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I Heart #1
I Heart New York
Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, get ready for the summer debut of the year...When you're running away from a broken heart, there's only one place to go...Adjusting tiaras at the foot of the aisle, Angela and her best friend prepare for the wedding of the year. But events don't go as planned. And when a girl is in possession of a crumpled bridesmaid dress - and can't go home - New York (for the very first time) seems like an excellent idea. Angela's new friend Jenny Lopez gives Angela a whirlwind tour of the city that never sleeps, and a makeover. Who hasn't dreamed of starting afresh with a sassy New York wardrobe, a new haircut and a trip to the make-up counter? Before she knows it, the new Angela is getting over her broken heart by having dinner with two different boys. And, best of all, she gets to write about it in her fabulous new blog. But it's one thing telling readers all about your romantic dilemmas. It's another trying to figure them out for yourself! Warm, funny and unputdownable, I Heart New York is an unforgettable debut.
307 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2009
About the author
Lindsey Kelk
56 books4,793 followersLindsey Kelk is the Sunday Times bestselling author of books including the I Heart series, On A Night Like This, The Christmas Wish, and One in a Million, along with the middle grade Cinders & Sparks series.
As well as writing books, Lindsey co-hosts the award-winning beauty podcast, Full Coverage, and Tight and Fights, a pro-wrestling podcast on the Maximum Fun network.
Born and raised in South Yorkshire, Lindsey lived in Nottingham, London and New York before settling in LA, where she lives with her husband and two very rude cats.
As well as writing books, Lindsey co-hosts the award-winning beauty podcast, Full Coverage, and Tight and Fights, a pro-wrestling podcast on the Maximum Fun network.
Born and raised in South Yorkshire, Lindsey lived in Nottingham, London and New York before settling in LA, where she lives with her husband and two very rude cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,393 reviews
May 9, 2017
This was one of the smallest books in my collection, and for that reason I read it the night before I went on holiday. Quite frankly I wish I had not bothered. The writing is terrible, cliched, and if there was any originality in the book then I must have blinked and missed it.
Rather than any form of detailed plot we have details of designers (was the writer trying for freebies from Marc Jacobs???), numerous descriptions of handbags, shops etc.
I think this is meant to be some sort of modern fairytale. You too can move to New York and become a magazine writer, make "great" friends, and get a make over which turns you into a rich-man magnet. Despite the fact that the reason the character went to New York was because she was cheated on by her fiancee, she then has no scruples about dating two men at once.
Over all I was left with a sour taste in my mouth. It is vacuous, amoral novels like this that help give "chick-lit" a bad name.
Rather than any form of detailed plot we have details of designers (was the writer trying for freebies from Marc Jacobs???), numerous descriptions of handbags, shops etc.
I think this is meant to be some sort of modern fairytale. You too can move to New York and become a magazine writer, make "great" friends, and get a make over which turns you into a rich-man magnet. Despite the fact that the reason the character went to New York was because she was cheated on by her fiancee, she then has no scruples about dating two men at once.
Over all I was left with a sour taste in my mouth. It is vacuous, amoral novels like this that help give "chick-lit" a bad name.
February 7, 2022
I think my reading habits have changed as this is the kind of book I used to love but I could not relate to the storyline or any characters at all.
It all felt shallow and unrealistic. I think I just prefer something a bit more grittier now.
Three stars, was OK.
It all felt shallow and unrealistic. I think I just prefer something a bit more grittier now.
Three stars, was OK.
September 20, 2015
This is that awkward moment when everybody loved a series, you start with book one—usually the most loved—filled with positive expectations, and then it’s just meh! You liked it, but you didn’t L.O.V.E. it, and you start to wonder, is it just me? And the book seems to be looking at you saying it is you. Then a small comment on your status of a fellow reader that had relationship issues with the same uber loved series makes you feel at ease. It isn’t just you.
So here’s what I did and didn’t like about I Heart NY.
The positives first.
The opening is great! Instant hook. Boyfriend caught heating, best friend caught knowing, heroine’s major epiphany and escape to a new city. Super!
There’s plenty of humor, and the writing is fresh and easy.
Even if the book is in a series there’s a proper begin-end cycle. The end leaves possibilities open, but it’s not a cliffhanger. (Not a fan of cliffhangers)
Now the negatives.
After the quick paced start the plot sinks into slower waters for quite a while. There are too many tourist-guide like descriptions of NY. Shopping here, makeover there, coming here, going there same old… gets boring quickly.
Jenny (the new best friend) is a real Dr. Jekyll Miss Hide. A bit too much, she gets so mean so quickly. I don’t know, in a longer friendship it would have seemed a more normal interaction…we all get crazy with our BFFs from time to time and push their buttons in a mean way, but after 3 weeks? Uh, no.
The blog thing. Uhm. Seems to me that if you’re dating two guys and writing a blog about it… it is not very realistic that you tell the guys too.
The dating two guys thing. Mmm, ok. It was a nice plot idea. But the sleeping with both of them, literally one day a guy the next day the other was a bit too much for my romantic self. (I know, real, within the character self-growth journey… but still a bit unromantic.)
So here are my pros and cons… I would love to know what you thought… If you agree/disagree with some of my points :)
So here’s what I did and didn’t like about I Heart NY.
The positives first.
The opening is great! Instant hook. Boyfriend caught heating, best friend caught knowing, heroine’s major epiphany and escape to a new city. Super!
There’s plenty of humor, and the writing is fresh and easy.
Even if the book is in a series there’s a proper begin-end cycle. The end leaves possibilities open, but it’s not a cliffhanger. (Not a fan of cliffhangers)
Now the negatives.
After the quick paced start the plot sinks into slower waters for quite a while. There are too many tourist-guide like descriptions of NY. Shopping here, makeover there, coming here, going there same old… gets boring quickly.
Jenny (the new best friend) is a real Dr. Jekyll Miss Hide. A bit too much, she gets so mean so quickly. I don’t know, in a longer friendship it would have seemed a more normal interaction…we all get crazy with our BFFs from time to time and push their buttons in a mean way, but after 3 weeks? Uh, no.
The blog thing. Uhm. Seems to me that if you’re dating two guys and writing a blog about it… it is not very realistic that you tell the guys too.
The dating two guys thing. Mmm, ok. It was a nice plot idea. But the sleeping with both of them, literally one day a guy the next day the other was a bit too much for my romantic self. (I know, real, within the character self-growth journey… but still a bit unromantic.)
So here are my pros and cons… I would love to know what you thought… If you agree/disagree with some of my points :)
January 1, 2019
Loved this book from the first few pages it kept me interested from start to end. The characters are all relate able in some way. The main character Angela flees to New York after finding out her fiancee is cheating on her at her best friends wedding. In New York she meets a live wire american Jenny who turns out to be her best friend by the end of the story. Jenny throwing Angela into dating so soon after her ex is very amusing. I didn't think much to Tyler so was very pleased when she chose Alex. I loved the first scene between Alex and Angela in a cafe it's like reading about them beginning again. I enjoy reading on how she's saying which Stills album she likes best without realising she's talking to the lead singer and he takes it as feedback, I love how much the focus is on music and adore the quote '' Saying you like all music meant you didn't love any.'' Alex Reid is my favourite book boyfriend character I have read so far and Angela is so relateable to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2016
I loved everything about this book! I've never been to New York, but it's my dream destination right now, and I'll take any opportunity to read about it. That's what drew me to the book in the first place. Kelk has a wonderful ability to make her readers really connect to the characters. Everything that Angela goes through, from the horrendous break-up, to the simultaneous dating, to being a newcomer to a huge city is something that many women have been through, therefore they can relate easily.
My favourite part of the book is actually a quite simple part, right at the beginning, when Jenny brings Angela a cart full of female necessities that she figured she didn't think to grab when she fled the UK. That part made me feel so happy for Angela and thankful that she had someone to take care of her (even though it's fiction).
As for the men in her New York life, I was actually surprised that Kelk didn't bring Johnny into the mix a little more, but I was quite happy with reading about her trysts with Alex and Tyler.
I'm very much looking forward to reading I Heart Hollywood and I Heart Paris!!
My favourite part of the book is actually a quite simple part, right at the beginning, when Jenny brings Angela a cart full of female necessities that she figured she didn't think to grab when she fled the UK. That part made me feel so happy for Angela and thankful that she had someone to take care of her (even though it's fiction).
As for the men in her New York life, I was actually surprised that Kelk didn't bring Johnny into the mix a little more, but I was quite happy with reading about her trysts with Alex and Tyler.
I'm very much looking forward to reading I Heart Hollywood and I Heart Paris!!
