I should preface this review by stating that is “chick lit” and I have never in my life read a chick lit novel. Not Bergdorf Blondes, not The Devil Wears Prada, not Shopaholic. I have never even read a Jane Austen book. I am not really a chick lit kind of gal.The Immaculate Complexion by Edie Bloom was a painless way to ease into the genre.

The novel follows Marnie, a down-to-earth, vintage wearing, organic loving girl who is temping at LeVigne, one of the biggest cosmetics companies in the world. She doesn’t fit in with the anorexic, Botoxed, superficial girls who rule the place. But she has to stick it out so she can save enough money to launch her own, 100% natural cosmetic line with best friend (and full-blown hippie) Holly. Along the way, Marnie must balance a promising relationship with cheese-phile Paul.

The book is a quick, entertaining read. Perfect for lazy summer days by the pool. I love the way the LeVigne girls are portrayed – hilariously stereotyped as being ridiculously shallow and vapid. Like the pregnant PR agent who won’t even eat for one or the Botox parties held in the conference room in the middle of the work day. I also love that Paul is a cheese buyer. I am a huge cheese aficionado, so reading the way he waxes poetic over moldy cheese makes my mouth water.

Overall, I felt as though the book had no plot. It starts with Marnie starting at LeVigne, and ends with Marnie leaving LeVigne. She doesn’t have purpose or direction, other than making enough money to live. Towards the end of the novel, she and Holly decide to start their own cosmetics company, but there is no strife, no struggle. Their company grows seemingly without effort. Plot points presented throughout the book – like a disastrously high-concept product launch, or a mysterious death in the office after hours – are all wrapped up tidily within a few pages. Marnie undergoes a few nerve-wracking paragraphs, then everything blows over.

Marnie herself is often annoying. Much of the book is spent with her whining and basically being a pussy. She doesn’t tell her boyfriend that she is severely lactose intolerant for fear that he will dump her. What kind of woman wants to date a man who would dump them over something so silly? She constantly tells herself she is going to quit, but doesn’t follow through. She is constantly making fun of the Botox Brigade… but goes in for it herself. It is impossible to decide if she is a vintage earth mother, or secretly wants to be part of the “in crowd.”

The best parts of the book are when the LeVigne girls get catty, vapid, and stupid. The things they say and do are so ridiculous and over the top, you think to yourself, “real people aren’t like this.” Until you stop a moment and think about all the people you have ever met, and realize you know at least one person that would fit in well at LeVigne. I wish there were more instances of this in the book, and less of the Marnie/Paul relationship (but remember, I hate romance, so that may just be me). Some of the publicity stunts in the book are just outrageous – who in their right mind would think that sending doves draped with Tiffany & Co jewelry to the windowsills of top fashion editors would be a good idea? Edie Bloom is actually a pseudonym for a writing pair, both of whom used to work in beauty public relations. These ladies have seen all the weird and wacky things that go on in this industry, and it really shows.

The Immaculate Conception can be purchased at Amazon.