🎬✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨🎬
If Bridget Jones moved to 1990s Hollywood and got caught in an FBI investigation... THIS WOULD BE HER STORY.

Okay besties, listen up—if you’ve ever dreamed of working in movies, getting your big break, or just surviving your twenties with your dignity intact and a half-decent outfit, this book is your next obsession. 🤯💁‍♀️

Meet Charity Trickett (yes, that’s her real name, and no, she’s not ready for this town 😅). It’s 1997, and she’s fresh off the plane in LA, armed with ambition, zero cash, a crush on the wrong guy, and a burning desire to break into the biz. 🎞️🍸

What starts as an assistant gig to a big-shot director turns into a wild, chaotic, is-this-really-my-life ride through:
✅ backstabbing coworkers
✅ soul-crushing studio politics
✅ a maybe-illegal mistake (whoops)
✅ and oh yeah… an FBI investigation 😳🚨

What I LOVED ❤️‍🔥
✨ Hollywood Nostalgia – You can feel the 90s oozing off every page. Think: pagers, power suits, and parties in the Hills. 🕶️🧃
✨ Voicey & Hilarious – Charity is equal parts chaos and charm. Her inner monologue is Bridget Jones meets The Devil Wears Prada but with more espresso and unpaid overtime. ☕😵
✨ Based on a true story?! – I did not expect this level of drama to be real. I was gasping by chapter 10. 💅📉

For the girlies who:
💔 Know the pain of loving someone who thinks ambition is “cute”
💸 Have ever overdrafted while chasing a dream
🎞️ Can quote Nora Ephron and know who Harvey Weinstein was in the 90s
💅 Want a heroine who messes up big but keeps showing

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC

📚Book Review📚

Book: Charity Trickett is Not so Glamorous @christinestringerauthor
Release Date: June 10, 2025

Charity Trickett is Not So Glamorous is the perfect summer read for this upcoming season! This book has everything - humor, friendship, work drama, and little mystery too. Charity is a kind, witty, hardworking assistant and screenwriter in LA and I simply could not put this book down as we follow Charity through all her adventures.

Thank you the Christine Stringer, @Netgalley, and
@booksparks for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review of this book!

#CharityTrickettIsNotSoGlamorous #NetGalley

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was light, fun, and very witty! Charity works as an assistant in the movie industry in Canada and as her job is finishing up, she’s offered the opportunity to move to LA and work for someone she worked with in Canada. She encounters a lot of personalities and a co-worker who is out to get her. I really loved how she navigated all of the roadblocks and huge egos. I would definitely recommend this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and SparkPress for the Advanced Reader copy of this book!

Our protagonist is a kind, resourceful, and spirited woman working her way up on film sets. She jumps at the chance to move to LA to work as an assistant and things go on from there. There are definitely times where you have to suspend your sense of disbelief (just like at the movies) and then other things that feel so true that I knew the author must have lived through it herself (like being interviewed by the FBI at a Coffee Bean?! And haven't we all had a weirdly spiteful and/or undermining colleague?). Some bits felt rushed but one constant was Charity's determination (okay, she has a few wobbles!) and film smarts.

I'm looking forward to Christine Stringer's next book!

Thank you NetGalley and SparkPress for sending me this e-arc!

Honestly I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed this book! Women’s literature isn’t usually my cup of tea, but as the story progressed I found myself wanting to read more and more!

I really enjoyed the FMC and the development of her journey as she navigated Hollywood and working for a major film company! I loved her friendships, and how they stood by her side no matter what!

This was a lovely, heart warming story which would be perfect for readers who loved Bridget Jones Diary or The Devil Wears Prada.

*these views are my own*

I got to spend some time in the life of an assistant to a major film director in the book Charity Trinkett is So Not Glamorous, and as the title suggests, it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. On the bright side, Charity has some pretty famous friends, but there are also some jealous coworkers, petty errands she has to run, and, oh, she may end up in some pretty major trouble. I’ll let you read to figure that one out. This book was a fun read, and it was interesting to pull back the curtain on the film-making world.

Thanks to Netgalley and SparkPress for this advance copy. #CharityTrickettIsNotSoGlamorous #NetGalley

3.5 stars!

Charity is working in film production, but her real dream is to be a screenwriter. Any free moment she has is spent editing her scripts to perfection. When a big movie producer offers her a position to be his assistant, she springs at the chance to get one step closer to her goal. Along the way, Charity is met with roadblocks, famous friendships, and jealous coworkers. Is she really cut out for Hollywood?

Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous is filled with all the 1990's references you could imagine and as a film buff myself, I loved them! It was my fantasy as a latch-key kid in the '90's to go to Hollywood and work in the industry, so this was a very interesting snip it to the way the industry actually works.

I found Charity to be an interesting and relatable character, but the special sauce was her community of industry friends who helped her along the way. I found her relationship with her friend David to be quite realistic and fun. Their banter was perfect.

There were a few plot holes that I felt could have been resolved when it came to conflicts in the workplace. I thoroughly enjoyed the build up to the romantic relationship Charity experiences in this novel, but found some of their interactions to fall a little flat. I found the glimpse behind the scenes of how movies get produced, and what truly happens when you're an assistant fascinating. I could read 12 more books on the topic if Christine Stringer wants to write them!

Huge thank you the Christine Stringer, Netgalley, and SparkPress for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. This one made my '90's heart sing!

