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Last Night at Chateau Marmont

3.41 of 5 stars 3.41 · rating details · 12,270 ratings · 846 reviews

Heartbreak, headlines and Hermes – welcome to Brooke's new world…

Brooke and Julian live a happy life in New York – she's the breadwinner working two jobs and he's the struggling musician husband. Then Julian is discovered by a Sony exec and becomes an overnight success – and their life changes for ever.

Soon they are moving in exclusive circles, dining at the glitziest rest...more

Paperback, 432 pages

Published August 10th 2010 by Harper

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Apr 02, 2011 Agi rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

I loved "The Devil wears Prada". I liked "Everyone worth knowing". I have never came to the end of "Chasing Harry Winston", actually I have ended reading it after 1/4. "Last Night at Chateau Marmont"... The first half of this book was pretty slow for me. Just later, almost at the end, the book started to interest me and I wanted to know whathappened next. Although it was very predictable as well. IMHO, Lauren didn't have an idea what to do with the characters and how to build the tension. Dissap...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Cha Cha rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found the first chapter was hard to get into.
But, it really picked up after that. I totally got swept away by the story. The characters seemed alive to me, and I was very invested in knowing how it all worked out.
I could empathize with Brooke. The author did an incredible job of making her characters and their lives seem very believable (even though the idea of your husband becoming a rock start is pure fantasy! ha ha).

While I loved Brooke and Julian, I also enjoyed Nola. I wish she was my...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Rebecca Scaglione (Love at First Book) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am being completely honest when I say that I am not a huge fan of girlie books or movies. For instance, I’ve only seen one episode of “Sex and the City” and I wasn’t sure what the fuss was all about. This is probably why I don’t normally pick up books that are classified as chick lit.

One of my friends, Meri, recommended that I read “Last Night at Chateau Marmont” by Lauren Weisberger. She assured me that I’d enjoy it, and since Lauren Weisberger also wrote “The Devil Wears Prada” and I enjoyed...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Primeballerina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nach "Ein Ring von Tiffany" ist nun endlich nach langer Wartezeit, Lauren Weisbergers neuer Roman erschienen: "Champagner und Stilettos". Ein Titel, der meiner Meinung nach nicht besonders viel aussagt, aber gut - der Inhalt hinter dem Titel ist dafür umso interessanter und vor allem: es lohnt sich, das Buch aufzuschlagen!

Brooke und Julian Alter sind nun seit 5 Jahren glücklich verheiratet. Sie ist Ernährungsberaterin an einer Schule in Manhatten, er versucht seit Jahren, endlich mit seiner Musi...more Nach "Ein Ring von Tiffany" ist nun endlich nach langer Wartezeit, Lauren Weisbergers neuer Roman erschienen: "Champagner und Stilettos". Ein Titel, der meiner Meinung nach nicht besonders viel aussagt, aber gut - der Inhalt hinter dem Titel ist dafür umso interessanter und vor allem: es lohnt sich, das Buch aufzuschlagen!

Brooke und Julian Alter sind nun seit 5 Jahren glücklich verheiratet. Sie ist Ernährungsberaterin an einer Schule in Manhatten, er versucht seit Jahren, endlich mit seiner Musik erfolgreich zu werden. Brooke arbeitet dafür hart, schiebt Doppelschichten, um genug Geld zu verdienen, sie beide zu versorgen und Julians Musikkarriere zu finanzieren. Eines Tages geschieht das, worauf Julian immer gewartet hat: er wird von Sony entdeckt und wird nun wirklich schlagartig über Nacht berühmt. Ein Traum für Julian, ein Alptraum für Brooke. Zwar freut sie sich natürlich über den Erfolg ihres Mannes, doch dieser Erfolg birgt seine Schattenseiten: ihr Job leidet sehr daran, da Brooke so oft es geht, ihren Mann zu diversen Auftritten und Interviews begleiten möchte, als Ehepaar haben sie so gut wie keine Zeit mehr für einander und von Privatsphäre kann nun gar keine Rede sein: Paparazzis überall, redselige Freunde und Bekannte, vernichtende Artikel und Bilder in Klatschzeitschriften. So hat sich Brooke ihr Leben wirklich nicht vorgestellt...

Eine sehr interessante Handlung, handelt es sich zudem mal nicht um das typische Schema "Frau lernt Mann kennen, verlieben sich, Problem, Versöhnung, Friede Freude Eierkuchen", sondern um ein schon verheiratetes Paar und ob Frau und Mann trotz solcher Strapazen, die eine Karriere im Rampenlicht mit sich bringt, wieder zueinander findet.
Weisbergers Schreibstil ist toll: sie fesselt ihre Leser und jeder ihrer Romane liest sich viel zu schnell weg - so auch dieser lang von mir erwartete Roman: kaum habe ich mich darüber gefreut, ihn in den Händen zu halten, so ist er wieder ausgelesen.

Doch ich bin mir sicher: nachdem ihre vorherigen 3 Romane absolute Bestseller waren und sie mir alle sehr gut gefallen haben, wird auch "Champagner und Stilettos" ein Bestseller werden! Und ich hoffe sehr, dass noch einige davon folgen werden. Bald, wenn's geht.
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Jun 12, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you've read a book by Lauren Weisberger before, you know the basics of the experience. It will be set in New York; it will deal with the difficulty of balancing careers and personal lives. Her books also have a nice authoritative tone - you feel like you're getting real dish.

Right now HBO is developing a miniseries about the history of Chateau Marmont. For those who haven't heard of it - I hadn't before Weisberger's LAST NIGHT AT CHATEAU MARMONT - it is a hotel that has been hosting celebriti...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Classic, lame chick lit, from a classic, lame author. PS. this is the author of DEVIL WEARS PRADA. Liked that book (didn't love it) and its been going downhill ever since. This book wasn't horrible, but it was just totally blah. And the girl was so weird and annoying! Girl falls in love with some singer in NYC who is trying to make it big and in the years till he does, she works two jobs to support them (despite his family being loaded, they don't want to take from them, which is fine). Then he...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Kaitlyn Barrett rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklits

Average NYC couple Brooke and Julian get thrown into the gossip rags when Julian finally breaks through and makes it big as a musician. Will their marriage survive his fame? Will he change too much for her to endure? Will she be able to fend off the soul stealing trappings of celebrity enough to continue her very average job as a nutritionist???

I loved Devil Wears Prada and Chasing Harry Winston and I thought this book was awful. Makes me sad.

I don't buy the speed with which Julian becomes famo...more

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Nov 27, 2011 Susan Helene Gottfried rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: rock-fiction

Originally posted at http://rockread.westofmars.com

I am not sure I knew Last Night at Chateau Marmont fell squarely into the category of Rock and Roll Fiction until a copy arrived from BookMooch and I read the cover flap. It’s the story of Brooke Alter and what happens to her when her husband lands a recording deal and becomes music’s new darling.

Okay, so it’s about Julian as he becomes a mega-star. That qualifies for rock and roll fiction, right? Even if Julian isn’t a rocker as much as a pop m...more Originally posted at http://rockread.westofmars.com

I am not sure I knew Last Night at Chateau Marmont fell squarely into the category of Rock and Roll Fiction until a copy arrived from BookMooch and I read the cover flap. It’s the story of Brooke Alter and what happens to her when her husband lands a recording deal and becomes music’s new darling.

Okay, so it’s about Julian as he becomes a mega-star. That qualifies for rock and roll fiction, right? Even if Julian isn’t a rocker as much as a pop musician in the best sense of the word — after all, the guy lands the opening slot on Maroon 5′s tour.

This book doesn’t feel very rock-ish. If anything, it’s a story about celebrity. The paparazzi abound (although I don’t quite get how they conveniently disappear when the dog needs to be walked. Walter Alter didn’t come across as particularly interested in eating paparazzi.) and the jet-set lifestyle has definite negatives when you are the one at home, trying to continue to live your life as if nothing has changed. Gossip magazines rule your lifestyle.

In some senses, Julian could have been an actor thrust into the spotlight. Or a reality show star. His being in the music business didn’t matter.

And that is why this isn’t a rock and roll novel.

