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Guestlist
Juliet Feliz moved to New York City, leaving an unfulfilling life and uncertain future behind her. However, despite her new surroundings and social circle, Juliet's life threatens to fall into the same rut as before-that is, until she meets successful party promoter Napoleon Fey.
Napoleon introduces Juliet to an exclusive world of VIP nightclubs, luxurious parties, celebrity friends, and sparkler-adorned bottles of champagne. But when Napoleon begins to show romantic interest in Juliet, that raises the ire of a beautiful, and intimidating, ex-model named Ava.
Add to the mix Marcel Swann, a down-on-his-luck young man smitten with Ava; Byron Lord, an NBA player with an affinity for nice suits, cognac, and video vixens; Sharane and Mare, Juliet's bickering roommates; and a host of other unforgettable characters, and you've got the story of a bunch of beautiful people doing some very ugly things.
GUESTLIST, the debut novel from Jay Fingers, is a spectacularly sexy, funny, and, at times, shocking tale of what goes on once you've made it past the velvet rope.
Napoleon introduces Juliet to an exclusive world of VIP nightclubs, luxurious parties, celebrity friends, and sparkler-adorned bottles of champagne. But when Napoleon begins to show romantic interest in Juliet, that raises the ire of a beautiful, and intimidating, ex-model named Ava.
Add to the mix Marcel Swann, a down-on-his-luck young man smitten with Ava; Byron Lord, an NBA player with an affinity for nice suits, cognac, and video vixens; Sharane and Mare, Juliet's bickering roommates; and a host of other unforgettable characters, and you've got the story of a bunch of beautiful people doing some very ugly things.
GUESTLIST, the debut novel from Jay Fingers, is a spectacularly sexy, funny, and, at times, shocking tale of what goes on once you've made it past the velvet rope.
- GenresFiction
308 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2012
421 people want to read
About the author
Jay Fingers
4 books102 followersJay Fingers is a novelist, editor, journalist, filmmaker, and screenwriter. He grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and has lived in Brooklyn and Miami. He is the author of the acclaimed novels GUESTLIST, ORANGE MOUND, and MANHATTAN SWEETHEART, and the novelette KISSES FOR TATI. He currently lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 21, 2012
Two thumbs up!!
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. How do I say this without sounding crass? I'm not a fan of b-boy books, based on previous books I have read. I don't know if Guestlist falls into that category, but just keep reading.
So these b-boys books as I call them have drug dealers, rappers, hood rats, drama for days. I can only deal with so much of that. They are sometimes too hood!
So someone had tweeted they received this particular book in the mail and the author was tagged. I checked out his twitter page, and liked his mini bio. Checked goodreads for the book's summary. It sounded like something worth reading.
I'm reading the book. Starts out good, sentences flowing. None of the choppiness I was dreading. That's just been my experience in the past with debut novels.
It was a page turner. I wanted to stay up all night to finish, but my eyes kept crossing. The characters were the type you liked or hated. I wanted to punch Sharane and Ava. I wanted to go out with Napoleon and Swann. I wanted to befriend Juliet.
The first sex scene was HOT. I highlighted that page. The twist was unexpected and caught me off guard! Sooo many aspects of the book were good. Just hated that it ended. I wanted to keep reading, wishing there were more words on the page.
I read a book called 'Bling' a few years back that I really enjoyed. I sooo wanted to read another book along those same lines. Guestlist was definitely that book. Can't wait to read novel #2. Jay Fingers writes very well, and I love his broad vocabulary. My dictionary app got lots of use!
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. How do I say this without sounding crass? I'm not a fan of b-boy books, based on previous books I have read. I don't know if Guestlist falls into that category, but just keep reading.
So these b-boys books as I call them have drug dealers, rappers, hood rats, drama for days. I can only deal with so much of that. They are sometimes too hood!
So someone had tweeted they received this particular book in the mail and the author was tagged. I checked out his twitter page, and liked his mini bio. Checked goodreads for the book's summary. It sounded like something worth reading.
I'm reading the book. Starts out good, sentences flowing. None of the choppiness I was dreading. That's just been my experience in the past with debut novels.
It was a page turner. I wanted to stay up all night to finish, but my eyes kept crossing. The characters were the type you liked or hated. I wanted to punch Sharane and Ava. I wanted to go out with Napoleon and Swann. I wanted to befriend Juliet.
