Book Reivew: The Ivy Chronicles

The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn

Ivy Ames couldn’t have had a better life. She lives on the Upper East Side, drives a nice car, has a well-paying corporate job, lives in a beautiful apartment on the Upper East Side of New York and has a wonderful marriage. No quicker than about two chapters into this book does Ivy loose it all. 

After being laid off from her corporate job at Myoki, Ivy walks in on her husband with another woman in the middle of the day. No sooner do these events occur does Ivy begin to realize that her old life isn’t going to be possible. No more spending $50,000 on getting her hair cut and colored. Her kids are no longer going to be able to go to an elite private school that costs $25,000 per year for each girl. No more nice car, nice house, dog training, and full time nannies. And that is only half of it. 

After coming to terms that her life is falling apart and there isn't much she can do to stop it, Ivy moves to a much less elite neighborhood in New York. Kate and Skyler also have to begin attending public school, which causes many problems for both the girls and Ivy with their old "friends" on the Upper East Side. Tragic.

  When Ivy's friend Faith seeks Ivy's advice for getting her own daughter into private school, and is successful, a bright idea occurs to Faith about Ivy's future. After some hesitation Ivy begins a private school admissions counseling service. Her clients are willing to pay $10,000-$20,000 to get Ivy's advice on how to get their precious tots into the most elite and expensive private kindergarten programs in New York aka the Baby Ivy’s. 

Having enjoyed Schooled by Anisha Lakhani I thought for sure I would love The Ivy Chronicles. While being a page turner just because of the sole fact I wanted to know where these little brats got into school, there were several times I could have put the book down and walked away. If I could have, I would have slapped Ivy Ames in the face.

Her no good, rich attitude is the absolute worst. She doesn’t cope well with having to do without the things that she feels she deserves in life. Her ridiculous romances and immature behavior really got the best of me and made her one of the most miserable characters I’ve ever met. She is incredibly shallow, openly admits she’d never marry for love again, only money. She compromises her own values to get ahead in the word, money wise. 

The book was well edited and the writing wasn’t horrible. I did feel though that several parts of the book were “thrown in” just to keep the story moving (ie: alligator attack). Aside from these random plot lines, some of the characters were enjoyable and you really do end up hoping for the best for them. I read this book in about three days, and couldn’t be happier to have seen the last page. 

Rating: ★★

Book Review: Love the One You're With

Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin has done it again. This heartwarming novel plunges straight into the truth about love and what happens when the one you had loved (or thought it was in the past), comes knocking on your door almost a decade later and 100 days too late.

I was glued to this novel and at times found myself rooting for the reunion of two people who were once madly in love, even though I knew that they shouldn't be together. Giffin creates fully developed characters and strong relationships among them. Her scenes are vivid and filled with every detail you could imagine. It is hard not to get lost in Love the One You're With. 

Ellen, a photographer, is living a comfortable life in New York City with her husband Andy. Andy Graham comes from a wealthy family in Atlanta who has accepted Ellen as their daughter. This is something Ellen so dearly loves about the Graham's seeing as she lost her mother when she was much younger. Together though, Andy and Ellen have created a life outside of the "normal" Graham lifestyle that allows them to be young and free, enjoying every moment of their dreams.

Ellen and Andy were married just 100 days when, in the middle of a busy New York City intersection Ellen runs into Leo. Leo is the man Ellen once loved, but was entirely wrong for her. Taking safe haven in a diner down the street, Leo comes to join her and Ellen is forced in that moment to discover a whirlwind of feelings that just about knocks her off her feet.

As the days go by after their chance, or perhaps fateful run-in, Ellen finds herself pondering her feelings for Leo and wishing she could talk with him at any given moment. Then Andy hits Ellen with a bombshell. Although she had known that their moving to Atlanta would come, Ellen never imagined that it would come so quickly. Andy informs Ellen that he's found a great house in the Buckhead area, and his father has offered him a great opportunity to work for the family business. But, there's one thing that is really weighing in on Ellen's decision when deciding if Atalnta is the best choice: Leo.

