This is a light easy read, yet I didn't find it to be a big hit for me. The overall plot, writing and characters are decent but I wasn't blown away by anything and I didn't feel hooked into their lives and driven with need to find out what happens next. I think I may not have been the target audience for this as a lot of people enjoyed this and love the plot so maybe it just was not for me.

I enjoyed this novel, especially as a throwback to my (younger) days in 2004 in NYC, The author has a nice, flowing writing style, and I was invested in what happened to the characters. Having said that, it was difficult to differentiate between the four main characters. They all have similar voices, even Zach, the single male character. They all have issues with their parents and their jobs, and the author even provided back stories for the B-characters (friends, coworkers, etc.) At the beginning of each chapter, I had to pause and think back to remember who this character was, what their relationship was with their parents, work, etc. This slowed me down, and it was a bit annoying, to be honest. I think four characters are definitely too many for a novel, especially when they are all so similar. I look forward to reading future books by Rachel Cullen.

Just one note to the author (which I forgot to add): the cheap handbags are sold at Canal Street, not Houston Street, and it might make sense to change either Robin or Tori's name because they sound so similar.

An Upper west side story
by Rachel Cullen
A good book. It was a lively crowd on the Upper West Side. Very good, and they highlighted each person, male and female. I would recommend this one.

This was an easy quick read, albeit predictable, still fun and entertaining. makes for a great beach read or sitting under the umbrella on a hot summer day

Rachel Cullen's "An Upper West Side Story" takes readers on a delightful journey through the bustling streets of Manhattan in 2004. Set against the backdrop of real estate-driven relationship decisions, the story follows the lives of four individuals whose paths intertwine in unexpected ways.

Cullen's vivid descriptions transport readers to the iconic Upper West Side, capturing the essence of the neighborhood's charm and allure. The characters, from Robin in need of a roommate to Zach with an impulsive offer, are relatable and endearing, each facing their own challenges and seeking a sense of belonging.

The author skillfully weaves together themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery, creating a heartwarming narrative that resonates. The story's charm lies in its ability to capture the spirit of a time before smartphones and streaming services, where face-to-face connections and a dive bar provided solace.

"An Upper West Side Story" is a delightful read, brimming with warmth and nostalgia. Rachel Cullen's writing effortlessly captures the essence of human connections and reminds us of the power of friendship and community in navigating life's ups and downs.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!

I would recommend this to anybody looking for a sweet and light read. Although it's a bit difficult to grasp at first because there are 4 different POVs here but after a while of reading I find it very easy to follow, very easy to understand, and the characters are very likeable too. If you're in a reading slump ten you should go ahead and try to read this one!

The first time reading a book by Rachel Cullen and it did not disappoint! I enjoyed reading about each character and rooted for them all. I inhaled this book in a couple of days and that was me stopping myself read it in one sitting.

I loved reading all the things New York and will miss reading all about Jessica, Robin, Tory and Zach.

Thank you to netgalley for the download.

This was my first book by Rachel Cullen and it won’t be my last. I found it to be pretty standard chick-lit. I love NYC, so the setting made it more enjoyable for me.

This is a very charming and witty book with characters of very different personalities that a reader is able to relate to. The eye catching cover and title are a lovely bonus.

I received this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Obvious I only request books that I think I'm going to love, and the description of this sounded so good. Unfortunately it was not for me. I found the narrative voice - 4 first person POV and in the present tense not the best. At the beginning of each chapter I had to remind myself of who was who. The 2004 setting should have resonated with me, since I was the same age as the characters in 2004. Instead, I found it forced - people don't talk about their phones, they talk about their "Motorola Razr flip phone" there are references to what people are watching - and it's always TV that survived, no-one is ever watching a show that was cancelled after one season. The book goes on and on about what people are eating, I'm not sure why. Mainly the characters are wooden, hard to tell apart, it's hard to care what happens to them. The resolutions to their issues are facile and in some cases not consistent with their characters previous behaviour. Now I think about it, that was the core problem - non of the characters had personalities, so what they ate and where they worked had to stand in.
Oh well, can't win them all, and plenty of other people found this a light, satisfying read.

I quite enjoyed the book. It's a very character driven story and I love a novel set in NYC. It really captured what it means to be there and also the trials and tribulations of life. Really great.

an Upper west side story by Rachel Cullen
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Four twenty-somethings navigate work, love, friendship, and living in NYC in the early 2000's. An Upper west side story takes us back in time to life before smart phones and Uber, when Craigslist was the unofficial hub for roommate matchmaking, and phones were still just for talking.
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This book was so fun! It reminded me of an early 2000's TV dramedy, and I didn't want to put it down. Very binge-worthy!!
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The story is told in multi-POVs, four to be exact. For about the first quarter of the book I felt like four might be too many POVs to keep straight, but as the stories came together it got easier! Between the characters being so engaging, and the quick chapters, it was quite the page turner.
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Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book! Keep an eye out for its official release on July 6, 2023.

