ISBN: 0-446-61798-9
Publisher: Hachette Book Group USA
Source: I purchased this book
When the shyest woman alive comes to believe a Gypsy prophecy that her soul mate is Josh Toby, People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive, her life changes forever. Could she really be destined to love this remarkable man, or is she exactly what she seems to be, a woman too frightened to go after her dreams.
Sexiest Man Ever by Diana Holquist is a book I picked up at the bookstore the other day because of the partially naked man on the cover. Amazing how the mind chooses appropriate reading material! Sex sells! I had not read anything by Diana Holquist before and was quite enchanted with this light and fun read.
The Sexiest Man Ever is Josh Toby – a movie star who is recognized around the world. He has agent, publicist, and assorted other hangers-on who have created a public persona for him – complete with a girlfriend. He stars in mega movies as an action hero and has collected a whole host of critics that comment on how he can’t really act. Josh is in New York “incognito” to meet with his friend Arturo, the costume designer, for an off-Broadway production of Romeo and Juliet. Josh is wanting to try out for the part of Romeo and show the world that he can really act.
Jasmine Burns is a talented, but pathologically shy costume designer making her living doing alterations for only women. She is reading self-help books to deal with her paralyzing shyness issues around men, as she wants to interview for a job with the famous costume designer, Arturo. Jasmine’s gypsy sister pops by and among other things, tells Jasmine that her “One True Love” is Josh Toby. Not necessarily the movie star, just some man named Josh Toby.
Not to give away the story – but obviously, as this is a romance, Jasmine and Josh get together and help each other with their various phobias. Jasmine is helped with her issues around men and Josh is helped with his stage fright. At points this book is hysterically funny, at points it is touching the way Jasmine and Josh interact. Overall a fun, light romance. As a reviewer from Amazon summarized: “Diana Holquist did a fabulous job of crafting an attention grabbing story with a hilarious crew of misfits. The Sexiest Man Alive was a tantalizing glimpse into the behind the scenes lives of the rich and famous. her characters were sexy and fun, with a whole lot of off-the-wall personalities.”