Best-selling author Marc Acito has been praised for novels that remind audiences "what a blast immaturity can be" (People), including How I Paid for College. In the sequel, Edward Zanni has been kicked out of drama school because he's just too "jazz hands" for Juilliard. He moves to New York City and lands a job working as a stealth guest at corporate parties. When he gets caught up in an insider trading scandal, his crew of theater friends comes to his rescue.
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"This is maybe the funniest novel I've read this year. Edward is a particularly compelling narrator, and Acito can definitely turn a phrase, and the setting in NYC in the 80s plus all the jokes about New Jersey and musical theater... I chuckled through the whole book. Basically, Edward gets kicked out of Juilliard and then gets involved in several really ridiculous money-making schemes, including getting entangled with a stockbroker involved in insider trading. The ending is sweet, too, because Edward makes some interesting revelations about who he is and what he wants, giving some emotion to all the funny. Very enjoyable read."
— Erin (4 out of 5 stars)
" One of those rare and wonderful cases in which the sequel is just as good as (if not better than) its predecessor. "
— Amanda, 2/9/2014" What a fabulous book! It's been a while since a book actually made me laugh out loud. Having been a "theater person" myself I could recognize many of these characters in my own friends. Very funny. "
— Jenny, 2/8/2014" Zippy and cute, but not as fresh or well constructed as Acito's first book. I think this one was over thought and over edited... "
— Ted, 2/7/2014" Lots of fluffy gay '80s fun, some of it way over the top. Very entertaining. "
— Beth, 1/29/2014" For anyone who is a theater buff, it is a great read. It also contains a twisted sense of humor from the main character's point of view. "
— Kitycat930, 1/18/2014" More of the same - Even tho it's been a long time since I read How I paid for College - Acito's voice and style came right back to me in the first couple of pages. It's a fun read and a nice break in between other authors. It would great fun to spend a weekend with his characters. "
— Janet, 1/17/2014" Real moments of laugh out loud funny. "
— A., 9/14/2013" Pure fluff. "
— Dave, 9/2/2013" Definitely not as funny as the preceding novel: How I Paid For College, which I listened to on my iPod. "
— M, 8/29/2013" AWESOME. A total blast. "
— Dawn, 5/4/2013" Kind of a light-hearted adventure with geeky theater kids expelled from Juliard. In fact, I'm surprised it's not spelled "theatre." "
— Lane, 4/11/2013" Two stars for writing, 5 stars for performance. Jeff Woodman is brilliant. "
— Rebecca, 3/7/2013" I love Marc's writing- He seems right into the character and his two novels are such fun. "
— Ruth, 1/13/2013" IF I was a gay boy in Manhattan I'd want my life to be like this. :D "
— Briita, 11/20/2012" Not terrible, but just not as satisfying and funny as his first, How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship, and Musical Theater. "
— Michele, 6/4/2012" also a stitch in a half! "
— Katherine, 3/29/2012" I got this and Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian for my birthday (thanks, Kate!)and I can't wait to read them both. Yay! "
— Stephanie, 7/8/2011" I loved this book. Fully of hilarity, genuis and of course musical theater references. Just too ridiculous to ignore. "
— Dana, 4/14/2011" I thought it was really funny, and I was a little shocked at the ending. "
— Paige, 3/14/2011" Started out hilarious just like his first book, but then it kind of petered out. Still well worth reading. "
— Carol, 1/7/2011" 5 Stars for humor and likable characters - 3 stars for ludicrous plot. Which averages to 4 stars. "
— Amy, 12/25/2010" I thought it was really funny, and I was a little shocked at the ending. "
— Paige, 11/12/2010" this book wasn't near as good as the first one "
— Clarissa, 4/12/2010" Hysterical sequel to HOW I PAID FOR COLLEGE. Edward flunks out of Juilliard & he & his zany friends share some pretty bizarre happenings. "
— Mary, 4/12/2010" Twas ok... Not quite for me. "
— Relson, 4/2/2010" A wonderful journey of expectations, failures and accomplishments for a great and close group of friends. "
— B.Michael, 3/19/2010" Funny (especially if you were a theater person) look at growing up gay and theater-y in 1980s NYC. I totally saw Starlight Express on Broadway during this era. "
— Coki, 9/23/2009" I love Marc's writing- He seems right into the character and his two novels are such fun. "
— Ruth, 9/7/2009Jeff Woodman is an actor and narrator. He is a winner of the prestigious Audie Award and a six-time finalist. He has received twenty Earphones Awards and was named the 2008 Best Voice in Fiction & Classics, as well as one of the Fifty Greatest Voices of the Century by AudioFile magazine. As an actor, he originated the title role in Tennessee Williams’ The Notebook of Trigorin and won the S. F. Critics’ Circle Award for his performance in An Ideal Husband. In addition to numerous theater credits on and off Broadway, his television work includes Sex and the City, Law & Order, and Cosby.