Maneater

Having lived in West LA for 6 years, including 4 years at USC, this book sounded a lot like many of the females I knew and loved in college and after. What a fun read. I read this book in a day because I just couldn't put it down. Clarissa is a total B**** and that is exactly why people love her. She says what others only think. Her outrageous lies, offset by Glazer by parentheses, bring all out belly laughts. The ending was a little "neat," but it was fitting that her true love ended up being a master manipulator just like herself. One of the reviewers asked, "What LA is this?" and I can answer that: it is the LA of Studio City, West Hollywood and South Beverly Hills. The wanna-be's who are so close but not quite good enough. The LA of social climbers and gold diggers. The girls who live north of Santa Monica Boulevard but are on the wrong side of Doheny. Or they live in the right area but in the guest quarters. If only.... I can't believe I didn't know this writer before now! If you liked "Trading Up," "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan," or "Sex and the City (the novel)" you will love this book.

..and I feel more starstruck, after reading the book, than I did during the entirety of my visit to Los Angeles. Sure, there is a feeling you get, as a non-LA-native, when you are looking up at the Hollywood sign in person, or pressing your hands into the cement, sizing yourself up against legends at the Chinese Theater, but it comes with the feeling that you are an outsider. LA is a great place to be a tourist, you get a taste for the drama and intrigue, but, because of the very nature of tourism, you get to leave. For the natives, the histronic character of the city demands a long-time, if not lifetime, and lifestyle commitment.This book is about that commitment. The title suggests that Clarissa's evolving relationship with men (in general, and specifically) is the focus of the book, and it is, to an extent, but the men are often stand-ins for her real leading man, Los Angeles. It is the city's prostate she is looking to stimulate, and as any experienced woman knows, a good man (or social scene) will require patience, dedication, and a good amount of trickery before he will even let you reach down there. To those of us who aren't ready to do more than flirt with LA, Maneater is a great peek into what happens behind closed doors of those whose marriage to the jet-set life of Lalaland was arranged.Full of saucy characters, the story is fast paced, funny, and often candid enough to make even a worldly girl like myself blush. It had me go from shocked to swooning and back again, occasionally uttering out loud, "Oh no, don't do THAT," and "I can't believe she said/did/thought that," a real testament to how deeply Clarissa can draw you in.I am not one for soap operas, or drama for the sake of drama (which is why I live in the midwest, and not LA), but I do love a good story and Gigi has written a good story. As the kind of person who would NEVER pick up a romance novel, let alone a book with a HOT PINK COVER, I highly recommend this novel, even if it is only to be kept by (or under) the bed as your "guilty pleasure" reader. For those who are image conscious, and feel that reading a pink book would be scandalous, it is plain white under the dust jacket. Should you find that people are looking for you to explain yourself for reading "fluff," lend them the book. They, too, will be drawn in by Gigi Levangie Grazer's style and wit. I was, and I am not even "that kind of girl."

MANEATER is a scrumptious story written in a witty style as sharp as the spike heel of a strappy Manolo sandal. Our heroine, Clarissa, is as shallow as a wading pool, knows it, and wouldn't have it any other way. At first you may not like Clarissa but soon you will be almost as fascinated by her as she is by herself. :) The other characters are just as cleverly written; from her ex-con ageing-playboy, yet loving, father Teddy to her rarely un-intoxicated self-declared genius best buddy Gravy to the (still hot for) ex-boyfriend Simon with the long lingering English accent and spiffy wardrobe.What's a girl to do? Clarissa is hitting 29 (in Clarissa years)-- OK, so she's bypassed 31 and trying to ignore that 32 is on the way -- knows the younger, firmer, fresher competition for the alpha male is on her bountiful booty and her time bomb of a biological clock is ticking away. If she doesn't get married - but quick - she may have to resort to getting a J-O-B, heaven forbid! Daddy (Teddy to Clarissa) has supported her thus far, but Teddy has threatened to stop paying her rent. So Clarissa sets out to find a suitable -- read rich, handsome - well not too ugly - rich, available, rich, socially sophisticated, (did I say rich?) hunk of prime husband material. And voila, being the woman around town (Los Angeles of course, is there any other?) she finds an appropriate victim, umm, man, Aaron Mason. You know she's going to snare him, but Aaron turns out to be just as feisty as Clarissa and not that easily lead to the slaughter.Best laid plans and all, well, you know how that works out sometimes. The groom to be has secrets of his own, ones far more creative than anything Clarissa has ever cooked up.But beyond being just a great beach or poolside read, Maneater is also a good lesson in how we shouldn't raise our daughters. Thank goodness Clarissa's self-realization that taking the seemingly easy, quick way in life to success and happiness is neither easy nor quick, doesn't come too late for our heroine. Maneater is a great poolside read - fun fun fun - and easy to find, just look for the M.A.C. Lust lipglass colored jacket cover. ;)

I loved the book. Think of it as Sex in the City in LA. Except that Clarissa and her group of diehard friends, known as the Star Chamber, have no real jobs or intellectual aspirations. Their real jobs are their physical upkeep and marrying well. There are some great throw-away lines about LA culture and given that the author is a Hollywood wife in real-life, it has an air of authenticity to it all. You hope that these characters aren't real, but in your worse fears, you know there are people this shallow out there in La-La land. In summary, a fascinating look into the lives of the rich and shallow, except you do find yourself really caring about the characters in the end. Can't wait to see the movie (I'm sure there will be one!)

Just when you thought you couldn't read one more bridget jones-shopaholic-devil wearing prada kind of female protagonist novel, along comes something TRULY SPECIAL AND UNIQUE. Darkly delicious, this novel will transport you, show you a window into characters and a world that are fascinating, compelling and oddly relatable. The main character is unlike any you have ever encountered before. You will have to read it all in one sitting because you won't be able to put it down. I hope they make a movie out of it - I will rush to go see it. It will be as good as the terrific "To Die For" or the really entertaining "Election". This book will entertain you no end, and also make you think about yourself and your friends around you. There are some very cleverly woven subtle insights into love and marriage as well. The meaning of true love. What we receive in return for giving love and being vulnerable. All of which is like the cherry on top of this very delicious ice cream sundae. I loved this author's first book and this one is even better.