Thin, Rich, Pretty

By Beth Harbison
Read by Orlagh Cassidy

      Holly, Nicola and Lexi were all thirteen when they went to summer camp the last time. They didn’t know each other at first, but Holly and Nicola became fast friends. Holly was overweight and insecure. She hated the camp, the cabin, the counselor, a boy-crazy older teenage girl named Britany, and all her cabin mates but Nicola. Nicola was her best friend. Lexi and her friends tormented Nicola as much as they did Holly.

Nicola had a pretty face except for one thing. Her nose was hideous. Naturally, Lexi and her rich friends made fun of Nicola’s nose. Nicola’s biggest dream was to be a movie actress. Lexi and the others declared she’d never make it in Hollywood with that nose. And Holly would never get a man as long as she was so fat.

The story takes up twenty years later, after the girls are grown. Holly is “pre-engaged” to Randy. The engagement won’t be official until Holly loses some of her weight. Nicola made a colossal movie, “Duet,” which makes her a big star. But now, she isn’t pretty enough for any other role she auditions for. Lexi is thin and pretty, but is no longer rich. Her father left everything to her stepmother to divide with Lexi as she saw fit. She cut Lexi off without a cent and kicked her out of the house.

“Thin, Rich, Pretty” tackles the age-old problem of wealthy, spoiled girls being cruel to those who have less. Children can be cruel and rich, pretty girls are very catty. In that respect, the characters are true-to-life. As far as the plot goes, there really isn’t much of one. We’re taken back and forth between past and present. Eventually, we find ourselves up to date in a feel-good book. It’s not my cup of tea, but it might be yours. Listen for yourself and make up your own mind.