Alternate Side is an interesting thought-provoking story. Nora's life might seem ideal on paper, but it's pretty superficial and empty. Her neighbors aren't particularly kind, her husband isn't actually present, even when he's there, and nobody seems to care very much about each other. Her life evolves around having a certain status, but what does getting that much desired parking spot truly have to offer? I loved how Anna Quindlen portrays her characters, she gives her readers a fantastic peek in an unbalanced, hollow life filled with meaninglessness that's being given the appearance of importance, while in reality it is nothing. I loved that idea for a story. She writes about what matters by showing her readers what clearly doesn't, a fabulous contradiction that I greatly admire.

This was my first time reading Anna Quindlen and I am SOLD. Although I'm not a New Yorker, I have a complicated love/hate relationship with the city and could so easily relate to many of the trials of New York life & more simply, a woman's life at a crossroads. I loved how, despite the clear focus of First World Problems here, Quindlen touches upon women's issues, class/poverty, infidelity, and mental illness. Each affect us everyday and I was glad to see the pontificating on them all in this novel.

Nora Nolan's fraternal twins Rachel & Oliver are entering their final year of college, she is successfully running a relatively new jewelry museum, her husband, Charlie, is excited to have finally gotten an assigned space in the lot on their block for a car they (certainly she) rarely use. All of the small-town life drama translated to a single dead-end block in Manhattan, Nora loves to hate a select few of her neighbors (GEORGE!!!) for their busybody behaviors or their classist attitudes. Their little slice of the city makes big news when one such snob (Jack) is so incensed when their handyman's (Enrique's) van is blocking the lot, that he proceeds to take a golf club to the side of the vehicle, and then to the other man's leg when he tries to intervene. It would have been big news anywhere but it breaks the neighbors into subtly warring factions and Nora & Charlie find themselves on opposite sides.

Beautiful writing focuses on Nora's POV as she wonders about whether or not she should prioritize her marriage by leaving the city for good (Charlie often responds to her city-specific complaints by reminding her that they can sell the house, make a nice profit, and go live anywhere else), if she should consider the job offer coming from Charlie's boss, and if just like alternate side parking messes up a couple mornings per week, if there's an alternate life/lives which she messed up by making any number of missteps in her current life.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.
This was my first Anna Quindlen read and won't be my last. I enjoyed her development of characters and their relationships. Having grown up in a small town, I found the pocket neighborhood in NYC interesting as it was so similar to what I grew up with. But most of all, I found her grasp of marriage relationships to be most insightful. #AlternateSide #NetGalley

I loved Anna Quindlen's writings in The New York Times and feel privileged to have been able to tell her so in person. As an ex-pat in the 1990's, I looked forward to her pieces and their connection to everyday life in America. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find the same emotional connection with her longer works of fiction like ALTERNATE SIDE which was published this Spring. Setting her latest novel in New York City, Quindlen explores the often shaky state of marriage as well as societal distinctions based on class and race. The first third or so of this book is filled with background and amusing vignettes about Charlie, an investment banker, and Nora, a jewelry museum director, plus various acquaintances and neighbors. They have two college age children who were raised in the townhouse where Charlie and Nora still live, having recently been lucky enough to secure a parking space in the outside lot. Remember, it's New York and later there is a vicious attack due to limited parking which prompts change in the neighbors, in long-standing relationships, and even in traditions like the annual barbeque. Quindlen's formidable writing skills describe a slice of urban life which, however, can be difficult to appreciate if one hasn't lived it. ALTERNATE SIDE received a starred review from Booklist.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.
An engaging read that is a bit slower than most by this author to get started. It is not my favorite Anna Quindlen but still 4 stars. She digs deeply into her characters and into living in NYC. Definitely worth reading.

I've always enjoyed Anna Quindlen books...until this one. The story was hard to follow. The differing characters didn't seem to be in the same story. I'm still a Quindlen fan, just not this book.

Anna Quindlen's Alternate Side popped out at me because I both enjoy the author's work and the premise of a sinister event taking over a neighborhood block interested me.

Nora Nolan has lived on the same block for a decade and a half, and her children are now off to college. Her husband constantly wants to leave the city but she is a New Yorker down to her bones. They could sell their home for a pretty penny, but they have a hamlet in Manhattan that cushions them from the outside world while providing a sense of calm in the midst of the New York City storm. Everyone knows each other, even if they don't necessarily like each other, and life is good in stasis. That is, until an act of violence shatters their neighborhood milieu and pits neighbor against neighbor in a fight in who is right, who is wrong, and who can forget the actions of others.

