Experience is what this young lady is experiencing with a hot man along the way but what will she choose when she can only have one.

3.5★s
Manhattan Dreaming is a novel by Australian author and Wiradjuri woman, Anita Heiss. After a year with Canberra Cockatoos footballer Adam Fuller, Lauren Lucas is frustrated and less than happy with his attitude. Her best friend and colleague at the National Aboriginal Gallery, Libby keeps trying to convince her that Adam doesn’t deserve her, but it mostly falls in deaf ears.

Libby can’t understand why Lauren, “gorgeous and vibrant and witty and sexy. You’ve got the best smile and every woman here at the gallery wishes she had your legs and your hair” who has “a CV of exhibitions that shows you can mix it with the best in the art world, you’re only one of a handful of First Nations Senior Curators in the country” would put up with a man who’s barely “articulate for a footballer”, treats her so poorly, is regularly seen with other women and is clearly a commitment-phobe.

When her boss at the Gallery suggests she is the right person for the visiting curator fellowship available for a First Nations curator that the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian in New York City is offering, Libby and Lauren’s housemate, Bec decide to stage an intervention that involves favourite foods and NYC movies.

Not much later, Lauren is bidding tearful goodbyes to friends and family, and discovering the friendly welcome New Yorkers offer visitors. In between her interesting days at the NMAI in Bowling Green, her new flatmates show her the town, and New York’s male population shows her what she’s been missing in the world of dating. But for too long, Lauren still has the romantic notion of reuniting with Adam at the top of the Empire State Building, Sleepless in Seattle style.

Even though most readers will have predicted the romantic ending, it’s fun to watch Lauren being treated the way she deserves. Lauren’s job also allows Heiss to drop a feast of Aboriginal artist names, making her novel an unashamed promotion of Aboriginal culture. While originally published more than a decade ago, this edition has been updated to take place in 2023, and from the comments in earlier reviews, it’s an improvement.

The novel does seem to be trying a bit too hard to be both a topical/relevant commentary on aboriginal art, and a light-hearted romance. Nonetheless, entertaining and enjoyable.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia.

A story of friendship, romance, Indigenous arts and culture and travel.
So many things to like about this story. As a non-Indigenous Australian I always enjoy Anita Heiss' work as I feel it teaches me a little of Aboriginal culture. I am also not a gallery goer but enjoyed the art aspect of the book and especially loved the tourist focus when Lauren is in New York.
The female friendship throughout is strong and empowering. I did feel disappointed/frustrated with the way Lauren allowed herself to be treated by Adam but loved the way she learnt from the experience (eventually).
Overall a great book. Looking forward to starting on Paris Dreaming soon!

Lauren is a curator at the National Aboriginal Gallery in Canberra when she gets the opportunity to do a fellowship at the Smithsonian in New York. But she's reluctant about accepting because she doesn't want to leave behind her rugby player boyfriend, Adam.

The good: It was definitely an interesting plot and I enjoyed the New York setting and the celebration of Indigenous art.

The things that could be improved: The writing style wasn't my favourite (I definitely prefer Heiss' other works). The relationship between Lauren and Adam wasn't my favourite either. While Lauren wasn't the best FMC, she could definitely do better! I also thought the ending felt rushed.

I have not read an books by Anita Heiss but have always wanted to as have heard so much about her and her books.

This is a good book, easy to read and has the elements of bringing issues of today to the fore but also not making it all about the issues but more about the life journey of the main character Lauren Lucas, her career and her strength of character.

I enjoyed the strong women in this story and the setting and quirkiness of Canberra. There was a bit of repetitiveness in parts but having skimmed over those the rest of the story worked well. It is a book that has just enough substance to make it worth reading but keeps it light-hearted so it is easy to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a great romance full of best friends, experiences in a new country, and great men...along with one not-so-great man. Lauren is offered an opportunity to leave Canberra for a 12-month fellowship in Manhattan. Who wouldn't love that? It really spoke to me as I was sent by my DC company to work in our Perth, AU office for several months. Like Lauren, I wasn't sure I wanted to go and basically went due to peer pressure and the thought of people mocking me for the rest of my life if I didn't pursue this. Lauren had similar, but completely reverse, experiences as I did regarding the size of coffee cups and populations, among other things. I had such a smile on my face as she acclimated. The work she does as a curator was fascinating to read about and although she was frustrating me in the "relationship" department for far too long, there's a very romantic and happy ending for her.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.