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Coming Up Next
A darkly comic novel about the fall and rise of a TV presenter. Written by an insider, it’s a page-turning account of life on the sofa and in front of the cameras. When Katie Fisher, morning TV presenter, returns from holiday it's to discover that she's literally yesterday's news. Publicly sacked from her job as anchor of Hello Britain! and replaced by a pert young thing, she does what any self-respecting thirty something would in these circumstances – she makes a dash for her parents and hits the bottle. But Katie, sooner or later, has to face the world, the photographers, and the backstage intrigue of morning the cut-throat, lecherous producers, the ambitious but vacant Keera, and Mike, her co-host, a trustworthy friend or just another one of the many back-stabbers? Humour is Katie's only weapon and, as things hit rock-bottom, it could provide a perfect solution to life after the sofa. Knowing, insightful and darkly comic, Penny Smith's novel is the insider's view of TV.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
8 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 29, 2010
Can't even say I read it but I definitely tried. 40 or 50 pages were enough, this book is a torture. Very boring and lacking any development of the plot.
June 16, 2011
I got this free for my Kindle. I had thought about buying it when it first came out and I'm glad I didn't.
I wish I could give it 1.5 stars, as I liked the plot idea, but the writing was poor, I feel more definition was needed when the characters switched and some of the characterisation. I couldn't connect with Kate, the main character at all.
I also found that alot of the other characters had side plots and some weren't very well concluded in my opinion.
I wish I could give it 1.5 stars, as I liked the plot idea, but the writing was poor, I feel more definition was needed when the characters switched and some of the characterisation. I couldn't connect with Kate, the main character at all.
I also found that alot of the other characters had side plots and some weren't very well concluded in my opinion.
April 1, 2009
If you're looking for a story with a deep meaning where you'll expand your vocabulary and learning, then this is not the book for you.
But if you want a book to read on the beach or by the pool on holiday that doesn't stretch your mind then you could do a lot worse than pick this.
The story centres around Katie Fisher and the people, family and friends who surround her, many of whom are predictable 3d characters who are instantly forgettable. There are some quite funny quotes in the book, most of which are too rude to print here! There is lots of back-stabbing and the story is somewhat predictable but that's not always a bad thing.
Katie Fisher was a likeable character and I felt a little sympathy for her predicament, so I did find myself hoping that her circumstances would change for the better.
My overall thoughts are that it's a fairly enjoyable, easy to read story that doesn't pretend to be something that it's not.
But if you want a book to read on the beach or by the pool on holiday that doesn't stretch your mind then you could do a lot worse than pick this.
The story centres around Katie Fisher and the people, family and friends who surround her, many of whom are predictable 3d characters who are instantly forgettable. There are some quite funny quotes in the book, most of which are too rude to print here! There is lots of back-stabbing and the story is somewhat predictable but that's not always a bad thing.
Katie Fisher was a likeable character and I felt a little sympathy for her predicament, so I did find myself hoping that her circumstances would change for the better.
My overall thoughts are that it's a fairly enjoyable, easy to read story that doesn't pretend to be something that it's not.
May 16, 2017
I thought I wanted something light and fluffy to read... I read 16 pages and discovered this wasn't it.
Time to move on.
Time to move on.
March 19, 2019
Katie Fisher is a breakfast TV host on holiday - until she receives a call on her last day in Barbados to tell her that she's been shoved off the sofa in favour of a younger woman. We find out how she copes with her rejection, the capers she pulls as she tries to get herself together, the back story of her colleagues and the rottenness of the industry in general. I didn't care for any of the characters at all other than Bob. At least he seemed like a fungi. (Oh no I am channelling my Inner Katie already). They were variously selfish, slutty, mean, spiteful, distracted or at the very least, a bit simple. Finding out that Katie has got her position through the casting sofa didn't endear her to me. And Keera Keethley has to be the worst name for a character I have ever come across in any book, ever. It looks absolutely awful written down!
