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From the author of Sex and The City, here’s another book that would let you have a look at the lives of the people living in this Greenwich Village Art Deco landmark called One Fifth Avenue.

THE AUTHOR:

Candace Bushnell. She has written other novels namely, Trading Up, Lipstick Jungle and the widely popular Sex and the City, which  later became a phenomenal TV series hit.

THE STORY:

One Fifth Avenue, the Art Deco beauty towering over one of Manhattan’s oldest and most historically hip neighborhoods, is a one-of-a-kind address, the sort of building you have to earn your way into—one way or another. For the women in Candace Bushnell’s new novel, One Fifth Avenue, this edifice is essential to the lives they’ve carefully established—or hope to establish. From the hedge fund king’s wife to the aging gossip columnist to the free-spirited actress (a recent refugee from L.A.), each person’s game plan for a rich life comes together under the soaring roof of this landmark building. Source: Every Women’s Voice

When I received the hardcover copy of One-Fifth Avenue, I couldn’t help but flipped with excitement. I went like Oh my God, Oh my God, I actually have a copy of Candace Bushnell’s recent novel. I was half-hoping that it’s autographed but maybe that’s too much to ask for. My copy is not autographed.

Getting over the initial giddiness, I so wish I could do justice with my review of the novel. I hope.

MY REVIEW:

The  characters that make up the story are  so  gossip-worthy. I hate to say that but that’s how interesting the characters are.  Take for example, Philip Oakland,  the screenwriter who hooked up with the very clever and selfish but beautiful Lola Fabrikant. Then there’s Schiffer Diamond, Philip’s old flame and an actress who moves back to One Fifth after a failed relationship.  There’s also Mindy Gooch, the bitter head of the co-op board and who passionately writes about her miseries on her blog called, the Joy of Not Having It All.  These are but few of the interesting characters living in the Apartment, which is the subject of this novel.

In this book, in my own standpoint, Ms Bushnell carefully echoes the truth about human nature: the greed, the discontentment, the pretensions, the bitterness, the need to have money, power and social prominence and most of all, (along with) the pursuit to be successful and to be admired.

I actually found myself enjoying the tales of  the lives of the characters in this novel. If I can be truthful about it, I was drawn to Schiffer Diamond’s character and her pursuit of love and happiness. She’s actually one of the motivating factor for me to finish the book ASAP. Me being a hopeless romantic, I had wanted to see how her relationship with Philip Oakland would develop and was secretly rooting that they’d end up together.

One  Fifth Avenue is definitely “unputdownable.” This is the first novel by Candace Bushnell that I read and though it somehow lacks the “shock element” that is commonly found in Sidney Sheldon’s novels,  I have to say I am impressed. Overall, I find the book truly compelling and entertaining.  I wouldn’t really  be surprised if  this is made into a movie or a TV series.

Great thanks to Parent Reviewers for giving me the chance to review a novel that might become another TV series hit in the future.