1990’s Hollywood is not a topic I have much experience with. Neither is the film industry as a whole. That’s one of the things I appreciate about fiction: while reading an enjoyable story, it is also possible to learn things you never even considered exploring!

Charity follows the producer of a film she worked on in her hometown in Canada back to LA to be his assistant there. This is a step up the career ladder for her, as she ultimately wants to have her own script produced and made into a movie. But all is not well in Hollywood: conniving co-workers, a toxic work environment, a boss who won’t do the right thing, quickly dwindling funds, and a car that is barely hanging on… the list goes on and on. When Charity loses something important to the studio, like REALLY important, her life is turned upside down in the worst way. If you’re a reader who “feels” deeply, you may cry with Charity a few times. Things just get so bleak for her! Yet, she keeps going. Her character is friendly, supportive, hard-working, hopeful, crafty, just a 3-D protagonist that you love rooting for! And in the end, it’s all worth it! As an aside, in the author note at the end, you learn the whole story is based on events that REALLY happened!

I really was surprised by this one! The cover was cute and the premise sounded fun, so I opened it up. I did not expect to like it so much! I already can’t wait to read Christine Stringer’s next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and to SparkPress for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous is a witty, heartfelt Hollywood romp about ambition, chaos, and chasing dreams in an industry that’s anything but red carpets.

I loved Bridget Jones' Diary so I was excited to read this one and it did give similar vibes, with a Hollywood twist. If you loved the aesthetic of the late 90s Hollywood, you will also enjoy this!

This book was sadly archived before I had rhe chance to read it! As a new netgalley reviewer I wish I had read it right away! Looking forward to purchasing and reading

Christine Stringer’s Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous is a breezy, semi-autobiographical romp through late-90s Hollywood that would lend itself well to television, though more as light, episodic entertainment than prestige drama. The premise, an ambitious but naïve young woman juggling shady coworkers, romantic missteps, financial ruin, and even an FBI investigation while trying to break into the film industry, has the makings of a sharp, satirical workplace dramedy in the vein of Younger or The Bold Type. Charity is endearing and relatable, but the narrative often leans on clichés that dilute the story’s bite. As a book, it’s an enjoyable, but as a TV show, its behind-the-scenes chaos, colorful cast of characters, and nostalgia-drenched 90s Hollywood backdrop could easily be spun into an engaging, bingeable series.

Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I love women's fiction when it's this well done. The 90's references are perfect & really highlight nostalgia for me! The writing is witty, it's quick, it's an easy read, and most importantly? It's fun!

Charity is an easy to love character and you root for her from the beginning. She puts up with SO much BS and you just truly want her to make it all the way to the top to prove that she can overcome it all.

This would be fantastic to read on a beach!

This book had a fun premise and 90s nostalgia's always a plus. It was funny at times and Charity was a good protagonist. I found myself skimming at times though and felt like some parts and characters were a little flat. It was a light, funny book overall though.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

3 ⭐

ARC Review

This was a really easy and fun read, I will say that the first 25% of the book was hard to understand who is who an what was happening. I will say the story picked up once you got into the swing of Charity being in LA and she was being investigated by the FBI. I am sad you didn't find out more as to what happened with the pirate copy of the movie, I felt more of a twist could have been used for that.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this ebook.

Even with Charity aiming for a career that many don’t, she still feels incredibly relatable. She’s heartfelt, comforting, and the hi-jinx she gets herself into are just so fun to read. The so much whit in this book.

I really love an industry satire and Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous was exactly what I needed! It was such a fun little summer read! I think Christine does a great job of putting you in the center of the industry world and making you feel like you're apart of the chaos.

Thanks to NetGalley and Spark Press for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Although I read a lot of non-fiction books, I do also enjoy other genres, especially lighter womens fiction like this! Charity Trickett is Not So Glamorous was just what I needed after some heavier history books. Charity Trickett is similar to some other books I’ve read in the past few months such as Mean Moms, Moms Like Us, We Don’t Talk About Carol, and The Tradwife’s Secret. However, it is much lighter. It is also less suspense-driven than those books. It was so much fun!

Having a quarter-life crisis in the 1990s, Charity is about the same I was at that time, so I felt a real connection to the character. This was such a nostalgia-laced study of 1990s culture which included the good and bad. This was a frothy and fun peek at creative ambition, which was the perfect airy book I was looking for. I think the best part of Charity Trickett is to know that this book is based on actual events!

As someone who has been underappreciated in the workplace, Charity’s situation gave me all the feels. She wants to be a movie writer and ends up working for a director at a major Hollywood studio. And it. is. so. unhinged in the office! The B.S. she has to put up with drives her to near insanity. I really empathized with her while also realizing that you either have to laugh or cry. Luckily, for Charity, she’s got a great group of close friends who can pull her off the ledge.

