The Second Assistant: A Tale from the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder

No political science degree could ever prepare Elizabeth Miller for her new job as a second assistant at The Agency, whose clients include everyone you’ve never met—but you know who they’re sleeping with. A former congressional intern in Washington, Lizzie made a bid for a life change that landed her a job a world away, where ethics and First Amendment debates take a backseat to pleading the Fifth for Ritalin-snorting boss Scott Wagner. He’s the hottest young agent in Hollywood, who devotes his days to playing online poker—that is, when he’s not closing a $30 million deal for one of his AAA-list clients. And while getting six-hundred-dollar highlights from Cameron’s colorist or organizing the strippers for George’s show more birthday party come close to causing heart failure for this East Coast girl, the real dangers lurk elsewhere.
But Lizzie is a survivor, and no Machiavellian assistant, lecherous producer, or power struggle at The Agency can douse her nascent dreams of climbing up the Hollywood ladder. But first she has to run down to the Coffee Bean to pick up that triple espresso, or Scott is going to throw something.... show less

It wasn't entirely the book's fault I didn't finish it: I made it to page 254 before I left on a trip that I could not take this hardcover along. I was pushing myself to finish but, truth be told, after a book of different characters, I no longer felt compelled to find out what happened to the characters, whether the movie would be made, etc. I think I would rather move on to my next book than return to this one.

I am lucky in that the problems with structure that led to this book's downfall showed me flaws in my own debut novel, so I could look at it with a different eye. I felt the trouble with this book was actually the abundance of "Hollywood stories": there was such a strong concentration of the bizarre "look at this different show more culture" stories that led nowhere, little to no connection to later plot, that when I hit the 100-page mark - the classic goalpost to decide whether to continue - there was no establishment in the story (other than setting, of course) and very little in the character. I hadn't developed any interest or sympathy yet. If I hadn't been so interested in figuring out what was wrong with the structure and curious as to "does this book ever tell a story or does it just whine about how bad Hollywood is?" I would not have continued.

Why the higher star rating? It's only meant to be a silly little beach read, so how good does it have to be? While I missed the story in the beginning, these asides were amusing. The authors can write a sentence (surprisingly not always a requirement to be published nowadays) and put together some simple humour. Part of my problem, I will admit, is that I am a slow reader so 100 pages represents a fair time investment for me, so I want return fairly quickly; I know a lot of readers (including one I live with) who wouldn't mind a little more digression before the story. When I stopped reading, there were at least 3 plot lines going, I suspected I saw the course (as one usually does in chick lit) and it was cute. There are much better chick kits, I would not go out of my way for this one. However, if you find it in the hotel's "library" or the public library, it is an easy way to pass the time. show less

It wasn't entirely the book's fault I didn't finish it: I made it to page 254 before I left on a trip that I could not take this hardcover along. I was pushing myself to finish but, truth be told, after a book of different characters, I no longer felt compelled to find out what happened to the characters, whether the movie would be made, etc. I think I would rather move on to my next book than return to this one.

I am lucky in that the problems with structure that led to this book's downfall showed me flaws in my own debut novel, so I could look at it with a different eye. I felt the trouble with this book was actually the abundance of "Hollywood stories": there was such a strong concentration of the bizarre "look at this different show more culture" stories that led nowhere, little to no connection to later plot, that when I hit the 100-page mark - the classic goalpost to decide whether to continue - there was no establishment in the story (other than setting, of course) and very little in the character. I hadn't developed any interest or sympathy yet. If I hadn't been so interested in figuring out what was wrong with the structure and curious as to "does this book ever tell a story or does it just whine about how bad Hollywood is?" I would not have continued.

Why the higher star rating? It's only meant to be a silly little beach read, so how good does it have to be? While I missed the story in the beginning, these asides were amusing. The authors can write a sentence (surprisingly not always a requirement to be published nowadays) and put together some simple humour. Part of my problem, I will admit, is that I am a slow reader so 100 pages represents a fair time investment for me, so I want return fairly quickly; I know a lot of readers (including one I live with) who wouldn't mind a little more digression before the story. When I stopped reading, there were at least 3 plot lines going, I suspected I saw the course (as one usually does in chick lit) and it was cute. There are much better chick kits, I would not go out of my way for this one. However, if you find it in the hotel's "library" or the public library, it is an easy way to pass the time. show less

Books about bright young women learning the ropes of glamorous careers under corrosively evil bosses are catnip to a generation of readers, so this West Coast version of The Devil Wears Prada fills a niche, with brio. Elizabeth Miller gives up an idealistic job as a Washington senator's aide to join the Agency, a super-powerful Hollywood outfit that represents stars, producers and directors. The young L.A. newcomer may not be as clearheaded and full of self-knowledge as she's intended to be (she does jump topless into the agency head's pool with a lecherous producer), but she's a paragon of virtue compared to her boss, Scott Wagner, who is loutish, sex-obsessed, terminally addicted to any abusable substance, lazy and overbearing. show more Despite her misgivings and scads of unjustified abuse, Elizabeth throws herself into Xeroxing and party planning ("Dancers from Crazy Girls on La Brea. Though only small-nippled girls") and is rewarded by brushes with a parade of A-list personalities (Cameron, Jennifer, George, Harvey). The insider peeks at Tinseltown are more engrossing than the plot, but a hot script and backroom Agency dealings keep the pages turning. Contrivances aboundâ€"Elizabeth keeps meeting key figures at just the right momentâ€"and the jokes often fall flat. The book undoes itself by offering as chapter headings some of the great dialogue from old movies ("What's the going price on integrity this week?"), and there's simply no comparison between what those old scriptwriters and these joint authors offer up. Still, this is a fast, fun, trashy read. show less

Definitely one for by-the-pool or while lounging-under-the-summer-sun kind of light reading.

In the tradition of "The Devil Wears Prada" the now painful truth is re-asserted: that working for the rich/powerful/glamorous can be torturous & definitely not what it's all cut out to be.

Elizabeth Miller gives up an idealistic job as a Washington senator's aide to join the Agency, a super-powerful Hollywood outfit that represents stars, producers and directors. The young L.A. newcomer may not be as clearheaded and full of self-knowledge as she's intended to be but predictably she gets her head over the whole LA thing in no time. The insider peeks at Tinseltown are more engrossing than the plot, but a hot script and backroom Agency dealings show more keep the pages turning.

Book Details:

Title The Second Assistant: A Tale from the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder
Author Clare Naylor & Mimi Hare
Reviewed By Purplycookie show less

Light, breezy and entertaining with a likable heroine. This was a fun fantasy of what it would be like to be young, pretty, and smart - and working at a high powered Hollywood agency.

Quite liked this book, different to the 'normal' chick lit in that it wasn't (all) about girl meets boy. Liked the Hollywood setting as well. Ending made me laugh, good way to end a book--no worries of dragging it out.