Park Avenue Summer by Renee Rosen

Title: Park Avenue Summer
Author: Renee Rosen
Genre: Historical Fiction

Other books I've read by this author: White Collar Girl, Dollface

Synopsis: Alice moves from Ohio to 1960s New York City with dreams of becoming a photographer and finding what her mother had loved so much about Park Avenue. When she is hired as an assistant to Helen Gurley Brown as she begins her takeover of Cosmopolitan magazine, Alice learns what it really means to be a young single woman in the big city. 

My Thoughts

I love a historical fiction novel featuring a prominent historical figure told from the perspective of a fictional character. Rosen has created Alice as the type of young Cosmo woman that Helen Gurley Brown was trying to reach with her magazine. It is a fun coming of age story as well as a chronical of the struggles of being a woman trying to run a business in the 60s.
The novel has a Mad Men vibe where the women are the heroes fighting to be treated fairly in the workplace and to support Helen as she tries to empower young women with a fresh, new Cosmopolitan.
This novel feels fresh but also has the traditional underlying theme of looking for one's dreams in the bustle of NYC.

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!


To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above

China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

Title: China Rich Girlfriend
Author: Kevin Kwan
Genre: Fiction

Other books I've read by this author: Crazy Rich Asians

Synopsis: Rachel Chu and Nick Young are finally getting married! Nick's mother finds Rachel's mystery father in order to make amends and the newlyweds decide to honeymoon in China to get to know Rachel's new family. Little do they know the whirlwind they are about to be sucked into when they meet Rachel's half-brother Carlton and his famous girlfriend Collette. 

My Thoughts

This book may even be better than the first in the series. While this book is totally great for a fun summer read on the porch or at the beach it is not because it is pure fluff. The characters have depth and there are several interwoven storylines featuring favorite characters from the first novel and a few new characters to love.  
I am also intrigued by the way Kwan uses several methods by which to communicate with the reader. The majority of the novel is written from a third person perspective but there are also potions written as newspapers/magazines, Rachel Chu's diary, and my personal favorite, a very specific list from Kitty Pong's agent on how she can improve her image. The footnotes add context and humor that makes this series unique. This author understands the subtleties of human interactions and conveys them to the reader effortlessly.

If you are looking for a summer read that is smart, funny, and keeps you engaged this is a book for you! 

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!


To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above