Revenge Wears Prada

The Devil Returns

By: Lauren Weisberger

Narrated by: Megan Hilty

Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

The sequel you’ve been waiting for: the follow-up to the sensational number-one best seller The Devil Wears Prada.

Eight years have passed since Andrea "Andy" Sachs quit the job "a million girls would die for" working for Miranda Priestly at Runway magazine - a dream that turned out to be a nightmare. Now Andy’s on the top of the world: She’s writing and reporting to her heart’s content; running The Plunge, her wildly successful high-fashion bridal magazine with Miranda’s other ex-assistant, Emily; and most importantly, getting married to the scion of a storied media family and the love of her life.

But the night before her wedding, Andy can’t sleep. As happy as she is - as happy as she should be - she’s still haunted by the specter of her former boss. Maybe it’s survivor syndrome? Or maybe it’s justifiable, self-inflicted, paranoia. From the start, Andy and Emily have felt entitled to use their rolodex of contacts - Miranda’s contacts - from Runway as they make their way in the magazine world. As The Plunge succeeds, Andy and Emily realize they’ll soon come face to face with their former tormenter at industry functions, award ceremonies, and even weddings. Still, Andy can hardly anticipate the horrifying reality that’s approaching - a reversal so profound that she will be squarely in Miranda’s crosshairs once more.

Karma’s a bitch. And Andy’s efforts to build a bright new life have led her directly to the one she fled - and into the path of the Devil herself.

©2013 Lauren Weisberger (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Surprisingly Bad

What disappointed you about Revenge Wears Prada?

The heroine was completely unlikeable. She was self-centered, harsh and unforgiving. Also, the plot really went nowhere. The disjointed book meandered about and totally lacked focus. I liked The Devil Wears Prada and was looking forward to the sequel, but I wish I had not read this as I just hated Nady Sachs. By the end I was pulling for Miranda Priestly.

Has Revenge Wears Prada turned you off from other books in this genre?

NO, but has turned me of of this author

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator seemed to have no connection with the story she was telling. She used this faux chipper tone to describe serious scenes, and was just far too "precious."

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment. frustration. anger at the main character.

WORST. BOOK. EVER! LISTEN TO THE REVIEWS!

The reviews had warned me not to waste my credit on this book and I did anyway because I wanted to see if it was really that bad.

It is.

Andy is not the same character in this book that she was in The Devil Wears Prada. She’s whiny, annoying, a bit spineless, and a hypocrite! How are you gonna lament over a letter from your fiancé’s mother, and the fact that you found out he ran into his ex while on his bachelor party weekend. Proceed to marry the man, but continue to ice him out and punish him for this thing that was just SO HORRIBLE! THEN! Turn around later in and not only encourage someone in your friend group to continue an affair because “it different when you’re not married” THEN THEN! ANDY, running into your ex boyfriend and having brunch with him and withholding the information from your now husband doing the EXACT SAME THING you were mad at home for in the beginning of the book!! Hypocrite!

The “plot twist” and the ending were horrible as well. Total cop out and a major waste of paper.

I hated how the book was written this time around. The narrator was meh. She didn’t do Miranda Priesly’s voice well at all.

Don’t bother reading this book. Please. Spare yourself.

HORRIBLE BAIT AND SWITCH.....WASTE OF MY TIME

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I NEVER WASTE MY TIME REVIEWING BOOKS BUT I AM SO INSULTED BY THE HORRIBLE MEDIOCRITY OF THIS BOOK THAT I FEEL THE NEED TO WARN ANY READER WHO MAY CONSIDER THIS A WORTHWHILE READ.....BASED ON THE FIRST BOOK (Which was also not very good, but at least it had a little drama based onreal life ) This book feels like the writer has done nothing since writing the first book other than attending baby classes and complaining about the world....This could have been at least a 2 star experience if it in any way followed up on the original story, The Devil Wears Prada,or if it had any drama or REVENGE for that matter. THERE IS ONE DINNER WITH THE ANTAGONIST OF THE FIRST BOOK AND THE REST OF THE BOOK IS ABOUT A PATHETIC, WHINY, INCAPABLE GIRL WORRYING ABOUT HER PERFECT HUSBAND NOT LOVING HER ENOUGH, MOMMY AND ME GROUPS, ETC.....TOTAL BORE.....SHOULD BE CALLED "WHINERS CAN'T WRITE". THE ONLY DEMOGRAPHIC WHO COULD APPRECIATE THIS BOOK IS THE TWEEN DEMOGRAPHIC......

Has Revenge Wears Prada turned you off from other books in this genre?

Yes, I rarely read (or listen) to silly books like this but many friends mentioned it prior to its publication, so I read it.

What about Megan Hilty’s performance did you like?

She was quite good. She managed to go from whiny Andrea to the nanny from Australia (or New Zealand or South Africa) without a hitch.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Revenge Wears Prada?

This book is really bad.....If I were editor, I would have been looking back at the Devil Wears Prada and forward to a possible movie deal. I would have had SOME, ANY drama and REVENGE and SOME, ANY Miranda Priestly tidbits....This writer is obviously a ONE HIT WONDER. She has no talent. Given the platform she received from the first book, she completely failed at bringing a decent story.....IF THE MAIN CHARACTER WAS AN ACQUAINTANCE OF MINE, I WOULD HAVE TO SLAP HER. The first half of the book is all about her ridiculously perfect Prince Charming fiance/husband who she (a loser) actually considers not marrying because his mother doesn't approve of her......IF THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A MODEL OF A HIGH POWERED MAGAZINE EDITOR, IT IS PATHETIC....THIS GIRL WOULD NOT LAST A DAY IN A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE DOESN'T FAWN ON HER....

Any additional comments?

AGAIN, HORRIBLE.....I READ 40-50 BOOKS PER YEAR AND THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST ONE I HAVE READ IN YEARS.....

What a waste

The original wasn't great literature, but it was fun and lively. If you're expecting more of the same, stop before you buy. This was phoned in. A ridiculous story, poorly written, vapid characters. Save your money.

Hot steaming garbage

Truly, run, don’t walk. This is utter nonsense that tricks you into actually caring for these horrifically narcissistic characters, then blows up in your face. Zero stars.

Underwhelmed

Disappointed. Things don’t come together in this book in a way that work. There are long gaps between moments in the story without adequate development. The character’s actions don’t always match up with the development. I lose a bit of respect for Andi through out the story as she sits back and lets everything that happens to her just happen. Book 1 better.

Very Disappointed!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I loved The Devil Wears Prada and was very excited when I saw the sequel. I should have listened to the reviews! This book was very disappointing. The characters were shallow and annoying. The witty, smart Andy from the first book has grown up into a whiny woman with no self esteem. In the entire book, she can't make a single decision or deal with any situations that life brings her way.

The story line was another huge disappointment. Two-thirds of this book deals with pregnancy, gory birthing details and describing babies. Not at all what you'd expect from Devil Wears Prada type of book. The last third deals with shallow characters who can't deal with life. Miranda is hardly present in the story.

Would you ever listen to anything by Lauren Weisberger again?

I would, but after carefully reading the reviews.

What didn’t you like about Megan Hilty’s performance?

She was just okay. Should have kept the original Andy narrator.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No. Not even close to what I was expecting and was excited about.

Any additional comments?

If you are looking for a fun summer listen, look elsewhere.

Boring!

What disappointed you about Revenge Wears Prada?

Story line moved too slowly. I kept waiting for something to happen. It wasn't a bad story line; it just could have been told in a short story.

Would you ever listen to anything by Lauren Weisberger again?

Not sure.

Which character – as performed by Megan Hilty – was your favorite?

No one particular character but Megan Hilty did a great job. Created great visuals.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Revenge Wears Prada?

So much discussion and thoughts throughout about husband's possible infidelity before marriage. It became an unhealthy obsession but turned out she couldn't trust him. Should have gone with her gut to start with and not gotten married to him.

Did Lauren really write this?

What would have made Revenge Wears Prada better?

There was absolutely NOTHING special about this book. Typical wealthy New Yorker fairy tale gone bad and then turns out wealthy and happy? Are you serious? And the ending couldn't have been not only more rushed but stupid.

What was most disappointing about Lauren Weisberger’s story?

This book was not only a waste of time, but corny.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Megan Hilty?

Megan was fine, the book was just horrible.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Revenge Wears Prada?

everything

Faux Pas

Would you try another book from Lauren Weisberger and/or Megan Hilty?

Of course. I've enjoyed most other books by Lauren Weisberger, and Megan Hilty did a fine job with the material she was given. This story line was just....defeating.

Has Revenge Wears Prada turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not at all.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Her performance was fine, but bordered on deflated, as if she were bored with the material. She made Andy, the lead character, seem like a hipster...unimpressed with everything and everyone...of course, this was most likely because the author's doing.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Revenge Wears Prada?

The note from her (future) mother-in-law. It should have been something more dramatic. I don't think any bride would have freaked out to the extent that Andy did over a lame note like that...I guess we were supposed to assume that pregnancy hormones were in play? Also...Alex. Ugh, I thought we were done with him. The first book did such a good job of tying up that relationship.

Any additional comments?

This story line just fell completely flat. The fashion aspect that I LOVED in the original is almost completely gone. There is not enough Miranda to make her threats seem viable. Andy is just...annoying. She had the courage to tell Miranda Priestly to go F*&% herself in the middle of Paris Fashion Week, but couldn't find the nerve to ask her fiancé/husband about a note she found from his mother? Come On. The character completely lost her backbone. The most exciting thing she did was charter an airplane for a sick Emily. And don't even get me started on Alex. Whiney, needy, holier-than-thou Alex. UGH.I guess I just find everything a little too unreal...nightmares, therapy, anxiety, 10 years after leaving a job? Andy seems so much weaker than I thought. Disappointed. Totally disappointed.