Crazy Hot (Au Pairs) - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
This summer's not just hot...it's crazy hot.

It's been a year since the hottest au pairs ever saw the Hamptons, and they're certainly older -- though not necessarily wiser. Or drama-free.

Eliza, Jacqui, and Mara thought they'd be spending the summer apart, but when Eliza's new stepmother finds herself in need of some nannying help around the megamansion with the step-monsters, Eliza makes a call...and Jacqui and Mara wind up with two first-class tickets to the Hamptons.

After ruling her first year at Parsons, Eliza, the up-and-coming starlet-turned-designer, is opening her own boutique on super posh Main Street. But it's not just Eliza's career that's on the fast track -- her relationship with Jeremy is too. Too bad he's moving too fast for Eliza to keep up.

Brazilian beauty Jacqui is trying to be a good, responsible au pair. But it's tough when there's a hot British photographer following you around, telling you to quit your job and become an international supermodel. All she wants is to make enough money to pay for NYU...so what happens when she gets a much bigger offer?

After getting fired from her travel-writing job and dumped at the airport by her journalist boyfriend, Mara settles for a summer chasing toddlers once again. There's one benefit to nannying: She'll have plenty of material for the novel she's writing about being an au pair -- and an It Girl -- in the Hamptons. Nothing's going to distract her from the task at hand...except perhaps her old flame, Ryan Perry.

Can our three favorite Hamptons girls survive the craziest, hottest summer yet?

Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...

1 out of 5 stars

Buying Books Out of Superstition=Unfavourable Reviews July 17, 2007
3 out of 8 found this review helpful

Okay, I'm going to say something right now that's probably going to make me sound utterly insane. For the past three years, I have read one of Melissa de la Cruz's Au Pairs books every time I have vacationed in Canada.

Why? Well, it really has nothing to do with de la Cruz's genius as a writer. After reading the first two books, I thought she might have some talent, at least for the teen girl set, but after reading another book of hers, the utterly awful Blue Bloods, I decided: no. She doesn't. She can do a good job of writing about meaningless nonsense and making it seem halfway decent, but when it comes to anything serious, she can't write.

So why did I decide to even read either Sun-Kissed or Crazy Hot, nevermind actually buying them at the bookstore when my pathetic small-town library didn't have them?

Because I. am. a superstitious. freak. And I had enjoyed my previous trips. So I thought the books were good luck. Which I became even more convinced of once my 2006 trip was great, too.

Hence, why I bought Book 4--even though my mind was telling me the same thing it had told me once The Princess Diaries and The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series grew to 4 books after satisfying endings in their third volumes (Sun-Kissed's ending was similarly satisfying--Eliza was with Jeremy AND was a fashion designer, Mara wasn't with Ryan but was going to the right college for her, and Jacqui had learned some important lessons about romance and was ready to do whatever it took to get into college the following year. Satisfying, especially as Ryan had started to really. annoy. me.)

And now it's looking like, out of these three series, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (and Ann Brashares) is the only one who had the talent/integrity to keep the quality going into stories after Book 3. Meg Cabot's later volumes of The Princess Diaries dragged. Mia and Michael fight about stupid stuff. Mia and Lilly fight about stupid stuff. Various couples break up, other various couples get together. Characters who were previously simply mentioned to add some humour are given personalities. Michael's not a virgin and Mia freaks out. Annoying.

And as for de la Cruz's characters? Ach.

Eliza and Jeremy seem utterly unable to talk about anything important. Mara's boyfriend leaves for Europe for his job, without her only because she screwed up and didn't renew her passport. She whines and pines for Ryan. Who of course is still `meant to be with her' because of course that makes perfect sense, for the couple who continually makes up and breaks up to just be `perfect for each other.' Ach. I cannot stand those sort of relationships, which at their level of drama only exist in fiction. And Jacqui finds some perfect small-town boy by chance and then he leaves the story, only to weirdly show up again at the end, and dates an Australian photographer in the meantime (who I really didn't mind--other people kept calling him a cad but de la Cruz did nothing to show that he's a cad. Therefore, how can readers think he is one?) named Marcus.

