The glorious paperback of Gorgeous, my Young Adult novel, is now available everywhere! While the book is YA, it’s also suitable for New Adults, Old Adults and even the most Delightfully Ancient Adults!
Libba Bray, in the New York Times, called the book “Gleefully wacky and irreverent” and “A wicked good time”, while the Boston Globe said that it’s “A satire as sharp as a stiletto heel that takes on celebrity culture, the fashion industry, consumerism and princess stories. Oh, and it’s wickedly hilarious.” In a starred review, Publishers Weekly said “With writing that’s hilarious, profane and profound (often within a single sentence) Rudnick casts a knowing eye on our obsession with fame, brand names and royalty to create a feel-good story about getting what you want without letting beauty blind you to what’s real.”
Three members of true writer royalty have also offered their wildly generous thoughts. Meg Cabot, the bestselling author of The Princess Diaries, said “When I wasn’t laughing out loud (which was often), I was wiping away a tiny tear.” Melissa De La Cruz, author of the hugely successful Blue Bloods series, said “Paul Rudnick’s generous, open heart, scathing wit, encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture and droll humor are all in force in his latest creation, Gorgeous, which is aptly named. I absolutely adored this book and snort-laughed through the entire thing. You will too.” Jane Hamilton, who wrote the amazing A Map of the World, said, “Reader Advisory: because you will split a gut laughing out loud, best to locate an Emergency Room in your area before you begin reading. I wish Gorgeous was my wallpaper; I wish this pure joy was Surround Sound; I wish this deliciousness was a drink. I wish Paul Rudnick was the President, the Pope and the Surgeon General. What a gorgeous place the world would be!”
I am so grateful to all of these writers, and most especially, I would like to take this occasion to again thank the extraordinary folks at Scholastic, including Lori Benton, Ellie Berger, Stacy Lellos. Bess Braswell, Leslie Garych, Sheila Marie Everett, Tracy Van Straaten, David Levithan, Kelly Ashton, Rachael Hicks, Elizabeth Parisi, Annette Hughes, Elizabeth Whiting, Corrine Van Natta, Alan Smagler, Jacqueline Rubin and everyone in the sales department: Lizette Serrano, Candace Greene, Catherine Sisco and Emily Marrow. Over the past year, I’ve gotten to know and cherish these wonderful people. I could not have felt more welcome – being published by Scholastic has been a writer’s dream, and not just because there’s a really impressive gift shop in the lobby.
With the most overwhelming gratitude, I would like to thank my sublime editor, Rachel Griffiths, and not just for helping me eliminate unnecessary commas. Rachel has been a tireless, irresistible and constant inspiration. A great editor allows a writer to fail and remains helpful and encouraging. A great editor never loses her sense of humor. And a great editor gives a writer the most constructive and illuminating advice, and beyond that, hope. Rachel is truly a great editor. Plus, during the past year, she has managed to give birth to both my book and a new human being, her son Dom. And while I’m not claiming any sort of superiority, between Dom and myself, I’m the only one who’s just been published in paperback.
So please, enjoy Gorgeous in its terrific new form, which also makes a perfect gift, an ideal beach read, and a magnificent accessory. Who won’t look better, if they’re carrying a copy of something called Gorgeous?