The first sex scene was HOT. I highlighted that page. The twist was unexpected and caught me off guard! Sooo many aspects of the book were good. Just hated that it ended. I wanted to keep reading, wishing there were more words on the page.
I read a book called 'Bling' a few years back that I really enjoyed. I sooo wanted to read another book along those same lines. Guestlist was definitely that book. Can't wait to read novel #2. Jay Fingers writes very well, and I love his broad vocabulary. My dictionary app got lots of use!
November 20, 2012
4.5/5 Stars
Synopsis: Juliet Feliz is bored with her life decides to pack up her life and move to New York City. She finds herself repeating the same patterns of clubbing and all that it entails, some which can be considered quite dangerous, until she meets a club promoter by the name of Napoleon Fey.
Napoleon introduces Juliet to a much more exquisite level of clubs which are much more exclusive and rich. With that introduction comes a love "square" between Juliet, Napoleon, Ava (who has a crush on Napoleon) and Marcel Swann (who has it in for Ava). Can't forget the other cast of characters who add into this wild ride.
Is the clubbing life as beautiful as the people who play in it or is it just as ugly as some of the things those beautiful people do?
My opinion: I have to admit that I was really pleasantly surprised by this book. Due to its' subject matter, I thought I would focus on the writing styles of the author for my review, but found myself very quickly drawn into the story. The author's debut novel is fast paced and full of drama (in a positive sense) that really makes the story fly by. I think there are young adults who enjoy the clubbing lifestyle that will really get sucked into the storyline.
On a side note, I must state that offensive language both swear word based and racially based really fly in this book. If you are offended by this type of language, I wouldn't recommend you read this book. It is imperative, to the storyline, that it be included in this book. Even with knowing that, there were moments that I know that even I had some difficulties.
ETA (11/20/12) It is very rare that I go back and change my review once it is written, but with Guestlist, I found myself continuously thinking about this book long after I finished it. Guestlist is one of those books that if read superficially or skimmed, I think the reader will miss the depths of this book. In my opinion, like an onion with layers, it is imperative that the reader read beneath the surface and get down to the core of this novel. As I reflected on the path of the story, I saw the psychological aspects of a group of "beautiful" individuals who, beneath the surface, weren't so beautiful and how their environment gave permission to act in a destructive manner both as individuals and as a group. Do I think that this was the author's intentions? I can't say. I can only tell the reader of this review that as I reflected on this book, this was my takeaway.
Source: Author for Review
Synopsis: Juliet Feliz is bored with her life decides to pack up her life and move to New York City. She finds herself repeating the same patterns of clubbing and all that it entails, some which can be considered quite dangerous, until she meets a club promoter by the name of Napoleon Fey.
Napoleon introduces Juliet to a much more exquisite level of clubs which are much more exclusive and rich. With that introduction comes a love "square" between Juliet, Napoleon, Ava (who has a crush on Napoleon) and Marcel Swann (who has it in for Ava). Can't forget the other cast of characters who add into this wild ride.
Is the clubbing life as beautiful as the people who play in it or is it just as ugly as some of the things those beautiful people do?
My opinion: I have to admit that I was really pleasantly surprised by this book. Due to its' subject matter, I thought I would focus on the writing styles of the author for my review, but found myself very quickly drawn into the story. The author's debut novel is fast paced and full of drama (in a positive sense) that really makes the story fly by. I think there are young adults who enjoy the clubbing lifestyle that will really get sucked into the storyline.
On a side note, I must state that offensive language both swear word based and racially based really fly in this book. If you are offended by this type of language, I wouldn't recommend you read this book. It is imperative, to the storyline, that it be included in this book. Even with knowing that, there were moments that I know that even I had some difficulties.
ETA (11/20/12) It is very rare that I go back and change my review once it is written, but with Guestlist, I found myself continuously thinking about this book long after I finished it. Guestlist is one of those books that if read superficially or skimmed, I think the reader will miss the depths of this book. In my opinion, like an onion with layers, it is imperative that the reader read beneath the surface and get down to the core of this novel. As I reflected on the path of the story, I saw the psychological aspects of a group of "beautiful" individuals who, beneath the surface, weren't so beautiful and how their environment gave permission to act in a destructive manner both as individuals and as a group. Do I think that this was the author's intentions? I can't say. I can only tell the reader of this review that as I reflected on this book, this was my takeaway.
