Hollywood Car Wash

by Lori Culwell

Amy Spencer is an accidental celebrity. On Monday, she s a normal college student in Michigan. By the end of the week, she s in Hollywood, starring in a TV pilot as a regular girl from Michigan. It s all fun and games until the show gets picked up and Amy learns the terrible price of stardom to keep the part she didn t even want at first, she s going to have to get the Hollywood Car Wash to make her more marketable. First, she ll have to lose twenty pounds. She ll also need new teeth, blonder hair, and a megastar boyfriend with a big secret. By changing everything from her weight to her hair to her name, Amy slowly learns that the only way to survive in Hollywood is to lose herself. Inspired by true events, this shockingly accurate novel about the ins and outs of the Hollywood game will leave the reader wondering who is Star?

Hollywood Car Wash is the first in a series.

There s much one could say about Hollywood Car Wash that Lori Culwell provides an incisive, amazingly accurate look inside the world of network television; that Culwell s account of a young midwestern woman s transformation from aspiring actress to major media sensation is emotionally involving and often amusing; that Culwell pulls no punches detailing her heroine s encounters with jealous colleagues, eager cosmetic surgeons and manipulative network executives. But perhaps all that really needs to be said about Hollywood Car Wash is that it may be one of the most enjoyable page-turning reads of the year Adam Belanoff, Co-Executive Producer, The Closer

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Adult

252 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2007

Reviews

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Basically I just couldn't finish the novel. I got 50 pages in and I'd had enough. The editing is rubbish, and I just can't read a book that is so poorly presented. It makes me want to take a black marker pen to it. Plus the time-jumping was a nightmare, instead of focusing on certain scenes and giving us more background info on the whole TV show audition process it just jumped constantly so Amy auditioned the first time. Jump to the second time. Third time. She has the job. No in-between, no gossip. Also, on page 9 Amy describes herself as un-LA stating she "shops in thrift stores", before backtracking on page 41 when she goes to a thift store with Vince and is usually "bored within 5 minutes pawing at other people's dirty clothes." It made me want to scream in frustration and it says a lot that I just didn't want to continue despite the fact it's a relatively short novel.

[Avid Reader Amy's Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Welcome to the world of fake boobs and plastic people, aka Hollywood. Amy Spencer finds herself thrust into the spotlight via the advice of her best friend to try out for a tv show. Amy leaves her life behind in Michigan and her friend at college to pursue the American dream. Amy gets the lead on a new show called Autumn Leaves. Amy is happy to have her big break, although she preferred to go the indie route. she's happy either way to make a name for herself and help out her family. What Amy doesn't realize is that being Hollywood's "It Girl" is not all that it's cracked up to be.

When I got this book I had hopes that it was going to be a fun read. i was disappointed. I found myself wanting to skip ahead in hopes that it would get better. I wasn't crazy about the writing style. I found that the author skipped ahead in the chapters sometimes and I was not sure if I was coming or going. I wish that there was more of a background to the main character. I wanted to know why she wanted to act. Was it a movie she watched and peaked her interest? I wish that there was more to this book than weight loss and plastic surgery. I expected this book to be a blockbuster but instead it felt like a direct to video :(

[Angel Poteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love This Book!!!!

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

""

[Beckie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted:
http://www.bittersweet-enchantment.co...

Hollywood Car Wash is the second book I have read by author Lori Culwell. The first being her latest novel "The Dirt". I was not sure what to expect going into this one but I will say I did hope I would love it as much as I did The Dirt. I was right, so right! This book has everything from interesting characters to a fun and engrossing story-line. I mean I know everyone loves hearing some juicy gossip. It's all about the world of fame and fortune and how one young woman rises to to the top and what she does to get there.

When Amy Spencer gets the chance to audition for a major role in a TV series called Autumn Leaves. She goes to California for the audition hoping this is her break to make it big. When she gets a call back for another audition then another for the TV series. Amy now has high hopes that they loved her acting and will ask her to sign a contract. So when Amy gets "THE" call and finds out that the studio was blown away by her auditions and wants her to be the newest STAR and Amy is beyond thrilled. She will now have the chance to be a real actress and help her family with their financial problems as well. At first everything is great. Amy has just about EVERYTHING handed to her on a plate. Free food, new clothes, a huge room in a fancy hotel and is always being showered by gifts. Amy is living the high live and knows it. One day when she is called in to speak with one of the network executives. Amy is told she needs to make major changes in order to boost the shows ratings. They want her to lose weight, chance her hair and many more aspects of her body but the biggest change comes when they asks her to chance his name to STAR instead of Amy. While Amy feels she looks fine the way she is and likes her name. She ends up doing as told, only to find out she really likes the new Amy Star. As Autumn Leaves becomes more and more popular, so does Star. She will she risk everything to continue to climb the ladder to fame and fortune even if it means losing her true self along the way.

I personally never watch TV shows about actors and actresses like Entertainment tonight. I could really care less about them. This book really opened my eyes and gave me a real inside look how today's celebs live and deal with their fame and fortune. Lori Culwell really did a excellent job at portraying the life of a celebrity and making the reader understand it. The book is very face paced and highly entertaining that I could not put the book down.
Although I did have a couple problem area's for me in the book, one being how Amy did anything and everything she was told, whether she liked it or not. I felt like she lost her soul when she signed that contract deal. I literally was "shaking my head" when she agrees to do certain things to her body when the network asked. I had a deep sense of pity for her and wanted to she her be true to herself.

I give this book much praise and would so recommend Hollywood Car Wash to my readers. I feel it is a really great and eye opening story for anyone who enjoys watching or reading about celebrities. Author Lori Culwell has definitely written a superstar novel.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of course, the draw for me here was the whole "Katie Holmes threw a hissy fit when she read this b/c she thought it was about her" factor. Interestingly, it doesn't really get to the contract engagement part until about 3/4 through, and I couldn't help but snicker throughout that section. I did enjoy the snark though, especially the main character Amy "Star" Spencer's best friend Vince (the stock endearing gay best pal stylist) that allowed for her submerged irony to come through as she submits to the over-compensating ministrations of her Hollywood "team."

I don't doubt that much of what is described happens daily and often in The Industry, so in that, it was an amusing, head-nodding journey. I've heard trickles of such behavior and methods throughout my life in LA. Having gone to UCLA and known folks gone through the Film & TV Dept. as well as those who went on to legal depts. or agenting units such as at William Morris, you can't help but hear the anecdotes. It felt like this book just gathered all of the more recent updates. So that was fun, yet also a little sad. The ending, of course, allows for Star's vindication through the indie world -- the Hollywood version of a Horatio Alger, up-by-boot-straps tale -- so you get the "happy ending," tho' Lord knows, this is probably more the exception than the rule.

But hey -- I enjoyed the read and got some good chuckles in the digs at TomKat. I thought they were pretty obvious, which was hilarious. Tho' it was not an exact match to TomKat. Especially since Star, tho' giving in to all of the pressures around her for a good amount of time, still DOES have her own mind, has specific tastes and intents and desires, and eventually gets back to her own anchor in the end. And she was interesting to begin with. She submitted to an extreme makeover but did not get completely transformed and remade and cut off from her former life until she was an empty shell. That's the main difference. And maybe that's what got Miz Katie mad (if that's actually true) -- at this point, KH could only wish she had (and has) even a fraction of the gumption that the lead character has in the book. Definitely a case of the lady doth protesting too much about so little.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy Spencer has an audition that will change her life forever--only its for a teen pop-like tv show instead of an independant film (which is what she dreams of staring in). She gets the job and movies to LA to begin a new life where what is normal back in her midwest hometown is now not acceptable in the high maintenence world of superstardom. Her best friend, Vince, a gay stylist, moves out to LA and they both live the dream. But superstardom is not all that its cracked up to be. There is a price to pay and changes to be made to keep the role. Amy/Star (she has to change her name!) has to make the decision to completely become a new person and be who the producers want her to be, or to stay true to herself.