The book is already 11 years old and it was amusing to read about bygone cultural references. And the jokes were absolutely shocking. Taking someone up the Marmite Motorway? I'd give this 3.5 in the end. I almost gave up at first as it seemed a bit of a terrible read for the first few pages - and then I made the mistake of reading all the reviews - but as I persevered with it I became interested in the story and did find myself wanting Katie to have a happy ending - and stop with the awful puns! I may go so far as to say I will order the follow up to see what happens ......
The book is already 11 years old and it was amusing to read about bygone cultural references. And the jokes were absolutely shocking. Taking someone up the Marmite Motorway? I'd give this 3.5 in the end. I almost gave up at first as it seemed a bit of a terrible read for the first few pages - and then I made the mistake of reading all the reviews - but as I persevered with it I became interested in the story and did find myself wanting Katie to have a happy ending - and stop with the awful puns! I may go so far as to say I will order the follow up to see what happens ......
April 29, 2018
Okay so this book is about a women named Katie in her 40s getting sacked from a show on which she has been working on for more than 10 years. From there things pretty much goes in downward spiral in Katies life! Suddenly everything in her life seems to go wrong and that is when the book also starts to go wrong.
This book literally goes nowhere till 100th page. Just Katie and her sad little life, who instead of dealing with her issues choses to get over drunk everytime and ruin things more. Seriously this got so irritating after a point that i started skipping pages.
There are so many characters and they seem to keep coming up out of no where. Most of them were so unnecessary.
And there is no built up of story either. Its just Katie being drunk and ruining things and for other characters it just feels like they are all writing their personal diary at the end of the day!
I really enjoy reading a lot but with this book i just wanted this to end as soon as possible.
If you really are planning to read this book only the first 2 pages and last 15 pages are worth reading, not a page more than that.
This book literally goes nowhere till 100th page. Just Katie and her sad little life, who instead of dealing with her issues choses to get over drunk everytime and ruin things more. Seriously this got so irritating after a point that i started skipping pages.
There are so many characters and they seem to keep coming up out of no where. Most of them were so unnecessary.
And there is no built up of story either. Its just Katie being drunk and ruining things and for other characters it just feels like they are all writing their personal diary at the end of the day!
I really enjoy reading a lot but with this book i just wanted this to end as soon as possible.
If you really are planning to read this book only the first 2 pages and last 15 pages are worth reading, not a page more than that.
Read
September 19, 2022Okay so this book is about a women named Katie in her 40s getting sacked from a show on which she has been working on for more than 10 years.
From there things pretty much goes in down in Katies life! Suddenly everything in her life seems to go wrong and that is when the book also starts to go wrong.
This book literally goes nowhere till 100th page. Just Katie and her sad little life, who instead of dealing with her issues choses to get over drunk everytime and ruin things more. Seriously this got so irritating after a point that i started skipping pages.
There are so many characters and they seem to keep coming up out of no where. Most of them were unnecessary.
And there is no built up of story either. Its just Katie being drunk and ruining things and for other characters it just feels like they are all writing their personal diary at the end of the day!
I really enjoy reading a lot but with this book i just wanted this to end as soon as possible.
If you really are planning to read this book only the first 2 pages and last 15 pages are worth reading, not a page more than that.
If you really want to waste your time Chetan bhagat would be a better choice!
From there things pretty much goes in down in Katies life! Suddenly everything in her life seems to go wrong and that is when the book also starts to go wrong.
This book literally goes nowhere till 100th page. Just Katie and her sad little life, who instead of dealing with her issues choses to get over drunk everytime and ruin things more. Seriously this got so irritating after a point that i started skipping pages.
There are so many characters and they seem to keep coming up out of no where. Most of them were unnecessary.
And there is no built up of story either. Its just Katie being drunk and ruining things and for other characters it just feels like they are all writing their personal diary at the end of the day!
I really enjoy reading a lot but with this book i just wanted this to end as soon as possible.
If you really are planning to read this book only the first 2 pages and last 15 pages are worth reading, not a page more than that.