Source: Author for Review
May 14, 2012
I just finished GuestList by Jay Fingers and I loved it.
There is a certain stigma attached to black fiction books that Guestlist overcomes. It is very well written with interweaving story lines and vivid imagery relatable to anyone that has been out and about in New York City or in any neighborhood over-run by what I call "The Trendies".
I don't want to write anymore cause I might leak a detail or two, just know that it was a really good read. :)
There is a certain stigma attached to black fiction books that Guestlist overcomes. It is very well written with interweaving story lines and vivid imagery relatable to anyone that has been out and about in New York City or in any neighborhood over-run by what I call "The Trendies".
I don't want to write anymore cause I might leak a detail or two, just know that it was a really good read. :)
June 15, 2012
As a shy and quite young man, I was never one to take part in parties outside of the occasional get together at a friends. With that in mind, I decided to read Guestlist out of a never ending curiosity and when I started to read I found the world of club parties to be an very interesting backdrop for the characters within the story.
Between the characters of Swann and Juliet as they find their way into the New York Club scene. One of the things that stuck out for me was the way both of the main characters were seemingly polar opposites but more than one way they were one and the same.
Juliet wants to be at the VIP table with the important people and she flashes the type of personality that demonstrates that she’s not one to be easily cowed through multiple encounters. During those times, she becomes infatuated with a man she initially thought was a nobody. Napoleon Fey is the epitome of what Juliet desires at that point of her life.
Swann is a laid back, relaxed man that’s looking for a new job and is drawn into the Night Club life by, what appears to be, his best friend named the Alcoholic. After a brief encounter with the world’s best basketball player he’s drawn into an intricate webs of deception by the lovely Ava.
As the story unfolds, both main characters travel along similar paths but from different sides to get to the same location. Along the way you’ll be treated to some good old fashioned tongue in cheek humor along with characters you’ll want to meet and some you’ll want to knock out.
Between the characters of Swann and Juliet as they find their way into the New York Club scene. One of the things that stuck out for me was the way both of the main characters were seemingly polar opposites but more than one way they were one and the same.
Juliet wants to be at the VIP table with the important people and she flashes the type of personality that demonstrates that she’s not one to be easily cowed through multiple encounters. During those times, she becomes infatuated with a man she initially thought was a nobody. Napoleon Fey is the epitome of what Juliet desires at that point of her life.
Swann is a laid back, relaxed man that’s looking for a new job and is drawn into the Night Club life by, what appears to be, his best friend named the Alcoholic. After a brief encounter with the world’s best basketball player he’s drawn into an intricate webs of deception by the lovely Ava.
As the story unfolds, both main characters travel along similar paths but from different sides to get to the same location. Along the way you’ll be treated to some good old fashioned tongue in cheek humor along with characters you’ll want to meet and some you’ll want to knock out.
May 16, 2012
Brilliant debut novel about the ups and downs of club life in New York City. The author is clearly familiar with both sides of the velvet rope, and brought me into a world that I have never seen. The characters were drawn well (totally hated Ava!!) and the settings were authentic, using actual locations in the boroughs for a touch of reality.
Debut novels can be tricky things, filled with awkward sentences and poor grammar, heinous character development and poor plot exposition; but "Guestlist" has none of this. Jay Fingers' writing style flows well and is easy to read, and it's simple to follow the action. Character dialogue is appropriate, and made me feel as if I were sitting alongside Juliet or Swann as they got caught up in things larger than themselves. (I especially liked The Alcoholic's words of wisdom, funny as hell.)
The plot also had some surprising twists, that made me go WTF?!? and keep on reading quickly, to see what happens next. I truly felt for the characters and what was happening to them, and to me that is a mark of a good book. If I'm reading about someone and don't really care what happens, that is a sign that I'm not caught up in the reading experience. From Napoleon, to Mare, to the various ballers and wanna be's on the periphery, these people were written credibly, almost like a roman a clef, as I was wondering who the author was REALLY describing.
Run, don't walk to buy this book. I can't wait for the next offering from this intelligent and funny author.
Debut novels can be tricky things, filled with awkward sentences and poor grammar, heinous character development and poor plot exposition; but "Guestlist" has none of this. Jay Fingers' writing style flows well and is easy to read, and it's simple to follow the action. Character dialogue is appropriate, and made me feel as if I were sitting alongside Juliet or Swann as they got caught up in things larger than themselves. (I especially liked The Alcoholic's words of wisdom, funny as hell.)
The plot also had some surprising twists, that made me go WTF?!? and keep on reading quickly, to see what happens next. I truly felt for the characters and what was happening to them, and to me that is a mark of a good book. If I'm reading about someone and don't really care what happens, that is a sign that I'm not caught up in the reading experience. From Napoleon, to Mare, to the various ballers and wanna be's on the periphery, these people were written credibly, almost like a roman a clef, as I was wondering who the author was REALLY describing.
Run, don't walk to buy this book. I can't wait for the next offering from this intelligent and funny author.
March 14, 2012
Fed up of her job, her family and her life, Juliet decides to break free and move to New York. She manages to find a room in a shared apartment with two girls, Sharane and Mare. On, what turns out to be a ‘very expensive’ night out with the girls, Juliet meets Napoleon Fey, an event planner and ‘big man’ around town, who she can’t get out of her head. Somehow she manages to get his attention and onto his very exclusive list for regular party invites, opening up a whole new world for Juliet.
Swann down on his luck for too long now, finally gets a job and is able to move out of his dump of an apartment and regain some self respect. He meets Ava at a party and they start to hang out together at last Swann feels like his dry spell is over, not so, Ava is a bitch but it takes Swann a while to figure that out but eventually he sees her for the manipulator she is!
Guestlist is a tale of socialites, musicians and wannabe’s. Parties, drinking and sex. It is very well written with an authentic voice, and gives us a real feel of inclusion in this ‘ritzy’ world. This isn’t a book with lots action, it takes us on a steady journey, following a mixed bag of characters, all with their own agenda. Jay Fingers did a fantastic job drawing us in with his descriptive writing, realistic dialogue and sometimes very colourful words!!!
Copy supplied for review. Thank-you.
Swann down on his luck for too long now, finally gets a job and is able to move out of his dump of an apartment and regain some self respect. He meets Ava at a party and they start to hang out together at last Swann feels like his dry spell is over, not so, Ava is a bitch but it takes Swann a while to figure that out but eventually he sees her for the manipulator she is!
Guestlist is a tale of socialites, musicians and wannabe’s. Parties, drinking and sex. It is very well written with an authentic voice, and gives us a real feel of inclusion in this ‘ritzy’ world. This isn’t a book with lots action, it takes us on a steady journey, following a mixed bag of characters, all with their own agenda. Jay Fingers did a fantastic job drawing us in with his descriptive writing, realistic dialogue and sometimes very colourful words!!!
Copy supplied for review. Thank-you.
September 12, 2012
From my Amazon review:
I bought this book initially because I know the author through Twitter. Jay is genuine and entertaining and I figured any book of his would be as well. I got so much more than I bargained for.
Guestlist was a revelation for me. Jay opened up a world for me that I would otherwise never have the chance to see. My party days were in the 80's at big hair band rock and roll clubs. Me checking out the New York club scene in this century? Prolly not happening.
However, with Guestlist, Jay grabbed me by the collar and tossed me into the shiny and shady world of Napolean and an entire cast people living large. Living life. The writing can only be described as raw. If you're offended by real people in real situations using real language then move right along. Nothing to see here.
I loved the characters in this book. Even the jerks. I rooted for them and rallied with them and joined in their little triumphs and setbacks. And isn't that the reason you read a book? It sure is for me.
In short, my eyes were opened to a world I otherwise would never have a glimpse into. For a brief moment in time, I was on the Guestlist - And I loved it.
I bought this book initially because I know the author through Twitter. Jay is genuine and entertaining and I figured any book of his would be as well. I got so much more than I bargained for.
Guestlist was a revelation for me. Jay opened up a world for me that I would otherwise never have the chance to see. My party days were in the 80's at big hair band rock and roll clubs. Me checking out the New York club scene in this century? Prolly not happening.
However, with Guestlist, Jay grabbed me by the collar and tossed me into the shiny and shady world of Napolean and an entire cast people living large. Living life. The writing can only be described as raw. If you're offended by real people in real situations using real language then move right along. Nothing to see here.
I loved the characters in this book. Even the jerks. I rooted for them and rallied with them and joined in their little triumphs and setbacks. And isn't that the reason you read a book? It sure is for me.
In short, my eyes were opened to a world I otherwise would never have a glimpse into. For a brief moment in time, I was on the Guestlist - And I loved it.
