Synopses & Reviews
What happens after “happily ever after”? Alice Hirsh is about to find out…
Alice, a former New Yorker who thought shed never feel at home in the bizarre world of the San Fernando Valley, was adapting, raising her 5-year-old daughter while trying to keep her job and make her new house a home. When her attorney husband lands a trophy client - box-office queen Rose Maris - things begin to look up. Then Alex starts working late - a lot. He crunches his paunch into a six-pack and trades his Gap ensembles for Armani everything.
Soon, Rose and Alexs affair blazes in the tabloids and Alice is plunged into trash-gossip hell. Her life crumbles around her as she navigates her newly single self through suburban LA --a place rife with porn stars, psycho soccer moms and nutty neighbors.
Is there a chance to wrest Alex from the Sexiest Woman Alive? And if so... would Alice want him back? And what about George--her college sweatheart? Or Johnny, a walking charm-bomb paparazzo? As Alice inventories the rubble of her life, she desperately searches for her bearings and is forced to ask herself what she really wants from life, love and herself.
Review
"A sassy, sweet tale of love lost and found." --Publishers Weekly
"Young Gabby's obsession with fairy tales subtly mirrors Alice's new life as she explores what happens when you have to rescue yourself and make your own happily ever after, hopefully meeting a true Prince Charming along the way." --Booklist
"This should give anyone experiencing drama in his or her life comfort to know that happily ever after comes in the moments between the disappointments, sadness and frustration. Pieces of Happily Ever After reminds us we just need to look for them." --The Huffington Post
"Zutells cast of characters are layered and detailed. Even those with bit parts are well-developed. And Zutell doesnt let her characters take the easy road as heroine Alice navigates her way back to happiness and maybe a bit of happily ever after." --TheBookChick.com
Praise for Theyre Not Your Friends:
[A] very funny debut novel [that] damns Hollywood hotcha culture, reproducing its lower-end pitches perfectly… [It] catches Tinseltown at its worst.” -Publishers Weekly
“Hilarious, poignant, and so true to life it's frightening. They're Not Your Friends is a very entertaining Hollywood novel and the perfect summer read." --Robin Lynn Williams, author of The Assistants
“A hilarious, from-the-heart debut.” --Melissa Senate, author of See Jane Date and Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?
Synopsis
What happens after happily ever after? Alice Hirsh is about to find out...
Alice, a former New Yorker who thought she'd never feel at home in the bizarre world of the San Fernando Valley, was adapting, raising her 5-year-old daughter while trying to keep her job and make her new house a home. When her attorney husband lands a trophy client - box-office queen Rose Maris - things begin to look up. Then Alex starts working late - a lot. He crunches his paunch into a six-pack and trades his Gap ensembles for Armani everything.
Soon, Rose and Alex's affair blazes in the tabloids and Alice is plunged into trash-gossip hell. Her life crumbles around her as she navigates her newly single self through suburban LA --a place rife with porn stars, psycho soccer moms and nutty neighbors.
Is there a chance to wrest Alex from the Sexiest Woman Alive? And if so... would Alice want him back? And what about George--her college sweatheart? Or Johnny, a walking charm-bomb paparazzo? As Alice inventories the rubble of her life, she desperately searches for her bearings and is forced to ask herself what she really wants from life, love and herself.
Synopsis
Alice Hirsh is about to find out what happens after happily ever after. As she inventories the rubble of her life, a newly single Alice desperately searches for her bearings and is forced to ask herself what she really wants from life, love, and herself.
Synopsis
What happens after “happily ever after”? Alice Hirsh is about to find out…
Alice, a former New Yorker who thought shed never feel at home in the bizarre world of the San Fernando Valley, was adapting, raising her 5-year-old daughter while trying to keep her job and make her new house a home. When her attorney husband lands a trophy client - box-office queen Rose Maris - things begin to look up. Then Alex starts working late - a lot. He crunches his paunch into a six-pack and trades his Gap ensembles for Armani everything.
Soon, Rose and Alexs affair blazes in the tabloids and Alice is plunged into trash-gossip hell. Her life crumbles around her as she navigates her newly single self through suburban LA --a place rife with porn stars, psycho soccer moms and nutty neighbors.
Is there a chance to wrest Alex from the Sexiest Woman Alive? And if so... would Alice want him back? And what about George--her college sweatheart? Or Johnny, a walking charm-bomb paparazzo? As Alice inventories the rubble of her life, she desperately searches for her bearings and is forced to ask herself what she really wants from life, love and herself.
About the Author
Irene Zutell began her career as a journalist. She has written for People, Us Weekly, The New York Times, the NY Daily News, Newsday, USA Today and others. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.
Reading Group Guide
1. How does Ally manage her relationship with her daughter while the rest of her life is in turmoil? Do you think she does a good job? How does Gabby deal with the changes in her parents marriage? Does she grow over the course of the novel? 2. Gabby believes that life imitates fairy tales. From her perspective, what roles would various characters from the novel play? In what ways do these characters embody (or not embody) the parts in Gabbys fairy tale? 3. Faye accuses Ally of judging people too quickly. Do you agree with her? Did you judge any of the characters in this book too quickly, then change your mind? Who, and why? 4. Do you think adults are capable of making drastic change in their lives? What characters in the novel change the most? How? 5. What do you think of Allys decision not to take Roses money? What would you have done? 6. How would you describe Alex? Although he may not be the best husband, is he a good father? A good man? 7. “Xander” tells Ally that maybe its best not to expose Gabby to her grandmother. Is he right? What do you think of her decision to have her mother live at home? What would you do? How does her decision affect Gabby? Ally? 8. What happens to Ally when Georges phone rings? Why do you think she decides to walk away? Did she do the right thing? What would you have done? Does George still love her or was it something else? 9. Is Johnny a good match for Ally? Is he trustworthy? Where do you see them a year later? 10. What do you think Faye means when she says that most people are psychic? Do you agree? 11. What do you think of Allys idea of happiness being in the small moments that we often take for granted? What is happiness for Ally? For Gabby? For you?