Perfect Red

by Jennie Nash

It's 1952 in New York City, the height of the Red Scare. When the sheltered secretary of a prominent editor becomes obsessed with the story of a glamorous French lipstick, she becomes convinced that it was the book she was born to write. To do so, however, she must overcome her belief that surrendering to passion of any kind is dangerous -- especially when she enters into a high stakes game of kiss and tell with the editor’s star author, who is in desperate need of a bestseller and a muse. They fight for the right to tell the tale, and ultimately, for the right of an author to tell their own truth.

“A whipsmart, wildly original ride that’s a heady mix of chemistry, politics, mystery, obsession and a 1950's heroine daring to find her way. The writing sparkles on the page, and the essential question — what would you do for your passion? — becomes as provocative as it haunting. Perfect Red is more than perfect — it’s absolutely dazzling.” — Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures Of You

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical

270 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2012

About the author

Jennie Nash is the founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, a company that trains book coaches to help writers bring their books to life. For twelve years, writers serious about reaching readers have trusted Jennie to coach their projects from inspiration to publication. Her clients have landed top New York agents, national book awards, and deals with houses such as Scribner, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette. Jennie is the author of 9 books in 3 genres. She taught for 13 years in the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program, is an instructor at CreativeLive.com and speaks on podcasts and at writing conferences all over the country. Learn more about being coached or becoming a coach at bookcoaches.com or authoraccelerator.com

Reviews

[KathyAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

~Death sits so close to love, and creation sits so close to destruction, and without the risk of everything flying apart, nothing will hold together.~

What a pleasant surprise this book turned out to be. I will admit, I was rolling my eyes a little at the thought of women going bonkers over a tube of lipstick. I don't even own lipstick myself and would never in a million years wait in line for a tube of one no matter how magnificent people thought it was. But, there's hardly anything I would wait in line for... I'm too impatient.

This is a wonderful story set in the 1950's. And, the entire story is built around "Perfect Red" which is the most perfect shade of red lipstick that somehow compliments all women. It's also a time when people fear being accused of associating with communists and the slightest association or accusation would bring people to be questioned and possibly imprisoned. I love the way the author seemed to be able to weave the color red and it's significance throughout the story and yes, it did make me think about how much we can interpret or assume from the color itself. Red is the color we think of when we think of Marilyn Monroe... we also think of it when we hear the word communism... but, it also represents passion, love, death, authority and power. And, I'm sure there's more...

Lucy wants to be a writer. Not an easy task in the 1950's for a woman who is "just" a secretary. She is inspired to write a story based on the hype created by this lipstick. Her journey to become a writer is full of disappointments and betrayal.

My favorite part of the story had to be the point where Lucy realizes the difference between passion and love against obsession and lust. Two very different things...

The story did start a little slowly for me and I nearly put it down and opted not to finish it but felt compelled to continue. Once the story started to pick up pace I was completely drawn in and did not move from my reading spot until I was done. I truly planned on hating this book but ended up loving it and actually shed a few tears towards the end.

Highly recommend!

For this review and more visit:

http://ktbookreviews.blogspot.com/

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book

I could not put this book down. The story had my full attention from the first word to the last and then I wished for more. Jennie Nash is a truly talented author.

[Brie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the dizzying world of 1950's New York publishing world this story has many surprising twists and turns.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book, but too heavy on the creative/writing process that functions as a subplot of the story

[Enchanted Prose · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHY A PERFECT READ: If you harbor a pre-conceived notion that a self-published book is a 2nd class citizen, then you should check out this movie-like, very entertaining novel. Perfect Red manages to be both light-hearted charming and seriously smart, a romance filled with drama, simple and complex, sweet idealism and harsh realities – an endearing story about passion and the consequences of pursuing one’s dreams.

The time is 1952. The place is Manhattan’s powerful and thriving publishing world, when the country is dreamily experiencing a wave of consumerism. Yet the political backdrop is the McCarthy era, when Hollywood celebrities and ordinary citizens are being accused of being communists, having to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Refreshing told in the young and bold female voice of Lucy Lawrence, who deftly manages to act innocently and maturely. She’s delightful, willing to endure great personal risks to pursue her passion of becoming a writer. She does not fit the stereotype of a 90 wpm typist, but that’s how we meet her, working in the typing pool of a major publishing company. She’s awfully bright, a marvelous reader and frequenter of the Inkwell bookshop. She’s got literary talent and an idea for a perfect novel about a chemist whose magic and passion has created the most perfect color red lipstick. The novel haunts her. She undertakes a number of steps to bring it to life, feel-good steps and dangerous ones.

