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Guilty Pleasures
In the world of the fabulously rich, fashion can have a very high price. Saul Milford, owner of one of England’s oldest and most prestigious luxury goods companies is dead, but who will inherit his estate? Saul’s niece Cassandra, editor-in-chief of glamorous fashion magazine Rive? Roger, Saul’s handsome brother with a demanding, scheming wife? Julia the art-dealer sister with a dark and brooding secret? All have their reasons for wanting the company. But only one of them will go to any lengths to secure what they believe is rightfully theirs. It’s a gilt-edged tale of lust, glamour and intrigue around the world’s most luxurious locations.
688 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
175 people are currently reading
803 people want to read
About the author
Tasmina Perry
44 books506 followers"Tasmina Perry left a career in law for the more glamorous world of women’s magazine journalism.
She has written on celebrity and style for many national magazines including Marie−Claire‚ Glamour and Heat and was most recently Deputy Editor of InStyle magazine. She has also found time to launch her own travel and fashion magazine Jaunt. All of her four novels have been Sunday Times best-sellers and her books have been published in seventeen countries.
She lives in Surrey with her husband and son." (Source: http://www.tasminaperry.com/the-autho...)
She also writes under the pseudonym J.L. Butler and with her husband John Perry under the pseudonym Mia James.
She has written on celebrity and style for many national magazines including Marie−Claire‚ Glamour and Heat and was most recently Deputy Editor of InStyle magazine. She has also found time to launch her own travel and fashion magazine Jaunt. All of her four novels have been Sunday Times best-sellers and her books have been published in seventeen countries.
She lives in Surrey with her husband and son." (Source: http://www.tasminaperry.com/the-autho...)
She also writes under the pseudonym J.L. Butler and with her husband John Perry under the pseudonym Mia James.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
May 7, 2023
Sheldon, Collins, Robbins, Krantz: The throne holders of the quintessential bonkbusters. These novels dripping with scandal, sex, glamour, and intrigue were staples on our mothers and grandmothers bookshelves and often clamored for space on bestseller lists. Alas, those heydays from the 70s and, most notably, the 80s are long gone. But there have been a few writers at present attempting to replicate that seductive nostalgia. Tasmina Perry is one of them. I dived into this plump tome (over 500 pages) hoping for an indulgent feast and instead I was served a dish burnt on the outside and undercooked in the middle. Ok, enough with the food metaphors. Guilty Pleasures tries really, really hard to apply new polish to a familiar story of feuding cousins, backstabbing, drugs, sex, a bit of rock ‘n roll, and some intrigue. While the characters are interesting there’s a lot—-and I mean, A LOT—-of boardroom banter about the fashion world that just anchors the plot into place for long stretches of time. Inner dialogue comes across as monotonous and there’s way too much repetition of events that happened chapters ago being regurgitated all over again. All the parts are there, but when pieced together this hefty jalopy just putters along at a snail’s pace.
October 13, 2012
Finished it yesterday and I really enjoyed it.
Found it a bit hard to get into for most of the first half of the book, just couldn't get into it as the books I have been reading are love stories that tell a story from one characters point of view and just flow on, where as this book each chapter describes one or two of the characters life and goings-on and not in any particular order but you need to know this info about each character to get a picture of the world of Fashion and those involved in it, how fashion works and how nasty, manipulative, back-stabbing, conniving, un-healthy and so many more words to list the fashion industry really is and how you can ruin someones life in a matter of a instant especially if they do something wrong or not to your liking.
The story is basically about a Luxury Goods empire owned by Saul who dies and leaves 70% of the company and assets to his niece, Emma who he has not seen in 3 years nor much of the other family members (she lives in the States, this story is based in the UK). Roger, his brother and 20% shareholder in the company and Cassandra, his other niece and Editor of one of UK's biggest fashion mags are peeved off that they weren't each left the company. So the drama and revenge starts not just to get rid of Emma as CEO but in the fashion industry as well.
Emma's background is taking businesses that are failing and making them successful thru advice to those company's CEOs and she is very good at it so of course she applies this to Milford's with great success but the other shareholders and Cassandra aren't happy with her appointment and especially Cassandra, since she has loads of contacts in the fashion industry, makes Emmas business life hell. But Emma pulls thru with fabulous results but there is 3 twists. Two involving Emma and the other involving Cassandra. These are exciting. Loved the Cassandra twist and oh my lord, she so did deserved it, I was Hi-5ing the air when I read what happened to her.