August 9, 2017
Read the review here
http://storypals.net/book-report-i-he...
http://storypals.net/book-report-i-he...
September 16, 2022
I got this because it looked like it might be a light fluffy read. While it was, in some parts, in others, naught. It got better towards the ending. Really picked up in the drama.
Likes:
✨Let me just begin by saying that i loved the writing style. It's fun, light, and kinda quirky. It made reading the book super enjoyable.
✨Angela's bravery to travel overseas to start over. Also, as someone who's never been to New York, it was nice to see her describe it through her own touristy eyes.
✨Jenny's contagious energy.
Dislikes:
✨Tyler is a walking, talking ick.
✨As much as I loved Jenny's energy and her enthusiasm, when she said and I quote "New York is like Mecca for people that have had horrible break-ups" I was rendered speechless.
What on God's good earth are you saying? Comparing Mecca, a sacred place for Muslims, to...what exactly? What.
The Muslim was too stunned to speak.
✨What is it with these guys and leaning in for a kiss out of nowhere, no questions asked, on the first date? Like there was literally nothing leading up to it that it caught me off guard, and not in the good way.
✨The FMC thinking "...blushing from head to toe, I tried to meet his gaze, but I had instantly become a Complete Girl and couldn't even look at him."
Funny, yes. But not funny haha. Funny, you're such a pick me.
✨The amount of times the FMC said "I've only ever been with Mark" and "When you find your boyfriend's boxers around his ankles" I lost count at 100.
✨There was nothing really happening up until 160 pages in. Sure, she's re-exploring herself and her wants, but all I got was a guide to the places to buy expensive bags and shoes. Marc Jacob's and Havaianas to be exact.
✨Are we going to normalize dating two people at once now? That's a recipe for disaster and an impending cliché. And especially with what happened to her. Make it make sense.
✨Jenny being there for Angie without even knowing her, and doing her best to cheer her up. But when Jenny would have her own moments, even if she was known to be mean during her moments, Angie would have no problem being like, "hmmm, I'm not really up for this now."
How selfish are you, exactly?
✨Finding dates and best friends within a week of being in a foreign country? Unrealistic much?
✨✨✨✨✨✨
Overall, do I recommend this?
No, not really. The characters are all cheaters, two timers. Except for Alex. He was the only good thing in the book. I loved his energy, and the fact that he plays guitar, that's my weakness.
Some things in the book felt too unrealistic. Others were repetitive, and some were toxic and selfish.
However, since I liked the writing style, and some very few things in the book, I'll be giving this series another chance. If only for the sake of the beautiful covers.
Likes:
✨Let me just begin by saying that i loved the writing style. It's fun, light, and kinda quirky. It made reading the book super enjoyable.
✨Angela's bravery to travel overseas to start over. Also, as someone who's never been to New York, it was nice to see her describe it through her own touristy eyes.
✨Jenny's contagious energy.
Dislikes:
✨Tyler is a walking, talking ick.
✨As much as I loved Jenny's energy and her enthusiasm, when she said and I quote "New York is like Mecca for people that have had horrible break-ups" I was rendered speechless.
What on God's good earth are you saying? Comparing Mecca, a sacred place for Muslims, to...what exactly? What.
The Muslim was too stunned to speak.
✨What is it with these guys and leaning in for a kiss out of nowhere, no questions asked, on the first date? Like there was literally nothing leading up to it that it caught me off guard, and not in the good way.
✨The FMC thinking "...blushing from head to toe, I tried to meet his gaze, but I had instantly become a Complete Girl and couldn't even look at him."
Funny, yes. But not funny haha. Funny, you're such a pick me.
✨The amount of times the FMC said "I've only ever been with Mark" and "When you find your boyfriend's boxers around his ankles" I lost count at 100.
✨There was nothing really happening up until 160 pages in. Sure, she's re-exploring herself and her wants, but all I got was a guide to the places to buy expensive bags and shoes. Marc Jacob's and Havaianas to be exact.
✨Are we going to normalize dating two people at once now? That's a recipe for disaster and an impending cliché. And especially with what happened to her. Make it make sense.
✨Jenny being there for Angie without even knowing her, and doing her best to cheer her up. But when Jenny would have her own moments, even if she was known to be mean during her moments, Angie would have no problem being like, "hmmm, I'm not really up for this now."
How selfish are you, exactly?
✨Finding dates and best friends within a week of being in a foreign country? Unrealistic much?
✨✨✨✨✨✨
Overall, do I recommend this?
No, not really. The characters are all cheaters, two timers. Except for Alex. He was the only good thing in the book. I loved his energy, and the fact that he plays guitar, that's my weakness.
Some things in the book felt too unrealistic. Others were repetitive, and some were toxic and selfish.
However, since I liked the writing style, and some very few things in the book, I'll be giving this series another chance. If only for the sake of the beautiful covers.
December 2, 2009
At her best friend’s wedding, Angela Clark finds her boyfriend cheating on her in his car. After storming back into the wedding to confront her best friend, Angela flees to New York and ends up staying in the first hotel she comes to. The girl working on the concierge at the hotel, Jenny, befriends Angela and takes her under her wing, giving Angela a make-over and showing her New York City’s sights. Within days, Angela is dating two guys and has a job blogging about her adventures in the City but will home lure her back?
I hadn’t really heard of I Heart New York until a while ago so when I saw it on a market stall I thought it sounded fantastic and decided to buy it. I read some reviews, some good, some bad and finally decided to give it a read myself. I wanted to enjoy it so so much as I love books set in New York but I just found I Heart New York a major disappointment. I read a lot of books set in New York – I wish people would set their books in other American states, there are 50 of them after all! – so I expect a pretty high standard when reading about the fantastic city that is New York. I’ve never been to New York so I want the book to transport me there. I Heart New York failed miserably.
My main problem with the book is that there’s essentially no plot. It’s plotless. Nothing of major importance happens in the book to set up an exciting and readable ending and I found myself fed up after 60-odd pages. I perservered to see if it got any better and it just didn’t. My next problem with the book is just how easily everything slipped into place for Angela. I’m willing to let some things slide when reading chick lit books but even for me, this was totally and utterly unbelieveable. I can take the fact Angela and Jenny became friends so quickly but I can’t take the fact she managed to blag herself multiple dates within two days of being in New York nor the fact she just so happened to land a job blogging about her life. It was all very convenient and I was waiting for something to come along and unsettle Angela’s now-perfect world but nothing ever did and the book just kind of tailed off.
Yet the book started so well, with Angela finding her boyfriend Mark cheating on her at her best friend’s wedding. I thought that the opening two chapters were hilarious, but it all seemingly went down hill from there. The blurb on the back makes it sound as if Angela jumped onto a plane to New York wearing her bridesmaids dress but that wasn’t the case. As far as I’m concerned that would have been a fantastic thing to include because everyone seeing her at the airport wearing a bridesmaids dress, clutching a pair of expensive shoes, would be thinking “What on Earth’s going on?”. As it is, the book misses out any kind of airport scene and after Angela tells her mother she’s leaving we skip to her arrival in NYC. After Angela’s arrival in NYC, everything then falls into place and she (seemingly) has the perfect life and that’s pretty much all that happens.
I can’t say I particularly cared for Angela throughout the book because her life all fell into place perfectly and still she complained. It’s very hard to be sympathetic towards someone who two/three days after breaking up with her boyfriend of 10 years, is then dating two other men. She spent the first day in tears after the break up but after that she was fine. It was very peculiar. Regardless of how much Angela and Mark’s relationship had deteriorated over the years, I still expected Angela to feel a bit more heartbroken after the break up of a 10 year relationship, not to mention the fact it was her first proper relationship. Another thing that irritated me about Angela was the fact that she was dating two guys – and blogging about it – but when one of the guys told her he was dating people other than her, she went completely off on one. Pot. Kettle. Black. That’s pretty much Angela in a nutshell: immensely self-absorbed. My favourite character was Jenny, whom Angela befriends during her first hour in New York. She was a fantastic character and I absolutely loved her. However even Jenny irritated me, the way she worshipped Angela – constantly calling Angela “heroic” for running away after finding her boyfriend cheating on her – was beyond irritating, but apart from that, she was hugely enjoyable. I’d love to see her in a book just about her. Of the two men Angela dates, Tyler and Alex, Alex was my favourite. I always thought Tyler seemed blase about the whole thing and I didn’t particularly like him. All of the characters, bar Jenny, though were all one-dimensional and quite cliched though: the Brit in America, the hotshot banker, the rock star…
Kelk’s writing is nothing spectacular and I hated the way, as I mentioned above, that Angela was treated like some sort of heroine for fleeing the country and coming to New York. I would actually call it cowardice, but that’s just me. Kelk’s writing made Angela seem pretty childish I think, too, not just because she chose to fly rather than fight but because, considering she was supposed to be 26, she still had no idea what she was doing with her life. I didn’t expect Angela to have it all mapped out, but all she seemed to do before getting her job, was spend money whilst having no viable income. I also found myself getting irritated with the fact she kept calling the men “boys” as it made her sound like a teenager. The book also had a few editing errors (on the first page Angela is “peaking” rather than “peeking” as well as “thing” rather than “think”) which drives me insane – books are proofread so many times you would think they’d pick up on an error so small. It may be a childish thing to pick up on but it’s just incredibly irritating.