This was such an entertaining story to get lost in. I loved the late 90s timeframe setting, Hollywood lifestyle, and job arena. They captured my attention, and all the extras were bonuses to enjoy. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Charity Trickett may not be glamorous but she is kind, smart and hard-working, you can't help but fall in love with and wish for all her dreams to come true! I was championing her every step of the way!
It was exciting to know that some of the plot points were based on real experiences in the author's life. It was interesting to learn a little behind the scenes of Hollywood as well. I found Charity's story to be relatable and realistic.

Christine Stringer’s writing is sharp and witty, and Charity as a character is wonderfully flawed in the best way — relatable, frustrating, and ultimately lovable.

I really enjoyed the humor and the emotional moments woven throughout the book. Some parts of the plot felt a bit rushed or predictable, but it didn’t take away from the overall charm of the story. The message about self-acceptance and the ups and downs of growing up really hit home.

A cute book about how someone tries to break into the film industry. Charity thinks she's got it made and soon find out that it's a dog eat dog world and everyone is just out for themselves. She meets Kai, but isn't sure if she can trust him. I enjoyed reading and finding out how Charity stood her ground and made a name for herself.

Book Review

📖📖📖📖

Thank you to @netgalley and @booksparks for this advanced readers copy. Set to release on June 10, 2025, it’s a debut novel you won’t want to miss.

Set in the ‘90’s, it’s all things Hollywood movie glam. Charity is a hysterical character working as an assistant while trying to break into movie producer success.

While Charity works hard to prove herself, she is also working against an awful coworker, lack of funds, and a major mistake that could cost her everything and then some. The nods to the ‘90’s were so fabulous, and anyone struggling during those times will absolutely relate.

There is so much wit in this novel. Charity’s love life takes a dive, and the FBI gets involved in her colossal mistake. I thought I had that part figured out, but I had it all wrong!

I really enjoyed this quick read!

#charitytrickett #imalreadyhungry

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader copy!

Loved!!! This story follows the life of a young assistant to an up and coming producer in Hollywood in the 90’s. Charity is so fun and kind, it’s so easy to root for her. Loved the first person POV of the fun and not so glamorous parts of the film industry in the 90’s.

The book reminded me of like if Lizzie McGuire was 26 in Hollywood in the 90’s. So good!! Would make a great beach read this summer. Comes out June 10 😎

honestly wasn’t sure how I’d end up like this book, but it’s actually really good. My only wish for it, was that the characters had a little more background information— to see why someone was the way they were. But other than that it was good and I highly recommend the book once it’s released!

Imagine feeling like you finally get the chance to live your best life in Hollywood, making amazing TRUE friends, experiencing the film industry with the stars and having a great career ahead of you. Not to mention a gorgeous man that isn’t playing games (shocker I KNOW)! Now, get sucked into the life of Charity Trickett. I loved her, I cried with her, and I wanted to be her best friend and biggest cheerleader! I felt like I was there with her experiencing the good and the bad, and learning some valuable life lessons in the meantime. Trust your friends that never leave your side, avoid scummy men, stand up for yourself and never stop trying! I loved this book and I feel a sense of hope after reading this story. Hope for life, lights at the end of tunnels, opportunities, love, friendship, strength and never giving up on your dreams!❤️

Review of ‘Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous’ by Christine Stringer, due for publication on 10 June 2025 by SparkPress.

This was a great light hearted, quirky read following Charity, a film assistant in Hollywood in the 90’s - very much a male dominated time and space. She’s put upon by her boss, Casper. His lofty and really unlikeable production assistant, Saffron, is horrible to her, treating her like her own PA, even though Charity is more qualified than her and writing her own screenplay.

At its heart, it’s a story about friendships, triumph over adversity and fighting for what is right.

Recommended read.

3.75 ⭐️ rounded up

Okay so Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous was kinda like if The Devil Wears Prada and La La Land had a chaotic little baby set in 1997 Hollywood. I went in thinking this would be super glam and fast-paced but it was more like... real-life messy with a sprinkle of studio drama.

Charity is honestly a likable main character. She’s awkward but in a charming way, and you’re really rooting for her even when she’s spiraling (which happens a lot). The whole “Hollywood is fake and stressful” vibe is very real here. Like, she’s broke, overworked, making bad decisions with men AND jobs, and somehow ends up caught in an FBI investigation?? Girl was fighting for her life.

The writing was solid and I loved the 90s throwbacks. The humor was hit or miss—some moments made me laugh, others felt kinda forced. And the pacing dragged a bit in the middle. There were times I was like “okay... let’s wrap this scene up.” That said, I did get emotionally attached and the ending felt worth it.

Also, someone please get Charity a financial advisor and a therapist.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC

Thank you so much to @BookSparks and @christinestringerauthor for choosing me to be on the #CharityTrickettReviewTour ! And to @netgalley for the ebook, which allowed me to devour this book even quicker!

I absolutely loved this book!! 1990’s Hollywood- the glamour, drama, and behind the scenes of trying to make it in the film industry as a woman! This book had so much nostalgia, and really brought to light the challenges that come with being in the movie bizz. The drama had me so engulfed, that I finished this one so quickly. One of my favorite little bonuses- the 90’s themed chapter names.

This one was so much fun, and I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for the e-arc!

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 fun lighthearted book perfect for a summer read. I enjoyed the characters of this book, and Charity’s group of friends were stand out characters. As Charity continued to struggle to find her place in Hollywood, the friends she made along the way were a highlight to the story. I did feel that the plot of the book felt a little slow in the middle. It was a little repetitive to see Charity hit roadblock after roadblock in her career in film. However, the ending wrapped up Charity’s career in Hollywood perfectly. I loved the use of the chapter titles as tributes to song of the 90s. This book is not too deep, so it would be a great book to read on a vacation or by the beach.