paperback; 356pp; published, 1999

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Butterflies and Puppy Dog Tails is the preschool where the children of the powerbrokers share crayons and snacks as they bond on their way to a shining future. But one group of women is about to learn that the "right" place to be is about much more than status, and that together, they can endure anything.

FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Goldhirsh's debut novel follows the lives of three mothers in Santa Monica, Calif., struggling to get their kids into a competitive preschool. Gabrielle is a coldly efficient woman; Nancy, a poster girl for plastic surgery, bounces from one manipulative man to the next; and Eve, the newcomer looking for a fresh start, is taught by the others how to succeed in the vapid world of Southern California. Slowly, however, the women realize that their family and friendships mean more to them than life's superficial entrapments. Unfortunately, Goldhirsh relies on brand names, designers and boutiques to set the scene instead of developing believable characters and situations. Consequently, the relationships these women have with one another, as well as with their children and the men in their lives, spark little interest. (Sept.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Received this today from MRJIGGS. Thankyou so much! :D
It looks interesting - I love the cover. I'll probably start it straight away too, as I just realised I remember the ending to the book I'm currently re-reading. ;P
Thanks again - it's complete-ly good ... ;D

This is about an exclusive pre-school in Hollywood called Butterflies and Puppydogs Tales - and the people with children who attend, and those who are eager to get their children 'in'. It's an enjoyable peek inside the Hollywood life. I don't know how accurate it is, but it's a great story.

RELEASE NOTES:

posted off to lauraloo29 today as part of bookrelay

Arrived safe and sound today. Thank you for the post card!

So many books, so little time. My TBR pile is migrating to the floor again, so I have had to make decisions on some books. I will look for a nice home for this one. :)

Sending as a trade to Megi53. Enjoy!

I've been wanting to read this ever since it came out in print -- and now here it is! Thanks so much, lauraloo29.

I was intrigued by the tiny stickers on the cover, and the fuzzy one right inside. I will have to investigate making some of my own!

I finished reading *Butterflies...* this afternoon. It reminded me of Jackie Collins' writing (which I've always liked).

The character Nancy was unforgettable. She had so many facets, and at the same time she was so wonderfully loyal. Her husband, Landon, and their first child, March, were marvelously depicted, too.

Eve's hick family from Vegas added light moments to some of the richer scenes, like the restaurant wedding (but would a gas station owner like Daddy Hank really have a bare-dirt yard?)!

I loved the descriptions of the different schools, and the sneaky way the directors cooperated in the admissions process.

Very nice book -- I plan to include it in a bookbox of newer fiction.

Oh, this book has done some traveling ... great! Thank you!

Not my "cup of tea," but I'll find a good home for it.

Booklist Review
Everyone knows that wealth, beauty, and influence run Hollywood's power deals, but what about its preschools? First-time novelist Goldhirsh tells a Hollywood tale of love, fame, and betrayal with a surprising twist.

She focuses on the lives of three women: Eve, a poor girl from Las Vegas who drives to California on her eighteenth birthday to start a new life; Nancy, a sweet, fun-loving rich girl from Connecticut who comes to California for its great parties; and Gabrielle, whose fierce determination is borne from a childhood spent in shame. All three are lucky to have been able to enroll their children in Butterflies and Puppydog Tails, Hollywood's most exclusive preschool. Run by Jocelyn Stone, it enjoys the reputation as the place to put one's children: acceptance is one more step up the ladder to fame and glory.

While the plot may sound a bit far-fetched, the story is wonderfully told, the romance is creative, and the characters are sympathetic and engaging.

RELEASE NOTES:

Released to Skreader's Late Winter Bookbox.

RELEASE NOTES:

received in my late winter bookbox