Oh the stress of trying to find an apartment in Manhattan. It was probably even worse in 2004, when this book is set as its pre-peak internet time. Honestly, this book made me never want to move there! The women and poor Zach at the centre of the book are all trying to solve their accommodation crises and are thrust together in the Upper West Side Hilarity and heartwarming friendships blossom. Its a time when friends are the family you choose and a cocktail can solve most of your problems. Fun, lighthearted and sweet, its an easy summer read. Perfect for hols!

Stopped reading after the empty, hyper sexual stories. They were extremely forced to seem edgy and hip.

Nineties kids unite! This is the perfect and fun read for you. Unfortunately having been born in ‘94 the pop culture references went right over my head. It was an easy read but nothing groundbreaking and I will forget this as soon as I finish writing this review

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC in exchange of a honest review!

My rating: 3.5 ⭐

A cute, light and fun read for all the nineties children out there who lived the times of super low-waisted jeans, the beginnings of dating sites and business websites, Motorola RAZR and Blackberrys, and the freedom that not having the Internet literally on the palm of your hand gave us.

I enjoyed the pop-culture references, the characters were relatable and the way their stories slowly got intertwined was well thought and well written.

The premise is simple but that's why it works so well. I could easily picture this nov as a sitcom nowadays.

"An Upper West Side Story" is a delightful and heartwarming read that captures the essence of friendship and love in the bustling city of Manhattan. While the multiple points of view may require some initial adjustment, the engaging storyline quickly draws readers in. The well-developed characters, particularly Zach, add depth to the narrative, and the cozy atmosphere makes it a perfect choice for a light and enjoyable read. Although the focus on apartment hunting at times overshadowed other aspects of the story, the book strikes a balance between drama and friendship, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a feel-good and uplifting book, especially during the summer months.

I really liked it!
This story was sweet and funny and big on 2000s nostalgia in a very good way!
My favorite character was Zach.

Plot wasn't rushed and the portrayal of New York was great, reading, I felt as if I was there with characters seeing them trying to navigate through love-life and work-life.

I think it's a great summer read for a lazy weekend at home.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!

I would recommend this to anybody looking for a sweet and light read. Although it's a bit difficult to grasp at first because there are 4 different POVs here but after a while of reading I find it very easy to follow, very easy to understand, and the characters are very likeable too. If you're in a reading slump ten you should go ahead and try to read this one!

*Rated this book a 4.5/5 stars and rounded it up!

Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read this ARC!

This book was such a nice, lighthearted (if that makes sense), and easy read for me. I really did enjoy this book, but in the beginning, it could definitely be a bit difficult to follow the many pov's that were in the book. But that might just be me.

Once I got further into the book, I was very much hooked and read the last half in pretty much one sitting. I loved most of the characters, but Zach kind of felt iffy in the begging and had me wondering if he could be a creep, neurodivergent (like myself) or just going through a lot of stuff in his life that made him a bit of a weirdo. I wish there was more drama in the storyline because I felt as if I was mostly stressing about everyone finding an apartment rather than anything else at one point but in the end I think there was enough drama in the book to make it a little more on the "cozy friendship book" instead of what I thought it would be like.

And I'm glad that it went that way because this was such a likeable, lighthearted and easy (as well as quick) read that I think would be great for anyone looking for something cozy or just need a good lighthearted book to help you out of a reading slump. I also feel like this book is great for the summer even though it is set during the end of April and May.

I rated this book a 3.5 star. This was a nice and easy read for me. I really did enjoy this book, but in the beginning, it can be a bit difficult to follow the many pov's. Once I got into it, I was in and read the last half in one sitting. I loved most of the characters, but Zach kind of left me wondering if he was a creep or just a guy going through it. I wish there was more drama in the storyline because I felt as if I was most stressed about everyone finding an apartment rather than anything else. I did like this book, though, and if you are looking for something sweet and likeable, then read this book:)

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my review.
3 ⭐️ - a coming of age story about four 20-somethings living in NYC in 2004.

Things I enjoyed:
- the nostalgia was great. The fashion, the no cell phones, when she mentioned west wing I screamed 😂
- the characters were all going through different things and had plenty of plot to bring to the story
-multiple POVs and short chapters always helps to move the pace and I appreciated that in this book
-it was lighthearted and read somewhat like a peek into the life which I enjoy.
-Tory had great drama going on and was my fave

Not my fave:
-I’ll agree with other reviews that the characters felt like one too many. It was confusing at times to remember who had what going on
-the conflicts felt a little thin, dialogue was sometimes a little cheesy

Overall I’d say this is an easy summer read esp for those wanting to be reminded of a time pre-iPhone. 💜

Not the easiest book to read during the first few chapters. It was difficult to keep the characters straight as none of them particularly popped off the page, however by the time I was a quarter of the way through, this was no longer a problem and I became absorbed.

The story itself was a lovely look at relationship and character progressions, and I definitely felt fond of the characters by the end. It would be nice to see more written about them.

Thank you Rachel Cullen and NetGalley for the ARC! A lighthearted fun read perfect for the summer, it features an engaging story rotating between four POVs! Normally something like that would make me dizzy , but I didn’t struggle with this one at all! Would happily pick it up again

Thank you, NetGalley and Lime Street Press, for my free ARC in exchange for my review.

The characters all struggle with self-confidence, whether it's due to their own actions or the words of loved ones. I find their quirks and behaviors amusing, but I can relate to them since I've been in their shoes. What resonates with me the most is their daily routine, which feels like a familiar grind. However, I could do without the constant complaints from the ladies about their job. Zach stands out as the only one content with his work. I yearned for more scenes with the whole gang together to capture that classic "Friends" vibe. Whenever they did gather, I cherished those moments.

The author skillfully portrays an organic progression in the relationship dynamics of the four primary characters. It is impressive how the author has paired the characters based on their contrasting and complementary traits.

This book is an enchanting journey that transports you to the charming streets of New York. The author's artful storytelling paints a vivid picture of the Upper West Side, and I explored its hidden gems with the characters.

The book was a delight to read! It explored the theme of friendship and the journey to finding one's true calling. Although some scenes felt a tad hurried. I eagerly awaited certain revelations, but when they finally came, they were conveyed through a character's recollection, leaving me feeling slightly let down.

This quick read had a ton of potential but was a little tricky with all the different POVs- Once I got to where I could keep the different characters separate in my brain, I really got into it and read it in two sittings. (I had to people in my life with the same names to attach to them to make it easier!) I think that the whole book could have been a series, so we had time to get more in depth with each character and there seemingly complex relationships. Overall, not a bad read but still left me wanting more.

This book was so hard to get into. I had really high hopes for it but ultimately decided to rate it three stars. I technically didn’t even finish it, but I got far enough where i know this is what it would have been at the end. I was so excited to start this book but the multiple POV and lack of good content was hard for me. Sorry to the author, but this one just wasn’t for me. Thanks for the ARC 🫶🏻

This book was adorable!!! I don't think that I have read an ARC as fast as this one. I really liked that we got to follow a group of strangers who meet each other by fate and became friends. I also liked that we got to see it from each one of their POV and we got to see what they were thinking. In that regard, it did get a little repetitive when we went over the same situation between 2 people. I would say that was really the only big thing that bugged me. But overall, I really liked this book.

I highly enjoyed this book. I really liked the multiple characters in it as well. It was entertaining and enjoyable.
I just reviewed an Upper west side story by Rachel Cullen. #anUpperwestsidestory #NetGalley
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An upper west side story is an easy, light and breezy read. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a simple casual read. It was set in 2004 giving it a nice nostalgic feel. However, there was an overemphasis on certain things like their meals, shows or their everyday routine which made the book feel a bit impersonal for me. The story also switches between different POVs which I got confused with often. The characters also seemed to muddle together instead of having more differentiated personalities which would have helped to distinguish the different POVs.

Overall, I feel that this book should be made into a sitcom instead as it gave me very F.R.I.E.N.D.S. / HIMYM vibes which made me compelled to finish the book. The characters were very comforting and relatable too. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this e-book for me to review! All opinions are my own <3

Although a light read, this book was hard to get through. The setting is Manhattan in 2004 before the time of Netflix, smartphones, and Uber. In this book, a group of strangers all going through their own life drama end up in the same building. I had read it gave new girl/friends vibes, but I didn't feel that it did!
The book is set with multiple POV but the chapters were occasionally confusing on who the narrator was, but I got the hang of which character was which after a bit of reading. it was hard to stay invested in the characters and the plot, and I found myself not really caring about what happens

Arc in exchange for review. I really enjoyed this book! It is super short and very light, each character was adorable in their own right and I love the whole light hearted-ness to it. The one and only problem I have with it is how similar the characters seemed and sounded, even Zach. However, this book would be ideal if you are looking for something cheerful to get you out of a slump or a quick read to add to your tbr. I genuinely cannot wait for this book to officially come out and buy myself a copy! I can see this book being a comfort read and easily read in one sitting. Short but sweet!

Thank you netgalley & Rachel Cullen for this ARC!