Andy returns in this poorly written sequel to Weisberger’s bestselling, blockbuster The Devil Wears Prada. Where her debut novel had originality, a believable heroine, and a driving plot the sequel has a hard time delivering anything. As the plot builds to what feels the inevitable Andy-Miranda run in what happens in the end is actually…a lot of nothing. What the entire book builds towards is over in less than a chapter, leaving the reader to wonder is this it?
The Andy Sachs we’ve come to know and love from the first book is back, transformed into a creature that is hard to believe, as if half the lessons she learned in Paris never happened. While she seems to be attempting to spend more time with friends and family she’s still a work-a-holic trying to forge her way into the high fashion world, this time through luxury weddings and magazine The Plunge which she’s running with new best friend, the infamous Emily Charlton. The pairing isn’t as hard to believe as you’d imagine and the beginning of this plot actually makes sense. Weisberger sets the book up to be a fantastic sequel.
As the story continues and the character we’re all waiting to reappear emerges everything, well, it all falls apart. What I expected to be another novel of hard work and tough choices really comes down to Andy interpreting things in her own head and then wondering why no one takes her seriously. Instead of the intelligent, ambitious woman from book one Weisberger brings us an Andy that’s spoiled and a little difficult to believe. She constantly refers to the PTSD she got from working with Miranda as though working as an assistant is the equivalent of doing a tour of duty in Iraq without giving any credit to the fact The Plunge wouldn’t exist without her almost-a-year position as second assistant.
The Miranda aspects are underdone and Weisberger spends more time talking about Andy’s new mommy and me group than her run-ins with the Dragon Lady, which means when the book reaches its climax it’s more of a shoulder shrug than a final show down.
If you’re a fan of the first book (like I am) this book might be worth the effort. Even with all its flaws I enjoyed seeing the characters again and hearing what happened to Andy post-Miranda in Paris. As a story it doesn’t offer much otherwise.
