JUST because something is popular doesn't necessarily mean that it's good. Case in point: The mullet haircut.
In the case of Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conrad, I willingly admit that I read it with bias — based both on reading her first book in the LA Candy series and the fact that Conrad is basically rehashing her reality TV life from The Hills.
In the first instance I felt that LA Candy was generic teen pap that was only on the shelves because the author was apparently "a celebrity" — although I'd never seen the show, I knew that it was popular with the college-aged set in America.
In the second instance — see above. I also had the distinct feeling that LA Candy had in fact been written by a nerdy middle-school girl who was fantasising about being famous.
Is Sweet Little Lies any better? No. I could barely force myself to read the whole thing.
What's worse, is that this rehashed load of tosh is being published bearing a blurb that states: "#1 New York Times Bestselling Author". Yes, really.
Again, I'll reiterate — just because something is popular, does not mean it's any good.
Basically Sweet Little Lies carries on from the previous book, LA Candy (the first in what is, unfortunately, going to be a series by the same name).
Jane — a thinly veiled Lauren Conrad — is not entirely sure that having her daily life filmed is really what she wants to do, but she keeps on going because... well, I'm not really sure. She has a contract? She feels she owes the other girls? She actually really wants to be famous and is just pretending not to like it? Who cares?
Anyway, Jane gets into trouble when some racy photos of her are leaked to the press. Naturally the producers of the show love it. After they worry for a few minutes about Jane losing her "girl-next-door" appeal, they run out that old maxim: "All publicity is good publicity."
So, who leaked the photos? Her new BBF, glamour girl Madison? Or her "real" best friend from before fame, Scarlett? Again, who cares? Well, I suppose some people must care, since the book is selling.
Scarlett has her own problems as she falls in love with someone off-limits. Is that possible in Hollywood? I thought celebrities did whatever they wanted? Hmm... must be something to do with a contract and lots of money.
So, the basic plot is this: Girls get into trouble; they can't trust anyone or they trust the wrong person; drama and name-calling ensue along with a bit of sobbing when the boy they like dumps them; the girls realise that being famous isn't everything, really, and they make up. Of course the "bad girl" gets a conscience and wonders if, maybe she could; "like, be nice and still be famous?"
And that's another thing; the language in Sweet Little Lies leaves much to be desired. Yes, we know teens speak like they half a brain — it's a hormonal thing — but really, do we have to read it as well?
For fans of The Hills and/or Lauren Conrad, Sweet Little Lies is everything you desire. It's full of angsty teen-type love — despite the fact that Conrad, at least, is 24-years-old — and lots of references to supposedly cool shopping and clubbing spots. The obvious references to famous people will titillate and readers can play spot the star.
For readers who desire something a little more substantial, Sweet Little Lies is not for you.
If you want to read an insider's-type guide, try Hotel Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones who has written a whole ream of cultural exposes including Fashion Babylon; or even give Pamela Anderson's Star a go. It's basically her autobiography but is a much better read.
I'm sure there are fans out there who will be horrified by my attitude to this book. Even some of my friends were shocked that I was being so vicious about it, but the fact that really good books get bumped off the best-seller list because of this sort of rubbish is depressing for lovers of literature, or even just well-written books.
I thought there might be a silver-lining of sorts when I learned that another instalment had yet to appear. Unfortunately, I have discovered that the next LA Candy book has already been named. It's called Sugar and Spice ... oh dear. What's worse, the first book is apparently about to be adapted into a film!
Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conrad is published by HarperCollins and is available from good book stores and online.