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Breakfast at Bloomingdale's
What's it take for a girl to make it in the big city? A sense of humor, a sense of self, and a desire to succeed in fashion. A stylish novel for teen PROJECT RUNWAY and DEVIL WEARS PRADA fans.
Kat's come to New York City with a to be a big fashion designer and to see her name on a label in Bloomingdale's. Back in upstate New York, she imagined a city paved in Prada . . . but the reality isn't quite so fashionable. Still, there are friends to be made, boys to be flirted with, and amazements to be found . . . sometimes when she least expects it. Even when her lame hick boyfriend from back home comes to the city to try to reclaim her, Kat knows she's found her place . . . now all she has to do is have the place find her back.
Kat's come to New York City with a to be a big fashion designer and to see her name on a label in Bloomingdale's. Back in upstate New York, she imagined a city paved in Prada . . . but the reality isn't quite so fashionable. Still, there are friends to be made, boys to be flirted with, and amazements to be found . . . sometimes when she least expects it. Even when her lame hick boyfriend from back home comes to the city to try to reclaim her, Kat knows she's found her place . . . now all she has to do is have the place find her back.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2007
6 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Kemp
25 books26 followersI write. I edit. I blog. I create community projects for my creative, awesome town of Montclair, NJ.
I've written seven teen novels for Scholastic including Breakfast at Bloomingdale's. I've recently written for glossies such as Modern Bride. I currently post 17 articles per week for CafeMom.com, and I do everything for my website, MontclairKids.com, and for my suburban writing retreat center, WritersLoft.org. I teach professional, intensive fiction and non-fiction classes in New York City and NJ as well.
-Kristen Kemp
I've written seven teen novels for Scholastic including Breakfast at Bloomingdale's. I've recently written for glossies such as Modern Bride. I currently post 17 articles per week for CafeMom.com, and I do everything for my website, MontclairKids.com, and for my suburban writing retreat center, WritersLoft.org. I teach professional, intensive fiction and non-fiction classes in New York City and NJ as well.
-Kristen Kemp
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 28, 2019
Recomend. This is a good past time book. It's not excruciatingly chaotic to the point of having to keep track of every minute detail. There are some good surprises, but it's mostly just a character that went through some bad stuff and wants to move away to start anew and this is that story.
October 31, 2009
Cat’s a girl with a dream and a plan to achieve it. She’s going to New York City to be a famous fashion designer; particularly, she wants her own label to be sold at Bloomingdale’s. For all of Cat’s life, that’s been her dream, but now she’s perfectly poised to accomplish it by entering CosmoGIRL! and Bloomingdale’s The Finished Line fashion design contest. Armed with access to her late grandmother Nina’s bank account, killer design and sewing skills, and a one-way ticket to New York City, Cat is all ready for her new life. But once she arrives, it’s a little different and harder that she expected, and adjustments will have to be made accordingly, because giving up is not an option. The competition better look out. New and improved Cat Zappe, famous designed to be, is taking New York City by fashion storm.
By no surprise, Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s is all about fashion, but it’s also about hard work, dreams, and relationships. Most fashion novels I’ve read deal with the tail end of the fashion industry, the already crafted clothes and modeling. This story gives me new respect for the designing end; I had no idea that much education, experimentation, and design went into making the finished fashion product. I also didn’t know that designer hopefuls could be just as catty, for lack of a better word, as competitive models; Cat’s ability to keep a cool head most of the time in these situations earned even more of my respect. I absolutely loved reading about Cat’s character. She has impressive commitment and determination in reaching her goals and, more often than not, is rather smart in navigating through her relationships. I greatly admired her maturity and self control as well, and all this just made me hope she’d accomplish her dreams. Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s is a thoroughly enjoyable story to read because it shows that everything, for better or worse, is interconnected, that things have a way of working themselves out in the end, and that lack of success doesn’t necessarily translate into failure.
