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Tan Lines
During one unforgettable season at a Hamptons summer share, three women's journeys unfold thrill by thrill and shock by shock, in this addictive story about the illusions of glamour, the dark side of success and the elusiveness of love.
Liza PikeShe's the It Girl for topical feminist spinbeautiful, successful, and ferociously fearless. But as the media props her up to be the millennium's new Gloria Steinem, she's falling into all the old traps she cautions other women to avoid...
Kellyanne DowneyShe's been holding out for her big break as an actress while enduring a series of dead end jobs and playing mistress to a rich developer. But now she's wondering why the phenomenal looks that were supposed to take her all the way are leading her to the edge of nowhere...
Billie SheltonShe's the indie-rock bitch goddess with an appetite for self-destruction. Men are candy, drugs are fuel, girlfriends are disposable commodities, and in her world, looking out for number one is the only way to live...
Tan Lines portrays the passions, triumphs, and heartbreaks of modern women with a sly intelligence and wickedly sharp prose that will hook you to the last page.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2008
12 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
J.J. Salem
9 books14 followersJ.J. Salem is a USA TODAY bestselling author whose work has been published in several languages.
As a young teenager, J.J. worked odd jobs to splurge on the hardcover edition of Jackie Collins’ HOLLYWOOD WIVES. At 15, his first attempt at something Jackie-ish, a short story called “Tempt Me,” was banned from a high school creative writing contest. In college, he studied Jacqueline Susann’s VALLEY OF THE DOLLS as the primary subject of his master’s thesis in American Studies. He has
published 22 books in a wide array of genres, including suspense, romance, chick-lit, teen fiction, and celebrity biography.
J.J. currently resides in the American South, where he is at work on a new novel. His hobbies include tennis, interior design, animals, and all facets of popular culture.
As a young teenager, J.J. worked odd jobs to splurge on the hardcover edition of Jackie Collins’ HOLLYWOOD WIVES. At 15, his first attempt at something Jackie-ish, a short story called “Tempt Me,” was banned from a high school creative writing contest. In college, he studied Jacqueline Susann’s VALLEY OF THE DOLLS as the primary subject of his master’s thesis in American Studies. He has
published 22 books in a wide array of genres, including suspense, romance, chick-lit, teen fiction, and celebrity biography.
J.J. currently resides in the American South, where he is at work on a new novel. His hobbies include tennis, interior design, animals, and all facets of popular culture.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
September 5, 2011
Wow. This book is incredibly raunchy! However, that's what makes it a great summer beach read in the tradition of Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins. Sex (gay AND straight), drugs, rock & roll, reality TV - you name it, this book has it. Definitely not a book for the faint-of-heart.
It's a quick read, and even though the 3 main characters are annoying in the beginning (you wonder how they can be so stupid), you do become invested in the story and in finding out how they are going to fix (or in one case, ruin) their lives.
What really annoyed me, however, was the constant references to brand names. Did I really need to know the brand name of every piece of clothing Liza put on for a date, including her bracelets and fragrance, not to mention her shoes and bag. I don't mind a brand name here and there, but in this book they were constant, and the book started to read more like a luxury goods catalog.
The ending was a bit rushed and disappointing. As I got towards the end of the book I actually wondered if I was missing a bunch of pages, because I couldn't believe the story was going to be over in just 10 pages. The Page Six style epilogue wrapped things up just a little too neatly.
January 28, 2009
This book is pure, wonderful smut....and I loved every minute of it. I wouldn't recommend it for the easily offended. It gets pretty graphic in some parts. But, if you just want a fun, eye brow raising book to read, this is it.
May 23, 2015
This book had a slow start but ended well! Says something about seeing a book through to the finish !
May 6, 2022
Loved, loved, loved this naughty book. This is a fun, dirty little book to read around the pool this summer. This is the story of three very different women spending the summer together in the Hamptons. What these women get up to in the course of three months will blow your mind. Not for the faint-of-heart though, lots of filthy language, sex and drug use. The ending of the book is jolting. Be prepared. Wish JJ would write a sequel .
July 13, 2008
Liza Pike has the perfect life. She is married to sexy, firefighter Justin. Also Liza is a regular on the TV show The Roundtable where she does her best work. She takes on the biggest names in the industry business of entertainment. Liza is a feminist who is huge on women’s rights. Her latest victim is movie director Harrison Beck of “Watch Her Bleed”. Harrison’s latest movie is a slasher movie. Some people applaud Liza’s feminist ways but others aren’t so pleased with her and want to shut her up for good but who could it be? There are numerous people who don’t like Liza like Harrison who Liza has commented on national television about his manhood, than there is her husband Justin; they haven’t had sex in years and when Liza states this fact in front of one of her co-workers, Justin is mad. When Liza starts receiving death threats she doesn’t take them too seriously as she knows she has made enemies in the business and doesn’t care. So are the threats just someone’s way to put Liza in her place or are the threats for real?