For me, though, the book tried too hard to be in the mould of a Sophie Kinsella novel. It tried to be funny, it tried to make Angela a likeable heroine but for me it failed on all accounts.It’s so light I’m surprised it’s not suspended in mid-air. Don’t get me wrong, I like a light-hearted read as much as the next person but the least I expect from such a light-hearted read is for it to make me laugh. This did not and I found it a hugely disappointing read. I have I Heart Hollywood to read, the sequel to I Heart New York, so we’ll see if it gets any better.
I hadn’t really heard of I Heart New York until a while ago so when I saw it on a market stall I thought it sounded fantastic and decided to buy it. I read some reviews, some good, some bad and finally decided to give it a read myself. I wanted to enjoy it so so much as I love books set in New York but I just found I Heart New York a major disappointment. I read a lot of books set in New York – I wish people would set their books in other American states, there are 50 of them after all! – so I expect a pretty high standard when reading about the fantastic city that is New York. I’ve never been to New York so I want the book to transport me there. I Heart New York failed miserably.
My main problem with the book is that there’s essentially no plot. It’s plotless. Nothing of major importance happens in the book to set up an exciting and readable ending and I found myself fed up after 60-odd pages. I perservered to see if it got any better and it just didn’t. My next problem with the book is just how easily everything slipped into place for Angela. I’m willing to let some things slide when reading chick lit books but even for me, this was totally and utterly unbelieveable. I can take the fact Angela and Jenny became friends so quickly but I can’t take the fact she managed to blag herself multiple dates within two days of being in New York nor the fact she just so happened to land a job blogging about her life. It was all very convenient and I was waiting for something to come along and unsettle Angela’s now-perfect world but nothing ever did and the book just kind of tailed off.
Yet the book started so well, with Angela finding her boyfriend Mark cheating on her at her best friend’s wedding. I thought that the opening two chapters were hilarious, but it all seemingly went down hill from there. The blurb on the back makes it sound as if Angela jumped onto a plane to New York wearing her bridesmaids dress but that wasn’t the case. As far as I’m concerned that would have been a fantastic thing to include because everyone seeing her at the airport wearing a bridesmaids dress, clutching a pair of expensive shoes, would be thinking “What on Earth’s going on?”. As it is, the book misses out any kind of airport scene and after Angela tells her mother she’s leaving we skip to her arrival in NYC. After Angela’s arrival in NYC, everything then falls into place and she (seemingly) has the perfect life and that’s pretty much all that happens.
I can’t say I particularly cared for Angela throughout the book because her life all fell into place perfectly and still she complained. It’s very hard to be sympathetic towards someone who two/three days after breaking up with her boyfriend of 10 years, is then dating two other men. She spent the first day in tears after the break up but after that she was fine. It was very peculiar. Regardless of how much Angela and Mark’s relationship had deteriorated over the years, I still expected Angela to feel a bit more heartbroken after the break up of a 10 year relationship, not to mention the fact it was her first proper relationship. Another thing that irritated me about Angela was the fact that she was dating two guys – and blogging about it – but when one of the guys told her he was dating people other than her, she went completely off on one. Pot. Kettle. Black. That’s pretty much Angela in a nutshell: immensely self-absorbed. My favourite character was Jenny, whom Angela befriends during her first hour in New York. She was a fantastic character and I absolutely loved her. However even Jenny irritated me, the way she worshipped Angela – constantly calling Angela “heroic” for running away after finding her boyfriend cheating on her – was beyond irritating, but apart from that, she was hugely enjoyable. I’d love to see her in a book just about her. Of the two men Angela dates, Tyler and Alex, Alex was my favourite. I always thought Tyler seemed blase about the whole thing and I didn’t particularly like him. All of the characters, bar Jenny, though were all one-dimensional and quite cliched though: the Brit in America, the hotshot banker, the rock star…
Kelk’s writing is nothing spectacular and I hated the way, as I mentioned above, that Angela was treated like some sort of heroine for fleeing the country and coming to New York. I would actually call it cowardice, but that’s just me. Kelk’s writing made Angela seem pretty childish I think, too, not just because she chose to fly rather than fight but because, considering she was supposed to be 26, she still had no idea what she was doing with her life. I didn’t expect Angela to have it all mapped out, but all she seemed to do before getting her job, was spend money whilst having no viable income. I also found myself getting irritated with the fact she kept calling the men “boys” as it made her sound like a teenager. The book also had a few editing errors (on the first page Angela is “peaking” rather than “peeking” as well as “thing” rather than “think”) which drives me insane – books are proofread so many times you would think they’d pick up on an error so small. It may be a childish thing to pick up on but it’s just incredibly irritating.
For me, though, the book tried too hard to be in the mould of a Sophie Kinsella novel. It tried to be funny, it tried to make Angela a likeable heroine but for me it failed on all accounts.It’s so light I’m surprised it’s not suspended in mid-air. Don’t get me wrong, I like a light-hearted read as much as the next person but the least I expect from such a light-hearted read is for it to make me laugh. This did not and I found it a hugely disappointing read. I have I Heart Hollywood to read, the sequel to I Heart New York, so we’ll see if it gets any better.
September 28, 2020
Short review because I'm super tired. I had no idea who Lindsey Kelk was until I saw Shelby Taggart talk about her books on her channel (thank you Shelby!). I bought the first in the series because it was on sale at bookdepository, just to give it a try. The blurb said it was perfect for Sophie Kinsella's fans. It is right, I think that if you enjoy Sophie's books you'll like Lindsey's writing style. They're both British, share a similar witty sense of humor and sarcasm in their books. Based only on this title, I should say that for me, Sophie Kinsella is better when comes to developing story lines. But I don't want to judge much since this is my first Kelk book. I've already ordered the next in the series "I Heart". It is a light romcom, funny, short, fast paced read. It isn't steamy on page. The characters have sex, Angela says some things about the encounters, but it's all very PG-13. I don't mind that at all. I enjoy PG-13 and steamy, what I hate is bad writing either way. After the flop that was "99% mine", this was a nice surprise that put me out of my reading slump. I recommend at least this first one in the series for what it is, get it on sale, or borrow, don't spend much. And now I'm ready to jump into the pool with Vengeful and then The Simple Wild, those are my next picks...
August 5, 2010
well.
didn't enjoy this. at all. so full of stereotypes of what women "want" and are engrossed by apparently. shopping (the right brands obviously), drinking alcohol to have fun, drinking coffee (of course from the right coffee shop) and finding a mate. but then, what did i expect, it came in a magazine with the exact same content.
the two things that annoyed me most were the constant brand name dropping and the fact that alcohol featured so much - in fact every time the characters went somewhere and did something - oh except that once when it was a chocolate drink, which all women of course adore because chocolate, shopping and ice cream are the pinnacles of women civilisation.
let's end then with a fitting quote for my above rant.
"i couldn't call jenny, she was having her big romantic evening with jeff. i thought about ringing erin or vanessa, but i didn't really feel close enough to them. instead i did what any confused, angry girl would do when the shops were closed. i opened another bottle of wine, i took the entire chocolate cheesecake out of the fridge, and i sat down in front of the tv. sod the diet and pray this season will favour the smock [...:]."
didn't enjoy this. at all. so full of stereotypes of what women "want" and are engrossed by apparently. shopping (the right brands obviously), drinking alcohol to have fun, drinking coffee (of course from the right coffee shop) and finding a mate. but then, what did i expect, it came in a magazine with the exact same content.
the two things that annoyed me most were the constant brand name dropping and the fact that alcohol featured so much - in fact every time the characters went somewhere and did something - oh except that once when it was a chocolate drink, which all women of course adore because chocolate, shopping and ice cream are the pinnacles of women civilisation.
let's end then with a fitting quote for my above rant.
"i couldn't call jenny, she was having her big romantic evening with jeff. i thought about ringing erin or vanessa, but i didn't really feel close enough to them. instead i did what any confused, angry girl would do when the shops were closed. i opened another bottle of wine, i took the entire chocolate cheesecake out of the fridge, and i sat down in front of the tv. sod the diet and pray this season will favour the smock [...:]."
