Charity Trickett totally stole my heart. She’s sweet, genuine, and just trying to follow her dreams without stepping on anyone’s toes — which is easier said than done when she lands a new “promotion” as the assistant to a hotshot Hollywood director 🎬✨ So she packs up, moves to L.A., and sets her sights on screenwriting glory…

But just when things start falling into place, the FBI shows up — and suddenly she’s being investigated and wondering if orange really is the new black. 🧡🚔

This book had me laughing out loud at the beginning and fully in my feelings by the end. I felt like I was right there with Charity — navigating the chaos, the hope, the fear, and all the messy in-between moments. Her interactions with the other characters were SO well done, and the writing just sparkled.

One of my favorites of the year so far — you don’t want to miss this one!! 📚

oh this book was so wonderful. i cant explain all as to why that was either. because its weird how much i related and was comforted by this tale and yet its definitely does seem to relate to my life at all.
the front cover firstly is just gorgeous. the softness, the lettering, the character at the bottom. it just held my eyes and bought me into what i new was going to be a wonderful read. and as i said above, it just was. in all its glory this book is full of magical chaos. we are bought characters we love and dont like so much (you know who you are) and we are taken into an industry that shoved people aside and down wholes! its an industry so blooming dark but books like this make it so much more of a manageable place to read about.
dont get me wrong i still felt so much for our Charity. but thats what makes her all the more a quickly loved character. because you just want to hug and hold her tight and make sure she comes out of this industry alive.
its full of such emotional maturity and honest words that have your heart in an aching hold. but the lightness is there too. all the way through Christine picks you back up right when you need to be.
the book covered many important topics but did so with whip smart direction and plot points. its not cliche, too heavy but neither does it shy away from some truly important societal awfulness.
and through it all our warm and naive Charity is there. getting up and trying once again to make it.
a book so perfect i could ask for more from it. just what i needed.

This book is set in Hollywood in the 90s and follows Charity Trickett as she tries to make it as a writer. It’s loosely based on the authors actual life as an MGM assistant. This book was a fun read! There were a lot of 90s pop culture references, which I loved! I really loved most of the characters and their interactions with each other! There were definitely some characters that I think you’re meant to hate(mostly Saffron). I also really enjoyed the romance between Charity and Kai. My only issue with that is, like with most romances, they fall in love abnormally fast. But they were cute together and I enjoyed every scene with them!

The book ended somewhat abruptly. I wish we had at least one more chapter or an epilogue to know what happened at the end. I’m hoping that this will lead into a second book following Charity and all of her adventures in Hollywood!

Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!

saying this with all due respect to the author knowing this story was based off of something that happened to her... but the writing started to fall flat about 25% of the way in. at first it was kinda fun and quirky but then just became... not great. the story was all over the place and i definitely felt like certain plot lines never got the closure they needed! specifically wtf was going on with saffron because it was built up as sabotage and then nothing came of it?? anyway, i had been looking forward to this because the premise sounded fun but i ended up just not really enjoying it

Charity Trickett seems like the girl everyone would want to be friends with. She is friendly, bubbly, and not afraid to pursue her dreams. She has a dream to be a screenwriter and producer, but sometimes you have to start at the bottom of the food chain. That is exactly where this story starts. The setting is 1990’s Hollywood. Charity is the assistant for one of the biggest movie producers in the industry. She has the right connections and the grit to make things happen. Unfortunately, being an assistant means she is “expected” to do whatever task her boss sees fit for her, putting her in a risky spot. Her boss’ request could cost the company millions of dollars and ruin Charity’s career in film.

This is a great book for film industry lovers. There is a bit of romance, but that isn’t the focus of the book. The content is clean other than the language used. I found this to be an entertaining read. The chapter titles felt very nostalgic.

This would make a great series in books and tv. I look forward to more content by Christine Stringer.

I loved this book! The main character was everything, and I loved this author! I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free ARC in exchange for my review.

When I first started on this book, I had trouble getting into the story, and making sense of the book being set in the 1990's. But as I continued to read, I got to know Charity's character more and wanted to see what happens next. I do wish there were more details about her relationships, for clarity's sake. But it was an enjoyable book overall.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 Recommend it to anyone who remembers the 1990's and want a fun rom-com.