I recommend Breakfast and Bloomingdale’s for fans of Violet on the Runway by Melissa Walker, Airhead by Meg Cabot, and the America’s Next Top Model series by Taryn Bell as well as to any teen girl, because Cat is a characters after ever reader’s heart. I look forward to reading more of Kemp’s writing, particularly a possible fashion savvy sequel to this sweet book.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
By no surprise, Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s is all about fashion, but it’s also about hard work, dreams, and relationships. Most fashion novels I’ve read deal with the tail end of the fashion industry, the already crafted clothes and modeling. This story gives me new respect for the designing end; I had no idea that much education, experimentation, and design went into making the finished fashion product. I also didn’t know that designer hopefuls could be just as catty, for lack of a better word, as competitive models; Cat’s ability to keep a cool head most of the time in these situations earned even more of my respect. I absolutely loved reading about Cat’s character. She has impressive commitment and determination in reaching her goals and, more often than not, is rather smart in navigating through her relationships. I greatly admired her maturity and self control as well, and all this just made me hope she’d accomplish her dreams. Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s is a thoroughly enjoyable story to read because it shows that everything, for better or worse, is interconnected, that things have a way of working themselves out in the end, and that lack of success doesn’t necessarily translate into failure.
I recommend Breakfast and Bloomingdale’s for fans of Violet on the Runway by Melissa Walker, Airhead by Meg Cabot, and the America’s Next Top Model series by Taryn Bell as well as to any teen girl, because Cat is a characters after ever reader’s heart. I look forward to reading more of Kemp’s writing, particularly a possible fashion savvy sequel to this sweet book.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
February 14, 2018
Well the only good thing about this book was the fashion. Audrey Hepburn is my idol, and I love fashion, so I really thought I would enjoy this book. However I clearly should have read it years ago when I first bought it because that was just too immature for me now.
Cat was annoying and way too melodramatic. Everything about the story was just odd and REALLY unrealistic. And the writing was horrible; the plot jumped all around. I was reading about one thing and then all of a sudden the very next line is about something else, with no sort of transition at all.
And where is she even from? My books dust cover says Kentucky, the book says upstate New York, and she tells everyone she's from Savannah. Seriously this author has some continuity issues. I also felt like there were a lot of plot holes.
Cat was annoying and way too melodramatic. Everything about the story was just odd and REALLY unrealistic. And the writing was horrible; the plot jumped all around. I was reading about one thing and then all of a sudden the very next line is about something else, with no sort of transition at all.
And where is she even from? My books dust cover says Kentucky, the book says upstate New York, and she tells everyone she's from Savannah. Seriously this author has some continuity issues. I also felt like there were a lot of plot holes.
March 10, 2011
This book was an interesting read. Kemp used a unique voice and presented this novel in a cute manner.
However, it wasn't spectacular. I didn't finish and think wow that was a great book or I'm so glad I finished it. I simply thought oh I finished it time to get get a new book.
A cute story, but definitely only worth reading once.
However, it wasn't spectacular. I didn't finish and think wow that was a great book or I'm so glad I finished it. I simply thought oh I finished it time to get get a new book.
A cute story, but definitely only worth reading once.
January 29, 2011
I do not know if it was just me, but this book read very very choppy. I really wanted to love it but I just could not.
July 30, 2017
To see full DNF review with gifs click here.
There was a period in time a few years ago where there was a mini trend of Audrey Hepburn centric YA books. This book actually came out a few years before that trend and I had it, and thought…hmm, maybe it’s actually fairly good to have a mini trend inspired by it.
So after sitting on my shelf for almost ten years-yeah, it’s been that long-I decided to give it a whirl and read it.
I only got through about thirty pages in it. It was that bad. I almost didn’t even bother writing this brief DNF review over it, that’s how disgusted I was over it. But since I haven’t had time much to read something that I I’d like to review in the past couple of weeks and this was the closest book I could think of writing a review for…well, it’s getting this brief “Why Audrey Hepburn Would Be Ashamed She’s On the Cover” type of review.
1) Audrey would not approve of the main character’s nasty attitude:
Seriously, our narrator Junebug/Cat is a POS if there ever was one. She’s rude and nasty to practically every one. For example, she calls her mother a heifer (and yes, she’s not exactly a nice person but still HEIFER) and she pretty much gets in a cat fight with your stereotypical “Mean Girl” at her fucking grandmother’s funeral.
2) Audrey would probably be disgusted that Breakfast at Tiffany’s (the film) is associated with being about Audrey rather than being, you know, a movie.
