Fame Fatale

With a wry nod to her own nomination for the Literary Review's Bad Sex Award, Wendy Holden's third novel, Fame Fatale, explores what happens when the literati and the glitterati become entangled. Grace Armiger works for Hatto and Hatto, a crumbly old publisher who produce "books that no one reads" by "obscure and unsuccessful authors". When not tripping over Louis de Bernieres at literary parties (something of an occupational hazard for all of the bookish types in this novel), Grace tries "interesting uninterested journalists" in Hatto's wares, usually with little success. If her professional life is a mess then her personal life is (surprise, surprise) even worse. Her ardent Marxist boyfriend Sion, the author of the catchily entitled thesis "Why New Labour are Bastards", is not above discarding his principles and his underpants to further his career. A fling with Hatto author Henry Moon, after one too many glasses of Pinot Grigio (Chardonnay is obviously passé in literary circles these days), leaves Grace feeling confused. Her best friend Ellie and diplomat mother, Lady Armiger, are not short of dating advice but her cleaner Maria (who may have just discovered the next Harry Potter) appears to be casting a very bizarre spell on her love life. Add Champagne D'Vyne, Holden1s stock vacuous socialite (this time she's gone spiritual); Belinda Black, a big-breasted, leather-skirted, tabloid hack; and Red Campion, an oh-so-sensitive (but possibly sex-addicted) movie star and wannabe writer and an array of familiar comic set pieces are in motion. Fans will delight in (and detractors will still hate) the bad puns, bad sex, slim plotting and an ending that is, without giving too much a way, pure Mills and Boon. Holden is never going to be Evelyn Waugh but there's enough satirical bite to this frothy celebrity romp to make it stand out from the crowd.--Travis Elborough