Ripped at the Seams

by Nancy E. Krulik

There's a new fashion designer in town, and "Fashion Don'ts" have never been more in style!

Sami Granger is fresh off the bus from the Midwest when some crazy person in the bus terminal warns her that life in New York City won't be what she always dreamed of. But Sami's determined to make it in an industry that is notoriously hard to break in to. Nothing she ever learned in her small town can prepare her for her first job working for a hot-shot designer: He steals her designs!

Now the only place that will hire Sami is a trashy lingerie store that she's too embarrassed to tell her old-fashioned father about. Will a visit from her father land Sami on the catwalk, or out on the sidewalk?

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Chick Lit, Teen, Young Adult Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 25, 2004

About the author

Nancy Krulik is the author of more than 100 books for children and young adults, including three New York Times bestsellers. She is best known, however, for being the author and creator of the Katie Kazoo Switcheroo book series, which has brought her to the attention of second, third, and fourth graders nationwide.

Nancy has also written extensively for teens and is well known as a biographer of Hollywood's hottest young stars. Her knowledge of the details of celebrities lives has made her a desired guest on several entertainment shows on the E! network as well as on Extra and Access Hollywood. She can be seen there talking about the secret lives of such celebs as Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Hilary Duff, and Frankie Muniz. Nancy has also been a guest on radio broadcasts nationwide discussing the superstars she has researched over the years.

As the author of several teen and preteen advice books, including Grosset and Dunlap's Prom!: The Complete Guide to a Truly Spectacular Night, Nancy has been interviewed by several prominent magazines including Cosmo Girl, Teen, Teen People, Seventeen, and Teen Celebrity. She has also been the celebrity guest for three Teen People chat presentations. Nancy has recently begun to delve into the teen novel market, writing four romances for young adults, all of which will be published between 2004 and 2005.

Nancy currently lives in Manhattan with her husband, composer Daniel Burwasser, their two children, Amanda and Ian, and a crazed cockerspaniel named Pepper .

Reviews

[Skyler Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goofy as hell but exactly what I was looking for

[PurplyCookie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this improbable, but charming, hip fairy tale, Sami Granger, 18 and fresh off the bus, sets out to conquer the world of high fashion in New York City. Clutching her portfolio, she survives rejection from the showrooms of 7th Avenue and a murder in her dive of a hotel.

Then her so-called boyfriend, who is also her new boss, steals her designs, and poor Sami is reduced to the embarrassment of working in a naughty lingerie shop in the East Village. Nothing in tiny Elk Lake, MN, prepared her for this.

Highly unrealistic but a cute romance story, it'll be a quick fun read to help pass the time for readers. Teen girls will enjoy the vicarious thrills of this ultra-chic journey through NYC: the clothes, the boyfriends, the models, the photo ops, and the clubs. Krulik imbues her tale with spirit, good characterizations, and a few genuine New York gems. When she's not name-dropping fashion designers, celebs, and hot night spots, she gives glimpses of the enduring wonders of the Big Apple: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the artsy funkiness of SoHo and the East Village.


Book Details:

Title Ripped at the Seams
Author Nancy Krulik
Reviewed By Purplycookie

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sami grew up in the small town of Elk Lake Minnesota and has always designed clothes. She decides to move to New York and make it big as a fashion designer. The main love interest for Sami is a vital part of the story but isn't mentioned often in the novel. I was disappointed in the novel because I believe even though she grew up in a small town that she still should have had some common sense and not to have been duped majorily once and strung along the second time. I think life in a big city or not can teach us someone's true intentions toward us especially when it is so apparent. It could have been a cuter story than it was so I was disappointed.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up because it had the same style cover as some of the other romantic comedies I like. But, this one just fell short. First off, it was told by a third person narrarator, which is usually fine, but in this case was distracting. There would be times where something was described awkwardly and gave you an extra reminder that you were reading from 3rd person and made you feel disconeccted. Also, you would occasionaly hear conversations that the main character wasn't there to hear. The whole thing felt like a cheesy, made for tv disney movie with dorky dialog, a niave main character, and predictable, unbalievable story lines.

[Geli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a very cute story but at times it was a little predictable as to what would happen. But that didnt take away from the story. Although its very obvious who she would end up with the in between parts were very interesting and funny. If you're looking for something quick and funny to read this is definitely it!

[Kai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this book from a friend and read it when I was in College (Ate Nitz, I think I got this from you?). I think these series are the first ones I've read that exposed me to chick-lits.

[Wendell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was surprised to see this marketed as a romantic comedy. I didn't laugh once at this. It honestly felt like I was reading a script for a movie.
The only redeaming quality was Sami's career was interesting. Although having to follow a character so blind to people's character was frustrating. I had to keep reminding myself she was 18 with no world experience.
Honestly think the romances in this were forced. Bruce was a creep even before the whole "oh hey we dating. Yeah I just told you we are with no discussion,' thing. Would have been much better to leave him as a colleague who was a copywriting prick.
And love interest number two, once again didn't need to be one. Could have just been a professional relationship without this weird forced romantic interactions. Or even better yet, a one sided interest.
It was obvious who the "forever man" was going to be as soon as they were introduced. Would have been better if they got together sooner and we could see them navigate a relationship, in my opinion.
This book is for those who want an easy read, but aren't after the lusty romance. This was more about career and trying to make it in the fashion world than romance.

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice, casual read. When I was younger, I read several of the books in this Romantic Comedy sort of collection. I’d say they all do a fairly good job of telling an enjoyable and cute (yet predictable) story. I imagine fans of hallmark movies would appreciate the storyline of these books.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feel good book. It's just light and happy. You can already predict the ending because you know... it's the usual small town girl who dreams to make it huge in a big old city. Still, I enjoyed the book.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was rly good. At first I loved it. 3/8 into it I didn’t like it and then I loved it again. It did such a good job of making u feel like the character. The only thing I didn’t like abt this is the ending was super rushed but eh I loved it!

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, mindless read. One of those books you read when you don’t want anything with a complicated storyline... you basically just want a cheesy chick flick story.

[Brianna Bowen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a rollercoaster. It started off interesting to me, then it took a downhill and wasn’t that good, and it was like this way for the whole book :/

[Bailee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was so perfect especially since I’m from a small town. I related to Sami a lot and I’m glad on how the book ended!

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars A bit too unbelievable
Sami Granger's lifelong dream has been to escape the small town of Elk Lake, Minnesota, and make it big as a clothing designer in New York City. At age eighteen, she takes her savings and heads off to see if she can find a job in the Big Apple. Things don't start out exactly as Sami imagined--it's tougher to get an appointment to show her designs than she had hoped. And right after she moves in, a murder occurs at the seedy hotel where she's staying.

All at once, Sami's life starts to come together. She gets a job (as a receptionist, but everyone has to start somewhere!) at an up-and-coming design firm. Her immediate boss, Bruce, takes her under his wing, seeming genuinely interested in her fashion ideas. Sami finds an apartment to share with another small-town girl, and their neighbor, Vin, is handsome as well as kind. Then Bruce takes Sami's designs and claims they are his, causing her to quit in protest. She gets a job at a trashy lingerie store, but is discouraged by the setback. Will Sami ever achieve her dreams?

This is more a typical chick lit novel than one for teens. Although Sami is eighteen, her life is very fast-paced and she is pushing forward to become a designer. I found that part of the story extremely unrealistic, as it took my attention away from the cute plot and romance. It seems highly unlikely that a teenager from a small town could take the fashion world by storm without either college education or training. Other than that, her naiveté is appropriate and adds endearing character to the storyline.

Teens wanting to dip into lighthearted chick lit will enjoy this fresh view of a young girl trying to make it in the big city. Readers will root for Sami to get her due as well as her revenge, and it's satisfying when she does. The supporting characters add depth and a touch of humor. Ripped at the Seams is a light, entertaining summer read.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeing as the backs of these Romantic Comedies usually provide too much or not accurate enough information, I try not to read them until I've read the book. I did that with this one, and now see that the entire plot was on the back of the book. Only, for some odd reason, our heroine's hunk (Vin, for those of you wondering) on the front cover is NOT mentioned.

Okay, so you're undoubtly thinking, get to the book already, but here's my point: The hunk of the front cover is hardly in the book at all. And look at him, for a cartoon drawing, he's hot. Instead, we have to endure our heroine's disease, I mean, desire for jerks that steal her disigns or use her for publicity. Yes, we get two jerk boyfriends in this book that take up the vast majority of the 300+ pages. Vin, the hot guy we all know is going to end up with Sami, (Like that's a big spoiler, as this is a supposedly fluffy romance novel.)

Wait, where was I? Oh yes. Vin was hardly in the book at all. Instead of the passionate kisses a reader expects and wants to read from this type of book, we get Sami trying to make it in the fasion idustry, two jerks, and that's about it.

Don't get me wrong, it's a cute little story, but gosh (SPOILER) she doesn't get together with Vin until page three hundred and nine in a three hundred and twenty six page book, and then they kiss shortly once, maybe they have sex in his apartment, and we see they're still together in the epilouge. Sami doesn't even talk to him though in the epilouge, they just live together, but he's not really in the epilouge! (END SPOILER).

Anyway, just don't read this one with hopes of romance, passion, or any general things you think you're going to get.

Kay, I'm done ranting.

[Siera · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine, just like the others, but honestly it disappointed even a little more. I felt as though the plot was far fetched, so the characters had to be more realistic than usual to balance it out. However, I didn't really get to know the characters at all. Or at least, whenever there was a characteristic that was repeated, I didn't like it. It felt like one of those stories where the character just happens to have every conflict iron itself out right at the end of the book. Before then (like literally within five, ten, fifteen pages from the ending) the character had been rude to her old friends, totally oblivious to Dashing Prince Charming, dating jerks, ignoring her father because he was so angry that she'd left, missing the impossible home she couldn't return to, working in a trashy lingerie store, and basically just struggling to get by as a lowly fashion designer hopeful living with a lowly model hopeful. Then bada bing bada boo, she's suddenly famous, as is her friend, her father reconsiders and realizes he'd been wrong all along, she is rich enough to open a store back in her hometown, which can now be run by the friends she's been ignoring, also happens to have enough money to travel back and forth whenever she wants, and her perfect boy just happened to be a carpenter/runway designer, her model friends gets to be the new face of the new fashion industry, and everyone lives happily ever after.
Whaaaaa??
Of course, it still was a fun read, but I would have loved to love the characters as much as the sappily perfect ending they all got.

[Catalina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute romcom. Predictable? Yes. Still cute? Yes.
I was a little relieved to read a story about an older girl who moves away to pursue her career than another little teen high school true love thing. I mean those are cute too, but it was a breath of fresh air to hear from an older girlie.
So Sami moves from Elk Lake, to NYC for a fashion design job. We all know how easy it is to make it in the big apple huh? Haha. Anyways she gets there and everything is so easy for her it seems. She finds an apartment with a really cool girl, the first one she looks at. And they become bffs. I mean if that were me I would probably get stuck with some creepy perv. But yeah, she gets a job right away at Ted Fromme fashions as a receptionist. That doesn't turn out so well so she starts work at a lingerie store. And that is where she makes it big, designing her own pjs. And the romance? well the guy was there all along. Sami was just too dumb and blind to see him. I mean he made her a freakin desk with his own hands gosh damn it. Hullo!!!

[Cathleen Ash]

Sami leaves everything behind: her angry father, her brother and his pregnant wife (Sami's best friend Cecilia), and the small town that's not even on the map. She's destined for great things, she knows it, as she steps off the bus in New York City with her suitcase and portfolio of clothing designs. Yeah, it's scary. Yeah, it's hard to do, but she's so excited about becoming a real designer, there's no stopping her! Well, then again, after the first day of pounding the pavement and realizing none of the design houses are where they're supposed to be, of getting turned down each and every time, she's a little disheartened. She doesn't give up, even when people are not what they seem, and others might be a bit more than they seem!

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this light and charming easy read by Nancy E. Krulik, Sami Granger is a fresh out-of-small-towner who moved to the big apple to pursue her ambitious dream of being a fashion designer. Her lack of experience and naivety soon landed her in the ditch when her so called 'boss' who also happens to be her crush NOT only stole her design ideas but also her heart. Sami vowed to never trust a man and locked away her ambition of being a designer. Instead of the high flying career she thought she'd find herself in, Sami's only 'break' was when she was offered a job in a lingerie shop. However, a visit from a customer soon propelled Sami into a whirlwind roller coaster ride down fashion lane with her at the front seat!

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another of those Simon Pulse romantic comedies. This one is about an aspiring fashion designer who leaves her small town for New York to make it big! There were some glaring inconsistencies here, like how a girl who knows every single designer in NY doesn’t know Starbucks, and it was a fairly predictable story too. Girl meets boy, boy steals designs, girl swears off guys, girl makes it big. Yada yada.

[R.J. Gonzales · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little read that follows the journey of young mid-westerner Sami Granger that leaves to New York to follow her dreams of becoming a fashion designer. However, after finding that the "City of dreams" isn't quite what she thought it would be like, adamant Sami is determined to accomplish her dreams. Even taking a job designing clothes at a lingerie shop won't keep her down.

This short read is a perfect beach read, or one to curl up to by a fireplace.

[Kate H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies are always a fun read. These books are not necessarily the best written novels but the stories are always fun and you know you will get a happy ending. I think some adult romances could take a note from these books b/c they are characterized well which is much of the battle in writing any novel since you want your characters, for the most part, to be endearing and relatable.

[Katrina Knittle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that is for young adults and hard to review and rate. I read this back in high school or junior high for light reading. I liked it a lot and read many other's like it. It is a cute, fluffy read. It is a pretty predictable story, but still cute and fast read. It is one of those short reads that is addicting and makes you read through the book in one sitting.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. It wasn't the best i have ever read. It is most entertaining and quite amusing but I think that this book has no real spice, it has no quick changes. The only change is when the main character's boyfriend steals her designs, and that we already know from the resume. I would recommend this easy light read to anyone who is in a mood for non violent or fun books

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about an eighteen year old who wants to become a famous designer. She heads to New York to persue her dreams. On the way she met a guy who she really liked, but later on found out that it wasnt working out. Later, she started designing lingerie and it then became a big hit.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another romance book that I really enjoyed reading. It is about a teen in New York living in an apartment and is working in a certain store. I would say what store but you will have to read the book to find out.

[vampire (dipita) grul · Rating 5 out of 5]

a girl goes to NY to be a desingner. when she gets there she falls in love. her roommate warns her, he is not it. he steals her design! now the girl is goin to give up everything! well she? fingd out!

[Junsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all people, 3 stars mean: Liked it.
And that's exactly how I felt about it.
It may be predictable, but it's addicting.
Once I started to read it, I found myself jumping through pages while absorbing the details. I just can't wait to finish it!!!
But when I finished it, I liked it :)

[Hpitcher]

i wasnt sure about this book at first but it is kind of different from most rocoms. the main character was more focused on her adult life and she was out of high school. most rocoms are set in high school. so it gave it a new idea. but over all a great book

[Emily Gershman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Sami from a small town, called Elk Lake. Sami moves to New York to fulfill her designing dreams. She soon becomes a famous designer and is very successful. I thought this book was very good and well written.