Enter in a love-hate relationship between Emma and Rob and an affair between Cassandra and Max (he's married to Cassandra's fashion Editor, Laura, their affair starts the night before his wedding) and the story becomes more intriguing. Emma and Rob are perfect for each other but different in many ways. She's sweet, plainish and innocent in a way, but excellent in the business sense, he's rich (family rich), gorgeous, successful Record company owner (part of the family's business) and a womaniser come slut! They have an attraction with each other but dislike each other too. Her more than him. Did they finally end up with each other, read the book!!!!!
There is attempted murder, car crashes, house fires, helicopter sudden landings, a little sex, lots of drugs, affairs, manipulative schemes, a beating, a take-over or two, but then there is love and happiness and the finding of wanting to be a better person and mother(Cassandra)and to be successful, you don't necessary need to be the very best in your job and in your life.
There are lots of beautiful, rich and successful people in this story and some less than successful or beautiful as you would expect from a story about fashion but it was an interesting read about the fiction going-ons in the fashion world, which I would say, probably exists in the real-life world of fashion too.
I did enjoy it and think now I know the characters and their parts in the story, I'm gonna read it again to get a better feel for the story.
Found it a bit hard to get into for most of the first half of the book, just couldn't get into it as the books I have been reading are love stories that tell a story from one characters point of view and just flow on, where as this book each chapter describes one or two of the characters life and goings-on and not in any particular order but you need to know this info about each character to get a picture of the world of Fashion and those involved in it, how fashion works and how nasty, manipulative, back-stabbing, conniving, un-healthy and so many more words to list the fashion industry really is and how you can ruin someones life in a matter of a instant especially if they do something wrong or not to your liking.
The story is basically about a Luxury Goods empire owned by Saul who dies and leaves 70% of the company and assets to his niece, Emma who he has not seen in 3 years nor much of the other family members (she lives in the States, this story is based in the UK). Roger, his brother and 20% shareholder in the company and Cassandra, his other niece and Editor of one of UK's biggest fashion mags are peeved off that they weren't each left the company. So the drama and revenge starts not just to get rid of Emma as CEO but in the fashion industry as well.
Emma's background is taking businesses that are failing and making them successful thru advice to those company's CEOs and she is very good at it so of course she applies this to Milford's with great success but the other shareholders and Cassandra aren't happy with her appointment and especially Cassandra, since she has loads of contacts in the fashion industry, makes Emmas business life hell. But Emma pulls thru with fabulous results but there is 3 twists. Two involving Emma and the other involving Cassandra. These are exciting. Loved the Cassandra twist and oh my lord, she so did deserved it, I was Hi-5ing the air when I read what happened to her.
Enter in a love-hate relationship between Emma and Rob and an affair between Cassandra and Max (he's married to Cassandra's fashion Editor, Laura, their affair starts the night before his wedding) and the story becomes more intriguing. Emma and Rob are perfect for each other but different in many ways. She's sweet, plainish and innocent in a way, but excellent in the business sense, he's rich (family rich), gorgeous, successful Record company owner (part of the family's business) and a womaniser come slut! They have an attraction with each other but dislike each other too. Her more than him. Did they finally end up with each other, read the book!!!!!
There is attempted murder, car crashes, house fires, helicopter sudden landings, a little sex, lots of drugs, affairs, manipulative schemes, a beating, a take-over or two, but then there is love and happiness and the finding of wanting to be a better person and mother(Cassandra)and to be successful, you don't necessary need to be the very best in your job and in your life.
There are lots of beautiful, rich and successful people in this story and some less than successful or beautiful as you would expect from a story about fashion but it was an interesting read about the fiction going-ons in the fashion world, which I would say, probably exists in the real-life world of fashion too.
I did enjoy it and think now I know the characters and their parts in the story, I'm gonna read it again to get a better feel for the story.
August 11, 2011
For a bonk buster, this was pretty good. I mean it had the gratuitous sex and violence, but there was more than one twist and I was definitely kept on my toes.
