Last Night at Chateau Marmont

At first glance, the latest offering from the bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada offers a frothy yet fun read. The plot — an ordinary American wife struggles to adapt to her musician husband's sudden and dramatic rise to fame — seems dramatic but unrealistic enough to render the novel a simple piece of chick-lit, the sort of book you’d buy at an airport and read lazily over cocktails on a sunny beach.

But there’s something about the vividness of Weisberger’s characters, the detail of her settings and contemporary references which remind the reader of the ubiquitousness of today’s fascination with celebrity culture and the fame game that makes this a thought-provoking and at times scathingly realistic depiction of modern life and relationships.

Our protagonist is Brooke, a nutritionist who worked to support her musician husband Julian. Julian makes it big almost overnight and the combination of a savage paparazzi, hordes of ruthless female fans and constant speculation on the state of their relationship threatens to ruin their once strong marriage. So far, so predictable. What makes his novel different is the way Weisberger manages to make Brooke’s situation, however ludicrous it sounds, feel accessible. Anyone who has ever endured the frustration of being part of a seemingly one-sided relationship can identify with her predicament. Throw in a lack of communication, trust, and everyday career and money worries and the novel suddenly becomes realistic.

Weisberger gives us escapism and pick-me-ups-in the form of glitzy parties, impossibly loyal friends of the Bridget Jones variety, gossip galore, stories about real-life celebrities and bitchy assistants, and a leading man who is both hate-able yet ultimately loveable.

The novel deconstructs the music industry just as The Devil Wears Prada did the fashion industry. Despite some cliché moments and the predictable ending, this is a fun, original, and ultimately surprising novel.