Issy had to give up her hairdressing dreams in London and return home to Manchester when her dad had a heart attack. She’s happy enough working in her mum’s salon but then her father puts her forward for a reality TV show. Can You Cut It pits a group of hair stylists against one another in a series of challenges, with the prize being a job at a prestigious salon and their own haircare line. With the main judge taking an instant dislike to her and one of the contestants, snooty Mia, being a nightmare to live with, Issy has her work cut out for her. With plenty of backstabbing and bitching, this was an entertaining, juicy read from someone who knows all too well the perks and pitfalls of reality TV fame. Totally surpassed expectations and hooked me right in.
Vicky Pattison, of Georgie Shore fame, is releasing her debut novel, All That Glitters, about - yep, you guessed it - a girl who is cast in a reality TV series. The summary says: "Three years ago Issy Jones walked away from her dream because her family needed her. Today, she spends her days working in her mum's salon and her nights going out with her best friend, Molly. Life is good yet Issy can't help wishing for something more. When Issy's dad puts her forward for a sensational new reality TV show, no one expects her to actually be selected. With her family urging her to grab the opportunity with both hands, Issy suddenly finds herself surrounded by glamour, fame and celebrities. Full of excitement, Issy embraces it all - it's what she needs to do to achieve her goals. But when the reality of what she's signed up for doesn't match the dream Issy is chasing, things begin to fall apart. Issy is so close to getting everything she ever wanted - but just how much of herself will she have to sacrifice to get it?" All That Glitters is out in July 2015. Another novel is due out later in the year. Pattison also released an autobiography, Nothing but the Truth, in 2014.