January 8, 2024
Read this years ago, I believe it was 2009, at the time in my early 20s I loved it. Not sure its the genre for me today though.
June 10, 2010
Oh how I love Tasmina Perry - her books should come on prescription, along with sunshine, a long cool drink and the biggest blingiest sunglasses to hide behind! Total and utter glitz and glamour - the world of the mega-rich, the mega-famous and the mega-bitchy. The perfect pick-me-up - I loved every block busting page of it!
The plot centres around an in-family fight to take over the high-quality leather goods company that is worth millions, with the action taking place in the glossiest of magazine offices, the plushest hotels and the private helicopters of the rich and famous. The two main characters are cousins ; Emma - the good girl and Cassandra - the evil *** - oh what perfect names to suit their personalities. Emma was never going to be the *** was she?
The ideal holiday read, suspend belief and see how the other half (probably) live!
The plot centres around an in-family fight to take over the high-quality leather goods company that is worth millions, with the action taking place in the glossiest of magazine offices, the plushest hotels and the private helicopters of the rich and famous. The two main characters are cousins ; Emma - the good girl and Cassandra - the evil *** - oh what perfect names to suit their personalities. Emma was never going to be the *** was she?
The ideal holiday read, suspend belief and see how the other half (probably) live!
April 21, 2015
This book's title and cover are luckily super misleading - it's nowhere near as trashy as it's made to appear^^
Reading this was actually pretty fun - if you're into high-end fashion (at least interested in the glamour of it) and you like light-hearted books that don't make you think at all ever then I would in fact recommend this book to you.
I still can't give it any more stars though because despite the overall enjoyment at close to 700 pages the book is WAY TOO LONG and the end is a hurried, uncoordinated mess of loosely tied up ends, random drama and a completely unnecessary mystery element. Could have been shorter, better and more concise but still a fun read.
Reading this was actually pretty fun - if you're into high-end fashion (at least interested in the glamour of it) and you like light-hearted books that don't make you think at all ever then I would in fact recommend this book to you.
I still can't give it any more stars though because despite the overall enjoyment at close to 700 pages the book is WAY TOO LONG and the end is a hurried, uncoordinated mess of loosely tied up ends, random drama and a completely unnecessary mystery element. Could have been shorter, better and more concise but still a fun read.
July 13, 2013
I took this on a train journey hoping I would have it finished with come the end of my trip - truthfully I did but I cannot say I was happy about how long it took me to get through or the fact that the best part of it was the one chapter where I chuckled. I don't doubt Tasmina is a great writer with lots of readers and followers, but having read this, I won't be following her future works as closely as I thought.
June 1, 2014
The book was ok, but too long for the story being told. It could have been a 5-star book if 200 pages shorter, with the excess storytelling removed.
January 28, 2015
Good story in serious need of an editor. It was way too long and filled with typos, spelling and grammar errors. Could have been 4 stars in the hands of a good editor.
September 5, 2020
Not my cup of fashion drama, this book did not have the plot build up till page 300. I was skimming through pages, just getting the gist of what's going on.
Will not recommend.
Will not recommend.
May 3, 2020
I randomly picked this book from an online second hand books sale app. And to be honest I liked it.
Saul Milford, owner of one of England’s oldest and most prestigious luxury goods companies (supposed to be within the range of Hermes, YSL etc.) dies and leaves his wealth to his siblings and nieces. Saul leaves his home estate and the Milford factory to his sibling Virgina’s daughter Emma Bailey who is a management professional from Harvard and has a top notch job with a consultancy in Boston. Saul leaves a holiday luxury home to his sibling Julie’s daughter Cassandra Grand who is a fashionista and is the Editor of Rive’s UK edition. Roger Milford- brother of Saul Milford gets another of his luxury resort and that’s it.
Roger has 20% shares in the Milford Factory and his sisters Julie and Virginia have 5% each. Both Roger and Cassandra by default expected to get the Factory due to their backgrounds and are highly disappointed due to the main chunk of the estate going to Emma Bailey.