Yes, I know the movie was one of Audrey’s most iconic roles (though, personally give me Sabrina, Charade, My Fair Lady, Funny Face, or even Roman Holiday any day over Breakfast at Tiffany’s). Yes, the fashion in that movie is fantastic, but there are some scenes (like anytime that Mickey Rooney appears) that I just grimace at. PLUS, it’s completely different than the short story its based on and I think a lot of people forget that when they try to write one of these YA Audrey Hepburn centric books. Did you know that Capote actually had Marilyn Monroe in mind for the role?
Yeah, probably not. I get that it’s easy to blend the two things together because it was an iconic role for Audrey-probably because of that Givenchy dress-BUT the movie is NOT about Audrey. And it seems in all these books pretty much the character is more or less Audrey’s version of Holly Golightly.
3) Audrey would be disgusted with this character’s problems.
Seriously, a “mean mother” and a small town full of assholes is nothing to growing up in WW2 Europe and being forced to eat tulip bulbs. Just saying.
Had I spent more time reading this book, I probably could’ve added more reasons to the list. It boils down to this though, the book suffers from many problems that late 2000’s Post Mean Girls YA books have. The tropes are just noxious. I don’t know why it’s necessary-even these days-to use the Mean Girl trope or for that matter the nasty mother trope.
People are complex. We have are good days and our bad days. This book just depicts everyone at their worst. One of the things I like best about Audrey Hepburn movies is that there is a hopeful optimism to them. This book is devoid of that optimism. It consists of a sullen, unlikeable character whose only resemblance to Hepburn’s character is Breakfast at Tiffany’s is she has a LBD and uses a fake name.
There was a period in time a few years ago where there was a mini trend of Audrey Hepburn centric YA books. This book actually came out a few years before that trend and I had it, and thought…hmm, maybe it’s actually fairly good to have a mini trend inspired by it.
So after sitting on my shelf for almost ten years-yeah, it’s been that long-I decided to give it a whirl and read it.
I only got through about thirty pages in it. It was that bad. I almost didn’t even bother writing this brief DNF review over it, that’s how disgusted I was over it. But since I haven’t had time much to read something that I I’d like to review in the past couple of weeks and this was the closest book I could think of writing a review for…well, it’s getting this brief “Why Audrey Hepburn Would Be Ashamed She’s On the Cover” type of review.
1) Audrey would not approve of the main character’s nasty attitude:
Seriously, our narrator Junebug/Cat is a POS if there ever was one. She’s rude and nasty to practically every one. For example, she calls her mother a heifer (and yes, she’s not exactly a nice person but still HEIFER) and she pretty much gets in a cat fight with your stereotypical “Mean Girl” at her fucking grandmother’s funeral.
2) Audrey would probably be disgusted that Breakfast at Tiffany’s (the film) is associated with being about Audrey rather than being, you know, a movie.
Yes, I know the movie was one of Audrey’s most iconic roles (though, personally give me Sabrina, Charade, My Fair Lady, Funny Face, or even Roman Holiday any day over Breakfast at Tiffany’s). Yes, the fashion in that movie is fantastic, but there are some scenes (like anytime that Mickey Rooney appears) that I just grimace at. PLUS, it’s completely different than the short story its based on and I think a lot of people forget that when they try to write one of these YA Audrey Hepburn centric books. Did you know that Capote actually had Marilyn Monroe in mind for the role?
Yeah, probably not. I get that it’s easy to blend the two things together because it was an iconic role for Audrey-probably because of that Givenchy dress-BUT the movie is NOT about Audrey. And it seems in all these books pretty much the character is more or less Audrey’s version of Holly Golightly.
3) Audrey would be disgusted with this character’s problems.
Seriously, a “mean mother” and a small town full of assholes is nothing to growing up in WW2 Europe and being forced to eat tulip bulbs. Just saying.
Had I spent more time reading this book, I probably could’ve added more reasons to the list. It boils down to this though, the book suffers from many problems that late 2000’s Post Mean Girls YA books have. The tropes are just noxious. I don’t know why it’s necessary-even these days-to use the Mean Girl trope or for that matter the nasty mother trope.
