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January 30, 2009 1:03 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Coming Up Next by Penny Smith


Penny Okay, first off I'd like to say that it's rare for me to give up on a book. Even if I'm finding it hard; even if the book really isn't getting me hooked, I try to at least finish it in the hope that it could lead to a pleasant surprise.
 
However, this time? I just. Couldn't. Do it. Regardless of how hard I tried, Penny Smith's offering Coming Up Next just didn't reel me in. At all.
 
Judging by the blurb, this debut by well-known GMTV presenter Penny seemed like a fabulous read. The book is, apparently, a tale of 'bright lights and cat fights'. It focuses on Katie Fisher, main presenter of morning TV show Hello Britain!, who is publicly sacked in favour of the young, perky, up-and-coming Keera.
 
Obviously, being traded in for someone younger and better looking isn't really the best thing to happen to a news anchor, especially when the story is splashed all over the news. So Katie heads off to her parent's house, alcohol in tow, when she figures out what to do next...
 
 
Even at her parents', she's not hidden from the press for long. Snapped by the paparazzi with her stash of booze in oder to drown out the humiliation, Katie is embarrassed yet again and is forced to realise what it's like to be on the other side of the cameras.
 
Meanwhile, despite her good looks on-screen, the ditzy Keera is proving hard work. And co-presenter Mike, as friendly as he seems, might just be after something a bit more ambitious that friendship. After all, this is the world of TV...
 
But sadly, this was as far as I got before I closed the book and decided not to waste any more of my time.
 
This could have been a very funny and witty book, but sadly, it lacked even the ability to make me chuckle even once. Penny Smith seemed intent on loading the book with pointless and annoying puns, rubbish jokes, flat characters, and narrative that simply didn't do the good premise justice at all. After reading the synopsis, I felt like I'd be in for a bitchy, unputdownable read, but I could only just manage half of the story before desperately wanting to move onto the next in the to-be-read pile. The most disappointing part was that this COULD have been a potentially fantastic debut, especially seeing as it was written by a real TV presenter who obviously has enough experience to make this interesting. But it was written in such a bland way that it felt like a good plot and idea had been wasted. Which is a damn shame.
 
Believe me, I really don't like dishing out negative reviews. But sometimes it just has to be done. As appealing as this book looked, all it left me was disappointment. So if you do decide to give Penny's debut a chance, I'd advise you to borrow it.
 
And then tell me what happens at the end, please? Thanks.
 
Rating: 1/5

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Posted by Elle Symonds on January 30, 2009 in Debut Novels, Rating: 1/5, Rubbish Books | Permalink

Comments

I think the publisher is really to blame here. (I haven't read the book, so I can't comment on its quality of writing). The premise is awesome and I would buy it based on that alone. It truly sounds like a fun and fabulous read! And the author has the experience (perhaps not as a writer, but the life experience) to back up the risk any publisher would take on buying her book. So, really if the writing came in mediocre it would be on the editor to bring in a ghost writer to breathe life into it. Or something! Anything to keep a lackluster book from hitting the shelves. But what do I know? I'm just a writer...

Posted by: Lucie Simone | January 30, 2009 7:12 PM

Why blame the publisher for a truly awful book? Surely the writer should stand over her own work, why else is her name on the cover?

Posted by: Gemma | February 2, 2009 1:06 AM

Why blame the publisher for a truly awful book? Surely the writer should stand over her own work, why else is her name on the cover?

Posted by: Gemma | February 2, 2009 1:06 AM

Because the publisher is the reason this book is available. Thousands of writers submit truly awful books to publishers and agents every single day and most are tossed, but this one got through because a publisher decided it was going to make money based on her premise and background. Yes, the quality of writing is the fault of the author, but the fact that it made it into print is all on the publisher. But the book may still become a hit, in which case, the publisher will benefit. There have been some truly awful books that made it to best-seller status. So, that's why I blame the publsiher.

Posted by: Lucie Simone | February 2, 2009 10:35 PM

I agree. This was the most disappointing book I've attempted to read this year! The premise and the fact that it was written by Penny Smith had such potential, or so I thought. It doesn't deliver on either count. It has a wishy washy storyline, and is poorly written by the author, from whom I expected much more. Even the attempt at humour was pathetic. Don't bother to even borrow it. It's rubbish. As an author myself, it infuriates me when a book as poor as this makes it into the bookshops. Yes, I blame the publisher for commissioning it. If they're wise they won't take another of this author's books, although I believe they already have. Oh well, I for one won't be buying it.

Posted by: Jan | May 11, 2009 3:19 PM

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