Dead Sexy

by Kathy Lette

Why do men like intelligent women?
Because opposites attract.

That's what shy London music teacher Shelly Green thinks when she meets hunky, boisterous American, Kit Kincaide... on their wedding day. Thrown together on the reality show Desperate and Dateless, they were predicted to be the perfect match--physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Proving their compatibility on at least one score (in the backseat of a limo), there appears to be some hope for this manufactured marriage...until their honeymoon on the tropical island of Reunion, where Shelly realizes that men and women have slightly different takes on the meaning of commitment. For Shelly it means love, kids, and happily ever afters. But for Kit it's a meaningful one-night stand. Or is it? What exactly is her husband trying to hide?
Will Shelly discover the truth about Kit? Will she find romance in spite of a civil war, a natural disaster, and a crew of dubious television lowlifes? Do she and Kit have a chance for a real marriage in the hyped-up, surreal world of reality TV?

Love may be blind.
But marriage is a real eye-opener.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Humor

341 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Kathy Lette divides her time between being a full time writer,
demented mother (now there's a tautology) and trying to find a shopping trolley that doesn't have a clubbed wheel.

Kathy first achieved succés de scandale as a teenager with the novel Puberty Blues, now a major motion picture.

After several years as a singer with the Salami Sisters and a newspaper columnist in Sydney and New York (collected in the book "Hit and Ms") and as a television sitcom writer for Columbia Pictures in Los Angeles, her novels, "Puberty Blues" (1979) "Girls Night Out" (1988), "The Llama Parlour" (1991), "Foetal Attraction" (1993), "Mad Cows" (1996),"Altar Ego" (1998) "Nip'N'Tuck" (2001), "Dead Sexy" (2003) and "How To Kill Your Husband (and other handy household hints)" (2006) became international best-sellers. Kathy Lette's plays include "Grommits", "Wet Dreams", "Perfect Mismatch" and "I'm So Happy For You I Really Am".

She lives in London with her husband and two children and has just finished a stint as writer in Residence at London's Savoy Hotel.

Kathy says that the best thing about being a writer is that you get to work in your jammies all day, drink heavily on the job and have affairs and call it research! (Although her husband says he should have the affair as it would give her a better book!)

Reviews

[Nina Draganova · Rating 5 out of 5]

19.10.16
"Човешкият вид е прекалено ирационален, за да се откаже от брака, дори след многовековен опит, доказал колко е противен."
"Мъжете са като високите токчета: много лесно стъпваш на тях, стига да научиш как да го правиш."
"Защо, запита се тя, хората празнуват брака, преди да се е осъществил? Обикновено нещо се празнува, след като е станало! Наградите „Оскар" ги дават, след като филмът е направен; кръщаването е след раждането; олимпийските медали - след състезанието. И знаете ли защо хората празнуват брака, преди да се е осъществил? Защото след това просто няма какво да се празнува! 0, колко бързо се минава от „Докато смъртта ни раздели" към „Какво ли съм видял у теб, глупав задник, такъв!"

[Linda Smolenski · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this one offensive in its sexism and portrayal of women as completely desperate, incredibly naive and easily manipulated by sex.

[Stuart Iversen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I hate more, this book or myself for being the kind of person who, having started it, couldn't bring myself to stop. Populated by some of the worst people ever put on page, it's a cliche ridden disaster of imperialistic, xenophobic and awful, horrid nonsense. I picked it up for free out of a box on the side of the road and the second it took me to bend over was still too expensive.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here was the thing with this book it didn’t so much as tell not show, it basically smacked you round the head with every aspect of the ‘plot.’ It had no subtlety, I think that’s what most annoyed me about it. Some of the characters were okay-ish but they were all caricatures and I know Ms. Lette probably lives in a world where those people are real but most of us don’t so it just rang incredibly untrue. It was also a little bit like when children just randomly shout a swearword and then giggle because they know it’s naughty. that’s how it felt to read this, like the author was just yelling nut-sack at you and then giggling.

[Viv · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am kind of disappointed that Kathy has meshed some really good ideas into a comedy, which don’t belong in the comedy genre and tripped up on the execution of the story. She raises child abduction and parental alienation which issues, to see this being taken lightly was disappointing. The story is based on reality television, I think another let down here was using eloquent words that did not fit. I’m reading a comedy, keep it light, not verbose. The explicitness in language when it comes to sexual scenes was a bit much, rich for a comedy.
I like the idea of the reality dating game gone wrong, I just think that the story was a bit contrived and predictable in parts too. Unfortunately that is Kathy’s writing style I have found after reading three other books of hers. I was tempted to DNF.

[Harkirit Rayatt]

Literally the most awful book ever.

[Karla Valdes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Simplemente "NO".

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have this weird thing where I can't let myself move on to a new books unless I've finished what Im reading at that moment. This was one of those. Also I can't believe I actually read this whole book. I think i remember thinking this will get good at some point, it will flip and turn out to be somewhat sane. But it didn't.

[Gillian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not enjoying this book the way I have others by Kathy Lette. She seems to have gathered all the "witty" adjectives and adverbs regarding male vs female and England vs USA in her vocabulary. Is i worthwhile my continuing or should I just give up and admit defeat?

Well I did finally finish the book. It was an annoying, predictable "Battle of the Sexes"

[Kirstie-Lee Archer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was left feeling disappointed by this book so many disastrous ridiculous things happened in this and to portray that women are desperate and would do anything for sex doesn’t sit well with me, did not enjoy this but I’m also the type of person who can’t put a book down if I don’t like it, I have to finish it.

[Petite Duck · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible cliched book. I'm so ashamed of having it in my possession. Every time the characters open their mouths I want to bang my head against the wall. They all sound so annoying and obnoxious.

Only recommended if you want a new chewing toy for your dog.

[Emma Coleman · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm actually giving up....I'm not wasting my time reading this book! it's not very imaginitive. A girl fancies a book, tries to impress him by doing things she dosnt like all in aid of winning money from a TV show x

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know what to say but it was awful. I have read other books by the same author and enjoyed them.

The plot is ridiculous, and if you can get through the first few pages all I can say is, yes it is that bad and it does not get any better. To save you time read something else!

[Nic · Rating 1 out of 5]

dead rubbish.


Not my usual cup of tea, chick lit, but after such a heavy read (The good women of China)I felt like something a little more easy going- doubt i'll be converted though!

[Caroline Donovan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot line was kind of ridiculous.

[Fuka-chan · Rating 1 out of 5]

not my cup of tea. maybe because of the fighting scene between KIt and Shelly, it doesnt really appeal to me. read over quickly to know the ending and it doesn't make me any happier.

[Samuel Snipe]

Funny in parts.

[Tuesday's Child · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time.

[Marina Mariotti · Rating 1 out of 5]

snooze fest

[Ailish Cleary Egan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really awful!

[Jennifer Hughan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok but so many big words

[Петя Спасова]

Ha ha ha T_T

[Lindsey Rae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wishing I was the type to DNF

Please don’t waste your time 🥴

[Anita Pal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Annoying, stupid and offensive to boot. I stopped reading after 150 pages -- and even that was too much.

[Abby Gates · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf

[Daisy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - writing really irritated me. Could not get into the book

[Joanne Van · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t bother reading this one. Not sure why I stuck it out to the end. It did not improve as I read. Very unbelieveable and just hard to read.

[Denira Varma · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book cost me R10 and my dignity. Sies, what a badly written, disgustingly prejudiced, wholly unrealistic book. Who publishes this rubbish? Sies.

[Cassandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
It is desperately trying to be witty but ends up exhausting. Was there actually a storyline?

[Laura Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me