It’s a good read, though. Perfect for the beach. It’s not too deep, even when it flirts with serious topics like the serious bumps that can end a marriage or eating disorders. Even the ending is easy and breezy. It’s almost too easy, but that fits the sort of book this is. And it’s neat to see music from the angle of celebrity. That part, I can’t find fault with. It’s so real, so chilling. I can see the meeting of the scorned women so clearly, as if I was watching the reality show based on them. (Is there one? Gosh, I hope not!) And while I don’t read the rags, I’ve seen enough of them in my day to believe this vile, snarky world Weisberger plunges us — and Brooke — into.

If you’re looking for real rock and roll fiction, there are better books out there. If you want a pleasant read to pass a few hours with, this is definitely the one for you. I may not rave about it, but I’m sure glad I read it. (less)

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Nov 06, 2011 Samantha Robey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I was asked to review Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger, I jumped at the chance. Who didn’t love The Devil Wears Prada? And I’m happy to report this book was just as great. The story follows happily married couple Julian and Brooke Alter. Brooke is working two jobs with the goal of starting her own nutrition business, and Julian is a struggling singer-songwriter hoping to hit it big. The couple’s world is rocked when Julian snags the attention of Hollywood big-wigs, and ove...more When I was asked to review Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger, I jumped at the chance. Who didn’t love The Devil Wears Prada? And I’m happy to report this book was just as great. The story follows happily married couple Julian and Brooke Alter. Brooke is working two jobs with the goal of starting her own nutrition business, and Julian is a struggling singer-songwriter hoping to hit it big. The couple’s world is rocked when Julian snags the attention of Hollywood big-wigs, and overnight becomes the “it” guy in town. Suddenly, Brooke and Julian are holding on tight while they ride the fame coaster, trying to stay grounded and sane. Brooke isn’t interested in celebrities, paparazzi, and the works of being famous. But Julian gets carried up in his new life––the money, publicity….the woman. Not only is Brooke having to deal with that train wreck, but her life, her career, everything she has worked so hard for, is slipping out of her reach thanks to her new high-profile life. Can Brooke and Julian’s marriage survive, or will the cost of fame tear them apart?

When I first started reading this book, I thought Julian was quite an ass-bag. I really thought he was just using Brooke to make ends meet and so he could keep working on getting discovered. As I kept reading, I realized that he did clearly love his wife, and she felt the same way. While their interests may have been different, the love and respect that should be in a marriage were there. It wasn’t hard to guess that something like an affair would be brought up, because come on––who in Hollywood isn’t accused of cheating? When I got to the end of the book, I was sure I was just going to hate what happened. I thought I could guess the ending, but I was wrong. While I won’t give anything away, I will say the ending made me think. It was more than just a typical fluffy let’s be happy ending. The roller coaster ride of emotions that Weisberger took me on, combined with a scandalous chick lit plot and some important lessons we learn from Brooke and Julian, earns this book a five star rating from me!
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Jun 13, 2011 Katrina Spencer rated it 4 of 5 stars

The book follows the tale of Brooke Alter, a nutritionist who works two jobs so her hubby, Julian, can fulfill his dream of being a musician. He finally gets a deal with Sony records, and with a $250,000 advance things have to look up right? Wrong. The money dwindles fast as he books studio time hires producers and whatnot. Brooke has always believed in him, but after a dinner with her best friend, Nola, she can’t help thinking, “Will all his hard work pay off?”

All that changes when he is invite...more

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Jun 12, 2011 Jenny rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

Last Night at Chateau Marmont was a fairly straightforward novel about the effects of celebrity on a marriage. By straightforward I mean that the plot followed the typical formula (not a bad thing) of a woman who marries a man, he shoots to stardom, it's fun until they realize the negative aspects of said stardom, rumors start circulating in the tabloids, and they reap the consequences of said benefits. Last night didn't have any crazy twists but was, rather, a typical chick lit that I really en...more Last Night at Chateau Marmont was a fairly straightforward novel about the effects of celebrity on a marriage. By straightforward I mean that the plot followed the typical formula (not a bad thing) of a woman who marries a man, he shoots to stardom, it's fun until they realize the negative aspects of said stardom, rumors start circulating in the tabloids, and they reap the consequences of said benefits. Last night didn't have any crazy twists but was, rather, a typical chick lit that I really enjoyed reading. For a moment I worried about the direction of the book and how I would like it, but I ended up being happy with where it ultimately went. I read this during my vacation in North Carolina and all I wanted to do the whole time there was return to the story!

