Book Review: Bad Girl Pie by Marilyn Horowitz

Bad Girl Pie is a dark comedy set in New York City. Dorothy Sherlock, a prolific ghostwriter, shares her running commentary on the absurdity of the human condition as she navigates her future.

Until now, she’s spent her life crafting other people’s success stories and mourning a failed romance. After a nearfatal encounter with her abusive father and his sudden death, Dorothy resolves to write her own book, blending her expertise in dieting and dessert. A whirlwind trip to a tango festival in Mexico reignites her passion for love through a romantic tryst with a tango dancing firefighter.

Hopeful and happy, Dorothy returns home, only to discover that her agent has stolen the manuscript and sold it to a new client, and her late father has cut her out of his will. As if this weren’t enough, Dorothy reconnects with her exboyfriend, but after a night of bliss, she finds out that he’s living in sin with his cleaning lady. The triple whammy drives her to despair.

Can Dorothy’s sense of humor and talent save her and help her find success?

*****

Dorothy makes a living as a ghost writer. However, when her father dies, her latest book idea is stolen and her boyfriend walks out, it has Dorothy hitting rock bottom. Can the dance of Tango pull her back up?

Bad Girl Pie was my introduction to Marilyn Horowitz and I was delighted to be asked to review this novel.

Dorothy. Oh Dorothy, she does go through the mill a bit. There were so many times where I wanted to jump into the novel and give her a big hug. However, there is also a resilience to her that I admire. Despite some small slips, she keeps going and I loved that about her. She’s strong, even if she forgets this at times.

The supporting characters were a mixture of wonderful and horrible, just like life. Suzanne – well, I will let you make up your mind about her. That’s all I will say about that. Saying that. though, you could argue that many of the people in this book are simply trying to survive and get through each day. I can empathise with that.

The story was deliciously funny in many places with plenty of gasp out loud moments. I also adored that Tango played a part. I used to be a ballroom dancer when I was younger and it brought back memories. Dorothy faces many twists, turns and surprises. I enjoyed going on this journey with her.

It wasn’t hard to fall into Dorothy’s story. It didn’t end the way I thought it would. I felt very satisfied with the end.

Bad Girl Pie is a witty, honest look at life. We get to see how one woman fights her way through with the hope that tomorrow will be better whilst learning strong lessons along the way.

(Thank you to Roundfire Books and Collective Ink Books for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.)

About Marilyn Horowitz – 

Marilyn Horowitz is an award-winning author, retired New York University professor, TV show creator, and writing coach, working with successful novelists, produced screenwriters, and award-winning filmmakers. Two of her students have been nominated for an Emmy, and a third won a Peabody.

Horowitz received the coveted New York University Award for Teaching Excellence in 2004 and has an active online audience, including 2,500 readers of her weekly blog. Since 1998, she has taught hundreds of aspiring writers to complete their feature-length screenplays, novels, and TV pilots using her trademarked writing method, The Horowitz System®. Horowitz has also written five books on screenwriting, two of which are used as textbooks at New York University.

Recently, she served as associate producer of “Hunter Is F**cked,” an award-winning comedy short based on the life of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, and as associate producer of The Heart Stays, a Native-American drama that will be released in April 2024. Her latest book, The Word of the Day Practice: Transform Your Writing in Fifteen Minutes a Day, will be available in bookstores in April of 2024.

In addition, she has written two novels, The Book of Zev, published in 2016, and Bad Girl Pie, which was released in 2025.

She’s an active member of New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT), serves on the board of the Florence Belsky Charitable Foundation, and co-chairs their monthly writer’s group meetings.

Bad Girl Pie was released by Roundfire Books on 25th July 2025. Click to buy on Amazon UK, Amazon US, Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.