AUGUST 2017 - AudioFile
Listeners will enjoy the serendipitous timing that allows a young PR professional named Rose to land a new client: Archie Fox, a famous singer-songwriter. To gain publicity, Rose suggests a faux romance between Archie and an up-and-coming indie star. But in staging the romance, Rose begins to question her real feelings for Archie, feelings that threaten her career. Narrator Holly Chandler does a superb job contrasting Rose’s smooth inner monologues with her awkward interactions as she experiences the triumphs and struggles of having her first client. A similar juxtaposition defines the two sides of Rose’s best friend, Harper, a confident artist one minute and a squealing fan girl the next. The humor of the story shines as Chandler seamlessly transitions between the characters, especially the posh singer and Rose. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
Public Relations incisively captures the both hectic and structured world of celebrity PR. As devoted tabloid readers, self-imposed media critics and rom-com addicts, we eagerly devoured the scandalous relationship between bright-eyed Rose Reed and her charge, the not-so-unfamiliar Archie Fox (OK: rhymes with "Barry Miles"). If you keep tabs on celebs via Instagram and regularly refresh Oh No They Didn't!, you'll love Heaney and Rebolini's spin on an age-old tale of girl-meets-pop-star.
—Lindsey Weber and Bobby Finger, co-hosts of the Who? Weekly podcast
Public Relations is a fun, relatable fantasy for anyone whose ever crushed on their favorite rock star. The authors treat music fandom with respect and give everyone just enough of what they want in the end.—Adam J. Kurtz, author of 1 Page and Pick Me Up
Written with wit and charm, the novel is a fun and quick read... Heaney and Rebolini have crafted "Cinderella" for the modern age.—Kirkus
Romantic, heartwarming, and hilarious. The perfect summer read for anyone who's ever fantasized about falling in love with a pop star. Katie Heaney and Arianna Rebolini
make me wish real life celebrities were as fun to read about as Archie Fox.
—Dana Schwartz, creator of @GuyInYourMFA and author of And We're Off
Rife with of-the-moment pop culture references, laugh-out-loud moments and hat-tips to internet culture, this book captures contemporary life in New York in one's mid-20s in vivid, honest detail.—RT Book Reviews
A fun, fast-paced, feminist page-turner, Public Relations is an addictive read that goes perfectly with a glass of white.—Buzzfeed
The coauthors create a cast of characters and story with which readers will fall in love...an outstanding read.—Library Journal
AUGUST 2017 - AudioFile
Listeners will enjoy the serendipitous timing that allows a young PR professional named Rose to land a new client: Archie Fox, a famous singer-songwriter. To gain publicity, Rose suggests a faux romance between Archie and an up-and-coming indie star. But in staging the romance, Rose begins to question her real feelings for Archie, feelings that threaten her career. Narrator Holly Chandler does a superb job contrasting Rose’s smooth inner monologues with her awkward interactions as she experiences the triumphs and struggles of having her first client. A similar juxtaposition defines the two sides of Rose’s best friend, Harper, a confident artist one minute and a squealing fan girl the next. The humor of the story shines as Chandler seamlessly transitions between the characters, especially the posh singer and Rose. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2017-03-21
An up-and-coming public relations associate gets in over her head when she tries to manage a celebrity faux romance.Twenty-six-year-old Rose Reed is great at her job but longing to move ahead at her PR agency. When her boss gets pulled away due to a difficult client, Rose is forced to sit in on a major meeting with pop megastar and British heartthrob Archie Fox. Though she was instructed to stay silent, Rose can't deal with the horrible rebranding ideas coming from her colleagues. With the intent to increase buzz before his new album, they eventually come up with the idea to orchestrate a new romance, and it is Rose who suggests Raya, a young indie songstress who is effortlessly cool and a rising star. Though not the obvious choice for a celebrity hookup, Raya possesses the edge Archie needs to open his career to a new demographic. Though out of her league, Rose is put in charge of carefully arranging appearances, scheduling paparazzi opportunities, and controlling the message of "Raychie," as they are quickly dubbed by fans. Of course, things become complicated when Rose starts spending more time with Archie and finds herself developing feelings for him. Could an A-list celebrity ever be interested in a "regular"? Though Rose attempts to ignore her feelings, even going on some awkward Tinder dates along the way, she can't manage to get Archie out of her mind. Written with wit and charm, the novel is a fun and quick read. Though its plot follows a fairly predictable course, the characters keep it fresh—from Harper, Rose's best friend and cubicle mate, to Neil, the hapless Tinder date. Heaney (Dear Emma, 2016, etc.) and Rebolini have crafted a "Cinderella" for the modern age.
