Oh, I enjoyed this book so much! Ms. Cooperstein began her working life with hopes of becoming a sports journalist. When that did not pan out, she asked her cousin to speak up for her at his employer, The Rittenhouse in Philadelphia. She landed a position on the concierge team with little to no experience and learned from the ground up. After some years at The Rittenhouse, she became the concierge at a luxe highrise in Philly that catered to some very interesting people of wealth and means.

Her education in the art of guest hospitality makes for fun reading, as the book is written in a personable and engaging style. She tells hilarious stories about her time as a concierge, from wild weddings to mediating dispute to some very specific requests from guests and tenants. She had to thread the needle between "the rules" and exceeding the expectations of her clients. Her quick thinking got her out of a couple of tough situations that made me laugh, and I know I wouldn't have been as cool as she was when things went sideways.

I definitely recommend this book for folks who enjoy memoirs and would like an inside peek behind the concierge podium!

Ms. Cooperstein now heads up her own consulting business, educating companies and their staff in the fine art of hospitality. I appreciate Girl Friday Productions and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy to read and review!

I have always been a fan of memoirs from people with unusual jobs. This memoir is all that and more. The great thing about cooperstein is that she has a sense of humor about all she encountered which really makes you more ingrossed in her story.

An easy fun read. I enjoyed the vignette structure. The author traced the growth of her career as a concierge in two different settings - the Rittenhouse Hotel (and residence) in Philadelphia and a high-end condo building in the same city. Ms. Cooperstein must have been the hardest working concierge in the country. And she seems to have done it all with lots of charm and smiles. I learned about the duties and skills that are required in that job. (As it happens, I stayed at the Rittenhouse several years ago and experienced the level of service expected of their staff. It was impressive. I also shared elevator rides with some of the residents of advanced age at the Rittenhouse and got a sense of the sort of clients she worked to satisfy. Respect to Ms. Cooperstein!)
I see from her biography that the author has become a sought-after speaker at conferences in the hospitality industry. She has certainly earned her position as an expert in that field! This should be required reading for anyone who lives in a concierge building or wants to use the services of a concierge in a hotel.