Status
Available
Description
From the bestselling author of STARTER FOR TEN, ONE DAY and US, THE UNDERSTUDY is a scintillating comedy of ambition, celebrity, jealousy and love. For Josh Harper, being in show-business means everything he ever wanted - money, fame, a beautiful wife, a lead role on the London stage. For Stephen C. McQueen, on the other hand, it means a disastrous career playing passers-by and dead people. He's stuck with an unfortunate name, a hopeless agent, a daughter he barely knows, and a job as understudy to Josh Harper, the 12th Sexiest Man in the World. And things get even more difficult when Stephen falls in love with Josh's clever, funny wife Nora. But might there yet be a way for Stephen to get his Big Break?
User reviews
LibraryThing member Kathy89
The understudy is about an actor named Stephen McQueen who is always the runner-up. He's the actor who gets invited to the birthday party of the star of his play and it's to bartend. He meets the stars lonely wife, befriends her and falls in love with her. The most interesting aspect of this book
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was his relationship with his 7 yr old daughter by his ex-wife. Show Less
LibraryThing member LadyHax
Having thoroughly enjoyed Starter for Ten and One Day, I was slightly surprised at how disappointing this novel was but we all have our bad days, I suppose. The self-deprecation and delusion that is ordinarily charming in many of Nicholls' characters is rather pathetic in Stephen. Nicholls should
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be congratulated in succeeding in creating some truly cringeworthy moments, but again I often felt more like rolling my eyes and shaking Stephen than patting his shoulder and assuring him we all have moments like that. Although this is relatively lacklustre compared to his other efforts, I remain a fan of Nicholls' work and still number him amongst my favourite contemporary British comic writers. Show Less
LibraryThing member Anietzerck
I actually won this book on Goodreads.com. Its about a wannabe actor and the struggles he goes through. The main character has a case of the "poor me" syndrome. I probably wouldn't have picked it up if it wasn't for winning the book. I thought the book was okay but not on of my favorite. The
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writing just didn't draw me in. Show Less
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
This was a great read - laugh out loud funny from the word go. It has just the right blend of humour and tragedy, with the hint of a major catastrophe coming down the tracks. Anyone who has read his first novel, 'Starter for Ten' will have an idea of the sort of thing to expect. Side splitting, toe
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curling, it kept me turning the pages at a furious pace. Show Less
LibraryThing member camharlow
A light, yet revealing tale of a struggling actor, Stephen C. McQueen, is the understudy of the title. Forever being rejected for the main roles, he has to take a variety of small walk-on roles on stage, film and television.
At last it appears that he might get his big break when he is understudy to
Nicholls deftly and humorously draws a sympathetic character in Stephen, as he attempts to fulfil his role as father to his daughter after his divorce; to make his acting breakthrough; and to juggle his relationships, professional and personal, with the star and his wife.
At last it appears that he might get his big break when he is understudy to
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the biggest up-and-coming star. But it’s complicated – he is also in love with the star’s wife.Nicholls deftly and humorously draws a sympathetic character in Stephen, as he attempts to fulfil his role as father to his daughter after his divorce; to make his acting breakthrough; and to juggle his relationships, professional and personal, with the star and his wife.
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LibraryThing member Erin.Patel
I thought this was funny, but not funny enough for me to care about what happens to these characters. I wonder whether I have up on them too soon. The main protagonist is a bit of a loser, although we know he shouldn't be, his daughter is disappointed in him, and he is the understudy to the 12th
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most beautiful man in the world, who never seems to have to try to get acting jobs, as well as being married to the beautiful and scarred Nora. I loved One Day so I wished that this was the same. Show Less
LibraryThing member Erin.Patel
I thought this was funny, but not funny enough for me to care about what happens to these characters. I wonder whether I have up on them too soon. The main protagonist is a bit of a loser, although we know he shouldn't be, his daughter is disappointed in him, and he is the understudy to the 12th
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most beautiful man in the world, who never seems to have to try to get acting jobs, as well as being married to the beautiful and scarred Nora. I loved One Day so I wished that this was the same. Show Less
LibraryThing member BooksForTheLiving
I loved his book 'One Day.' It is one of my all-time favorite books. So I thought I might read another one of his books. Well, this one didn't quite live up to my expectations. While it wasn't a bad book, I just didn't love it. One Day was so unique and amazing. This book just didn't have the same
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individuality. Show Less