Dead Sexy
by Kathy Lette
Pocket Books $99
It's good to find a book that doesn't take itself seriously, but Dead Sexy makes the mistake of trying too hard to be silly. Kit and Shelly are married - even though they've only just met. They're contestants on Desperate and Dateless, a reality TV show that offers them #100,000 each if they can stay married for a year. Lette bombards the reader with caustic remarks. The honeymoon resort is 'so exclusive not even the tide can get in'. Shelly gets in touch with her masculine side because 'car mechanics would tell her the truth! She'd be able to open her own jam jars! Four pairs of shoes would be adequate for her whole life! The entire world could be her urinal!' Unfortunately, the effect is more like being assaulted than entertained. There's a lot of humour, but it falls flat because the story is contrived and the characters unconvincing.