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The Perfect Manhattan
Meet Cassie Ellis—a young college graduate with the world on a string, a yen for screenwriting, and a need for fast cash to pay off her student loans. Eager to avoid the lucrative snooze-fest of a reliable consulting job, she shocks everyone she knows by opting for a sexier, more flexible mixing drinks. Never mind that she doesn’t know single-malt whiskey from Jack Daniel’ she’s eager to learn. And under the tutelage of a sexy Soho bar owner, she’s soon cranking out three-olive martinis with the city’s glitterati fifteen-deep at the bar—all while angling for tips, fielding bad pick-up lines, and trying to keep up with the other bartenders who party as hard as their stylish clientele.
When Cassie accepts a summer gig bartending in the Hamptons, New York’s most elite summer destination, she finds herself catapulted into a whirlwind of dazzling celebrity and over-the-top wealth unlike anything she’s ever seen. Life behind the velvet rope is hard to resist, especially when she finds herself falling for a Hamptons hottie named James. But as the summer progresses, and she finds herself surrounded by playboys, moguls, spoiled rich kids, and Paris Hilton clones in strappy stilettos, she soon wonders if playing the ersatz socialite—while actually trying to make a living—is more than she bargained for.
Drawn from the authors’ own experiences as bartenders in the thick of New York’s party scene, The Perfect Manhattan is a perfect mix of sparkling social satire, romance, comedy, and scandal that provides a fast-paced, enormously entertaining look inside the life on the chichi side of the tracks.
When Cassie accepts a summer gig bartending in the Hamptons, New York’s most elite summer destination, she finds herself catapulted into a whirlwind of dazzling celebrity and over-the-top wealth unlike anything she’s ever seen. Life behind the velvet rope is hard to resist, especially when she finds herself falling for a Hamptons hottie named James. But as the summer progresses, and she finds herself surrounded by playboys, moguls, spoiled rich kids, and Paris Hilton clones in strappy stilettos, she soon wonders if playing the ersatz socialite—while actually trying to make a living—is more than she bargained for.
Drawn from the authors’ own experiences as bartenders in the thick of New York’s party scene, The Perfect Manhattan is a perfect mix of sparkling social satire, romance, comedy, and scandal that provides a fast-paced, enormously entertaining look inside the life on the chichi side of the tracks.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
33 people are currently reading
578 people want to read
About the author
Leanne Shear
6 books5 followersLeanne Shear grew up in Buffalo, NY and attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she worked for two years while going to school as a staff aide to then-mayor (and now PA governor) Ed Rendell. She currently resides in New York City, where she is a writer, Master's degree candidate (studying Politics and Culture), and Newington-Cropsey Fellow at NYU's Gallatin School.
The Perfect Manhattan—a novel she co-authored with Tracey Toomey—is loosely based on their experiences bartending in Manhattan and the Hamptons and highlights some of the class and societal issues they encountered while straddling the fence between the working and “glamour” classes (http://www.theperfectmanhattan.com). Their second book, Cocktail Therapy, was released by Simon and Schuster's Spotlight Entertainment division.
Leanne also writes for The Nation, The New York Times, New York magazine, WireTap, Glamour, Life & Style, Maxim, and Men's Health.
The Perfect Manhattan—a novel she co-authored with Tracey Toomey—is loosely based on their experiences bartending in Manhattan and the Hamptons and highlights some of the class and societal issues they encountered while straddling the fence between the working and “glamour” classes (http://www.theperfectmanhattan.com). Their second book, Cocktail Therapy, was released by Simon and Schuster's Spotlight Entertainment division.
Leanne also writes for The Nation, The New York Times, New York magazine, WireTap, Glamour, Life & Style, Maxim, and Men's Health.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
January 4, 2012
I loved this book...I think because I used to waitress years ago. If you have ever worked in a restaurant it will have you smiling and laughing endlessly. The authors were spot on about how being a female in the restaurant industry has its major pros and cons. I loved how this book had me constantly guessing what would happen next, and being pleasantly surprised when my guesses were wrong. I hate when books are overly predictable.
