The Movie

Fans of the bonkbuster genre will probably have read one or two Louise Bagshawe novels. Those who've read more than two will probably be twiddling their thumbs while wondering when she'll come up with a new plot. The truth is, all her escapist romps do stick to a tried-and-tested sexy women / power struggle formula - but they continue to sell! This early novel is arguably one of her best, and if you've not read any of her books before, it's a great place to start...

The main thing that sets 'The Movie' apart from later Bagshawe novels is that it doesn't concentrate on her over-used formula of two women who hate each other - the blonde ice queen and the curvy Latina. Instead 'The Movie' concentrates on three lead females and all the men in their lives. To some extent this works, pushing the plot on very quickly, though with so much going on it can be hard to keep track of all the characters.

Naive, overweight Megan Silver is a failed writer with one last chance. When she happens to pen a script that would be the perfect vehicle for her favourite musician Zach Mason's burgeoning film career, she's plucked from obscurity by pushy Hollywood agent David Tauber to work on the hottest movie of the year. This is how she meets studio exec Eleanor Marshall (her mentor), superbitch supermodel Roxana Felix (her rival), and a supporting cast of Hollywood players who slowly drag her into their tangled web.

Concentrating on three characters definitely gives the book a fast pace, and there's barely a chance to pause for breathe throughout. The three women are incredible stereotypes (the plain and mousy put-upon writer, the successful career woman who just wants a family and the successful supermodel with a secret hidden past) but it's not the clever plot that keeps this book going. It is, essentially, a 480-page vehicle for unbelievable sex scenes and over the top cat fights - it's escapism at it's best. The story won't blow you away and the ending (especially where Roxana is concerned) seems a bit rushed and highly improbable, but it's a fun, quick and easy read that's perfect for the beach (or train).

If you like your books believable and honest, then give this one a miss. If you've read Bagshawe before and are getting tired of her formulaic approach, then there's not really anything new here to tempt you, but if you like a good romp and you've yet to read any of her stuff (or if you love her despite the lack of imagination character-wise) then it's definitely better than most attempts to push Jackie Collins off her pedastal. Give it a go if you like your novels sexy and steamy!

The Movie - Louise Bagshawe

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