I really enjoyed this book! I found myself completely identifying with the main character, Amy (Probably because when I was in college I was all set to move to LA for film school at UCLA). This book gave you an insiders view on the stereotypical rags-to-riches Hollywood starlet story. Amy dreams of being an independant movie star but is cast in a teen pop-like tv show (which is something she usuallys scorns). And to keep the role, she has to undergo the trials of being a new star from the midwest; a normal girl back home, but far from perfect by the industry standards. I found myself laughing out-loud at many parts in the story, usually from something Vince, Amy /Star's best gay friend, said. I could completely picture this being the life of a new starlet, although how she got there seems a little far-fetched. I found myself cringing at the things she was doing, rooting for her, and hoping all was right in the end.

You can visit the site for the book at http://www.hollywoodcarwash.com

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Midwestern college student and aspiring-indie-films-actress, Amy Spencer, auditions for the lead role in a new TV series. Soon she’s on an plane to California, put up in an exclusive hotel and show to the network studio where…she gets the job!

Of course they say they hired her for her acting ability, but she’s quickly put through the ‘hollywood car wash’- diets, hair color, plastic surgery- to make her more marketable, the enviable ‘ideal’. The question ever before her is how much is she willing to give up, how far from her true dream will she go before she gets off the wild ride?

I got this book in a ThisNext giveaway. (My copy is signed by the author, eep!) It’s an easy read, I breezed through it in about a week. Must confess that I am impressed. Hollywood brings to mind high-priced shallowness where image is everything but almost none of it is real. This book does prove that, but plopped in the center is a girl, Amy, with a lot of character who’s continually amazed by the lengths the team of people assigned to creating her brand go to to fool people and change her into a young Hollywood clone.

It’s far from smooth sailing for Amy, therefore it’s not a Cinderella story. Which is what I expected. It’s grittier, lonelier, a touch depressing. There is a liberal helping of glam, and it comes close to name-dropping in regards to some ‘oh-no-they-didn’t’ scandals. In general I find it hard to feel bad for celebrities but I did feel bad for Amy at times. made me smile too. She’s a fighter. She kept going, she didn’t give up. I liked that.

I’d read it again.

[Kim V · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Hollywood car wash, according to author Lori Culwell, is the transformation process imposed on women in the entertainment industry. The novel details the hollywood car wash heroine Amy Spencer is pressured to under go including liposuction, rhinoplasty, cosmetic dentistry, and dangerous diet drugs to keep the lead in her hit television series. Nor is the transformation process limited to Amy's physical appearance, but also spills over into her personal life when she is paid to date mega celebrity Brad Rockwell.

For those who haven't heard the rumors, Hollywood Car Wash is whispered to be about Katie Holmes. Culwell denies that the novel is based only on a single person, but rather states that "it is a number of true stories interwoven . . . ." Culwell explains her inspiration came from "the complete nonchalance with which my actress friends were told to lose weight, 'get better looking,' or change something about themselves in order to get or keep a part. This, combined with the downright absurdity of some of the stories about the business I heard and experiences I witnessed first-hand, convinced me that there was a novel in there somewhere."

Regardless of whether Hollywood Car Wash is based on Katie Holmes or not, it reads like an insider's guide to the industry. From the amoral producers and agents to the backstabbing costars Hollywood Car Wash serves up delicious dirt! Culwell's tome is the perfect beach companion!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and funny because I almost didn't buy it (even though it was on sale at a local discount store in town for $1.99!). I know they say don't judge a bok by its cover, but I did - I was less then enthralled by its cover photos and title but when I read some of the rave reviews here on Goodreads, I raced back to the store and purchased it. I am so glad I did because it turned out to be such a fabulous chick lit read. By reading just the back summary, I thought this novel was going to be your typical chick lit formulaic read about a college-age, Midwestern woman coming-of-age in Tinseltown, but as Chick Lit so often does, its author Lori Culwell, proved my assumptions wrong and her writing went above and beyond my hopes for a fun beach read. I would definitely recommend this book to all chick lit fans or anyone just looking for a good book to read this summer (or any time of year for that matter). In the book, Amy "Star" Spencer auditions for an upcoming teen TV series; think: Bevery Hills 90210 back in its glory days. Throughout her catapulting rise to fame, readers get an inside peek at the cutthroat business behind a hit Hollywood drama. Criticized for everything from her weight to her clothes, her food and exercise regime (or lack thereof), Hollywood Car Wash reveals how one girl-next-door type character survives in a world full of airbrushed photos, deisgner clothing (only worn once, of course!) and diet pills.

[Shonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollywood Car Wash is about the overnight rise to fame of a University of Michigan student to a Golden Globe nominee TV actress. In a matter of an instant, Amy Spencer's life drastically changes. When her roommate signs her up for the audition, Amy reluctantly attends and to her surprise she is the "face" they have in mind for the part. Amy is whisked away to LA where she lands the lead role on Autumn Leaves.

Amy suddenly goes from poor college student to earning $500,000 by the end of season one. Amy feels very plain next to her co-workers and it's apparent they think the same about her. They are constantly commenting on her weight, not knowing the latest celebrity gossip and her lack of fashion sense. Amy succumbs to the pressure and slowly begins the "Hollywood Car Wash".

It's not until she signs a contract to be the girlfriend of an A-list movie star and her showdown with the paparazzi that she realizes maybe the Hollywood glam isn't worth it after all.

Recommended to readers who enjoy a behind-the-scenes look on Hollywood. A chick lit fan will enjoy this quick, entertaining read. It's hard not to feel compassion for Amy as she finds herself swept away in the fast-lane.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lori Culwell's emotional intelligence, insider knowledge of Hollywood, and excellent writing skills combine to create the ultimate reading experience in Hollywood Car Wash.

Amy Spencer, a young, hopeful, dreamy actress, plunges headfirst into the starring role of an edgy TV weekly drama. Culwell perfectly captures Amy's innocence and naivete. I fell in love with Amy and identified with her. How can one resist a character who embodies the sweet idealism of youth?

Amy's idealism slowly erodes through three seasons on Autumn Leaves. Bit by bit, Amy compromises to keep her acting job. Bit by bit, Amy becomes one of those stars you read about in People or watch on Entertainment Tonight. But throughout the journey, Culwell shows the emptiness and desolation Amy feels inside which no one else understands except the reader who witnesses everything.

An excellent read for anyone who has followed a dream only to be blindsided by the fulfillment of that dream and the costs that it entails.

I am looking forward to Culwell's next book. I will definitely pick it up.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fairly enjoyable once I got over my annoyances with the author. The main character is from Bay City Michigan and a graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, but for some reason the author kept referring to it as UM rather than U of M. Also early on in the book, the character references that while she may be from Bay City, MI she has never seen any or been in any corn fields. As a character who has driven between A2 and Bay City numerous, I am sure that is far from the reality!

The book really does portray the "Hollywood Car Wash" well, while also finding the humor in the idea.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, so much I bought a copy for a friend (mine was electronic). If you enjoy following the gossip rags, Kardashians, or anything in that nature, you will enjoy this book. I liked it because it was an interesting take on what celebrities have to go through to maintain their stardome. Definitely beach reading and doesn't require much brain power, perfect for the nail salon or the treadmill. If you have no interest in Hollywood then I would say this is not the book for you. It was along the lines of Everyone Worth Knowing and Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for "behind the scenes" books anyway and this one really lets you know what's going on. I couldn't believe some of the stuff the main character had to do/go through! CRAZY!
The book was great, but the editing could've been better. So many missed quotation marks! I'd get confused and have to go back and re-read a sentence because I didn't realize the first time round that it was dialogue. And there was a issue with the word, "said," instead of, "says." That was confusing too. But the story was great!

