A very popular book review blogger who loves “chick-lit”? A high-school nemesis who has penned a chick-lit book? A high school reunion? Romance at the office? These may be tropes, but I’m into it! Let’s dive in.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

This is a book I was granted access to by the publisher from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I think this was timed to go with the release of the sequel. Initially I picked this one up to read because it looked like an easy, quick read. I did leave a star-rating on Goodreads, which prompted me to pick it up again in order to properly post a review.

SUMMARY: What happens when your high school nemesis becomes the shining star in a universe you pretty much saved? Book blogger Kimberly Long is about to find out. A chick lit enthusiast since the first time she read Bridget Jones’s Diary, Kim, with her blog, Pastel is the New Black, has worked tirelessly by night to keep the genre alive, and help squash the claim that “chick lit is dead” once and for all. Not bad for a woman who by day ekes out a meager living as a pretty, and pretty-much-nameless, legal secretary in a Manhattan law firm. While Kim’s day job holds no passion for her, the handsome (and shaving challenged) associate down the hall is another story. Yet another story is that Hannah Marshak, one of her most hated high school classmates, has now popped onto the chick lit scene with a hot new book that’s turning heads—and pages—across the land. It’s also popped into Kim’s inbox—for review. With their ten-year reunion drawing near, Kim’s coming close to combustion over the hype about Hannah’s book. And as everyone around her seems to be moving on and up, she begins to question whether being a “blogger girl” makes the grade in her offline life.

WHAT I LOVED: I remember reading this back in 2017 thinking how great it would be to review books. I don’t know why I didn’t look into blogging until 2020. I was VERY active on Goodreads and would read well over 100 books every year. Living vicariously through Kim was great the first time around, and a nice trip down memory lane the second time through.

This story feels almost nostalgic for me. Kim is in her 20’s. Her high school reunion is coming up and she’s just started dating someone she works with. She reads ALL THE TIME and blogs her reviews. I related to this so much, it kept me very engaged in the story. And then you throw in the “mean girl from high school wrote a book and wants me to review it” storyline, and now I am hooked. I relate so much, it hurts. Although Kim says she does not want to be a writer, somewhere in the back of my head I have always wondered if I could.

There are no shocking endings, or surprising twists and turns. What you have here is a classic chick-lit story, told by Meredith Schorr, that I like to call a “beach read.” A story that takes me away from my own troubles, is a quick read, and makes me happy for the time that I read it.

After reading it a second time, I have downloaded the 2 additional books in the series, and I cannot wait to see what happens to Kim and her friends!

WHAT MADE ME SCRATCH MY HEAD: Me! I make me scratch my own head! Why did it take so long for me to leave a review? This is a book I was granted access to by the publisher back in 2016 or 2017. I actually had read this book back in 2017, and for some reason, I never put down my thoughts outside of the star-rating! I must have said I would go back and do it (sounds like me) but forgot to do so (not so much me, but can’t say that anymore).

The only thing I did not like about the book is the shame that would creep up out of Kim whenever someone asked about what types of books she would review for her blog. Having a successful blog is a big deal. It’s a lot of hard work to keep up with content by yourself, gain a following, and to read so many books. Yes, people will judge your reading style. But OWN IT! I have never wavered in my love for pink covers and HEA moments. Sure, my tastes have evolved into less “single in the city” and more “wedding in the city” or “mom lit.” But I will always love my chick-lit roots.

FINAL THOUGHTS: