Book Review - Killing Monica by Candace Bushnell

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Title: Killing Monica

Author: Candace Bushnell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Little Brown Book Group

Publication Date: 23rd June 2015

Rating: 4.5 Stars

In Killing Monica Bushnell spoofs and skewers her way through pop culture, celebrity worship, fame and even the meaning of life itself, when a famous writer must resort to faking her own death in order to get her life back from her most infamous creation - Monica. With her trademark humour and style, Killing Monica is Bushnell's sharpest, funniest book to date.

This is Bushnell at her best - full of mordant wit, casual sex and highly conspicuous consumption.

This is the first book by Candace Bushnell I have read for years, and I'm not completely sure what to make of it. I know I enjoyed it, and there is a final reveal during the last few pages that left me reeling, while also curious as to whether or not there could possibly be a follow up. 

The story could at times be confusing, but it was very entertaining. It is a story about identity, and about creating a character and the creation practically taking on a life of its own. 

At the most basic level of story, we have Pandy (P.J. Wallis), author of the Monica series, Monica was written as a more idealistic way of how Pandy would like her life to be, and so in essence she is "Monica". There is also Sondrabeth Schnowzer, who is the actress that Pandy requested play Monica in the films of the same name. 

A friendship soon occurred between Pandy and Sondrabeth, but it soon became apparent that Sondra thought she was Monica all the time, and not just in the films. 

Two girls, who both think they are living Monica's life, and neither of whom, in reality have control over Monica. 

There is everything in this book, a bit of a mystery, revenge, laughs, digs on the entertainment industry, friendship, untrustworthy men and a whole lot more. 

The book starts when Pandy's new book (a non Monica book) has been rejected by her publishers, and it then moves to the part of the book where we learn how things lead up to this point. I found the first few chapters a bit hectic, until I started reading the back story and realising just how much I was enjoying Killing Monica as a whole. And then once they move back into the present, there are some completely mad things that happen (which I could believe as this is a spoof of the entertainment industry, and that can be "unrealistic"), and the pace ups to a satisfying conclusion.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Killing Monica, and was continually curious as to whether they would manage to kill Monica or not. I think the book can also serve as a cautionary tale for future authors/actors to not let a character become too big a part of your life, or it could become a lot bigger than you.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for my e-ARC of this book. This was my honest review. 

Killing Monica is published today, so head out and get yourself a copy!