Having been privileged to interview Wendy Holden when her previous novel, Laura Lake and the Hipster Weddings was published, in a post you can read here, I’m thrilled to be part of the launch celebrations for her latest novel, Last of the Summer Moët.

Last of the Summer Moët is published by Head of Zeus and is available for purchase here.

Last of the Summer Moet

Top reporter Laura Lake has struck journalistic gold.

She’s discovered a super-exclusive English village where the rich and famous own weekend retreats. Where film stars, Turner-prize winners and Cabinet ministers park their helicopters outside the gastropub and buy £100 sourdough loaves from the deli.

Outsiders are strictly forbidden. But luckily Laura’s best friend Lulu, a logo-obsessed socialite with a heart as huge as her sunglasses, suddenly fancies a quiet life in the country. The door to this enchanted rural idyll opens for Laura. Revealing a great professional opportunity.

Can Laura write an exposé before the snobbish villagers suss her true identity? And before the world’s poshest pub quiz triggers a political scandal not seen since Profumo?

Staying in with Wendy Holden

Welcome back to Linda’s Book Bag Wendy. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share with us and why have you chosen it?

I’ve brought along my latest novel Last of the Summer Moët, it’s the second in a series of comedies about glossy magazine editor Laura Lake.

What can we expect from an evening in with Last of the Summer Moët?

Lots of laughs, and an insight into how glossy magazines work, as well as upscale country life because Laura’s challenge is to find Britain’s Poshest Village. It’s a comedy about one of those villages where vast numbers of celebrities live.  I’ve called it Great Hording and it has a gastropub complete with helipad and a deli where sourdough costs £100 a loaf. Locals include a Hollywood director, a Cabinet minister, a Russian oligarch, a Turner prizewinning artist and so on. I have them taking part in the ultimate posh pub quiz (it’s a scandal when somebody cheats!)s and acting in Britain’s ultimate power pantomime.

I grew up in a village but it was nothing like this one! We only had a telephone box and a seedy pub!

What else have you brought along and why?

A picture of the Queen. There’s a great scene at the beginning when Laura has to interview a very famous film star. To make it more interesting, the star wants the interview to take place while she’s doing something else. So Laura ends up trying to talk to her as she tours Buckingham Palace. It ends with the appearance of an even greater female celebrity, bet you can’t guess who?! It’s an incredibly silly scene, but like all my craziest scenarios, it’s just about possible.

Sounds brilliant. I can’t wait to read Last of the Summer Moët. Good luck with it Wendy and thank you for staying in to tell me about it.

About Wendy Holden

Number-one bestselling author Wendy Holden was a journalist on Tatler, The Sunday Times, and the Mail on Sunday before becoming an author. She has since written ten consecutive Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers. She is married, has two children and lives in Derbyshire.

You can follow Wendy on Twitter, visit her website and find her on Facebook.

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