The Library

If you love books about the influencer world, I think you’ll really enjoy this. Stella is an up-and-coming fashion designer and influencer, on the cusp of hitting a million followers. Her life is perfect, except for one thing: her boyfriend Alex seems to hate her. When she is offered $10,000 to try out a new dating app (without posting anything), she takes a chance. There, she meets “Pineapple,” who has her reconsidering everything about her career and her life. Can she and Alex fix things, or should she take a chance on this new, anonymous stranger? My favorite thing about this is the way that Siskin wrote Stella’s character. She’s not a total monster (so many books about influencers can do that), but she also makes bad decisions and falls prey to the trap of living to create content vs. the other way around. I did guess the twist, but I think I would have been disappointed if I was wrong.

Read this if you loved: Such a Bad Influence, People Like Her, books about influencers!

When I spotted this at the bookstore, I bought it without knowing a thing, as I tend to really enjoy Shari Lapena’s books. This one is about Jill and Ted, a wealthy couple in Brooklyn who have made a few bad investment decisions. They’ve grown accustomed to their extravagant lifestyle and have fallen victim to the mindset “the more you have, the more you want.” Realizing that they are on the verge of losing their beloved brownstone, they make a plan to murder Ted’s brother Greg (as one does, right?) This will, they believe, solve all their problems. They’ll just throw him off of his sailboat, and claim it was an accident. And Greg is kind of an asshole, anyway. With the two of them as the only witnesses to Greg’s death, their story will be ironclad. Or will it? Can they really trust each other? What about their longtime housekeeper? What about Greg’s ex-wife? Or the Coast Guard official who can’t seem to stop sniffing around? I’d describe this more as suspenseful than twisty (twisty is my preference) but I still really enjoyed this. Really Liked It!

Read this if you loved: Shari Lapena’s other books; this was her tenth! I didn’t love this quite as much as The Couple Next Door, but still really enjoyed it.

I loved this and couldn’t put it down. The way that Ann Patchett builds characters and writes about family (especially complex family relationships) is incredible. Daphne is 53 years old and at The Met with her husband when they realize they might be being followed by an older gentleman. When they say hello, they realize he is actually Eddie — her beloved but estranged stepfather — her mother had divorced him when Daphne was nine, after a traumatic event. Daphne and Eddie form a new friendship as adults, determined to never let the other one go again. I loved the characters and wanted more of them. I wish Eddie was my friend; he’s one of the best characters I’ve read. I loved how imperfect each character was (but how you root for them all—there are no villains here). The book is simple in its nature, but wonderful. I felt completely transported to Daphne’s world and could picture every character so vividly. This one is definitely more characters > plot but the characters are so fabulous that they more than make up for the sleepier pace.

Read this if you loved: Any of Ann Patchett’s books but especially The Dutch House or Tom Lake; if you love the way that she writes about family, you’ll really love this.

Emily is in the thick of a postpartum haze. A new mom, feeling misunderstood by everyone in her life, missing her college roommate Daisy who disappeared after dancing at a seedy strip club. Emily begins a search for Daisy, convinced that if she can just find her, everything will be okay. The search takes her across message board after message board, to high-end strip clubs, then a trip to Atlantic City and then Texas. Just as she is about to give up, Daisy reappears, seemingly out of thin air. Daisy brings bakc a sense of purpose to Emily’s life. She has access to an empty luxury skyscraper, and the two use it to launch a luxury mother’s group: think matcha on tap, sleep pods, beautiful decor, Aperol Spritzes in the afternoon. But as the two grow closer, Emily needs to take a hard look at Daisy. Where has she been all these years? Is she the key to all of her problems or her undoing? It starts out slow and goes off the rails very quickly (in a good way!). I loved the ending and will be thinking about it for a while.

Read this if you loved: Anything by Emma Rosenblum (especially Mean Moms), A Special Place for Women, or you really liked the ending of Yesteryear and want something that will give you that feeling.

