So, I really loved the first half of this, and was like, wow this is the best Harper Bliss book since A Family Affair. Then the second half happened and it was a let down. The drama seemed really pointless. I know that Nora has trouble expressing herself, but how hard is it really to be like “my parents are cold, emotionally distant, have literally never told me they love me, and conversations with them are stilted and awkward and, most importantly, make me feel really upset and shitty.” But Mimi was the worst. Constantly being like “I’m a mother and it would break my heart if my kids didn’t call me.” Nora does call her parents! And it’s really upsetting when she does so! And then judging Nora for her diet and workout routine and constantly trying to get her to eat more and skip workouts. Nora doesn’t appear to be calorie counting or restricting her diet in a particularly unhealthy way. Yes, she says she doesn’t eat carbs. But it appears that if she eats at a dinner party or restaurant she eats whatever is on offer, and doesn’t pick at her food but enjoys about half of what’s on her plate. Then, when eating the food prepared by her personal chef, she eats it all, with gusto! And a large bowl of black beans, avocado, and a fried egg is actually very healthy! And she’s not working out to become skinny, but appears to be super buff with a six-pack and bulging shoulders, biceps and thighs. Yes, she is technically dieting, but this isn’t someone shrinking away with their bones poking out, it’s someone looking after themselves in a way they have chosen. The only problem is that she hasn’t chosen it because she wants to, but because she was originally forced to by a tv exec. Which brings me to the next issue, which is that Mimi seems like a completely naive idiot for seemingly failing to understand that Nora needs to keep up her diet and exercise routine to keep getting the roles she wants, and not able to understand why Nora is upset at her for judging her for her choices. Mimi is anti-sexist in the most cartoonish way, personally fighting for women’s rights, while completely ignorant of the system of sexism she is working in. What’s next, is she going to judge Nora for shaving her legs and armpits? For letting the costume department put her in heels? The whole thing with the dieting and exercise, along with the cosmetic procedures, felt like an interesting conversation that was carried out in the most bizarrely ham fisted way. In the end, I wasn’t even sure I wanted them to be together because even though Mimi had started out so wonderfully understanding and perfect for Nora, in the end I didn’t trust her to not be a judgemental moron.

I’m glad we got more of Kate and Stella though!!!