Sydney Shag & THE SIRENS: Heavy on the Vodka and a Little Bit Dirty

by Cyndi Gryte

This is rock bottom. Sydney Shag is sure of it. Fresh on the heels of her high school boyfriend’s wedding (where everyone demands a do-over when she catches the bouquet) she receives an ominous letter from her ambitious eleven-year-old self causing her head to spin. Or, as WebMD would say, a HUGE panic attack. Things can’t get any worse…and that’s before she becomes a YouTube sensation for, well (smack face emoji).
Cue the Sirens—Sydney's fabulous drink-slinging friends. Sassy, full of moxie, and always up for another round, they help her realize that living up to her childhood dreams means facing some of her biggest fears.
Sydney Shag has parents who think she lives on the edge and a sister who wants to push her over one, but she’s determined to prove she’s just as good a Shag as the rest. (Er, you know what she means.) Can Syd break into a new career, save a hometown friend from a downward spiral, and even solve the case of a handsome mystery man who never seems more than two steps away?
With a pair of red-soled pumps, a vodka martini, and her sisterhood of Sirens, she might just pull it off.
Author Cyndi Gryte brings you a fresh, self-deprecating voice that straddles big city life, small town roots, big personalities, and best friends with hilarious observations, lovable insight and romantic antics akin to kissing a frog.

Genres: Fiction

498 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2019

About the author

Cyndi Gryte is a digital marketing and communications director who has worked in the fashion, fitness, and tech industries. Her hilarious adventures traveling nationwide and abroad slinging drinks for Coyote Ugly, self-deprecating humor, and love for entertaining have led to a laugh-out-loud debut novel and upcoming cocktail book. For cocktails, mocktails, and more (and the best background bits that reveal her Iowa roots and NYC exploits) visit cyndigryte.com

Reviews

[Avery Galles · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT A FUN BOOK!! Reminded me of sex in the city and I absolutely adored Sydney (I mean who wouldn’t!) A very easy read and a great rom com full of inside jokes, chaotic nights out, and amazing female friendships. Would recommend to anyone looking for a fun read!

[Rita Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Laugh out loud book that had me wondering what next for poor Sydney! Can’t wait for next book! And her next adventure!

[Gina1230 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this book in a goodreads giveaway
I was so looking forward to a book of humor, fun & a little something else. It just didn’t deliver and is the first book ever I did not finish. I read to 33% of the book and felt it was going nowhere and I didn’t even like the characters enough to read further

[Valerie Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, where to start... This story is cute, but it can be challenging to follow the timeline because one chapter you're reading May 25th the next May 27th then back to May 25th, then to another date, then back in time again... It's not chronological, and there is a lot of bouncing back and forth from the present to the past. Call me old fashion, but I like to read a story without having to plot a timeline to keep up. The story doesn't really pick up until a third, maybe halfway through the story. The beginning is just talking about how much the girls line dance, drink, and hang out. The sirens are a hilarious group of friends with some serious laugh out loud moments! They are a bit unrealistic beauty-wise with no imperfections, and they are all drop-dead gorgeous, getting hit on everywhere they go, but hey, this is a fiction novel. What do you expect? The main character, Sydney, is a mess, but past the point of believable or funny. She is constantly tripping and injuring herself. If the characters were dialed back just a bit but still colorful and fun, I would have enjoyed the story a bit more.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was well written but I couldn't relate to the characters. The build up took until past the middle of the book, I wondered why I was reading besides finding out how rich, beautiful and careless Sydney is. The second half of the book was better but there were still many unbelieveable scenarios. Dancing on the bar? OK I watched that movie. Pulling customers up to dance on the bar with you? I can't see that happening.

[Luke Stoffel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was super fun, and the tone of voice was absolutely adorable. I could just imagine my best girl friends getting into all this trouble, LOL. It was a fun read, I highly recommend it. Binged through the whole thing, perfect for a beach weekend read!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book - easy to read - read on the airplane from Au to US.