Miss Bubbles Steals the Show

Okay, I'll admit it...I bought this book largely because of the fact that the cover features a gorgeous Persian cat sitting in a director's chair and wearing a feather boa. How could anyone pass that up?! I was pleasantly surprised, however, when I discovered that "Miss Bubbles Steals the Show" is actually GOOD! Yes, it's total chick lit, but it was a lot of fun to read. The story revolves around Stella Monroe, a 25-year-old would-be actress in New York City. Poor Stella has had rotten luck with men and can't seem to land a decent audition. Eventually Stella is upstaged by her cat, Miss Bubbles, who is cast in an off-Broadway play. Miss Bubbles' costar, Jasper Hodge, is a handsome "solid B-list" actor who sweeps Stella off her feet, and it looks like her luck might finally be changing for the better. However, life is never that simple, and Stella must face many more ups and downs as she journeys down a road of personal self-discovery and ultimately figures out which things are most important in life. "Miss Bubbles Steals the Show" is Melanie Murray's first novel, and it's very enjoyable. As a former college theatre major, I enjoyed the entertaining behind-the-scenes portrayal of New York's theatre industry. I also liked the way Stella's character transformed throughout the course of the novel: in the beginning, she's just another ditzy actress with her head in the clouds, but by the end of the book she's matured a great deal (although she's still kind of ditzy...but in an endearing sort of way). I'm usually not a big advocate of chick lit, but I think most women will get a kick out of this book. It's a fun and relaxing story that will keep you amused and entertained until the very end. (Plus, there's a CAT in it! I love it!)

Great debut novel-I loved it! Who couldn't love when the girl gets it all together and gets the guy? I can't wait to read more from Murray-get out there and start writing!

"Miss Bubbles..." is a joy to read! All the characters were perky and witty and our hopeful heroine is flawed in wonderful ways. I was sad to finish reading this book as I had hoped it would just keep going. I'll certainly be watching for more work by Ms Murry, although I DO wonder if she has ever really had a cat. Having far too many of them, myself, I did find a few of Miss Bubbles antics a bit tough to believe. That said... I'd love to see this as a motion picture! Keep up the good work!

I'm a new fan of Melanie Murray. She really came through with her first book. Stella Monroe is a likeable character who tried hard to get where she wants to be only to find out that's not what she wants to be at all. And of course she learns all this through many trials life has thrown her way. And of course Miss Bubbles, and her pack of friends and neighbors teaches her a thing or two about what she should be doing. Let's hope that there will be a second novel by Melanie Murray. If there isn't I sure will be disappointed.

At twenty-five, Stella Aurora Monroe feels like a big failure as she has not taken Manhattan by storm as an actress though she has tried for over six years. Adding to her feeling of failure is that she wakes up with some strange dude in her bed, having no idea of his name only she must have met him at Hell's Bar. After tossing the hunk out, her day goes further downhill when her neighbor Christian Porter treats her with his usual sarcastic disdain. Stella takes her beloved cat Miss Bubbles to the vet when a Jack Russell gets loose and frightens the feline, who while hiding whistles. Another client Francis Paine sees the white Persian perform and suggests Stella take Miss Bubbles to the Cherry Lane Theater where she would obtain a part in a play. Excited for Miss Bubbles, Stella is also jealous that her cat is going to be a star and paying the rent while Christian is beginning to look nicer. Talk about truth in advertising, MISS BUBBLES STEALS THE SHOW in this fun Manhattan chick lit romance. Stella almost seems like two people as she is kind to her feline owner yet a "bigger than big jerk" towards Christian although she always feeds him. Still Stella is no contender for smartest character as she sleeps around with no pleasure in that; readers will enjoy learning why in this fine lighthearted romp. Harriet Klausner