The Girl Made of Cool

by Alan Sean Fox

THE GIRL MADE OF COOL (First Edition) -- Featuring a new novel and two other stories by Alan Fox. ---- Author ALAN FOX writes love stories, filled with a sense of awe and wonder, and set against a brutal world. "THE GIRL MADE OF COOL" is his vibrant new novel and the centerpiece of this collection. Here, Fox tells the story of a young man and woman who are falling in love with each other, but the young woman doesn't know it. She believes that she's falling in love with the man's far more handsome, more perfect friend. ... As the story unfolds and deepens, we see how these two highly talented young men must suffer, struggle, and wage battle to woo this young woman. This, as all the while, she grows into an ever greater beauty, a more charismatic personality, and an all-the-more alluring woman. ... This, as all the while, this young lady grows to become an elegant woman made of shining love and elusive cool. -- Also featured here in this collection, you will find: The Novel "HELL HAS BLUE SKIES" -- A love story about intense relationships in an office, whose unusual line of business is to train people to become 'world-class experts.' And the short story "THE LOVELY LADY AT THE LOVE MUSEUM" -- A colorful tale of romance and high-level maneuvering in the big city. ---- ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Alan Fox writes love stories about people looking for a sense of wonder in a brutal world, people pursuing beauty in the face of insanity. His previous novel, "The Seeker in Forever," is now available in a second revised edition.

240 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2009

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by "the Girl Made of Cool." I had read some interesting reviews of this book that had me very curious about it, but going into it I really didn't think that I would like it as much as I did. People had said that it might be difficult to get into the "screen play format," and after reading the book, I'm still wondering what they're talking about. What screen play format? It's true that the format was a bit different than what one is used to in books - the place and time were often written out explicitly before conversations and things would take place, but it was still nothing like any screen play I've ever read.

I quite enjoyed the way he set things up, as the "the Girl Made of Cool" seemed more to me to be a social commentary on relationships and the different ways there are of approaching them than anything else, and by setting up the setting in such away, it allowed Alan Fox more freedom to work with what he was trying to say and to use his beautiful style for the things that actually mattered in the book.

Ridley and Chet, roommates, are two very different people, both in love with the same girl. It was incredibly interesting watching how these two totally different personalities approached the same situation. Chet was slightly psychotic, totally self-interested, and didn't hesitate to turn himself into another person in order to get the girl. He did his best not to think about love, as for him, ACCOMPLISHMENTS are what matter most. Ridley, however, seemed overcome by emotion and was unable to move forward without explaining his every move and over analyzing everything. I was often time horrified by some of the things that Chet thought and did, but there is a soft spot forever in my heart for Ridley. He's absolutely the kind of guy I could fall for.

Jayne, the object of their interest, had a slightly exaggerated personality, which was perfect for allowing us to really understand the way that type of girl might react to the differences in Chet and Ridley. The conversations she had with Ridley were interesting, insightful, and by far my favorite part of this story. Her relationship with Chet was horrifying in that it made me wonder if I have ever been so easily duped by a charming guy. It's so easy not to see what's right in front of us, in so many ways.

"The Girl Made of Cool" was a great story, but it was not the only story in the book. It was the best, but "Hell Has Blue Skies" and "The Lovely Lady at the Love Museum" were both also quite good.

"Hell Has Blue Skies" made me scared to ever have to have a real job in the business world. If Fox's portrayal of life in an office in "Hell has Blue Skies" is anything close to truth, well, I will be crazy one day. This simple story had me laughing out loud and physically cringing.

"The Lovely Lady at the Love Museum" was an incredibly short, easy read, and I was glad that it was the last story in the book, as it left me with a warm, happy feeling in my heart. This was the only one, to me, that seemed slightly out of touch with reality. Or rather, that looked at the world in a slightly positive light (as opposed to a cynical light).

"The Girl Made of Cool" was without a doubt the best story in this book - it contained the most substance and the most humour, but I would still recommend reading the whole thing. The two short stories at the end are still full of Alan Fox's cynical future and creative writing style, and if you like the "Girl Made of Cool," you'll probably like those two as well. I think the YA crowd may have some trouble relating to the content of this book, but other than that, I think it's quite likable. I guess the only issue is if you can deal with the format (though, honestly, it didn't disturb me at all. I liked it, even. I have slight trouble understanding why others had so much trouble with it). If you have ever been duped by a charming guy or worked in the crazy business world, give this book a try!

[Peace Love and Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been months since I read such a love story. If this is to have a film adaptation, I would very much like this to be in the Indie films. I love Indie and with the kind of depth and dialogue this book has my cousin in law would flip with excitement.

