Product Description

Melissa Fuller, gossip columnist of the fictional New York Journal is on the brink of losing her job. This particular morning she is 68 minutes late for work - making it her 37th late arrival so far this year. Human Resources have given her another official warning, her boss seriously doubts her commitment to the paper and, more importantly, even her best friend has begun to worry about her psychological well being. This time, however, Melissa has a real excuse. She has just saved her elderly neighbour from a near-fatal attack, taken her to hospital and in the process become sole custodian of Paco her Great Dane - not the ideal accessory for a New York City girl. Melissa urgently needs to trace her neighbour's only relative and when she finally meets him the real trouble starts.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25990 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 590 pages

About the Author
Meg Cabot has lived in Indiana and California, USA and in France. She is the author of the highly succesful series of children's books, The Princess Diaries, the first of which Walt Disney Pictures recently released as a major motion picture starring Julie Andrews. Meg now lives with her husband in New York City.

Customer Reviews

Hilarious
Melissa Fuller has managed to rack up dozens of tardies, but this time, her excuse is a really good one, albeit unique. She has discovered her elderly neighbor lying comatose, the apparent survivor of the city's current serial killer, the transvestite killer. Mel now feels responsible for taking care of the old lady's dog while she lies in the hospital, and walking the giant dog with a pea sized bladder is causing serious complications to her life. With the assistance of well meaning friends, she tracks down the woman's one living relative, Max, a nephew, and contacts him to come help with the dog, and see his dying aunt.

Max is, however, a selfish SOB, who had rather complete his vacation with a Victoria's Secret supermodel than come walk a great dane and visit an old, but rich relative. Thus, he calls in a favor and enlists John Trent to impersonate him so that should his aunt awaken, she won't think him the uncaring cad he really is. Reluctantly, John agrees, and immediately finds himself falling for Mel. The attraction is mutual, but the matter of his deception lies between them. What will happen should Mel find out that "Max" is John?

***** In this hilarious tale told via email messages, Ms. Cabot has created a GRIFFIN AND SABINE for the new generation. We get to see all sides of the story as Mel and John's friends and families communicate their varied opinions of the whole situation. From Mel's newly emailing parents, to her catty coworker who has inherited her exboyfriend, to the supermodel Max is dating, we are charmed by the situation that is so unbelieveable that it could be real. If this were a movie, Meg Ryan and Hugh Grant would be the ideal stars.

Never thought e-mails could be this funny
As a great fan of Meg Cabot's wonderful Princess Diaries, I was doubtful whether she could be as funny writing for adults, but she is. This is an hilarious story, told entirely in e-mails. Mel is a gossip columnist on a New York newspaper. When her next-dorr-neighbour, elderly Mrs Freidlander, is knocked on the head and endus up in hospital, Mel is stuck with caring for her two cats and Great Dane. She contacts Mrs Freidlander's nephew Max to come and take over. Max however doesn't want to give up his holiday with supermodel Vivica, so her persuades his reluctant friend John Trent to take his place and pretend to be him (Max doesn't want to be cut out of auntie's will, she is very, very rich). Of course, Mel and John get to know each other and start to fall in love, but John is afraid to tell Mel the truth, especially as he is a reporter on a hated rival newspaper. The e-maile exchanges become more and more complex as Mel's love life is discussed freely by all her friends at the newspaper office.(Dolly, the outrageous fashion editor, is particularly funny). John dithers over whether or not to tell Mel the truth, while at the same time doing some investigating into the mysterious attack on Mrs Friedlander. The book reaches a climax with Mel's spectacularly clever and funny revenge oh John when she discovers the truth. This is a very, very funny book, and it would probably make a good film, though I am appalled at a previous reviewer's suggestion of Meg Ryan and Hugh Grant for the leads. I could not bear to see awful, simpering Meg Ryan playing the delightful Mel (anyhow, she's too old for the part),and Hugh Grant, though not as irritating as Meg Ryan, is not at all suitable to play John.

Delightful reading
If you are someone like me who is escapist and young at heart this book can not fail to please. I read it in one go and was disappointed when it finished. I can truly say I have not enjoyed a book like that for a long time. If you are a serious reader it may not appeal. But I loved it thouroughly and utterly.
Thank you to Meg Cabot for this wonderfully entertaining story.