Thanks to NetGalley and Spark Press for the advanced reader copy.

Charity is a bubbly, fun, ambitious character, and I enjoyed the setting of being in the movie business in the 90'2 (her pager made me laugh out loud!). I wanted to like this novel, but each chapter felt like it was an island divorced from the things that happened before it. For example, we get the traumatic experience of Charity going to surprise her boyfriend and finding him not only in bed with another woman but finding out that he told that woman he and Charity had broken up several months earlier. The only inkling we get that this event had any impact on her is that we hear that she returned to the motel the movie production is staying at and cried through the night, but none of her actions (or thoughts/feelings) suggested that anything bad had happened to her. I need my books to be more cohesive, so this was a no for me.

Charity Trickett is Not So Glamorous is a smart, funny, and refreshingly original novel that takes readers deep into the heart of 1990s Hollywood, where ambition runs high and the industry is cut throat. The story follows Charity, a determined director’s assistant with dreams of becoming a screenwriter and producer, as she navigates the male-dominated film world with hard work, humor, and a close circle of successful, supportive friends.

I’m usually hesitant to want my favorite books adapted for the screen, but I couldn’t help imagining how perfect this story would be as a TV series. It has all the charm, drama, and wit that would make it a binge-worthy hit.

Charity Trickett is Not So Glamorous hits shelves on 6/10, make sure it’s at the top of your TBR. You won’t be disappointed.

Thanks you NetGalley and SparkPress for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Charity Trickett is your average girl in to 90s who moves to LA to pursue her dreams of writing and hopefully getting her script turned into a movie. The premise of the book was nice but I'm still left with questions after finishing the book. I kept waiting for something to happen and when it did I was underwhelmed. The "forbidden romance" aspect was cute, I wish there was more of that. All in all, this was a very simple read. It didn't take much effort to remember characters, it was just very easy. Charity is a very relatable character and I thought a lot of the book was extremely realistic which I appreciated.

An effervescent tale of trying to make it in Hollywood, Charity Trickett herself is delightful in the Bridget Jones mould (albeit with her shit together slightly more than poor old Bridge), but her mishaps entrench into the Hollywood system circa the 1990s with mixed results. Fluffy and bright, it's a charming summer read, aided with a deeply likeable heroine and a lightness of touch from Stringer's characterisation.

Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous was such a fun, chaotic read—in the best way. It’s got humor, heart, and a perfectly imperfect main character trying to chase big dreams in 1990s Hollywood. I loved how real and messy it all felt, and even though things go sideways for Charity more than once, you can’t help but root for her the entire time.

It gave Bridget Jones meets The Devil Wears Prada vibes, but with a behind-the-scenes film industry twist. Christine Stringer’s writing makes you feel like you’re right there with Charity—awkward moments, wild detours, and all. I had so much fun with this one and now I need more stories like it.

My First ARC and it was so perfect. I really loved this book especially since I am a millennial and love all things 90s. I saw some of myself in Charity and that's what had me cheering her on the whole way. This was my first women fic where the plot wasn't solely based on a romance and honestly it was a breath of fresh air. Don't get me wrong I love a good romance and spicy scenes but seeing her find her LA family and stand up for herself to a bunch of toxic people was really validating. She also had a really IDF attitude about a lot of things that I honestly wish I had sometimes. Definitely consider picking this one up when it its shelves on June 10th, you wont be disappointed.

Thank you Charity, for showing us not all the things in life have to be glamorous and perfect.

I just finished a great book. Charity Trickety is Not So Glamorous by Christine Stringer is available next month. Pick it up! You won’t regret it.

Charity Trickett is determined to make her mark in Los Angeles after being hired as an assistant at a movie studio. Set in the heart of 1990s LA and based on a true story, the novel follows Charity as she navigates the glitzy-but-not-always-glamorous world of Hollywood or at times Hollyweird. With a voice that's witty and vulnerable, Charity invites readers into her rollercoaster of a life, filled with laugh-out-loud misadventures, pop culture moments, and the kind of growing pains anyone who’s ever felt out of place in a big city will recognize.

