Kirby Green and her best friend, Jules, plan to leave for a three-week Italian vacation in a month. Kirby needs a break from her cutthroat career as vice president in charge of marketing for a sex toy company. "Nice" is not an adjective anyone would use to describe her, especially since she just fired most of her department, including her secretary. "Who needs more friends?" Kirby thinks, and pushes her way toward the top in business.

This attitude doesn't really fly with her boss, Banning Stuart. He gives her an ultimatum: in the next thirty days, Kirby must find someone to call her "nice" or she risks losing her vacation--and her job. With the help of her very nice new secretary Brianna (who happens to want to develop a little of Kirby's backbone), Kirby sets out to do what most think is impossible--soften up and become a nice person.

Alesia Holliday's second chick lit novel has a winning combination of humor, engaging plot, and romance. Although Kirby is hardnosed in business, her demeanor does have something to do with her childhood and not wanting to turn out to be a doormat like her mother. As she goes through her transformation, Kirby begins to realize that not everything is as it appears on the surface, and she needs to give everyone--including herself--a break.

The chapters are told in the alternating first-person viewpoints of Kirby and Brianna. This works extremely well and is never confusing. It allows the reader to get an inside knowledge of each of the character's motivation. The plot moves quickly and never bogs down with either character. The romantic subplots give spice to the story and keep the reader guessing until the end as to whom (if anyone) Brianna and Kirby will end up with. Holliday has a true gift for enchanting humor and laugh-out-loud moments, nobody takes himself or herself too seriously. Nice Girls Finish First is head and shoulders above most chick lit novels.