Kellyanne Downey is young, beautiful, and blonde. She is also the mistress to rich developer, Walter Isherwood. Kellyanne wants to be a successful actress. She gets approached by Brad “Bonzi” Lucas, producer for a reality show called “Soul Mates”. Kellyanne agrees to be a contestant on the show not realizes what a sleaze Brad is. Brad decides that he is going to make Kellyanne out to be the drunk slut of the show unless she sleeps with him. All Kellyanne wants is some respect and to be loved is that too hard to ask?
Billie Shelton is a famous rock star. Unfortunately Billie’s star is falling fast, that is until she is given a second chance. Amy Dando, Billie’s manger introduces Billie to Todd Bana of Olympic Records, who wants to work with Billie. Todd tells Billie that the
White Tiger, a songwriting group has some songs that they think would be great for Billie. The only hitch is that Billie would have to change her image from rock star to pop star. Billie experiences the high life when Todd has her try cocaine for the first time. Now between drinking and drugs, it will be a miracle if Billie completes her next album.
So these three friends decide to try and get away from their hectic lives and spend the summer in The Hamptons.
Ok so Tan Lines has been labeled as a great beach read and I say Tan Lines is a great read anytime. It has laugh a minute humor, fun, intrigue, adventure and three sexy women. Each one of the characters Liza, Kellyanne, and Billie were outstanding in their own ways. The nice part I liked about this book was that they all tried to band together to help each other out. Tan Lines is a book you can tell your girlfriends about and have them talking about it for a long time. Plus the most amazing thing is that Tan Lines was written by a man! J.J. Salem has just become a new favorite of mine. There has only been one other guy author where I have found his writing style to be so dead on with women’s’ personalities that it was scary. I can’t wait for J.J. Salem’s next novel Bikini Wax to drop. In the mean time if you haven’t picked up a copy yet of Tan Lines make sure to ……run not walk to the nearest bookstore and get yourself a copy today.
Kellyanne Downey is young, beautiful, and blonde. She is also the mistress to rich developer, Walter Isherwood. Kellyanne wants to be a successful actress. She gets approached by Brad “Bonzi” Lucas, producer for a reality show called “Soul Mates”. Kellyanne agrees to be a contestant on the show not realizes what a sleaze Brad is. Brad decides that he is going to make Kellyanne out to be the drunk slut of the show unless she sleeps with him. All Kellyanne wants is some respect and to be loved is that too hard to ask?
Billie Shelton is a famous rock star. Unfortunately Billie’s star is falling fast, that is until she is given a second chance. Amy Dando, Billie’s manger introduces Billie to Todd Bana of Olympic Records, who wants to work with Billie. Todd tells Billie that the
White Tiger, a songwriting group has some songs that they think would be great for Billie. The only hitch is that Billie would have to change her image from rock star to pop star. Billie experiences the high life when Todd has her try cocaine for the first time. Now between drinking and drugs, it will be a miracle if Billie completes her next album.
So these three friends decide to try and get away from their hectic lives and spend the summer in The Hamptons.
Ok so Tan Lines has been labeled as a great beach read and I say Tan Lines is a great read anytime. It has laugh a minute humor, fun, intrigue, adventure and three sexy women. Each one of the characters Liza, Kellyanne, and Billie were outstanding in their own ways. The nice part I liked about this book was that they all tried to band together to help each other out. Tan Lines is a book you can tell your girlfriends about and have them talking about it for a long time. Plus the most amazing thing is that Tan Lines was written by a man! J.J. Salem has just become a new favorite of mine. There has only been one other guy author where I have found his writing style to be so dead on with women’s’ personalities that it was scary. I can’t wait for J.J. Salem’s next novel Bikini Wax to drop. In the mean time if you haven’t picked up a copy yet of Tan Lines make sure to ……run not walk to the nearest bookstore and get yourself a copy today.
November 14, 2022
It’s a trashy beach read. Not much else to say.
October 30, 2011
Pure and utter ridiculous scandal and drama! Really contributed nothing to the betterment of my brain, but it was pure emjoyment. Sometimes you just need that!
