What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan?

What Happens To Men #1

by Jill Knapp

The question that 23-year old Amalia Hastings wants the answer to is: What happens to men when they move to Manhattan?

Life in the city gives Amalia a ride she is not expecting. As she tries to find her way on the little island that never sleeps, she discovers she has a harder time navigating through life then she does the streets of Greenwich Village and finds herself truly lost in the complex world of men, graduate school, money, family, and friendship.

She thought she had everything she wanted - a new apartment in Manhattan, a first-rate education at NYU, a group of trusted friends and Nicholas, a boyfriend who she once believed was her soul-mate. But somehow, it isn't enough.

Stumbling through her relationships, Amalia encounters Michael. An attractive classmate who quickly moves from being one of her close friends, to an inconsistent friend-with-benefits. After all, the only thing consistent about New York is its beauty.

After getting terribly lost searching for love in all the wrong places, Amalia finds herself torn between the possibility of a relationship, and an adventure she's been planning all along.
She eventually realizes that solely chasing love closes her off to all of the other good things life has to offer. Now she must decide - what is worth the chase?

Chase is the debut novel from author Jill Knapp-Zitron and the first in the Chase series of novels.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, New Adult, Fiction, Contemporary

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 28, 2013

About the author

Published by Harper Impulse/ Harper Collins, Jill Knapp is a native New Yorker who is the author of the series "What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan?" (formerly known as Chase) New Adult/ Women's Fiction.
Her latest novel, "You'll Find Me In Manhattan", is the final installment in the series.

She is a former adjunct professor of Psychology at her Alma Mater Kean University, she received a Masters degree in Psychology from the New School For Social Research in Manhattan.


In addition to writing, she competed in and taught figure skating for over a decade.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill Knapp has THREE eCopies up for grabs at Tome Tender!

International where allowed - Click on Banner to enter - Ends January 23, 2016

Remember your first real taste of freedom? How did you identify yourself? Were you a strong individual or were you like our main character, who defined her life by her relationships, particularly as being part of a couple? In the overwhelming world that is New York City, Amalia is faced with a hard truth, life isn’t as easy as she needed it to be, it was complex, there were too many distractions, too many decisions to be made. Amalia felt she needed a boyfriend in her life, for her, she wasn’t complete without “love.” When unceremoniously dumped by her longtime steady, she was lost, barely functioned and reached out to another male in an effort to fill the void left behind. Too bad he had a girlfriend, which sent her ping-ponging back and forth between self-loathing and the attraction she felt for Michael. For Amalia, she was lost in a world demanding she learn to prioritize her life before she was swallowed whole. It's sink or swim time for Amalia, she has choices to make. Will she learn to prioritize the values in friendships, love, education and her dreams?

Chase (What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan? #1) by Jill Knapp- tells a coming of age story with a crisp style that invites the reader into the world she has created, both mentally and emotionally. She has clearly defined an age that can be difficult for New Adults faced with the long awaited feeling of freedom, and finding it isn’t as freeing as they thought it would be. The mature relationships they thought they would have are barely different on the angst and confusion level than the ones in high school. Ms. Knapp-Zitron deftly maneuvers the fine line between a clichéd New Adult tale and a refreshing look at the pitfalls of facing the adult world without realizing the importance of making one’s own future dreams priorities now. Well written and completely engaging! For those who are living this point in their lives now or have long since passed through it, these characters and their lives are completely relatable. For those who will soon be in this position, it’s a thoughtful read with a message to share. When an author can engage their audience so completely and leave an imprint on their mind, they have done their job and done it well.

I received this copy from Jill Knapp-Zitron in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend Chase!

Series: Chase, Book One
Publication Date: December 4, 2013
Publisher: Jill Knapp-Zitron
Genre: New Adult Romance
Number of Pages: 214
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

[Kim Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

*********EDIT: Since i wrote the original review for this book I've had a brief correspondence with the Author who kindly advised me that this book will be part of a series. I think it's only fair that i update my review to reflect this information.

I do still feel that i struggled to relate to the characters in this book. Amalia's attitude was to act now & ask questions later, whereas I'm one of those woman that needs to ask questions and take control where i can. (I'm not a control freak i swear). Anyhow, if you combine that fact and that the book is also very fast paced, then of course it will leave me with more to desire.

I agree now that I know there will be future books in the series that you're not going to get all the answers at once. This book is laying the foundation for more books to come!

I pride myself in giving honest reviews, therefore although i have revised my review ever so slightly I still want to stick with my 3 star rating. I still feel this book wasn't for me. It had all the ingredients for a good book but when it came to trying it, it just wasn't right.

I know a lot of readers take other readers reviews into consideration when picking a book, however i would strongly suggest people read this book with fresh eyes, because although it wasn't for me it may be just right for you!

Thanks for reading **********

Chase by Jill Knapp Zitron.

Ok, so I received this e-book courtesy of Netgalley in return for an honest review. Here is a short description of the book:

"The question 23 year old Amalia is asking is: what happens to men when they move to Manhattan? She thought she had everything she needed to be so-called "happy" - a gorgeous apartment in Manhattan, a top-notch education at NYU, a group of trusted friends and Nicholas, a boyfriend who she believes is her soul-mate, but it isn't enough."

