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Famous
Famous follows one year in the life of thirty-three-year-old Samantha True, a self-confessed SPG (Single Professional Girl) living in the heart of Auckland City. She works as a "suit" for one of the city's leading advertising agencies and is definitely happy with her life exactly the way it is - no emotional ties, no relationship hang ups and plenty of money, clothes and good parties. That is, until a single and highly enjoyable one-night stand goes horribly pear-shaped when she accidentally bonks someone famous. The bonking wasn't accidental - it was the guy being famous that was the big mistake. And about as famous as it gets - the happily married, father-of two All Black captain no less. Suddenly she's notorious and after two months of media mayhem and harassment, Sam makes a break for the depths of rural New Zealand - but what she expected to be cosy little rural retreat turns out to be an insect-infested hunting cabin, and the quaint locals regard her with deep suspicion. With her characteristic quirky humour that has readers chortling to themselves when they're not laughing out loud, once again Kate Langdon captures the twisted humour of life in the naughties with style and panache.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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477 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 15, 2014
I don't usually read romance novels anymore, but it was free on Kindle, so what the heck. It wasn't too bad, I had no trouble getting to the end. Didn't understand the Kiwi terms. Must take a trip to NZ to learn the lingo!
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November 2, 2024Famous by Kate Langdon
Intro page - Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming… woo hoo, what a ride! Anon
Page 6 - While lying in traction in the hospital the next day, I informed Jerry that he could promptly take his cake, hideous football photo and smelly socks and fuck off out of my apartment.
Page 7 - I strongly doubted any man would pass my stringent new shack-up criteria and I felt strangely secure in this knowledge.
Page 7 - However, it was slightly disconcerting to note that the only men who shared my passion for minimalist clean lines and white Italian furniture appeared to be gay.
Page 30 - ‘Bumology. Y’know… getting your future read by your bottom.’
Page 32 - It was more a case of sub-sitting (ie agreeing to look after someone’s children and then farming them off to someone else, preferably someone you know).
Page 33 - She was more like the Slyvester Stalone of the women’s movement, a female bulldozer out to mow down as many men as she could. She was vehemently and very vocally opposed to what she termed the ‘negative and discriminating portrayal of women in advertising’.
Page 36 - Roz was what my father called a man’s woman. In other words, Roz was for all intents and purposes a man, but with breasts.
Page 37 - As a child I had often imagined that I was adopted at birth. I still do hold out some hope. Surely my birth parents were famous celebrities or well-respected businesspeople, who spent their days flitting around the world from one incredibly stylish pad to the next?
Page 48 - But it was better to settle and keep the peace, he said, rather than drag names through the dirt. Even if one was undoubtedly being taken for a ride in the fun park.
Page 51 - simple rule: one could never hope to tame the penis of a rich middle-aged man.
Page 63 - Manwives, who were also married to women’s rights activists and who also spent their days running the household and making banners that read Raising Children is a Job Too! and Breastfeeding for the Public Good! in their garages.
Page 93 - There is no doubt in my mind that Amanda will one day be running this country. I can only hope I am either dead or living elsewhere by that time
Intro page - Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming… woo hoo, what a ride! Anon
Page 6 - While lying in traction in the hospital the next day, I informed Jerry that he could promptly take his cake, hideous football photo and smelly socks and fuck off out of my apartment.
Page 7 - I strongly doubted any man would pass my stringent new shack-up criteria and I felt strangely secure in this knowledge.
Page 7 - However, it was slightly disconcerting to note that the only men who shared my passion for minimalist clean lines and white Italian furniture appeared to be gay.
Page 30 - ‘Bumology. Y’know… getting your future read by your bottom.’
Page 32 - It was more a case of sub-sitting (ie agreeing to look after someone’s children and then farming them off to someone else, preferably someone you know).
Page 33 - She was more like the Slyvester Stalone of the women’s movement, a female bulldozer out to mow down as many men as she could. She was vehemently and very vocally opposed to what she termed the ‘negative and discriminating portrayal of women in advertising’.
Page 36 - Roz was what my father called a man’s woman. In other words, Roz was for all intents and purposes a man, but with breasts.