Her novel’s inspiration comes from her father, who is a DuPont chemist at an historic time for chemical discoveries (penicillin, polio vaccine, nylon). It’s also a time when women really are clamoring for Isadora Stella’s “Perfect Red” lipstick “with the same breathlessness that people on the subway spoke about General Eisenhower’s campaign for President or the Yankees race for the pennant.” But: “Nothing is dyed red by chance. You use red for a specific reason whether it’s for love, for fertility, for happiness – you make it red on purpose.”

Jennie Nash’s prose is clever and evocative. My image of Lucy is a blonde version of Audrey Hepburn elegantly clad in white kid gloves, bright-eyed and naïve, yet possessed with an obsession to understand the real meaning of real passion. The language is so clean and good you can picture Lucy climbing the stairs to her room at the Barbizon hotel, sipping Coca Cola at the Horn & Hardart with her bookstore confidant Jeffrey, typing away on her turquoise Royal typewriter, infatuated with a famous writer. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is only a romantic comedy or that it is a shallow tale about wearing the right shade of lipstick. There’s much more, cleverly here.

If you visit Jennie Nash’s website, you’ll see she’s no stranger to the publishing world. She worked at Random House and her first three novels (she’s also written two memoirs) were published by mainstream publishers. I kept wondering why she chose the self-publishing route for her fourth novel. You’ll find the answer on her website. Interestingly, Perfect Red is being self-published in the US, and also being published in 2013 in Italy by Rizzoli. There’s an experimental spirit and freshness about this novel, including the fact that Nash provides the reader with several deleted scenes, something you see on DVDs and hear authors explain they’ve done but aren’t privy to see. Nash invites you to come along on the ride with this novel.

The advanced copy of Perfect Red I received was wrapped with a bright-red ribbon, accompanied by sharp marketing materials that matched the prose. I explained I would have to “love” the novel to blog about it. You can tell that happened, so much so I ordered two of Nash’s earlier novels, The Only True Genius in the Family (2009, Penguin/Berkeley Publishing and The Threadbare Heart (2010, Penguin/Berkeley Publishing).

Happy Reading, Lorraine (EnchantedProse.com)

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book through First Reads.

There were both outstanding strengths and weaknesses to this book, which cancel each other out and lead to my overall rating of this book as "average."

Strengths:
-Creates a great early 1950s New York City atmosphere - I really felt like I was there in the city with the characters.
-This story is told from the first person point of view in a way that is very believable. In other words, I feel like "Perfect Red" was really written by Lucy Lawrence, the narrator, not Jennie Nash, the real-life writer. I'm not sure if this was intended or not, but it was the feeling I got, nonetheless!
-The story was very unique, in that I never would have thought that an entire book could be centered around a tube of lipstick! I was from the start very interested to see how the story would sustain itself for 270 pages. Overall, it did pretty well in this respect. I never felt "bored" by the book.

Weaknesses:
-More space should have been devoted to character development. We get to know Lucy Lawrence relatively well, but TJ Wright and Jeffrey (two of the most important characters in the book) remain flat and one-dimensional. This is especially true of Jeffrey - being that he becomes someone very important in Lucy's life, the reader should feel like they know him on at least a basic level.
-The dialogue lacks sophistication and comes across as quite false at certain points - almost "soap opera-ish." In other words, at points in the book the way the characters speak with each other is not the way that people speak with each other in real-life.
-While I'll admit that I'm not a writer and can't verify my assumptions 100%, the process through which Lucy becomes a successful published writer seems extremely unbelievable, and happens way too quickly and painlessly. A novice writer might be mislead by the rosy picture this book paints regarding the path to publishing success.
-On the technical side - there were a very large amount of typos and grammatical errors throughout this book. They were quite distracting and detracted from one's ability to remain immersed in the story.

Overall, I would recommend this book for those who enjoy books set in the 1950s and for struggling writers. It is something to read once as a light read. I would consider reading other books by Jennie Nash (for this was indeed the first book of hers that I read).

[Kourtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through the First Reads giveaways and I was highly impressed!