Being a New Yorker while reading a book where New York is a character in the story is always an interesting phenomenon. On one hand, I can relate totally to all of the characters in different ways, while at the same time being completely jealous of fictional characters who had the good sense to purchase a home on a developing block early enough that they could have a brownstone. (Yeah -- I absolutely have property envy of fictional characters and I'm not ashamed to admit it.) I found that each of these characters portrayed in this book are people I have either known or run into in my decade plus here in the city -- the New Yorker down to her bones, the man who can't wait to move out of the city, the annoying neighbor who feels he owns the block, the older woman across the street who has more class in her pinkie than anyone else has in their whole bodies combined. I even knew Ricky, the handyman with a good heart and a life that no one cares to get to know. Quindlen has a knack for creating characters with full and intriguing arcs, and that was definitely a highlight in this novel.

I found this book to be quite a good read if a bit repetitive at times. By the middle of the book you get that Nora has always dreamed of living in NYC and nowhere else, and by the third or fourth time I read that missive, I wanted to yell, "I KNOW THAT NORA BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, I AM TWO DECADES YOUNGER THAN YOU AND GOT OVER IT YOU CAN TOO." The build up to the violent act that rocks the neighborhood was a little overwrought; I was expecting something a bit bigger than what actually happened. I'm not discounting the events, because what happened has a lot of classist and racist undertones and is a hot topic in 2018, but I was expecting something more murder and mayhem-y in the way the blurbs were set up.

This was a lovely read that was thoughtful in so many ways. One thing I have been thinking on for days after finishing the book is marriage, love, and why we choose our partners. A marriage's demise is always due to many factors, and there is no explaining how one couple can stay together when they seem to be either one or two horrible people and another couple can fall apart when they seem so right for each other. The big theme that came out of this book is that marriages aren't always what they seem, and they serve different purposes for different people. It was an interesting and thoughtful theme, and well worth contemplating long after finishing this book.

I usually love Anna Quindlen's writing, and this is no exception. Her word choice and characterization make her books wonderfully readable. Having said that, however, I really didn't enjoy this one much. It's a bit to "New York City" for me. I've never lived in NYC, nor do I ever want to live there. I don't have much patience for people who love NYC and don't see why everyone else doesn't love it as well. I suppose this colors my opinion of this book, but unless you LOVE New York City and think all its quirks and arrogance are appealing, just give this one a pass.

I found the main character, Nora, tiresome and didn't really care what happened to her. There are some wonderful moments here and some memorable characters among her neighbors. I found the secondary characters much more appealing and enjoyed the moments spent with the handyman, housekeeper, and Nora's boss much more than those spent with Nora.

I want to thank NetGalley for the chance to read this. I don't regret spending the time reading this book because Quindlen's books are always a joy to experience, but this will not be high on my list of recommendations.

Love Anna Quindlen, but this book- Meh. While Ms. Quindlien certainly has a terrific eye for exposing a certain kind of NYC aspirational snobbishness that is fun to read about, the book lacked something, namely a plot that mattered. Although there were life-changing situations, the tension was just not there. Kept waiting for something morally interesting to happen, beyond the main plot device, and it just didn't. Too bad.

I always enjoy Anna Quindlen's writing. Her style and confidence takes the reader by the hand and guides her into another pocket of life. Her vignette's of life that are relatable, even if we haven't lived it, are a pleasure to read.

A conflict in a parking lot will forever change the lives of many. Alternate Side is a story of a marriage and keeping the marriage together in tough times.

Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen is not my type of book. I am a fan of Ms. Quindlen's writing, but this story was just too slow for me, I did not care for a single character. I kept reading and reading to the end, hoping to be drawn in or find something that would make me care one bit about any of the characters, but it never happened. It isn't that I don't enjoy a nice, leisurely read, this one just did not seem to hold my attention. Another of Ms. Quindlen's books that I found to be on the slower side was Miller's Valley, but unlike with this one, I grew to love the characters, the setting, and the slow telling matched the tempo of the town.

This was my first book by Anna Quindlen and I have already added others to my to-read list! This book could be mistaken as a love story to NYC. The story starts off with the city-centric first world problem of a parking space and evolves and ropes in a menagerie of characters from this neighborhood, or city block. This is wonderful commentary on marriage, city living, and all the quirks that come with it.

Random House and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Alternate Side. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Life on their little dead end street in New York City has been a haven for Nora Nolan. Now that their twins have gone off to college, Nora and Charlie soon discover cracks in their marriage. After a repetitive occurrence leads to a shocking violent act, how will the tight knit neighborhood respond? Will Nora's eyes be opened to an alternate future for herself and her family?

Alternate Side is a character study of the neighborhood in which Nora Nolan lives. Readers will be able to relate to the dynamics of this small group of individuals, especially in how their social issues, attitudes, and perceptions relate to the larger world. There is a clear picture as to Nora's moral compass and her character is well developed. The parking lot was a good metaphor, in that the changes it goes through mimics what happens in the actual neighborhood. The problem that I had with the book was the fact that the conflict is created by characters that are not fully realized. I never really quite got a feeling for the rest of the neighbors, so the conflict just seemed to be there in order to move the story in a certain direction. Usually a big fan of Anna Quindlen, Alternate Side is definitely not one of her best works. For these reasons, I would be hesitant to recommend it to other readers.