This one is for my fellow magazine lovers! I will read anything about the magazine industry, and I absolutely devoured this. It made for a great listen during chores, walks, all the things. Equal parts dishy and informative, this is a history of the Conde Nast magazine empire focusing on its peak, most glamorous heyday (the 80s through the 2000s). We get to know Si Newhouse, Greydon Carter, Anna Wintour, Tina Brown, and the rest of Newhouse’s stable of star editors, photographers, and writers. I found it so interesting to hear the history of some of my favorite publications (Architectural Digest, for example). It’s a behind-the-scenes look at both the rise and fall of Conde, the many politics among the magazines (and their editors), and the impact these beloved magazines had on so many of us. I absolutely loved it. Dishy, fun, and informative — my preferred kind of audiobook!

Alexis Ecker has always been the behind-the-scenes sort of type. She stays out of the spotlight, while her co-founder Darcy (their fashion startup Savvy’s CEO) is front and center. When Darcy dies in a freak accident at Burning Man, Alexis must grieve the death of her very best friend but also rescue her company from the brink of bankruptcy. At just 29 years old, she feels lost and isn’t sure who to trust–especially as she finds herself under ruthless pressure to deliver a gigantic new round of VC funding. Everything is fine! It’s fine! No really. As Alexis attempts to woo investors and get her company onto the right track, secrets come out. Did she really know Darcy? Was Darcy keeping secrets from her? Was her death actually an accident? The plot is dark and twisty, reading like a psychological thriller. I couldn’t put it down. It brought me back to my own fashion startup days, gave me empathy for my former bosses (the co-founders), and kept me on my toes. I let out an audible sigh at the end! Highly enjoyable, though very stressful!

This book is such a delight. You’ll want to devour it in one sitting. It’s my favorite of Rosenblum’s novels yet (third time really is the charm). She has such a knack for writing about wealthy women behaving badly, and Mean Moms is no exception. We meet Frost, Morgan, and Belle (who felt a little too inspired by Nell Diamond for my taste, though I still loved every page). These women seemingly have it all: beauty, brains, adoring husbands, vanity businesses, and perfectly behaved children at the prestigious Atherton Academy. But on the first day of school, a newcomer arrives. We meet Sofia, glamorous, mysterious, recently divorced, and straight out of Miami. She’s quickly folded into their tight-knit trio, but her presence coincides with a string of unsettling incidents. Is it a coincidence, or is someone targeting them? The novel unfolds over one wild school year, mixing biting satire with just enough suspense to keep you hooked. What I loved most was the balance: it made me laugh out loud while keeping me guessing. Mean Moms is witty, sharp, and addictive. You won’t be able to put it down.

Author: Emma Rosenblum

This is a fast-paced thriller about a toxic female friendship. When Anna and Willow meet in art school, they grow close immediately. Willow is moody, mysterious, cool, and chic… while Anna is more earnest and hardworking. Anna grows to worship Willow, as Willow takes her under her wing, opening her world up to new opportunities, art’s great secrets, money, and excitement. Five years later, the young women are living together in Brooklyn, Anna is waiting tables, and Willow is a gallery girl. Without enough money to buy art supplies, Anna barely survives off her tips, while Willow is immensely privileged and seems to get whatever she wants.. When Anna feels like Willow is pulling away, she does the unthinkable. She stages a mugging for Willow, with the intent that Willow will come running back to her. But the mugging isn’t on any day. It’s on September 11, 2001. As the city reels from the day’s events, Willow does not come home. And Anna is left to wonder if her prank is to blame for Willow’s disappearance. The book alternates between art school and life in New York. There is a trigger for sexual abuse. It’s very dark and twisty. I liked but did not love this book, and I can’t say I found it to be enjoyable to read!