The main characters who are highlighted in this 680 page book are Emma Bailey and Cassandra Grand. Emma being the hardworking and nice girl and Cassandra being the fashion icon who has worked her way up by being ruthless and by using any means she thinks fit! Emma works hard to turn Milford fashion from the dead back in life and Cassandra flashes her way through parties and fashion events and scheming her own affair of things. Along with these two each main character in the book seems to have a motive and I kept doubting all of them till the last few chapters. The ending was worth it.
Definitely recommend this book for all those who love to read love, mystery, thriller, suspense and of course would love to know about all the scandals, competition and inside stories of a fashion world!
Saul Milford, owner of one of England’s oldest and most prestigious luxury goods companies (supposed to be within the range of Hermes, YSL etc.) dies and leaves his wealth to his siblings and nieces. Saul leaves his home estate and the Milford factory to his sibling Virgina’s daughter Emma Bailey who is a management professional from Harvard and has a top notch job with a consultancy in Boston. Saul leaves a holiday luxury home to his sibling Julie’s daughter Cassandra Grand who is a fashionista and is the Editor of Rive’s UK edition. Roger Milford- brother of Saul Milford gets another of his luxury resort and that’s it.
Roger has 20% shares in the Milford Factory and his sisters Julie and Virginia have 5% each. Both Roger and Cassandra by default expected to get the Factory due to their backgrounds and are highly disappointed due to the main chunk of the estate going to Emma Bailey.
The main characters who are highlighted in this 680 page book are Emma Bailey and Cassandra Grand. Emma being the hardworking and nice girl and Cassandra being the fashion icon who has worked her way up by being ruthless and by using any means she thinks fit! Emma works hard to turn Milford fashion from the dead back in life and Cassandra flashes her way through parties and fashion events and scheming her own affair of things. Along with these two each main character in the book seems to have a motive and I kept doubting all of them till the last few chapters. The ending was worth it.
Definitely recommend this book for all those who love to read love, mystery, thriller, suspense and of course would love to know about all the scandals, competition and inside stories of a fashion world!
August 25, 2018
Long dreaded books usually have their flaws as writers reach a huge wall at some point writing but Tasmina Perry had me on my toes with each page. I wouldn't lie, there were a few chapter I skimmed through faster cause it was eventless but there were so many chapters jam packed with plot after plot. For me the pros outran the cons. Until the last couple of chapters, the book had me doubting almost all the characters as everyone had a motive, everyone was suspicious in way. But at all the book delivered and the ending was worth the read.
Do recommend this book for those #bookworms who love mystery/thriller combine with a lot of hot scandals.
More in depth review soon :)
Do recommend this book for those #bookworms who love mystery/thriller combine with a lot of hot scandals.
More in depth review soon :)
January 30, 2018
I thought this book had quite a good plot, a bit of a whodunnit! However, I was disturbed by the part of the story whereby top women magazine editors were using sex to get the story or job that they wanted!! Considering that the author has worked in the magazine industry I wonder if she was relating what actually goes on! Admittedly the book was written a few years ago but all the same it is very disappointing to those of us who espouse feminist principles. Having said that I have always thought that celebrity magazines are not worth the paper they are printed on, so very superficial.
February 16, 2024
I pretty much guessed everything in this book, it was just all a bit obvious. I was hoping the book was going to pick up and get good, but it just didn’t. It was just all a bit meh. Also, I’m not sure what the book title has to do with the book? Credit to the author, though, for making the character of Cassandra so loathsome, that I spent the entire book hoping one of the other characters was going to punch her in the face. Job well done there.
December 17, 2017
Wow! Kitabı bitirince o kadar karmaşık duygular içerisinde kalıyorsunuz ki.. Tadı damağımda kalan bölümlere mi üzüleyim, fazlaca uzatılmış bölümler bittiği için mi sevineyim yoksa daha fazla o dünyanın içerisinde olamayacağım için ağlayayım mı karar veremedim ama kesin olan bir şey var ki ben bu dünyayı çok sevdim. Moda hakkında efsane bilgiler okuyacağınız bu kitabı kaçırmayın.
4.2/5
4.2/5
October 13, 2019
Very enjoyable
Didn't want to put it down! Story is based on a high end inherited family business. However. Other family members want control. It has all the elements , sex, love, betrayal, adultery, attempted murder, greed, etc. The book reminds me of Barbara Taylor Bradford's early books. I would recommend this book and hope to read another of this author' s books.
