BOOK REVIEW:  Emily Ever After

 

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by: Laura V. Hilton

Dancing Word Reviewer

 

Title: Emily Ever After

Authors: Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt

Publisher: Broadway Books

ISBN: 0-385-51463-8

Genre: Inspirational/Chicklit

Emily Hinton grew up in the small town of Jenks, California. All her life, she’s dreamed of getting out, and New York City is the focus of her dreams. In Emily’s mind, New York is the haven of sophisticated people, love, and Louis Vuitton. When she lands a job at the world-famous publishing house, Morrow & Sons, in New York, Emily is on her way.

She finds an apartment with a roommate via the internet and starts work the week her boss in on vacation. Soon she makes friends with the other girls at work and tries her best to fit in, even if it means drinking and hanging out in bars, which is against all her values. Soon she attracts the attention of the extremely handsome Bennett, the embodiment of all her dreams. Bennett claims he only dates Christian girls, but something about him isn’t ringing true. He lied about graduating from Yale . . . what else isn’t he being honest about?

When an assistant editor starts trying to push through a book that goes against everything that Emily believes in, will she stand up for what she believes? Or will she bow to the pressure of fitting in?

Emily Ever After is an adorable, quirky chick lit book and I really loved the style. It held my attention all the way through. I was bothered, however, by how much Emily gave in to the pressure to fit in, doing many things that went against her Christian up-bringing and how she rationalized doing them. I hoped that she would have the courage to stand up for what was right, even if it meant losing everything. The book is absolutely realistic, though, with how young people are when the “face the world for the first time,” outside of the shelter of their parents’ faith.

Emily is a realistic character, but I can’t say she’s one I’d be friends with in real life. I was more impressed by her good friend, Jenna, who tried to be the voice of reason in Emily’s life. However, I enjoyed reading every page of Emily Ever After and would recommend it. $11.95. 309 pages.