August 4, 2016
Вооот, чего мне не хватало этой осенью! Мотивирующего современного романа!
Скажу сразу, что мне по настроению эта книга напомнила роман Софи Кинселлы "У меня есть твой номер". По настрою и подаче прямо точное попадание!
Мне хотелось отдохнуть от конкретно таких книг, зацикленных на отношениях главных героев. И тут мне на глаза попалась эта книга. Практически случайно. Что хочется сказать сразу? Интересно, дерзко, забавно, современно, красиво. Начну по порядку.
Энджел - британка. История начинается со свадьбы ее лучшей подруги, на которой она случайным образом натыкается на своего жениха в машине. Жениха в машине, трахающего другую женщину. Энджел в ярости и шоке оттого, что отдала этому изменнику 10 лет своей жизни, устраивает небольшой скандал, тем самым немного испортив свадьбу, удирает и сматывается в другую страну. В США. В Нью-Йорк. Схватив все самое необходимое, она оказывается в отеле NYC, где обретает новых друзей, да и вообще лучшую подругу. Энджи не хочет пока встречаться с мужчинами, но в первый же вечер с ней знакомится очаровательный банкир Тайлер, а через день - рок-звезда Алекс.
Итак.
Тайлер. Очаровательный, галантный, богатый, нежный, ласковый и заботливый Тайлер. Казалось бы, что еще нужно девушке, чье сердце разбито? Ах, да, еще и в постели прекрасен. Ну вот. Одаривает ее дорогими подарками, водит по дорогим ресторанам, обращается с ней как с принцессой. С виду идеальный мужчина. Я всю книгу ждала подвоха и пыталась найти в нем какую-то отвратительную черту, которая перечеркнула бы все его остальные достоинства.
Алекс. Милый, удивительный, нежный, талантливый, переживший тяжелый разрыв, предпочитающий горячий шоколад, читает книги и слушает хорошую музыку. Вокалист известной нью-йоркской рок-группы. Мне показалось сразу, что Алекс Энджи понравился даже больше. Потому что с ним она чувствовала себя живой, он совершал романтические поступки, был живым. А Тайлер словно жил по шаблонам.
В итоге героине предлагают писать для интернет-блога модного журнала, она соглашается, и ее колонка именуется приключениями Энджел в Нью-Йорке, где она описывает свои впечатления, а также свои отношения. Ведь она одновременно встречается с двумя парнями, и оба они ей нравятся. Причем редактору журнала явно больше нравится Тайлер, как и всему женскому населению Нью-Йорка, по ее словам. Энджи не хочет встречаться с обоими, но в то же время не может выбрать кого-то одного. Слишком много мыслей и терзаний для человека, который только две недели назад пережил ужасный разрыв.
Кстати, впервые я нормально отнеслась к тому, что девушка встречается с двумя парнями. Здесь не было измены, потому что героиня что того, что другого знала всего немного, да и вообще изначально просто хотела развлечься, а получилось, что увязла в это с головой. Так что к героине не было никакого отвращения. Еще меня радовала привычка героини все выворачивать наизнанку и переиначивать любые действия или слова (это я люблю делать сама :D):
Но я хочу сказать вот о чем: неважно в книге, кого она выберет, или как выкрутится. Узнают ли мужчины, что она встречается одновременно с двумя, или нет. Главное, что нам показали девушку необычайно смелую. Героиню с большой буквы. Она бросила все, уехала, чтобы начать новую жизнь в другом городе. Чтобы найти новую себя, понять, что ее прежние отношения сдерживали ее, не давали ей самореализовываться. Да, она сменила прическу, одежду, макияж. Но она и внутри поменялась, город ее полностью изменил. Нам показали действительно сильного человека, вдохновляющего на разного рода действия. Хороший персонаж, смелые поступки.
Отличный, легкий, современный роман. Потрясающие описания Нью-Йорка (дай боже, я там когда-нибудь окажусь!), отличные эмоции, незамысловатый сюжет, но пропитанный нашими реалиями. Пятерка за хорошо проведенное время с книгой, за улыбку на моем лице, за приятные эмоции. Рекомендую! Обязательно буду читать про приключения Энджел и дальше.
Саундтрек: Snow Patrol – New York
Скажу сразу, что мне по настроению эта книга напомнила роман Софи Кинселлы "У меня есть твой номер". По настрою и подаче прямо точное попадание!
Мне хотелось отдохнуть от конкретно таких книг, зацикленных на отношениях главных героев. И тут мне на глаза попалась эта книга. Практически случайно. Что хочется сказать сразу? Интересно, дерзко, забавно, современно, красиво. Начну по порядку.
Я подошла к окну. Прямо на меня смотрел грандиозный и весьма знакомый символ нормальной жизни. Старбакс.
Энджел - британка. История начинается со свадьбы ее лучшей подруги, на которой она случайным образом натыкается на своего жениха в машине. Жениха в машине, трахающего другую женщину. Энджел в ярости и шоке оттого, что отдала этому изменнику 10 лет своей жизни, устраивает небольшой скандал, тем самым немного испортив свадьбу, удирает и сматывается в другую страну. В США. В Нью-Йорк. Схватив все самое необходимое, она оказывается в отеле NYC, где обретает новых друзей, да и вообще лучшую подругу. Энджи не хочет пока встречаться с мужчинами, но в первый же вечер с ней знакомится очаровательный банкир Тайлер, а через день - рок-звезда Алекс.
Сейчас кофе пришелся бы как нельзя кстати. Кофе или самбука.
Итак.
Тайлер. Очаровательный, галантный, богатый, нежный, ласковый и заботливый Тайлер. Казалось бы, что еще нужно девушке, чье сердце разбито? Ах, да, еще и в постели прекрасен. Ну вот. Одаривает ее дорогими подарками, водит по дорогим ресторанам, обращается с ней как с принцессой. С виду идеальный мужчина. Я всю книгу ждала подвоха и пыталась найти в нем какую-то отвратительную черту, которая перечеркнула бы все его остальные достоинства.
- О, у тебя есть новый альбом "Стиллз"! Я слышал, они не так уж плохи.
- Я была на их концерте! Видела их в Лондоне. И они здорово выступали. Но на самом деле мне больше нравится первый альбом.
- Всегда полезно услышать честный отзыв. - Он протянул мне руку. - Алекс Рейд.
- Ты ведь играешь в "Стиллз", да?
- Точно.
- И ты нашел в моем айподе Джастина Тимберлейка.
- И Бон Джови.
Алекс. Милый, удивительный, нежный, талантливый, переживший тяжелый разрыв, предпочитающий горячий шоколад, читает книги и слушает хорошую музыку. Вокалист известной нью-йоркской рок-группы. Мне показалось сразу, что Алекс Энджи понравился даже больше. Потому что с ним она чувствовала себя живой, он совершал романтические поступки, был живым. А Тайлер словно жил по шаблонам.
В итоге героине предлагают писать для интернет-блога модного журнала, она соглашается, и ее колонка именуется приключениями Энджел в Нью-Йорке, где она описывает свои впечатления, а также свои отношения. Ведь она одновременно встречается с двумя парнями, и оба они ей нравятся. Причем редактору журнала явно больше нравится Тайлер, как и всему женскому населению Нью-Йорка, по ее словам. Энджи не хочет встречаться с обоими, но в то же время не может выбрать кого-то одного. Слишком много мыслей и терзаний для человека, который только две недели назад пережил ужасный разрыв.
Кстати, впервые я нормально отнеслась к тому, что девушка встречается с двумя парнями. Здесь не было измены, потому что героиня что того, что другого знала всего немного, да и вообще изначально просто хотела развлечься, а получилось, что увязла в это с головой. Так что к героине не было никакого отвращения. Еще меня радовала привычка героини все выворачивать наизнанку и переиначивать любые действия или слова (это я люблю делать сама :D):
- По сравнению с Джеффом я просто офигенный повар!
- Правда? - Он откинулся на спинку дивана и посмотрел на меня. - Хотя да, держу пари, что это так.
- Что ты хочешь этим сказать?
Может, это такой нью-йоркский способ сообщить мне, что я жирная как свинья?
Но я хочу сказать вот о чем: неважно в книге, кого она выберет, или как выкрутится. Узнают ли мужчины, что она встречается одновременно с двумя, или нет. Главное, что нам показали девушку необычайно смелую. Героиню с большой буквы. Она бросила все, уехала, чтобы начать новую жизнь в другом городе. Чтобы найти новую себя, понять, что ее прежние отношения сдерживали ее, не давали ей самореализовываться. Да, она сменила прическу, одежду, макияж. Но она и внутри поменялась, город ее полностью изменил. Нам показали действительно сильного человека, вдохновляющего на разного рода действия. Хороший персонаж, смелые поступки.