Then Mara's boyfriend David shows back up, and once again: "He's a cad, he's a jerk, he's a this, he's a that" from Eliza, Jacqui, Ryan--but HOW DOES HE SHOW IT? HOW? Quick answer--he doesn't. He and Ryan have one overly-competitive game of mini-golf but he never reaches the Jerk Levels that you'd've thought he'd be reaching for people to say he is one. In the scenes between him and Mara, things seem fine, maybe he's not the perfect guy for her, but he's not a jerk. I think de la Cruz is just being lazy--with David, Marcus, pretty much everyone. Even with the characters she wants readers to like, she just has people say a bunch of stuff about them without ever showing their kindness or whatever in action. Which is what MATTERS. Actions, lady. Actions. (More on David near the end)

Oh, and what else bugs me? Let's see. First of all, Natasha Bedingfield? Ach. I despise her music. There are way better lyrics that could've been chosen for beginning-of-book poetry. The lyrics de la Cruz chose (from the way-too-ubiquitous `Unwritten') don't even make any sense to the context of the book. I don't really feel like thinking too hard to come up with a `quotable' song for this, so here's my first two thoughts: `Boys on the Radio' by Hole (sure it's Hole, but it's still `light' enough as to not scare the tweeners) or `Dancin Days' by Led Zeppelin (and she mentions Led Zeppelin in the book, so there we go. Even if she was just trying to do it to seem cool to someone like me, she already has concluded it won't scare the tweeners.) And there've got to be quite a few other things better than `Unwritten.'

And--Mara's `blog.' The `blog' she hopes to turn into a bestselling book. Firstly--I despise chick lit. That's why I don't read it or try to imitate its style in my writing. I don't mind books that deal with relationships. But I don't like it when The Relationship is the Main Focus of the Book. It should be a subplot, as it very seldom can carry the entire thing.

Melissa de la Cruz tries to paint her character Mara Waters as `serious talented writer' material--but she never coughs up the goods. In book 3, she has her magazine job--but we never get to see any of her writing. We're just supposed to believe it's good.

Oh, that it had stayed that way. We get to see her work in Book 4--this is after she's apparently spent all year getting accolades at Columbia for being a talented writer--in the form of her blog.

Her blog is awful. It's not well-written. It reads like emotionless cutesy chick-lit without an ounce of talent behind it. In fact, it reads like what a blog written by a nineteen-year-old de la Cruz might sound like. Not a nineteen-year-old serious writer. I know what a blog by a nineteen-year-old serious writer sounds like, I'm writing one! And then, by the end of the book, we discover that, oh wait--Mara Waters never was just some girl from Massachusetts. She never was an original character with an original storyline. No, because at the end of the book Mara gets a book deal. To publish a chick-lit novel called The Au Pairs. (While she's apparently in Venice with Ryan telling her readers that "Italy is just like home, only with better pizza." Idiot. Italy is NOT "just like home" if `home' is small-town Massachusetts, as it is for Mara. Italy is "just like home" if `home' is Italy. Period.) With a cover depicting three girls in bikinis "without a kid in sight." Mara is de la Cruz's author-insertion character, I was just too stupid to see it after book 3. And I've done a bit of author-insertion in my own work, I won't lie, but...this is too much. It's one thing to write a fantasy involving yourself and Whatever Boy You're Crushing On when you're fifteen...it's quite another to have one of your main characters, who ends up at the same college you did, write your book. And then pass the book off to readers as "genius."

Which leads me to further talking about how David was not a jerk. He arranges for Mara to meet with his book-publishing mother after reading some of her blog for a possible book deal. Then he tells her not to bring pages of her blog to the meeting because "that's not what will sell the idea, your image will." He calls her an "entertaining" writer and that her actual writing "doesn't really matter." All of which is true for dealing with his mother. Mara takes all of this to mean, however, that he doesn't actually think she's talented and inwardly fumes because she `spent a lot of time on that blog.' Well, let me just say one thing--she's not talented. If `her' writing is actually de la Cruz's, then no, she's not. And no, I don't think that any serious publisher would really care for it. (Although I will say I was happy that at least Mara wasn't trying to write a book about vampires in New York City--because the next person who tries to tell me that Blue Bloods is `serious work' will die. In fact, when I find it in bookstores I have been known to slip a note into the front of it warning people that it is a historically inaccurate piece of dreck and that they should not buy it.) So the whole thing with Mara getting a publishing deal and `showing David' just seems like wish-fulfilment for me--"Yeah, I'm a serious writer, take that." Ick. And the thing that made me want to scream the most was when Mara quoted Henrik Ibsen when leaving David. If this girl reads Ibsen, why does she write at the level of a seven-year-old? And I suppose I can say the same thing for de la Cruz. (And also--if de la Cruz reads Ibsen, why does she insist on ending the story with each girl having to be with The Boy rather than having some of them, at least, single-but-happy? I mean, I suppose none of the boys were named Torvald, but still these books seem like the anti-A Doll House.)

Oh, and de la Cruz made a serious error of judgment when she named two of her new characters `Midas' and `Marcus' and then made Mara write a blog where she refers to everyone (including herself) by their first initial. Is this M the writer? M who's dating Jacqui? M the fabulous photographer who might like Eliza? Who knows? Who cares? Idiot.

Aside from that--that Eliza is now a renowned designer is annoying and unbelievable (although not as unbelievable as it was in Book 3) and some of the conversations are ridiculous, unrealistic, and seem to have no shred of passion behind them on de la Cruz's part. We're supposed to believe these are real people in real life, but everything seems so FAKE.

So no, Melissa, you are NOT a serious writer, and I'm rather sorry that you seem to be good luck for me. I wish I could say that about someone talented instead.

5 out of 5 stars

Courtesy of Teens Read Too May 31, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

It's always hot in the Hamptons, but this year it's CRAZY HOT with the three girls together again.

Just when they thought they would be separated for the summer, once again fate brought them together. Mara and Jacqui are actually au pairing for Eliza's father's new wife. Eliza herself is busy opening up her own store, filled with her fabulous clothes. Of course, her two best friends agree to model for the opening and Jacqui catches one photographer's eye.

Before the girls have time to process the possibilities, the photographer decides that he wants to shoot Eliza's clothes with Jacqui as the premiere model for Vogue. Jacqui's not too sure she wants to be in the modeling business, but Eliza begs her. And soon enough the two girls are off to parties and shoots, leaving Mara to deal with the kids alone.

Mara's feeling left out. Eliza feels crazed with the store, and Jeremy's wishes for the future leave her feeling scared and confused. Jacqui feels like this summer is shaping up the rest of her life, but it isn't the life that she thought she wanted.

Sisterhood means knowing your friends and sharing the truth with them, even if the truth is something they're not yet ready to hear. When the girls have a bang-up fight, it's time for them to find steady footing on their own and to trust in themselves.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

5 out of 5 stars

Hampton heat in the summer returns June 1, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Hampton heat in the summer returns with the popular Au Pairs. This fourth installment in Melissa de la Cruz's sizzling hot series will surprise and charm readers with new fashion trends, life-changing questions and heartbreaking decisions.

Eliza has finished her first year at Parsons and is looking forward to opening her own boutique with a summer line in the Hamptons. Jeremy helped her get the shop ready, but after earning a large inheritance, he is suddenly talking houses and kids. When he presents Eliza with the huge Neil Lane diamond of her dreams, she wonders why it all feels so wrong. Being set for life with a career and family at 19 is a lot to handle.

Mara spent her first year at Columbia with intellectual boyfriend David. When they arrive at the airport ready for a summer writing job in Europe, an expired passport means no trip for Mara. But David leaves anyway.

Jacqui endured a humiliating fifth year of high school to get those NYU credentials and is anticipating another summer with the Perrys. She finds out, however, that they're leaving for London and she has only a few weeks left in the apartment they loaned her.

Eliza's newly-divorced father is living with a female business tycoon, who has five gifted children and no nannies. When Eliza arrives to spend the summer with her dad, she calls Mara and Jacqui --- and the girls are together again in the Hamptons.

Jacqui is discovered as the new It Girl model for two "Saucy Aussie" photographers, and they also feature Eliza's designs. Both girls are busy most nights appearing at parties for this fast-track new life. Mara stays home and takes care of the kids, though she manages to bump into Ryan Perry, who did not go to London. After she receives photographs from David in Europe about how much he wishes she were at the Eiffel Tower or Venice, she writes back and breaks it off. Instead, she spends her time on a blog about her life as a Hamptons nanny and plans to work on a book.

Soon Jacqui has to decide if she's still going to NYU, her longtime dream, or to Paris with the flirty photographer. Eliza gets interviewed constantly about her clothes --- and her upcoming wedding, which has no plans yet. Things come to a head for all three girls, and after an air-clearing session with each other, they return to settle their situations with level heads and hearts.

