Jenn's Review: The Agency

Summary: Meet Tess Drake. She’s earned everything she has. Now it’s time to get what she deserves…Sexy super-agent Tess Drake has worked hard to make a name for herself in the glamorous yet cut-throat entertainment industry. Tess works at an international agency, where she skillfully manages some of the world's biggest egos—her company, Bardwell International operates in the thrilling, fast-paced worlds of Rights, wrongs and revenge. Tess has been an agent there for longer than she cares to remember and now she's in trouble. Real trouble. After the mysterious death of the agency's senior partner, Lowell Bardwright, Tess's sworn enemy, Cosima Tate, has taken over and would do anything to send Tess's career down in flames. And Cosima is only one of the rogue’s gallery of agents in London and New York who want Tess to take a fall. Tess has another little complication, too. She’s sleeping with men on both sides of the Atlantic who are in bed with the women who are trying to sink her.

Can Tess jump ship without losing her clients and breaking her heart? Or will she lose everything before finding out if she really has what it takes to do what she’s always wanted? There’s risk and reward in this wickedly funny novel that turns the world of agenting inside out and lays bare all the ambition, sex, adrenaline, bad luck, and good luck at the center of one young woman’s success. ~StMartinspress.com

Review: I've been starting most of my reviews with disclaimers lately, and this one is no different. I don't read a lot of Chick-Lit but this one captured my attention. Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into this story because I just couldn't stand Tess. I know she's not written to be likeable, but I disliked her to the point of having to set the book down several times and walk away. I don't have a high tolerance for lying and even less for infidelity, so I kinda felt like Tess was the recipient of 'American Karma' (American because, like everything else in our culture, it comes around faster ~ you don't have to wait for it to catch up with you next lifetime, it'll bite you this time around), although in this case, I guess it's British Karma.

As the plot became more complicated I was drawn in more, or at least to the point where I was no longer routing for Tess's demise. There were also some nice twists and turns to the plot. Although I was a little flummoxed by what I perceived as a lack of resolution to the mysterious death of Tess's boss. It was just a little too open ended for me. I realize that it's not the main plot line but I'm a crime girl, I need resolution!

All in all, it was a very consistent read from start to finish, especially considering that Ally O'Brien is the pen name for the writing team of author Brian Freeman and London-based entertainment agent Ali Gunn. I didn't, however, find it "wickedly funny" as St Martin's suggests ...maybe just wicked.


Julie's Review

Final take: 3/5