Отличный, легкий, современный роман. Потрясающие описания Нью-Йорка (дай боже, я там когда-нибудь окажусь!), отличные эмоции, незамысловатый сюжет, но пропитанный нашими реалиями. Пятерка за хорошо проведенное время с книгой, за улыбку на моем лице, за приятные эмоции. Рекомендую! Обязательно буду читать про приключения Энджел и дальше.
- А как же девиз "Живи одним днем"?
- Жить одним днем не так весело, если та, что делает этот день прекрасным, может сбежать на другой континент через пару недель.
Саундтрек: Snow Patrol – New York
December 31, 2014
Angela is 26 and maid of honor at her best friend's wedding, when, dressed in a horrible coffee-coloured fish-tail bridesmaid dress, and clutching a pair of Louboutins in her hand, she finds her fiance having sex with another girl in the back of their car.
After screaming at him she discovers that he has been seeing this girl for months, and that her best friend and her new husband have been playing doubles tennis with them!
Storming back into the wedding she screams at the bride, and fractures the grooms comforting hand with said beautiful shoes, before heading up to her room to cry into her pillow all night.
The next morning she decides that she's had enough. She doesn't want to think about moving out of their house, she doesn't want to divide the cd collection, she's wants a break, so grabbing her passport and laptop she catches the first available flight to an english-speaking country, and arrives in... you guessed it - New York.
Checking herself into a hotel she realises what a horrible mistake she's made - this isn't being strong, this is running away, and she resolves to catch the first flight back home. Then Jenny arrives at her door - the hotel concierge, who having heard Angels's story has bought her some comfort food in the shape of chocolate cookies, hot chocolate and sugary cereal.
The next day Jenny takes her under her wing and Angela gets a fab new hairdo, a fab new make-over, and an expensive and stylish new wardrobe, before they hit the town for the night.
Thus begins the start of something new and wonderful for Angela - she meets two great men who she falls in love with instantly, gets a job writting an online blog for a fashion magazine, moves in with Jenny, and buys the most beautiful bag she's ever seen. The only thing is, is she ever going to go home?
As time moves on Angela falls more and more in love with New York, but knows that she will have to make some decisions soon - Which man does she want to stick with - the wall street banker, or the rock star? and where does she want to stay - New York or London?
This book is a really fun, girly read, and certainly something to pack in your suitcase if you're going on holiday! Dieters and chocoholics beware though - you may find the description of chocolate cookies, hot chocolate, chocolate truffles and chocolate cheesecake a little hard to resist!
Great chick-lit read.
After screaming at him she discovers that he has been seeing this girl for months, and that her best friend and her new husband have been playing doubles tennis with them!
Storming back into the wedding she screams at the bride, and fractures the grooms comforting hand with said beautiful shoes, before heading up to her room to cry into her pillow all night.
The next morning she decides that she's had enough. She doesn't want to think about moving out of their house, she doesn't want to divide the cd collection, she's wants a break, so grabbing her passport and laptop she catches the first available flight to an english-speaking country, and arrives in... you guessed it - New York.
Checking herself into a hotel she realises what a horrible mistake she's made - this isn't being strong, this is running away, and she resolves to catch the first flight back home. Then Jenny arrives at her door - the hotel concierge, who having heard Angels's story has bought her some comfort food in the shape of chocolate cookies, hot chocolate and sugary cereal.
The next day Jenny takes her under her wing and Angela gets a fab new hairdo, a fab new make-over, and an expensive and stylish new wardrobe, before they hit the town for the night.
Thus begins the start of something new and wonderful for Angela - she meets two great men who she falls in love with instantly, gets a job writting an online blog for a fashion magazine, moves in with Jenny, and buys the most beautiful bag she's ever seen. The only thing is, is she ever going to go home?
As time moves on Angela falls more and more in love with New York, but knows that she will have to make some decisions soon - Which man does she want to stick with - the wall street banker, or the rock star? and where does she want to stay - New York or London?
This book is a really fun, girly read, and certainly something to pack in your suitcase if you're going on holiday! Dieters and chocoholics beware though - you may find the description of chocolate cookies, hot chocolate, chocolate truffles and chocolate cheesecake a little hard to resist!
Great chick-lit read.
February 3, 2018
Het heeft even geduurd (lees: 2 maanden), maar ik heb eindelijk dit boek uit! Waarom het zo lang duurde voordat ik het uit had, was omdat ik het zo'n cliché verhaal was. Daten met twee mannen tegelijk en er over bloggen, dat kan toch nooit goed gaan. Het is alleen wachten op het moment dat het fout gaat. Uiteindelijk heb ik wel doorgezet, omdat ik het zo onwijs leuk vond om te lezen over New York (en omdat ik een zwak had voor Tyler ). Ergens tegen het einde van het boek kwam ik erachter dat dit geen cliché verhaal was en dat maakte het voor mij des te leuker om verder te lezen! Het einde was totaal niet wat ik er van had verwacht en daarom drie sterren, ik ben zelfs benieuwd naar het volgende deel!
April 6, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. For a chick-lit, it was pretty hard to put down. The characters were likable and the story was fun. It just happens that all the chick-lits i have read so far have been written by british authors about British characters. This is the same but most of the story takes place in New York so it was a neat surprise to be familiar with the environment. I want to check out some more titles from this author.
September 5, 2016
Nakon što na vjenčanju najbolje prijateljice uhvati dugogodišnjeg zaručnika sa drugom djevojkom, pa se još ispostavi da su to znali skoro svi osim nje, Angela iz Londona bježi u New York kako bi probala izliječiti slomljeno srce. Lik Angele je super, ali je lik Jenny, djevojke koju tamo upoznaje i sa kojom prolazi kroz raznorazne avanture, prilično iritantan i meni lično nesimpatičan.
Radujem se idućem nastavku i njenim avanturama u Hollywoodu! :)
Radujem se idućem nastavku i njenim avanturama u Hollywoodu! :)
August 10, 2022
As someone with a decent knowledge of UK-US VISAs, this book grated on my patience a little. But it was published just after a transition period to how they work so I couldn’t be too mad.
Overall, an easy, quick read. But, the writing literally said “Eeep.”
Overall, an easy, quick read. But, the writing literally said “Eeep.”
February 28, 2017
Release Date: June 25, 2009
Genre: Chick Lit
I love Lindey Kelk's books so much! They have just the right amount of humor, fun, and romance to make all chick lit lovers smile! In this book, I Heart New York, readers are taken on a journey with Angela as she runs away from her home town of London to start over after catching her fiance cheating at her best friends wedding. But, what should have been a time of crying an eating her way through Ben and Jerry's in order to get over said breakup, Angela finds herself living the life she always wanted. Two boys to date? Check. A new best friend? Check. A whole new wardrobe AND fabulous purse from Marc Jacobs? Double check. Follow Angela on her journey post breakup in this fantastic novel about starting over and living again. You won't regret it, I know I don't!
The heroine of this story (and series - it plays out through a number of books SQUEE) is Angela (as mentioned above) and is a girl that anyone could find themselves easily connected with. She is down to earth (albeit a little naive in the beginning) and a total sweetheart. Had she been a real person, I know I would wish her to be my own best friend.
The plot of the story is so much fun! It involves dating, and finding a lot of joy out of life when you didn't think there would be any. I absolutely adored being on the journey with Angela and can't wait to see where she goes next! If you haven't had the chance to visit New York city (I love that city!) you will FEEL like you are there with Angela. The author does a wonderful job describing the shops, the attractions, and all the delicious restaurants that make you drool all over yourself.
With that being said, this is a true CHICK LIT novel, and frankly, one of the best ones I have read in quite a while. Sure it was published in 2009, but it is worth the read even if you are one of those who only reads the newer releases. The good news is though that the sixth book in this series (I Heart Forever) is releasing this year! So I vow to read this entire series so I can get my hands on that one as soon as it releases!
