Revenge Wears Prada

The Devil Returns

By: Lauren Weisberger

Narrated by: Megan Hilty

The sequel you’ve been waiting for: the follow-up to the sensational number-one best seller The Devil Wears Prada.

Eight years have passed since Andrea "Andy" Sachs quit the job "a million girls would die for" working for Miranda Priestly at Runway magazine - a dream that turned out to be a nightmare. Now Andy’s on the top of the world: She’s writing and reporting to her heart’s content; running The Plunge, her wildly successful high-fashion bridal magazine with Miranda’s other ex-assistant, Emily; and most importantly, getting married to the scion of a storied media family and the love of her life.

But the night before her wedding, Andy can’t sleep. As happy as she is - as happy as she should be - she’s still haunted by the specter of her former boss. Maybe it’s survivor syndrome? Or maybe it’s justifiable, self-inflicted, paranoia. From the start, Andy and Emily have felt entitled to use their rolodex of contacts - Miranda’s contacts - from Runway as they make their way in the magazine world. As The Plunge succeeds, Andy and Emily realize they’ll soon come face to face with their former tormenter at industry functions, award ceremonies, and even weddings. Still, Andy can hardly anticipate the horrifying reality that’s approaching - a reversal so profound that she will be squarely in Miranda’s crosshairs once more.

Karma’s a bitch. And Andy’s efforts to build a bright new life have led her directly to the one she fled - and into the path of the Devil herself.

©2013 Lauren Weisberger (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Not worth the time

TDWP was good for what it was, but this doesn't even entertain. Unlikable, whiny protagonist. And the narrator isn't the same as TDWP. Reedy and whiny.

Meh

What did you like best about Revenge Wears Prada? What did you like least?

The reader did a great job. Overall, the story felt even shallower than the clackers at Runway.

Has Revenge Wears Prada turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not really. It is a sequel designed to make money based on the success of the first, much more enjoyable, novel.

What about Megan Hilty’s performance did you like?

She did a good job capturing the personality of the various characters through her performance.

Do you think Revenge Wears Prada needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Um, no. If there was another sequel and it was any more shallow or predictable, it would probably encourage me to not even recommend The Devil Wears Prada. The story was very predictable with the exception of the character Max who was given short shrift in terms of character development (and in a book about fashion, that's saying something). I felt like I was channeling the movie Clueless and just felt whelmed. While I disliked how Andy's character seemed to deviate from who she was in the first book, I stuck with it and finished it. I guess if you have a credit to burn and time to listen, it's not horrible...but it's just not that great. That's all.

blah

not a good book. the story was difficult to believe after reading the first book. it was uninteresting.

enjoyed the additional story of Andrea

I was disappointed in what has become of Andrea (as a person)... However, I really enjoyed the rest of the story per se.

Meh

Neither great nor awful. The story felt rushed/forced. Felt more like high school drama than the lives of 30 year olds. Cringy at times.

Amazing narrator, not great book

I adore Devil Wears Prada and Megan Hilty, but this was a letdown. I may have disliked Andi less if Megan had not performed the characters so well. I did not relate to Andi at all.

Reality of the Fashion Industry at its best!

What did you love best about Revenge Wears Prada?

I worked in Fashion for years and I can definitely relate to alot of what this book has in it... entertaining and frustrating and really good listen!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Revenge Wears Prada?

When Andy's husband betrayed her! I felt so mad inside like as if it were me!

Which character – as performed by Megan Hilty – was your favorite?

Andy of course

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Well I didnt cry but I literally was all twisted up inside after listening to Andy learn her husband and best friend went behind her back... I came home mad for awhile haha

Hilty Helps

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It would be impossible for any follow-up to "The Devil Wears Prada" to match the original in terms of the sheer "I can't believe she'd expect that!" quality of Miranda Priestly's expectations. While there are certain insider tid-bits about how a real magazine works in "Revenge...", it could be more rewarding on that level.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I know that soapy relationship drama - friends betraying friends, husbands and wives going behind each other's back, people from one's past reappearing out of nowhere, even falling in (maternal) love with one's own children - are Weisberger's stock in trade, but the most exciting material for me came when Andy was working - the book could use more of that.

What does Megan Hilty bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Megan Hilty is utterly charming and has a knack for making conversations jump off the page. She's especially good at differentiating between Andy's fraught interior monologues and the somewhat-more-put-together things she manages to get our of her mouth. I especially enjoy her employment of oversize accents for some of the more larger-than-life characters.

Was Revenge Wears Prada worth the listening time?

Absolutely. It was easy and breezy.

Any additional comments?

While it doesn't match the magic of the original, all the good will I felt for the characters (both from the book and the film) came rushing back and made me immediately invested. And though I've complained above that the book is heavier on less-inventive personal drama and lighter on more-interesting work drama, I did find myself invested in the characters' trials and tribulations and surprisingly charmed by Wesberger's portrait of Andy as a new mom. That said, I'm very glad they got the fabulous Megan Hilty to read this book. Without a doubt, she elevated some of the more meh parts with her sparkle and pizzazz.

Anti climactic and slow- good narrator

Meghan Hilty is a great narrator; however, the story was definitely lacking. The book seemed to drag and I lost interest quite a bit. I still don't get where the "Revenge" comes from in the title. I don't see this being adapted to screenplay without a dramatic rewrite!

meh

slow, lots of detail, required little thinking or engagement but passed the time. wouldn't recommend to stay awake on the road