People are complex. We have are good days and our bad days. This book just depicts everyone at their worst. One of the things I like best about Audrey Hepburn movies is that there is a hopeful optimism to them. This book is devoid of that optimism. It consists of a sullen, unlikeable character whose only resemblance to Hepburn’s character is Breakfast at Tiffany’s is she has a LBD and uses a fake name.
December 26, 2017
Kemp, Kristen Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s, 304 p. Scholastic –
Cat (not her real name) has come to New York and remade herself after the death of her beloved grandmother. Lying through her teeth, she talks her way into a class for brilliant teen clothing designers destines to enter New York’s most prestigious contest for her age group. But in order to get what she wants, she also has to come to terms with all that she left behind: an ex-boyfriend, an emotionally absent mother and too many memories of her Nina. Cat’s clothing brilliance is not going to be enough, necessarily, to win the day.
About a dozen swear words are the only thing that mar this otherwise perfect novel, tailor-made for the Project Runway crowd. And I must say it is a refreshing change from the current slew of novels about teens who only want to wear or market the clothes that this group of teens will create. And a passing nod to one of my favorite blogs (www.dressaday.com) doesn’t hurt!
MS – OPTIONAL, HS – ADVISABLE
Cat (not her real name) has come to New York and remade herself after the death of her beloved grandmother. Lying through her teeth, she talks her way into a class for brilliant teen clothing designers destines to enter New York’s most prestigious contest for her age group. But in order to get what she wants, she also has to come to terms with all that she left behind: an ex-boyfriend, an emotionally absent mother and too many memories of her Nina. Cat’s clothing brilliance is not going to be enough, necessarily, to win the day.
About a dozen swear words are the only thing that mar this otherwise perfect novel, tailor-made for the Project Runway crowd. And I must say it is a refreshing change from the current slew of novels about teens who only want to wear or market the clothes that this group of teens will create. And a passing nod to one of my favorite blogs (www.dressaday.com) doesn’t hurt!
MS – OPTIONAL, HS – ADVISABLE
July 29, 2018
It was way too slow moving!!
March 2, 2020
I’ve had this book on my tbr since I joined Goodreads a zillion years ago. I probably should have read it a zillion years ago and enjoyed it more
May 19, 2021
I thought this was a great book! It was so funny and original. I'm surprised the ratings aren't higher...
December 29, 2009
First off the summary is from Amazon (above). Secondly Amazon needs to fix their mistake because Cat is spelled with a C not a K, unless of course the entire book was wrong.
Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s is a refreshing read to an otherwise dull day. It is filled with humorous adventures, passionate dreams, and a hot clown—ohlalala.
Cat’s grandmother, Nina, just passed away so she’s out to pursue their dream: to have a line in Bloomingdale called Breakfast. Inspired by Breakfast at Tiffany’s Audrey Hepburn’s best friend, Holly, this girl can create a corset in 48 hours, cut, sewn, and hem a dress in less than 5 hours! Holy smokes. And she’s seventeen! With a good amount of money Cat travels to New York City and meets a heedful of unique group of people. Breakfast in Bloomingdale’s is an outlandish book that made me smile even if it confused me. Endearing, crazy, and chic all in one.
However it goes off tangent quite frequently. Not in the hey that’s an interesting tidbit you just shared, but more in the what the heck are you talking and wherever it came from please put it back as it means nothing to me. Then there are times where the author discloses information so now you’re re-reading scenes just in case you missed something then realized you didn’t.
I would have like to see some of the sketches of the designs incorporated into the book because I was LOST when they were describing the clothing. I’m not a fashion guru, I watched enough seasons to catch the Tim Gunn reference and general sewing techniques and objects, but when you describe a clothing line for goth children I immediately conjure up an image of black and deep purple diapers. With fishnets. And heavy dark eye shadow. And I do not think that was the author’s intention.
Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s is a refreshing read to an otherwise dull day. It is filled with humorous adventures, passionate dreams, and a hot clown—ohlalala.
Cat’s grandmother, Nina, just passed away so she’s out to pursue their dream: to have a line in Bloomingdale called Breakfast. Inspired by Breakfast at Tiffany’s Audrey Hepburn’s best friend, Holly, this girl can create a corset in 48 hours, cut, sewn, and hem a dress in less than 5 hours! Holy smokes. And she’s seventeen! With a good amount of money Cat travels to New York City and meets a heedful of unique group of people. Breakfast in Bloomingdale’s is an outlandish book that made me smile even if it confused me. Endearing, crazy, and chic all in one.
However it goes off tangent quite frequently. Not in the hey that’s an interesting tidbit you just shared, but more in the what the heck are you talking and wherever it came from please put it back as it means nothing to me. Then there are times where the author discloses information so now you’re re-reading scenes just in case you missed something then realized you didn’t.
I would have like to see some of the sketches of the designs incorporated into the book because I was LOST when they were describing the clothing. I’m not a fashion guru, I watched enough seasons to catch the Tim Gunn reference and general sewing techniques and objects, but when you describe a clothing line for goth children I immediately conjure up an image of black and deep purple diapers. With fishnets. And heavy dark eye shadow. And I do not think that was the author’s intention.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2007
Cat is an aspiring fashion designer. As long as she can remember, she has lived in her grandmother, Nina’s, great big house. The two of them have designed and sewed garments galore, all in preparation for the debut of their fashion line “Breakfast” (inspired by their favorite movie: Breakfast at Tiffany’s).
However, Nina has this crazy idea that on a certain date she is set to expire. And when that date arrives and Nina passes away peacefully in her sleep, Cat is left to deliver the eulogy and then get the heck out of dodge.
On the way out of town, her boyfriend announces that he cannot go with her to New York City. He drops her on the side of the road sans sewing machine, and encourages her to catch a bus.
Cat’s mom is still alive and is a shrink in the same town, but Cat refers to her mother as the Mother Heifer, and…they don’t really get along. (Though this subplot requires you to suspend reality, it still makes for an interesting overall story).
Cat escapes to NYC, purchases a new identity and a high school diploma, enrolls in fashion school, finds a new boyfriend, finds some NYC fashion friends, and starts on her new life.
Cat’s voice is difficult to read in the beginning. Her internal monologue is confusing. However, if you give Cat some time, she will definitely grow on you and the dialogue will click and then flow. She is a quirky character, but she is entertaining.
This is a very cute chick-lit story about finding your sea legs in a wobbly world. It is about chasing your dreams and finding what is right for you.
However, Nina has this crazy idea that on a certain date she is set to expire. And when that date arrives and Nina passes away peacefully in her sleep, Cat is left to deliver the eulogy and then get the heck out of dodge.
On the way out of town, her boyfriend announces that he cannot go with her to New York City. He drops her on the side of the road sans sewing machine, and encourages her to catch a bus.
Cat’s mom is still alive and is a shrink in the same town, but Cat refers to her mother as the Mother Heifer, and…they don’t really get along. (Though this subplot requires you to suspend reality, it still makes for an interesting overall story).
Cat escapes to NYC, purchases a new identity and a high school diploma, enrolls in fashion school, finds a new boyfriend, finds some NYC fashion friends, and starts on her new life.
Cat’s voice is difficult to read in the beginning. Her internal monologue is confusing. However, if you give Cat some time, she will definitely grow on you and the dialogue will click and then flow. She is a quirky character, but she is entertaining.
This is a very cute chick-lit story about finding your sea legs in a wobbly world. It is about chasing your dreams and finding what is right for you.
November 14, 2012
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Kat's world is rapidly changing and she's following her and her grandmother's dream or creating their own fashion line.
For as long as she can remember, it's been just her and her grandmother, Nina, sewing up a storm. Nina became her surrogate mother, as her own mom never appreciated having a child. Now, Nina has died, leaving Kat all alone in the world, with just a plan at having her fashion line Breakfast appear at Bloomingdale's.
Kat's moved all of her belongings that Nina left her to New York City to follow their dreams.
But things don't always seem to go as planned. Her boyfriend, who was going with her, decided against the move. Now Kat's headed to the city, determined to tackle everything on her own. Can she make her dreams come true?
What kind of determination does it take to follow your own dreams? Kristen Kemp pens an emotionally charged tale of a girl doing everything in her power to hold on to her dreams, the only thing that makes sense in her life.
