Kennethia R. (Necee) reviewed on + 17 more book reviews
Welcome to Manhattan and into the lives of the rich and famous. The Gotham Diaries is Tonya Lewis Lee and Crystal McCrary Anthony's debut into the "Chick Lit" genre. It is most definitely a perfect choice for a summertime getaway-a mixed blend of soap-opera type drama with a combination of middling to quite flamboyant and comical characters.
The plot mainly centers on an extremely ambitious, gay, high-end real estate broker (Manny), a recently widowed and indebted socialite (Tandy), and an "in-search-of-self" naive billionaire's wife (Lauren). Lauren believes Manny and Tandy are her friends, but each one has their own self-serving agenda. The reader is pulled into uptown living through Manny's social calendar, client drama, and his relationship with his boy-toy, supermodel lover. Manny is largely driven to keep his lover happy (usually with expensive gifts) and secure his place among Manhattan's elite regardless of the costs. Tandy's plan to remain on top of Manhattan's social circle despite being penniless involves both Manny and an unsuspecting Lauren. Lauren's desire is to pursue a career amid restlessness and aching suspicions that her husband who is thirty years her senior is having an affair.
After establishing each of the key character's history, the focus of the story is shifted to a real estate deal that reeks of betrayal and deception and will cause dissension among the "friends." The last one standing comes into their own and serves their own brand of justice - destroying the hopes and dreams of the others in the process.
This is a refreshing and often times funny novel with a strong underlying intensity that yields a page-turning reading experience. Hopefully this isn't the last we hear about the affairs of Tandy, Manny, and Lauren - I'd like to see more of them soon.
The plot mainly centers on an extremely ambitious, gay, high-end real estate broker (Manny), a recently widowed and indebted socialite (Tandy), and an "in-search-of-self" naive billionaire's wife (Lauren). Lauren believes Manny and Tandy are her friends, but each one has their own self-serving agenda. The reader is pulled into uptown living through Manny's social calendar, client drama, and his relationship with his boy-toy, supermodel lover. Manny is largely driven to keep his lover happy (usually with expensive gifts) and secure his place among Manhattan's elite regardless of the costs. Tandy's plan to remain on top of Manhattan's social circle despite being penniless involves both Manny and an unsuspecting Lauren. Lauren's desire is to pursue a career amid restlessness and aching suspicions that her husband who is thirty years her senior is having an affair.
After establishing each of the key character's history, the focus of the story is shifted to a real estate deal that reeks of betrayal and deception and will cause dissension among the "friends." The last one standing comes into their own and serves their own brand of justice - destroying the hopes and dreams of the others in the process.
This is a refreshing and often times funny novel with a strong underlying intensity that yields a page-turning reading experience. Hopefully this isn't the last we hear about the affairs of Tandy, Manny, and Lauren - I'd like to see more of them soon.