Annie reminded me of my best friend who is blunt and at times gives too much info on her personal life. I am more like Cassie, reserved and sensitive, so it was funny to watch their relationship unfold and see myself and my friend within it. I also liked that I was able to really relate to this character because I too am a recent graduate trying to figure out what career path to take. I'm writing a book in my downtime and had even considered going back to my old job at Applebees waiting tables. Even though there were two authors I couldn't tell. Everyone writes differently, but these two authors did a great job at meshing their writing styles together somehow.
The only part of the book I did not like was the character's constant need for approval from everyone she meets. I guess I would be exactly the same if I was in her situation, but it got kind of tiring towards the end of the book. I wanted to ask her "Why do you care what his friends and family think of you?".
Annie reminded me of my best friend who is blunt and at times gives too much info on her personal life. I am more like Cassie, reserved and sensitive, so it was funny to watch their relationship unfold and see myself and my friend within it. I also liked that I was able to really relate to this character because I too am a recent graduate trying to figure out what career path to take. I'm writing a book in my downtime and had even considered going back to my old job at Applebees waiting tables. Even though there were two authors I couldn't tell. Everyone writes differently, but these two authors did a great job at meshing their writing styles together somehow.
The only part of the book I did not like was the character's constant need for approval from everyone she meets. I guess I would be exactly the same if I was in her situation, but it got kind of tiring towards the end of the book. I wanted to ask her "Why do you care what his friends and family think of you?".
August 22, 2011
Loved this book! Once I started it I couldn't put it down.
December 21, 2011
Loved it! I didn't want it to end!
October 14, 2015
What. A big. Shit.
Este libro no ha sido para nada lo que prometía la sinopsis. Ni siquiera el título me parece adecuado, porque, total, lo del Manhattan perfecto se menciona de pasada al principio del libro; a partir de ahí, a la protagonista sólo le preocupa encajar en la alta sociedad de los Hampton, cosa que no puede hacer debido a su trabajo de barman. Trabajo que, en realidad, Cassie buscó como manera de mantenerse durante un tiempo mientras se dedicaba a escribir, pero en torno al cual acaba girando tooooooda la novela. Vamos, que lo que aquí nos vamos a encontrar son noches y noches en el Spark, donde Cassie sirve mil y una copas por noche, tras lo cual suele marcharse de juerga también por la mañana (rara vez duerme), o bien queda con el pijo de su "novio", con el que ni ella misma sabe si está o no manteniendo una relación.
El novio, James Edmonton, es un pijo ricachón de los Hampton que parece sentirse atraído por Cassie, pero sólo cuando le conviene. Vamos, que se avergüenza de ella y suele evitar darle ninguna muestra de cariño cuando están rodeados por el resto de sus amigos pijos, entre ellos la dichosa Rosalind.
SPOILER: Coño, que James llega hasta el punto de ignorarla (a Cassie) y de estar a punto de largarse sin ella de una fiesta a la que habían acudido juntos. Muy bonito, sí señor, premio al novio del año. No es por nada, pero es que al James este se le veía venir de lejos. Es que se veía que no tenía muy claro lo suyo con Cassie; de ser así, le hubiera importado un pito lo que hubieran dicho los demás, en especial su familia y amigos ricachones. Pero no. Y la idiota de Cassie no lo ve venir, y eso que canta descaradamente... FIN SPOILER.
En fin, que si esperas una novela que gire en torno a la escritura y en la que la chica busque inspiración debajo de las piedras mientras trabaja, para dedicarse a escribir en sus ratos libres... no. No sólo porque Cassie trabaja desde por la noche, las nueve o así, hasta las siete o las ocho de la mañana del día siguiente, y ya digo que la mayoría de las veces suele empalmar e irse a la playa con los colegas cuando sale de trabajar. Y venga alcohol, y venga a preocuparse por el dinero, y venga a servir mil y una bebidas de nombres rarísimos y/o impronunciables... (Claro que yo no soy una experta en alcohol, así que la mayoría de las bebidas ni me sonaba. Me sacas de la cerveza, el vino, el vodka y esas cosas y...)
Para colmo, Cassie está trabajando en los Hampton para ganar un buen dinero que pueda ahorrar, con el que poder mantenerse sin ayuda de su amiga Alexis, que sí que es rica pero buena persona (no es que ser rico implique ser idiota, pero la mayoría de los ricachones de los Hampton lo son. Idiotas, I mean). En fin, que la intención de Cassie es ganar mucha pasta, cosa que consigue, pero luego no ahorra, sino que se lo va dejando todo en ropa de marca, todo con tal de encajar en ese mundo de ricachones en el que se ha metido desde que "sale" con James Edmonton (lo pongo entre comillas porque ya digo que en ningún momento se da a entender que sean pareja de verdad; él, desde luego, no se pronuncia al respecto y ella se monta su propia película).
SPOILERS
Lo mejor es que, durante todo el libro, la prota va de aquí para allá intentando encajar en los Hampton pero sintiéndose mejor cuando está entre gente de la clase trabajadora (you know, los ricos no necesitan currar); todo para que, en las últimas páginas, no sólo Cassie rompa con James después de que éste la ignorara y casi le pusiera los cuernos la noche anterior (cosa muy relativa por eso de que no queda claro que sean novios, pero en fin), sino que, además, lo hace soltándole un señor discursito sobre el pijerío y la hipocresía que hay en los Hampton. Y yo ahí es que me descojonaba, porque, a ver, muchacha, ¿no has estado tú toooooooooodo el maldito verano intentando ser una más en los Hampton? ¿Una pija más, una ricachona más? ¿Quién es la hipócrita aquí? Que sí, que estoy de acuerdo en que todos los de los Hampton son gilipollas (los del libro, a ver, no me refiero a nadie de la vida real porque no conozco a nadie de los Hampton en la vida real. Lo aclaro por si acaso, aunque no creo que haga falta xD), y en que no hay que avergonzarse de uno mismo, de su familia, de sus orígenes... Pero tampoco veo lógico que sueltes todo ese discurso cuando tú misma querías formar parte de la élite de los Hampton. No sé, tía, háztelo mirar o algo. Logic not found.
Imagino que ese era el mensaje que la autora quería transmitir. Tanta tontería sobre el dinero, el alcohol, las noches currando hasta las tantas, las implicaciones sexuales de trabajar en este mundillo... Mira, podría habérselo ahorrado todo si su mensaje era que "no hay que avergonzarse de uno mismo". Eso ya lo sé. Lo sabemos todos, creo yo, y estoy segura de que hay muchísimos libros mil veces mejores que este que te lo enseñan de una manera más clara y apropiada. Para empezar, con una trama bien definida, porque es que Cassie va de aquí para allá y ya está, no hay trama. Y con personajes lógicos y creíbles, porque, hijo, qué cuajo y qué pavo tiene la dichosa Cassie en tó lo alto (me sale la vena andaluza). Es que no es un personaje que llegue y al que te creas, con el que te puedas identificar, porque es que, no, a ver, nada de lo que hace o piensa tiene lógica. Va de aquí para allá, pensando ahora X, ahora Y, y cambiando de idea según el entorno, según con quién estuviera, según... Vamos, que la veo escasita de personalidad. Pava, empanada y cambiante. La combinación perfecta para que un personaje no me guste.
Vamos, y mejor no hablemos de James porque es que lo pongo verde. Y creo que con eso queda clara mi opinión sobre él.
FIN SPOILERS
En fin, que no recomiendo este libro. No tiene trama, no tiene personajes redondos y creíbles y, para la tontería de mensaje mal desarrollado que la autora pretende transmitir, hubiera sido mejor que el libro se hubiera quedado con cinco o diez páginas en lugar de las casi cuatrocientas que tiene. Y todos hubiéramos salido ganando.
Este libro no ha sido para nada lo que prometía la sinopsis. Ni siquiera el título me parece adecuado, porque, total, lo del Manhattan perfecto se menciona de pasada al principio del libro; a partir de ahí, a la protagonista sólo le preocupa encajar en la alta sociedad de los Hampton, cosa que no puede hacer debido a su trabajo de barman. Trabajo que, en realidad, Cassie buscó como manera de mantenerse durante un tiempo mientras se dedicaba a escribir, pero en torno al cual acaba girando tooooooda la novela. Vamos, que lo que aquí nos vamos a encontrar son noches y noches en el Spark, donde Cassie sirve mil y una copas por noche, tras lo cual suele marcharse de juerga también por la mañana (rara vez duerme), o bien queda con el pijo de su "novio", con el que ni ella misma sabe si está o no manteniendo una relación.
El novio, James Edmonton, es un pijo ricachón de los Hampton que parece sentirse atraído por Cassie, pero sólo cuando le conviene. Vamos, que se avergüenza de ella y suele evitar darle ninguna muestra de cariño cuando están rodeados por el resto de sus amigos pijos, entre ellos la dichosa Rosalind.
SPOILER: Coño, que James llega hasta el punto de ignorarla (a Cassie) y de estar a punto de largarse sin ella de una fiesta a la que habían acudido juntos. Muy bonito, sí señor, premio al novio del año. No es por nada, pero es que al James este se le veía venir de lejos. Es que se veía que no tenía muy claro lo suyo con Cassie; de ser así, le hubiera importado un pito lo que hubieran dicho los demás, en especial su familia y amigos ricachones. Pero no. Y la idiota de Cassie no lo ve venir, y eso que canta descaradamente... FIN SPOILER.
En fin, que si esperas una novela que gire en torno a la escritura y en la que la chica busque inspiración debajo de las piedras mientras trabaja, para dedicarse a escribir en sus ratos libres... no. No sólo porque Cassie trabaja desde por la noche, las nueve o así, hasta las siete o las ocho de la mañana del día siguiente, y ya digo que la mayoría de las veces suele empalmar e irse a la playa con los colegas cuando sale de trabajar. Y venga alcohol, y venga a preocuparse por el dinero, y venga a servir mil y una bebidas de nombres rarísimos y/o impronunciables... (Claro que yo no soy una experta en alcohol, así que la mayoría de las bebidas ni me sonaba. Me sacas de la cerveza, el vino, el vodka y esas cosas y...)
Para colmo, Cassie está trabajando en los Hampton para ganar un buen dinero que pueda ahorrar, con el que poder mantenerse sin ayuda de su amiga Alexis, que sí que es rica pero buena persona (no es que ser rico implique ser idiota, pero la mayoría de los ricachones de los Hampton lo son. Idiotas, I mean). En fin, que la intención de Cassie es ganar mucha pasta, cosa que consigue, pero luego no ahorra, sino que se lo va dejando todo en ropa de marca, todo con tal de encajar en ese mundo de ricachones en el que se ha metido desde que "sale" con James Edmonton (lo pongo entre comillas porque ya digo que en ningún momento se da a entender que sean pareja de verdad; él, desde luego, no se pronuncia al respecto y ella se monta su propia película).
SPOILERS
Lo mejor es que, durante todo el libro, la prota va de aquí para allá intentando encajar en los Hampton pero sintiéndose mejor cuando está entre gente de la clase trabajadora (you know, los ricos no necesitan currar); todo para que, en las últimas páginas, no sólo Cassie rompa con James después de que éste la ignorara y casi le pusiera los cuernos la noche anterior (cosa muy relativa por eso de que no queda claro que sean novios, pero en fin), sino que, además, lo hace soltándole un señor discursito sobre el pijerío y la hipocresía que hay en los Hampton. Y yo ahí es que me descojonaba, porque, a ver, muchacha, ¿no has estado tú toooooooooodo el maldito verano intentando ser una más en los Hampton? ¿Una pija más, una ricachona más? ¿Quién es la hipócrita aquí? Que sí, que estoy de acuerdo en que todos los de los Hampton son gilipollas (los del libro, a ver, no me refiero a nadie de la vida real porque no conozco a nadie de los Hampton en la vida real. Lo aclaro por si acaso, aunque no creo que haga falta xD), y en que no hay que avergonzarse de uno mismo, de su familia, de sus orígenes... Pero tampoco veo lógico que sueltes todo ese discurso cuando tú misma querías formar parte de la élite de los Hampton. No sé, tía, háztelo mirar o algo. Logic not found.
Imagino que ese era el mensaje que la autora quería transmitir. Tanta tontería sobre el dinero, el alcohol, las noches currando hasta las tantas, las implicaciones sexuales de trabajar en este mundillo... Mira, podría habérselo ahorrado todo si su mensaje era que "no hay que avergonzarse de uno mismo". Eso ya lo sé. Lo sabemos todos, creo yo, y estoy segura de que hay muchísimos libros mil veces mejores que este que te lo enseñan de una manera más clara y apropiada. Para empezar, con una trama bien definida, porque es que Cassie va de aquí para allá y ya está, no hay trama. Y con personajes lógicos y creíbles, porque, hijo, qué cuajo y qué pavo tiene la dichosa Cassie en tó lo alto (me sale la vena andaluza). Es que no es un personaje que llegue y al que te creas, con el que te puedas identificar, porque es que, no, a ver, nada de lo que hace o piensa tiene lógica. Va de aquí para allá, pensando ahora X, ahora Y, y cambiando de idea según el entorno, según con quién estuviera, según... Vamos, que la veo escasita de personalidad. Pava, empanada y cambiante. La combinación perfecta para que un personaje no me guste.
Vamos, y mejor no hablemos de James porque es que lo pongo verde. Y creo que con eso queda clara mi opinión sobre él.
FIN SPOILERS
En fin, que no recomiendo este libro. No tiene trama, no tiene personajes redondos y creíbles y, para la tontería de mensaje mal desarrollado que la autora pretende transmitir, hubiera sido mejor que el libro se hubiera quedado con cinco o diez páginas en lugar de las casi cuatrocientas que tiene. Y todos hubiéramos salido ganando.
March 9, 2022
*3,5*
Spoiler alert?
Very nice read, a page-turner to me, honestly, and I enjoyed Cassie's journey of self discovery.
It was certainly not the ending I thought it would be. I don't know how I feel about it. I like that it was not conventional but I was expecting something more. James was a little different from his (not so) dreamlike surroundings; at the beginning it seemed too good to be true but I was happy that his romance with gradually-Hampton-addicted Cassie was going well. I thought maybe this has another turn, not so centered in a relationship that has difficulties because a traumatized father with issues doesn't want his son with a name being with a "commoner". And it did have much more than that: it wasn't the main theme, but I'm upset that it ended the way it did because of it. I guess it was just part of Cassie's journey at the Hamptons and it is fine, it makes sense from a bigger perspective.
Spoiler alert?
Very nice read, a page-turner to me, honestly, and I enjoyed Cassie's journey of self discovery.
It was certainly not the ending I thought it would be. I don't know how I feel about it. I like that it was not conventional but I was expecting something more. James was a little different from his (not so) dreamlike surroundings; at the beginning it seemed too good to be true but I was happy that his romance with gradually-Hampton-addicted Cassie was going well. I thought maybe this has another turn, not so centered in a relationship that has difficulties because a traumatized father with issues doesn't want his son with a name being with a "commoner". And it did have much more than that: it wasn't the main theme, but I'm upset that it ended the way it did because of it. I guess it was just part of Cassie's journey at the Hamptons and it is fine, it makes sense from a bigger perspective.
September 4, 2008
How I Came To Read This Book: Danielle lent it to me.
The Plot: Cassie is a recent college grad whose having trouble finding work with her flimsy creative writing degree. She enrolls in a bartending course (and practically flunks out) and manages to land a job tending at a small-time bar, but soon works her way up into a plum bartending position at a new club in the Hamptons entitled Spark. Soon Cassie is wrapped up in the bar star lifestyle - staying up till 6 am, watching her coworkers do lines of coke in between pouring shots down their throats, and moving farther and farther away from goals in life...oh and of course, a few romance plot lines thrown in as well.
The Good & The Bad: I really liked this book. Of the "I'm a whiny college grad that's above this menial job I'm doing" (The Nanny Diaries, How To Teach Filthy Rich Girls, Devil Wears Prada, First/Second Assistant, Twins of Tribeca, Citizen Girl, etc.) books, this one was probably my fave. It was fun without being too preachy, and Cassie was more relatable rather than snobby/elitist as other protagonists in this type of story are. In general, writing about the world of bartending is interesting enough - it needs no salicious insider scoops like some of these other books have. The romance subplot was sort of whatever, in fact the so-called plot of the book was kind of whatever, it was moreso the look at the lifestyle of a bartender that I found fascinating.
The Bottom Line: A frothy sweet treat.
Anything Memorable?: Nope.
50-Book Challenge?: Book #11 in 2007
The Plot: Cassie is a recent college grad whose having trouble finding work with her flimsy creative writing degree. She enrolls in a bartending course (and practically flunks out) and manages to land a job tending at a small-time bar, but soon works her way up into a plum bartending position at a new club in the Hamptons entitled Spark. Soon Cassie is wrapped up in the bar star lifestyle - staying up till 6 am, watching her coworkers do lines of coke in between pouring shots down their throats, and moving farther and farther away from goals in life...oh and of course, a few romance plot lines thrown in as well.
The Good & The Bad: I really liked this book. Of the "I'm a whiny college grad that's above this menial job I'm doing" (The Nanny Diaries, How To Teach Filthy Rich Girls, Devil Wears Prada, First/Second Assistant, Twins of Tribeca, Citizen Girl, etc.) books, this one was probably my fave. It was fun without being too preachy, and Cassie was more relatable rather than snobby/elitist as other protagonists in this type of story are. In general, writing about the world of bartending is interesting enough - it needs no salicious insider scoops like some of these other books have. The romance subplot was sort of whatever, in fact the so-called plot of the book was kind of whatever, it was moreso the look at the lifestyle of a bartender that I found fascinating.
The Bottom Line: A frothy sweet treat.
Anything Memorable?: Nope.
50-Book Challenge?: Book #11 in 2007
June 24, 2020
Life events are named after different cocktails and there is a lot of 'coming to age'plot (about a girl in New York) looking for a better position in life
Some of her friends become traitors, others help her survive, there is no "knight on a white horse' ! There are also some perfect details about life in US summer resorts, barwoman's, waiter's and other strange stories - both funny and unbelievable=)
Bulgarian translation gives us some perspective, but is too "narrative' with too many strange details and explanations and name-quoting which do not help us imagine the all-too- familiar human life patterns. We are all hoping to transfer to bigger and richer city or NY 'borough' or even better country, so we are familiar with some ethics of young people who are self-sufficient, insomniac and having fun... However I do not remember the plot if there was any. I remember thinking about it as a shorter" Devil wears \Prada\" version.
Then I found it in my library and re-read it, thinking of cocktails. there were some episodes with rappers, as if only they drink too much and are loud and sparkling, but other celebrities and events are seen only in books, one cannot experience them here in Europe.
So enjoy! For a 'beach reader' it is perfect as you can put it away for a certain time, then continue reading with no harm a t all. Melodrama.
Some of her friends become traitors, others help her survive, there is no "knight on a white horse' ! There are also some perfect details about life in US summer resorts, barwoman's, waiter's and other strange stories - both funny and unbelievable=)
Bulgarian translation gives us some perspective, but is too "narrative' with too many strange details and explanations and name-quoting which do not help us imagine the all-too- familiar human life patterns. We are all hoping to transfer to bigger and richer city or NY 'borough' or even better country, so we are familiar with some ethics of young people who are self-sufficient, insomniac and having fun... However I do not remember the plot if there was any. I remember thinking about it as a shorter" Devil wears \Prada\" version.
Then I found it in my library and re-read it, thinking of cocktails. there were some episodes with rappers, as if only they drink too much and are loud and sparkling, but other celebrities and events are seen only in books, one cannot experience them here in Europe.
So enjoy! For a 'beach reader' it is perfect as you can put it away for a certain time, then continue reading with no harm a t all. Melodrama.
March 11, 2012
I just finished reading this book and I have to say, I was really into it up until the end. The authors paint a pretty vivid picture of the Hamptons bar and club scene and although they traffic in some pretty big stereotypes, like the blinged out rapper with the entourage or the mafioso-looking Italian guys with the unbuttoned shirts and the pinky rings, I liked it. I was drawn in and wanted to keep reading. Cassie was a likeable character and I found myself invested in her but I just felt like the ending was rushed and felt kind of thrown together. I gave it four stars though because I enjoyed it right up until the final chapter and the rest of the book was enjoyable enough that I'll still give it a good rating. It's not by any means substantial, but if you're looking for a beach read, this is a decent one.
February 14, 2008
This was a really cute book - better than I thought it would be. I put it in my "Coming of Age" category because it really is a story about a girl who matures significantly throughout the course of the book. The characters are remarkably well drawn for a chick-lit-type book, and the scene of the Hamptons is fascinating fodder for an inside look at bartending. I also enjoyed learning what it's really like to be behind the bar - since reading this book, I've been more patient with bartenders because I know they're doing a million things at once. And I assume it's accurate because the author is a former bartender, herself. Cheers!
July 25, 2008
Oh I so could have written this book in the years after graduating from college, during law school, when I moved to LA and NC. I have always fallen back on my bartending experience when I needed extra cash or a interim job. The lifestyle is exact how the authors describe it. You get addicted to the money and having cash on hand. You forget about bank accounts and resort to brandy glasses to hold your loot. You are sore in the morning - like you've run a marathon. Your whole body is exhausted and you can't usually get out of bed before 12noon. It's a young persons life and it's fun for a little while but man, am I glad to be working a 9-5 job. This book reminded me why.......
August 8, 2018
Entertaining book that made the read go really fast. Had me dreaming of a life of luxury in NY but also got me disgusted by the people and characters (who are, sadly, probably pretty accurate).
However, the story of her learning how to be a bartender really wasn't there. It was like oh yah, I can't bartend to all of a sudden, boom, look at all the tips I made. Wish there was more of her learning and less of the partying at times.
However, the story of her learning how to be a bartender really wasn't there. It was like oh yah, I can't bartend to all of a sudden, boom, look at all the tips I made. Wish there was more of her learning and less of the partying at times.
March 23, 2019
Sometimes I explore other perspectives. This view of a female bartender around the turn of the 21st century does that and also reminds me of how much has changed, related to smoking, drinking, sexism and many other things. The authors have first-hand knowledge of the bar scene in Manhattan and the Hamptons so they are talking about what they know and do pretty well with the writing too. I found it an interesting read with a very likable protagonist.
May 5, 2014
I consider that Cassie has a hard time to choice as a bartender and a writer. I want Cassie is good as a writer so that she is best salary. Cassie is very stubborn what she wants to look for a bar. I am not finished to read a lot of page of book. I am forward to reading last page of book. She may be changing her mind which she wants to.
December 17, 2007
This is not pulitzer prize winning literature by any means, but it is a really engaging story. If you're looking for some good chick-lit that isn't overly cliche this is a perfect fit.
October 8, 2008
For all you fellow New Yorkers...great read! Chick Lit!
January 1, 2009
Everything you've ever wanted to know about bartending - fumes of alcohol waft from the pages.
January 28, 2009
If you liked the Nanny Diaries - for writing and voice rather than content - you'd like this book.
June 20, 2009
Perfect, soapy beach read. I happened to be reading it as we flew over the Hamptons! Makes me wonder why I haven't written a book about the crazy DC crowd.
August 19, 2009
Fun, excellent summer/beach read!
April 3, 2010
Vacation Read #2. This ones was better. A recent college grad becomes bartender to the hoity-toity elite of NYC. Entertaining and sadly probably a fair representation of life in that world...
July 29, 2011
Met the author when she came to Buffalo. Went to school with Kelly!
August 13, 2011
Another trashy summer beach read. If you need to read a book to convince you to stop drinking, this is a good pick. Otherwise exactly what I expected.
June 10, 2015
Need to be reviewed.
February 15, 2012
read it, but I have no idea what was it about.
August 6, 2016
This was a light, easy read. A fun look at the crazy world of bartending and the rich world of the Hamptons.
September 25, 2016
Un divertido y ameno chick-lit.
December 18, 2020
This. Book. Was. So. Fun. It might've just been because it was one of my first introductions to Chick Lit, but man did I have a blast reading this one! Highly recommend for Chick Lit fans.
March 6, 2025
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to
June 11, 2017
Lo disfruté mucho porque trabajé un año como cantinera en un bar y conozco los altibajos de la atención al público por lo que pude sentirme identificada pero la protagonista tiene muchos prejuicios que me ponían los pelos de punta. No aprendió nada, la mayor parte del libro moría de envidia de las Perlas a pesar tener un supuesto bajo concepto sobre ellas y al final al ser rechazada por "ese mundo aparte" simplemente decide que es "un mundo de mierda con personas de mierda que no vale la pena". Es muy de resentida e hipócrita: sus buenos "amigos"son drogadictos, ladrones, infieles que no dudarían en dejarla tirada. Es decir, ve lo peor de la clase obrera y la clase alta y se pasa de un bando a otro según quien la acompañe, no pone límites, imita a los demás y juzga con saña.
Y el final.... Dejó un trabajo bien pago técnicamente solo por un chico, usa de escusa que ya no tolera codearse con el mundillo de la clase alta, las drogas, las bebidas en exceso, los jefes malos, los compañeros ladrones y bla bla bla pero se queda aún trabajando de barman en donde gana menos, teniendo los mismos malos amigos, un jefe sexista y acosador (que ahora acosa a la nueva camarera por lo que ella se queda tranquila wtf), sigue tomando y aún sirve a gente de la clase alta y de los peores (racistas clasistas y pervertidos) además de mafiosos recién salidos de prisión.
Me gustó que renunciara al guión sobre "la chica que necesita ser rescatada".
Hay mucho que comentar. 4 estrellas no solo por entretenida sino porque me gustan los libros que me dejan razonando durante dias.
Y el final.... Dejó un trabajo bien pago técnicamente solo por un chico, usa de escusa que ya no tolera codearse con el mundillo de la clase alta, las drogas, las bebidas en exceso, los jefes malos, los compañeros ladrones y bla bla bla pero se queda aún trabajando de barman en donde gana menos, teniendo los mismos malos amigos, un jefe sexista y acosador (que ahora acosa a la nueva camarera por lo que ella se queda tranquila wtf), sigue tomando y aún sirve a gente de la clase alta y de los peores (racistas clasistas y pervertidos) además de mafiosos recién salidos de prisión.
Me gustó que renunciara al guión sobre "la chica que necesita ser rescatada".
Hay mucho que comentar. 4 estrellas no solo por entretenida sino porque me gustan los libros que me dejan razonando durante dias.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2018
Es un libro que no volvería a leer. No es una historia relevante y tampoco cuenta nada del otro mundo.
Sin embargo le he dado tres estrellas por que es una historia que se lee rápido y no es aburrida.
En este libro se cuenta la historia de Cassie una joven recién graduada que quiere ser escritora pero antes tiene que sobrevivir económicamente. Sus padre que pueden sustentarla así que decide trabajar de barman para poder pagar las deudas y poder vivir. Pronto descubrirá lo bueno pero también el lado malo que trae trabajar en la noche.
Sin embargo le he dado tres estrellas por que es una historia que se lee rápido y no es aburrida.
En este libro se cuenta la historia de Cassie una joven recién graduada que quiere ser escritora pero antes tiene que sobrevivir económicamente. Sus padre que pueden sustentarla así que decide trabajar de barman para poder pagar las deudas y poder vivir. Pronto descubrirá lo bueno pero también el lado malo que trae trabajar en la noche.
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