July 4, 2017
Every inside cover blurb and review makes this out to be the ultimate beach read and it is quick, mindless storytelling. On the other hand, you may feel more like slashing your wrists than breaking out the wine and swimsuit when you're done. I've read Valley of the Dolls, Chances, Lonely Lady, etc. I enjoy my glamour trash as much as the next person, but this story was particularly soulless. It had the necessary ingredients of sex, drugs, drama and even some rock n' roll, but held no heart or significant internal development for its lead characters. Frankly, I found its portrayal of both sexes overly bleak and insulting. Nearly every male character is out to use, abuse, exploit, manipulate or insult women for their own end and toss them aside when they become inconvenient. Every female character is vacuous, immature, flighty, and seemingly incapable of making reasonable choices. What's even more sad is that it seemed as if the author was genuinely trying to approach gender issues or make some sort of statement about the exploitation of women, but he ends up just giving a confusing tone that defends women superficially while simultaneously, unconsciously drawing ugly, cliche conclusions about them.
And don't get me started on the plot. The synopsis sells this as a reunion of three sexy friends at a summer home in the Hamptons with drama and debauchery focused beachside. But in fact, 80-90% of Tan Lines focuses on their uninspired daily lives leading up to and surrounding the Hampton vacation. I hope you like dull cab conversations, meetings at productions houses, cancelled studio recordings, and drawn out internal monologues with brief, intermittent dirty sex.
And don't get me started on the plot. The synopsis sells this as a reunion of three sexy friends at a summer home in the Hamptons with drama and debauchery focused beachside. But in fact, 80-90% of Tan Lines focuses on their uninspired daily lives leading up to and surrounding the Hampton vacation. I hope you like dull cab conversations, meetings at productions houses, cancelled studio recordings, and drawn out internal monologues with brief, intermittent dirty sex.
June 23, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, took a quick disliking to Walter who treated poor Kellyanne like a sex slave. Thankfully she begins to see the light after meeting widow Tucker and his 4 year old son Parks.
Billie, Billie, Billie, this is a train wreck leading to nowhere good. 1 hit wonder rock star rock chick, that get so entangled in her drug addiction that she doesn't know night from day.
Liza a loud voice feminist who makes her voice and opinions heard. Married to Justin a every day fireman, who turns out to having sex with men but isn't gay. More enjoys it as a hobby.... really, just really!?!?!?!
Well written J.J Salem
Billie, Billie, Billie, this is a train wreck leading to nowhere good. 1 hit wonder rock star rock chick, that get so entangled in her drug addiction that she doesn't know night from day.
Liza a loud voice feminist who makes her voice and opinions heard. Married to Justin a every day fireman, who turns out to having sex with men but isn't gay. More enjoys it as a hobby.... really, just really!?!?!?!
Well written J.J Salem
February 12, 2024
sometimes you just need to read a book where everyone’s lives seem really cool then it reminds you they’re not because they’re m*redered or have had an awful turn at life. any book with s*x scenes in however makes me feel icky like plz don’t look at me on the tube it’s not like that I have to read it to get to the next page ok??? Well constructed if u like gossip / contemporary references with a bit of mystery / m*rder
April 20, 2021
Story line sounded good but this was awful.
January 6, 2024
Zero vibes
August 26, 2015
Tan Lines tells the story of three women who have been friends since college. They have little in common and yet they stay in touch, usually meeting up for the occasional girly weekend.
This summer, however, they've rented a houseshare in The Hamptons so they'll be spending a great deal of time together. This could make or break their friendships.
Rock star Billie Shelton, feminist Liza Pike and budding actress Kellyanne Downey are all embracing this opportunity to get away from it all.
Billie's career is on the skids, followed swiftly by her sanity. Liza feels her marriage is a pointless exercise and plans to ditch her hunky fireman husband, just as soon as she's written her next book. Kellyanne has nothing to call her own. She's in a lucrative relationship with a rich property developer and is basically at his beck and call. Far from giving her freedom, though, the relationship traps her. If she wants to do something, but her lover says no, then that's the end of it.
By the end of the summer, though, the girls' lives have drastically changed, but not necessarily for the better...
Tan Lines is a bittersweet book. There are many ups and downs, and glimpses into not-so-perfect lives of the rich and famous. Full of perversion and tragedy, Tan Lines isn't your typical happy-ever-after novel - but it is a perfect beach read.
This summer, however, they've rented a houseshare in The Hamptons so they'll be spending a great deal of time together. This could make or break their friendships.
