Rating: 
Summary: Living Large in La-La Land
Review: I loved the book. Think of it as Sex in the City in LA. Except that Clarissa and her group of diehard friends, known as the Star Chamber, have no real jobs or intellectual aspirations. Their real jobs are their physical upkeep and marrying well. There are some great throw-away lines about LA culture and given that the author is a Hollywood wife in real-life, it has an air of authenticity to it all. You hope that these characters aren't real, but in your worse fears, you know there are people this shallow out there in La-La land. In summary, a fascinating look into the lives of the rich and shallow, except you do find yourself really caring about the characters in the end. Can't wait to see the movie (I'm sure there will be one!)
Rating: 
Summary: A Soft-Core Satire of Chick Lit
Review: I am coming to you today as an unofficial "foreign correspondent." At least, this is how Clarissa Alpert would describe me. Alpert, the heroine (?) of Gigi Levangie Grazer's new satire on life in contemporary Los Angeles, thinks of everyone who lives in between New York and California as a foreigner. She has definite opinions on many important issues: food (good), sex (good), shopping (good), work (bad). She is 28 (well, actually 31, but that's her not-so-little secret) and has been supported all her life by her father. After sleeping "her way, without mercy, regret, mourning, or conscience, through Greater Los Angeles," Clarissa is ready to settle down and get married.A wedding is no problem for dear Clarissa --- she has been maintaining a wedding binder for years, complete with the best caterers, hotels and florists. She, who routinely lies about her "age, religion, mating habits, hair color, plastic surgeries, level of education, her mother's nose job, her upbringing, her downfall, her rehab stay(s)," has planned the date of the wedding, the bridesmaids and the reception menu. She also has the groom all lined up, but the trouble is, she hasn't met him yet. She has chosen young Aaron Mason, creative screenwriter and scion of a wealthy Southern (foreign) family; this is after she crosses off her list Bruce Springsteen ("too old, married, children [ugh]"), Ted Field ("rich, heir, ext. rich, likes tall, skinny beautiful blondes. Who are 18. Who have proof of being 18."), and John F. Kennedy, Jr. ("rich, good family, married, dead.") At first glance, Clarissa seems slightly sociopathic, albeit with a sharp sense of fashion and an even sharper sense of humor. Grazer wisely never allows her to become too disgusting; Clarissa always retains a hint of likeability. She struggles with her weight, friends and parents; her mother is an anorexic Bolivian Jew who causes Clarissa no end of consternation. Her mother is one to order a "beet and goat cheese salad, with no onions, no goat cheese, no dressing, and no beets." Through a carefully choreographed chance encounter, Clarissa does manage to meet, court and marry the debonair Mr. Mason with the help of her clique of girlfriends nicknamed the Star Chamber. Clarissa and her cohorts are bitingly funny, if a bit stereotypic. There's the good time girl, the warm and fuzzy soft heart, a hypochondriac, and the obligatory friend who everyone hates. Grazer's sharp wit is evident throughout the book. At one point she refers to the "silcone '90s," which is either a very funny pun or sloppy editing, take your pick. About halfway into the book, the tone shifts and becomes less satiric and less successful. Grazer aims for a comedy of errors, but comes up with a third-rate situation comedy. Clarissa becomes pregnant and surprise, surprise, finds out that Aaron is not exactly whom she bargained for. She dumps him, he dumps her, it's on-again, off-again. She meets his parents. She knows they're rich because their house has "iron gates that belong, like, outside the Kremlin or something and a sign on the iron gates stating a clever name. Only the stinking rich name their houses." There's a shooting, a birth, a meditation retreat nicknamed "silent camp" and enough Hollywood hijinks to make your head spin. Oddly, Grazer even tries to wring tears out of the audience with a weird and completely unnecessary death. If you're looking for a few hours of diversion while you loll poolside, a fruity umbrella drink in hand, MANEATER is the book for you. It's a soft-core satire of chick lit that briefly transcends its genre. It's just about as frothy as a Starbucks cappuccino so joyfully swilled by Clarissa and her friends. --- Reviewed by Shannon Bloomstran
Rating: 
Summary: A Satirical Look at Los Angeles Socialites
Review: "Maneater" deals with Clarissa, a socialite living in Los Angeles who never work a single day in her life and her lifelong goal was to marry a rich and important man. Her life, she deemed would be complete. Working, according to Clarissa was a concept for the poor. She was popular among the the rich and who slept with, she claimed, two thirds of the men in L.A. Clarissa unlike other chick lit heroines is selfish, arrogant, scornful and is definitely materialistic. Her dream was realized when a new man in town, Aaron, who was rich, important and definitely had the potential to be Clarissa's husband. Before Clarrisa even met Aaron, she was already planning their wedding, ordering flowers, and trying out wedding dress. Soon, she and Aaron were married and Clarissa thought she would have everything that she dreamed for. Unfortunately for Clarissa, things were not the way they seemed. It took me a while to get into the book as Clarissa at the beginning of the book is very unlikeable. However, her character gets more bearable and I even like her at the end of the book. "Maneater" is definitely a satirical look at the rich socialites in Los Angeles/Beverly Hills region. You can get an inside look at how the rich and famous socialize and the author at times pokes fun at them. The book is well-written and it definitely has its funny moments. "Maneater" is quite refreshing change and I highly recommend it. It is not my favorite book ever but it is still a good summer read.
