Reality Check by Leslie Carroll Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Reality Check
Book Review: A Superb Tale!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a devotee of Ms. Carroll's since I read her first novel, Miss Match. This is a smart, funny story that fully takes advantage of the nation's obsession with Reality Shows! Bravo again!Book Review: Clever and snappy read!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you like to not just laugh, but sit back and admire an author's clever use of language don't miss Reality Check! I am not a huge fan of most "reality" TV, but this book certainly made me laugh all the more because of that dislike. The situations and characters are just plain satisfying and kept me turning the pages long into the night until I turned the last page.
I definitely think I'll be looking for more offerings by Leslie Carroll!
Book Review: Close but still no cigar!
Summary: 2 Stars
I was admittedly trepidatious about reading Ms. Carroll's new book after the mess that was Miss-Match but I'm pleased to report that her sophmore effort is much more accomplished and readable. She has fulfilled the promise of her earlier book with a much more realistic love story and an interesting look at the behind the scenes at a New York advertising agency.That said there are several flaws in this new work that mar it and keep it from being a totally pleasing read. The weakest link is the premise of the story. Considering the dating shows that are already on the air, Blind Date and Elimidate to name a few and To Live and Date in New York on the Metro Channel where you can actually see the bad dates, Bad Date simply does not work. Television is a visual medium, listening to people relate their bad dates week after week is not interesting. At least on Jerry Springer, the bad date would get to present another point of view. Also, the fact that the show is on an obscure cable channel when it cries out to be on UPN or the WB where the impact on the show would be immediate and letting the studio audience vote? How realistic is that when American Idol allows the country to vote week after week. Second the idea that a well-known movie actor who has a career would agree to host a game show is also unbelievable. Talk about career suicide! If this were 1989 would Paula Abdul really be judging American Idol or Naomi Judd Star Search? Even the obstacle of no fraternization between the contestants went out the window at the earliest convenience. How realistic is it that none of the contestants were never recognized in public? Also, an employee smoking a joint in the office would be fired immediately, even in advertising. No firm is that lenient and it would smell all the way down the hall.
Ms. Carroll also needs to tone down the product placements and the musical comedy references as well as the plug for her previous book in the story.
Ms. Carroll has a great deal of talent and it's a shame that it's being wasted on flimsy premises, contrivances, and [bad] jokes.
Book Review: Hopeless Romantic
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was terrific. I borrowed it from the library, attracted by its Sue Dreamer like looks and the summary. I loved the book so much, I just added it to my Amazon wish list. Carroll has a quick tongue in cheek humor that is irrestible. As a happily married hopeless romantic (books and movies), I was not disappointed by this book. I don't know why someone who is not into romantic comedies would pick it up and then write a bad review about it. WYSIWYG, but even better! Along with Kristan Higgins, this is now one of my new favorite authors, assuming that Leslie's other books are as fabulous as this one was, (no doubt.) Pick it up and laugh hyesterically!!Book Review: Irresistably Funny TV Fantasy
Summary: 4 Stars
Leslie Caroll has done a terrific job providing the ideal "what if" scenario in Reality Check, a contemporary urban fantasy for anyone who has ever daydreamed (or had a nightmare) about auditioning for a reality-based t.v. show. In Reality Check, Liz has decided to audition for Bad Date, a t.v. show in which contestants compete for one million dollars with stories of how badly their romantic lives have gone. Though Liz and her roommates audition for a lark (each of them has an altruistic reason to want the big bucks), when all three of them are cast trouble is ahead. A bigger brouhaha may be coming when Liz and fellow contestant Jack begin to find each other irresistibly attractive.
The real nugget of gold amidst all these dreams of winning is Carroll's sense of humor. Though the novel is an insubstantial read, Carroll thoroughly enjoys manipulating the peccadilloes of the English language. She is unable to restrain herself from giving Liz, an ad copywriter, ludicrous products with equally ridiculous names for which to create ad campaigns. Bars and restaurants have playful names as well. Carroll writes with a light and even hand, creating a book that's easy to pick up, laugh-out-loud funny, and quick to read.