[Janaan]

This book is about is about a young actress who marries a high powered star with a secret. Katie Holmes is reportedly beside herself about the situations in the book which eerily mirror her own life and, although the author doesn't specifically name Holmes as an inspiration, she does say that the book is based on real events. This book is totally entertaining and probably a pretty accurate representation of Hollywood.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't heard of this book until I won it in a goodreads giveaway. However, that didn't stop me from really enjoying the book. This would be a great beach read or a lazy Sat. read. It really makes you wonder if thats what real hollywood goes through. If thats the case we shouldn't spend so much money on the gossip magazines because its all a sham anyways. I did get a little sick of the main star talking about her weight the entire book but not enough to turn me off of the book.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was well written and the auther must of done a lot of research, before writting. I'm not sure this would of been a book I would normally read. I found the characters funny and sad. What a life it must be to go through all that to be something that you are not. The main character went through so much and the changes in her life. The book did give me a good laugh though.
Life must be tuff in Hollywood if even some of it is ture. Not a life for me.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is about Amy Spencer, and how she becomes an accidental celebrity and loses herself along the way. I had no sympathy for her, even though it might not entirely be her fault that she got sucked up by Hollywood. Not that I'm a Hollywood insider, but this book didn't really reveal any major secrets. It was like reading something I'd already read before, about someone I didn't really care for, and I knew how it would end.

[Elizabeth]

I met the author of this book recently at a handbag event (I still can't believe I go to these things, its kind of horrifying). She seemed pretty cool. I'm curious to check this book out. Aparently all the actor types go through a Hollywood carwash (new teeth, diets, blond hair, the works) before they can work.

[Denise]

This book was terrible--don't even bother picking it up. Like a train wreck, you knew it would be horrific, but couldn't look away/put it down. It was completely over-the-top and lacked any significant purpose. To make matters worse (and I'm not sure who's fault this was) but there were typos and missing words practically on every page, and it drove me nuts.

[Kourtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard the rumors that this book was based on Katie Holmes and her "deal" with a certain couch jumper so of COURSE I had to read it for myself. This book really made me scratch my head and wonder if this could really happen in Hollywood. The sad part - it really could! Great read and would recommend for any gossip hounds.

[Amanda Coudriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book here on good reads. I have to say it was not at all what I expected. This book is amazing the story line was great and it really had me thinking. Does that really happen? Un like most books I have been reading Loris writing is so easy to read everything flows perfectly. I would definately recommend this book. 2 thumbs up and a 5 star rating from me

[Cloie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a good read. I like to hear stories about how famous people start thinking that they are too special to follow the normal rules of society. They start out normal and become convinced that they can be spoilled and braty and then those same people who convinced them of this, thwart them.

great book, look forward to reading more from Lori Culwell.

[Tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one where I just wanted something to read and my kids didn't let me go look so I just grabbed a book off the shelf. It wasn't all that bad, but it's not something I would read again. It gave you a look at what some people will do to make it in Hollywood and how a normal person can get roped into some of the craziest things and lose themselves.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheeky, naughty, hip and hysterical! As a former resident of Hollywood and L.A. in general this brought back so many memories for me about the type of people you meet in the city of angels. Got a lot of stares from people while I was reading it because I laughed out loud so much. Read it if you get the chance!

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

OH my god, what I learn from this book is the insanity of being an actress in LA. I never ever want to be one after reading this. The book is fun and funny and seriously full of details about the world of LA television..
also there is a total Tom Cruise Katie Holmes thing...in a weird way!

[Rani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mindless but entertaining. It supposedly is based on the true story from some "uknown --ahem Katie Holmes" movie star. It definately makes you realize that Hollywood is possible more insane than you thought.

[Faye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it the story of TomKat? Hmmm. The book would be better if not so front loaded about the main character's eating disorder; it almost glamourizes how quickly she lost weight, despite her struggles with it.

[Melissa Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very fun story that gives you an inside look behind the hollywood "machine." I read it b/c I had read in UsWeekly (my weekly guilty pleasure) that it was loosely based on Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. Ya never know.....a fun read no matter what!