Thursday, November 18, 2010

Chasing Harry Winston

New York City is the city of love, adventure, and lots of hot, available (and unavailable, but still hot) single men. With glamorous parties full of new people, successful careers, and first-class shopping, what more can a girl need?

Lauren Weisberger's novel, Chasing Harry Winston, portrays all of the above, and more, in the adventures of three best friends chasing big dreams and resolutions in the big apple.

Leigh has always been the sensible, meticulous friend with the perfect career and the perfect man. She's satisfied with her editing career and is just on the verge of her biggest promotion when she meets Jesse Chapman, one of the biggest, most eminent novelists of the book world. She magically becomes the editor for his next book. With this and her caring, sensitive boyfriend, everyone can see that Leigh has it all.

Emmy thought she had it all after being with her idea of a "perfect" man for five years, until he dumps her out of left field for the personal fitness trainer that Emmy bought for him as a gift. How ironic. Struggling with missing her ex and trying to get over being out of a relationship, she takes on a new job offer that allows her the luxury of traveling and testing foods for new culinary ideas.

Adriana is clearly a brilliantly beautiful, Brazilian with the perfect hair, skin, and body girls can only dream of. With her parent's trust fund and their penthouse apartment, Adriana can spoil herself with anything she pleases, without worrying about how much she spends. She especiallly spoils herself when it comes to men, as she can catch and keep any man she wishes with her incredible talent.

After the girls spend a little time in a bar, they realize that not everything in their New York City lives is completely perfect. Emmy and Adriana decide to make a bet by completely switching roles in the case where men are concerned.

Since Leigh is already jet-set with her man, she doesn't feel she quite needs a resolution except to change something significant in her seamlessly organized life, which neither Emmy nor Adriana expect will happen.

As the New Year begins, the girls' resolutions commence, and each is surprised with what she discovers.

Chasing Harry Winston is a page-turner that can't be put down and will entertain, shock, and make its readers laugh along with the characters as they fulfill their crazy resolutions. Definitely a great book to read, this story of friendship and finding a place in the world of NYC, might even make readers want to come up with their own resolutions in the name of love.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Goodnight Nobody

Living in the suburbs with three kids under the age of five, a husband who is never home, and neighbors identical to the stepford wives can't be easy. When you've lived in the city your whole life, fitting in would definitely present a problem, especially when one of the stepford wives is found murdered...

Jennifer Weiner's Goodnight Nobody definitely illustrates the problematic life of Kate Klein when she becomes stuck and sticky in the suburbs by stumbling across a puddle of blood surrounding her neighbor's body.

Kate has never been the type to "have it all," especially when her mother, the professional soprano singer, constantly forces Kate to try her vocal cords. She can never quite measure up.

When she and her best friend, Janie, move into an apartment together, Kate swoons over their handsome next door neighbor. But Kate discovers that he is engaged to a model who has a waist size that is five times smaller than hers.

She settles for the next best man, marries him, and ends up with three children within two years. Before she knows it, she is shipped off to a small Connecticut town where she definitely doesn't fit in. Kate feels like she is nowhere close to being the perfect mother like the ones that surround her every day at the playground, especially like the ideal super mommy, Kitty Cavanaugh.

One day Kitty surprises Kate and invites her over for a play-date. While on the phone, Kitty mentions that the two seem to have a "mutual friend." Without any more details, Kate hikes her kids into the minivan and heads to Kitty's house, only to find herself in the middle of a murder scene.

Desperate to find some answers, Kate begins a full investigation in the search of Kitty's killer, with the help of their skilled mutual friend.

Goodnight Nobody is full of twists and turns in a mysterious and witty, suburbia housewife adventure. This novel is an ideal read for any mother who has ever struggled trying to juggle all things motherly in life. It's also just an enjoyable read for anyone in the mood for some chick lit mystery, with a little romance thrown in the mix, of course.