Review: 4.25 Honey-hive filled stars!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 30, 2013
Special thanks to the author and Netgalley for this ARC.The name of this series is "The Manhattanites"? GIVE IT TO ME.Although I haven't (yet) read the first book in this series, Undressed, these can be read as stand-alone novels so I didn't ruin anything for myself by skipping to book two. I thought Taddy Brill sounded like a feisty little minx so I figured I'd start with her. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a vamp.Unscrupulous is a fabulous summertime fun-in-the-sun read. It's a tongue-in-cheek fantasy picture of Manhattan's twentysomething elite that doesn't take itself too seriously. It goes from silly and shocking to heartfelt in a hot second. You should be chuckling while you read this otherwise you're missing the point. Let's call it Sex and the City on redbull, ecstasy and Viagra.The first half of this book focuses on the friendships between long-time bff's Taddy Brill, Lex Easton, Blake Morgan and Vive Farnworth. I knew I loved them when chapter two opened and they are all gathered in the workplace with binoculars for their daily peeping tom adventures on the hotel residents next door. Ahh, to have an office with a view. Dang 1 percenters.I loved those four. Especially Vive. I mean, we just have so much in common. Like food preference...A few minutes ago, Vive came downstairs for her breakfast - vodka.And similar fitness goals...Not condoning exercise, Vive sipped on her happy hour, aka a gin and tonic. Between gulps, she coated her nails in Baden Cosmetic' popular toe lacquer, Gold Jizz.But, alas. This book is about Taddy. Beautiful and broken but confident and charming Taddy Brill. The poor girl had to deal abandonment by dysfunctional parents in high school. When I say dysfunctional, I mean batshiz cray, put `em in a padded cell psychotic nutcases. Case in point:Tabitha recalled the incident where Irma had lost her little finger after a botched effort to cut her husband's p*nis off.Yes. Irma would be her mother dearest. Thank God she escaped THAT crazy, right? She built herself up to be a wealthy, successful, independent woman with fantastically filthy friends. What more could a girl ask for? Ah. Yes. The elusive soul mate...On a vacation getaway, Taddy meets... ~dreamy sighhh~ BIG shot hot stuff, Warner Truman.Things aren't easy at first for the two dirty new yorkers, and Taddy's abandonment issues definitely come in to play..."Please don't fall in love with me. I screw everything up. I always have. I always will."But Taddy Brill has a heart of gold. Not many people would blackmail a Fortune 500 CEO to gift a trip to Cannes just to help her assistant lose her virginity. So this betch has GOT to find everlasting love, right?Wellllll, I won't tell you yay or nay on that one. But I WILL give you some I-enjoyed-the-hell-outta-these-random quotes and likes, instead:"I'm a perfectionist." I'm also an obsessive masturbator, a workaholic and I started smoking again.Side note: She's not kidding about obsessive masturbation. Just wait until you hit the foot spa scene.The fashion division trash-talked Kelly, saying she hailed from another planet, Los Angeles perhaps. <-- I suppose I should be offended, but nope! Love!One thing that was interesting is that there's a description of the characters and businesses you'll come across in the index. You never see that. Kinda cool, but because they are all described in detail in the book, not really necessary. A handy little reference if you need it though.**Dr. Hugo Fassenbender - A play on one of my favorite actors, Michael Fassbender. If you weren't watching awards season a couple of years ago when he was nominated for `Shame' (go see that, btw), then you probably didn't know he has a looooooong schlong. NOW you want to see `Shame' don't you? Dirty, dirty.**Warner Truman is "Big Daddy" - Ok, normally I'd roll my eyes and choke back a laugh that ANYONE on this planet would ever use that term for a hot guy. Right? But because this book is such a heightened version of reality, it works. It's also a winky reference to...Mr. Big. ~insert cheesy mile wide grin~**Manuel Coq de la Grande, the porn star extraordinaire. I mean, come on. Just the NAME is all kinds of fabulous. It's also based off a certain porn star (you'll have to tweet Avery for THAT detail).**Candyland is mentioned throughout this novel (you'll understand why eventually), so needless today, there goes another obsession. Somehow I'm determined to make a drinking game out of the board game. I'm also craving cotton candy something fierce. Preferably, licked off someone. But I digress.**Girl rules: "You are permitted on occasion to whimper, whine and snivel. But under no circumstance shall you blubber, sob or bawl." Bodily functions were for the weak. Girl, dig your acrylics into your palms, bite the inside of your cheek, take a deep breath and suck it up.Mmm Warner... "You deserve to be loved. Please let me show you." He drew her face to his and kissed her. "I'll show you if you let me."**Ok I LOVE GIRLS NIGHT F-IT BUCKETS!! Genius. Apparently, f-it buckets are filled with Dylan's Candy, like Sour Watermelon Gummies and Swedish fish. If you've never been to Dylan's Candy Bar, you are SO MISSING OUT. Now I'm craving chocolate covered espresso beans. Thanks a lot. Ok seriously, between the Candyland references, the f-it buckets, and Warner's meat stick, this book makes you hungry. Come prepared.As always, a couple of hmmm's...-Waris Sugar the famous rapper, and his songs are mentioned constantly. To the point where you finally google this guy and realize HE'S NOT FLIPPIN' REAL. To which you probably get ticked off and tweet nasty messages to the author. So just know going into it that "Honey Hive Filled Love" cannot be downloaded on itunes.Also, there is a LOT of backstory going on. Much of the book is explaining who these characters are, where they come from, their relationships, etc. That's usually only seen in the first book of a series, but because these books can be read as stand-alone's, I suppose it is pretty necessary - I would've been so lost without it.Unscrupulous almost can't decide what kind of book it wants to be - a heartfelt story of love, relationships and acceptance or a dirty socialite's wild exploits in the city. But then again...why can't it be both? Women are complicated and complex; the lost little girl fighting the confident independent woman, the sexually uninhibited battling the untrusting yet submissive female. I don't think it quite flows together as flawlessly as it aims to, but you can't say you're not thoroughly entertained. This one is best enjoyed if you do as the characters do - not take themselves too seriously.This book is just FUN. You like to have FUN, don't you? Grab your f-it bucket and get ready for an over-the-top trip to Candyland. But don't even THINK about calling dibbs on Queen Frostine. I look fabulous in blue.4.25 Honey Hive Filled Lovin' Stars!