Star Audio Book Review: Summer and the City (The Carrie Diaries #2) by Candace Bushnell, Read by Jenna Lamia

Hot days, warm nights, designer handbags and stiletto heels. You know what that means? Carrie Bradshaw is back in New York in Candace Bushnell’s Summer and the City: The Carrie Diaries #2. I loved this second novel in the series that gives SATC fans a glimpse at the life of Carrie before she was the glamazon NYC Sex columnist with a fetish for designer anything. I listened to the audio, read by Jenna Lamia, and I felt like I was watching an episode of HBO’s Sex and the City. I really enjoyed this book more than its predecessor, The Carrie Diaries.

Carrie Bradshaw is out of high school, almost 18 and eager to return to the city she loves before heading off to Brown University in the fall. Now that she’s not in high school, Carrie is eager to begin her reign of independence. She finds an apartment to rent with several roommates, revisits with newest friend, Samantha Jones and signs up for a writing class at a local university.  You’ll meet another one of the infamous foursome in Summer and the City when Carrie seeks the advice of a redhead working at an upscale department store.

Samantha invites Carrie along to some of the hottest parties in NYC and before she knows it, Carrie’s part of some of the chicest social circles in town and while also making connections to further her career. In one night she meets new boyfriend, Bernard and a playwright enthusiast named, Bobby, who promises Carrie his loft/studio to perform her play once she finishes it. Excited to get a head start on her writing career, Carrie vows to complete her play if it’s the only thing she does this summer.  Of course, writing is NOT the only thing Carrie does all summer, emerging from her youth as a social butterfly and a few other things you’ll have to listen to or read the book to find out.

You won’t want to miss a second of this audio book. Summer and the City is full of surprises right up to the very end.                                               

                                          4 STARS

Waiting on Wednesday - Summer And the City (The Carrie Diaries 2) by Candace Bushnell

"Waiting On Wednesday"(WOW) is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases eagerly anticipated. This is my first week joining the 100 plus book bloggers who participate in the weekly meme and I am very excited to be a part of it. I hope to hear from you and your own WOW so that I can add some more books to my TBR shelf.

Last week, the country celebrated Groundhog Day and Pennsylvania’s forecasting furry friend, Puxatwaney Phil, did not see his shadow. According to legend, then, Spring is right around the corner. I know I am ready for the longer, warmer days of Spring and Summer – enough with all this cold and snow, already!! Fitting with the warming trend, my pick this week for Waiting on Wednesday is the second book in a long awaited young adult/teen lit series, Summer and the City (The Carrie Diaries #2) by chick lit queen, Candace Bushnell. Summer in the City is the second story in the saga of Carrie Bradshaw’s life before her days as the glamazon, fashionista and women’s columnist we know and love from Sex and the City.

I absolutely adored the first novel in this series, aptly titled The Carrie Diaries, in which readers got a sneak peek at the life of Carrie Bradshaw in her high school days. In the second release, Candace Bushnell reveals how Carrie met bffs, Samantha and Miranda. Just like Carrie and her limitless styles of designer shoes and handbags, there are multiple, fashionable covers designed for book two of  The Carrie Diaries (see below). I literally, CANNOT WAIT for this one!!

Summer and the City (The Carrie Diaries #2) by Candace Bushnell

Meet teenage Carrie Bradshaw as she hits the bright lights, big city of New York for the very first time! Find out how Carrie transforms from country girl to super-cool fashionista in the second explosive CARRIE DIARIES novel from the globally bestselling author of SEX AND THE CITY. Summer is a magical time in New York City and Carrie is in love with all of it -- the crazy characters in her neighborhood, the vintage-clothing boutiques, the wild parties and the glamorous man who has swept her off her feet. Best of all, she's finally in a real writing class, taking her first steps toward fulfilling her dream. This sequel to THE CARRIE DIARIES brings surprising revelations as Carrie learns to navigate her way around the Big Apple, going from being a country "sparrow" -- as Samantha Jones dubs her -- to the person she always wanted to be. But as it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile her past with her future, Carrie realizes that making it in New York is much more complicated than she ever imagined. With her signature wit and sparkling humor, Candace Bushnell reveals the irresistible story of how Carrie met Samantha and Miranda, and what turned a small-town girl into one of the New York City's most unforgettable women.

The above synopsis was found on Goodreads via the Hardcover edition.

Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell will be released April 26, 2011

If you visit her web site, you can see an Author video of The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell’s bio, previous media releases and publications and more!!