Skinnydipping: A Novel by Bethenny Frankel

Release date: 2012 / 384 pages

Synopsis(from Amazon): Beloved by countless fans for being devilishly dishy, outrageously funny, and always giving it to us straight, four-time New York Times bestselling author Bethenny Frankel now makes her fiction debut with the story of Faith Brightstone.

Faith’s an aspiring actress who moves to L.A. determined to have it all—a job on the most popular TV show, a beach house in Malibu, and a gorgeous boyfriend. But when reality hits, she finds herself with a role that has more to do with T&A than acting and even worse relationship prospects. Finally, Faith decides she’s had enough of La La Land and moves back to New York with just a suitcase and her dog, Muffin.

Review: Skinny-dipping is pure Bethenny Frankel. Although touted as fiction, the plot of Frankel’s first novel seems to be pretty closely aligned with the major events of her life, which happen to be darn good reading.

The novel begins with Bethenny boarding a plane for L.A. soon after graduating from N.Y.U., going to live with her distant father she knows mostly through his fame the race track. Bethenny spends some time partying, working just as hard, and realizing her father is never going to become interested in a meaningful relationship before returning to her native N.Y.C. to meet the love of her life and entering the world of reality t.v., which changes her future forever.

The strengths of Skinny-dipping are Bethenny’s irrepressible voice and spunk – her unfailing honesty and insights into herself and those around her. However, this would have been even more satisfying as a memoir. Since most readers will already know the rough outline of her life, code-shifting into “fiction” felt a bit tedious at times. But most fans of Bethenny will enjoy her first attempt at fiction.

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