Johnny Be Good by Paige Toon

Synopsis (from back page)

If your boss was the hottest rock star on the planet, would you mix business with pleasure?

I’m Meg Stiles. This is my leaving party. And that song we’re making a mockery of? That’s written by one of the biggest rock stars in the world. And I’m moving in with him tomorrow.

Seriously! I am not even joking. Well, maybe I’m misleading you a little bit. You see, I haven’t actually met him yet…

No, I’m not a stalker. I’m his new PA. His Personal Assistant. And I am off to La-La Land. Los Angeles. The City Of Angels - whatever you want to call it - and I can’t bloody believe it!

Celebrity PA to wild boy of rock Johnny Jefferson, Meg’s glam new life in sun-drenched LA is a whirlwind of showbiz parties and backstage passes. Cool, calm Christian, in town to write his famous friend’s biography, helps keep Meg’s feet firmly on the ground. But with Johnny’s piercing green eyes and a body Brad Pitt would kill for, how long will it be before she’s swept right off them again?

Review

Having read and really enjoyed Toon’s debut novel Lucy In The Sky last year, it was inevitable that as soon as I saw Johnny Be Good sitting in my local book store, that I would need to buy it right then and there. And yes, I admit I did have some quite high expectations for it and yes I wasn’t disappointed as it did manage to live up to those expectations, although I personally don’t think it was quite as good as what her debut was.

For a start this book is not to be taken too seriously as the circumstances surrounding Meg’s move to Los Angeles is fairly unrealistic and unbelievable, however saying that we must also remember that this is a work of fiction and for that reason the over-the-top aspects of the storyline can be quite easily forgiven.

This is pure escapism at it’s very best.

Like in her debut novel, Toon’s descriptions of Hollywood make you feel as if you are right there in sunny LA and it’s obvious from the outset that this is not only a place where the author has visited, but it’s a place that she obviously very much loves.

I also really liked the fact that there is a connection between the characters in this book and those in her last one and the mention in passing of Lucy and Nathan made me squeal with delight.

My only little foible with Johnny Be Good is the ending. It’s very abrupt and leaves you on a bit of a cliff-hanger and my first thought was that there must be a sequel in the pipeline. However after thinking about it for a wee while, I’m beginning to think that there wont be a sequel and that the author has deliberately left you in this position so that you can make up your own mind as to how things work out for Meg, Johnny and Christian.

A really light-hearted and easy read, with a touch of harsh reality thrown in, that would make perfect reading for any chick lit fan.

Reviewed by Karen.