Woman of the Hour (Storyworld, #1) by Jane Lythell
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Publication Date: November 1, 2017
Pages: 352

Book Summary: Meet Liz Lyon: respected TV producer, stressed-out executive, guilty single mother. StoryWorld is the nation’s favorite morning show, and Liz wants to keep it that way. Her job is to turn real-life stories into thrilling TV—and keep a lid on the scandals and backbiting that happen off-stage. But simmering tensions erupt at the station, trapping Liz in a game of one-upmanship where she doesn’t know the rules. As the power struggle intensifies, can Liz keep her cool and keep her job? Does she even want to? In this gripping novel of power, rivalry, and betrayal, Jane Lythell draws on her experiences working in live TV.

Book Review: WOMAN OF THE HOUR by Jane Lythell was a well-written book, with a fascinating look into the daily grind of the TV world. Liz, the producer of a popular morning show, was the epitome of a hard working, full-time mother. I resonated with her from the start and enjoyed the time I spent getting to know her.

As for the secondary characters, they all had their own personas. I got the gist of their personalities and understood the role they contributed to the TV station. Liz, the cleaner upper as I’d like to call her, ran around the office as a problem solver. Even with the unnecessary drama that could be found in most offices, she handled things like a pro. I wish I had her emotional stamina to deal with half of the crap thrown at her every day.

Now, at times I felt the plot slowed down, making it a bit dull to read. I found myself growing impatient while I waited for the drama to hit. However midway, the novel started to pick up. The deceit, backstabbing and underlying issues that plagued the office finally came to light. I thoroughly enjoyed this interval of the story line.

All in all, Jane is a well-read author. Her previous background as a TV producer formulated an insightful story with an array of workplace revelations. I’m looking forward to continuing the journey with the second installment in the series, BEHIND HER BACK.

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.5

!! Check out my Bookstagram post here !!

Thank you to Jane Lythell for gifting me this book for review.

______________________________________________

About the Author: My first novel THE LIE OF YOU has the intriguing tagline of: One woman’s fear is another woman’s weapon. It is a psychological thriller. My second novel AFTER THE STORM has been described as Marine Noir. This is rather apt as it is about a couple who get on a small boat with two strangers who have offered to sail them to a paradise island. Their dream holiday turns into something much darker.

I started to write full time in May 2011 after years of working in film and television, including at the British Film Institute and at BAFTA. Film addict I may be but books have always come first for me since I read my way through the fiction shelves at the small library in Sheringham, my home town in Norfolk, UK.