I’m obsessed, and that’s an understatement!!!! Delight!

This book is pure entertainment that had me hooked from the literal beginning and had me chomping at the bit to see what was going to happen next.

I loved that the chapters were short and easy to get into. The story flowed and is a great, easy read.
It made me think of the Friends era, as it’s set in Manhattan.

This is told in multi-POVs, which is always a favorite for me.

For probably around the first part of the book I felt like four might be too many POVs to keep straight, but as the stories came together, I was so happy and grinning from ear to ear.

The depth of all the characters is incredible, I’ve never hated a character so much like I do for the parent of one of these characters. I love how defined these four characters are (Zach, Tory, Jessica and Robin) we learn so much about them and still see them change and develop in such a manner that speaks to my soul!

This is one of those light, frothy books where everything fall perfectly into place for a satisfying ending.

It focuses on four young adults in New York in 2004, which for me was the year I graduated college so a bit nostalgic.

Tory, Jessica, Robin and Zach are all navigating family, work, and romantic problems and end up in a tangle of friendship.

An Upper West Side Story" offers a charming and nostalgic glimpse into the intricacies of 2004 Manhattan life, where the pursuit of love and independence is intricately woven into the city's real estate dynamics. The characters, from the desperate yet resilient Robin to the betrayed Jessica, the determined Tory, and the unexpectedly connected Zach, form a diverse ensemble that captures the essence of friendship as a surrogate family. The narrative, set against the backdrop of pre-digital era New York, beautifully portrays the enduring power of human connections amidst life's challenges. With its engaging storytelling and heartwarming moments, the novel becomes a delightful exploration of love, friendship, and the timeless quest for identity in the ever-evolving landscape of city living. "An Upper West Side Story" is a captivating read that seamlessly blends nostalgia with relatable human experiences, making it a delightful and memorable journey through the streets of Manhattan.

I found the blurb interesting but I ended up not liking the story. It felt flat and uninteresting, it didn't really keep my attention and I had a difficult time not putting this down.

This was an enjoyable read that takes you through the lives of several friends/neighbors and their lives. When there are misunderstandings, secrets, relationships, new friendships and family, it's always fun to read about peoples interactions and experiences.

I enjoyed the different places the characters went to, i enjoyed reading about heir work experiences. Sometimes it's not all what you expect when you get into the real world, sometimes you just have to follow your dreams.

I really enjoyed the book overall. The writing was very smooth and transitions were great from story to story. Great read.

The year is 2004 and we find ourselves in Manhattan, the driving factor behind most relationships is real estate.
We follow four Characters (Robin, Jessica, Tory, and Zach) throughout the book.

Robin desperately needs a roommate as her best friend is moving and she can't afford the apartment on her own. The only thing going right in her life is the apartment and she isn't willing to give it up.
Jessica is on the verge of moving in with her boyfriend when she discovers him with another woman and she refuses to give up living in New York to move back home, so when a stranger in a hallway offers for them to live together she accepts.
Tory is determined to move out from her parent's brownstone and be more independent.
Zach is a tech executive who while successful career-wise his personal life is a mess having never recovered from a painful incident in college during a chance encounter he makes an impulsive decision to rent out his spare bedroom.

The setting was great. The characters have unique perspectives and are different in their own way

3.25 ⭐️

Such a light reading, perfect for when you don't know what to read and want something entertaining, several characters (each with their own struggles) and a cool setting (Manhattan in the 2000s).

I thought I would enjoy this story more but sadly, I wasn't too interested in it
I really liked the luddite times of it, esp in today's age
However, some characters povs were just a bit whiny so I really hated that

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

This story was not what I expected, the writing was great, but story lacked motivation. Just felt like it was going in a circle with no real build, I kept waiting for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Limestreet Press for a copy of this story for my honest review.

I discovered that this novel resembled others I've encountered, and regrettably, it didn't possess any standout qualities. I simply couldn't engage with it.

I knew from the cover and the synopsis that it would be something I would like and I'm happy to say that I was right.

The first thing I liked was the short chapters. The total length of the book was similar to other books but the short chapters made it easy to continue (not saying it's hard to otherwise). The writing was smooth too.

I liked all 4 of the main character's stories but Tory's one was particularly my favorite. Among the scenes, I liked those of Zach and Jessica a little more than others. It was easy to connect to all of them and the twists made it more interesting. Multiple POVs helped to understand their feelings.

It wasn't a romance centric book. Of course there's romance but there's equally friendship too. It's not all about couple scenes but also hanging out with friends, sharing each other's problems, helping each other etc. And I liked that so much.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange of an honest review.

This book wasn’t exactly what I thought I was getting into - probably why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. When I saw this book I thought it would be a modern spin on west side story based on the title and cover alone - which isn’t the case. That said, I did find it easy to get into this book and was intrigued to get a glimpse into the lives of a group of young Manhattans. This book is told from multiple narratives in the flip phone era (2004), which kept me engaged (I’m a sucker for nostalgia!) and I enjoyed exploring the work lives and personal lives of a group of fairly unlikely friends. The story had a good flow to it, the chapters were nice and short, and it was just an all around entertaining read!
I enjoyed Tory’s chapters and particularly the growth and friendship that forms with the other characters and Tory but also between Tory and her mother.

Thank you NetGalley for the electronic version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A feel good book about friendships, relationships and careers centred around New York. A fab read I loved it

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of An Upper West Side Story by Rachel Cullen. Four twenty something’s living in Manhattan, growing and learning who they are in the world. Friendships and romance are always a hit. Such a fun read.

A fun and brilliant twist on the story that we all know and love. Really enjoyed it. Would recommend and read more by the author

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

What a fun read! I truly enjoyed this one.

Meeting all the different characters was so much fun. Seeing them deal with different issues was so interesting too.
I can't say enough about this book except pick this one up and read you won't be disappointed.

This was not a romance for me, and marketing on that is not ideal, however this as a story of twentysomethings trying to figure it out in the world in family and work and life,it's good.

I originally picked this book up to fufill a bingo prompt and was pleasantly surprised by what I found inside.
I found each character compelling and couldn't wait to see how it all works out at the end when they come together. I think having this in audiobook form would have made me love the characters more. Hearing them say some of this dialog amd thoughts out loud would have been funny. Between Zach's thoughts on his therapist to Robin being convinced she knew Torys job it would have been a fun narration.
I would describe it as Friends with a new cast picking up where it left off in 2004. It was a light and very enjoyable book, a palette cleanser if you will.