Fans of chick lit novels and those who enjoy a fun, lighthearted read without all the drama will certainly love this book! I highly recommend it. And, I recommend many of the authors other novels including Always the Bridesmaid and We Were On a Break
PS: If you enjoy the Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella this would be the perfect series for you! It reminded me of Kinsella's novels without all the debt :D
Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Chick Lit
I love Lindey Kelk's books so much! They have just the right amount of humor, fun, and romance to make all chick lit lovers smile! In this book, I Heart New York, readers are taken on a journey with Angela as she runs away from her home town of London to start over after catching her fiance cheating at her best friends wedding. But, what should have been a time of crying an eating her way through Ben and Jerry's in order to get over said breakup, Angela finds herself living the life she always wanted. Two boys to date? Check. A new best friend? Check. A whole new wardrobe AND fabulous purse from Marc Jacobs? Double check. Follow Angela on her journey post breakup in this fantastic novel about starting over and living again. You won't regret it, I know I don't!
The heroine of this story (and series - it plays out through a number of books SQUEE) is Angela (as mentioned above) and is a girl that anyone could find themselves easily connected with. She is down to earth (albeit a little naive in the beginning) and a total sweetheart. Had she been a real person, I know I would wish her to be my own best friend.
The plot of the story is so much fun! It involves dating, and finding a lot of joy out of life when you didn't think there would be any. I absolutely adored being on the journey with Angela and can't wait to see where she goes next! If you haven't had the chance to visit New York city (I love that city!) you will FEEL like you are there with Angela. The author does a wonderful job describing the shops, the attractions, and all the delicious restaurants that make you drool all over yourself.
With that being said, this is a true CHICK LIT novel, and frankly, one of the best ones I have read in quite a while. Sure it was published in 2009, but it is worth the read even if you are one of those who only reads the newer releases. The good news is though that the sixth book in this series (I Heart Forever) is releasing this year! So I vow to read this entire series so I can get my hands on that one as soon as it releases!
Fans of chick lit novels and those who enjoy a fun, lighthearted read without all the drama will certainly love this book! I highly recommend it. And, I recommend many of the authors other novels including Always the Bridesmaid and We Were On a Break
PS: If you enjoy the Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella this would be the perfect series for you! It reminded me of Kinsella's novels without all the debt :D
Rating: 5 stars
November 7, 2018
Takže si to shrňme. Hlavní hrdinku podvádí její snoubenec, ona ho přistihne při činu na svatbě na zadním sedadle jejich auta, protože navzdory tomu, že se to děje delší dobu, ten idiot neumí ani zapadnout na hotel. Co hlavní hrdinka udělá? Odletí do New Yorku. S tím bych se smířila, prdlé komedie mám ráda, jenže ta blbka utratí 350 doláčů za noc na prvním hotelu, který před ni spadne, random potká svoji novou nejlepší kamarádku v recepční, která jí doveze pyžamko, palačinky, sušenky a šitíčko, protože sama ví, jak šeredný rozchod může být a samozřejmě naši hlavní hrdinku vidí jako opravdovou hrdinku, protože... proč vlastně?
Anyway, s čím se nedokážu smířit, je, že ta samá hrdinka se vyspí s jedním chlapem a hned nato volá druhému chlapovi, kdy se zase sejdou, protože měli fajn schůzku. Ani ne týden po rozchodu, kdy poznala, jak je sakra hnusné, když ji někdo podvádí. Nechápu, jaký druh mrchy tohle dokáže považovat za ospravedlnitelné.
Měla jsem dát na Vendeu a přečíst si Heartless. Tohle je karma za to, že škemrám o tipy na čtení a pak se jimi neřídím.
Anyway, s čím se nedokážu smířit, je, že ta samá hrdinka se vyspí s jedním chlapem a hned nato volá druhému chlapovi, kdy se zase sejdou, protože měli fajn schůzku. Ani ne týden po rozchodu, kdy poznala, jak je sakra hnusné, když ji někdo podvádí. Nechápu, jaký druh mrchy tohle dokáže považovat za ospravedlnitelné.
Měla jsem dát na Vendeu a přečíst si Heartless. Tohle je karma za to, že škemrám o tipy na čtení a pak se jimi neřídím.
March 23, 2020
2.5 stars
I was recommend this book and series by so many friends and so was excited to read it. Sadly what I got was a cliche filled, shallow, SATC copycat.
I'm all about beung connected to a character and sadly I didn't get that with Angela. She was shallow, overly dramatic and quite selfish. She didn't have a job and yet spent thousands of dollars on designer bags, clothing and mac make up? It just wasn't realistic.
I also found the constant bashing of other women to be quite odd. The words slut and slag were used too many times. I wanted so much more depth but what I got was her worrying about dating with 2 guys at once and then sleeping with them both in the same day?? It was odd and not in tune with what I thought her character was. Zero judgement if that is what she wanted to do but it didn't seem she was happy with her choices yet continued to do them.
I have heard the books get better with the series so I may give the next book a go and see how it is. Sadly though, this was a let down.
I was recommend this book and series by so many friends and so was excited to read it. Sadly what I got was a cliche filled, shallow, SATC copycat.
I'm all about beung connected to a character and sadly I didn't get that with Angela. She was shallow, overly dramatic and quite selfish. She didn't have a job and yet spent thousands of dollars on designer bags, clothing and mac make up? It just wasn't realistic.
I also found the constant bashing of other women to be quite odd. The words slut and slag were used too many times. I wanted so much more depth but what I got was her worrying about dating with 2 guys at once and then sleeping with them both in the same day?? It was odd and not in tune with what I thought her character was. Zero judgement if that is what she wanted to do but it didn't seem she was happy with her choices yet continued to do them.
I have heard the books get better with the series so I may give the next book a go and see how it is. Sadly though, this was a let down.
August 19, 2018
This was a really nice light hearted story.
It was very enjoyable - slightly predictable, but all round sweet.
I was rooting for Alex from the very beginning. What can I say? I'm also a sucker for a boy in a band, with skinny jeans and messy hair.
I think I'll need to read I Heart Paris during the summer :)
RE READ IN 2018!
It was very enjoyable - slightly predictable, but all round sweet.
I was rooting for Alex from the very beginning. What can I say? I'm also a sucker for a boy in a band, with skinny jeans and messy hair.
I think I'll need to read I Heart Paris during the summer :)
RE READ IN 2018!
September 15, 2018
3.5 stars. Such a fun book!
June 20, 2018
Amazing and funny keeps you wanting to read more and you don’t want to put it down once you start reading it xx
July 18, 2012
Originally Reviewed at Novel Escapes
What fabulous and fun chick lit! I whipped through I Heart New York, finding it full of laughs and connected with Angela’s character and enjoyed following her as she tried to figure herself out.
I Heart New York was such a fun read. I laughed out loud and was fully immersed into Angela’s life. She felt real to me. She had wasn't too ditzy, she had aspirations and I felt her love for the city shine through, along with her confusion about how she ended up there in the first place. I loved the descriptions of the city which made me want to pick up and move there myself. This story moved along at a brisk pace and I couldn’t wait to see where she would end up.
The sequel, I Heart Hollywood, was in my reading pile and I had to pick it up immediately to see where Angela’s adventures would take her and the next book in the series, I Heart Paris is out in July and I’m sure I won’t be able to keep my hands off it either. If you loved The Shopaholic series and Sex in the City, you’ll love this wonderful chick lit tale of finding yourself all over again.
What fabulous and fun chick lit! I whipped through I Heart New York, finding it full of laughs and connected with Angela’s character and enjoyed following her as she tried to figure herself out.
I Heart New York was such a fun read. I laughed out loud and was fully immersed into Angela’s life. She felt real to me. She had wasn't too ditzy, she had aspirations and I felt her love for the city shine through, along with her confusion about how she ended up there in the first place. I loved the descriptions of the city which made me want to pick up and move there myself. This story moved along at a brisk pace and I couldn’t wait to see where she would end up.
The sequel, I Heart Hollywood, was in my reading pile and I had to pick it up immediately to see where Angela’s adventures would take her and the next book in the series, I Heart Paris is out in July and I’m sure I won’t be able to keep my hands off it either. If you loved The Shopaholic series and Sex in the City, you’ll love this wonderful chick lit tale of finding yourself all over again.
June 2, 2013
Fun chick lit, read while I was in NY as it is set there. It's a good story, a definite page turner. I have liked it enough to purchase the next book in the series.
December 5, 2009
At her best friend’s wedding, Angela walks in on her long-term boyfriend Mark cheating on her with someone on the back seat of their car. Nice. So she does what any self-respecting woman would do – flees… not just the wedding, but the country as well! Angela ends up in New York City with no friends, no money and no job.
But she soon makes friend with hotel receptionist Jenny and she’s determined to put a smile back on Angela’s face. Cue a LOT of spending in Bloomingdale’s, getting drunk and meeting a couple of hunks along the way too. Angela also lands her dream job of being a writer – it seems everything is going right for her at last. But despite blogging her romance ups and downs, can Angela figure out which man is right for her? Does she heart NYC more than home?