Things begin to heat up between Ellen and Leo when he offers her an assignment that she can't turn down. The opportunity is great, but she never imagined that while on location she would be working closely with Leo. And she certainly never imagined that she would ever begin to think twice about her marriage.

Ellen is put through a series of emotional tests and dilemmas between herself and her marriage that she must figure out. She must listen to her heart and figure out once and for all if the one she'd left years ago is the one she is meant to be with now.

Rating: ★★★★

Book Reivew: Baby Proof

Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

I loved Emily Giffin's Something Blue and Something Borrowed. So much so that when I learned her other books had nothing to do with Darcy or Rachel I decided I wasn't going to read them. Then this summer, before heading out to the pool one day, I saw Baby Proof sitting on my shelf and decided I would give it a shot.

I laughed, I cried, I hoped and I wished for things along with the characters in this straight-to-the-heart novel. In Baby Proof Emily Giffin captures the reader, which is one of the most important things to me when reading a book. I want to feel as though I know the characters on a personal level and that I am experiencing the situations with them. When they feel sad I want to be sad with them and hope things turn around, when they are happy I want to be happy for them- as if I were their friend in real life.

Claudia Parr never imagined she could meet the man of her dreams. It wasn't that she wasn't pretty or fun, it wasn't that she didn't have a good job or envisioned herself to be single the rest of her life.  She didn't have a weird quirk or out of the box habit. It's because she didn't want children. You heard the girl, she doesn't want children. She loves traveling and her career in publishing so much so that she would rather be an exceptional aunt to her sisters children instead of being a mother to her own. And just like that she decides she's not going to have kids. After countless dates and failed attempts, she meets the one. His name is Ben.

Ben is dreamy. He loves traveling just as much as Claudia. He loves living in the city of Manhattan. He loves having a carefree lifestyle. On their first date Claudia goes out on a whim and asks Ben if he wants kids or imagines himself with kids in the future. She figures it is better to get an answer now, then wait and find out only to be disappointed in the end. Turns out Ben doesn't want children. And just like that, you have the perfect match.

They get married, have a great place in New York City, are the picture perfect couple people could only dream of being and they travel on the spur of a moment to the most exotic and beautiful locations one could imagine. In any great love story there is always a challenge, so as expected things begin going downhill. One decides they want a child, someone of their own whom they can take care of and nurture. 

This idea of a child stirs the marriage and Claudia and Ben's relationship is put to the test. Struggling with the battles of what each has always wanted, but their deep love for each other, it's a whirlwind of emotion and joy for both the reader and the characters.

If you love Giffin, you'll love Baby Proof. After finishing this book in a total of 4 days, I've decided to give Heart of the Matter and Love the One You're With a try. It seems as though I was wrong, Giffin can in fact touch the reader outside of the Darcy and Rachel story line.

All I can hope for is that Baby Proof will be turned into a movie, because this is one that I am dying to see! Hey, Something Borrowed wasn't SO bad as a movie :)


Rating: ★★★★★

Book Reivew: Southern Charm

Southern Charm by Tinsley Mortimer

I am truly a sucker for a cute book! And this book was no exception to that rule. I'm not sure whether it was because the main character in this book is from Charleston, SC or because the cover was amazing, or perhaps it's because it was written by Tinsley Mortimer, but it was such a great read!

There is a whole sloppy mix of reviews on this book, some bad and some good, but mine is a good one. Promise! I feel as though someone looking for a good, sweet, short summer read would really love this book.

Minty Davenport, main character of Southern Charm and daughter of Scarlet Davenport, is from Charleston, SC. She grew up on a true Southern plantation and like any other southern belle was a debutante. After graduating from a well known university, her long time boyfriend Ryerson breaks her heart and Minty finds herself following her dreams of becoming a fashion designer right up to New York City.

Minty's obsession of the City began as a child when her mother took her on a surprise trip to Manhattan. Minty, like any other eight year old girl, was on the hunt to find Eloise, her favorite fictional character who lived at The Plaza, right where Minty and her mother were staying on their trip.

After being in NYC for only a short amount of time Minty finds herself being photographed and on the pages of Women's Wear Daily. Not long after landing a job for a ruthless PR vixen does Minty find herself face to face with long time ex-lover Tripp.

The relationship isn't easy, especially when Minty becomes an "It Girl" in New York society. Her photos begin frequenting Page Six and it's not much after that that the rumors begin swirling about Minty and her newly rekindled love with Tripp. Minty finds herself fleeing for Charleston when things come to a drastic point in her relationship only to be confronted with what her heart had longed for in the past, before NYC. Minty must make the decision of whether or not a once in a lifetime career opportunity is worth returning for, or whether this southern girl really does belong in the south.

Although many people are giving poor reviews because of the author's socialite status, I think the book was well written and makes for a great read while on vacation or at the beach. The book supposedly is based on the author's life, which makes me like it even more. It's a fun ride and promises to keep you entertained all the way through the last chapter.

Rating: ★★★★★

Book Review: Bergdorf Blondes

Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Skyes

I came across this title while reading a friend's blog. She said it was her favorite (in fact, her second time reading it), and I was looking for a  new book to read at the time. Something fluffy, girly, full of love, high fashion and a little New York City glitz. I really believe the title and cover caught my attention. What girl doesn't want to read about Bergdorf's? 

The first attempt didn't go so well. I think I made it to about page 3 before I decided to put it down. After weeks of looking at this book sitting on my Kindle shelf I decided I wasn't going to waste the $6.39 I had paid Amazon for the book and began my second attempt.

I picked it up, pushed through the first three or so chapters, and ended up somewhere just short of not being able to put this book down to eat. 

Just a quick piece of advice: when you get to the "lingo guide" at the end of chapter one, make sure you pay attention. Yes, that "lingo" is actually used throughout the book (PJ= private jet, Beyond= way beyond fabulous, etc.) and I promise it gets worse than that. At that point in the book I rolled my eyes and wasn't sure I'd ever actually be successful at finishing it. I was just about ready to forgo my $6 just so I didn't have to read this nonsense.

Bergdorf Blondes was written by Plum Skyes, which I'm assuming contributed to most of the hype surrounding this book. Plum Skyes has worked at and written for Vogue Magazine as well as been considered an "It Girl" by New York City society. When it comes to this type of lifestyle Plum Skyes knows what she's talking about. This was her first novel, and has since published The Debutante Divorcée. 

I'll start off by saying that this book drops label names more than Gossip Girl.

Meet Moi, the main character of the book who drops a little bit of French here and there and refers to sex as "going to Brazil". She's also best friend's with Julie Bergdorf (heiress of Bergdorf's- the department store). If you've ever wondered what it was like to live as a wealthy Upper East Sider, now is your chance. You'll be introduced to Moi's posse: the New York City Upper East Side "Park Avenue Princesses". Their day to day activities consist of being socialites, finding just the right color blonde for their hair, sleeping with random men, and having more money than one could possibly know what to do with. 

The "princesses" are constantly overwhelmed and stressed with the everyday chores of picking out an outfit, hosting a party, and finding a fiancè just because they are the "hottest fashion accessory". The "princesses" are constantly hopping onto the PJ's (I told you to pay attention to the lingo guide!) of wealthy men on a whim of notice who they have known for less than 24 hours. Then again if you didn't have a career or any responsibility, wouldn't you? 

Moi does have a career, although you can hardly call it that. It is generally tossed to the side so she can de-stress from her highly chaotic life by lying on the pool deck of a resort while attending some international film fest in Europe.

The majority of this book is focused on Moi's love life. If you ask me, it seems like she enjoys being treated poorly by men. But, like any other chick lit novel, it'll leave you smiling at the end- no worries! 

Although there is a lot of nonsense, gossip and frivolous concerns, the book does have an overall good plot, and it will keep you turning the pages. You too will want to know if Moi finds true love and whether her friendship with Julie will weather the storm. 

While this book is no where near award winning material, it makes for a great summer read. Those who've enjoyed Gossip Girl and any other book about the glamorous lives of NYC's wealthy and most popular will be sure to enjoy this one as well. 

Rating: ★★★★