Friday, November 27, 2009

Prospect Park West


Prospect Park West by Amy Sohn was my Teaser Tuesday selection this past week. This book was a great chick-lit read - a bit of Sex and the City for the mommy crowd. I don't like all chick-lit books, but this one was smartly written, entertaining and clever, a great read.

Sohn introduces us to a cast of characters. First there's Karen who is married to Matty and has a son, Darby. From book's beginning Karen is a little odd, forcing her four year old to wear kneepads to the playground in case he falls. Karen is out to get ahead. She desperately wants to buy an apartment in a good neighborhood and will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Melora Leigh is a famous actress living in Prospect Park West. Aside from being famous, Melora has a plethora of problems - she is worried about her acting prospects, and is busily taking various prescription medications to try and dull her senses and anxiety. Her son, Orion, is four and Melora would love to be able to mother him without needing medication, but that doesn't seem possible.

Rebecca, another mother has a young daugher Abbie and husband Theo. Rebecca isn't sure exactly how it happened, but she and Theo haven't had sex in over a year. She's worried for her marriage and begins a brief affair with Melora Leigh's husband, Stuart.

Lizzie and Jay have a young son Mance. Lizzie often feels neglected because of Jay's job as a musician that takes him away from home for days at a time. Lizzie and Rebecca become friends and Lizzie confides in Rebecca that she was once in a relationship with another woman.

The lives of these Prospect Park West families intertwine many times as the novel unfolds. Sohn has developed four very interesting women in these books representing various urban mommy-types.

This is one of the best chick-lit books I have read in a while. I loved Sex and the City and this ranks right up there with Bushnell's books.

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