Kat's world is rapidly changing and she's following her and her grandmother's dream or creating their own fashion line.
For as long as she can remember, it's been just her and her grandmother, Nina, sewing up a storm. Nina became her surrogate mother, as her own mom never appreciated having a child. Now, Nina has died, leaving Kat all alone in the world, with just a plan at having her fashion line Breakfast appear at Bloomingdale's.
Kat's moved all of her belongings that Nina left her to New York City to follow their dreams.
But things don't always seem to go as planned. Her boyfriend, who was going with her, decided against the move. Now Kat's headed to the city, determined to tackle everything on her own. Can she make her dreams come true?
What kind of determination does it take to follow your own dreams? Kristen Kemp pens an emotionally charged tale of a girl doing everything in her power to hold on to her dreams, the only thing that makes sense in her life.
September 30, 2009
I really needed a young adult chick lit book. I know, I know, I should be reading titles for my committee, but sometimes a girl just needs a break! Kemp's novel was a little different. Cat Zappe (her name is really Junebug) heads to New York City on her own before she even graduates from high school. Her plans were to always head there after graduation with her grandmother and start their own clothing line, Breakfast. But those plans change when her stylish, eccentric grandmother dies suddenly. Cat is left with boxes of her grandmother's things, a boyfriend who dumps her, and unsurety. Somehow she has to make it. Through a strange network of friends and acquanitances, she makes it in NYC, even though her mother is wanting her to come back home.[return][return]I loved the Project Runway feel to the novel, but it might bore some readers. And Cat is quirky and the dialogue is stilted at times. And sometimes the girl just needs smacked for being rude! :) jk! But the cover is great. And it's about fashion. So give me more!
August 22, 2016
The main character wasn't very likable. The first time we see her, she is making awkward jokes at her grandmother's funeral. Then we find out she stole her best friend's boyfriend. He dumps her and she meets another guy (who has a girlfriend) and they end up LIVING together after meeting on a Greyhound. She takes a design class (that she never paid for). She wants to be a designer but keeps designing the same dress.
December 7, 2009
It was a nice book to read. I enjoyed reading it. I liked how even after her grandmother died she was so determined to follow their dream. It was inspiring to read from a first- persons point of view. I loved it and recommend it to anyone that has a dream, but isn't so sure if they should follow it.
December 31, 2013
The plot of this book was boring. Nothing climactic really happened. I admire the main character'a determination to follow her dream, but she obviously had some psychological problems and some dysfunctional relationships. So much of the book was focused on aspects of sewing, that I had a difficult time following and relating to it.
October 16, 2009
When Cat's grandma dies she heads to Manhattan to try and make their dream of designing a line of clothes and selling it at Bloomingdale's. Lots of drama in the city, while trying to survive and hide out from a mother that never wanted her in the first place. Even a reference to Tim Gunn.
June 8, 2012
It was okay. It had it's good moments, but not a lot of greats. It kind of meandered around and at the beginning kind of reminded me of thirteen little blue envelopes. It wasn't a terrible book, it just wasn't a great one.
October 3, 2007
this book is pretty good. it has some depressing thoughts in the book, but so far it is pretty good
February 28, 2008
What a waist of time!
Want to read
March 24, 2008Recommended at the March WASHYARG meeting. Girl attending NYC's Fashion Institute.
July 11, 2008
Hilarious. I loved the main character. The only reason I read it was because of the title and it turned out to be a WONDERFUL book.
July 19, 2008
When my sister got this book I didn't think it would be a good book but I was looking for a book to read and I came across this book and read it. It was a great book and I'm glad i read it.
July 12, 2009
I was so disappointed with this one! The plot was confusing and went nowhere and just the whole book was so boring and kind of pointless. I was really sad, because this one had a lot of potential!
October 6, 2011
Loved the fashion, hated the main character.
Read
July 30, 2011Read this while on vacation last week .... fun & a bit quirky with some teenage angst but I really liked the sewing/fashion angle of the story and the character of Cat did grow on me as I read.
June 10, 2012
This is the definition of hope and anxiety.
July 2, 2012
overall the book was good and suitable for young teens who arn`t into reading as much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews