Candace Bushnell

This sequel to The Carrie Diaries brings surprising revelations as Carrie learns to navigate her way around the Big Apple, going from being a country "sparrow" to the person she always wanted to be. With her signature wit and sparkling humor, Candace Bushnell reveals the irresistible story of how Carrie met Samantha and Miranda, and what turned a small-town girl into one of New York City's most unforgettable icons, Carrie Bradshaw. Summer is a magical time in New York City, and Carrie is in love with all of it—the crazy characters in her neighborhood, the vintage-clothing boutiques, the wild parties, and the glamorous man who has swept her off her feet. Best of all, she's finally in a real writing class, taking her first steps toward fulfilling her dream. But as it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile her past with her future, Carrie realizes that making it in New York is much more complicated than she ever imagined.

Summer and the City

Robin M Cabana

This was a fun follow up to The Carrie Diaries. You can see more of Carrie's Sex and the City persona emerging as she spends her first summer in Manhattan and meets Samantha and Miranda. Like on the show, there were times when I didn't like Carrie very much. She can be a bit inconsiderate and obsessed with herself. But I did enjoy her fashion choices and her excitement over NYC, since I love the city so much, too. And I really just loved the younger Miranda - with bright red hair and protesting pornography outside Saks - and Samantha - who's getting ahead in the corporate world and planning a wedding. It was just great to learn about how the three friends meet. 

I do have one little problem with the fact checking in the book. The book is set in 1980, in the summer after Carrie graduates from high school, but mentions MTV and Flashdance - which hadn't come out yet! Those are just a few that I noticed - but there could be others.

Siobhán

I adore this series. I am a massive fan of the TV show but never read the original novel. After reading The Carrie Diaries I was really excited to read Summer and the City and it does not disappoint at all. 

 Summer and the City follows Carrie as she embarks on her adventures in The Big Apple. She starts in her writing program and make new and exciting friends. Carrie is trying to find her feet and wants to make her short time in New York a success. However, life is hard and nothing is ever easy for Carrie.

 What a fantastic sequel. Carrie matures alot in the story and we get a glimpse of the Carrie that she is going to become. She is still her funny, quirky self and I love her. Being set in the 80s its a very different life to how life is now. I love that we are introduced to so many new characters and also for fans of the original book and show we see the relationships form between Carrie, Samantha and Miranda. Now because I havent read the original book I do get a little confused reading these books as I know they story is different from the Show so some of the characters stories such as Miranda is different. However, Miranda and Samantha are still quite similar that I just feel in love with them. 

 This is really a coming of age story for Carrie. We see her grow from a country girl to a city girl. With Candace skillful writing we are plunged in to the story and really feel like we are there by Carrie side and experiencing everything she is put through. 

 I'm not sure if this is better than book 1 or not. They are both quite different I think I love them equally. And just like book 1 I love the ending the best. And if you read the book you will know why I love the ending to both books. I was grinning like a cheshire cat at this ending. It was perfect and makes me really want book 3 like yesterday

Kourtney

I wanted to like this book. I should have liked it more, but not even halfway through I lost interest in the book and found it to be tough to pick it back up again. Carrie was needy, selfish and so whiny I almost found it to be too much. Who wasn't at 17, you may ask. This book is marketed for young adult, and I have read NUMEROUS young adult books both about kids younger than 17 or around that age and none of those books were whiny and needy. I would not recommend this book to young adults, and a part of me also would not recommend it to adults. Those who are fans of the show may want to steer clear as this is not faithful to the show's storylines (Carrie's father took off when she was young on the TV show yet here he is dating after her mother died). Time to read a new book so this will not be the last thing I remember from 2011!

Summer and the City

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