Well, first things first. I didn't read the first book, I just watched the movie. And then I saw this book, the sequel, on sale, and I loved the movie, so I went ahead and got it... I am glad I did, though now I do plan the read the first book! 
 The Miranda Priestly of the movie was prickly, but had a moment in there where she was portrayed sympathetically, and the message of the movie was probably much different from the message of the book. In the books, Miranda Priestly is a sociopath, plain and simple, and never, anywhere, have I read such a well-done portrayal of what it was like to work for one, or how it affects people long after they leave their jobs... More than that, this book showcases just how desperate people are to be approved of by some of these individuals, and how we can all get sucked into situations by the chaos they create. 
 The book was also a commentary on relationships-- and this element was well done, for me, because I could relate to Andy's predicament and her seemingly perfect husband and how, despite his good nature, the pressures on him to succeed by his family and his domineering mother, turns out to be... Well, I won't put in a spoiler, but it's more than it seems, at first. It's amazing how people can take things into their own hands, and hurt other people, simple because they believe they know best and that they're smarter. Again, that I thought was well done. 
 I know lots of people sneer at so-called "chick lit" books, but there are gems like this one that rise above the genre to give some depth, clarify, and perspective about character and human nature, just as much as any book you'd find in the general fiction or literature section. In the end, the genre doesn't matter as much as the writer's ability to write complex characters and sniff out the intricacies of human interaction, which Weisberger does handedly in this book. 
 There were some things about this book that I found tedious. The long-winded descriptions of everything, the details that didn't seem to contribute to the overall plot, and some of the lackluster dialogue. But, it is still a good book and I liked it for more reasons than pure enjoyment or entertainment value. This is an illuminating book, as well. Sometimes truth is best told in fiction.