There’s a romance in the book, but luckily, it’s a subplot and not the main driving force of the book. This workplace satire also features well-known songs and catch-phrases as chapter titles, so be sure to check out the 411 section at the back of the book for the low-down.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced and easy to grasp. Perfect for a summer read. I also really enjoyed the 90s themed chapter titles. As someone who grew up in the 90s the setting and time frame was nostalgic.
I enjoyed the entire story as a whole, but the ending just fell flat. It left me wishing there were more. I’m so happy everything worked out but it had me questioning if she would’ve just mentioned her problem to Vivy from jump … we would’ve got 2-3 chapters of them working the film.
I’m asking for a sequel please! I have to know more. Thank you NetGalley, Christine Stringer, & the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was fun! At first when I started the first couple of chapters, I wasn’t sure if this book was for me, but after getting a little deeper into the story, there came a point where I needed to know what happened next. I ended up really enjoying Charity’s character and seeing what was next for her. I also really enjoyed the different characters throughout the story as well, but wished there was some more clarity/development surrounding some of the relationships she had.

The pop culture references (especially the chapter titles) were greatly appreciated and I was surprised to learn that the author actually experienced some of the things Charity went through.

Overall, it was very much worth the read and would be a perfect book to bring to the beach or on vacation.

Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous is a delightful and sharp industry satire. As a film student, I had so much fun reading this . It was exciting to actually understand all the behind-the-scenes lingo and references sprinkled throughout the book, haha.

It’s a quick, quirky, and genuinely funny read. I loved the 90s setting and the pop culture nods, they added such a nostalgic charm. While there were a few parts that dragged a little, overall it was super enjoyable. I did find myself craving a bit more flow between scenes, sometimes the transitions felt a bit abrupt.

If you're curious about the entertainment industry or just want a fun, breezy summer read with a satirical twist, this one’s definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Charity Trickett has worked as a PA most of her career and prides herself on being the girl on the go, and the girl in the know, at everyone’s beck and call with exactly what they need before they even realize they need it. Escaping more than just a cheating boyfriend, she gladly accepts a job working as the PA for an up-and-coming director in Hollywood. It comes with a desk, an opportunity for fame, and a conniving co-worker who will do anything to climb the corporate ladder of the entertainment industry.

I gave this book 3 stars. I really enjoyed the beginning of it and thought it would be at least 4 stars off the bat, but as I finished the book, I struggled to see what the point of this story was. Charity becomes entangled in a scandal involving a leaked pirated copy of the finished film, and all signs point to her conniving co-worker, but it turns out to be a much bigger plot that has literally nothing to do with her or the studio, and then she leaves the studio to head back to her small-time life. I understand that the message was ‘all that glitters isn’t gold’ but I had hoped for something a little more unrealistic, I guess.

I would still recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute, light read. The romance subplot was a balm on the absolutely horrendous way the studio executives treated Charity, and honestly saved this from being 2.5 stars because at least she made some real friends along the way. This book is available now!

i just couldn't get into this book. i wanted to love it so much, especially because it gave me such evelyn hugo vibes, but a few chapters in, i found myself bored with the plot. i felt we were going in circles with the same plot devices. granted of course, i didn't finish this book, so it may be different later on. i did appreciate the descriptiveness and the writing style! i would be interested in future books by this author

An interesting view on how Hollywood works. The cut throat, viciousness as well as the support from unexpected sources and everything in between. Charity is a fantastic character and following on her journey was an adventure.

I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received an advanced copy of Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous from the author, and SparkPress! 🫶

Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous is a super fun debut novel! 🥹💕 It had a slow start but once getting to the 25% mark it really started taking off. I loved all of the 90s references that were sprinkled throughout and thought that was amazing! 🫶

This was a fun and quick read! It was quirky and hilarious and I loved the 90s setting and pop culture references. There were a few parts where the story dragged a bit but overall a very enjoyable read!!

First - thank you to netgalley and spark press for the copy in exchange for my honest review!

I felt this kind of fell flat and was more immature than I was anticipating.
I enjoyed the 90s references and the meaning behind each chapters title!
Definitely an easy read and not something that you really need to focus on.
I didn’t realize the book was referencing the authors real life experiences, which makes me feel for her, what she went through and her lack of support.

A good read during the summer!

“Charity Trickett” was a fun book full of 90s Hollywood glamour. It reminded me of both Bridgid Jones’ Diary and the Netflix show GLOW. This book focuses more on the behind the scenes of movie making rather than the glamorous actors and actresses. Charity Trickett is a production PA turned Hollywood assistant, struggling to land on her feet after moving to California to follow her dreams. She must deal with mercurial directors, bullying, studio, executives, and flaky producers, finding hope and friendship among heart-of-gold, silver screen, heartthrobs and her fellow assistants. The characters were fun, the plot was fresh, and the setting was straight from the 90s. The story felt more like a coming-of-age than a romance, although it did have its romantic beats, which were a fun break from the stressful trials Charity must endure. Overall, a fun book with a little more depth than the average chick flick, and great for a summer read!