It’s really interesting. I read The Light We Lost ten years ago when it came out and loved it so much. It was one of those love stories that made me cry. In reading the (much-awaited!) sequel, ten years later, I had to wonder: am I a coldhearted monster? Because I found the book so annoying at times. I wonder if 43 year old me would even enjoy the first book (33 year old me loved it). I am trying to explain the plot without giving spoilers from the first book away, but the whole book is written like one big love letter to her ex-boyfriend Gabe. Some might find that romantic; I guess is found it a little bit cheesy/over the top? Lucy as a character is a bit annoying and self-indulgent. Gabe is gone now, and Lucy is now divorced from her husband Darren, co-parenting their three children in Brooklyn. One day, Lucy finds a piece of paper in an old box of Gabe’s things. An address in Rome. Soon, Lucy is on a plane, determined to learn more about Gabe’s life. Her trip leads her to Dr. Dax Armstrong, a New Yorker in Italy. They instantly have a spark, and Lucy finds herself wondering if she can love again. Meanwhile, Lucy and Darren have to decide whether they will tell their son Samuel the truth about his father. It’s all very melodramatic. It did make me tear up a little bit at the end so it still affected me, but this book was not for me.

This is a classic domestic thriller. A beautiful couple and their sweet daughter . . . and a new nanny who has a crush on the handsome husband. But let’s back up. Sloane has a sad little life. She lives at home with her mother, was fired from her last job . . . and on top of that, she can’t stop lying. When one of her lies leads her to a new job, Sloane is living her dream life. She’s now the nanny to Harper, Violet and Jay’s cute little daughter- seemingly the perfect little family. As Sloane befriends Violet (and crushes on her husband Jay), she worries that her lies will catch up with her. She can’t mess this up! But Violet and Jay might not be who they say they are. Something much darker is at play. This one goes very far off the rails. It isn’t necessarily believable, but it makes for a fun and twisty read that you won’t be able to put down. I really enjoyed it. Because the plot got a little crazy, I only gave it a B+, but I still heartily recommend it!

This is as special of a book as everyone says it is; definitely one of my favorite reads of the year! It is a romance, but it is very multi-faceted . . . it’s so much more than just a love story! Abe and Jane have been together for 50+ years. Now, Jane is dying of cancer. It is the account of their love and remembering their younger years (both the good parts and the bad parts). It’s also a love story to Central Park. As someone who misses New York every day, I loved those parts. Through their eyes and “remembering,” we get to know them as young twenty-somethings, as exhausted parents and artists . . . watching their careers take flight. Abe is a well-known author and Jane is a famous artist. We also meet their son Max, who has a chip on his shoulder (believing his mother chose her art over him) and can’t seem to commit to anyone or anything. At times, it is very cozy and heartwarming. At times, it breaks your heart. There is a content warning for cancer, and also: the way that it talks about aging can be hard to read at times . . . but the writing is so beautiful and tender; as is the way that Soffer captures all of the different stages of romantic love. I really loved this and had a book hangover when it was done.

This is the latest (third!) 831 Stories book and (as I had predicted), I gobbled it up in a single Friday evening sitting. I love these shorter-length modern romance novellas! Naina has moved to New York City for a fresh start after breaking up with her older, controlling girlfriend. She doesn’t know a soul besides her new coworkers and her new friend Christian (a friend of a friend from Chicago). She has a new apartment and a new roommate and is intent on building her way to a creative career she loves (she works in marketing but aspires to be a writer). When she meets David, they have an immediate, very unexpected connection. But this has her questioning everything, especially her identity. And is this new relationship a romantic one or a professional one? And if Naina, a gay woman, is so drawn to this man, what does that mean about her sexuality? I liked this book a lot. Romance aside, it reminded me of what it is like to be young in New York and what it was like doing a day job that paid the bills while trying to create my own career.

This is a twisty thriller that I tore through — I had to know what happened! There are trigger warnings for abusive relationships and sexual assault. Lila Crayne is America’s sweetheart: a beautiful, successful actress engaged to visionary filmmaker Kurt Royal. They live together in a beautiful West Village apartment and are beginning filming for a feminist reboot of Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night. Lila enlists the help of an accomplished therapist, Jonah Gabriel. She wants to dig into her own childhood trauma as she prepares for this role. But soon, her life begins to unravel, and it seems that Jonah is the man to help her. Questions circulate around Lila and Kurt’s relationship. Are they the perfect couple, or is something darker at play? Is Lila safe? Things happen on set that don’t seem quite right. And no one is who they say they are. I felt unable to trust anyone (it alternates between Jonah’s journal entries and the perspectives of Jonah and Lila). It’s very twisty, very feminist, and an examination of misogyny within Hollywood’s film industry. I couldn’t put it down. Whew. I felt exhausted (in a good way) when I finished reading.