June 4, 2013
I learned about this book through a review by Naomi (Sisterhood of the Traveling Book). I was really impressed at how much a white girl loved this book. The Kindle edition was 99 cents at the time, so I jumped right on it. It finally worked it's way up to the top of my pile.
Guestlist is a smart hip tale of the life behind the velvet rope of the New York City club scene. It's urban and edgy without being raunchy. It is two parallel stories of Juliet who moved from Florida seeking a better life, and Swann who moved from Detroit with a similar dream. They each get tangled up in romances with the "pretty people," the promoters who include them on the guest list for ulterior reasons.
The story is fast-paced, full of tabloid characters you can recognize by any name, and whose lives revolve around the perks and exposure of being in the latest new club. Even as smart and current as author Jay Fingers can be, he did have to stoop to a round of "the dozens." Some of the characters are just too funny. It was an enjoyable read, and I'll be looking for more from Jay Fingers. But I gotta ask. With all the poshness of Ava's Upper East Side apartment, why does she have ice trays?
Guestlist is a smart hip tale of the life behind the velvet rope of the New York City club scene. It's urban and edgy without being raunchy. It is two parallel stories of Juliet who moved from Florida seeking a better life, and Swann who moved from Detroit with a similar dream. They each get tangled up in romances with the "pretty people," the promoters who include them on the guest list for ulterior reasons.
The story is fast-paced, full of tabloid characters you can recognize by any name, and whose lives revolve around the perks and exposure of being in the latest new club. Even as smart and current as author Jay Fingers can be, he did have to stoop to a round of "the dozens." Some of the characters are just too funny. It was an enjoyable read, and I'll be looking for more from Jay Fingers. But I gotta ask. With all the poshness of Ava's Upper East Side apartment, why does she have ice trays?
May 1, 2013
Guestlist is a raw and gritty book that will pull you in from the first few pages. Fingers has a knack for creating characters that are real - in fact, I think I just talked to a few of them this week. The language is sometimes foul, the sex isn't cloaked and the pages just flew by.
Juliet is looking for excitement and glam when she moves to New York. She's done dull and been in a rut and she wants something more from life. That's why when she first meets Napoleon, she really doesn't give him another look. That is until she realizes what he is - a party promoter who can give her the foot inside the best functions.
There are several key players in this fast-paced read and the characters motivations really come to light toward the latter part of the novel. It's not all as it seems and if you're looking for a fun romp, definitely pick up Jay Fingers' debut novel, Guestlist!
Juliet is looking for excitement and glam when she moves to New York. She's done dull and been in a rut and she wants something more from life. That's why when she first meets Napoleon, she really doesn't give him another look. That is until she realizes what he is - a party promoter who can give her the foot inside the best functions.
There are several key players in this fast-paced read and the characters motivations really come to light toward the latter part of the novel. It's not all as it seems and if you're looking for a fun romp, definitely pick up Jay Fingers' debut novel, Guestlist!
Read
May 22, 2012Most works dealing with the NY lifestyle lack any real substance or character development. Thanks to Mr. Fingers for breaking the norm with this book. I bought this to go on vacation and ended up reading it cover to cover before I even left. The characters are believable and the storyline keeps you interested from start to finish. This is a great read.
July 27, 2014
This is one of the most refreshing books I've read! The author keeps you guessing on what's going to happen next and how the whole thing will end up! I highly recommend this and hope to see something else from the author soon.
August 7, 2014
I was thoroughly pleased with this read. The author’s writing style was great. He was very descriptive and proved to be an excellent story teller. It was evident that he takes pride in his work. He made the story and language relatable, while painting the picture so vividly with his words, the reader is able to see the story. The author set the story up where a part two can be written if he choose. I think the way the story ended the reader could actually come to their own conclusion on what happened next. Throughout the book I was waiting for the main characters to cross paths again and I was pleased that they did. I’ve never smiled upon reaching the conclusion of a story until reading Guestlist. Great job.
May 21, 2015
Fun Read
A fun, casual read. Pleasant and interesting characters who are fleshed out in relaxed, almost conversational writing. The story is very modern and having a knowledge of black culture is essential for maximum enjoyment.
A fun, casual read. Pleasant and interesting characters who are fleshed out in relaxed, almost conversational writing. The story is very modern and having a knowledge of black culture is essential for maximum enjoyment.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews