I’ve always turned away from the ‘A Little Black Dress’ books. Why? Well, I guess it is because I thought they were the usual chick lit books which I thought would not come up the standards of Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series.
Anyway, I saw this book – Memoirs Are Made of This – A Little Black Dress book on my sister’s bookshelf the other day and read the back cover. The first line in the book synopsis, ‘How to get ahead in journalism’ got my attention and from there I began reading the book.
It’s about Venus Gilroy, 25, who has had three ex-husbands. She’s broke, jobless and heartbroken over the divorce with her most-loved ex-husband, Tremaynne.
Venus however jumps at the opportunity to improve herself by taking computer classes. Before she knows it, she has agreed to become the personal assistant of the domineering Susanna Hyde, famed sex columnist for Aura magazine, in New York!
Soon, Venus finds herself busy with work and not much time for anything else, like falling in love with a new guy for example. However, she does not mind the work load which gives her the opportunity to learn new things. Besides, she has to try to keep up with the multitude of demands from her boss, Susanna, who is a highly-ambitious woman.
In the middle of it all, Venus meets a couple of men (and woman). They are Giles Travaille (a photographer), Josh O’Connell (Susanna’s toy boy) and Mary-Joseph Capistrano (the apartment’s super). Venus really likes Josh but cannot get him as he seems to be infatuated with Susanna.
Overall, this book is a quick read and a light-hearted one as chick lit books go. Despite me looking down at the books under the ‘Little Black Dress’ tagline, this one was not a disappointment. I was eager to read about Venus adjusting to her new life as a personal assistant to a magazine editor (sounds just like The Devil Wears Prada!). I was also eager to follow to see if Susanna gets what she wants.
As for the relationship between Venus and Josh, it’s not a really strong one throughout the book. Josh isn’t a constant character as he just appears one moment and then gone the next. But his presence becomes constant towards the end of the book.
Before I forget, the word ‘memoir’ seems to be the theme of the entire story. It looks like everyone is writing a memoir, including Venus. Now I’m curious, was this book a memoir too?
Ooh, one of books that Venus is writing, My Three Husbands, is kind of real. Adamson has a book with the same title too!