Book Review: Summer and the City

Book: Summer and the City (The Carrie Diaries book #2) by Candace Bushnell

Edition: Paperback

Description:

SUMMER AND THE CITY brings surprising revelations as Carrie learns to navigate her way around the Big Apple, going from being a country "sparrow" -- as Samantha Jones dubs her -- to the person she always wanted to be. But as it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile her past with her future, Carrie realizes that making it in New York is much more complicated than she ever imagined.

With her signature wit and sparkling humor, Candace Bushnell reveals the irresistible story of how Carrie met Samantha and Miranda, and what turned a small-town girl into one of New York City's most unforgettable icons, Carrie Bradshaw.



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

In Summer and the City, 17 years old Carrie Bradshaw (who's a few months away from turning 18) was spending her summer in New York City attending a writing class at The New School.

But before she can even enjoy being in New York City, Carrie was dealing with the issue of her purse being stolen as soon as she arrived. Not knowing anyone or where to go, her only saving grace was calling the phone number she had for Samantha Jones (the cousin of her former high school classmate and frienemy Donna LaDonna).

Carrie didn't have much time to settle in (albeit temporarily) for the night at Samantha's apartment before they were out partying. The entire night was one big wonderful crazy adventure for Carrie, she even met writer Bernard Singer. However the next day it was back to reality. She had to find out where she was going to be living for the next two months and get ready for her writing class.

Carrie's living situation was absolutely terrible, she was sharing a small apartment with her landlady Peggy Meyers and another young writer Elizabeth "Li'l" Waters who was also attending the same writing course. Peggy was impossible, she's a bitter aspiring actress who imposed very strict rules on Carrie and Li'l. Well, at least Carrie got her purse back, it was found by Miranda Hobbes, a very opinionated activist.

Although her writing class wasn't the most exciting she did meet some interesting characters, her strange and boring teacher Viktor Greene and some of her eclectic classmates: the southern playboy Capote Duncan, the womanizing goof Ryan McCann and the aloof socialite Rainbow.

She wasn't in the city long before love was starting to blossom with Bernard but letting her curiosity get the better of her, had Carrie being kicked out of her apartment. Peggy was livid when she found Carrie snooping in her bedroom. In Carrie's defense, she had a headache was looking for an aspirin. What I find hypocritical is that Peggy has no problem barging into their living quarters but wants them to respect her privacy. I think her being kicked out was more due to what Carrie found in Peggy's bedroom. That scene still makes me laugh whenever I think of it.

Needing a new home, Carrie was back staying at Samantha's apartment and with Sam staying at her fiancé Charlie's apartment, she had the place to herself. She was having the time of her life but will writing, romance and friendship drama ruin her time in the city.

These Sex and the City prequel books have a difficult job to do, not only are they adding backstory to these iconic characters but also making sure they are still recognizable as they are on their way to becoming the characters fans know and love. It doesn't appear that there will be a third book but I think this book does a pretty good job of wrapping up everything.

I found this to be even better than the first book, there's plenty of humor and drama as Carrie builds new friendships while learning so much about herself. She made several mistakes along the way such as dating Bernard. I thought that he was too old for her and it was weird the way that he treated her. It really felt like she was trying to grow up too fast. I also couldn't see Samantha with the stuffy boring guy she was engaged to and not to mention how she was trying too hard to make it seem like she was a lady of high society. She wasn't being herself at all.

What I liked about this story is that things have a way of working themselves out even if it's not how the characters might have intended. I loved seeing the friendship develop between Carrie, Samantha and Miranda and all the little moments that were solidifying it.