Fatal Distraction: Or How I Conquered My Addiction to Celebrities and Got a Life

by Emmi Fredericks

"My name is Eliza H., and I am a celebraholic."

So begins this cautionary tale of how celebraholism can ruin one's life-- or at least one's twenties.

Once, Eliza dreamed of walking down the aisle (at the Oscars) and having a meaningful existence (every minute of which would be chronicled by People magazine). But by her twenties, her soaring ambitions have been reduced to friendships with two people who have some small chance at Danny, a gorgeous and sadly untalented actor, and the unscrupulous Dinah, who has no attribute she will not exploit.

Oh, and not to mention a lot of E! True Hollywood Stories and The National Enquirer .

But when her boyfriend dumps her because she has no life, Eliza resolves to try to kick her celebraholism once and for all. Consulting a sham shrink and going cold turkey on People , Eliza seems to be on the rough road to recovery when the unexpected Dinah's boyfriend, white rapper Lylo, is involved in a hit-and-run accident that claims the life of a beloved citizen-- bringing Dinah tantalizingly close to fame...and jail.

Can Eliza get Danny his big break as a cute but expendable sidekick in action flicks? Will she save Dinah from taking the fall? Or will this finally be the opportunity for the Barbara Walters interview she's waited for her whole life? Hip, humorous, and self-aware, this sublimely witty novel parodies today's cult of celebrity with hilarity and sympathy.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Young Adult

290 pages, Hardcover

First published February 2, 2004

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

My new purse book.

This was just OK - I ordered it sight unseen, and it definitely wasn't what I expected (granted, that is my problem for not reading the description carefully enough). I was hoping for a fun humor book, but instead got a very light fiction....and a note to those who want to write a book that is celebrity heavy. It's not the LEAST bit enjoyable if you create ALL the celebrities. I can understand having to do it for Lylo, one of the central characters, but it's definitely not necessary and is distracting with regard to the others. Take a look at THE STARTER WIFE by Gigi Grazer - celeb names galore, and used in not so favorable ways. Anyway, I probably wouldn't recommend the book. The only fun part was the different little asides used in each chapter.

[Carin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I am totally a pop-culture addict. I read People magazine every week the second it hits the mailbox while the pile of New Yorkers languish in the corner, unread except for the cartoons. Eliza is a girl who makes me feel better about myself, because my addiction is under control. I'm a one-pack-a-week addict, and she's a chain-smoker. But determined to get out from under her addiction's thumb, she comes up with a brilliant 12-step plan to become a tad less celebrity- (and self-) obsessed, and to be a better friend and (potential) girlfriend. Naturally, hijinks ensue. A fun fun fun read.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like I am being generous giving this book a 2 star review. I almost ditched it in the middle, but it was a quick read, so I decided to finish what I started. My biggest problem was, she used all fake celebrity names. ALL fake. I am guessing she felt like there might legal issues if she used real names, but come on. At least give us a frame of reference, so we know who the fake celebs are like. Oh, and the contrived super happy ending? Blech. Did not love. Not likely to read anything by her again.

[michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book so reminded me of a friend of mine, who's not on goodreads. She's is of the obsessed. Celebrities are an addiction to her and I thought that by reading this I could possibly catch a glimpse of her thought-process. It was pretty lame and shallow, but I read it all the way through. So, Melissa, where ever you are, I guess I understand.

[Winnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eliza is obsessed with celebrities, she realizes that she has no life, and decides to give up celebrities in order to get her happily ever after. Some other things happen, but none of it is really that important, or interesting. This is a fast read, there is nothing complicated here. It wasn't the best book ever, but I didn't expect it to be.

[Carrie Rolph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good premise, funny in spots, kind of derails and meanders in the middle.

[Jacqueline · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a quick and easy read. I enjoyed parts of it but the main character was kind of annoying.

[Kellyanne Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read and provided some interesting insight into our culture's obsession with celebrities and the impact that has on everyday life.