Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Weisberger, Lauren - 2010

Simon & Schuster Ome, 2010. Very Good. A crisp clean softcover, no markings throughout: In her fourth novel, the incisive, trend-focused author of The Devil Wears Prada (2003) explores the effect of fame on a young married couple. When Brooke first comes across singer Julian in a dive in Manhattan, she's entranced by his voice. She starts to attend his weekly shows until a mediocre blind date leads to an unexpected meeting. It isn't long before the two fall in love and marry. Brooke, a nutritionist with aspirations of starting her own company, works two jobs to support Julian's musical ambitions, which pays off when he lands a recording contract. The record label sets up a showcase just before the album's release, and Julian's performance attracts the attention of a scout for Jay Leno, who invites Julian to play on his show. That performance turns Julian into an overnight sensation, but both he and Brooke find themselves wholly unprepared for superstardom, which includes stalking paparazzi, tabloid smear articles, and flirtatious fame seekers. An absorbing, thoroughly entertaining read about the ins and outs and ups and downs of life as a celebrity.