cover image When Harry Hit Hollywood

When Harry Hit Hollywood

Mara Goodman-Davies, . . Sourcebooks, $14 (376pp) ISBN 978-1-4022-0642-9

Although Goodman-Davies (When Harry Hit the Hamptons ) has all the salacious Hollywood elements in place, his latest is predictable. East Coast heiress Jessica Ackerman marries Beverly Hills billionaire Harry Raider just in time for the Raider fortune to vanish. As the news breaks, hotel heiress Luisa Mendez creates an interesting twist: she directs her assistant, Chas Greer, to undo the Raider marriage so she can have Harry for herself. Chas has the most compelling voice—having suffered through childhood just outside the wealthy Beverly Hills scene, Chas compensates by befriending as many A-listers as possible, giving him plenty of opportunity to seethe hilariously at the pampered characters around him. Unfortunately, Goodman-Davies doesn't trust Chas or anyone else with the plot: the point of view switches constantly, and the complex narrative scheme doesn't make up for an anemic story. (May)