This novel certainly captures the zeitgeist of being young, ambitious, and caught in the corporate ladder. The 2008 financial crisis has plenty of echoes in this book and I can appreciate some (but certainly not all!) of the dilemmas faced by the characters. An interesting read, but not one I can summon much enthusiasm for. ( )

DNF 25%
Well, my feelings on this book have reached a point of clarity. I have a lot of fiction to read-and not enough time. I spent a lot of time deciding this book would land solidly in the DNF category. Perhaps you are intrigued by it, perhaps I can save you the time. Kimberley Tait shows promise, but I never felt immersed in the story or characters.

So, [b:The Great Gatsby|4671|The Great Gatsby|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490528560s/4671.jpg|245494] remains one of my favorite books for Fitzgerald's writing, his sense of characterization, and capturing a time and place (c'mon "the tuning fork that had been struck upon a star"
The characters are hopelessly self-involved (forgivable) and one-dimensional (unforgivable). Belle doesn't come across as flighty or dreamy, but purely calculated in her image to appeal. Jeremy had some little boy appeal but seemed to lack the sense of confidence. And though I did not read through to determine how heavily the characters were based on the original, I did note that M. was no Nick-whose fondness for his friends shone through his narration. M. struck me as righteous and superior. But she's Kimberly Tait, not F. Scott Fitzgerald so it's not even that...

Or maybe it's just all of it. It was a failure of execution, and to be honest, my expectations weren't that high. Yes, I only read 25%, but it was enough to know the prose was purple (and you have to go a L O N G way for me to say that given my favorite authors are all considered such by those who like a more parsimonious use of language), the characters boring in their one-dimensionality, and the setting of time and place was not striking enough to feel like it would be used as anything other than a cheap device for conflict.

I hope Kimberley Tait publishes again, because I will certainly attempt a second novel.

I won this ARC in a giveaway - you know how Stephen King uses tons of words to describe one item or to set up a simple scene?... this author does that, too... A bit of an effort to get through but worth it for the finish! It was a very interesting story of choices, decisions, working, living life, and NEW YORK! ( )