I've cut it short there because i don't think you'll get much from reading the full blurb. The actual blurb is slightly longer. I don't actually think this is an accurate description of the book. If you were to search it on GoodReads, the blurb implies that the book is based around a woman that goes on a search for more than just the average life. It irritates me that i was slightly mislead. Amalia isn't a particularly strong character, certainly not enough to complete a soul searching journey to discover the meaning of life without men.

I attempted to rewrite the blurb of this book and it felt like an impossible task. The reason for this, is because nothing really happens! I felt the story was weak, the writing inconsistent and as much as i wanted to like and relate to Amalia's heartbreak, i just found her irritating. It all just felt very disjointed and at times unrealistic. Why would someone break up with you for no reason?? Why would you not have necessary conversations? (Other than to keep the story going?) and finally, why don't you get answers?

I feel pretty harsh saying all this and I don't really enjoy giving negative reviews, however, a review's a review. I haven't exactly walked away from this book thinking i wasted my time because it was ok i guess... I think i was just too distracted by the stories inconsistencies and writing style to enjoy the story. I like to think I'm pretty easy going about my reading choices but something thats essential for me is to get answers and to feel connected to the characters and their story. Unfortunately, not much really happened in this book to make it an exceptional story and the writing barely skims the surface of "real" characters that i can relate too.

Overall i gave this book 3 stars. I say this book is ideal for you, if you want a quick read. However i wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book. I will however, keep an eye out for this author again as everyone deserves a second chance!

[Ylenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*

What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan? is a contemporary new adult. The book follows Amalia and her struggle with school, her love life and her family and it's set in Manhattan, New York.
Even though this novel started kind of slow after a few chapters I was totally in love with the main charater. For some reason I thought Amalia and I were quite similar.

I definitely related to a lot of things Amalia was going through. Also, the after-the-break-up scenes were so true and vivid that I remembered when it has happened to me. I wish I had a friend like Cassandra back in those times.
Besides Amalia and Cassandra I "disliked" most of the characters: Nicholas was such a jerk and Micheal was just weak and a little empty on the inside (I'm not a great fan of cheaters).

I also really loved the writing style; this book was funny and a pleasure to read. I loooooved this book so much I would probably recommend it to everyone.

[Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be young, single and living in New York City, author Jill Knapp Zitron gives you an ideal in her debut novel, CHASE.

The story follows the life and loves of 23-year-old Amalia Hastings for a brief time in her quest for happiness. Amalia believes she’s happy. She is getting the education she wants at NYU, she has a gorgeous apartment, great friends, and a handsome boyfriend, Nickolas, who treats her amazingly.

But things begin to change and Amalia isn’t so sure she’s completely happy. Her classmate Michael catches her attention and she realizes she has feelings for him. As she prepares for a lengthy summer trip, she’s dumped by Nickolas, who has suddenly lost all feelings for her. Amalia has to find what truly makes her happy as she struggles for balance in her life.

The author illustrates how living in the city can effect one’s behavior and attitude, along with the relationships they encounter. Zitron has created energetic, likable characters dealing with life’s real problems.

Zitron’s vivid descriptions places the reader in the middle of New York City’s hustle and bustle. She draws the reader in as she captures the flavor of the city and its people. She blends friendship, love, and learning to overcome heartache into a well-balanced story.

Enlightening and entertaining, CHASE is a fun read with lovable characters.

FTC Full Disclosure - A digital copy of this book was sent to me by a book promoter in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the cover of Chase, and the description on the back had me intrigued, so I was very much looking forward to reading it!

23 year old Amalia thought she had everything she wanted – an apartment in Manhattan, a top education at NYU, her group of friends, and her boyfriend Nicholas, who she did believe was her soulmate. But it seems that everything isn’t perfect, and Amalia is soon drawn to Michael, an attractive classmate. But what will truly make Amalia happy?

I enjoyed the setting of New York, it is a place I would TRULY love to visit, and so to read about it was wonderful. Jill helped to bring the place to life for me and it felt as though I was on the streets on New York with Amalia as I was reading.

I liked Amalia, she was truthful and honest and it made the book really refreshing to read. I really believed in Amalia as a character and I was interested to read more about her and continue on her journey. Being a similar age to Amalia, I really felt I could relate to her and I definitely could relate to parts of her story, like wanting to be young and adventurous but at the same time having the responsibilities in life too.

Chase is a fun, entertaining story and I am really looking forward to seeing what Jill brings out next!

[T.B. Markinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

CHASE is a coming of age story. Amalia is a graduate student in New York City, which by the way is one of my favorite cities. New Adult novels can be tricky to write. The author needs to stay clear of cardboard characters and just rehashing the same plot lines from previous novels. This doesn’t mean that a writer has to reinvent the wheel. What it means is creating believable characters. Many of us go through familiar growing pains. There’s no need to come up with some bizarre story to make it fresh. Characters matter. If you have strong characters, including minor characters, the story will pop off the page instead of fade into the background. That is what Jill Knapp has accomplished. I felt invested in Amalia’s story, hence I wanted to know what happened. Readers wonder how authors come up with stories. The real question, in my mind, is how they create characters that are people. People that we might know in real life or want to know. That’s the key to good storytelling.

[Laurie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a young woman, struggling to find her place in life. She's learning that as we age, people change, our tastes change, everything changes. After a breakup, she decides it's time to find herself in life.

Let me first say that this is not my typical genre. I don't read cute, sweet books. I read erotic romance mostly, those with a little dark side. I wanted to step out of my box a bit and this was a good read. The book was well written and flowed well. I enjoyed all of the characters in the book and they felt real to me. The book also brought back many memories of that transitional phase of my like many moons ago. If you are a YA fan, I really believe you will enjoy this book.

This book does end in a bit of a cliffy but I am sure we will find out all about Amalia's adventures in the next book.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is first in a series. Amalia is a 23 year old living in Manhattan and going to ‘Grad’ school. She wants to enjoy life and thinks she has it all with her boyfriend- but he doesn’t agree. Their break up really hurts. The characters are so well written that they all bring something to the story- even when they are frustrating!
The book centres around her relationships- she needs to decide what or who exactly she is looking for. She likes Michael- her classmate. Will the attraction be mutual?
Single life in the city- wealthy friends- what more could a girl want?
I look forward to reading more in the series
With many thanks to Net Galley for a copy of the book to review.

[Danielle B · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young adult living in New York it's nice to read a book about just that. A 23 year old girl who is just trying to keep it together. This age is such an awkward time. Stuck in the middle between a young girl just wanting to have fun and a woman having to show responsibility. I also connected to Amalia's search to balance home life with wanting to experience new things. I truly enjoy Jill Knapp Zitron's writing style. There is a coolness to it that makes reading easy and seamless. Lovely book!

[Bodicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really fun read. I never knew dating in New York was so complicated. Amalia is a great character who shows us her flaws and deals with them as she grows in the story. Both Nicholas and Michael give her mixed messages but I loved the way she eventually handled the men in her life…it was a real ‘Go Girl!’ moment. My favourite character was Cassandra; feisty and fabulous. I think she needs a book of her own!

Well written, nicely paced and full of great characters this is a great debut novel and perfect to read over the coming Easter holiday.

[Sara Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book! It is a story about a very relatable young woman who is trying to navigate life and love. I had a hard time putting it down, especially toward the end! I would recommend this book without a doubt!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It held my attention throughout the whole story. I loved all of the characters. The ending was perfect, and I can't wait to read more of her work.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're like me and you've always wondered what it would be like to live in New York then this book is for you.

Twenty three year old Amelia Hastings guides you through the ups and downs of living on the little island that never sleeps.

Amelia thought she had it all, a boyfriend, best friends, an amazing apartment, an education.

However after being dumped by her seemingly perfect boyfriend Nicholas, Amelia now finds herself day dreaming about her friend and classmate Michael. She has always had feelings for Michael but now that Nicholas is out of the picture will she finally take a shot and see where things lead?

While juggling school, friends, heartbreak and love Amelia gives you an insight into the life of a true New Yorker.

This book was like a breathe of fresh air. While the main characters life is far from perfect the writing never came off as overly dramatic or whiny.

Too often I read a book and find that while the main character is amazing the sub characters seem to be nothing but 'fillers'. People to just get us from one page to the next. This book is filled with characters that, while didn't have a huge part, still caught my attention and kept it. They were interesting, engaging, unique and they came to life on the pages before my eyes.

Jill Knapp description of city life and the people who dwell within it are exquisite. I felt like I was right there along side Amelia and her friends, walking to class, riding the subway, shopping and cramming for final exams while eating cold take out and drinking wine.

I look forward to the next book in the series and I can't wait to see where Amelia's journey will take us next.

Until next time,
Ginger

GingerReader22.blogspot.com

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review.
My review is my honest opinion.

[HerbookList · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If you are supposed to be with someone, you won't have to chase them."

There's something to be said about chasing guys? We women never chase the safe one, the soft-hearted ones, we chase the head-ache inducing idiots. Aamalia Hastings has a perfectly safe boyfriend, Nicholas however she is in love with Micheal, the guy who seems too perfect.

We meet her as a hangover student living in a plush city, she's relatively similar to so many student, confused, constantly rushing around and generally living life. I have a soft spot for this book for the simple reason that not so long ago I was in a similar position, facing similar decisions, running around Sheffield with my head in the sky in love with a moron. This book should read as a cliche, it wasn't. It is a coming of age story about a young woman with the world at her feet mooning over the small aspects of her life. It was a breath of fresh air, a new voice that wasn't tedious or over dramatic.

The author's voice is refreshing, very current and void of banality.This is New Adult done right. Forget the cheesy Anastasia Steels, this was a genuine character in believable scenarios. This author has a very mature approach, her book is truthful and reminded me of how foolish I was not so long ago. I felt a connection with Amalia (I was not a fan of the name and had to come to terms with it) but I loved her simplicity as a character, she is an all American twenty something and ultimately this make her very relatable. Chase was a lovely read, made me laugh and miss my University days. There is a sense of freedom with Manhattan, it made me want to skip and hop around in the rain. I would highly recommend this.

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

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?

[Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick read, great for those who enjoy Sex in the City.
Amalia tells us a story of being young and living in a big city. The highs and lows of friendships and relationships. There are a variety of characters and her views and realizations about people as she steps out of one relationship into the world of dating and friendship.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable piece about modern romance in NYC and an insight into a generation following me. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but will be something you keep reading even when you get off the plane.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I made it to 63% and I'm throwing in the towel. I genuinely tried to finish it, but with four books in my immediate TBR pile (including one that is due back at the library in two days), I had to call it quits. Spoilers ahoy.

There are three main reasons that I gave up on this book.

#1: The main character, Amalia, is completely unlikeable, and in a new-adult-coming-of-age book, the "characters don't have to be likable!" excuse doesn't work for me. Amalia is living in an apartment described as being practically palatial: "The deep mahogany floors, paired with the brand new appliances in the kitchen, were the envy of every young New Yorker south of 23rd Street." Her explanation for being able to live in the grad-school-student equivalent of Trump Tower? "I took out extra student loans and put them towards the rent of the apartment. I just really wanted to live here, and it seemed like a good idea at the time...Also, my parents help me out. Just a little though!" That smack you just heard was every twenty-ish (well really, any age) Manhattanite slapping the hell out of Amalia. I won't even touch her penchant for designer duds. After being dumped by her boyfriend, she wallows pitifully (or maybe she was unconscious) in bed for a week (yes, a FULL WEEK), putting Bella Swan to shame. No, seriously:

"You're gone. Not a moment has passed in the two weeks we have been apart that I haven't thought of you. It doesn't make any sense. Nothing makes sense anymore. Amalia."

#2: There are several punctuation errors, but more frighteningly, WORD errors that any good editor should have caught. "I couldn't stay in bed today; today I had a midterm. A midterm covering every monochrome of material we had covered in class starting from the first day." I'm pretty sure she meant to say "modicum," unless Amalia switched over to studying photography during her week in bed and I somehow missed it.

#3: In the "show verses tell" battle, tell is winning, hands-down. There is some good dialogue, yes, but then we hit a brick wall with passages like this: "I had to dress warmly, since it was the end of December and thirty degrees outside. I threw on leggings with yoga pants over them, a sports bra, a tank top, a long sleeved shirt, and an Under Armor sweatshirt over the entire ensemble. I grabbed my iPod out of my purse, slipped on my sneakers, and bolted outside." DO. NOT. CARE. I felt as though I were being read to, and my attention wandered as a result.

If the author happens to read this review, I genuinely hope that she understands I do not intend it out of any sense of dislike toward her...I really thought this book had potential and I was extremely excited to start it (I LOVE NYC!). Unfortunately, I just gave up because I simply didn't care about the characters or their travails (...whatever they were...) any longer. If the author hooked up with an excruciatingly honest editor, this book could easily bounce from a two-star to a four-star for me.

I did see another reviewer say that this book is meant to be the first of a series...I would strongly urge the author to tighten THIS book up before continuing, to keep the readers engaged and eager to follow Amalia on her journey.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was initially drawn to this book for two reasons; the beautiful cover, and the word Manhattan. I am ever so slightly obsessed with New York and so the thought of a book set there really appealed to me. But within the first couple of chapters I knew I would love the book, because of the storyline and characters. It is brilliantly written and has, in my opinion a great balance of fun and emotion.

The book follows Amalia who is studying in Manhattan and has recently moved into a new apartment. When we meet Amalia she is dating Nicholas whom she has been with for a few years. However, as with some of the best books, love never runs smoothly. The other main male character is Michael who she studies with. Michael also has a girlfriend but there is an undeniable spark between him and Amalia. Could there be a love triangle ahead??? I will let you guess!

We also meet Olivia and Cassandra who are Amalia's best friends. Just like Amalia and Michael, they also have love problems and like most 23 year olds are still discovering who they are, and all the fun that life has to offer. I loved the ladies, as they felt like real friends who had each others backs and would be shoulders to cry on any time, day or night. It was obvious early on that Cassandra's boyfriend was just playing her along and I wanted to get in and shake her to wake up and smell the coffee. Then there was Olivia and her secret rendezvous. It made the characters feel more vulnerable and real.

As a reader I enjoyed the style of writing. The chapters are relatively short and snappy which I enjoy as it allows you to flit between times and scenes easily. It also in theory means you can pick it up when you have a spare ten minutes...although I was addicted so didn't put it down too often.

I was able to build up a clear picture in my mind of each of the characters. I loved the whole Sex and the City era and I could almost see these lot as younger versions of in a similar kind of show. All the dilemmas and affairs of the heart whilst trying to study and have fun too. If I could turn back the clock I would love to life like this for a while. Ok, I admit the fantasy of living in a nice apartment in Manhattan helps fuel my desire too.

I at times could relate to how Amalia was feeling and I felt like I wanted to go in as another character and attempt to lead her away from making what I felt would be mistakes. I felt protective towards her and wanted to go bar hopping.

If I had been more observant I would have seen that this is part one of a series. When I realised this at the end I was delighted. There is so much depth to the characters, and so many adventures and twists and turns that could take place I will definitely be interested to watch them develop. It was also great that, by creating a series the author didnt feel like they have to cram everything into this book and the ending is actually very open. It has set me up perfectly for the installment....I really cannot wait to see what happens next!!

Thank you to Harper Impulse for a copy in return for an honest review.

[Kyle Wendy Skultety (gimmethatbook.com) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on my blog www.gimmethatbook.com.

Amalia Hastings is happy. She’s attending graduate school in Manhattan, her relationship with her college boyfriend Nicholas is going strong, and she feels as though the world is her oyster. So far, she has been able to ignore the growing feeling that she has a crush on her friend Michael. However, when you are 23 years old, things are not always what they seem to be, and changes can happen fast. This book is first in a series about Amalia and her best friend Cassandra chasing love, life, and dreams in the Big Apple.

Jill Knapp brings the city of Manhattan alive with details only a seasoned New Yorker would be familiar with. Place names, brand names, and pop culture are all name dropped and referenced on almost every page. As I read, I truly felt as if I were on the streets of Greenwich Village with Amalia, experiencing the seasons:

“When you’re in Manhattan, it seems like you never really notice a nice day. The only sign of it is when restaurants open their side doors, and allow for outdoor seating. That’s about it.”

Getting your hair done at a chic salon:

“When we finally got to the salon, I was bombarded with over-friendly, and overly thin, employees who quickly offered me everything from a bone dry cappuccino, to what I was pretty sure was an offer of Quaaludes. I settled for the coffee and sat idly by as Cassie brought over an obviously gay hair stylist. ….They chattered in Italian and ran their fingers through my hair like I was their My Size Barbie.”

What St Patricks’ Day really means:

“The streets of the Village has transformed into a David Lynch movie. People looked way too happy. The happiness was undoubtedly due to the copious amounts of alcohol people were consuming all day…. To New Yorkers, St Patty’s Day commemorates green beer, shots of Jameson, and scantily clad girls wearing what can only be described as sequined cocktail napkins designed to make them resemble sexy leprechauns (if there ever was such a thing).”

Amalia, Olivia, Alex, Cassandra, Michael and Nicholas all seem authentically young/hip/collegiate. Each has their own set of problems, and there are a few subplots that highlight the struggle of dating in a city that never sleeps. We get to meet Amalia’s dyfunctional family, sympathize as no nonsense professors pile on the work, and feel the outrage at the bizarre antics of guys who trifle with girl’s hearts. Knapp’s writing is tight and humorous, and I never felt as if the characters were in improbable situations.

Self discovery is the theme here, as we watch Amalia weather a few romantic storms. This is the first book in a series, and it ends with Amalia leaving for a trip to Brazil. No spoilers–it’s mentioned throughout the book. Who will she choose upon her return? Will her friendships still be as tight? You can find out on 11/20/2014, when book # 2, We’ve Always Got New York, comes out. Check out my post on the cover reveal.

[Jacqueline Carvell · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more of my reviews please visit my blog http://thereadersroost.wordpress.com

I received a e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Jill Knapp and HarperCollins.

“What Happens…” is a contemporary coming of age story about Amalia Hastings, a 20-something girl living in Manhattan and attending grad-school. I was so excited to read this as I love anything set in New York. I’m obsessed with the place (flight ticket donations accepted ;) I will get there one day! ).

Now I have a confession. Chick-lit isn’t always my favourite genre to read. I get tired of the ‘damsel-in-distress’, weak and helpless women portrayed in some books. This novel, however, got me hooked straight away and I could hardly tear myself away from my Kindle. Amalia, Cassandra and Olivia are sassy, strong ladies who, despite having the odd man-related blip, really seem to have their shit together. The lifestyle these girls have made me really wish I was a friend of theirs. Going to expensive clothing stores, flashy clubs and stylish restaurants. Cassie’s high paying job – who wouldn’t want that? The only people I was kind of indifferent to, were Amalia’s housemates, Liz and Christina. There really wasn’t anything likable about them, or even anything to hugely dislike. They were rather bland.

In contrast to the young women in the book, most of the guys (with the exception of Amalia’s brother) act like complete asses. I guess that’s the whole point of the title though. Nicholas, who starts off as the textbook perfect boyfriend, is transformed into a stereotypical yuppie. Bryce just made me want to slap him and Michael was a selfish jerk who seemed to improve towards the end. I look forward to the next book in the series to see how he turns out. Alex, we didn’t really hear much about so I can’t really say if he was any better than the others.

As a main character, I really love Amalia. I got totally invested in her and really related to some of the situations she ended up in. Her break up was very real and raw and I could almost feel her hurting. The confusing situation with Michael is something I think most girls would would be able to empathise with. I even found myself rooting for her when she was sitting exams! I was heartbroken when her parents forgot she was coming home. I had huge amounts of empathy for her there, having useless parents myself (yay for grandparents! :D ). The plot flowed nicely and there really wasn’t a part of the book that struggled to keep my interest.The ending made me want to reach into the book and high-five Amalia! She matured so much throughout the year and I think the end was the cherry on top of the cake for her. I could almost hear her humming Destiny’s Child ‘Independent Women’!

I’m going to give ‘What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan?’ a strong 4 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed the story and cannot wait for the next installment of the ‘What Happens…’ series.

[Charl · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I must say a big thank you to the lovely Jill Knapp for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for a bunch of my words and sentences.

This is actually a little gem of a story, ideal for chick-lit lovers out there.

