Charlize "Charlie" Edwards works as the personal assistant
for Dean Stanton, one of the sexiest stars in Hollywood.
Although Charlie organizes his work schedule, home
maintenance, doctors' appointments, parties and even his
dates, her own personal life is a disaster. She's on the
verge of turning 30, still hanging out with her girlfriends
from college, going clubbing and on bad dates, and then
waiting by the phone for the guys to call. In an effort to
let someone else learn from her misfortunate adventures,
Charlie begins keeping a journal of advice for her future
great-grand-niece, filled with all of the tidbits of
information she wishes someone had told her along the way.
The upcoming dual crises of her birthday and her younger
sister's wedding force Charlie to evaluate her situation
and her role in her own unhappiness. She's desperately
hoping that a recent one-night-stand will call her back for
another date when she meets two attractive and available
men at her birthday party. Jordan is the photographer from
Dean's current movie project, and Doug is an attractive
agent hoping to sign her boss as a client. Both men seem
interested, but Dean is becoming more demanding and
interfering, especially when he hooks up with one of
Charlie's gorgeous friends. What will Charlie do when some
days are just a TOTAL WASTE OF MAKEUP?
Charlie is far from perfect, but she is beloved by her
friends, her quirky family and even her famous boss. From
self-help phrases (Don't ever be afraid to be alone) to
ironic cynicism (When all else fails, try the truth),
Charlie's advice is witty and wise, even though she
sometimes contradicts herself before the ink on the pages
of her journal is dry. Charlie's love interest in the
sensitive photographer Jordan was only unbelievable in that
both of them used unreliable dial-up Internet access from
home, despite coordinating busy Hollywood lifestyles. Just
as the suspense in the movie Wicker Park could have been
resolved with a cell phone call, some of the plot
contrivances in this novel need an upgrade to broadband. In
spite of outdated technology, this fun new novel from Los
Angeles writer Kim Gruenenfelder is full of likable
characters and good advice.
A personal assistant to a movie star searches for love in
all the wrong places in this engaging debut by a Hollywood
screenwriter. Tired of "wasting makeup" on disastrous first
dates, 30-year-old Charlie Edwards takes a much-needed
sabbatical from men to fulfill her duties as maid-of-honor
at her younger sister's upcoming wedding. What she doesn't
count on is falling head over heels in love with a set
photographer who may not even like her. A refreshingly
honest and humorous look at today's dating scene.