The Daughters (Daughters Series) »

Joanna Philbin is the daughter of "Live with Regis and Kelly" host, Regis Philbin. She received her BA from Brown University, and later went on to receive an MFA in Creative Writing from The University of Notre Dame. She wrote feature and television scripts before becoming a full-time novelist. Joanna is currently working on the third title in The Daughters series, due out May 2011.

The only daughter of supermodel Katia Summers, witty and thoughtful Lizzie Summers likes to stick to the sidelines. The sole heir to Metronome Media and daughter of billionaire Karl Jurgensen, outspoken Carina Jurgensen would rather climb mountains than social ladders. Daughter of chart-topping pop icon Holla Jones, stylish and sensitive Hudson Jones is on the brink of her own music breakthrough. By the time freshman year begins, unconventional-looking Lizzie Summers has come to expect fawning photographers and adoring fans to surround her gorgeous supermodel mother.

Publishers Weekly

The daughter of talk show host Regis Philbin tackles a topic that’s close to home in her predictably glam (think paparazzi chases, designer apparel, and Fashion Week appearances) but thoroughly enjoyable debut. This first book in a series about growing up with celebrity parents follows 14-year-old Lizzie (daughter of a supermodel), Hudson (daughter of a pop icon), and Carina (daughter of a media tycoon)—best friends who feel doomed to live in the oppressive shadow of their superstar parents. The other girls’ struggles are barely touched on (presumably to be explored in later books), as Lizzie’s adventures in “ugly modeling” (“using people who aren’t traditionally beautiful to sell products”) and the unanticipated side effects of her newfound popularity take center stage. Despite the potential for a contrived story, Philbin’s portrayal of the girls as down-to-earth overachievers who crave normalcy keeps the book in believable territory. Lizzie’s physical insecurities (given that her gorgeous mother has been called “walking proof of God”) and growth make her particularly relatable. Who knew? Stars’ daughters—they’re just like us. Ages 12-up. (May)