Little Pink Slips

A Novel

By: Sally Koslow

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

After the towering stilettos of The Devil Wears Prada comes a biting, mordantly funny debut novel about the extremely unladylike business of publishing a very ladylike magazine.

Once there was a little girl from Fargo, North Dakota, named Maggie Goldfarb who grew up, moved to Manhattan, and morphed into Magnolia Gold, the highly paid editor in chief of Lady magazine. With a corner office, a designer wardrobe, and dozens of loyal employees, Magnolia has been hired to update the dowager of women's magazines.

She's on her way to giving Lady a face-lift when she is ignominiously replaced by Bebe Blake, a brash television personality who remakes the magazine in her own hilariously inappropriate image. With her ketchup-red hair, skintight clothes, and penchant for "boy toys", Bebe is more out of control than a speeding limo. Maddeningly unpredictable, she confounds everyone at the newly christened Bebe with her personal vision of what a women's magazine should be, and baffles them further with her bawdy sense of humor and over-the-top generosity.

Shunted off to the darkest corners of executive purgatory - an overlooked back office she shares with a cockroach or two - Magnolia seethes from the sidelines as Bebe turns her beloved, once-profitable Lady into a sideshow. As things go from bad to worse, Magnolia fears that her career will never recover, but even she can't predict how deeply satisfying her eventual triumph will be. And not just at work: amidst the frenzy of backstabbing at the office, Magnolia finds Mr. Right in a city of Mr. Not-Quites.

Inspired by real-life events, Little Pink Slips is about the fall, rise, and sweet revenge of a woman who witnesses corporate shenanigans at their most flagrant. Filled with gossipy revelations about celebrity obsession and behind-the-scenes details of the media business in all its malfeasant glory, this novel is delicious, can't-stop-reading fun.

©2007 Sally Koslow (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.

Critic reviews

"Koslow's take on behind-the-scenes maneuvering will keep readers turning the pages of her debut." (Publishers Weekly)
"Koslow presents another dishy and delightful insider's view of the elite in magazine publishing." (Booklist)

This is no Devil wears Prada

Though the book was entertaining and funny, it was a very slow start and mostly, I think because of the choice of narrator. The voice didn't seem to fit the story to me. The desire to listen hit about halfway thru part 1 and then was pleasant to the end.

Little Pink Slips Review

At first I passed over this book (based upon the other more negative sounding reviews I read). Then, I decided to listen. I found myself enjoying the story. It is light and does give one a glimpse inside the magazine world of New York. I found it to be an enjoyable summer read!

Great Chick Lit

This book is smart and funny, allowing readers a peek into life in NYC and the magazine publishing world. The characters might seem overdone, but stranger characters exist in real life (just read People or US!) I enjoyed every single minute of this, but remember, it is Chick Lit!

Don't buy it

First things first...the story was boring and written as though by a teenager. I can't believe the author extended the book to 13 hours! Her editor must have gone on vacation. A shorter version would have been better but, even as long as it was, there was no character development. They were poorly written and their actions made no sense (motivation?), even in the world of celebrities. A terrible example of "chick lit".

Second (and worse than the writing), I have listened to the narrator before and have liked her in the past. Unfortunately, her pronounciation of celebrities' names was so distracting that it could not be overlooked: Ralph Fiennes (twice pronounced "Ralph" by the narrator, not correctly as "Raif") and Keanu Reeves) . I can only assume that one of the main character's name was actually "Jacques" but she pronounced it like "Jock". There were several other words that she didn't know how to say either. I don't understand how someone who is a narrator for a living doesn't know how to pronounce words and doesn't take enough pride in her work to make sure she is getting it right!

fun read

Where does Little Pink Slips rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the middle

Who was your favorite character and why?

Magnolia she is sassy

Which character – as performed by Laural Merlington – was your favorite?

Magnolia's ex husband

Any additional comments?

Liked it, did read some really bad reviews, but I had a good time reading it

great fun!

This book was terrific and the narrator brought it to life! I'll be looking for more by this author (& narrator)

Another clunker

Definately NOT The Devil Wears Prada. Almost as boring as The Secret. Wouldn't recommend this audio book either.

terrrible reader

Though there were warnings about the reader, I bought this book because there was a review that suggested that the story itself was good enough. Though the story is OK, the reader really does ruin the experience of listening to it. The terrible accents and numerous mispronounced names and words are only the tip of the iceberg. Wish I would have read it...not listened.

Great summer listen

If you loved "The Devil Wears Prada" will love this story also! It is funny and entertaining. Anyone who has ever been caught up in office politics is sure to relate. It is a great, easy, summer listen!

Don't like it

I’m finishing this book because I paid for it but I’m finding it real hard to focus. I keep losing concentration because the story is not grabbing me. Narrator’s voice is really, really annoying.