Readers will wish there was a real Eliza Thompson designing the clothes that are described on these pages, but what's truly memorable is the lovely bond these three young women share. CRAZY HOT will fulfill the future for them in a highly satisfying way.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

3 out of 5 stars

Average June 19, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This is the fourth book in the series. I must admit, its starting to feel a little tired and the storyline is stretched a little bit. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the basic storyline of Mara having to deal with the children once again as Eliza and J. are having too much fun - felt a little like the beginning of the series.

But my chief complaint about this series - and I mentioned in my previous review of the prior book - this storyline pushing the envelope of reality. You really do have to suspend your disbelief if you are going to get through this book. Once again, these "oh so gorgeous women" just happen to ALWAYS be at the right place, at the right time - making rich men fall at their feet and oh look at that - these same men just happen to be "bigshots" in the fashion world and oh look at that what a coincidence our little Eliza is going to be the top up and coming designer at the ripe old age of 19. Right!!!!!

Sometimes, I just could not belief the storyline - but the writing is fun and the girls are likeable.

A fun beach read.

5 out of 5 stars

Spicy, scandalous, and sassy - 'Crazy Hot' is the perfect accompaniment for a day at the beach! May 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

High school is over. While our favorite au-pairs, Mara Waters, Jacqui Velasco, and Eliza Thompson have all endured trying years at their designated educational institutions (Eliza at Parsons, Mara at Columbia, and Jacqui forced to suffer through a fifth year of St. Grace in order to meet the requirements for NYU), they're all psyched for the summer. But this year, as much as they'd love to relive the days of summer's passed, the girls certainly won't be spending it together in the Hamptons. Or so they thought.

Eliza Thompson always knew that she had an eye for fashion, but she never realized that it would land her at the top of her class at Parsons. After her designs received rave reviews at her Fashion Week debut, Eliza knew that it was time to unleash her creations to the public; and she plans on doing just that in the Hamptons. On Main Street, to be exact. The store, eliza thompson, will be situated right across from Scoop and Calypso, and feature all white clothes and accessories, in a giant pink space reminiscent of cotton candy. Eliza just knows that her new boutique will be the talk of the Hamptons; but her relationship with the debonair Jeremy Stone may just garner a little press, as well. But with their relationship moving so fast, Eliza wonders if she'll be able to keep up with it, in addition to running a hip store.

Mara Waters thought that her summer was going to be a blast. After acing her finals at Columbia, she just knows that everything will be smooth sailing. Sure, she won't be lounging around the Hamptons in a Gucci bikini with her gal pals; but she'll be doing something equally amazing - traveling the world with her handsome boyfriend, David. David and Mara have snagged jobs as travel-writers, and will be carousing Europe on a budget, writing about their many misadventures. But when Mara makes the mistake of a lifetime and loses her job, David hits the road, and Mara ends up back in the Hamptons. While chasing around a group of kids for the summer isn't the glitz and glamour she was looking for, it pays the bills, and gives her a chance to check out the locals - namely her ex-boyfriend, Ryan Perry.

Jacqui Velasco has worked hard over the past year. She's determined to be taken as a serious, studious, brainy babe; as opposed to a curvy airhead who can be bought with diamonds and truffles. But being good isn't always the simplest of tasks - especially when you're a bombshell from Brazil, with a hot Aussie following your every move. As an au pair, Jacqui is supposed to be minding her charges, but when the Aussie in question begins taunting Jacqui with talk of becoming the next international supermodel, Jacqui can't help but fall for his charms. After all, she needs enough money to pay for NYU; but she'd also like to have a little fling, or maybe something more, and the saucy Aussie is offering her the chance for both. Jacqui's just not sure if she's ready to take him up on his offer.

I don't know if it's possible, but somehow, someway, after three books, Melissa de la Cruz has released a fourth AU-PAIRS installment that is...even better than its predecessors! CRAZY HOT offers everything that I was looking for in a flirty beach read. I love the fact that de la Cruz has made the character's grow since SUN-KISSED, offering them up as more mature, goal driven young women. Eliza and her boutique have become one of my favorite aspects of CRAZY HOT; while Mara's new hobby of blog-writing provides a sassy little extra that speaks to the gossip-obsessed reader. And Jacqui's new responsible-side displays a hint of maturity - until the saucy Aussie rears his ugly head, that is. I love the fact that de la Cruz has introduced a new set of kids to the story to liven the series up a bit, and provide a change; though you certainly can't help but miss the Perry offspring every now and then. Spicy, scandalous, and sassy - CRAZY HOT is the perfect accompaniment for a day at the beach!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

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