OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Publicist" by Christina George.]

The Publicist is a series of romance novels by Christina George. This review covers Book One: The Publicist and Book Two: Shelf Life.

Kate is a publicist for Morris & Dean Publishing in New York City. She does everything within her power to promote a book. Despite her best efforts, there are always obstacles that get in the way. Mac is a charming, attractive, and successful editor. He’s also a married man with two sons in college. Even though they try to deny their feelings for one another, Kate and Mac enter into a passionate affair. To complicate matters is Nick, who runs a chain of health food stores in California. Kate struggles to balance this cross-country love triangle with the growing demands of her career.

The story moves quickly and efficiently. The chapters are short, but each one is packed with plenty of drama. Told in the third person, the narrative closely follows Kate on her numerous adventures. Occasionally, the perspective switches to other characters. There are a lot of interesting backstories, usually about Kate’s clients. For the most part, the plot manages to maintain its forward momentum. There are a few erotic scenes. These scenes are always brief, yet they provide sufficient detail.

The gradual development between Kate and Mac is refreshing. They start off as friends and eventually grow into something more. The author does a fantastic job of justifying the characters’ actions. Though Mac is cheating on his wife, he still tries to be considerate of his family and marriage. Nick’s presence in the story seems unnecessary at first. Romances don’t need a love triangle in order to be interesting. However, this drama eventually develops in a satisfying way. His character becomes deserving of a spot in the narrative.

The best part of the book is the large focus on the publishing industry. Emotions run high among writers. This is well established in the prologue of the first book; Kate stops a client from jumping off of a building because Oprah canceled on her. It’s a competitive world where everyone strives to be on top. A character named Allan puts it best: “Don’t trust anyone in this industry. They’d sell their mothers into white slavery to make a bestseller.” Indeed, authors and publishers go to great lengths for profit and fame. One character buys thousands of copies of his own book to boost sales. Another gives herself nearly a hundred five-star reviews on Amazon.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Being a romance novel, it does have its cliché moments. Once it gets going, it’s a real page-turner. While reading this book, I kept thinking that it would translate nicely onto the small screen. It’d be a cross between Sex and the City and Scandal. I’d gladly tune in every week.

The romance aspect may not appeal to some, but I would recommend this book if you’re interested in the behind-the-scenes drama of publishing.

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The Publicist
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Like Tanaya's review? Post a comment saying so!

@Tanaya

Amazing review, Tanaya. It's well written and well laid out and personally, I love the fact that this book covers a wide range of problems that authors of today face. It would be fun to read how dirty authors can get (no pun intended).

I am glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the lovely review.

Great review Tanaya. Even with the stereotypical love triangle, it sounds like the book was a real page turner about the publishing industry.

Great review! Reading about that secret world of publishing, I'm kinda glad now that I self-publish! The part about Oprah sounds hilarious. (I hate Oprah.) This sounds like a talented author, if she can make adulterers seem like good people!

If I knew about self-publishing a few years earlier, my book would've been long out by now.

There are a few erotic scenes. These scenes are always brief, yet they provide sufficient detail.

@Tanaya
Great job, as usual! I just have to love your analytical breakdown of the erotic scenes ha ha. Well done. That said a lot, without saying too much. Sounds like the author did a great job, if one can relate to characters regardless of their actions. Congrats to you on another great review, and to the author for such a positive review as well.

Leon Durham wrote:If I knew about self-publishing a few years earlier, my book would've been long out by now.

It was a long time before I knew about it too, Leon. I originally tried to print out and bind my own books, with disastrous results!

Escapeartist wrote:

There are a few erotic scenes. These scenes are always brief, yet they provide sufficient detail.

@Tanaya
Great job, as usual! I just have to love your analytical breakdown of the erotic scenes ha ha. Well done. That said a lot, without saying too much. Sounds like the author did a great job, if one can relate to characters regardless of their actions. Congrats to you on another great review, and to the author for such a positive review as well.

LOL I was trying to tackle the subject in as professional a manner as possible.

I would love to find out more about 'publishing industry' and how far authors and publishers go to be best sellers. I think it would be a fun read.

It was indeed very fun to read

Great job, Tanaya. From your review I feel as if I half-read the book. I mean as if I was falling in love with the book although I generally try to avoid romantic novel, mainly for the clichés they are full of.

Thanks!