"Dorchester's launch title for its new Making It imprint of chick-lit is a winner!"

Dorchester has launched a new chick-lit line in fine style with this well-written, fast-paced, hilarious novel from new author Alesia Holliday. I don't read a lot of this type of fiction, but I was hooked from page one and couldn't get enough of the antics of Jules Vernon (oh, yes, she's heard all the jokes about this name) and the behind-the-scenes look into reality TV talent searches.

Jules has trouble committing to jobs for longer than two years. She believes she's just not good enough to achieve real success at anything. Then she lands the job of production coordinator on Hollywood's newest reality TV show -- Pop Star Live! Even though she has to deal with judges who are either prima-donnas or hypochondriacs, has to sit through thousands of no-talent auditions before finding 10 finalists, then has to babysit those "kids," she realizes she truly likes the job. And the hot, sexy guy who builds the sets is an added bonus she never expected. As an accident just waiting to happen, Jules drives him crazy, but he can't stay away from her. Ah, my kind of guy -- one who sees the real woman beneath the façade of insecurity and self-doubt.

Told in first-person, we become a part of Jules' hilariously wild experience. Ms. Holliday is a talented writer whose characters are three-dimensional and realistic, and her dialog is entertaining and witty. I enjoyed this novel immensely.

Reviewed by Tanzey Cutter
Posted July 10, 2004

Read an Excerpt

Alesia Holliday's first novel, AMERICAN IDLE, will launch Dorchester Publishing's new trade paperback chick lit line in August 2004. Hailed in Publisher's Weekly as Auspicious First Fiction, AMERICAN IDLE has been called "a deliciously dishy parody of reality TV." Alesia is also the author of the critically acclaimed non-fiction book, E- MAIL TO THE FRONT, and of upcoming Young Adult releases SUPER WHAT? and SUPER 16 for Dorchester Smooch, writing under the pen name Jax Abbott.

Summary

When her celebrity chef boss knocked her unconscious with a frying pan, it jump-started Jules's life. She'd been stalled too long: job-hopping, man-hopping, floating in the pool with no cares—had it all been a Peter Pan act? Now, with a chance as a production coordinator on a cheesy new reality TV show, she would get herself in gear. But with an executive producer with a split personality, a judge with bubonic plague, a murderous coworker whose weapon was bad mayonnaise, insane fans, vote-rigging, dressing room Botox, and a hot guy who thought Jules was an alcoholic—"Pop Star Live!" should have been called unreality TV. Plus, the publicity stunt that made Jules the "Face Behind Reality TV" and meant national attention 24/7 was even stranger. But instead of hitting the brakes, Jules only drove herself harder. Her idle life was gone forever; in its place she'd found her own American idyll.