If Brianna lives her life like a proverbial "doormat," then
Kirby is one of those ultra-driven people who's
always "stepping" on a doormat (in her $500 pair of shoes)
as she makes her way to someplace bigger, better and more
glamorous in life. This is how NICE GIRLS FINISH FIRST
begins.
These two young women, who are at opposite extremes of the
personality scale, work steps away from each other at W&L
Manufacturing (Whips & Lace Manufacturing, that is), where
Kirby is the boss and Brianna is her assistant. Neither
woman is happy with her personal or professional life, yet
each is secretly jealous of the other and mistakenly
assumes the other lives a fabulous, fulfilled life. Little
do they know that they are each struggling with lifelong
self-esteem issues and both feel like their lives are
completely derailed.
Kirby covers this up by being crass, materialistic and
going through guys faster than a box of teeth-whitening
strips. Brianna deals with her lack of self-esteem by being
overly (and annoyingly) nice to everyone and by getting
walked on by her worry-wart parents, passive-aggressive
fiancé and his mother, and her overbearing voice coach.
During the course of an office bet, Kirby and Brianna
become friends. Brianna (always the good girl) helps Kirby
try to win the bet. In doing so, each woman ends up having
a moment of personal clarity that allows Kirby to develop a
sense of empathy and Brianna a backbone.
Most everyone knows a toned-down Kirby or a Brianna and can
relate to a version of their over-exaggerated
personalities. NICE GIRLS FINISH FIRST (by the author of
AMERICAN IDLE) is a good read for those long summer days at
the beach or lounging at the pool. The only time to strain
while reading this book is when reaching for another fruity
cocktail with a brightly colored umbrella perched on the
side.
Kirby Green didn't get to be a Vice President of Marketing
by being nice. But when she fires her entire staff within a
few weeks (they all deserved it, really), her new boss is
hardly impressed. Wanting to prove his point, he issues a
bet: If Kirby can get someone-anyone-to call her nice, she
can take that long-awaited dream vacation to Italy with her
best friend, Jules. If she can't, she can kiss the Coliseum
goodbye. Oh, and her job too.
Now Kirby has exactly thirty days to bully someone into
saying she's nice-and to show her boss who's boss. If she
doesn't fall hard for him first...