{"product_id":"the-understudy-a-novel","title":"The Understudy: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003eRecently divorced actor Stephen C. McQueen (no relation  unfortunately) seems to have a knack for bad luck. But a failed marriage  a stalled career  a judgmental ex-wife  a distant daughter  a horrid little studio apartment in the far reaches of the London suburbsall these pathetic elements seem to pale in the chiseled face of his newest tormentor: the Twelfth Sexiest Man in the World  Josh Harper.  Josh is the star of Mad  Bad  and Dangerous to Know  a biographical play about Lord Byronand Stephen is his understudy. Not only is Josh fantastically  infuriatingly good-looking  internationally renowned  and remarkably talented  hes also frustratingly healthy. No matter how many all-night booze-and-coke benders Josh goes on  he always shows up at the stage door for his call like clockwork. Stephen doubts hell ever get his chance to slip on the puffy shirt and tight breeches of Byron and tread the boards in the role that would certainly be the break hes always waited for.  And just when Stephens sure he couldnt resent Josh more  he meets Joshs witty  restless American wife  Nora . . . and discovers he likes her a little too much. Another man might curse his luck at finding that his potential dream woman is a rivals wife  but at this point  Stephen would expect nothing else. Caught between his stirring feelings for Nora  the demands of an insistent and secretive Josh  and his lifelong desire for a real career in show business  Stephen must make a terrible decision: Will it be the girl or the fame?  A hapless  bumbling bloke in love  an arrogant megastar with a potpourri of addictions  a sexy married woman out of her element in the fast laneDavid Nicholls brings them all together in this knockout romantic comedy.  From the Hardcover edition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44984098226229,"sku":"ByrdShop_0812971418","price":63.19,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780812971415.jpg?v=1770822788","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-understudy-a-novel","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}