Didn't want to put it down! Story is based on a high end inherited family business. However. Other family members want control. It has all the elements , sex, love, betrayal, adultery, attempted murder, greed, etc. The book reminds me of Barbara Taylor Bradford's early books. I would recommend this book and hope to read another of this author' s books.
February 19, 2022
A little bit of sauciness and plenty of drama. Took a few chapters for me to get into but then was too hard not to keep reading. The perfect summer holiday read. I will put this author on my reading list.
May 2, 2018
A good read with its suspense and romance.
July 14, 2018
Çok çok iyidi hele o son süperdi 😍
May 10, 2020
A high society murder, as well as painting lots of characters that appear to be money grabbers.
December 4, 2021
Entirety predictable and all the better for it!
June 26, 2023
Romance. Sorted of ended like a cozy mystery but very enjoyable along the way.
December 16, 2025
A LOT going on. Too many characters imo. Good overall story but felt a bit flat at the end
January 28, 2020
If you like your "Chick Lit" and have never read Tasmina Perry before I would definately recommend this one. It tells the story of Cassandra Grand and Emma Bailey, cousins who fight for the one thing that their uncle left behind in his will, the Millford empire. The whole book is a thoroughly enjoyable read and you manage to get straight into the story from chapter one. The characters are not perfect but you end up loving them anyway. I read one of her previous books by chance and thought maybe it was a one off but can assure those of you that haven't read this one that's not the case. Great read!!!
November 5, 2020
I would highly recommend this book! However, I did not give it 5 stars because of the horrible lack of editing! It appeared to have been checked for spelling, but had numerous spots where words were incorrect. Such as he instead of she, my instead of me, the left out, etc. If one is upset by casual intimate relationships or extramarital affairs, this book may offend you, but it is essential to this story.
The story is centered on a family that definitely has it's fractured relationships, greed and individuals agendas. Do you know a family without these?
The story is centered on a family that definitely has it's fractured relationships, greed and individuals agendas. Do you know a family without these?
Read
June 26, 2014I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. It defied all my initial expectations! I guess that serves me right for judging the book by its cover.
It's a long novel, possibly too long. The ending was a little unsatisfactory. I think I found it too abrupt after the lengthy beginning and middle.
But it's an extremely compelling narrative of drama in the fashion industry, with a measure of romance thrown in. I really enjoyed it. Such a pleasant surprise when I was expecting utter trash from it!
It's a long novel, possibly too long. The ending was a little unsatisfactory. I think I found it too abrupt after the lengthy beginning and middle.
But it's an extremely compelling narrative of drama in the fashion industry, with a measure of romance thrown in. I really enjoyed it. Such a pleasant surprise when I was expecting utter trash from it!
May 8, 2012
This book seemed to take me forever to read, but that was down to my reading time rather than the book, it was chunky, but I loved it!
I think this is the 3rd I've ready by Tasmina Perry, and I hope to read others as I'm really enjoying her work.
I thought the characters in this were really interesting, I especially liked Emma, and loved her strength of character, especially near the end!
I think this is the 3rd I've ready by Tasmina Perry, and I hope to read others as I'm really enjoying her work.
I thought the characters in this were really interesting, I especially liked Emma, and loved her strength of character, especially near the end!
October 20, 2018
good characters but just an ok story that needs editing
The main characters are written well enough that I had strong feelings about them. The story was just ok and felt a bit all over the place. This book really suffered from lack of editing that seemed to get worse as the book went on.
The main characters are written well enough that I had strong feelings about them. The story was just ok and felt a bit all over the place. This book really suffered from lack of editing that seemed to get worse as the book went on.
February 23, 2011
Entertaining book. Good for some lighthearted holiday reading. Well written and although rather formulaic the characters are good fun. For once I didn't totally work out the ending right at the beginning of the book and it in fact kept me guessing right up almost to the very end!
July 1, 2012
This is not usually the type of book I normally choose to read. However I bought it from a charity shop and thought I would give it ago. I have to say I enjoyed it, a fun enjoyable read. It's like an expensive American soap opera with glamour, sex, lust, back stabbing and betrayal.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews