The Diva's Guide to Selling Your Soul

by Kathleen O'Reilly

Book Overview

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful... Call me V. I used to be a nobody, just a girl from New Jersey who was probably going to hell anyway -- or worse, mediocrity and a size 14. Now I get whatever I... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743499409
• ISBN13: 9780743499408
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Downtown Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Not Your Average "Chick Lit"

Loved this book! As an avid reader of "chick lit", I found this a refreshing break from the typical plots and romance stories while still remaining a fun and entertaining read.

Fantastic summer reading

Designer purse maven "V" has a perfect life--a thriving business, a perfect luxury apartment, clothes, a taut, slender body (with no dieting or exercise), and any man she wants. Sounds pretty good, but for one tiny detail. She sold her soul to the devil to get all those things, joining the "Life Enrichment Program." It's sort of like selling Tupperware, except you end up in hell. V's conscience doesn't bother her at all as she merrily recruits others to sell their souls. But then one day she inadvertently does a good deed, which is definitely against the rules, and the wrath of the devil, "Lucy," is upon her. Lucy is even more perfect than V, and she writes an influential New York gossip column that she uses to reward and punish her minions. (She also punishes with fat thighs and poufy butts.) On the same day as the good deed, V also meets a man. But he's a good man, and he believes he sees good in V. V spends a lot of time and effort trying to convince the guy she's rotten to the core, but all the while she's starting to regret selling her soul and wishing she could have that decision to make over again. This is a wonderful book. It has all the chick-lit trappings (woman in search of money, fame, fortune, love and perfect shoes, as well as an annoying mother), but it digs deep into the psyche and forces readers to really think about ethics and morals and values and all those squirmy things. The plot takes some wonderful twists and turns, leading to a totally unexpected, but perfect, ending. The writing is lush and lively, too, so the reader can just float along without effort. Fantastic summer reading.

Creative, smart, and oh, so fun!

The power to instantaneously perfect windblown hair, a devil who punishes by enlarging thighs and hips, a spell to turn an idiot ex into an aardvark: it's all inside plus so much more. The book is a refreshingly original story, filled with creative fun and intelligent twists. Its pages hold one surprise after another that will make it difficult to put down. I especially enjoyed V's personal journey of power. She starts the story with the enviable abilities to poof up to-die-for accessories, make smudged make-up vanish in the blink of an eye, and eat dessert while retaining thin thighs (without working out). Yet inside V it's another story all together. Certain that her soul is lost anyway, she decides she might as well go out with a bang. No self-centered action is too bad for her to take. She's a strong woman who makes her decisions and then doesn't spend the rest of the book whining about them. (Thank you, Ms. O'Reilly!) Through the story we watch as she makes one begrudging selfless decision after another, until, by the end of the book, she finds where her true power lies. Speaking of the end of the story, I absolutely loved it!! This book is a fun read that packs a surprising punch. I definitely recommend it.

Wow! Such a great story

Man, I loved this book. It was completely unexpected, original and exciting, and every night when I would finally force myself to put it down and turn out the light, I'd lie there thinking about all the spiritual and philosophical questions it raises. Is there anything I'd sell my soul for? I don't know... Zero cellulite sure is tempting. (Ha.) O'Reilly's writing is great -- very sharp, funny, and again, unexpected. She really pulled out all the stops for this book. And the ending was definitely a surprise to me! From beginning to end, I couldn't put it down, and was totally engrossed in the story. O'Reilly did a great job of making something fantastical -- selling your soul in order to be the It Girl of NYC, to the devil who's an attractive and surprisingly sympathetic woman, no less -- become perfectly plausible and engaging. And I can't stress the philosophical/spiritual aspect enough. Sure, it's a Chick Lit novel, but it goes so far beyond any other CL book I've ever read. I mean, the heroine, V, is an anti-heroine, and unlike heroines in so many other CL novels, she doesn't sit around grousing about being fifteen pounds overweight or how she can't bag her boss -- because she sold her soul! She gets to have whatever she wants! Except, of course, her soul back, because she sold it in a contract with no out clause. And therein is the philosophical conundrum of the book. It's great. I can't wait for O'Reilly's next one!

This Diva Should Have Kept Her Soul!

This novel explores the unusual topic of selling one's soul - to the devil. V - the main character, (she isn't allowed to tell you her real name) was once a size 14 with lumpy thighs, a mediocre life and job, and was miserable. That all changed when V decided to sign her soul over to the devil - in exchange for beauty, powers, wealth and fame. There are different levels of the program (called "the Life Enrichment Program"). Your powers increase with each level. There are some catches, of course. In order to move through the levels, you have to recruit other people into the program. You have to practice apathy at all times, and you must be discreet. So in the beginning of the story, V has already signed her soul over to the devil. The devil's name is Lucy - and she is a beautiful woman who is coveted by many, and writes a weekly column that gives the dish on the who is who and what is what in Manhattan. So V is pretty content at first with her new powers and beauty and fame, but she begins to see that there are many downsides to Lucy's program. Such as, she has to continually try and recruit people into selling their soul. She is not supposed to help anyone or do any good deeds. And when she dares go against the devil's plans, there is definitely hell to pay... V starts to wonder if she made a mistake in selling her soul. After all, her life just isn't the same without one. Sure, she has wealth, success, power... but what about helping others, falling in love and just plain life contentment? V knows she is in deep, but is there a way out? I had mixed feelings while reading this book. On one hand, it is very original, bitingly funny and has some hilarious dialogue between the characters. The pace is frantic, and the story is very suspenseful. On the other hand, I had a hard time wrapping my imagination around the plot, which was very far-fetched. I have no problem with fantasy or paranormal novels, but in chick lit - it's got to be somewhat believable. For the most part, this book was. I have to admit, Kathleen O'Reilly really did a wonderful job of handling such a delicate subject matter (to some). The ending of this novel made up for anything I might have not liked in the story - it was excellent! Overall, I definitely recommend this book. It pushes the envelope with its daring plot, and will make you laugh out loud more than once.