The cigarette girl - Carol Wolper

'I never thought I'd be the kind of woman who searched for a guy. I always thought it would just happen. And it always did. But things change when you move into the zone - that seven year period between the ages of 28 to 35 when women feel the pressure to resolve the marriage and baby issues. Before my 28th birthday hit, I was perfectly happy to live my single life. Work. Workout. And sex. That's all I needed. Maybe that's a little on the shallow side but I live in Los Angeles. Shallow is politically correct here.'

Elizabeth is a scriptwriter, with a level one crush on her boss, a best friend Mimi who wishes she'd talk less and shop more, and she's about to have hot sex with a guy who comes highly recommended. This novel may shatter your illusions about love and happiness. If you still have any.

'Carol Wolper is from Mars, not Venus. Her novel is at once a cool insider's look at modern romance and a shrewd take on the movie business in LA. There's no wimsy here, no apologies, no rules. The Cigarette Girl is a tonic.' Bret Easton Ellis