This is not your typical boy meets girl, girl and boy and falls in love kind of thing, well ok not right away, there were complications and obstacles. This is a story of a girl named Jayne Holly Wyatt who met Ridley Richardson who listened to his friend Chet Clifford on how to woo this lady thinking she was every other girl out there then confessed that the whole thing was just a front. At first Jayne seems to be the type who wants men with status, good looks and can be easily seduced. She clearly said that she like men with nice suits and money, so when Ridley confess that he neither have any of it she started to get uneasy. But she is not the girl that I thought she was, she is indeed the Girl made of Cool. Witty, independent and can seriously take care of herself when it comes to men. Ridley on the other hand is a thinker, wants to be a Zoologist now then shifts to studying the World History, human behavior and eventually the universe. Ridley got depth and intelligence that most women miss out. He depicts the image of the good guy, too nice to sit back and watch as the woman of his dreams got swept away by his friend. Chet of course is the exact opposite. The Player who talks to his imaginary audience while coming up with schemes on how to help Ridley. A marketing genius, charismatic and egotistical, until he got a dose of his own medicine.

Jayne was weirded out by Ridley's odd behavior. Chet decides that Jayne will be his number 23 on his 25 on 25 goal. Jayne played a game with Chet. Chet lied mostly about everything. Ridley holds the wanting, the needing and the kissing and settled to being Jayne's friend but Ridley was really inlove.

I found myself enjoying the games that Chet and Jayne played. I was enthralled on the exchange of dialogues between Jayne and Ridley. It was wonderful and deep. I wasn't surprised at the ending, I knew it's going to happened and what a great ending that was. Alan Fox I look forward to readign the two featured story in this edition. The Girl Made of cool is an unconventional and refreshing read. The characters are fascinating and their personality evolves all through out the book.

[Brande Waldron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl Made of Cool by Alan Fox was a refreshingly delightful book, with actually three stories in one. You are first introduced to three friends in their twenties. There is Chet and Ridley who are roommates, then Jayne. She is the object of both men's desires, one wants her love, the other, well, he just wants her in his bed. Chet is handsome, wealthy and has the ladies dropping at his feet. You know the type ladies, we can see them coming a mile away. Except we just can't keep our eyes and hands off of them, from time to time. We're tempted, as was Jayne. So part of me couldn't blame the girl for not seeing who Chet was from the beginning, for not recognizing that Ridley was the true man for her heart. A charismatic and charming womanizer, Chet has decided that he is going to sleep with 25 women by the time he is 25. And Jayne is marked for #23! Little does she know that all his charm is getting him into other ladies' beds as well. Poor Ridley, I really liked him, he was the typical guy stuck as a friend of the woman he was falling in love with. And friend isn't what he wants, he loves Jayne and wants her to be his, but she is so hung up on Chet that he has decided to take what he can get! Humorous and entertaining as well as a light-hearted love story, I thoroughly enjoyed their story and was thrilled with the ending. After all, we all want our HEA in the end.
Hell Has Blue Skies & The Lovely Lady at the Love Museum are two short stories that are included as well. Now, they all read as though you are reading a play, which at first had me a little off kilter, but once I got into the swing of things it was smooth reading.


Hell Has Blue Skies was funny for me, simple and humorous because I come from corporate America . I recognized some of the traits of a few characters, especially Jack. He is the new kid on the block, if you will, just trying to survive, not quite sure if he wants to be one of the sharks. And they are sharks! But a little ray of sunshine comes his way in the name of Kate Greenway. It was a truly fun and light-hearted short story watching Jack make his way through the corporate world and all the wolves!


The Lovely Lady at the Love Museum is another short story about a hard-ass of a real-estate tycoon who gets one pulled over him by a very cleaver Reed Fleming. Reed knows his stuff and he is an anthropologist who wants to use Lloyd Belasco's clout and money. Clever and witty, he gets his museum and sweet Tracy to boot.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about three twentyish year old people, Chet, Ridley and Jayne, who are having difficulties trying to figure out where they are in their relationship with each other, where two of these people are falling in love but do not realize it. The story is written mostly in small paragraphs, and I felt that it was written like a screenplay, where each section was setting up the story/characterization. At first I had a bit of difficulty reading the story in this format but I did get used to it as I continued reading.

Chet is a handsome, rich and well liked person by most people he meets. I found him to be selfish, egotistical and has a huge libido. He is confident in himself and his goal is to have slept with 25 women before he is 25 years old. Jayne is the one he has focused on in spite of the fact that he knows that his roommate Ridley is in love with her. Ridley is the gentlemen and moves aside, because he wants whatever makes Jayne happy. I didn't like Chet at all, I did like Ridley although I thought he should have had more assertive in what he wanted. Jayne may have been beautiful and more so as she matured but I didn't like how she was taken in by Chet and just dropping Ridley because he thought enough of her in their first date to tell Jayne the truth of himself.

The second story in this book is called Hell Has Blue Skies and it is about office romance and and how a young man is trained to be an expert. An expert on what? Never did figure out what they were experts in. This company was owned by a company that was owned by a another company. This story was written in the same style as The Girl Made Of Cool. A nice story about a guy and how he goes about trying to get the girl. The last story in the book The Lovely Lady at the Love Museum is another business story with love and romance and deal making in the big city of New York with the good guys and the bad guys...

