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How to be Famous

The laugh-out-loud Richard & Judy Book Club bestseller

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How to be Famous

By: Caitlin Moran
Narrated by: Louise Brealey
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About this listen

Random House presents the audiobook edition of How to be Famous by Caitlin Moran, read by Louise Brealey.

Life is always better backstage, isn't it?

A funny, riotous novel about a young women making it in a world where men hold all the power from the Sunday Times bestselling author of HOW TO BUILD A GIRL

I’m Johanna Morrigan, and I live in London in 1995, at the epicentre of Britpop. I might only be nineteen, but I’m wise enough to know that everyone around me is handling fame very, very badly.

My unrequited love, John Kite, has scored an unexpected Number One album, then exploded into a Booze And Drugs HellTM – as rockstars do. And my new best friend – the maverick feminist Suzanne Banks, of The Branks – has amazing hair, but writer’s block and a rampant pill problem. So I’ve decided I should become a Fame Doctor. I’m going to use my new monthly column for The Face to write about every ridiculous, surreal, amazing aspect of a million people knowing your name.

But when my two-night-stand with edgy comedian Jerry Sharp goes wrong, people start to know my name for all the wrong reasons. ‘He’s a vampire. He destroys bright young girls. Also, he’s a total dick’ Suzanne warned me. But by that point, I’d already had sex with him. Bad sex.
Now I’m one of the girls he’s trying to destroy.
He needs to be stopped.

But how can one woman stop a bad, famous, powerful man?

Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Urban Women's Fiction Funny Comedy Feel-Good Inspiring Witty Heartfelt Thought-Provoking

Critic reviews

Who better than Caitlin Moran to bring fame down to earth with a bump (HELEN FIELDING, bestselling author of Bridget Jones's Diary)
It's quite a ride, this book. It's laugh-out-loud funny, sweetly romantic and fiercely angry. Often all at once ... beautifully written
A deeply satisfying tale of sex, drugs, britpop, unrequited love, London, and a narrator I completely adore. This is funny, philosophical, and poignant in equal measure. Glorious and life-enhancing (NINA STIBBE)
Brilliantly funny, caustic social commentary with the best-wish fulfilment revenge scene I've read, like, ever
A rollicking fantasy which leaves a rosy afterglow (Book of the Day)
A glorious life-affirming love letter to teenage girls, pop music, best friends and that one guy you'll never get enough of
Moran's words are, as always, kind, tender and achingly funny. This is a real love letter to teenage girls and North London - if this book was a popstar I'd be putting its posters up on my wall and doodling its name all over my Maths book (DAISY BUCHANAN, bestselling author of How To Be A Grown-Up)
On every page you'll find yourself tits-deep in word treasure. A filthy, gutsy, exhilarating call to arms (EMMA-JANE UNSWORTH, bestselling author of Animals)
A machete-sharp follow up [to How to Build a Girl] ... boasts a rogue's gallery of brilliant characters familiar to anyone who has ever read the NME
The dazzlingly gifted Moran makes mythic the maligned, misunderstood, momentous 1990s. Prose crackling and fizzing with charm, mischief and passion, she is the sharpest, funniest, most influential writer of her generation, which is also my generation, annoyingly (STUART MACONIE)
All stars
Most relevant
The funniest, most quotable, joyful, uplifting read! I recommend with all my crazy heart and soul!

wonderful!

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If you lived in London in the late 1990’s, as I did at uni, this book is a fantastic reminisce of teenage girlhood and party time. I loved everything minute and reference and turn of phrase. Excellent

Fantastically nostalgic

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I found some of this book pure brilliane and some simply good. Chapter 30 really struck a chord with me. I wanted to print it out and hand it to all the women I know . My husband and I listened to it together and he enjoyed it too.

Wonderful

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Caitlin Moran he’s done it again! This book is the best thing I’ve read in ages. An hilarious, inspiring and entertaining read with complicated characters and situations. A masterclass on how to take your power back when no on wants to give it to you. Simultaneously heart breaking and warming! I love this book so much and hope to get my daughter to read it too. Thank you Caitlin Moran, my sooo feels a little lighter xx

I love this book so much

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This book is amazing, wondrous, funny and a brilliant telling about the life of teenage girls. It has brightened up my journey to and from work everyday, taken me back through my life and got the heart of some very real teenage thoughts and fears. I love that Caitlin Morgan has no qualms to write about all of this and Louise Brealey does a fantastic job of doing so many varied accents and pitches, so much so that the characters are recognisable from one word of speech. Thank you so much for this story and audio book. I couldn't believe the end came so soon and I wish there were more. Somehow I hope that this is the conclusion though.

One of the best coming of age books

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