The Bestseller

A dishy and delightful romp through the publishing world. With overdrawn characters and a quickish pace (though the book itself is much too long) this book is light, easy and fun.

Publishers Weekly Review: It is an old adage that books about publishing do not sell, because those likely to be most interested will beg, borrow or steal them rather than buy. In the case of the latest by Goldsmith (The First Wives Club) that would be a pity, because it is a highly entertaining tale with a good share of romance and drama, considerable humor and some cynical fun at the expense of the book business; there are many recognizable characters, and a number of real-life walk-ons. (There's even an index so book people can look themselves up, but be warned: it is not what it seems.) Goldsmith's busy plot--which makes publishing seem as glamorous and crazy as fashion or the movies (settings for two of her previous books)--offers show more four women with novels being considered by high-powered New York publisher Davis & Dash. There is an elderly romance queen with a fading readership; a proud mother trying to get someone to read a magnum opus by her dead daughter; a cool young Englishwoman who has penned a quirkily charming book about a busload of American tourists in Tuscany; and a desperate young woman whose devious husband is trying to steal all the credit for her true-crime roman a clef. Throw in a corrupt publisher doctoring the books to try to make his own sales look bigger, a nymphomaniac and alcoholic editor-in-chief, a staunch young editor and her lesbian agent friend, and you have the makings of a spicy literary stew. The only problem is that Goldsmith winds it all up in much too pat a fashion, with the villains getting their comeuppances and the good getting their happily-ever-after endings in quick, glib order. show less

Pandemic read. Fun riff on the publishing industry, back in the day before the world went truly digital.

I loved this book. The different authors who were profiled seemed very believable and I found myself trying to guess which real life best selling authors of the time were Ms. Goldsmith's inspiration. I have found that some of the inside secrets as to what makes a book a best seller a bit sad but probably true. There is also a lot of discussion about pressure being put on best selling authors by publishing companies who are trying to turn a profit. This is a great peak into the world of writers! I highly recommend this book!

Long, but enjoyable!: Nice to get into the publishing world, I enjoy Olivia Goldsmith's style, she takes a lot of time to draw the picture, and to dig deep into the players, it was interesting and enjoyable. I am a big fan of hers, and this is one of her best.

I've read this book three times since it came out. It's one of the books I like coming back to from time to time. I often wonder if Olivia Goldsmith's mentions of other authors in this book were an accepting nod to her colleagues or an act of jealousy. The book is fun in a trashy, gossipy way.

OMG!! This book was absolutely, positively the most boring book I have ever read. 700 pages of crap! I almost did not finish it, but I mad a promise to myself a while back, that no matter how bad the book was, I was going to finish it. This is the first book that made me want to go back on that promise. The only good thing about the book, it that all the horrible people got what they deserved in the end. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea. I like lots of action and suspense in my books and this was definitely not that! Not for me. I would not read again.