I enjoyed this book and the author definitely knows his way around the business community and you can tell he enjoys it because you can see it in his writing. He is able to give the reader a very good look into the business world and of course the love stories that are featured in all two novels and short story that are featured in this book...
I received this book for review from the author, Alan Fox, and did not receive any monetary compensation for my honest review

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel was very different for me, it's a short read, with interesting characters. It's got a very unique way in which it's written more like I would envision a Broadway play script rather than a novel, at the beginning of each of the chapters it “sets the stage” for what's to happen next.

I really enjoyed this concept, sadly though – I also somewhat found it distracting from the actual characters, and the flow of the story. I got to the point where I was only skimming this part of the novel, which might have led me to miss vital information.

The characters were lovely, though I did not feel as though I was pulled into there lives, I felt more like I was watching them though a glass rather than living right along with in the fabric of there lives. As such I never got really connected, I never really cared to much about what would happen or whom Jayne would choose. The “battle” between Ridley and Chet was the best part of the novel for me. I found myself rooting for Ridley.

It's a fast read, love story – and if your looking for something light to read on a summer vacation it could very well fit that bill. I could tell that Alan Fox has talent as a writer, and I will be looking out for other novels for him. Though I hope next time he expands a bit on his characters, which will make the book longer, but also give the story more rich details.

Bottom line - a nice love story for a summer vacation, or when your looking for something light and not to heavy.

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alan Fox's The Girl Made of Cool is a love story, or a love triangle you might say. The main love interest is Jayne Holly Wyatt, a smoking hot "catch." She ultimately breaks up two roommates as they both chase her. The first guy is the awkward hopeless romantic Ridley, who is really the guy we're rooting for. The other guy makes the book though, even if he is a super ego player. Chet is the name and lust is the game. His goal is to sleep with 25 women before he turns 25.

Chet is a "teacher," and he hosts his own imaginary show throughout the novel where he lets the audience in on his love tactics. He is a bit crude at times, but hey, he's just being honest. Chet is really the character that lets the format of this book work. Fox wrote this more or less in script form. We have scenes, lots of dialogue, and soliloquies. The story itself might not have been all that creative, we've seen the love triangle many times, but the form really sets this book apart from its competitors.

Read the rest at English Major's Junk Food.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ridley Richardson has met the most wonderful woman. Her name is Jayne Holly Wyatt. He feels something for her. Though, from the beginning you can tell this is more of a one sided romance.

Chet Clifford and Ridley are housemates. They get along as far as housemates go. That is all about to change. Chet has also met the most amazing woman. Yep, you guessed it! It is Jayne. Chet wants to impress her, so he asks his co-worker, Nathan for some help. Jayne is impressed with Chet. The battle is on between Ridley and Chet for Jayne’s heart. Who will win?

The layout of the book kind of read like a Broadway script. It was broken up into sections, with the beginning of each section setting up the scene. I thought this approach to telling the story was unique and refreshing. Unfortunately, it distracted me some and made the book not flow as smoothly as I would have liked. In addition that I found the characters did not fully draw me into their world. Aside from these facts, I did think this book was a pretty good read and I could see where Mr. Fox was going with this story.

[Freda Mans-Labianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is actually three short stories. So I will review each respectively.
Short One, The Girl Made of Cool opinion;
For stories, this was a good one. The characters were easy to relate to, and well rounded. It had a beginning, middle and a great finish. The one thing I don't know that I'm fond of is the format to which it is written. It is almost in screenplay format, and though it creates a scene immediately, it also feels repetitive at times. Still was a good read.
(3.5/5)

Short Two, Hell Has Blue Skies opinion;
This short was not as good as the first one, but in some spots I laughed out loud, and did enjoy it. Written in the same fashion as above.
(2.5/5)


Short Three, The Lovely Lady at The Love Museum opinion;
Funny how "oneupmanship" made it from the second story to this one. However this story was better than the second but not as good as the first. Maybe read them in that order....
(3/5)

Overall Rating: (3/5)

[Ruby Escalona · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first story, "The Girl Made of Cool" seems very unrealistic. I don't believe any of those characters in real life would speak to imaginary audiences all of the time, and have the conversations that they had in the book. I thought at first that the love story would encompass a few years or so, but it only captures a few days.

The book was presented like a script. Something a high school kid would do for their plays, minus all the sex part that were being presented in the book, I guess. Granted, I'll give the author plus points for the presentation, but the story.. well, it's very predictable, and it bored me most of the time. If it were indeed a play or an act, I would easily get bored and would probably hurry out of the auditorium to get myself a soda or do something else just to pass the time.

I'm sorry but the book didn't really interest me a bit.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be disjointed and the conversations un realistic. I could only read 1 story. I could see the romance but this book wasn't for me and one character having an audience was just weird.

[La Femme Readers · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a 3.5 rating - Review Coming soon...