In An Upper West Side Story we have four individuals who need to find accommodation in 2004 New York where rental prices are excruciating and shared accommodation is normally the only option.
We have Robin whose best friend is moving out so she desperately needs another person to share the rent. Jessica is about to move in with her boyfriend only to discover him in a very compromising position with a work colleague, Tory has parents that are unfeeling and continually criticise and belittle her so she decides enough is enough and plans to move out, and Zach a successful tech geek that suddenly finds himself offering one of his rooms to rent.
These are four characters with good depth and the interaction between them gives each their own interesting story that adds humour and pathos to this book.
At first I found myself a little confused with four characters to get to grips with but soon found myself really enjoying the read, their individuality adding so much.
A feel good and very satisfying read, I look forward to more stories from this author.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

I loved the setting of this novel, it’s set in a time when I also lived in Manhattan (Upper East Side, but worked in the UWS) it’s fun and spicy and very relatable. This is the kind of book I love reading on vacation. Grab this one, you will eat it up!

Honestly this might be one of my favourite reads of the year.

The story is very character driven which I personally love in my books. The set of characters are all so intriguing,and the way we see them navigating their personal lives along with the relationship dynamics between them was EXTREMELY well done.

The premise of the book itself was also so well executed? Like this is the perfect cozy/beach read.

Absolutely recommend if in need to get out of a reading slump.0 complaints, this is 5 stars

The characters in "An Upper West Side Story" are relatable and endearing, each navigating their own personal challenges and aspirations.

The novel's strength lies in its engaging storytelling and the dynamic relationships between the characters. As their lives become intertwined, readers are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, experiencing the highs and lows of love, friendship, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment. Cullen's writing style is fluid and engaging, effortlessly drawing readers into the lives of the characters and their journeys.

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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Remember the world before iPhones, Ubers, and streaming on Netflix?

It’s 2004 in Manhattan, and real estate is the driving factor behind most relationship decisions. Only here can strangers go from roommates to friends to lovers in less time than it takes a co-op board to approve a purchase.
* Robin Cromwell is in desperate need of a roommate. She’s lucked into a rent-controlled classic-six on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, but her best friend is moving, and she can’t afford to live there alone.
* Jessica Barlowe is counting the days until she moves in with her boyfriend in his renovated one-bedroom co-op. That is until she walks in on him with another woman, and all her plans, including where she is going to live, disappear into thin air.
* Tory Wallace is determined to move out from under her abhorrent parents’ roof, even if that roof is covering a $50 million brownstone on the Upper East Side. Although Tory hasn’t spent much time thinking about being self-sufficient, the tension at home has reached a boiling point, and she’s got to get out.
* Zach Sullivan is a successful technology executive living in a modernized pre-war two-bedroom on West 78th Street. He’d never planned on renting out his spare bedroom, but a chance encounter results in an impulsive offer that will change his life forever.
An Upper West Side Story is an engaging and heartwarming story about love, friendship, and that time in life when friends are family and drinks at a dive bar in Manhattan can solve all your troubles.

This is a household that whenever we hear anything to do with the west side of NYC we break out into song “When You’re a Jet” …we are such geeks. Really bad singing aside, we always talk about how we miss the pre-technology days. Just last week we took a road trip holiday and got lost several times as the Google Maps would not load in rural Ontario as there was no cell service! Printed maps were sold out at the few gas stations we drove by next time we will know to take on with us. (BTW, thanks to everyone we saw on farms or at local businesses who gave us directions: we agree that the roads need larger and better signs!)

Manhattan 20 years ago, pre-covid would have been amazing: but just think what that brownstone must be worth now! (Fred Mertz would be in heaven at the value of his place!) Renting now if just as tenuous, anywhere in North America: rents have tripled in the city we live in as rent controls were abolished for many buildings during COVID (thanks Doug Ford!). We literally cannot afford to move into a non-hell-hole apartment as we have been priced out of living anywhere safe so we feel these characters' pains. (Especially the classic 6: I fell down that rabbit hole and spent a good hour ooopoooohing and awwwwwing over floor plans that we could never afford! Especially those with washers and dryers and "staff rooms" that we could use as storage!)

This book was really enjoyable: It was well crafted and will hold your attention for hours: if you take it to the beach (or backyard, fire escape, porch, etc.) don't forget to reapply your SPF as you will lose track of time. Enjoyable even if just sitting in front of the a/c or fan during what it supposed to be a record-breaking HOT summer (oh, yeah ... not) as it is a wonderful little book to pick up and add to your TBR pile. #shortbutsweetreviews

This book was super cute and light, and a quick and easy read! It hooked me and I couldn’t stop reading!