Leading Man (Vintage Contemporaries Original)
Although only in his twenties, Maxwell Lerner is pretty sure he already has the perfect life. A writer for a well-known magazine, he lives in a New York City apartment with his beloved high-school sweetheart, Samantha. But when Sam leaves him for his childhood idol, film star Johnny Mars, that perfect life is suddenly gone. In his new life, Max becomes a popular celebrity interviewer, traveling to all corners of the earth, meeting with the rich and famous. Although his new life appears more exciting, Max suffers from increasing disillusionment. Bouncing from one girl to another, he seeks to understand the secret behind fame itself while desperately holding onto the hope that he will one day win Samantha back. When tragedy strikes her world, though, Max is again forced to reevaluate life as he knows it. Drawing on his own years with Entertainment Weekly, Svetskey melds a poignant love story with a witty satire of Hollywood life. By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, this playful and moving read will especially appeal to pop-culture fans. --Cortney Ophoff