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Make him look good
Valdes, Alisa
Adult Fiction VALDES-
From Publishers' Weekly:
Bestseller Valdes-Rodriguez (Playing with Boys) shows she can brand name-drop with the best of them in her third chica lit offering, a busy celebrity fantasy populated by six women and the "him" of the title, Latin pop sensation Ricky Biscayne. Beyond product placement for Rock & Republic jeans, Dolce & Gabbana shoes and Cristal (and that's just the first page), this Miami yarn is heavy with dramatic touchstones: an abandoned child, domestic abuse, sibling rivalry, romantic infidelities and the pregnancy of Ricky's wife, Jasminka. Narrated mostly by Ricky's new publicist, Milan, the story shifts perspectives-sometimes changing narrators without warning-among Milan's sister, nightclub entrepreneur Geneva, Ricky's high school flame Irene, fatherless teenager Sophia, the famous (and familiar) singer/actress/brand Jill Sanchez, and Jasminka. Though a boon plot-wise, this crowd gives individuals little room to come alive; mostly, characters are either underdeveloped (Jasminka) or conform to types (Jill and Geneva), and they all resemble celebrities (Ricky: a "less greasy Antonio Banderas," Geneva: a "slightly prettier Penelope Cruz"). The villainous portrayal of Jill, obviously modeled after a real-life pop star, is particularly unimaginative, as is the predictable message she sets up. Despite these problems, however, our refreshingly imperfect and insecure heroine, Milan, shines, and there are enough reversals of fate and fortune to make this a satisfying read. (Apr. 18) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
From Library Journal:
Whether they are attached to him personally or professionally, the people whose lives Latino pop sensation Ricky Biscayne touches generally come out worse for the wear. Protagonist Milan, the slightly dumpy president of his fan club, is thrilled when her beautiful, successful sister lands her a job as Ricky's publicist. Honest yet gullible Milan is soon unwittingly spinning lies to make Ricky look good. When Ricky's skeletally thin wife, Jasminka, a self-mutilating survivor of a massacre in Serbia, becomes pregnant, he derides her for gaining weight. This is ironic, considering that Ricky's chief lover is narcissistic Latina superstar Jill Sanchez, a beautiful, curvy manipulator with a legendary derriere. Add to the mix such characters as firefighter Irene-the mother of Ricky's illegitimate daughter-and Matthew, the real talent behind Ricky's music, and you get a fun, funky, yet often poignant tale. Each section of Valdes-Rodriguez's (The Dirty Girls Social Club) hard-to-put-down book is told from the viewpoint of a different, well-developed character, and Miami comes to life through her perfectly chosen details. As with her other books, Valdes-Rodriguez skillfully and lovingly illustrates the diversity of Latino culture. A great add for library collections of all sizes.-Shelley Mosley, Glendale Community Coll. Lib., AZ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Valdes, Alisa
Adult Fiction VALDES-
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From Publishers' Weekly:
Bestseller Valdes-Rodriguez (Playing with Boys) shows she can brand name-drop with the best of them in her third chica lit offering, a busy celebrity fantasy populated by six women and the "him" of the title, Latin pop sensation Ricky Biscayne. Beyond product placement for Rock & Republic jeans, Dolce & Gabbana shoes and Cristal (and that's just the first page), this Miami yarn is heavy with dramatic touchstones: an abandoned child, domestic abuse, sibling rivalry, romantic infidelities and the pregnancy of Ricky's wife, Jasminka. Narrated mostly by Ricky's new publicist, Milan, the story shifts perspectives-sometimes changing narrators without warning-among Milan's sister, nightclub entrepreneur Geneva, Ricky's high school flame Irene, fatherless teenager Sophia, the famous (and familiar) singer/actress/brand Jill Sanchez, and Jasminka. Though a boon plot-wise, this crowd gives individuals little room to come alive; mostly, characters are either underdeveloped (Jasminka) or conform to types (Jill and Geneva), and they all resemble celebrities (Ricky: a "less greasy Antonio Banderas," Geneva: a "slightly prettier Penelope Cruz"). The villainous portrayal of Jill, obviously modeled after a real-life pop star, is particularly unimaginative, as is the predictable message she sets up. Despite these problems, however, our refreshingly imperfect and insecure heroine, Milan, shines, and there are enough reversals of fate and fortune to make this a satisfying read. (Apr. 18) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
From Library Journal:
Whether they are attached to him personally or professionally, the people whose lives Latino pop sensation Ricky Biscayne touches generally come out worse for the wear. Protagonist Milan, the slightly dumpy president of his fan club, is thrilled when her beautiful, successful sister lands her a job as Ricky's publicist. Honest yet gullible Milan is soon unwittingly spinning lies to make Ricky look good. When Ricky's skeletally thin wife, Jasminka, a self-mutilating survivor of a massacre in Serbia, becomes pregnant, he derides her for gaining weight. This is ironic, considering that Ricky's chief lover is narcissistic Latina superstar Jill Sanchez, a beautiful, curvy manipulator with a legendary derriere. Add to the mix such characters as firefighter Irene-the mother of Ricky's illegitimate daughter-and Matthew, the real talent behind Ricky's music, and you get a fun, funky, yet often poignant tale. Each section of Valdes-Rodriguez's (The Dirty Girls Social Club) hard-to-put-down book is told from the viewpoint of a different, well-developed character, and Miami comes to life through her perfectly chosen details. As with her other books, Valdes-Rodriguez skillfully and lovingly illustrates the diversity of Latino culture. A great add for library collections of all sizes.-Shelley Mosley, Glendale Community Coll. Lib., AZ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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