Lucy Lawrence is only a secretary who aspires to become more than that. In fact, she doesn't just want to type, she wants to be a writer. An element that made this story engaging was the time period it was set in, the 1950's. This was near the height of Communism, which is something I hadn't been exposed to in a novel before. I loved that this novel was about lipstick, strangely enough. So much went on in this story. Lucy is a real, likable character who stands out because she doesn't try her hardest to fit in. I think she was the perfect protagonist.

Perfect Red kept me on edge and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! Thank you Goodreads and a huge thanks to Jennie Nash for this wonderful novel!

[Holly Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in McCarthy-era New York, Perfect Red is the story of one young woman coming of age and grappling with her sexuality, her urge to be the perfect professional secretary, and her own ambition to write the novel that's haunting her. This is a delightfully fast read that will stay with you long after you finish the book, as you ponder your own career path and the choices you've made to achieve your goals--both good and bad. It will also make you realize how far we've come as women, and how important it is to never compromise your beliefs--or your integrity. Jennie Nash really knows how to spin a story that will keep you turning the pages all night.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Perfect Red" is a thoroughly enjoyable read. The early years after World War II is an era filled with emotional ups and downs. It is in this world of joy of victory, tempered by the McCarthy witch hunts, that Lucy, secretary to a New York book editor, moves. The novel is a fast-moving page turner, and you "feel" for Lucy every step of the way as deception follows deception. The characters are all very finely drawn, no confusing one with another here, and the dialogue spot-on. The plot is totally original, and for avid readers, any insight into the high stakes world of book publishing is a bonus. Forget Pink Pleasure or Misty Mango - "Perfect Red" is passion personified.

[Carol Balawyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy Lawrence is a strong female character who will linger warmly in your heart. Her integrity and determination to become a writer is a model for anyone who is pursuing a writing career.

Jennie Nash's historical page-turner about the publishing industry in the fifties will take you into the world of corruption, of love and lust, of the cosmetic empire selling romance through the perfect red lipstick and the power of speaking your heart's truth.

For anyone who loves a good love story and wants to know what publishing was like before social media came on the scene his is a book not to be missed.

[Reading Fool · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received am Advance Reader's Copy of this book.

This was a fast, entertaining read. Set in 1950's New York, the story is about Lucy Lawrence, a young secretary who wants to be a writer. She has a story in her head that has taken hold and she needs to find the courage to put it down on paper. An interesting perspective on how it is to be a writer and how the creative process is. Congrats to the author on this book.

[Christine Carminati · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the entire premise of this book. That a lipstick color could have such an enormous effect on the character, Lucy Lawrence, and her entire family was a stroke of genius by the author. The 1950's NYC setting is very well utilized, pulling the reader into Lucy's world. Well done. I've read other Jennie Nash novels and will be looking for more.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel is set in the 1950’s during the McCarthy-era. Lucy Lawrence wants more out of life than just the typing pool; she wants to be a writer. The publishing community is male dominated and getting anyone to take her seriously as a writer leads Lucy down a path of danger and romance.
This book was hard to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was actually very surprised by how much I enjoyed reading PERFECT RED. I knew very little about the McCarthy era going in, so this was actually rather interesting & gave the story more depth than I had expected. It was a quick read for me & I would recommend.

[Dorine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading a signed first copy of this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. If you want a fast read about a 1950s young woman who wants to become a writer (against the odds of a man's world and the McCarthy hearings), this is the book for you. Loved the ending, too. Great job, Jennie Nash!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

supberb, a real pleasant surprise. who knew I would enjoy reading an entire book whose plot surrounded a particular shade of lipstick? And what could be better than a setting of New York City in the 1950's?

[Nancy LaPonzina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seriously? So cliched

The opening pages were so filled with cliche images and themes from the 1950s before even getting to know the heroine that I couldn't read further. I expected so much more with Lisa Cron's name acknowledged and was so disappointed. Had to put it down.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as a quick read. I don't know much about the McCarthy era or the beauty industry. Still the story was intriguing and fun to read. I received a copy from Goodreads First Reads.

[Kate Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The desire, the obsession and the conclusion had me riveted to my seat.This is a quick read, a nice escape. I always like Jennie's books

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - a nice mix of drama and historical intrigue. I've been interested in the McCarthy era, but usually only find crime novels set in that time. This was a great story.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars seems harsh, but I "liked it." It was interesting and kept me reading. What kept me from loving it was that it was a bit rushed and I would have liked a little more character development.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

review to follow

[Wendy Kennar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing! I felt like I was transported into an entirely different time and place, and I had to keep reading to find out what would happen.