We’ve Always Got New York by @JL_Knapp #Chicklit #wwwblogs

We’ve Always Got New York by Jill Knapp

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We’ve Always Got New York is a new adult women’s lit/ chick lit sequel to What Happens to Men When They Move To Manhattan? It continues the relationship stories of Amalia and her friends Olivia and Cassandra.

After a summer break in Brazil, Amalia returns to New York ready for year two of Graduate School. She must sort out her feelings for fellow student Michael, whom she was infatuated with last year. Cassandra’s job is very demanding and she distances herself from Amalia as soon as she picks her up from the airport.

Amalia needs to find a new flat but with New York prices she hears of a work study program where she could be paid to do research. She needs to apply to the scary Dr. Greenfield who will be a hard task master.

Michael looks like he’s hooking up with Angela, so on the rebound Amalia agrees to see Hayden, but she won’t commit to an exclusive relationship, just to keep her options open.

Is this the classic love triangle? Or is this just the way New York makes everyone feel? Hayden believes the New York pace of life leaves everyone in a constant state of want, making them selfish. It certainly seems that way as Amalia struggles to choose between Hayden and Michael.

This is a light easy read set in the Big Apple.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Terry reviews What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan?

Today’s review is from team member Terry she blogs at http://terrytylerbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/

Terry chose to read and review What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan by Jill Knapp

WHAT HAPPENS TO MEN WHEN THEY MOVE TO MANHATTAN by Jill Knapp

3.5 out of 5 stars

When I started to read this novel I realised that I am probably at least twice the age of its target audience, but, hey, some of all this stuff still seems like yesterday, so I’ll do my best!

It’s a book about which I kept changing my mind as I was reading. It’s nicely written, witty in places and easily readable; Jill Knapp’s got the right sort of voice for a book about young women in Manhattan. Some of it I liked very much and there were some good observations about relationships to which I reckon a lot of women, young and old, could relate. There’s an excellent confrontation with a two-timing douchebag at 68%, too! My main problem with it, though, was that it’s a bit light on plot.

Basically, graduate student Amalia is having a rough time with men/working out what she wants in life, and her friends aren’t faring much better. That’s kind of it.   I found some of the story a bit hard to get my head round; Amalia’s long term relationship with Nicholas has levelled off to the extent that she has the emotional headspace to fall in love with Michael, yet she is heartbroken when she and Nicholas part company, a situation for which there is not sufficient explanation for a novel that’s solely about romantic relationships, not to mention the fact that Nicholas metamorphoses into a completely different character later on in the book. I thought her ‘is it/isn’t it’ relationship with Michael was very real indeed, but there wasn’t enough actual drama in it to make the situation very compelling to read about. Not enough happened. Also, I kept getting mixed up between her friends, particularly Christina and Cassandra; one less of them might have been a good idea.

I liked the bits about her brother and the observations about New Yorkers, and think this book would be enjoyed by plenty of young women who like very current sort of chick lit/light romance. It’s set up for the sequel by there not being much end resolution, but that’s okay; it works. It’s worth getting if you are a fan of this genre; if I was 22 I’d probably have given it 4 stars!

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

 

 

 

What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan? by Jill Knapp

What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan? by Jill Knapp

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan is quick chicklit read. Amalia Hastings lives in New York, she’s taking a masters degree in Biology and Behavioural Studies. She shares a flat with two other girls and has a long-term boyfriend called Nicholas and plenty of friends.

When her boyfriend suddenly breaks up with her on her birthday, she’s thrown into turmoil. Only dragging herself out of her misery to take an exam. Flat mate Liz makes Amalia attend a college dinner, but a close encounter with fellow student Michael leaves her confused.

With an on-off relationship and a will he / won’t he question constantly hanging over her head Amalia stumbles on for the next few months. Best friend Cassie tries to match her up with Hayden but Amalia just needs to find herself and it’s not helped by her ex begging forgiveness.

Stuck in a potential love triangle, should Amalia still go the Brazil as she intends at the end of college term or should she give one of the men in her life one more chance?

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Good Deeds Challenge, Year 2, Week 42

Welcome to my second Year of Good Deeds, a challenge I set myself during April 2013. I decided to do at least one Good Deed a day for a whole year, now I am into my second year.

This week I’ve been doing the following;

February 1st – Online versions of the two magazines that I write book reviews for went to 7000 local homes and the online version went live today. Each magazine prints 5 of my book review recommendations for a total of 10 lucky authors. It’s been windy and there was loads of litter to pick up on my daily walk.

February 2nd – My morning at school volunteering my help to children learning to read. Just finished reading Yesterday’s News by Sam Cheever a cosy fun mystery. Picked up litter on my walk.

February 3rd – Am reading Walking the Edge by Zee Monodee a romantic suspense. Really busy day, but managed a late walk and picked up litter.

February 4th – Today I read Raven’s Choice by Harper Swan a short historical fiction and an introduction to a series about man’s genetic descent from the caveman. Each day I try to take a forty minute power walk and I pick up litter on my route.

February 5th – Helping out a new author find her way around the book reviewing scene. Read Baby Girl Book 4 by Elle Klass.

February 6th – Today I’m reading Mrs McKeiver’s Secrets by Margaret Morgan set in rural England in 1799. An icy blast was blowing when I went for today’s walk, but still found litter to pick up.

February 7th – I’ve lent some of my books out today, then whilst I was out for my walk I was astounded to find a think metal cable deliberately tied low across the path in a gloomy alley. It would have caused an accident to any cyclist, jogger, skateboarder or even another walker as I only just saw it in time. I decided to remove it completely and place it in a rubbish bin a little way away, to deter it being retied later. I have no idea why it was put there, kids? Angry residents if kids use it at night as a race track? But I don’t believe deliberately trying to endanger innocents should be allowed.

Reading What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan by Jill Knapp.