I heard about this book quite a while before I got to actually read a copy, so by the time my library had it in for me, I was quite excited to finally read it and see if it lived up to the hype. It’s bright and colourful cover screams out “chick lit” from the shelf, and plot sounds perfect for me too – exactly the sort of thing I really enjoy reading. I’ve been lucky to enough to visit New York (April 05 and December 05), and I still want to go back! I hoped this book would bring back some memories for me, and it definitely did that!
The book opens with a hilarious scene, and I hoped this was a sign of the rest of the book to come as well. It had me really laughing out loud, and I immediately loved the character of Angela, she seemed so normal and likeable, you couldn’t help but feel sorry for her being cheated on by love-rat Mark! Luckily for us, this is pretty much all we see of the awful Mark, so thank goodness for that. He’s one of those awful male characters you can hate with a passion but then, that’s the point of him isn’t it?! The other characters were well written as well, I really liked Jenny who despite her calm exterior is really a bit bonkers, Tyler the super-suave businessman was a bit too smooth for me and rock-God Alex who wasn’t my cup of tea but still felt like real people and the relationships between them all were so well done by Kelk.
As Angela runs off to New York, this is where the book starts to become slightly unbelievable, and although that isn’t some people’s thing, I actually don’t mind it in a book because I sort of expect everything to be better than it would be in real life! Yes, meeting Jenny and becoming best friends really quickly is unlikely, and yes, meeting 2 gorgeous men and dating both straight away is also unlikely, but it makes for great reading! Angela isn’t sure of anything and the reader can feel her apprehension about the situation yet I still loved it. It made Angela feel normal, and the unlikeliness of the situation yet normality of the lead character made it that bit funnier for me.
For anyone who has been to New York City, this book will definitely reignite some memories for you. Kelk writes in great detail about the glorious lights of Times Square, the breath-taking views atop the Empire State Building and the bitter cold as well! I could totally see in my mind where Kelk was writing about for the most part, and I loved reading about the bits I didn’t get to see when I was there as well. In terms of location research, Kelk has clearly done hers meaning its a great read for both visitors and non-visitors of NYC, although it will make you want to go back there!
If you like your chick-lit fun, readable and funny, then definitely pick up a copy of I Heart New York! With a great cast of characters, a great location and a brilliant (if idealistic!) storyline, its the perfect summer read, and one I will definitely re-read if I ever make it back to the Big Apple! Also, for those of us who love Angela, fear not – its not the last we’ve seen of her! Kelk has another 2 novels following Angela due out soon, I Heart Hollywood (late 2009) and I Heart Paris (2010) so I can’t wait for those! A full 5 stars from me, a really great book.
But she soon makes friend with hotel receptionist Jenny and she’s determined to put a smile back on Angela’s face. Cue a LOT of spending in Bloomingdale’s, getting drunk and meeting a couple of hunks along the way too. Angela also lands her dream job of being a writer – it seems everything is going right for her at last. But despite blogging her romance ups and downs, can Angela figure out which man is right for her? Does she heart NYC more than home?
I heard about this book quite a while before I got to actually read a copy, so by the time my library had it in for me, I was quite excited to finally read it and see if it lived up to the hype. It’s bright and colourful cover screams out “chick lit” from the shelf, and plot sounds perfect for me too – exactly the sort of thing I really enjoy reading. I’ve been lucky to enough to visit New York (April 05 and December 05), and I still want to go back! I hoped this book would bring back some memories for me, and it definitely did that!
The book opens with a hilarious scene, and I hoped this was a sign of the rest of the book to come as well. It had me really laughing out loud, and I immediately loved the character of Angela, she seemed so normal and likeable, you couldn’t help but feel sorry for her being cheated on by love-rat Mark! Luckily for us, this is pretty much all we see of the awful Mark, so thank goodness for that. He’s one of those awful male characters you can hate with a passion but then, that’s the point of him isn’t it?! The other characters were well written as well, I really liked Jenny who despite her calm exterior is really a bit bonkers, Tyler the super-suave businessman was a bit too smooth for me and rock-God Alex who wasn’t my cup of tea but still felt like real people and the relationships between them all were so well done by Kelk.
As Angela runs off to New York, this is where the book starts to become slightly unbelievable, and although that isn’t some people’s thing, I actually don’t mind it in a book because I sort of expect everything to be better than it would be in real life! Yes, meeting Jenny and becoming best friends really quickly is unlikely, and yes, meeting 2 gorgeous men and dating both straight away is also unlikely, but it makes for great reading! Angela isn’t sure of anything and the reader can feel her apprehension about the situation yet I still loved it. It made Angela feel normal, and the unlikeliness of the situation yet normality of the lead character made it that bit funnier for me.
For anyone who has been to New York City, this book will definitely reignite some memories for you. Kelk writes in great detail about the glorious lights of Times Square, the breath-taking views atop the Empire State Building and the bitter cold as well! I could totally see in my mind where Kelk was writing about for the most part, and I loved reading about the bits I didn’t get to see when I was there as well. In terms of location research, Kelk has clearly done hers meaning its a great read for both visitors and non-visitors of NYC, although it will make you want to go back there!
If you like your chick-lit fun, readable and funny, then definitely pick up a copy of I Heart New York! With a great cast of characters, a great location and a brilliant (if idealistic!) storyline, its the perfect summer read, and one I will definitely re-read if I ever make it back to the Big Apple! Also, for those of us who love Angela, fear not – its not the last we’ve seen of her! Kelk has another 2 novels following Angela due out soon, I Heart Hollywood (late 2009) and I Heart Paris (2010) so I can’t wait for those! A full 5 stars from me, a really great book.
February 11, 2021
This story reminded me of the film, "How to lose a guy in 10 days", as well as TV show, "Sex and The City", and a hint of the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. And what the book, "Sex and the City and Us" should've been.
We enter New York with a backpacking, traveling kind of vibe. Although she's not staying in the dingiest of places, she ends up befriending strangers easily. As someone who's travelled alone before, this is believable. It is surprising but true how this happens on the road. The law of attraction is definitely on your side, when it comes to meeting people. This luck was true for Angela. Not just for meeting handsome men, but also for her career.
Angela feels like Carrie from "Sex and the City", but from England instead New York. This chick-lit has all the British wit and humour you would expect. In this book, Angela's new editor feels like Andie Anderson's editor from, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 days". Narrator, Cassandra Harwood does an excellent job with the accents, from my perspective anyway.
I thought she would meet more men, but I enjoyed the dilemna she had. The characters she meets feel different than anything else, making the story unique.
It felt relatable, in the sense that I lived out a crazy single life in my mid-20's too, but in London, instead of New York. Going off to gigs with friends, catching the nightlife and dancing the night away. Every event, gig, and dinner date felt different, and Lindsey Kelk manages to captures this beautifully.
My only complaint is that I wanted more! Luckily there's a whole book series to look forward to!
Luckily I ended up listening to Lindsey Kelk's book series before the Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series, because;
a) the narrator is the same throughout and
b) all audible audiobooks were available.
I've read a few of Sophie Kinsella's shopaholic books at random instances. I didn't realize the first book was part of a series, and then the 2nd well, it was Christmas! And the 3rd, I attempted to start from the beginning, but couldn't continue listening until I finish book 2, which was a kindle instead of an audible, so I couldn't help jumping ahead, and then stopped myself before I ruin it for myself.
The part where this book feels like a shopaholic book, is the handbag splurge, a marc by marc jacobs bag. But that's about it.
I was told that I could read the "i heart christmas" book, but I'm glad I started from book 1. It's nice to start this series not knowing anything in advance!
We enter New York with a backpacking, traveling kind of vibe. Although she's not staying in the dingiest of places, she ends up befriending strangers easily. As someone who's travelled alone before, this is believable. It is surprising but true how this happens on the road. The law of attraction is definitely on your side, when it comes to meeting people. This luck was true for Angela. Not just for meeting handsome men, but also for her career.
Angela feels like Carrie from "Sex and the City", but from England instead New York. This chick-lit has all the British wit and humour you would expect. In this book, Angela's new editor feels like Andie Anderson's editor from, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 days". Narrator, Cassandra Harwood does an excellent job with the accents, from my perspective anyway.
I thought she would meet more men, but I enjoyed the dilemna she had. The characters she meets feel different than anything else, making the story unique.
It felt relatable, in the sense that I lived out a crazy single life in my mid-20's too, but in London, instead of New York. Going off to gigs with friends, catching the nightlife and dancing the night away. Every event, gig, and dinner date felt different, and Lindsey Kelk manages to captures this beautifully.
My only complaint is that I wanted more! Luckily there's a whole book series to look forward to!