Page 37 - As a child I had often imagined that I was adopted at birth. I still do hold out some hope. Surely my birth parents were famous celebrities or well-respected businesspeople, who spent their days flitting around the world from one incredibly stylish pad to the next?
Page 48 - But it was better to settle and keep the peace, he said, rather than drag names through the dirt. Even if one was undoubtedly being taken for a ride in the fun park.
Page 51 - simple rule: one could never hope to tame the penis of a rich middle-aged man.
Page 63 - Manwives, who were also married to women’s rights activists and who also spent their days running the household and making banners that read Raising Children is a Job Too! and Breastfeeding for the Public Good! in their garages.
Page 93 - There is no doubt in my mind that Amanda will one day be running this country. I can only hope I am either dead or living elsewhere by that time
November 21, 2019
“As I crouched in the muddy grass, with my arms firmly planted in the cow’s colossal femininity, it was glaringly evident my life had been turned upside down.” (46)
Samantha Steel had never let anyone infringe on her “Single Girl Metropolitan City Life”…until Jerry walked into her life. But living with him didn’t turn out half as bad as living with all his STUFF. That seemed to be the straw that broke the camel’s back (and very nearly Sam’s vertebrae when she slipped on his mother’s God awful cake.) And just like that: Out with Jerry!
I enjoyed Sam’s stern and sarcastic sense of humor. She’s the fiercely independent gal that I am. Yeah, I can’t figure out why women would put themselves through the torture of marriage and motherhood either. Occasionally, however, Sam did have a tendency to babble on and on about fashion name brands and vanity trends. Yawn. In fact, the whole trio (Sam and her two ding-bat friends) often engaged in mind-numbing and superfluous conversations on clothes, wine, and men—most of which did not have to be documented in the book.
It seemed to take forever to get the meat of the story—the part where Sam hooks up with Alistair, a famous football star. Then her world starts spinning out of control. Cameras constantly flashing in her face, being hated by audiences, and being locked up in her apartment 24/7—her life was in chaos. Much of this was filled with that British back-lash dialogue, which was basically anger directed at the whole “bloody” world. I’ll admit that it became quite dull after a while. When does she get to the farm already? I wondered.
Upon reading more about Sam, I concluded that she was not only a smart and pragmatic businesswoman, but she was also a shallow, uppity broad. For God sakes, who can’t cook an egg?
I was expecting the “country farm girl” half to be a little more stimulating than what it was, but it seems that the most exciting part was at the very beginning. But it looks as if though time in the countryside may have gotten her off her high horse.
Ultimately, this was on okay book with some humorous references mixed in.
Samantha Steel had never let anyone infringe on her “Single Girl Metropolitan City Life”…until Jerry walked into her life. But living with him didn’t turn out half as bad as living with all his STUFF. That seemed to be the straw that broke the camel’s back (and very nearly Sam’s vertebrae when she slipped on his mother’s God awful cake.) And just like that: Out with Jerry!
I enjoyed Sam’s stern and sarcastic sense of humor. She’s the fiercely independent gal that I am. Yeah, I can’t figure out why women would put themselves through the torture of marriage and motherhood either. Occasionally, however, Sam did have a tendency to babble on and on about fashion name brands and vanity trends. Yawn. In fact, the whole trio (Sam and her two ding-bat friends) often engaged in mind-numbing and superfluous conversations on clothes, wine, and men—most of which did not have to be documented in the book.
It seemed to take forever to get the meat of the story—the part where Sam hooks up with Alistair, a famous football star. Then her world starts spinning out of control. Cameras constantly flashing in her face, being hated by audiences, and being locked up in her apartment 24/7—her life was in chaos. Much of this was filled with that British back-lash dialogue, which was basically anger directed at the whole “bloody” world. I’ll admit that it became quite dull after a while. When does she get to the farm already? I wondered.
Upon reading more about Sam, I concluded that she was not only a smart and pragmatic businesswoman, but she was also a shallow, uppity broad. For God sakes, who can’t cook an egg?
I was expecting the “country farm girl” half to be a little more stimulating than what it was, but it seems that the most exciting part was at the very beginning. But it looks as if though time in the countryside may have gotten her off her high horse.
Ultimately, this was on okay book with some humorous references mixed in.
October 7, 2019
Fun diversion
Pleasant change from the suspense , intrigue, and drama I am usually drawn to. Likable characters; believable plot; interesting pictures of town and country ways of life.
Pleasant change from the suspense , intrigue, and drama I am usually drawn to. Likable characters; believable plot; interesting pictures of town and country ways of life.
April 8, 2018
Ok
Started off well then got bit bored, I stuck with it and I did end up enjoying it. The epilogue could have been another book.
Started off well then got bit bored, I stuck with it and I did end up enjoying it. The epilogue could have been another book.
July 29, 2023
Familiar, amusing, uncomplicated 90s style chick lit with all the clichés and dippy ending that come with it.
May 23, 2017
The first half drags a bit, but things pick up about halfway through the book. An easy read that kills time. Minus one star for the offensive and unnecessary use of the word "retard." Seriously, Ms. Langdon?
February 19, 2014
This is definitely a "just for fun" book...if you like the humor of Absolutely Fabulous (which I do) I think you'll enjoy it, even if deciphering the New Zealand slang was a bit dodgy at times.
Of course there are parts that stretch credibility...the amount of public fascination with Sam (that stretches over months), her utter and abject horror (and ineptitude) after arriving at the "shack," and ehh, to some extent, the ending.
My favorite part was the unshakeable and hilarious friendship between the girls...it provided some of the funniest dialogue and their dedication to each other was nice to read.
Three stars because for as much as I enjoyed it, the ending was just too rushed and left out some parts that could have been very enjoyable to explore!
Of course there are parts that stretch credibility...the amount of public fascination with Sam (that stretches over months), her utter and abject horror (and ineptitude) after arriving at the "shack," and ehh, to some extent, the ending.
My favorite part was the unshakeable and hilarious friendship between the girls...it provided some of the funniest dialogue and their dedication to each other was nice to read.
Three stars because for as much as I enjoyed it, the ending was just too rushed and left out some parts that could have been very enjoyable to explore!
October 23, 2016
Because I read this on my Kindle, I gauged that I was 26% of the way through the book before the story as advertised on the synopsis started. Everything up to that point was the author trying to be funny and giving us absolutely no information we needed for later in the story. The main character was a sarcastic twit and I continued to read to see if she'd see the light. She apparently did, but it was between the last chapter and the epilogue, where she had apparently decided what steps she was going to take with her life. We didn't see the love story, didn't see the change of heart, didn't see any character growth. The epilogue came out of nowhere, as if the author got tired of writing the book and just tied up loose ends.
June 16, 2013
Chick Lit, most definitely, but don't let that put you off.
As far as chick lit goes this was quite humorous, and it had a good flow to it.
Some very funny moments with bikini waxing and un-invited wild animals.
I'm not normally a fan of NZ based books, but it was nice to read something I could really picture in my mind since I have lived in Auckland, and driven through if not stayed in similar small Kiwi towns.
As far as chick lit goes this was quite humorous, and it had a good flow to it.
Some very funny moments with bikini waxing and un-invited wild animals.
I'm not normally a fan of NZ based books, but it was nice to read something I could really picture in my mind since I have lived in Auckland, and driven through if not stayed in similar small Kiwi towns.
February 15, 2014
It's a good choice for a vacation book, when you want to get away from it all. She writes very well & there are some funny moments that you can almost see yourself in. This is not the type book I normally pick up & if it had been I would most likely given it another star. I actually would have liked it if the book were a bit longer & you could see her choices and how she ended up making the choice she did. I would certainly read another Kate Langdon book.
July 19, 2014
This book was a slow start for me. It felt like there was too much getting to know the character in the beginning before we got to the incident. After that I really enjoyed the story as a nice light read. The end was a little disappointing for me. I personally don't enjoy a short epilogue ending to tie up lose ends. It always feels like the author wasn't sure how to get from the end of the book to where s/he wanted it to end. Personal preference.
March 30, 2014
Giggles to the point of getting my husband's attention at the antics of these three besties! Sam, 'Mands and Lizzie live unbelievable glamorous fun lives, full of champagne, designer clothes, fabulous jobs, cars, homes . . . perfect book lives. Reading along as Sam's accidental brush with fame sends her life into hell after she sleeps with a famous soccer player was hilarious! I truly cracked up laughing, out LOUD. I will forever more refer to champagne as bubbles!
May 4, 2015
Pretty Good Chick Lit
This was a good chick lit book. Samantha makes a mistake and sleeps with the wrong guy without realizing he is famous and married. Her life gets plastered all over the papers; this book kind of shows her changes but doesn't go too in depth. I would have liked to read more about that. You can guess the ending.
This was a good chick lit book. Samantha makes a mistake and sleeps with the wrong guy without realizing he is famous and married. Her life gets plastered all over the papers; this book kind of shows her changes but doesn't go too in depth. I would have liked to read more about that. You can guess the ending.
November 4, 2015
Couldn't really relate to some of the lingo in here (pants? luvvie?) and the media hype was hard to believe, especially when it was about a football player. NZ is too much of a rugby nation, and even then any scandals only last a couple of weeks max.
It was a bit anti-climatic too. The ending felt a bit rushed as well.
It was a bit anti-climatic too. The ending felt a bit rushed as well.
March 6, 2014
It was alright. The story is basically about a girl who sleeps with someone famous and while she didn't know who he was at the time....it upsets her entire life. It ends well. If you are just looking for something to read, this could be it but there is nothing terribly special about it.
March 2, 2014
Not bad
funny in many ways,tends to drag some. no real development of the love story, but not a shocking end. tedious in parts if you aren't British or a social diva. enjoyed it for a casual read though.
funny in many ways,tends to drag some. no real development of the love story, but not a shocking end. tedious in parts if you aren't British or a social diva. enjoyed it for a casual read though.
March 20, 2014
This was just a good book. Enjoyable characters, nice story. It's not an edge-of-the-seat page turner or a literary masterpiece but I enjoyed settling down with Sam, Mands, Lizzie and Elsie at the end of a busy day. I recommend it if you're looking for a good story.
July 25, 2016
Fabulous!
Loved this! It's a bit crude in some areas, but there were times when I actually laughed out loud! That just doesn't seem to happen much with novels. I will admit that I'm very new to appreciating this genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Loved this! It's a bit crude in some areas, but there were times when I actually laughed out loud! That just doesn't seem to happen much with novels. I will admit that I'm very new to appreciating this genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
May 27, 2013
Mostly liked it because it was set in Auckland :)
June 24, 2013
My New Favorite Author... Dont know how I missed this at publication Date! a fantastic read :) Cant wait for her to write the next one.....
September 22, 2014
For the first three fourth of the book I desperately wanted to stop reading. It only won me over at the very very end.
June 14, 2014
Enjoyable and fluffy book that had a "feel good" flavor to it. It was somewhat predictable although that didn't take away from the enjoyment. Happy ending!
February 23, 2014
This book had a slow start, but enjoyed the humor and characters.
July 5, 2014
Horrible book... It jumped around and the ending seemed forced. Boooo! Don't waste ur time!
March 3, 2014
It was ok
This story was ok.
Why are all this books condensed? it's hard to read with the bits and pieces missing.
This story was ok.
Why are all this books condensed? it's hard to read with the bits and pieces missing.
March 7, 2014
Great book
A little slow to start but was a definite good read.It's not often you find a book that makes you laugh out loud. This one did just that.
A little slow to start but was a definite good read.It's not often you find a book that makes you laugh out loud. This one did just that.
December 18, 2017
the catty fasionista characters were not for me.
May 13, 2014
I am all for fluffy, mindless chick lit. That being said, this book took that a little too far. It took me a while to read it because it kept putting me to sleep.
April 3, 2014
This is a fun book about three friends and how glamorous there lives are till one of them has to run from that life. It's a little slow but it was relaxing and fun to read. I enjoyed it very much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews