Title: J'Adore New York
Author: Isabelle Lafleche
Genre: Fiction - Chick Lit
Publication: 10.01.2011 by HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 391
Source: Book Sparks PR
Summary: Catherine Lambert loves fashion and the law. One of only three applicants, out of a pool of thirty, selected to transfer from Edwards & White's Paris office to its Manhattan headquarters, and the only one assigned to the corporate group, Catherine is determined to continue impressing her bosses with her diligence and legal prowess. Meeting the firm's billable hours quota means long days and short nights, especially when two heinously spiteful secretaries are conspiring to undermine Catherine's reputation and efforts to please both the firm's clients and partners.
Making matters worse, one of the firm's particularly powerful and obnoxious clients propositions her, actually referring to her as his "favorite little lawyer." When she refuses his advances, he accuses her of becoming intoxicated at a charity event and embarrassing him, several colleagues, and their wives. His behavior places Catherine into a quagmire and threatens to derail her career.
Things start looking up when yet another client, Jeffrey Richardson, seems to show genuine interest in her. But is he too good to be true? She is just starting to believe that she might be able to "have it all" when Jeffrey requests that she engage in unethical conduct on his behalf that could ultimately lead to her disbarment and serious consequences for the firm. Did Jeffrey ever really care for her or was she merely his means to a financial end? Yet again, Catherine finds herself at a crossroads, questioning her career choices to date ... and what shape she wants her future to take.
Cover: I love it, it's really chic and eye-catching.
Thoughts: Fast paced and very fun, J'Adore New York pulled me in to Catherine's story very quickly. In only the first few pages there are horrible bosses, flat tires, crazy taxi drivers, champagne and fraud; entertained I finished the book faster than I had expected.
Catherine transfers to New York, hoping that this will be a great move and the next step to becoming partner in the firm. She is determined to work hard and meet every challenge that her bosses throw at her, not really interested in much else except her work. She eventually learns that she can't trust anyone except her close friends and that the competition to reach the top is fierce. To reach her goal she must put in as many hours at work as possible and work her butt off, all while trying to find a new apartment, catching up with friends, shopping at the sample sales, drinking too much and maybe enjoying a little romance.
The characters are all well written and the plot is very good. I really liked Catherine from the start and her determined attitude made me like her even more. Her voice was a bit too American though, with a few French phrases thrown in here and there, and that sort of surprised me. It didn't bother me though, and I really enjoyed seeing the things Catherine went through. The other characters supplied a lot to the story, especially the friends she makes and the man she meets, but there are also a lot of characters that I didn't like and was annoyed with. This definitely added a lot to the story for me, because I connected with Catherine this way more.
J'Adore New York was a great story and I couldn't put it down. Fast paced as Catherine's career and readers are taken along, it is easy to get lost into her world. I'm glad I got the chance to read this and I am sure many who love chick-lit will also enjoy it. It does come with lots of law terminology and fashion talk, but it is humorous, fun and entertaining.
About the author:
Isabelle worked for over ten years in Toronto, New York City and Montreal as a lawyer in a large law firm and on Wall Street. In 2005, she was responsible for the business affairs of a fashion designer where she developed a penchant for haute couture. She enjoys running, skiing, and walking her pooch Leo.
J'Adore New York is her first novel.
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