A young journalist moves to Sydney from London to nurse a broken heart, and is swept up into a whirlwind of romance and intrigue.
When London editor Georgia Abbott comes to Sydney to work on Glow, a glossy woman's magazine, she has high hopes for a bright new start. Leaving behind a broken heart (her own) and a philandering ex-fiance, she's look forward to immersing herself in the Tim Tam-eating sisterhood of woman's mags. No to mention being whisked off into the dusty Australian sunset by a suntanned, Akubra-hatted fantasy man. At first, things seem promising, as Georgia is swept up in a whirl of A-list parties, dancing, dinners and debauchery. But while Australian water may go down the plughole the other way, Australian men are starting to look all too familiar. And then there's the chaotic bunch of woman Georgia works with on Glow, to whom every relationship disaster is a potential article, not least of all Georgia's, whose quest for love is fast becoming headline material. What to do when all the blokes you've found are either gay, married, unfaithful, unable or just plain unworthy?
Industry Reviews
A sassy magazine editor searches for romance among flamboyant artists and social climbers in Sydney. Georgia Abbott has all but given up on love after walking in on her cheating fiance. Tired of sulking around London, Georgia decides a change of scenery will be just the thing to cure her broken heart. On a whim, she accepts an editorial job at Glow Magazine and heads down under. Alderson, an editor at British Elle, understands the magazine business and does a magnificent job of sweeping the reader up in the glamorous world of fashion. She also has a special gift for dialogue and makes each chapter more outrageous than the last as Georgia gets to know the recovering addict, the bulimic and the self-absorbed promiscuous princess who make up Glow's editorial staff. Though Georgia quickly adopts the staff's insouciant attitude and quirky style, her introduction to Sydney's men doesn't go quite as smoothly. Alderson gets right to the heart of the matter-the men that women are drawn to and the men that women actually need are often quite different. Georgia falls for a succession of wrong men: the pathological womanizer, the handsome dim-wit who's in love with another woman and the underachieving artist who is far too fond of marijuana. The author is adept at exposing the powerlessness women often feel in relationships. Until Georgia builds her self-confidence and properly heals from her breakup, she'll never meet Mr. Right. Here, copious amounts of champagne can be a great way to kick up your heals with friends, but the path to happiness is found in self-reflection and purposeful living. As her year in Sydney comes to an end, there's a surprise or two in store for Georgia, providing hope that there are still good men out there. A lively romp down under. Vibrant characters, a beguiling setting and a plot that engages from start to finish. (Kirkus Reviews)