Renée Rosen

Mad Men meets The Devil Wears Prada as Renée Rosen draws readers into the glamorous New York City of 1965 and Cosmopolitan magazine, where a brazen new editor-in-chief--Helen Gurley Brown--shocks America and saves a dying publication by daring to talk to women about all things off-limits... New York City is filled with opportunities for single girls like Alice Weiss, who leaves her small midwestern town to chase her big-city dreams and unexpectedly lands the job of a lifetime working for the first female editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, Helen Gurley Brown. Nothing could have prepared Alice for the world she enters as editors and writers resign on the spot, refusing to work for the woman who wrote the scandalous bestseller Sex and the Single Girl, and confidential memos, article ideas, and cover designs keep finding their way into the wrong hands. When someone tries to pull Alice into a scheme to sabotage her boss, she is more determined than ever to help Helen succeed. While pressure mounts at the magazine and Alice struggles to make her way in New York, she quickly learns that in Helen Gurley Brown's world, a woman can demand to have it all.

Park Avenue Summer

Although I felt it was slow at the beginning, I really enjoyed how the story went by. There were two stories at the same time and how she went from zero to achieving her dream in the big city

María | @AltroReader

Park Avenue Summer, written by Renée Rosen, is a lighthearted and entertaining novel set in the vibrant atmosphere of 1960s New York City. The story primarily revolves around Alice, a young woman with dreams of becoming a successful journalist, as she navigates her way through the glamorous world of magazine publishing. As Alice takes on the role of Helen Gurley Brown's secretary at Cosmopolitan magazine, she is swept up in a whirlwind of excitement, ambition, and personal growth.

In Park Avenue Summer, the narrative unfolds through Alice's perspective, offering readers a glimpse into her professional and personal challenges, her triumphs, and her encounters with the influential figures of the era. While the story captures the essence of the Mad Men era and the feminist movement that took place during that time, it falls short in certain aspects.

One notable drawback of the novel is its lack of multiple perspectives. The narrative would have benefited greatly from delving into the minds of other characters, providing deeper insights into their experiences and motivations. This would have added richness and diversity to the storytelling, allowing readers to better connect with the supporting cast and understand their perspectives.

Furthermore, character development is somewhat uneven throughout the book. While Alice's growth and transformation are evident, other characters receive limited attention in this regard. The portrayal of Helen Gurley Brown, in particular, comes across as one-dimensional, focused solely on her sexuality without exploring the intricacies of her personality and motivations. Diversifying the narrative through different perspectives could have rectified this issue, giving readers a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the characters and their journeys.

Despite these shortcomings, Park Avenue Summer serves as an enjoyable beach read, offering an engaging and nostalgic portrayal of a bygone era. The author's writing style is accessible and breezy, making it a pleasant book to pick up for leisurely reading. The novel succeeds in capturing the allure of 1960s New York City and the excitement of the publishing world, transporting readers to a time of glamour, ambition, and social change.

Ruthie C

Park Avenue Summer, written by Renée Rosen, is a lighthearted and entertaining novel set in the vibrant atmosphere of 1960s New York City. The story primarily revolves around Alice, a young woman with dreams of becoming a successful journalist, as she navigates her way through the glamorous world of magazine publishing. As Alice takes on the role of Helen Gurley Brown's secretary at Cosmopolitan magazine, she is swept up in a whirlwind of excitement, ambition, and personal growth.

In Park Avenue Summer, the narrative unfolds through Alice's perspective, offering readers a glimpse into her professional and personal challenges, her triumphs, and her encounters with the influential figures of the era. While the story captures the essence of the Mad Men era and the feminist movement that took place during that time, it falls short in certain aspects.

One notable drawback of the novel is its lack of multiple perspectives. The narrative would have benefited greatly from delving into the minds of other characters, providing deeper insights into their experiences and motivations. This would have added richness and diversity to the storytelling, allowing readers to better connect with the supporting cast and understand their perspectives.

Furthermore, character development is somewhat uneven throughout the book. While Alice's growth and transformation are evident, other characters receive limited attention in this regard. The portrayal of Helen Gurley Brown, in particular, comes across as one-dimensional, focused solely on her sexuality without exploring the intricacies of her personality and motivations. Diversifying the narrative through different perspectives could have rectified this issue, giving readers a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the characters and their journeys.

Despite these shortcomings, Park Avenue Summer serves as an enjoyable beach read, offering an engaging and nostalgic portrayal of a bygone era. The author's writing style is accessible and breezy, making it a pleasant book to pick up for leisurely reading. The novel succeeds in capturing the allure of 1960s New York City and the excitement of the publishing world, transporting readers to a time of glamour, ambition, and social change.

Meri Lancis

I’m a sucker for he Mad Men aesthetic, specially when it focuses on women reshaping the structures that surround them, even if it’s just a magazine.💕

Park Avenue Summer

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