Don't Make a Scene: Struggles of a Celebrity PA

by Merryl Futerman

Celebrity PA Maddy Sparks has put her aspirations on hold to dash round London fulfilling the requests of her demanding clients. Acting as surrogate mother, best friend and therapist, Maddy is much more than just an assistant but feels stuck. That is, until her real ambition to become a screenwriter is reignited after a throwaway comment to Casper - a bitchy showrunner - and turns into a side hustle on his TV series.



When he has a brush with the law, Casper expects Maddy to smooth things over like always, but how far is she prepared to go to realise her dream? Coerced and compromised, she turns to her network of fellow PAs.



As a celebrity PA with 25 years' experience working for some of the UK's best-known names, author Merryl Futerman is perfectly placed to give a glimpse into this world in her fun, fast-paced debut novel.

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 19, 2023

About the author

Merryl Futerman started her career in publishing. Lured by the bright lights of showbusiness, she moved over to the film industry. In 1997 she set up as a freelance Celebrity PA, truly believing it was a role she had created. Over the last twenty-five years she has supported some of the biggest names in UK entertainment including Jonathan Ross, Anne Robinson and Julian Clary.
During the pandemic her work dried up, so she turned her full attention to the novel she had been working away at for years, the result is “Don’t Make a Scene: Struggles of a Celebrity PA”.

Reviews

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally immersive with great characters - I couldn’t put this mile a minute feel good frolic down!

‘My life may be a mess right now, but I can’t rely on anyone else to sort things out for me. Isn’t sorting lives out what I’m supposed to be good at?’ (Page 249)

I loved this! It’s full of women supporting women as we follow smart, sassy Maddy Sparks as she navigates her way through
the ups and downs of being a celebrity PA.

I hope there’s going to be a sequel…!

Entertaining, amusing and full of heart.

[Mark Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fizzy debut marking the arrival of a talented storyteller with a knack for stirring together humour and heart. You’ll find plenty of laughs, insight and spirit, relatable emotional truths, and the muddy path to self-actualization. For readers seeking a propulsive, upbeat page-turner, Don’t Make a Scene delivers an addictively fun ride.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good light and fluffy look at an interesting job, and a young woman gaining some wisdom and experience.

It took until 85% of the book for her to finally stand up for herself! And I wasn't sure if she ever would. That made reading the book kind of exhausting, tbh.

[Eve Weisz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it so much, constantly entertained. I loved the characters, the stories were so funny I didn’t want the book to end. 😍

[Phoebe Epstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book and it was everything I hoped for and more!
It is fast-paced, funny and gripping - a really entertaining insight into the weird and wonderful world of a celebrity PA, with well written characters (the loveable and the hateable) and a captivating plot. I was rooting for Maddy right from the start - can’t wait for the sequel!

[Olivia Plouts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and fast-paced read, I immediately loved Maddy and was swept up in her life and those involved. The book provides an interesting insight into the world of a celebrity PA which seems at once exhilarating and unrelenting and leaves you wondering how people can be so demanding! If you’re looking for a witty, amusing and immersive novel then you must give this a go!

[Martha Epstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, I couldn’t put it down - I was immediately swept up in this fast, funny and moving story giving an insight into the weird and wonderful world of the rich and famous. Snappy dialogue and believable characters kept me hooked all the way to the last page. I was rooting for Maddy, and can’t wait to see what she does next - crossing my fingers for a sequel!

[Thesil Verfish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightfully entertaining excursion into the lives of celebrities and the long-suffering people who keep those lives on the tracks. Characters are well-drawn, scenarios variously comic and sad, and you really care what happens to Maddy at the centre of their many maelstroms. The story rocks along apace. Highly recommended.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent Escapism

[Sue Thorpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4 ⭐️'s