Synopses & Reviews
The "him" in MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD is Ricky Biscayne, sexy Latin singing sensation who has taken the pop world by storm. The women who orbit him include:
--Milan, Ricky's new publicist, smart as a whip and chubby as only a girl who still lives at home with her parents can be
--Geneva, Milan's sister and as lean and chic as Milan is not; her Club G promises to be Miami's hottest opening ever
--Jasminka, Ricky's gorgeous Serbian model wife, who finally might eat a little something now that she's pregnant
--Irene, a firefighter whose high school romance with Ricky was the last love in her life, eking out an existence for herself and her daughter.
--Sophia, who is beginning to suspect that she and Ricky Biscayne look a little too much alike
--Jill Sanchez, an omniverous media-manic Latina star who has crossed over from CDs to perfume, clothes and movies
Set in and around Miami, with its vibrant music, club and modeling scenes, MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD is irresistible fiction.
Review
"A good time between hardcovers."
--New York Daily News
"Skillfully and lovingly illustrates the diversity of Latino culture."
--Library Journal
"Readers will snap this book off the shelves and not be disappointed."
--Booklist
"Our refreshingly imperfect and insecure heroine, Milan, shines."
--Publishers Weekly
"Entertaining ...crowd-pleaser."
--Kirkus Reviews
"The real fun comes from eating up all the oh-no-she-didn't parallels between the characters' exploits and real-life celeb misbehavior."
--Entertainment Weekly
"Chica lit reina Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez is back this month with her third book...about six mujeres and their adventures with one horny cantante named Ricky Biscayne."
--Latina
"Start reading it, and it's hard to stop."
--The Ohio Record Courier
"An unabashed glitzfest."
--Arizona Republic
"Scandalous... [with] blatant sex appeal."
--The Sunday Oklahoman
"Top-notch look at human nature at its best--and worst."
--Romantic Times
"Valdes-Rodriguez really shines when she rips on the lifestyle of the rich and self-indulgent."
--Sunday Journal (Albuquerque, NM)
"The romp through Ricky's world of women is pure escapist fun."
--Calgary Herald
Synopsis
Ricky, a rising Latin music star, pursues his career from a vantage of Miami's hotspots and is orbited by six women, including his plus-sized publicist, a club owner, his pregnant wife, his firefighter high-school girlfriend, a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Ricky, and a media-hungry fellow singer. By the author of The Dirty Girls Social Club. Reader's Guide included. Reprint. 150,000 first printing.
Synopsis
The him in Make Him Look Good is Ricky Biscayne, sexy Latin singing sensation who has taken the pop world by storm. But it takes more than swiveling hips and dreamy eyes to get to the top of the charts. The women who orbit Ricky are:
-- Milan, Ricky's new publicist, and her sister Geneva whose Club G promises to have Miami's hottest opening ever
-- Jill Sanchez, a media-manic Latina star who has crossed over from CDs to perfume, clothes and movies
-- Jasminka, Ricky's gorgeous Croatian model wife
-- Irene, a firefighter whose high school romance with Ricky was the last love in her life, eking out an existence for herself and her daughter Sophia, who is beginning to suspect that she and Ricky Biscayne look a little too much alike
With several satisfying romances set against Miami's music, club and modeling scenes, Make Him Look Goodis irresistible fiction from one of America's most original voices.
About the Author
ALISA VALDES-RODRIGUEZ is an award-winning print and broadcast journalist and a former staff writer for both the Los Angeles Times and the Boston Globe. She is the bestselling author of The Dirty Girls Social Club and Playing with Boys.
Reading Group Guide
1. Milan was waiting for her life to happen to her. Do you think she would have changed if she hadnt met Ricky?
2. What do you make of the contrast between many of the characters public images and their real selves?
3. Geneva doesnt believe in luck or failure. Which characters would identify with her? Do you?
4. Jasminka hates that Ricky uses people to do his dirty work for him. Why do you think people let Ricky use them?
5. How much of a role does image-conscious, style-obsessed Miami play in the story? If you have read Alisa Valdes-Rodriguezs previous books, how does this setting differ?
6. Genevas family regards itself as “white” and judges her for dating a “black” boyfriend.
Are you surprised that his family judges
Geneva too?
7. Milan says shes more in love with Rickys music than with his body. Do you think thats true? Why or why not?
8. What motivates Genevas efforts to help Milan: guilt, love, or something else? Does Geneva see more potential in Milan than Milan sees in
herself?
9. How does the Gotays dysfunctional marriage affect Genevas and Milans romantic relationships?
10. Do you know any families with sisters as different from one another as Milan and Geneva? Does the dynamic between them ring true
to you?
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