Want a NOOK? Explore Now
“Who do I have to sleep with to get a drink on this plane?”
Beloved by countless fans for being devilishly dishy, outrageously funny, and always giving it to us straight, four-time New York Times bestselling author Bethenny Frankel now makes her fiction debut with the story of Faith Brightstone.
Faith’s an aspiring actress who moves to L.A. determined to have it all—a job on the most popular TV show, a beach house in Malibu, and a gorgeous boyfriend. But when reality hits, she finds herself with a role that has more to do with T&A than acting and even worse relationship prospects. Finally, Faith decides she’s had enough of La La Land and moves back to New York with just a suitcase and her dog, Muffin.
Five years later, Faith has found her groove as an entrepreneur and manages to land a spot on a hot new reality TV show hosted by her idol—the domestic goddess Sybil Hunter. Soon, however, Faith’s loud mouth and tell-it-like-it-is style get her in trouble with her fellow contestants—the delusional socialite, the boozy lifestyle coach, and the moody headband designer. Even the ambitious housewife, Faith’s closest friend on the show, eventually stabs her in the back. As the show comes to a dramatic close, Faith discovers that the man of her dreams may have just walked into her life. Will she choose fame or love? Or can she have it all?
Bethenny Frankel is the New York Times bestselling author of A Place of Yes, Naturally Thin, and The Skinnygirl Dish. She is most recently the star of a new talk show, Bethenny, on Fox and the creator of the Skinnygirl brand, which extends to cocktails, beauty, fitness, and health. In 2011, Bethenny won a Glamour Women of the Year Award and was named one of the Top 100 Women in Entertainment by The Hollywood Reporter. She is a graduate of The Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts. Bethenny lives in New York and Los Angeles with husband Jason, daughter Bryn, and dog, Cookie. Visit Bethenny.com.
prologue
Where are the stilt walkers? Has anybody seen the stilt walkers?”
I’m calm, but I can hear the shrillness creeping into my voice as I picture the absolute disaster that will result if Andy doesn’t show up soon with the damn stilts and the people to put on top of them. The stilt walkers are essential—the dramatic cherry on top of the charity carnival. The finale of Domestic Goddess, and the deciding factor in the rest of my life. And isn’t that typical? You raise $80,000 for charity, you erect a forty-foot tent practically single-handedly, you hire and coordinate seventy-five employees, and you produce the whole goddamn spectacle, and then your life hangs in the balance because of a couple of clowns on sticks. Meanwhile, the cameras are rolling and America is watching. My failure would make just as good TV as my success, so nobody cares whether I win or not. Nobody but me. And this is just what Sybil Hunter expects. I have to make this work.
Somebody runs past pushing a popcorn cart that dribbles grease along the floor. The amplifier blares circus music, then cuts out with a crackling pop. A chunky, squinting boy in thick glasses grabs my arm—Jerome, the facility manager’s assistant I roped into helping me. He looks barely twelve years old. “The sno-cone machine is broken, one of the ponies is sick, and somebody left the banner on the floor and it got trampled,” he says, pushing up his glasses nervously.
Easy, Faith. Easy. You’ve done this before. I’d handled events bigger than this, and disasters bigger than this, too. My eyes are fixed on the wide double doors standing open across the warehouse space, where Sybil Hunter stands, backlit, imposing, the evil overlord ready to reign terror and destruction on the final challenge of what has come to be, in my mind, a sell-your-soul-to-the-devil concept: reality television. I imagine her smirk, her lust for my failure. I’m barely noticing the cameras rotating around in front of us, though part of me recognizes that my alarm is being recorded for national consumption. Tears are welling up, but I bite my lip hard, reminding myself what Sybil told me during the middle of the season, when my team lost a challenge and turned on me, the team leader. “A woman who shows weakness in this business won’t last long.”
Suck it up, Faith. This is it. Keep your eye on the prize. With a last glance at Sybil’s Hitchcockian outline, I turn to the pimply kid waiting for instructions. They come out of me like machine-gun fire: “Call the vendor and demand another sno-cone maker within forty-five minutes. Get the sick pony out of here, call a vet, call the rodeo, whatever it takes. Repair the banner—just make it look good. And for God’s sake, get Andy and Jodi Sue over here now! I need my fucking team.”
He nods and runs off. I stare at my clipboard. The list of unchecked items is three times longer than the list of checked items. I persuade a man with a mop to clean up the grease that’s trailing the popcorn machine. My eyes dart over the list, trying to prioritize at warp speed. Suddenly, Jodi Sue, eliminated contestant and disgruntled team member, is in front of me.
“I can’t find Andy,” she says in her squeaky voice, her cleavage even more evident and elevated than usual in a bright yellow wrap dress with a plunged neckline. “I finished the caramel apples, the cotton candy machine looks great with the neon, and the programs were just delivered and they’re perfect.”
“Show me,” I demand. She holds out one and I grab it. The glossy, oversized program has saturated carnival colors, balloons, clowns, and a Ferris wheel on the cover. Good, very good.
“But Andy’s still MIA,” she adds, shrugging.
“Where the hell is he? What could he possibly be doing with five stilt walkers in the middle of Manhattan?”
“I really don’t know,” she says, shrugging again. “He won’t answer his cell phone.”
“This is great. Just great. This is Shari Jacobs’s lucky day,” I mutter. I could just imagine Sybil Hunter fawning over my ex-BFF/archenemy and fellow finalist, as she pulled off her final challenge with typical high-rent perfection. I get a carnival, and she gets a baby shower for Sybil’s pregnant cousin. A fucking baby shower. I can just see the fondant baby bootie cupcakes and sterling silver rattle party favors and pink champagne. They’ll all act like best friends, trying to impress each other with how rich their husbands are.
And here I am, sweating it out, pits soaked, with swamp crotch, trying not to have an anxiety attack, and running on fumes both on this warped excuse for a television show and in my life, with just eighty-seven dollars in my bank account and a team that hates me. Everything depends on an out-of-control carnival about to go horribly wrong. I’m so damn close to winning, and I need that prize more than anything, more than anyone else on the show. I just can’t bear going back to my so-called normal life.
Now I’m sweating blood to make this event happen, and I can’t even get some paid extras on poles to show up—hell, I can’t even get my whole team to show up.
I look around: total chaos. A group of union guys tries to unroll artificial turf into the same spot where another group is trying to set up the Ferris wheel. A speaker on the sound stage wobbles and topples over with a crash, nearly crushing the woman trying to secure it to the stand. I look at Jodi Sue in despair.
“How are we going to do this?” I say. “How is this even possible?”
“Search me,” she says. “It’s your challenge. I was eliminated weeks ago, thanks to you, and I wouldn’t be here helping you if it wasn’t in my contract, because I think you’re a bitch.” She smiles sweetly.
I’m in this alone. It’s a zero-sum game.
“OK, Jodi Sue,” I say. “Why don’t you just go sit on your ass out of the way and get your cleavage ready for the stilt walkers. They’re going to have a great view.” Her mouth drops open as I spin away and set off to track down Andy. Because if I don’t find those clowns in the next fifteen minutes, I might as well not even show up at the finale. As I storm past Sybil—she stands silently, critically in the doorway with her arms crossed—I can’t help myself. “What do you think, Sybil?” I ask. “Are you entertained? Is it everything you hoped to see from me? Because you haven’t seen anything yet.”
Anonymous
Posted May 1, 2012
I thought this book was a juicy, delectable (and guilty!) read. Bethenny's voice is unique.
11 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.cabnthrulife
Posted May 16, 2012
I may, perhaps, be slightly biased because I am, indeed, a big fan of Bethenny. Not because of housewives, but because of her as a person and learning about her growing up and becoming the powerhouse woman that she is. She is someone I look up to because of her passion for success and her "never give up" attitude. I admire her tenacity, motivation, humor, ability to reach & relate to people, and most importantly, her ability to encourage others that they, too, can be successful despite any shortcomings that you may encounter.
Skinnydipping had all of these qualities of Bethenny, and more. I particularly liked the usage of the name "Faith" as the leading heroine. It was incredibly telling and ironic. "Have Faith" was the constant motto and business name that the lead used. The tone was set throughout the book to "have faith" and keep pushing, don't take 'no' for an answer, and realize that if something fails, it's not that you failed indefinitely, it's a learning stepping stone for your next adventure.
I thoroughly enjoyed this incredibly fun sassy read with great prose, character development, and easily read storyline. I couldn't put it down, especially when getting to the end. Skinnydipping greatly mirrors that of Bethenny's past and present life, and it was as if the reader had the ability to look into her life and see what she went through to get her where she is. It's proof that you can come from nothing and make it into SOMETHING. I was encouraged reading about the character Faith and her journey to make something of her herself (something that we can all relate to). Faith is relatable and says everything that we all think but never have the guts to say. A triumphant read, in my opinion!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 9, 2012
I really enjoyed this book! However, I was hoping that it would be something new and fresh and to me, this was very reminiscent of her life and how she got her start.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 16, 2012
I typically hate reading but this book was wity and kept me guesing what was real and what was fiction
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 15, 2012
I absolutely love Bethenny Frankel and this novel is truly intriguing throughout the entire book. It gives you a little insight into what Bethenny's life before fame may have been like, but at the same time staying very true to the plot line and main character. It is a great addition to the rest of her career is is enjoyable for any woman
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.seapea
Posted July 16, 2012
It's light, it's witty, it's fun. Enjoyed every minute of the read on my vacation.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 17, 2012
I was REALLY hoping to enjoy this book. I'm a big fan of Bethenny, and was looking for a good summer read.
I'll start off by saying, it wasn't bad enough that I couldn't finish the book, but it also wasn't good enough that I'll recommend it to others.
The plot is poorly set up, as well as (from my assumption) really close to Bethenny's previous years in LA and on the Martha Stewart's Apprentice show, all the way to the end with an unexpected surprise. The whole time I was reading the book, I was only able to think of Bethenny Frankel and not Faith Brightstone.
I felt the characters were poorly built, and I had a hard time remembering who was who. I really never got to know any of the supporting characters, and only viewed the main character as I view Bethenny.
It was a quick, fun read. If there was a sequel, I might read it if there wasn't anything else on my Nook to read... but that's about it. I wish I rented this book from Library, instead of purchasing it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 1, 2012
It was a fantastic read! It was great to see the parallel between Bethenny's life and Faith's life. I absolutely got wrapped up in the characters and before I knew it, it was over. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who like Bethenny's antics. I cannot wait for the next one!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 7, 2012
Why is this fiction? t is like a boring book about her life... The only good thing about Bethany is Jason and she is going to mess that up too...
1 out of 30 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 10, 2012
I read this book for my book club and really enjoyed it. Fun and refreshing!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 5, 2012
This book is a refreshing change. I love the honesty of the main character in this book. I am such a big fan of Bethenny and I love that this fictional book is parallel to Bethenny's life ! I have recommended this to everyone I know. It is a must read!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Reviewed by Lynn F. for Readers Favorite "Skinnydipping" by
Bethenny Frankel is a novel that I would classify as being in the
chick-lit genre. It is a story about an aspiring actress that soon finds
out that not all things you want in life turn out the way one would like
them to. When Faith, fresh out of college, enters into the real world in
LA she soon realizes that one does not become a success overnight. With
a suitcase and a dog in hand she heads back to New York and eventually
lands herself a job on a reality show. As Faith journeys through life,
meeting different people and living a somewhat presumptuous lifestyle,
will Faith settle down with the man of her dreams or pass up love for
fame? I will have to admit that I am not a reality show person and have
never really watched Bethenny Frankel on television. When I first read
the synopsis on the book it sounded quite interesting but it was not
quite what I expected. I did enjoy following along with Faith and watch
her grow up and mature in life and realize that not everything is handed
to you on a silver platter. What turned me off about the book was the
coarse language, and the sexual adventures. It was what I would call a
little rough around the edges. I feel the book could have been written
without all of that or had some of it edited out and it would still have
been an enjoyable read. As I read the book I wondered if the book was
written in a way to reflect her own life. If you are one that likes
reality TV shows and the chick lit genre, then I am sure you will find
the book interesting. I would recommend this book for adult readers.
Anonymous
Posted June 14, 2012
Good read!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 9, 2012
For those of you who love Bethanny, you will enjoy this new book. While it isn't Shakespeare, it's a fun summer read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 1, 2012
Since I am slightly obsessed with Bethenny Frankel, I can't
seem to get enough of her. I watch her TV program and
have read all the books she has written. I greatly admire
this woman, as she is not just some ditzy broad that happened
on a lot of money. She has worked extremely hard and is a
very savvy business woman. I enjoyed this book. It is a perfect
read for a summer day. Is it a literary masterpiece? Probably
not. But hey..........does everything have to be. I liked it.
Anonymous
Posted May 21, 2012
I think I'd have enjoyed the bbok more, if I didn't already know do much about Bethenny. There are so many similarities to her real life, that I wasn't surprised. Overall though, I love her sense of humor so, I am enjoying it. Nice job Bethenny!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 14, 2012
Does this book have anything about skinny dipping or sex at all? Cuz i dont want to get a porn book
0 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 1, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted June 15, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted November 21, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
“Who do I have to sleep with to get a drink on this plane?”
Beloved by countless fans for being devilishly dishy, outrageously funny, and always giving it to us straight, four-time New York Times bestselling author Bethenny Frankel now makes her fiction debut with the story of Faith Brightstone.
Faith’s an aspiring actress who moves to L.A. determined to have it all—a job on the most popular TV show, a beach house in Malibu, and a gorgeous ...