As you’ve probably guessed, What Happens to Men When They Move to Manhattan? is very relationship/men orientated, which is what this kind of genre is known for. Most people wouldn’t pick What Happens to Men up expecting a deeply philosophical view on life, and in many respects it is exactly what you would expect. There’s the cute love interests and all of the confusing and exciting possibilities which that entails – standard, slightly predictable fare which isn’t a bad thing - yet we’re also presented with the complexities of friendship in the modern world. It’s very Sex and the City in terms of examining the dynamics of both relationships and friendships which dominate the lives of people in their twenties. The author does a really good job of striking a realistic balance between the two and making the story relevant and accessible.

Following on from this, another aspect which I really enjoyed was the path of discovery which Amalia finds herself on, without being consciously aware of it. Again, this is so relatable! Her discovery that not everybody is what they seem – that people and circumstances inevitably change over time – is such a horribly hard thing to accept in life and I think Jill absolutely nails that dawning realization.

There were a couple of occasions where Amalia’s personality grated on me slightly, but overall I reckon she’s a good representation of a girl in her early twenties who is trying to figure life out (that’s coming from this girl in her twenties, the ideal age demographic). In terms of the male characters, they’re fairly varied yet it didn’t feel like there was *the* guy to swoon over which isn’t as counterproductive as you may think. Not having a cast-iron “perfect” romantic interest actually prevents distraction from Amalia’s overall story, rather than constantly drawing attention to her love life over anything else.

Jill Knapp certainly knows how to create a well-rounded scene. The descriptions are very good, emotions are eloquently captured and Amalia’s thoughts are well explained. No complaints at all on that score. There does potentially need to be more work on the spoken conversation as this doesn’t always match up, but all-in-all I was impressed with the skill shown in Jill Knapp’s writing.

My only major qualm is the length of the story, purely because I wanted to get to know the characters a little better. The ending is somewhat abrupt and of the cliffhanger variety, but it does leave plenty of options for the sequels.

Overall: A quick and easy yet surprisingly in-depth and captivating read.

*This review was also posted over at https://miscrawl.wordpress.com/

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m usually a bit hesitant when it comes to reading US YA novels as being from the UK I sometimes worry that I wouldn't be able to relate to the story, the culture or the places mentioned, and in turn not enjoy the book in the way that I should, but I did not have a problem relating to Amalia or New York at all. Although I've never been (but am desperate to go), the way Jill has written the story means that you don’t have to be familiar with America at all, the places she mentions are well known throughout the world, as is the music and everything else is a chance to learn as you are reading. This book reminded me a lot of Sex and The City as the lives of the characters in the book are similar to those in SATC.

I loved this book, it was such a quick and easy read with an incredible flowing story. I got completely sucked into the storyline and Amalia’s life, I loved that it is just centered around her love life, chasing things that she thinks she wants and in the end realising what she really does want and the things she needs to give up on. This book is so real and uses real life experiences that are very common.

I related to Amalia so much with the fact that she just wanted to fit in and be liked and lots of bad things just keep happening to her through no fault of her own. Her boyfriend whom she thought was ‘the one’ dumps her and then when she thinks she’s in love again he turns out to be a complete idiot. She learns a lot of life lessons throughout the book and just gets stronger and stronger as a woman and character. She is not afraid to admit her mistakes and I love the scenes in the book where she tells people exactly how she feels and what she thinks of them!

Another good thing about this book is that you really get to know her friends, which often doesn't happen, and each of their very different but great personalities, you felt as though they were as much main characters as Amalia was. I loved how different they all were but all came together for their friend when she needed them most. I think Cassandra would have to be my favourite though as she was much more eccentric than the others and buys the best Christmas gifts haha!

I don’t want to say too much about this book because it is amazing and I think everybody should get a copy when it is released in July! I know I am definitely going to get another copy!

The ending of the book was so unexpected and it leaves you completely unaware what is going to happen next, which leaves the perfect opening for book 2! I can’t wait to see what happens when Amalia returns in the next book, will she get back together with Nicholas? Will Michael turn out to be a nice guy after all?

Thank you to Jill for sending me a review copy of this wonderful book. This book gets a well deserved 5 out of 5 stars!

[Kiran.kap · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading novels written by authors from the Stateside, they offer a unique and fresh perspective and are somehow more honest and frank (no offence meant to British writing). An amazing new writing talent to watch out from the States is Jill Knapp and if you are a fan of Sex and the City and Rom Com movies, then you will absolutely love ‘Chase’.

‘Chase’ is the story of Amalia Hastings, a 23 year old Jersey Girl, who has moved to Manhattan to study in NYU but is finding the life and men in particular, fickle in her newly adopted city. The reader is also introduced to Amalia’s close friends Cassandra and Olivia who have ‘man problems’ of their own. Cassandra is oblivious and on occasion tolerant of her boyfriend Bryce’s wandering eye, but how long will it be before she wakes up to his misdemeanour’s? Meanwhile, Olivia is having a clandestine relationship with a man who may be out of bounds for her.

I really enjoyed reading Amalia and her friends’ story and this novel provided a keen insight into the Manhattan culture. Also, what made the book unique for me was the ending (you, dear reader must read the novel to find out what it is).

Amalia is a strong heroine, period. She learns a lot of life lessons throughout the novel and faces one relationship catastrophe after another. When her boyfriend of many years, Nicholas decides to break off their relationship, straight after her birthday, in the aftermath of a huge fight, she is left feeling lost. This leads her into an ill-advised relationship with her classmate and friend Michael, someone who she has found attractive for a long time. An added complication is that Michael already has a girlfriend and appears to be leading Amalia on.

As a reader, you know where all of this is headed but kudos to the writer for creating a heroine who makes the mistakes that anyone would make in the situation described and but rises through all of this, battle scarred and bruised but wiser and determined to pursue what she really wants in life. She is unashamedly honest, forefront and a true realist. She makes mistakes but she is not scared to admit to them. She is proud of what she is and likes to keep it ‘real’. I especially like one of the scenes in the novel, where she tells her ex-boyfriend exactly what she thinks of his pretentious new attitude and lifestyle!

Most of the men described in the novel are not very likeable….however there are more instalments in the Chase series which I am definitely looking forward to reading to know more about the adventures of Amalia and her friends and hope that we will see male characters as amazing as the female ones!

This novel is well worth reading and gets a well-deserved four and a half stars from me.

[Yani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check my blog review here!


This was entitled Chase. It has a better cover than now. I frankly do not like the title because it is too long and also the cover. I am sort of confused to what title suits better for the book. I am bit disappointed with the latter because it is really a good book that I rate it four and a half stars.

New York, Manhattan, The City That Never Sleeps—who could not think to live in this so-called perfect place? But to Amalia Hastings, the men that come to the city are deemed to be despicable. Amalia is sympathetic, overly dramatic, frayed, a bit dippy, makes risky options but an adorable character. She has it all. What I detest on her part is that she is closer to her best friend's parents than her own. I am hooked and keen to know what Amalia does next.

The BFF of Amalia, Cassandra, is the best friend you would really want to have for the rest of your life. She always know the best interests of your heart. On Olivia, I found her daunting but it fled away as the story goes.

There is really wrong with the men on this book as I knew it already from the title. Beyond my expectations, the male characters surprised me, I hardly like them. They were idiots. Their flaws are legion, hidden beneath their calendered facings.

What I learned from what I read are LIES from douche bags: LIES, darling.
"Amalia, you're the one."
Baby.
"I'm all yours."
And I crown the dumbest of them all: "You're gone. Not a moment has passed in the two weeks we have been apart that I haven't thought of you. It doesn't make any sense. Nothing makes sense anymore. Amalia." I could not understand why someone like Amalia and Cassandra was involved with *ssh*l*s.

I want to read a book of Alex and Olivia. Weeks already pass since I finished reading Chase and I still think of them both. What happened to those two? Did their relationship worked? *Sigh.*

There are lots of characters to get interested in. Also, relationships and unparalleled attributes to understand. The characters are smooth and their duologue are brisk and amusing. The story left me hanging because it has lots of enigmas but it was honest and has endless diverseness. But it was naturalistic with real issues that young ladies that have just finished college have to face.

Chase gives the reader an interesting snippet of big city life and shows how it raises or spifflicates the individual it attracts. It clearly outlined an eld that can be unmanageable with the long awaited notion of freedom and searching it is not as absolving as they think it would be. "Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but will be something you keep reading."

[Sophie (Blogger) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Jill asked me to review What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan?, I knew I would love this book, with the location and plot I was not disappointed. Amalia life is quite perfect, with her lovely understanding boyfriend, great apartment in an amazing location (forgetting the fact that she can't really afford it, thank goodness she is sharing with two other people!) and great friends as well.
Then, in the matter of weeks Amalia's life changes, she goes from having a boyfriend to being single, something she hasn't been in years, but to make matters worst it is on her birthday as well. But she has Cassandra and Olivia to drag her from her bed and back to class and the real world. Graduate school was nothing like Amalia thought it would be, so having Olivia, Michael and Alex there with her makes it a little bit more bearable.
You get the feeling quite early on in the book that there is flirty behaviour between Michael and Amalia but neither of them do anything about it given they were both in relationships. It doesn't take much to change their relationship after Amalia's relationship falls apart, one night together and their relationship and friendship is completely changed.
There is also drama with Cassandra's new boyfriend, Olivia hiding a secret and of course Alex is the same old player he always was. I loved the friendship that Amalia has with both Cassandra and Olivia, they both know her so well and I loved how much they helped and supported her throughout the book.
There are a lot of holidays celebrated throughout the book, covering the whole year, my favourite would read about would have had to been Christmas and St Patrick's Day, as I loved meeting Amalia's brother and St Patrick's Day was pretty eventful as well.
What Happens To Me When They Move To Manhattan is a fun, modern telling of dating, grad-school and friendships, all while living in Manhattan. With it's charming tales, it is the perfect book to read, it has everything you could want and more.
I loved Cassandra, from Amalia's description of her and her expensive shoes, I could really imagine her and me being really great friends, just as long as she would let me borrow them once in a while. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Manhattan, been in bad relationships and loves a bit of flirting as this book would definitely put a smile on their face.
If I had to sum this book up in three words they would be Captivating, Sensational and Faultless.

[Terry Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

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. I was surprised to see that it's published by Harper Impulse, ie, traditionally published, as there are a fair few grammatical errors (for instance, several 'Michael/Nicholas and I' that should be 'Michael/Nicholas and me', which is a particular 'grrr' of mine!), and I thought it needed a bit of tightening up generally. 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, an 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, enjoyed 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!

[Alba · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this copy from Jill Knapp-Zitron in exchange for my honest review. So here it goes!


Amalia appears to have everything she ever wanted: a great appartment in the Greenwich Village, good friends, a perfect boyfriend and even a wonderful trip to Brazil all lined up. But when her boyfriend decides to dump her for no apparent reason she realises life wasn't so perfect as she had thought. Her roommates are kind of annoying, her best friend is going out with a douchebag and doesn't want to see it, her other friends seem to have their own problems and secrets, uni is not as interesting as she expected and she finds herself drawn to her gourgeous and intelligent friend Michael (who happens to have a girlfriend and no clear intentions about their relationship).

So what is the young Amalia going to do? Be a grown-up, make her own decisions and face life or sleep, cry and let Michael use her for sex?

We all feel kind of lost at this age (early twenties): after graduating, what do you do, a master's degree or look for a (probably unpaid) job? What if you start something and then hate it? After being in a relationship for a long time, who are you by yourself? At this age you need to discover who you really are and what you want to do for your life. For some people is quite easy but for others, like Amalia, it takes a while.

What I liked about this book is that it expresses really well how difficult this process of discovering oneself can be, specially when you are used to be part of a couple and your self-steem is not where it should be. Moreover, it is fun to read and it happens in New York (what's there not to love?).

What I didn't like about this book is that it is not always clear why some things happen. For example, why Nick dumps Amalia or why her family feels so detached to her. It would have been nice to have more background and insight in Amalia's life and family to understand her better.

And remember, this is the first book of a series so don't expect a happy-ever-after kind of ending. There's more to come! I want to conclude saying that, in my opionion, it is a good book but not a great book. So don't expect to be blown away!

[Margaret Madden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from BleachHouseLibrary.Blogspot.ie

I was sent a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review......

Amalia Hastings has it all. She is living the dream in Manhattan with a perfect boyfriend, great apartment, good friends and she's doing well in Grad School. Things couldn't be better. Or could they? Her college friend, Michael, is causing some feelings within her that throws doubt into the mix. All this, and she's only 23 years old. She begins to wonder what direction she should take, and with her best friend Cassandra by her side , she points herself toward the unknown....

Jill Knapp-Zitron has written a modern day look at life in Manhattan, with a touch of the Sex and the City about it. It looks at relationships between friends, as well as lovers, and also examines the effect Manhattan can have on some people. The skyline is high, the city never sleeps and there is such a diverse mix of residents. Amalia has not moved far, having grown up on Long Island but she rarely returns to her hometown. Money does not seem to be an issue, which is not really explained (other than saying her parents help her out a little ) and she has a fantastic social life. Her friend, Cassandra, sounds like an ideal friend. Honest, generous and available. She also has Amalia's back, which is what a true friend is for. The mutual attraction between Amalia and Michael oozes from the pages of the book and you can almost feel the tension at times. This is similar to a Mr. Big story-line and one minute you think they should be together, while the next you are wishing Amalia would get a grip!
I understand this is part one of a series, so I am really looking forward to the next installment. I hope we hear more from Amalia's parents as they seem quirky and unusual. Cassandra was another character I hope to hear more from. A feisty girl with a heart of gold.

This is up to date chick-lit. Sharp, sassy and fun. A few unanswered questions, but that's what makes you want to read the rest of the series. No release date for the next installment yet, but will keep you posted!

[Jane Linfoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the way from New York - a perfect piece of Manhattan

I have to say, I LOVE this book. When it dropped into my mail box I was half way through an Amazon top #10 book, so I promised myself I’d only have a peep at the first page... But once I’d started reading it I couldn’t put it down, and I was more than happy with my swap.
Jill Knapp’s story is cool yet very classy. The story centres around Amalia and her circle of graduate school friends, housemates and boyfriend(s), in New York. The settings are awesomely described and evocative, and Jill paints a fabulous picture of student life. She has a great eye for detail, and her emotional descriptions are spot on, but although her observations are meticulous and her characters and actions are drawn with satisfying depth, her writing is still deliciously light, and very easy to devour... A bit like a giant tub of Haagen dazs, it’s a) totally moreish, b)unputdownablem (is that even a word? It is now) - and c)something every girl should taste.
As well as having a fab time hanging out with Amalia and her friends, I especially enjoyed the chapter headings, but most of all I liked the wonderful understated humour.
“even through wet eyes, I could see how cute he was...”, “dinner went by in a blur of wine and carbohydrates...”, “....he belonged to someone else. I was renting him, well more of an illegal sublet kind of situation”....
There is just so much to love in this book.
Whether it’s parents nailing you in conversation to ask if you still carried your pepper spray in the subway, or the thought process justifying spending 300$ on a dress, or getting drunk on green wine at a St Patrick’s party whilst not wearing leprechaun buckles and thigh highs, Jill captures the thrills, spills and reality checks of growing into your twenties with an honesty which is by turn wry and exuberant. I also appreciated that the message in the end is to be true to yourself, and never accept less than you deserve, especially where guys are concerned.
I understand this is the first in a series. I can’t wait for the next book.