This book was also a great representation of New York City. I felt like through the actions of the characters, I was given quite the immersion into the city. I felt like I was right there alongside Brooke Alter in the beginning as she follows Julian, local singer/songwriter/musician, around to all the NYC dive bars for his gigs. Eventually they meet and marry. The book opens up to when they've been married for five years. Brooke is working two jobs to support her musician husband but feels no resentment as she is genuinely passionate about her career. Brooke and Julian seem like the perfect couple.

One of the things that impressed me was that the author was given 300-400 pages to illustrate the jump start of a career and then show the slow disintegration of the marriage. Lauren Weisberger paced it so well that I never felt things were unnecessarily rushed. Sure, you might have to suspend belief slightly at how fast the jump to stardom, but even that didn't come off as far-fetched.

I've read throughout the blogosphere regarding other readers who intensely dislike reading about affairs or any type of cheating. While I won't go into how this relates completely, there is talk and mention of it in this book that might make those readers feel uncomfortable. However, this concept was vital to the plot... if you pay any attention to the tabloids, pop culture, celebrity entertainment, then I'm sure you would understand that it shouldn't be skipped over in this story because temptation abounds in the land of celebrity for sure!

In all, Last Night at Chateau Marmont was a fairly typical chick lit story, but one that engaged me and had me returning for more. About three quarters through the book the tension rose and I had conflicted feelings, but that was right on cue for the pacing. And though I worried about where it was going, I have to say I really enjoyed the ending. But bet that will be a hot point for many readers to debate! Recommended for readers who enjoy chick lit and/or have enjoyed Weisberger's previous books.

Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com (less)

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May 28, 2011 Shraddha Gupta rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked it, largely because of the theme. Woman works hard for her husband's success and the one in a trillion shot turns out to be the one which rolls up on the dice, and their world turns upside down. So while I really did care about how the book would end,and I loved some of the characters, especially Nola, I was a little disappointed with the story. She could have done so much more with the story, made it so much more real, not that I really know what its like for someone whose husband/boyfr...more

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Apr 20, 2011 Swissmiss rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What I liked about this book:

- The characters. They were easily identifiable and unique, albeit sometimes stereotypical or tending to caricature (the wild and crazy best friend, the sleazy manager, the snobbish in-laws). Still, I enjoyed each one's appearance, and any one of them could have carried a scene by themselves.

- The dialogue. It read realistically, and each character had a distinct voice. There was an appropriate balance between humor, politeness, and the kinds of off-handed comments...more What I liked about this book:

- The characters. They were easily identifiable and unique, albeit sometimes stereotypical or tending to caricature (the wild and crazy best friend, the sleazy manager, the snobbish in-laws). Still, I enjoyed each one's appearance, and any one of them could have carried a scene by themselves.

- The dialogue. It read realistically, and each character had a distinct voice. There was an appropriate balance between humor, politeness, and the kinds of off-handed comments that aren't necessarily meant to insult, but end up poisoning relationships.

What I liked less:

- Not coming from the world of the super-rich and famous myself, I was never sure if the author was trying to portray a realistic view of rock stars and their entourages, poke fun at them, or perpetuate popular myths and tabloid fairy tales.

- Throughout the book, I identified strongly with the protagonist, and as such felt unhappy, insecure, and embarrassed throughout most of the book. Not exactly the kinds of feelings I want to have when reading a piece of chick lit for fun. I actually flipped to the end at one point, just to find out if there was going to be some sort of happy ending after all. Well, I did finish the book, is all I'll say. ;-)

- There wasn't much of a plot. It was very linear, although there were a couple of interesting side stories mentioned (the best friend's romance with the internet millionaire; the student patient with body-image issues). But they were never developed and ended up being nothing more than filler. The main story was never really gripping, or made me want to find out what would happen next (aside from whether the rock star and his dietician wife would stay together or not).

Overall, I don't feel like I completely wasted my time reading it, and I don't think that Weisberger is necessarily just a best-selling author (The Devil Wears Prada) who got their next book published sight unseen. I think this will appeal to Bridget Jones fans who identify with Plain Jane, slightly luckless working girls who end up with the man of their dreams after several humiliating yet character-building events.(less)

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Apr 05, 2011 Bette rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ok, so from reading other reviews of this book, and having enjoyed reading The Devil Wears Prada but disliking Chasing Harry Winston I was torn about reading this book. So I was glad that I spotted it at my local library and decided I would test run it before seeing if I wanted to add it to my Lauren Weisberger collection.

I found the book incredibly easy to get into, I found the lead character Brooke a bit predictable but I found myself easily relating to her and imagining myself in her world....more

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Jan 23, 2011 Trish rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, audio

I'd have to put this firmly in the popular fiction category, but I wouldn't call it celebrity fiction, though that's what it is about. Lauren Weisberger treats us to a husband and wife team who actually achieve their highest aspirations financially and professionally, and suffer personally for it. So it has something for everyone...those who hope they succeed, and those who hope they fail. What kept me listening initially was the girlfriend talk in the beginning. It's always amazing to me that t...more

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Jan 16, 2011 Misha rated it 4 of 5 stars

I usually do not read or even like books involving celebrities or having Hollywood as the backdrop. The only exceptions are The Devil Wears Prada (which I enjoyed enormously) and Everyone Worth Knowing (which was hugely disappointing) - both by Lauren Weisberger. However, I was not expecting to like Last Night at Chateau Marmont much. But it surprised me. It turned out to be more than a "chick-lit". Like The Devil Wears Prada , it's humorous, witty and enjoyable ; at the same time , it is about...more I usually do not read or even like books involving celebrities or having Hollywood as the backdrop. The only exceptions are The Devil Wears Prada (which I enjoyed enormously) and Everyone Worth Knowing (which was hugely disappointing) - both by Lauren Weisberger. However, I was not expecting to like Last Night at Chateau Marmont much. But it surprised me. It turned out to be more than a "chick-lit". Like The Devil Wears Prada , it's humorous, witty and enjoyable ; at the same time , it is about compromise in relationships and a marriage which has reached its breaking point.

Brooke and Julian are a happy couple, almost "perfect". Julian is a struggling musician while Brooke is the one who earns a living . Yet she is a supporting wife and believes that Julian will one day be successful. As it turns out, she's right. Julian becomes successful overnight. Suddenly their lives take a completely different direction. From an unknown musician, Julian becomes a "star" and the tabloids go crazy trying get to a piece of him. Suddenly, their lives are about partying among the biggest Hollywood stars. But success doesn't necessarily equal happiness. Brooke struggles to keep up with Julian's fame, trying to be the supportive wife she was before. With fame comes rumours and Brooke doesn't know whether she can trust her husband any more.Should she believe the rumours? Should she concentrate on her husband's career and forget about the job she loves? What is more important?

With Last Night at Chateau Marmont, Lauren Weisberger won me over once again. What makes it different is that it's more emotional and despite the setting being Hollywood, it's somehow so real . Imagine two people in a marriage, or for that matter, any relationship. One becomes successful and the other gets left behind.....almost forgotten. How much of compromise and sacrifice does that relationship need ? In the trademark style of Lauren Weisbeger, Last Night at Chateau Marmont is fast-paced and amusing, yet it also has an emotional depth to it which made me connect to he characters.

While reading other reviews, I was extremely surprised to find that everyone felt bad for Julian and thought that Booke was "selfish". That completely threw me off! I sympathized a lot with Brooke - I saw her perspective. Suddenly her old life is gone from her; she's thrown into a kind of life that doesn't really suit her. Despite this, she continues to support her husband , going to the extent of ignoring her own career which she loves. Who is the ungrateful person here? At times, I wanted to scream at Brooke to leave her jerk of a husband! I felt angry at her for behaving like a "doormat". Honestly, I disliked Julian from the start . Probably, this is because I saw the woman's perspective.

The middle of the book got a bit monotonous for me - there were just descriptions of parties and events. Maybe if you enjoy that kind of thing, you will like that. But for me, the plot seemed stagnant at this point. But soon, the story got back to it's fast-pace and my attention was piqued again.

Last Night at Chateau Marmont is an enjoyable book with a little more to it than the traditional "chick-lits". Like in The Devil Wears Prada, the author has again portrayed the dark side of fame. It's a compelling depiction of how even the strongest of relationships fail when it comes to pursuing one's ambitions and quest for fame. I was expecting a no-brainer; instead it turned out to be almost a thought-provoking portrayal of a marriage in trouble.

Overall:
Lots of fun! Meant for a light read.

Recommended?
Yes, especially if you liked The Devil Wears Prada or just want a fun read.
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Dec 24, 2010 Andreea rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, horrendous-reads

I remember liking The Devil Wears Prada when I read it a few years ago. So, finding myself in the airport and in need of a book for the plane I picked this one up, thinking it would be an OK chick flick. I usually don't have that high expectations from a chick flick, but this really disappointed me.
To begin with, the plot is not that bad. But it is also predictable and the path things are going is is not hard to foresee from the first chapters. There's Brooke, a nutritionist and her rockstar wa...more

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Dec 11, 2010 Sheela rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a disappointing return of Lauren Weisberger. She's one of my favorite chick-lit authors (...or dare I say one of my favorite authors, period?). She has a way of writing that's neither cliche or predictable, and she always depicts her characters as realistic, relatable, and authentic. But, this book was all sorts of wrong. First off, how many times can you write, "Brooke wanted to say..." or "Brooke was thinking, but never could come up with the words..." or "Brooke thought to herself, but w...more

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Dec 03, 2010 Rosanne rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 13, 2010 Kathleen Hagen added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-audio-books, 2010fiction

Last Night at Chateau Marmont, by Lauren Weisberger, narrated by Merritt Wever, Produced by Simon and Schuster, downloaded from audible.com.

Brooke and her best friend, Nola, are sitting at a neighborhood bar one night when they hear this very soulful piano player and singer. Brooke is immediately taken with him and asks the bartender where else he plays. She finds that he plays in a bar in the East Village every Tuesday night, and she starts showing up for all his Tuesday night gigs, but she nev...more

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Aug 31, 2010 Gail Cooke rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ever wish that you could actually have everything you've dreamed of, that all you've worked and hoped for would really come true? That happened to Brooke and Julian Alter. All their dreams came true and more. It was the more that was the problem.

With LAST NIGHT AT CHATEAU MARMONT Lauren Weisberger (The Devil Wears Prada) has created another tale about the world of celebs and a young woman who wants to be part of it, but when that happens decides it's not such a good idea after all. In this cas...more

Ever wish that you could actually have everything you've dreamed of, that all you've worked and hoped for would really come true? That happened to Brooke and Julian Alter. All their dreams came true and more. It was the more that was the problem.

With LAST NIGHT AT CHATEAU MARMONT Lauren Weisberger (The Devil Wears Prada) has created another tale about the world of celebs and a young woman who wants to be part of it, but when that happens decides it's not such a good idea after all. In this case it's not just one young woman but a young husband and wife, Julian, an aspiring singer/songwriter, and Brooke, a nutritionist who some day hopes to have her own practice. Meanwhile she's working two jobs (a nutritionist at a NYU hospital and a counselor at an Upper East Side girls school) to support them because she knows, just absolutely knows that he's brilliant and soon that brilliance will be recognized,

Well, at last it is after Julian gets his big break – performing on the Jay Leno show. Before long his music is nearing the top of the Grammy charts, he's signed by Sony, and asked to tour with Maroon 5. Yes, this is thrilling, exciting to the max, but it soon puts a strain on their relationship when Brooke isn't able to keep her jobs in check and be with Julian when he performs. In addition, her once laid back husband is now sporting a designer wardrobe, his picture appears regularly in the gossipy Last Night, and he's managed by a conniving agent,Leo, who thinks any publicity is good publicity.

Speaking of publicity, when Brooke sees Julian and a strange girl wrapped around each other at the Chateau Marmont in photos spread all over Last Night she cannot believe her eyes. But, there for the world to see is a shot of the girl leaving Julian's room at six in the a.m.

What has happened to their once loving, trusting relationship, and what really happened LAST NIGHT AT CHATEAU MARMONT?

When Weisberger creates characters she does it with a flare for satire and comedy, such as a plastic surgeon father-in-law who had offered to redo Brooke's breasts at cost when she and Julian became engaged, and a hot young rock star who give Brooke sage advice after the photos surface: “Start spending that money immediately.......don't cut off your nose to spite your face.”

Dispense with credibility, smile, and enjoy.

- Gail Cooke (less)

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Jul 01, 2012 gille rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiftyfiftyme

I recently read Everyone Worth Knowing and I loved it. Last Night at Chateau Marmont? Not so much. It followed the structure of EWK so closely - a young woman gets thrown into the spotlight and tabloids overnight. Celebrity names abound. Yadda yadda yadda. I felt like yelling "Hey Lauren, you already did this, just a little different!" So that was lame.

Actually, it's kind of a strange coincidence that I read this book randomly right now. My boyfriend is currently in Japan on tour with his band...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Dana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, contemporary

Compared to Chasing Harry Winston, Last Night at Chateau Marmont is a masterpiece. However, as just another chick-lit novel, it’s decent.

If I hated CHW book so much, why would I pick up another book by the same author? I suppose it’s my weak spot for musicians? Or the plot seemed a little bit more interesting? To be honest, I have no idea why I picked this up, but I’m not entirely regretting it.

Lauren Weisberger seemed to learn a bit more about characterization since she wrote CHW. I actually ha...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Cheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though there are some glaring problems with it.

My first is just nit-picking but it really annoyed me to the point I had to re-read the first chapter again as I couldn't take much in:
page 2: "Brooke had nothing but a tiny (and admittedly cute) silver clutch to sheild herself from the onslaught." (It was raining)
page 5: " ... Brooke asked as she arranged her coat on the chair next to her and tossed her dripping umbrella underneath the table."
Now, I know it's not...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, owned-books

Brooke and Julian and are a Manhattan couple who dated for two years and have been married for five. She is a nutritionist working two jobs (totally 60 hours a week, minimum) to support the dreams of her talented, musician husband. When Sony comes to him with a recording contract and his career begins to take off (or maybe a better word would be skyrocket), the stresses and strains on the relationship quickly become apparent. Brooke has worked long and hard to develop her career and is trying to...more

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Nov 15, 2010 Carla rated it 4 of 5 stars

I chose this book for my chick lit fix and it didn't disappoint. Written by Lauren Weisberger, there is some of the same angst we saw in The Devil Wears Prada when Brooke doesn't readily accept the current trends going on around her since she is happily married and has no pressure to conform. This all changes when her husband drops his first single to national success. Suddenly her world changes completely and she struggles to maintain the life she has known and loved while trying to accept the...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Janet Morris rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: friends, family, chick-lit lovers

Shelves: genre-chick-lit, misc-fluff, misc-possible-beach-books, misc-heart-breaking, read-in-2012, genre-romance

I've never read a book by Weisberger before, though I have seen the popular movie based on her debut novel. I didn't know if she would actually have talent or if she was just another snarky person whose success came from vilifying people she knows. Well, I figured it out. She does have some talent, and if she works on it, she might one day write truly great stories.

She did a great job with the characters. I felt bad for Brooke at times during the story, but also felt that she was just as much to...more

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Nov 18, 2010 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 29, 2012 Elena rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-book-challenge-100

Warning, the description/synopsis/summary on the Goodreads page is WRONG> http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/80...

"A Cinderella story in reverse—without the happily ever after: Our heroine met her hero in college and found herself supporting him through his attempts at rockstardom. When he finally hits the big-time, she thinks their life is now complete... until she’s dumped for a hot Brazilian supermodel. She finds a sisterhood of women who’ve been dumped for the bitch of success and are h...more Warning, the description/synopsis/summary on the Goodreads page is WRONG> http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/80...

"A Cinderella story in reverse—without the happily ever after: Our heroine met her hero in college and found herself supporting him through his attempts at rockstardom. When he finally hits the big-time, she thinks their life is now complete... until she’s dumped for a hot Brazilian supermodel. She finds a sisterhood of women who’ve been dumped for the bitch of success and are hell bent on revenge "

What?!?!?!?! I listened to the Audio verson of this book (as per the link above) and THAT was the description/synopsis. I'm sorry, did i miss something?!?!!?