Rock star Billie Shelton, feminist Liza Pike and budding actress Kellyanne Downey are all embracing this opportunity to get away from it all.
Billie's career is on the skids, followed swiftly by her sanity. Liza feels her marriage is a pointless exercise and plans to ditch her hunky fireman husband, just as soon as she's written her next book. Kellyanne has nothing to call her own. She's in a lucrative relationship with a rich property developer and is basically at his beck and call. Far from giving her freedom, though, the relationship traps her. If she wants to do something, but her lover says no, then that's the end of it.
By the end of the summer, though, the girls' lives have drastically changed, but not necessarily for the better...
Tan Lines is a bittersweet book. There are many ups and downs, and glimpses into not-so-perfect lives of the rich and famous. Full of perversion and tragedy, Tan Lines isn't your typical happy-ever-after novel - but it is a perfect beach read.
December 26, 2013
After reading the first line of J. J. Salem s novel, Tan Lines, [return][return]There are eight thousand nerve endings in the clitoris, and this son of a bitch couldn t find any of them. p. 3 [return][return]I knew that the book might not be the pick-of-the-month for the church book club. Even so, if you can get past the sex, drugs, rock and roll, and often funnily foul language this is a fantastic book. [return][return]Reading Tan Lines reminds me of a few things. First, if you are from the Northwest Florida area, the Pensacola Beach regulars are lovingly called beach trash which implies in all its Southerness that these folks are often socially flawed but endearing and loved none the less! This description might be used to describe many of the characters found in the novel. Second, upon reflection, Tan Lines reminded me of an updated Valley of the Dolls, published in the 1960s. In this Jacqueline Susann novel sex, drugs, name-dropping, and social climbing were the downfall of key characters. [return][return]Read the rest at LibrarysCat Book Blog
April 24, 2014
Tan Lines was a quick read. A "beach read", I guess. Three drastically different friends(Liza, Billie, and Kellyanne) and their tumultuous lives. I think I had a problem with everyone (other friends, their family, significant others, coworkers, etc., etc. Basically everyone these three women came in contact with) being "hot". It was a little much. I know it's fiction, but still. That wasn't the only unrealistic thing but, it's consistent if nothing else. Liza is a smart, feminazi. She is also an author. Changed by the attacks on 9/11, she marries a firefighter who is everything she isn't. Kellyanne is sweet and Southern. She is the mistress to a much older man. She is also a struggling actress/waitress. Billie is the character that got on my nerves the most. A washed up singer, who abuses almost everything (and everyone) she can get her hands on. She was equal parts pathetic and obnoxious. Tan Lines is what it is. A superficial read that doesn't require too much brain power.
March 19, 2018
I was a little iffy with this one.. I liked the characters, and how they developed. I went from loving them, to wondering why some were doing what they did, to generally feeling sad for two of them in the end. I'm glad at least one had a somewhat happy ending, even if getting there was rough for her. It's a fun trashy read though.
What I definitely didn't like though was the amount of swearing (is it necessary to swear so much? felt like every other line contained at least one curse,) and the celebrity and brand name dropping. It felt almost unnatural with all the celebrity sightings. The ending I wish was a little more than just gossip column tidbits of what happened to the characters, both major and minor. It kept with the style of the book just wish it was more.
Overall not too bad if you're looking for a light fun read.
What I definitely didn't like though was the amount of swearing (is it necessary to swear so much? felt like every other line contained at least one curse,) and the celebrity and brand name dropping. It felt almost unnatural with all the celebrity sightings. The ending I wish was a little more than just gossip column tidbits of what happened to the characters, both major and minor. It kept with the style of the book just wish it was more.
Overall not too bad if you're looking for a light fun read.
July 21, 2008
Guilty pleasure doesn't come any more decadent than Tan Lines. These women are rich, difficult, beleagured, and addicted. Most of the characters are unlikable. Their luxurious, wealthy lifestyles are eye-popping to the uninitiated. But if you don't have any moral dilemmas over their drug use, infidelity, lying, and naked ambitions, then you certainly aren't going to care about the $2,000 lunches they have out in the Hamptons.
I say all of this as a way to convince you: pure, unfettered escapism is yours even if you can't afford your third of the $150,000 summer rental fee. Just get Tan Lines out of the library for free!
I say all of this as a way to convince you: pure, unfettered escapism is yours even if you can't afford your third of the $150,000 summer rental fee. Just get Tan Lines out of the library for free!