Luckily I ended up listening to Lindsey Kelk's book series before the Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series, because;
a) the narrator is the same throughout and
b) all audible audiobooks were available.
I've read a few of Sophie Kinsella's shopaholic books at random instances. I didn't realize the first book was part of a series, and then the 2nd well, it was Christmas! And the 3rd, I attempted to start from the beginning, but couldn't continue listening until I finish book 2, which was a kindle instead of an audible, so I couldn't help jumping ahead, and then stopped myself before I ruin it for myself.
The part where this book feels like a shopaholic book, is the handbag splurge, a marc by marc jacobs bag. But that's about it.
I was told that I could read the "i heart christmas" book, but I'm glad I started from book 1. It's nice to start this series not knowing anything in advance!
November 11, 2010
I was delighted to win this book in one of the Goodreads' giveaways. That is until my spouse lost the book envelope in a pile of bills to be filed. Thus, until I got around to filing, my least favorite thing (besides dishes) I couldn't recall where the heck I had put the book after I got it. Imagine my delight to find, in the middle of endless sheets of monotony disguised as bills and other important documents, a new book to read.
The delight lasted until I started reading. The whole clueless woman escapist fiction genre annoys me. The idea that we must find ourselves through excessive spending on products that cost enough to feed villages in Africa for months makes me rue consumerism and the "Cult of Stuff" through which we are supposed to make meaning in our supposedly otherwise uninspiring lives. So, when Angela jumped plane from England to NYC (escapist fiction literally) and started engaging in advertising for overpriced products through drooling descriptions of leather and fabric, I almost stopped reading. Seriously, I skip advertising when I watch television, why the Hades do I want to READ advertising? (One could argue that any book is advertising for the author's philosophy of life and view of the world, but do I need product placement to go along with the ideas? NO!)
Still, I got the book for free and really felt like I should stick it out so I could whine about the whole consumerist-clueless female thing with some detail. The problem is that part of the way through the book I found myself starting to enjoy some of the moments. Not all of them, and I really disliked how men were used as props and stereotypes, but there were some decent moments of humor that I could relate to after living in NYC for six years. Now, were those moments memorable enough so that I can recall them and type them here? Nope! Was the book worth looking through again so I can pull up those moments to find specific examples to support my claim that the book was worth two stars? Not at all. (Actually, I'd give it a 1.5 if I could.) Would I suggest that anyone else read this book? Probably not. However, I do think there is some potential here if the author stops bowing to the cliche gods and starts exploiting some of her humor in more powerful ways.
The delight lasted until I started reading. The whole clueless woman escapist fiction genre annoys me. The idea that we must find ourselves through excessive spending on products that cost enough to feed villages in Africa for months makes me rue consumerism and the "Cult of Stuff" through which we are supposed to make meaning in our supposedly otherwise uninspiring lives. So, when Angela jumped plane from England to NYC (escapist fiction literally) and started engaging in advertising for overpriced products through drooling descriptions of leather and fabric, I almost stopped reading. Seriously, I skip advertising when I watch television, why the Hades do I want to READ advertising? (One could argue that any book is advertising for the author's philosophy of life and view of the world, but do I need product placement to go along with the ideas? NO!)
Still, I got the book for free and really felt like I should stick it out so I could whine about the whole consumerist-clueless female thing with some detail. The problem is that part of the way through the book I found myself starting to enjoy some of the moments. Not all of them, and I really disliked how men were used as props and stereotypes, but there were some decent moments of humor that I could relate to after living in NYC for six years. Now, were those moments memorable enough so that I can recall them and type them here? Nope! Was the book worth looking through again so I can pull up those moments to find specific examples to support my claim that the book was worth two stars? Not at all. (Actually, I'd give it a 1.5 if I could.) Would I suggest that anyone else read this book? Probably not. However, I do think there is some potential here if the author stops bowing to the cliche gods and starts exploiting some of her humor in more powerful ways.
July 17, 2020
UPDATED REVIEW FROM REREAD:
This book was still very cute but definitely not perfect. Angie finds her fiance cheating on her at their best friends wedding so she ruins the wedding, breaks up with the guy, and flees to NYC (from London) in the matter of a couple days. She gets there and thinks what the heck am I doing, but the hotel concierge, Jenny Lopez, befriends her and starts her New York adventure. There's a love triangle (although its pretty clear who she'll end up with) and she ends up getting paid to start a blog about it. I was really back and forth on if I liked Jenny or not. She was very fun and welcoming but also used the R word and turned really vicious on Angie for something that was not her fault at all. I know she has some books of her own later and maybe that will clarify a little bit if she's just a bad person. Overall, I really liked this opening book and will be reading on.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Angie goes to Ny and meets Jenny who encourages her to just sleep around and have fun. She meets a guy named Alex who is a musician who has admittedly slept with TONS of people and is really not great on paper but he makes her really happy. She also starts dating a guy who works on Wallstreet and is perfect on paper but he's kind of a tool and you know it from the beginning. In the end she ends up with Alex. She also gets an offer to work for a magazine back in London and she debates going back but decides to stay and work for the NY branch.
Really early into the book she moves in with Jenny and I thought that was a little unrealistic. As for Jenny, she had a boyfriend named Jeff who she cheated on so they broke up then they got back together during this book. Then he broke up with her because he didn't trust her and when she was upset about that she said some really cruel things to Angie. YUCK.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:Cute chick lit! Adventures in dating in ny and blogging about it
This book was still very cute but definitely not perfect. Angie finds her fiance cheating on her at their best friends wedding so she ruins the wedding, breaks up with the guy, and flees to NYC (from London) in the matter of a couple days. She gets there and thinks what the heck am I doing, but the hotel concierge, Jenny Lopez, befriends her and starts her New York adventure. There's a love triangle (although its pretty clear who she'll end up with) and she ends up getting paid to start a blog about it. I was really back and forth on if I liked Jenny or not. She was very fun and welcoming but also used the R word and turned really vicious on Angie for something that was not her fault at all. I know she has some books of her own later and maybe that will clarify a little bit if she's just a bad person. Overall, I really liked this opening book and will be reading on.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Angie goes to Ny and meets Jenny who encourages her to just sleep around and have fun. She meets a guy named Alex who is a musician who has admittedly slept with TONS of people and is really not great on paper but he makes her really happy. She also starts dating a guy who works on Wallstreet and is perfect on paper but he's kind of a tool and you know it from the beginning. In the end she ends up with Alex. She also gets an offer to work for a magazine back in London and she debates going back but decides to stay and work for the NY branch.
Really early into the book she moves in with Jenny and I thought that was a little unrealistic. As for Jenny, she had a boyfriend named Jeff who she cheated on so they broke up then they got back together during this book. Then he broke up with her because he didn't trust her and when she was upset about that she said some really cruel things to Angie. YUCK.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:Cute chick lit! Adventures in dating in ny and blogging about it
December 14, 2015
Published: 25/06/2009
Author: Lindsey Kelk
Recommended for: fans of chick lit
Oh I love the 'I Heart' series of books, each of them are amazing and this one does not disappoint! This is the first book that appears in the series where we meet the character of Angela Clark who is funny, relatable, very likeable. In this book Angela moves to New York after she flee's from her wedding, where she meet her new best friend Jenny Lopez (who is the girl you wish was your best friend!) who helps her out about all things New York and before Angela knows it she is dating two (very sexy) men!
This book is incredibly well written I love the writing style, the way she can draw the reader into the book and make it feel like the characters are real and that it is actually happening. The descriptions of the characters make them feel very life like and adds a great depth to the book. The description of New York really does just make you want to take off on a planen and go there straight away! I also love the added bit at the back of the book of great places to go in New York which makes it not only an amazing book but also a great little travel guide! This is definately a must read for fans of chick lit novels.
Author: Lindsey Kelk
Recommended for: fans of chick lit
Oh I love the 'I Heart' series of books, each of them are amazing and this one does not disappoint! This is the first book that appears in the series where we meet the character of Angela Clark who is funny, relatable, very likeable. In this book Angela moves to New York after she flee's from her wedding, where she meet her new best friend Jenny Lopez (who is the girl you wish was your best friend!) who helps her out about all things New York and before Angela knows it she is dating two (very sexy) men!
This book is incredibly well written I love the writing style, the way she can draw the reader into the book and make it feel like the characters are real and that it is actually happening. The descriptions of the characters make them feel very life like and adds a great depth to the book. The description of New York really does just make you want to take off on a planen and go there straight away! I also love the added bit at the back of the book of great places to go in New York which makes it not only an amazing book but also a great little travel guide! This is definately a must read for fans of chick lit novels.
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