Rating:
Summary: great summer reading
Review: I really enjoyed this book, it was sooooooo funny, and the characters were a hoot. I thought the story ended well and had an interesting ending,which is sometimes the hardest part of a book like this, but this ending is well worth it. I've recommended it to all my girlfriends but it's not a guy book. Can't wait to see the movie.
Rating:
Summary: funny funny funny!!!!!!!!
Review: I read this book in one night and couldn't put it down, I thought it was very clever , very funny, and I had a very clear image of all of the characters. I liked the ending a lot, and very often when I read a good book I love the book but I hate the ending, or I thought it lost something, etc. but this ending was very clever and worth the read. I recommended it to all my friends, and it makes for great beach reading this summer. Can't wait for the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Fun and Funny
Review: This book will make you laugh so hard! The main character becomes more and more endearing as you read on and her take on the world is absolutely hilarious! Also, Grazer manages to perfectly capture the modern world we live in and all of its trivial luxuries that are so much fun to mock yet even more fun to enjoy, at the same time. Light and easy- good book.
Rating:
Summary: Too much icing, too little cake
Review: How many times do we need to explore the world of shallow, spiritually empty human beings? And what better place to find them than in LA? Okay, you want to know why I read this book? Because a friend of mine knows the author and thought I would just LOVE this precious page turner. I'll admit that it is better written than your average bird cage liner, but honestly, I would need valium in copious quantities if I spent my summers reading this kind of trash. If hairspray and limousines are your thing, this should fit your cigarette holder nicely, Dahlink.
Rating:
Summary: You will sink quickly into this book!
Review: What a great find at the bookstore for all chick lit lovers. This novel is based around our heroine (of sorts), Clarissa. She's a 31 (although she swears she's 28) year old woman who's still living off of her wealthy father while searching for the man she will force to marry her. Although the reader will begin the book thinking Clarissa is a shallow L.A. has been, she will win you over in the end with her internal transformation and witty banter. The author's writing flows well and is sometimes suprising, which is true to the nature of the never dull Clarissa. I would recommend this book highly as a quick summer read. I say quick read, because you'll have trouble putting Maneater down once you've read past page 2!
Rating:
Summary: An awesome summer read! Buy extras for all your girlfriends
Review: Just when you thought you couldn't read one more bridget jones-shopaholic-devil wearing prada kind of female protagonist novel, along comes something TRULY SPECIAL AND UNIQUE. Darkly delicious, this novel will transport you, show you a window into characters and a world that are fascinating, compelling and oddly relatable. The main character is unlike any you have ever encountered before. You will have to read it all in one sitting because you won't be able to put it down. I hope they make a movie out of it - I will rush to go see it. It will be as good as the terrific "To Die For" or the really entertaining "Election". This book will entertain you no end, and also make you think about yourself and your friends around you. There are some very cleverly woven subtle insights into love and marriage as well. The meaning of true love. What we receive in return for giving love and being vulnerable. All of which is like the cherry on top of this very delicious ice cream sundae. I loved this author's first book and this one is even better.
Rating:
Summary: Fun satire of a Beverly Hills socialite (3 1/2 stars)...
Review: Maneater is a fun, satirical novel about a Beverly Hills socialite looking for Mr. Right -- or rather, looking for Mr. Rich. Clarissa has everything a jetsetter and party sweetheart should have: an enviable designer wardrobe, a trendy apartment and friends she can talk to and criticize behind their backs. But Clarissa is now thirty (though she tells everyone she's twenty-eight) and must find her future husband pronto. Aaron Mason is the ideal dream boat. He's the hottest producer in town and a confirmed bachelor. Clarissa thinks she has him right where she wants him, but then her ex-boyfriend resurfaces and complicates things... I thought this novel was very funny. I even ignored the fact that the author is a well-connected Hollywood screenwriter. Well... she seems to know a lot about the L.A. scene and satirizes it in a low-brow, clever way. Clarissa and her equally superficial friends irritated me at times, but then again the aforementioned characters aren't supposed to be enchanting. I couldn't help but think of the story and its female characters as a parodied imitation of Sex and the City. This is an entertaining, darkly funny chick-lit novel and I recommend it as a no-fuss summer read.
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