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If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend

by Alison Pace (Goodreads Author)

3.66 of 5 stars 3.66 · rating details · 367 ratings · 59 reviews

Initially, gallery manager Jane Laine isn't very impressed with "it" artist Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmons. Which could be kind of a problem, since she's the one who has to accompany him on a five-month international art fair tour. To get through it all, Jane figures she'll be a good sport and keep her critiques to herself. She's preoccupied enough with mending her own broken heart,...more

Paperback, 304 pages

Published February 1st 2005 by Berkley Trade

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Jan 11, 2012 Minli rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, adult

(2.5 stars) Far from it do I intend to rail the genre of chick lit. In fact, I am waiting for my perfect chick lit book like I am waiting for my BFF, since that's basically the tone a great chick lit book should have. Except I haven't been able to connect with many of these books, let alone consider them my BFFs. But I'm trying.

The gist is this: Jane works at an art gallery whose primary livelihood depends on super-star contemporary sculptor Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmons. They decide to put Ian an a 5-m...more (2.5 stars) Far from it do I intend to rail the genre of chick lit. In fact, I am waiting for my perfect chick lit book like I am waiting for my BFF, since that's basically the tone a great chick lit book should have. Except I haven't been able to connect with many of these books, let alone consider them my BFFs. But I'm trying.

The gist is this: Jane works at an art gallery whose primary livelihood depends on super-star contemporary sculptor Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmons. They decide to put Ian an a 5-month tour across the US and Europe, having him stop at major art shows. Jane gets tapped to accompany Ian. Wish-fulfillment ensues, Jane goes on a few dates, doesn't see what's glaring at her in the face, has the most random resolution scene, and lives happily ever after.

I had hopes for If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend, pardon the dumb title. Because at least me and the main character, Jane Laine, might have something in common--we both like art, we've both worked in museums (if not galleries), we both plan and execute exhibits, and we both take care of creative types for work. We both live and work in NYC, obvs, and we both end up doing weird things because of our jobs. (I so felt for Jane with her dick of a boss's childish tantrum after 200 boxes of regular-sized Reese's pieces were delivered instead of the minis.)

But then there are some things I just do not get about Jane, despite some similar interests. One is, Jane and I have totally different taste in guys. The second is that I don't, and never will, understand the stylishness of smoking. I also don't like how Pace never truly let Jane make mistakes--if things felt like they might go too far, she would reign it in.

I still liked this better than most other chick lit/thrillers out there--Jane's professional story arc is pretty cool to read about and Susan Fenton is generally awesome, though there wasn't enough of that. I'd trust this book to be my museum tour guide, but I'm not sure I'd invite her out for coffee later. (less)

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Oct 28, 2010 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Holly by: Ari

Shelves: contemporary

A vase of daisies and the perfect pair of black pants were not the ways in which Jane Laine expected to discover her relationship with the tall handsome Texan was over. But that was exactly how one of the major strings in her life was cut. On the surface her job as manager of the Dick Reese art gallery in New York looks perfect, but underneath she feels as if she knows little about art anymore. For one she hasn’t the foggiest idea why current ‘It’ sculptor of the decade Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmons rece...more A vase of daisies and the perfect pair of black pants were not the ways in which Jane Laine expected to discover her relationship with the tall handsome Texan was over. But that was exactly how one of the major strings in her life was cut. On the surface her job as manager of the Dick Reese art gallery in New York looks perfect, but underneath she feels as if she knows little about art anymore. For one she hasn’t the foggiest idea why current ‘It’ sculptor of the decade Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmons receives the praise he does. She doesn’t “get” his work at all and waits for the day when he’s proven a fraud and his minute of fame is up. But when she commits a serious gallery faux pas, her heartless boss assigns her to a 5-month international art fair trip with the artist himself. At first Jane couldn’t think of a better punishment – if that’s what it was – but as she slowly gets to know the man she despises she realizes that a jaunt through Europe with eccentric but kind-hearted Ian is exactly what she needed to find her way again in life and love.

Have you ever scratched your head and wondered why you let a book sit lonely and abandoned on your shelf for so long before picking it up? If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend is one of those books. I adored both the bright, artistic cover and the charming title ever since I heard about it on Ari’s blog. I was elated to hear she was having a giveaway and even more thrilled when I won. I happened to get a lot of review copies and new books at once so I didn’t open it right away, but still. Not an excuse. Because it’d been too long since I’d read a book that became a read-in every-snatching-minute-here-and-there kind of absorption.

It’s hard to describe why it was so perfectly readable and engaging, but one reason is that plain Jane is completely endearing and there was never a moment I wasn’t seriously interested in discovering what happens to her next. There’s nothing particularly extraordinary about her; in fact I think her faults are more played up by far than her strengths. But there’s something very real and honest about her. She’s smart but struggles with self-pity and self-confidence and I wanted the best for her from the first page and more and more as the plot progressed. As a graduate-level art historian myself I both related and envied her ill-fated career path and enjoyed all the art references, especially the Andy Warhol quotes prefacing each chapter and her stint as a docent (museum tour guide) which explains the meaning behind the book’s title. Jane’s relationship with Ian, who is both untouchably brilliant and incredibly vulnerable develops gradually and I liked how the story was equally about Jane finding out how to be both happy and love life again while making the changes needed for this to happen. Overall If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend is a totally satisfying, lighthearted, sweet, and smile-inducing read I highly recommend.(less)

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Sep 22, 2010 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-uns

I've been hearing about this book for what seems like awhile now. I'd never run across it until Ari from Emily and Her Little Pink Notes started talking it up as a diamond in the rough. She has such similar taste to my own that I rather suspected at that point I would someday be seeking this one out. Then Lit Snit featured it on their BBAW Unexpected Treasure post and those suspicions turned into beliefs. Finally I broke down and searched my library's catalog. They had it in! So I grabbed it on...more I've been hearing about this book for what seems like awhile now. I'd never run across it until Ari from Emily and Her Little Pink Notes started talking it up as a diamond in the rough. She has such similar taste to my own that I rather suspected at that point I would someday be seeking this one out. Then Lit Snit featured it on their BBAW Unexpected Treasure post and those suspicions turned into beliefs. Finally I broke down and searched my library's catalog. They had it in! So I grabbed it on my way to work that day and settled into bed with it that night. I went in expecting chick lit with a splash of art history thrown in for good measure and I read it in one sitting that night.

Jane Laine works for the most notorious art gallery owner in Manhattan. Possibly in the whole of the art world. She remembers a time when she loved and understood art and why it pushed her into pursuing a degree and a career in the field. But almost every ounce of joy in what she does has been systematically sucked out of her by her rapacious and reptilian boss. Coming off the heels of a particularly devastating break-up, she flubs up a particularly delicate situation at work and is sure she'll be fired without a by your leave. Instead, she is sent on a unique sort of venture with Dick Reese's primo client--the current darling of the art world--Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmons. Jane is to accompany Ian on a five-month-long international art tour and see to his every need. Mystified but counting her blessings, she sets out wondering how she'll manage to spend five months with a man she does not like and whose art she does not understand. Fortunately, fate has a few surprises in store for her and the trip does not go the way she thought it would. On so many levels.

Ari was right. This is smart and fun and not exactly what you'd expect from the title or the cover. I think what I enjoyed most was Jane's observations on her travels and the effect being in those countries had on her. The way Rome changed her perspective was particularly moving to me as I have lived in Italy several times and love it with a deep and unfathomable sort of love. I was so jealous she was there and I was not! And like Ian tells Jane in that perfect quote from Wuthering Heights:

I could fancy a love for life here almost possible.

That's it. That's tears-in-my-eyes it! How Italy makes me feel. How wonderful to encounter just the right sentiment in this light and lovely book about an art gallery manager in search of something or some place or someone to remind her why life is worth living. We all need those reminders every so often and Jane had gone for quite long enough without some spark in her life. It was fun watching her fumble around and find it again. IF ANDY WARHOL HAD A GIRLFRIEND is the kind of book I could hand anyone, without worrying at all. It's a sweet, fast read and it leaves you feeling good about life and love and the human capacity to both create and appreciate beauty. I laughed several times and smiled more. If you're looking for a warm and thoughtful way to spend an evening, Alison Pace's debut novel is an excellent way to go.(less)

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Jul 23, 2010 Shxrxn rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was why I was still single. I had been fortunate enough to arrive unencumbered, without baggage without a messy relationship to get over, at the doorstep of The Perfect Man.
- Jane
Machines have less problems. I'd like to be a machine.
- Andy Warhol
sometimes I am pretty sure the only thing I know is nothing.
- Jane
I know this is probably very hard on you right now but I believe that you will be a better person and a stronger person for going through this. I think I am.
- Jack
What makes a person...more

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May 23, 2010 Ciara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: crummy-chick-lit, read-in-2010

if andy warhol had had a girlfriend, i think she'd have been a fairly unsatisfied lady, all things considered. that is acknowledged at one point in the book (the fact that andy warhol was not straight), but it still seems like a really weird phrase to hang a book on.

so the basic plot here is: jane laine works for a new york gallery that has built its reputation around its relationship with world-famous wunderkind sculptor ian rhys-simmons. jane's boss, dick, is a total asshole, but jane wants to...more if andy warhol had had a girlfriend, i think she'd have been a fairly unsatisfied lady, all things considered. that is acknowledged at one point in the book (the fact that andy warhol was not straight), but it still seems like a really weird phrase to hang a book on.

so the basic plot here is: jane laine works for a new york gallery that has built its reputation around its relationship with world-famous wunderkind sculptor ian rhys-simmons. jane's boss, dick, is a total asshole, but jane wants to work in the art world, so she puts up with the slings & arrows. after she fails to wholesale the correct size of reese's peanut butter cups for the gallery's booth at the fall art fair, she feels that she is being punished by being forced to spend five months touring the globe with ian, organizing installations at art fairs in london, rome, chicago, santa fe, & miami. but she has learned at her job that you don't say no when the boss gives you an assignment. jane is not psyched about working with ian. she doesn't really understand his sculptures & considers him a fraud.

oh, also, the book starts with jane's boyfriend of two years cheating on her & breaking up with her. she's very distraught, but the whole thing is over before you have really invested in jane's character at all, so it's pretty forgettable, since it's pretty much a non-issue for the rest of the book.

this being a pretty typical chick lit book, i'm sure you can guess what happens. jane takes the assignment, she & ian spend more time together, she realizes that he's notn a fraud & that he actually cares about his work a lot, she realizes that she likes his work because "it makes [her:] happy" (i did not like how such a facile realization was treated as this epic turning point for jane--smacked of a narrative over-reach), & by the end of the book, they are confessing their love for each other (in one of the least realistic scenes i have ever read--has anyone ever truly accidentally said "i love you" to someone--especially someone they weren't even dating...especially on an airplane? the only way i love anyone on an airplane is if they bring me a latte). & of course there are hijinks & narrative stumbling blocks. movers drops one of ian's sculptures & it breaks. when jane's boss hears about it, he's enraged & flies to rome, kicks jane out of her hotel room, & makes her life hell for a few weeks. in chicago, jane & ian make plans to visit the art institute together, but jane forgets & double-books herself a dinner date with a foxy potential client. then she can't figure out why she feels guilty & sad about breaking the date with ian. in santa fe, ian convinces jane to join him at a sweat lodge in a scene that other reviewers seemed to find hilarious, & that i found distressingly culturally appropriative & insensitive--not unlike the entire concept of dog yoga in the other alison pace book. i'm not exactly expecting hard-hitting political insight from a chick lit book, but i'm not sure why all of alison pace's books have to involve a) ludicrously spoiled dogs that live better than 85% of the earth's human population, & b) a clueless white girl protagonist who casually indulges in some culturally appropriative spiritual nonsense that only serves to further her romantic storyline (in this case, the sweat lodge experience makes jane realize she's in love with ian--because, sure, who DOESN'T fall in love with someone they're not even dating after traveling with them for business for three months? totally plausible, & totally not problematic for ian to have specifically requested jane as his companion for the five-month tour because he has a crush on her; that's not at all skeezy & manipulative).

i've read worse books, to be sure, but i can't really recommend this to anyone.(less)

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May 16, 2010 Emilyandherlittlepinknotes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, romance

Don’t you love when a book leaves you smiling at the end?

I read this novel a few months ago and it made me realize how difficult it is to find a good chick lit that keeps you company for a few days and soothes your mind as a good cappuccino in a cafè you enjoy.

“If Andy Warhol had a girlfriend” is one of those gems. Jane Laine “Plain Jane” works for an art gallery and finds herself travelling with contemporary artist Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmons. Ian is known as a genius, and his work is highly regarded...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Jen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

Our heroine works for a complete jack-ass of an art dealer, and starts off the book going through an unexpected and bad break-up with her boyfriend. This causes her to make a small error at work (which is perceived as the end of the world by her art dealer boss), so when her boss tells her she's going to be sent out of the office for five months to serve as gopher for their biggest artist client on a tour, she feels that it must be a punishment.

Pretty typical chick lit - light, mildly amusing, p...more

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Feb 09, 2009 Katherine added it

Shelves: fiction, not-owned

This was okay--chick lit set in the art world. The negative chapter taking place in Chicago was very annoying--um, no way would Chicago hold a major international art fair in the middle of winter. Gee, thanks for making Chicagoans look like idiots. It doesn't need to be based on the actual art fair here, but that just stuck out as a preposterous detail. Also, it's yet another chick lit book with an "Ian" (how many can there be?). But I didn't regret reading it, I like reading novels set in the c...more

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Jan 25, 2008 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

“If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend” is a fun, lighthearted story of a young woman finding her own identity with the help of her friends and strength that she finds within herself. “Plane Jane”, as she calls herself, is easily identifiable in most every young woman. She is single, has relationship issues, resents her boss, dislikes a co-worker, is bored with her mundane life and is having difficulty finding meaning in her chosen career. These real life issues are so very common among young women th...more

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Feb 09, 2010 Sri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit

Lucu dan aku suka fairy tale-nya buku ini.

Bagian Jane 'bertemu' Owen Wilson lucu banget dan berhasil memancing imajinasiku: bagaimana jika aku bertemu Jude Law? Hahaha, ngapain ya? Cium tangan aja kali ya hahaha. Atau lebih baik aku ngelamar untuk jadi nanny-nya Rudy, Iris dan Rafferty? Hehehe, ngimpi aja lah bisa ketemu Jude Law.

Kembali soal bukunya, walaupun kisah cinta Ian - Jane gampang ditebak tapi aku suka cara Ian mencintai Jane. Tidak terburu-buru. Kalem tapi pasti :">.

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Jul 07, 2009 Christine Chapman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: obsessions

One of the best fiction books I have ever read. It has art, artists, and poor life choices. Plus each chapter begins with an Andy Warhol quote. Great book to read during your quarter-life crisis. Nothing works out as your childhood fantasies of life predicted. Somehow everything you thought you wanted doesn't make you happy and somethings you never expected to happen take over your life. Best read along with your best friends.

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Apr 04, 2010 Whitney Tolley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Easy chicklit read. Learned a lot about the world of commercial art, gained a lot of hear-me-roar girl pride, and probably the perfect book to read after a break up. It's like an episode of Sex and the City, from the perspective of a girl that would probably have been part of the group had she been 10 years older.

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Feb 20, 2012 Notenough1 rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book never really went anywhere for me. The whole big dramatic cliffhanger - the heroine gaining trust in the hero's authenticity seemed completely fabricated to me. I was waiting for something to happen until the very last page where the two main characters professed their love for each other and kissed. On a plane. Pointless. Complete waste of two days of reading...

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Jun 08, 2011 Jodi rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a typical chick lit type novel, with the twist of art thrown in. I doubt I would like it so much without the art focus, because art is one of those things that I'm into, but the art theme is great and the story is cute. It's the kind of book to take to the beach or read on a lazy day.

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Jan 06, 2013 Tracey rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun book. Nicely developed characters that you end up rooting for. Loved the descriptions of the cities they visited, especially Rome. By the end of the book I was really getting into the the Andy Warhol quotes and a couple of times I laughed out loud. Nice read.

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May 14, 2011 Eleanor Marque rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love contemporary art and I love chick lit, so this is the book for me. It didn't have as much glamour as I would have expected, and I still don't know that I've got a good sense of the love interest, but it was a fun read, and I can't wait to check out her other stuff!

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Feb 24, 2013 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book. A fast, easy, fun read (I read this in one day). Nothing overly complex to think about though OOO how I loved the places Jane travels in the book. Having traveled to each of the cities on Jane's "Art Tour Project" made the book that much more fun to read. Pace clearly loves the cities that she wrote about and knows them well... though let me tell ya it does not take 40 minutes to get from the Spanish Steps to Trasetevere and if you take a bus to Piazza Del Popolo you can walk...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Nina rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Boring. The two leads had absolutely zero chemistry, and I find it hard to believe that two people could just easily fall in love with each other through the course of the book when I didn't even like either of them. Being "artists" I expected them to have a little bit more depth.

I liked how each chapter started with an Andy Warhol quote, but other than that this book did nothing for me.

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Dec 16, 2009 Amber rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very chick lit and very predictable, and of COURSE the protagonista is some gorgeous neurotic mess. But still entertaining for the behind the scenes look at the art world, from the view of the artserfs.

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Dec 11, 2008 Amy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Jane Laine has to travel around the world to figure out she's in love the the artist Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmons. I could have told you in the second chapter. Never judge a book by its title. =(

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May 26, 2011 Alice rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was fun chick lit. Liked the Andy Warhol quotes at the beginning of each chapter, loved the description of the art gallery scene. Humorous scenes with the heroine's family were too over the top for me.

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Jul 17, 2012 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book. I wish I could find more like this out there. I am disappointed the author's other books have dogs. I can relate and enjoy everything about this book.

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Sep 03, 2009 Julia Hilton rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a fast, fun read, fairly predictable, but still entertaining. A sort of book version of a nice romantic comedy you'd see once and never think of again.

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Apr 09, 2011 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really, really enjoyed this one! I love intelligent chick-lit-type books. Ones that don't center around shopping and shoes. Quite possibly my favorite of Alison's books! :)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 13, 2009 Chase Brooks rated it 5 of 5 stars

"If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend" is a laugh-out loud comedy filled with culture, wine, and romance. It is a terrific read no matter what type of genre you are interested in.

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Aug 01, 2010 Msmurphybylaw rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

This book brought back a lot of gut wrenching art school memories for me that I can now look back on and laugh very deeply.

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Oct 24, 2009 Tonyia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit, fiction

I really liked this book. Although it was predictable, it was a very fun read and not quite as dumbed down as most chick lit.

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Jan 04, 2013 Adrian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Super cute book! An easy, fun read and I'd recommend to art lovers out there who like a little bit of romance.

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Jul 29, 2010 Kim Hastings rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've read it three times now over the last 5 years and it makes me laugh everytime. A good fast read.

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May 04, 2010 Amanda Kennedy rated it 4 of 5 stars

A great story about love, and the Andy Warhol quotes at the beginning of each chapter were a great addition.

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About Alison Pace

I'm the author of the novels If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend, Pug Hill, Through Thick and Thin, City Dog and A Pug's Tale . My essays have been included in several anthologies including Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, and Howl: A Collection of the Best Contemporary Dog Wit.

My memoir, You Tell Your Dog First, just came out.

I live in New York City where I te...more

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“Maybe Ian doesn't come from london at all, but from Idaho. And not the potato part of Idaho, but the crazy, inbred parents locking their children up in a cabin, away from schooling and vitamins, guarding 'em safe with a twelve-gauge shotgun, part of Idaho.” — 2 people liked it

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