If you really want to waste your time Chetan bhagat would be a better choice!
September 27, 2019
Really struggled getting into this book... I found none of the characters particularly likeable.
The end of the book was a little underwhelming and tied up none of the character stories.
Agree with most of the other reviews that alot of the characters are completely random and have no relevance.
Gave this book three stars because even though it seemed like a slog to read there were some quite enjoyable bits to the story.
The end of the book was a little underwhelming and tied up none of the character stories.
Agree with most of the other reviews that alot of the characters are completely random and have no relevance.
Gave this book three stars because even though it seemed like a slog to read there were some quite enjoyable bits to the story.
July 10, 2018
I didn’t have high hopes for this book given the previous reviews people had left. I didn’t find it as exciting as what I was hoping. The ending came quite abruptly and I feel like it was as if the author had a deadline thAt had to be met. Not the worse book I’ve read a fairly simple rainy day story
July 21, 2021
The author is such a lovely lady, I don't want to be cruel.... but it was not my cup of tea...too slow
August 20, 2012
I borrowed this from a friend and I wasn't thinking it would be that good but it's actually not bad. Light-hearted and really funny at certain bits. Katie is a highly entertaining character and I enjoyed the attention to detail in some bits of it, like her funny little habits. I did find it quite long though considering it wasn't exactly the most meaningful book I've read which needed explaining and I thought the ending lacked something, although it was still good, I would've liked to have seen a few characters getting their come-uppence!
December 8, 2008
Penny writes a good story (probably based on real life for TV presenters) with lots of humorous raunchy innuendo. However, the narrative would probably be appreciated more by women...with a broad sense of humour ;-)
October 13, 2014
An okay read but had too many plots that went nowhere and characters we were given info on that we didn't need. This book could have been so much more. The potential was there but unfortunately not used.
January 18, 2012
When i got given this book to read i thought "penny smith " not a real fan of hers as a tv presenter but i have to say i was pleasently suprised how good it was. It's not your deep meaningful book but hightly hilliarious & in the end i couldn't put it down.
January 16, 2012
It was a little out there...and nothing like what I had hoped for.
August 4, 2011
Very witty writing. I enjoyed it.
October 28, 2011
Good holiday book, especially if you are just dipping in and out of reading. Easy to follow and not a page turner.
June 21, 2012
A nice easy read perfect for holidays
August 20, 2013
Just the kind of book for your holiday. Light hearted and funny.
September 8, 2013
A lovely quick read
December 26, 2013
The writing is not good, the plot is messed up and i cant find the climax of the story. just cant focus on the book. but hey i finished it.
February 4, 2014
I'd expected something to happen till the middle of the book but then lost my energy and hope. It was boring and there were neither important events nor an absorbing language.
March 19, 2015
A quick read that had an OK story, very recognisable in the author. Not a book to get you thinking but for a quick relax in another world it's OK.
May 31, 2011
Lightweight, and reasonably amusing.....
October 23, 2014
it's very boring book I parley finished it..
Read
April 23, 2019DNF’d at 124/327.
I picked it up from my local library after I read “fitness junkie” and “techbitch”, I was in such a big mood for quick, fun, bitchy chick-lit. When I read the synopsis, I thought it was very similar to “techbitch”, so I decided to give it a chance, but ehhhh. I didn’t care for the plot, nor the characters at all, I even remember one moment where I didn’t even know who is who, idk if that’s the fault of the writing style or just me not caring but I guess it’s better if I just give it back and don’t let it stop me from reading other good books.
I picked it up from my local library after I read “fitness junkie” and “techbitch”, I was in such a big mood for quick, fun, bitchy chick-lit. When I read the synopsis, I thought it was very similar to “techbitch”, so I decided to give it a chance, but ehhhh. I didn’t care for the plot, nor the characters at all, I even remember one moment where I didn’t even know who is who, idk if that’s the fault of the writing style or just me not caring but I guess it’s better if I just give it back and don’t let it stop me from reading other good books.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews