Review by Lizzie

In a Nutshell: In the stilletto-steps of the Olsens, Hiltons and Millers, the Hellar sisters – Daria, Polly and Amelia – are launched into the spotlight by a photo in the New Yorker that wows America with their fiery red hair. But the world of champagne and Times Square billboards comes with sleazy stalkers, paparazzi mobs and wretched hangovers. Will fame tear the family apart?

Indicative Quote: “You just say, ‘I’ll have a mango margarita,’ and they bring it to you. I had one but I drank it too fast and I got one of those headaches in your nose. Can you believe that? Like is it not even noticeable to anybody that I’m like fourteen years old?”

Three Words to Describe it: Tabloid as novel

Reason I Liked It: The fast paced rise of the Hellar girls from nobodies to it-girls made for easy breezy reading. I felt delightfully indulgent reading it, especially with the Dynasty era like portrait on the front cover. A dead ringer for Heather Locklear, no?

Reason I Didn’t Like It: You know when you go to a play and in lieu of good dialogue and complex characters, the playwright piles on an absurd array of conflicts and everything descends into a cringe worthy screaming fest? Well, Theresa Rebeck comes from a drama background, and this book felt exaclty like that. All the “fuck yous” and storming out of the rooms got plain boring

You’ll Like This If You Like: Paris Hilton’s Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose
Book Club Ideas: Head to Lobby, Ultra Supper Club or Brant House and schmooze. First, pretend to be Daria. Act aloof while you hover at the bar with a cosmo. Then pull a Polly, and let some sleazy wannabe film producer fondle you. Switch gears to be Amelia and viciously bite the guy on the arm. Then head home and end the night as the brother Philip by watching reruns of Star Trek on the T.V.

Verdict: At first I found the book fun, if a bit vacuous. I’d be out dining with my boyfriend and confess that I really just wanted to get home to continue reading Three Girls and Their Brother (of course when I said the title I had to flip my hair, strike a pose and speak in hushed, husky tones). But eventually the incessant upspeak, self-righteous rants and melodrama got to me. It’s a book about actors and supermodels; how could it not get annoying?

Good Present For: That girlfriend of yours who is considering applying to a reality t.v. show. Beware the trappings of fifteen minutes.