April 5, 2011
This book was overwhelming for me at times. Blame it on my Midwestern upbringing if you must. The characters led very shallow lives and only seemed to be interested in things that offered instant gratification. There was enough foul language and sex to make sailors blush. What bothered me about it all was that it seemed to demean each of the three main female characters instead of empower them. They seemed to have no respect for others, each other, or themselves. I think the author did an excellent job in make the characters very real...they just weren't people that I'd want to know.
July 9, 2011
This book was really good! I got into it and could not put it down! The book was about three girls, Kellyanne, Liza, and Billie who were friends in college and they were well into their 30s in the book and they decided to stay in the Hamptons for the summer. There was a lot of drama, the book never had a dull moment! I love how Kellyanne's southern manners were written in the book. I just loved it! Will be reading The Strip as well! :)
May 16, 2012
I just cannot believe that I owned this book for as long as I did (a couple years probably) before reading it! One of my new favorites! Fits my life just right at the moment, loved every minute of it and I couldn't put it down. I'm sure I will read it at least once more this summer, best beach (or laying nudey in the backyard/riverbank in my case) read ever! Love love loved it! Got me back into chick-lit after I had taken a burnt out vacay in my mind from the genre. Very pleased with this book, can't wait to read more from JJ Salem:)
January 29, 2013
JJ Salem tells the story through three main characters; Liza (a successful and fearless feminist), Kellyanne (an aspiring actress) and Billie (a rock b*tch with a drug issue). I found the character's compelling and endearing and the book provoked my emotions quite a few times throughout the story...something that few books have been able to do. I fell in love with this book. It was a real page-turner and if you're looking for a great chick-lit book with plenty of sex, drama and surprises I'd definitely recommend it.
July 21, 2008
This maybe a fun, quick beach read for some. But if you aren't on a sandy location -- it may be a little irritating. I like books that take several different characters and bring them together -- weaving their lives, challenges and adventures together. But it didn't work for me in this case.
This book won't change your life -- but if you're looking for a steamy, beach read with lots of current pop-culture references --- you won't be disappointed.
This book won't change your life -- but if you're looking for a steamy, beach read with lots of current pop-culture references --- you won't be disappointed.
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March 24, 2009"This maybe a fun, quick beach read for some. But if you aren't on a sandy location -- it may be a little irritating. I like books that take several different characters and bring them together -- weaving their lives, challenges and adventures together. But it didn't work for me in this case.[return]This book won't change your life -- but if you're looking for a steamy, beach read with lots of current pop-culture references --- you won't be disappointed."
July 23, 2008
This was the first book so heavily laden with product placement that I honestly was getting distracted by Kellyanne "wearing her white eyelet Juicy Couture string bikini" on a date with a dad of a 4 year old!
Some fairly graphic sex and heavy drug use means I won't be passing this one onto my mom but the readers at my library will probably really like this one!
Some fairly graphic sex and heavy drug use means I won't be passing this one onto my mom but the readers at my library will probably really like this one!
August 4, 2010
I loved Tan Lines. A very sexy plot. You know someone is murdered at the start you just don't know who. Tho it becomes pretty obvious who's getting killed soon into the book. It does make a few attemps to throw you off and make it seem like all the girls are heading for destruction. I felt Kellyanne's shame in parts of the book. She did some degrading things. This would be a perfect beach read.
August 11, 2012
I couldn't even finish the book. In just 50 pages, there were three acts of oral sex and at least one other sexual encounter. I'm not a prude or anything, but it was a bit excessive. I even began to think, "Did a woman write this?" Nope! I'm not surprised. It didn't "feel" like a woman's perspective to me. Alas, I did not finish this book and wouldn't really recommend it.
February 20, 2013
I thought this would be a fun, sexy, little romance to bring some cheer to bring an end to winter blahs....it was just a porn. It started off with a woman doing a 19 yr old who was watching porn while doing the act on his computer and the woman then going across the hall to do the guys in there. Not what I expected. Did not finish.
June 15, 2021
Fun, trashy read. But the incessant name dropping (celebrities, brand names-cars, liquor,shoes, cosmetics, clothes, perfume, purses..) was grating. Also, the events alluded to in the introduction aren't revealed until the epilogue! The "friendship" between the three ladies isn't developed, and they don't spend that much page time together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2008
This was a trashy beach novel at it's best. I can't wait for the follow up. I read the review in USA Today's beach reads section and it didn't dissapoint. It was almost embarrassingly trashy... almost.
August 3, 2011
Horrible beginning, horrible ending, but I must admit (not proudly), pretty enjoyable reading in between. All in all, a fluffy, trashy read, but I'm sure there's tons more out there with a better story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews