, 2008
Alesia Holliday always makes me laugh. This is the third book I have read of hers and once again I found myself completely entertained. Apart from the standard chic lit premise, it has deeper insights about the balance between being "nice" and standing up for yourself and how everybody has their own problems no matter how idealic their life seems on the surface.
September 21, 2008
I gave this two stars because, though I belive I liked it while I was reading it (enjoyable, funny lines, etc) I can barely remember it even though I read it less than a month ago!
Not-so-nice boss has to learn how to get along better with people, and does so with help from her too-nice secretary (who has to learn how to not be so nice).
Not-so-nice boss has to learn how to get along better with people, and does so with help from her too-nice secretary (who has to learn how to not be so nice).
March 9, 2010
Quick read with relatively likeable and quirky characters and a chick-lit story line.
It wasn't BAD, I just didn't really like the author's style. She seemed to be trying too hard; trying too hard to be funny, too hard to be sassy, too hard to be cool.
The writing was a bit cringeworthy and made me feel awkward.
It wasn't BAD, I just didn't really like the author's style. She seemed to be trying too hard; trying too hard to be funny, too hard to be sassy, too hard to be cool.
The writing was a bit cringeworthy and made me feel awkward.
December 17, 2011
Enjoyable, plus hedlun sd I look a little like girl on the cover....good recommendation to change up tone of books we've been reading....maybe interested in others by the author, Always fun to read about beginning of new relationships and remember parts of your own history...romantic or just funny, likable characters.
June 12, 2012
Slightly evil VP Marketing lusts after boss who bets her that she can't find one person to call her "nice" within 30 days, all in a thinly veiled attempt to get her to see the good within herself. Slightly more realistic a heroine than most chicklit books - this one is bitchy, but has college loans, boyfriend problems, and severe daddy issues to overcome.
January 15, 2008
This is a great piece of chick lit. It is the right length with truly sympathetic characters. There are two protagonists and the chapters alternate between them. The characters are boss/secretary so they do interact with each other, but not overbearingly so.
February 14, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found myself relating to both characters and it brought home the continuous struggle I have in finding the balance between between people-pleasing-pushover and strong, self-protecting bitch.
April 10, 2008
I didn't realize that this book is part of a 2-book series with "American Idle", and I read the other first. Still, both are a ton of fun with interesting characters and plenty of laughable situations.
April 26, 2009
This was a fun read. I enjoyed both Brianna's and Kirby's stories.
She writes such wonderful characters, you feel like you really know them.
I was bummed that it ended, I wanted to hear about Brianna's singing career, and Kirby and Banning!
Sequel?????
She writes such wonderful characters, you feel like you really know them.
I was bummed that it ended, I wanted to hear about Brianna's singing career, and Kirby and Banning!
Sequel?????
Read
September 8, 2009This book was funny but interesting. I like the fact to two people with different personality became good friends towards the end. It justs amazing how someone total different from you can teach you new things.
October 9, 2011
I loved this funny, touching book, told from the point of view of two women, one an executive and the other her assistant, as they navigate the realm where niceness and sticking to one's guns meet. I read it in one satisfying gulp.
December 10, 2011
Cute book. Kirby and Bree were likeable not overly cliched characters. It was an engaging and quick read - I wouldn't mind going back and reading American Idle (Jules story) and it would be fun to read more about Bree and her adventures. Should be a fun discussion at book club!
September 9, 2007
This is a wonderfully light-hearted tale of two women who think they either aren't nice or aren't tough enough, but have been all along.
June 26, 2008
If you've ever felt like maybe you're a little meaner than people like you to be, or on the reverse TOO nice - this book is for you. It looks at both perspectives and ends in an adorable way.
October 9, 2008
Very light and fluffy romantic comedy.
November 9, 2008
This is the 2nd book of Alesia Holliday I read. I enjoyed it, but a tiny less than American Idle.
May 10, 2010
Fun read! Enjoyed it!
Want to read
November 13, 2011Recommended by Barb.
November 13, 2012
Chick lit; but at least it is strong women chick lit
April 16, 2014
I'm surprised this book hasn't been more popular. It's absolutely adorable, sweet and laugh out loud funny without being over the top.
December 26, 2007
your typical chick lit
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews