Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Review: East of Manhattan by Amanda Johnson

East of Manhattan
by Amanda Johnson

Publisher: Books to Go Now
Pages: 234
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Julie and Scott Cutter made a deal: 2 years. Scott will spend 2 years working as a butler for a rich reality TV star and then they will start the family Julie has always dreamed of. This makes total sense according to Julie’s life plan.

This situation was all well and good until Julie learns that, at 35, she is approaching pre-natal geriatric status. Julie never considered herself old, but biology says different. For the first time her plan is in question. She debates if she should cough up the money to freeze her eggs, as her doctor suggests, or start trying to get pregnant earlier than expected. This is complicated by the fact that her husband lives in the basement of his celebrity boss’s Manhattan mansion instead of with her, across the East River in Queens. Oh, and Scott casually announces over brunch one morning he doesn’t want kids anymore.

Convinced spending an idyllic Fourth of July weekend in the Hamptons will change his mind, Julie saddles up on the back of Scott’s motorcycle for the holiday festivities. A chance confrontation between Scott’s celebrity boss in the Hamptons confirms her worst nightmare but also leaves her with a glimmer of hope. She returns to the city confused, alone and with a really great idea that might just be the beginning of a new future.


Kritters Thoughts:  Julie and Scott Cutter are married and have their lives planned out due to their jobs and when they want to start a family.  With Scott in a new job that is lucrative they need two years to get set up and start a family, but this job is interfering with their lives and may break them apart instead of setting them up for the future.

I weirdly related to this book and the character of Julie.  My husband works interesting hours that are completely different from mine and there are many times where we pass and don't connect and I could relate in that a marriage may take a hit when there isn't a ton of good quality time spent together.  I wanted to go out for a coffee or a drink with Julie and commiserate on how jobs impact relationships.  If it weren't for a great well rounded character like Julie, I wouldn't have loved this book as much.  

I enjoyed this book, it was the right book for me at the right time.  I was on a beach vacation when I read this book and it was easy to get into and out of this book and keep the story straight.  This was one of those books that is easy and breezy that is best read between thicker, denser books or when you are in a situation where your attention span could go in and out.    


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2021 Challenge: 65 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.


No comments :

Post a Comment

Back to Top