“Josh isn’t here?”

“Josh isn’t here.”

Stephen became aware of the blood in his head.

“But it’s nearly curtain-up, Donna!”

“Yes, I’m aware of that.”

“Well – well, have you phoned him?”

“Brilliant idea,” said Donna, taking her phone away from her ear and waggling it at him. She licked her lips, pushed her shaggy fringe out of her eyes, readying herself to leave a message for the man himself, and for a brief moment she resembled a fourteen-year-old girl about to ask a boy if he wanted to go ice-skating with her.

– Page 19

 

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The Understudy by David Nicholls

 

For Josh Harper, being in show-business means everything he ever wanted – money, fame, a beautiful wife, and a lead role on the London stage.

For Stephen C. McQueen, it means a disastrous career playing passers-by and dead people.

Stephen is stuck with an unfortunate name, a hopeless agent, a daughter he barely knows, and a job as understudy to Josh Harper, the 12th Sexiest Man in the World. And when Stephen falls in love with Josh’s clever, funny wife Nora, things get even more difficult.

But might there yet be a way for Stephen to get his Big Break?

THE UNDERSTUDY is a scintillating comedy of ambition, celebrity, jealousy and love.

 

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