I ultimately loved this book, but it frustrated me (the author’s intention, I am sure!). Ivy is a 52 year old single mother. (Her son is around 9 or 10 when the book opens). When she meets Ansel Fleming at a dinner party, their chemistry is instant. Ansel has his own demons. Besides being twenty years younger than her, he spent seven years in prison for a minor drug charge. As he finally has his freedom, he has no intent of settling down or being with just one person. But Ivy cannot get him out of her head. He becomes an obsession. She cannot focus. She continually compromises, accepting what little he can give her. Meanwhile, she’s managing co-parenting with her ex, teaching, and writing. It’s brutal to read. You want to reach into the book and shake her, tell her, “you can do better!” And that is probably what makes the book so good but also so frustrating. We’ve all been her at some point. Or we have that friend. It’s hard to read at times, completely gripping, and beautifully written (seriously: the writing is beguiling). But also, you’ll want to throw the book at the wall. At least, I did!

This was excellent. It’s a mother-daughter story. Highly bingeable, deeply satisfying! Cleo is a student at NYU. Her relationship with her overbearing, perfect mother (Kat) is rocky at best, but when she arrives at her childhood home in Brooklyn for dinner, she knows that something terrible has happened. Food is burning in the oven, there is a puddle of blood on the floor… her mother is missing. As Cleo races to figure out what’s happened to her mother, we alternate between her POV and her mother’s POV (leading up to the disappearance). Cleo uncovers secrets about her mother. She isn’t the patents lawyer she claimed to be, but rather a fixer for her legal firm with unconventional tactics. She grew up in a dangerous group home and has a lot of secrets. And the worst part: her parents are separated but neither wanted to tell her. Everyone is a suspect. Was it Cleo’s drug-dealing ex-boyfriend? Could it be Kat’s philandering husband (also Cleo’s father?). This one really kept me on my toes, I absolutely loved it!

I wanted to love this one, but I’m not sure if I even liked it! The plot centers around an Anna Delvey-esque con artist (Poppy Hastings) and our protagonist, Rose Aslani, a young, ambitious journalist who struggles with addiction and mental health. Poppy had posed as high-society, old money, only to steal from everyone around her. Rose broke the story (only to turn Poppy into a bit of a celebrity). As the book opens, Poppy is being released from prison (after two years), and Rose might just lose everything Upon her release, several of Rose’s sources end up dead. Rose becomes convinced that Poppy is the killer. She quickly unravels (these parts were all very hard to read, so there is a content warning for suicidal thoughts, addiction, and destructive behavior). Meanwhile, Poppy’s star continues to rise, and Rose risks losing everything she’s worked for. First she’s fired from her job; are her friendships next? Can Rose prove that Poppy is guiltier than much more than people think? With the help of a handsome FBI agent, it’s a race against the clock. The plot of this was fun; I just found it way too campy and cheesy (and oftentimes totally off the rails!) for my taste. And I hated the ending! I completely understand it’s a satire, but the campiness was too much for me. It was over the top but (in my opinion) not in a good way! Add to that: I didn’t love Rose — I don’t always do well with a messy narrator. Still, the plot was enjoyable, and I’ll read anything even remotely inspired by Anna Delvey…, so maybe I am the problem!

This is a disturbing little book. More of a horror novel than a thriller, and I don’t typically read much horror! That being said, I was super intrigued as it was described to me as American Psycho meets The Devil Wears Prada. Besides being a horror novel, it’s also a satire of NYC It-girl culture and I absolutely loved that part of it. Sophia is twenty nine years old, with dark secrets of her own and a career that feels non-existent. She’s also got a brutal nail biting habit, to the point where she has to wear gloves. Thanks to her best friend Dom, she’s able to live in a gorgeous apartment, but her life doesn’t feel like it’s going anywhere. She lacks purpose, routine… and outside of her friendship with Dom, she doesn’t have her people. Until she gets a job on the storytelling (content) team, a hot beauty start up (picture Glossier or even Rhode and you have it). When Sophia starts working at HEBE, she feels like her life finally has purpose. Her coworkers feel like family and they are all united in their mission to make beauty possible. The founder, Tree Whitestone (a glamorous, mysterious former beauty blogger who bares a startling resemblance to Emily Weiss) takes Sophia under her wing, even letting her test a brand new product, youthjuice, set to revolutionize beauty forever. But when Sophia learns about the gruesome secret ingredient in youthjuice, what will she do? How far is she willing to protect the company she’s grown to love (and stay beautiful forever!?). The book takes dark turn after dark turn. It goes pretty far off the rails. If you are easily grossed out, don’t read this. If not, it will make for a fun (albeit scary) fast beach read.

Before I dive into any gripes, I want to say that I loved this book. I read it in under 24 hours because the plot was so engaging. I had to know what happened. It had several big twists and turns and a dramatic twist at the ending. The plot is a ten! That being said, the writing is just medium… you could tell the author never lived in New York (everyone had “houses,” transportation logistics seemed off at times), and his descriptions were strange at times (I couldn’t get over him describing a character’s hair as “hazel brown.” Isn’t that an eye color?) Anyway, I am a tough crowd but all of those things aside still gave this book an A- as I loved the plot, which takes inspiration from Strangers on a Train. Amanda and Wendy meet in a grief support group and immediately bond as they’ve suffered similar tragic losses. After a night out, the two women make a deal — each promising to kill the men who destroyed their families. If you kill for me, I’ll kill for you. What could possibly go wrong!? Meanwhile across town, Ruth is home alone in her beautiful brownstone and is brutally attacked by a man with piercing blue eyes. She doesn’t know if she will ever feel safe again. The book is fast paced and twisty as the two stories intersect. I gasped at the ending!

This is a fun read. If you loved Billions the TV show, you will absolutely devour this. And as I learned in the book, the author actually consulted with the show, which makes a lot of sense. The book is not a takedown or a juicy tell-all. The author is actually very fair and to be honest, when I compare it to some of my previous jobs in New York, the job actually sounds pretty great at times. (Though I agree with the author: work environments like that are not sustainable. They suck the life out of you!) This is a memoir of a young woman’s self-discovery. And with that, a look at privilege, extreme wealth, intense work cultures. What it’s like to lose yourself and give up everything for the company you work for. Carrie Sun is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. She’s excelled at everything she’s done. An early graduation from MIT and a hot-shot finance job. Still, she’s trapped in an unhappy engagement and feels unfulfilled. When she gets the (very rare) opportunity to work at one of the best private equity funds as the billionaire founder’s assistant, she can’t say no. Her job is intense. She works constantly. There is never enough time. She has too much work and when she asks her boss for help, he doesn’t do it. Still: there are incredible job perks. Lavish gifts. Amazing company parties. But as Carrie dives deeper into this world, she finds herself losing herself. I really enjoyed it. I loved the look at what it’s like to work for a company like that. I liked the peek into the firm’s work culture. And of course it was fun to read about all the perks!

I listened to this one and absolutely loved it! If you are curious about the art world, want to develop your eye, or just love art, this is a good one! Bianca Bosker is a journalist who found herself curious about the art world. Bosker is a journalist (you may remember her other book, Cork Dork!) who begins the novel wandering into the art world, not understanding the hype. By the end of the book, she’s completely upended her life in the name of art. She begins working with one gallerist, and then another… works as a studio assistant for the legendary Julie Curtis, spends time as a security guard for the Guggenheim, and befriends a set of art collectors and follows them around. She literally throws herself head first into this weird and wonderful world. In the process she learns a ton (and teaches us along the way), refines her eye (and helps us refine our own eye), and has a lot of fun doing it. It is a wild ride and a super fun (but also educational) read. This book will educate you, teach you how to see, change how you think about everything, make you laugh… all the things. I can’t recommend it enough!

I loved this book, mostly because it made me feel so many things. Mickey is a young Black woman, working in media. Her job can be tedious and she isn’t getting to write the stories she wants to write, but she has a supportive girlfriend and a fun, vibrant life that comes from her flashy job. When she finds out that she is being replaced, her whole world is upended. She takes to Twitter, posting a letter that outlines the racism she’s experienced as a Black woman working in media. When the letter is met with silence (even from her girlfriend), Mickey unravels and retreats to her hometown. There, she settles into a quieter life at her grandmother’s house (save for a flirtation from her ex), able to reflect and start to heal from the trauma that has come with working in the industry she loves – that doesn’t love her back. Just as things start to slow down a little and Mickey has caught her breath, things are upended again. When a scandal erupts at her old company, her letter is suddenly getting a lot of attention. Suddenly, everyone wants to talk to her. She is thrown into the spotlight and forced to make hard decisions.

This was one of my favorite books in a long time. I LOVED it. It was meant to be a chaser to Setting the Table as Guidara was a protege of Danny Meyer in some ways, but I liked it even more! Guidara climbed his way up the restaurant ranks (working under Meyer for a hefty chunk of the time), ultimately buying Eleven Madison Park (with Daniel Humm) from Danny Meyer. The story of how they built and grew EMP is pretty legendary. At times it reads like a sports book where you are rooting for a team and just want them to win. I found myself becoming emotional so many times as the restaurant won awards and excellent reviews. It’s equal parts restaurant memoir where you root for this team, but also a business book. Guidara applies lessons he has learned in the restaurant world to other professions like real estate. I truly believe anyone, in any profession, could benefit from reading this. And it’s also very fun. I listened to it on audio (Guidara narrates) and cannot recommend it enough. I have actually never dined at Eleven Madison Park and now I’m dying to go (though I hear it’s quite different now!).

This is an older one but I saw it recommended somewhere and immediately downloaded it. I LOVED it. It is equal parts business book and memoir. When I lived in New York I loved eating at Danny Meyer’s restaurants (and I still do!). Shake Shack, Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe… the man is a genius! He is someone who definitely started on third base, coming from a very privileged background, etc. but the way he used that privilege and has run his restaurants is genius. I wish more restaurants (and businesses) focused on hospitality the way that he and his teams do. Even though it is a little bit older, if you have a business or work in the service industry (I 100% include influencing as the service industry!), it is an absolute must-read. So much incredible advice on how to treat people and build a loyal clientele. And it’s fun. He is honest and isn’t afraid to share stories where he messed up. I really loved this – it’s a fun audiobook listen too as it’s not super long.

Nepotism aside, this book is WONDERFUL. Truly, such a treat to read. It is what I would call a friendmance, which we need more of. Really, a love story about a group of friends living in New York. Four friends (Hannah, Finn, Priya, and Theo) have spent Christmas together every year for years and now. They are each other’s chosen family but now it seems like everything is changing. We see them now and then over the years: I love that the book is set on multiple timelines, alternating between present day and Christmases past. We learn that the tradition started back in college when Hannah and Finn both had nowhere to go. Hannah’s parents had died and Finn’s disowned him when he came out of the closet. As Hannah and Finn graduate and move to New York, they add Theo and Priya to the group. But then — Finn announces that he’s moving to LA. So it may be their last. Hannah feels like she’s losing this family she’s built for herself. Meanwhile, her boyfriend has a hard time understanding this notion of family, and is pushing her toward settling down. Are the four friends growing up or growing apart? I loved this book so much. It feels like a warm hug. The characters are so real and vulnerable; they are people we all know and love. Having left New York I also loved all of the New York nostalgia and seeing so many of my favorite places included. I could not put it down and am so proud of my friend for writing such a fantastic debut novel!

Author: Becca Freeman