It was an absolute delight from start to finish. I loved that it was written in the 90s. Every pop culture reference gave me a hit of nostalgia, and I couldn't help but grin at the fashion, music, and cultural callbacks. Even better, knowing it was based on a true story made Charity’s wild ride through Los Angeles feel that much more real.

Personally, this book hit even closer to home because I worked in Century City during that timeframe. I recognized so many of the places Charity frequented and it truly felt like time-traveling back to a version of LA I remember so well. There were even a few laugh-out-loud moments that I found incredibly relatable.

Charity is a character you root for, cringe with, and ultimately adore. Her story is messy, charming, and endlessly entertaining. I can see this book being turned into a rom com movie!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for such a fun and nostalgic read.

Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous is a fun, heartwarming, and refreshingly original story that offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Hollywood through the eyes of an ambitious production assistant. I haven’t read many (if any!) books centered on production assistants, so the premise instantly intrigued me—and Christine Stringer delivered.

Charity Trickett is a well-rounded and likable protagonist. She’s a young woman who moves to LA to assist the director of the biggest blockbuster film of the year. While the job is far from glamorous, she throws herself into it with determination and charm, quickly finding herself rubbing elbows with A-listers and soaking in the highs (and plenty of lows) of the entertainment industry. From a jealous office frenemy who seems dead set on sabotaging her, to a major accusation that threatens to derail everything she’s worked for, Charity’s journey is packed with drama, humor, and heart.

Beyond the Hollywood glitz, Charity is also an aspiring screenwriter with a killer script and no way to fund it—yet. When everything seems to fall apart, she’s forced to ask herself: is it time to go home, or will the stars finally align?

This book felt like the perfect blend of light-hearted escapism and emotional stakes, much like an Emily Henry novel. If you enjoy stories about smart, driven women navigating love, ambition, and a few unexpected twists, you’ll love following Charity’s LA escapades.

This was ok. Nothing to special or fantastic about it.

The pop culture references, especially the chapter titles were fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for the ARC. Publication date is June 10, 2025.

Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous by Christine Stringer is a sharp, engaging debut that pulls you straight into the heart of 1990s Los Angeles.

The story follows Charity Trickett, an aspiring screenwriter trying to make it in Hollywood. She quickly learns that life in LA is far from glamorous—and that success often comes at a personal cost. It’s a world where everyone is out for themselves, and nothing is quite what it seems.

I was immediately hooked by the voice and atmosphere. The 90s-inspired chapter titles were so clever, and the LA references brought the setting to life in such a fun, nostalgic way. One of my favorite parts of the book was the cast of characters—each one so unique and distinct. I loved how different they were from one another, and how they helped shape Charity’s journey in unexpected ways.

This book kept me guessing right up until the end. It was fast-paced, full of twists, and emotionally grounded in all the right places. A solid four-star read for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy.

Oh Charity Trickett how I came to love you so.

Charity is young, ambitious, dedicated, hardworking and loyal. Anywhere else, she’s a woman to be celebrated and has all the attributes to succeed. But Hollywood isn’t anywhere.

This story although fiction, is based on true events of the author’s experience as an assistant at MGM. It adds another level of curiosity and realism to the characters and events.

I laughed.
I loved.
I cried.
I hated.
I cheered.
I want to give Charity a hug.

Excellent character and story, and I’m hopeful the author will give us more Charity, Kai, Vivey, Daniel and Blake. I also need to see some karma for a few.

PS: They say don’t judge a book by its cover - don’t judge this book by the first 10%. Keep reading.
I’m embarrassed to say I was so pulled into this story, at one point I had to remind myself I was not actually in Hollywood.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and SparkPress for the e-ARC!

This book was an unexpected delight. Completely hooked from the few chapters. I was all in—laughing, cringing, and cheering for Charity as she navigated one disaster after another. There’s a perfect mix of comedy and commentary, touching on ambition, industry double standards, and the chaos of trying to keep it all together.

The pop culture references were spot on and knowing parts of the story were inspired by the author’s own life added a whole new layer of depth. It’s one of those books I could see myself rereading. It was a bit chaotic—in the best way.

Only complaint? Reading it on the NetGalley Shelf app felt like an eye exam. The font was so tiny I thought I’d need binoculars. But squinting aside, this one was worth it.