This is SOOOOO NOT what happens in this book!!! Nowhere does he meet a hot Brazillian supermodel, nor does he dump his wife at any point. The "sisterhood" of women are mentioned only ONCE and she does not even join them because she thinks they are a bunch of scorned, bitter women. So > who wrote this description and did they even read the book?!!? Because the point was sorely missed... The whole time i kept waiting for the Brazillian model to appear and for them to break up - only to realize that this description is maybe about a first draft of this book, that had since been rewritten and published....

My Review
This book got 2* and was "ok" because it was not boring and moved along quickly. However, it was REALLY annoying in terms of me HATING both characters and their actions/attitudes.

Wife (Brooke) supports husband (Julian), for 5 years, while he tries to become a musician. She works two jobs as a nutritionist (ummm, author talks about med school and residency?! WHAT?! this is a non-graduate degree job... usually a college certificate is all nutritionists have - not even university dipoloma is needed...) when Julian finally gets discovered and becomes a megastar over-night (very realistic - not!). You would think this is what the couple wants, right?! Well - this is when problems start, since neither is ready to deal with the stress of fame and Julian's long absences from home. Brook still insists on working BOTH jobs, even though they are rich now and it would have made more sense for her to stick to a job she loves and try to further her career, not work herself to death doing double shifts. On the other hand, Julian is starstruck and wants her to drop her responsibilities and career and follow him wherever he does (mostly gigs and parties). They start miscommunicating at the beginning of the book and by the first half they have already stopped communicating - he becomes selfish, self-centered and spoiled "new-rich" and she is whiny and obsessive about her privacy (hates reporters) and does not share her concerns properly with her husband. (view spoiler)

Overall, their problems were just stressing me out, since each time there was a problem, i thought i had a solution that they were not even considering until it was too late...

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Oct 05, 2010 Ozma rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: signed-by-the-author

I always love a good Lauren Weisberger! She is very consistent -- always a good read with a compelling female lead I can identify with in one way or the other. My only complaint is that she doesn't write books quick enough! I thought she was a one-hit wonder with "The Devil Wears Prada," but she has 3 books, including this one, that I have truly enjoyed! While some may argue they are not "high literature" necessarily, I will respond, what other has the boldness to describing taking a hot bath, r...more

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About Lauren Weisberger

Lauren Weisberger was born March 28, 1977, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a locale recently made even more chic, if possible, by The Office. She was joined four years later by sister Dana, a.k.a. The Family Favorite, and moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, at age eleven. At Parkland High School, Lauren participated in all sorts of projects, activities, and organizations for the sole purpose of padding h...more Lauren Weisberger was born March 28, 1977, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a locale recently made even more chic, if possible, by The Office. She was joined four years later by sister Dana, a.k.a. The Family Favorite, and moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, at age eleven. At Parkland High School, Lauren participated in all sorts of projects, activities, and organizations for the sole purpose of padding her college application, although she did genuinely enjoy playing varsity tennis (especially when the girl who should have played first singles incurred a season-ending injury and Lauren had no choice but to step in for the team).

Once matriculated at Cornell University, all civic-minded extracurriculars fell by the wayside. There, she focused her energy on securing a steady stream of fake IDs and dating boys from the right fraternities. After graduating in 1999 with a BA in English, Lauren moved home for the summer to save money and then traveled all over Europe, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Thailand, India, Nepal, and Hong Kong. She carried a single small backpack and stayed in questionable places, further enriching her authentic cultural experiences by eating only Nutella and drinking Coca-Cola Light.

Lauren's first job after returning to the U.S. and moving to Manhattan was the Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour. Lauren became proficient in the language of stilettos and Starbucks before moving to Departures magazine, where she wrote 100-word reviews by day and took writing classes at night. The Devil Wears Prada, begun at the Writer's Voice, was published in April 2003, and spent six months on The New York Times Bestseller List. It was sold in thirty-one foreign countries and made into a major motion picture by Fox 2000 starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. Lauren has a half-second cameo in the film that even she is hard-pressed to locate after several viewings. Her second novel, Everyone Worth Knowing, was published in October 2005 and is also a New York Times Bestseller.
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