# Fifty Shames of Earl Grey

By Andrew Shaffer · Fifty Shames, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/fifty-shames-of-earl-grey-cd42ac8a/

Anna Steal is weeks from finishing college when she has to cover a magazine interview for her hungover roommate. Her subject, the tycoon Earl Grey, takes an interest in her that goes well beyond the interview. The more she sees of his world, the more she has to reckon with the things he’d rather keep secret.

## What makes it funny?

Earl takes the billionaire boyfriend’s spending power to absurd lengths. If Anna can’t get away from her job for a date, he can just buy the store. And the private room where he’s supposed to have his most alarming hobby turns out to be for a tabletop role-playing game.

### The comedy at work

Anna narrates with the breathless self-scrutiny of a romance heroine, even when she’s completely misreading what’s in front of her. She starts by worrying about her reflection before she realizes she’s been staring at a poster of Kristen Stewart.

### Try this if…

If you like spoofs that borrow a bestseller’s voice and turn up all its mannerisms, Shaffer gives you plenty to recognize. The jokes go after the books’ very earnest heroines and extravagantly wealthy love interests.

### Good to know

This is the first Fifty Shames book, credited on the cover to Shaffer’s pen name, Fanny Merkin. Expect crude sexual jokes and references to Twilight as well as to Fifty Shades of Grey.

## What to expect

- Genre: Romance
- Kind of humor: Absurdism · Parody
- The atmosphere: Irreverent
- Audience: Adult
- Format: Novel
- Published: 2012

## A few distinguishing details

- A tycoon who buys the store to free up his date
- Anna Steal mistakes a Kristen Stewart poster for a mirror

## Sources & further reading

- Review: [Kirkus Reviews](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/fanny-merkin/fifty-shames-earl-grey)
- Reading sample: [WBUR interview and excerpt](https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2012/08/15/fifty-parody-grey)
- Author commentary: [Author’s book page](https://www.andrewshaffer.com/fifty-shames-of-earl-grey)
- Publisher: [Publisher](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/fanny-merkin/fifty-shames-of-earl-grey/9780306822001?lens=grand-central-publishing)