A book written about the haves, and have-nots. In the modern world it's all about accumulating things, A bigger house, a newer car, the best jobs. Their is nothing wrong with this. However, getting lost in this makes you forget that at the end of the day, whether you have the best of everything or not, we're all human. We all have feelings. We're all working to better ourselves and our families. Sometimes the act of human kindness, love without judging, and seeing the other side gets lost. This is a remarkable book that makes you truly think about what's important. A kind of walk a mile in my shoes story.
5 Stars

Headline:
I adore Anna Quindlen (both her fiction and nonfiction) and saw instances of her brilliant, trademark writing in Alternate Side, but the plot was a bit boring and I know she can do better.

Plot Summary:
When a violent incident happens on Nora and Charlie Nolan’s wealthy Upper West Side block, Nora begins to see cracks in her marriage, friendships, and throughout the neighborhood.

Why I Read It:
Anna Quindlen is one of my go-to authors. I’ve adored most of what I’ve read by her (Every Last One, One True Thing, Miller’s Valley and Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake) and think she just “gets” women.

Major Themes
Marriage, New York City life, class, friendship

What I Liked:
- Alternate Side is a true New York City book. The setting stood out far more to me than any of the characters…and Quindlen brilliantly captures its quirks (and there are many).
- It’s an easy, relatively uncomplicated read (which I sometimes need and suspect you do too!).
- The title is brilliant and will truly resonate with anyone who has lived in NYC. NYC has something called “alternate side parking” (a law that dictates which side of the street cars can park on specific days to improve traffic flow and make room for street sweepers, etc), which causes residents who park on the street to go temporarily insane every time they have to move their cars. It brings out everyone’s true colors and is sort of a microcosm of New York City B.S.
- While the writing didn’t bowl me over like it did in Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake and Every Last One, it is quintessential Quindlen and there were numerous passages that reminded me why I love her writing…especially when she talks about women’s experiences.

"The slightly aberrational spouse was a status symbol, too. The husband who cooked. The wife who played golf. The husband who took his children to school. The wife who ran her own business. Of course, it was chancier with the women than with the men. You couldn’t push it too far. The marathoner wife who made partner – perhaps. The wife who could benchpress her own weight and made the cover of Fortune – too emasculating. The men, on the other hand, got unlimited mileage out of performing so-called women’s tasks as long as they also had substantial disposable income and significant business cards."

What I Didn’t Like:
- Alternate Side is about a lot of things, but is also kind of about nothing. Is it about an Upper West Side neighborhood, but a somewhat boring one? Is it about a New York marriage, but a somewhat boring one? Is it about an incident in the neighborhood, which wasn’t as earth-shattering as promised? I couldn’t figure it out. An American Marriage and The Mothers were both about a lot of things, but they all gelled together into a coherent story that worked. Unfortunately, I’m not sure Alternate Side had much of a plot and what plot was there felt muddled.
- Some people prefer Quindlen’s nonfiction to her fiction, but I know from Every Last One and One True Thing that she can write novels where the plot and the writing shine. That didn’t happen here.
- I think this book would have worked better as a nonfiction essay collection about life in New York City for, as Quindlen says, “New Yorkers of a certain sort”, where the “life in New York part” is intentionally the star.

If you reside in a crowded city like NY, you will immediately identify with the opening scenes of "Alternate Sides", Quindlen's introspective new book. Charlie Nolan is thrilled when a parking space opens up in his crowded, gentrified neighborhood and the plot takes off from there. The residents are friendly and know all the minute details of each other's lives. Their children's lives are intertwined andthey use the same housekeepers and handymen. Lives change when an unfortunate incident occurs by a neighbor, pitting people against each other and causing friction and disarray.
Quindlen does a superb job of chronicling the characters' lives by that allowing you to comprehend their emotions. It's a book that may leave you a bit more understanding of what drives people to do what they do.

Anna Quindlen is a gorgeous writer, but in spite of the loveliness of the prose, I couldn't get into this one. There are so many names, and so many little things to juggle right out of the gate. I didn't make it more than 30% through. I adore domestic drama, but this one didn't grab me.

I loved this book. There is something about taking a break from drama and just reading life. This could be my life, this could be yours. I cannot get over just how real the characters are. Well written, although real life, enough of a plot and interest to keep me turning every page. Simple. Real. Poignant. Deep.

While this book is well-written, I had a hard time getting into this story. There were some humorous moments, including the narrative explaining what “Alternate Side” means in terms of parking in a big city, that made me chuckle. Also, I enjoy a book that can shed light on something with which I am unfamiliar, so I really enjoyed the insights into what living in NYC entails. However, I did not find any of the main characters to be very relatable or likeable, so I was not as invested in the outcome of the story as I have been in her previous titles. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy. All opinions are my own.