This is one of those books where I read it and it just left me indifferent. There was nothing really super unique here and the characters ended up feeling extremely flat and very cliched for the location. The character's stories ended up feeling very similar and there was no real tension and the drama really had nothing on the line. That being said, it was a quick read and it was easy to breeze right through. This book was just ok for me. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley,

I unfortunately had to DNF this book as I found myself not feeling fully engaged in the story. It might have been, because I have been quite busy and in quite of a slump. I have been debating all this time whether I should state this here in NetGalley or not and I thought that it was only fair since I had taken up on the responsibility to read it after all. However, I do have hope that one day I will return to it because I am curious to see where these women end up and the turns that their lives take. When I return to it, I will make sure to update my review here!

This book was really fun to read! It gives off major Gossip Girl vibes which I absolutely love. Having been born in 2003, I have no memory of life in 2004, so this was honestly really fun to read and go back to that time in the world. I was a little intimidated by the 4 POVs at first, but if I'm honest I really enjoyed flipping back and forth through everyone's life. I enjoyed the complexities that the story offered while making it clear to understand what was happening. Honestly, this is the kind of book where I would want to reread it in maybe 10 years and see just how different things continue to be.

I would definitely recommend this to my friends!

the only reason why i requested this in the first place is because it was giving major gossip girls vibes from the synopsis and if that was accurate i just really wanted to relive that era. so let me just tell you that it did not disappoint. reading this was such a pleasure like the entire time was filled with nostalgia of that pre-internet time when blackberries phones were more classy than any iphone could ever be. it was a nice sweet and fun read and i remember reading this book with steaming cup of coffee in my hand because its simply the kind of book that you put in your "comfort reads" shelf. anyways, if you ask me, i'll say just go for it if you wanna feel good or if you're in a slump or if you have a long travel ahead or whatever. its worth it.

this was great! i love being transported back to the early 2000's- thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Are you a fan of the old TV-show Friends? Then this cozy and easy read might be a book for you.
The story has 4 pov so for some it might feel a bit confusing and for some not a problem but don't give it up.
It is set in 2004 so no Netflix or social medias and "old" phones that we all might remember or even had.

I am looking forward to see if there will be a second book 🙂.

The book is set in 2004 in Manhattan, way before Netflix and social media took over. This was such a fun and lighthearted read, especially for those who are looking for nostalgia and entertainment or want to get out of a reading slump. The chapters were short and enjoyable and the characters were so likeable and easy to connect with.

Thank you Net Galley for the E-ARC of this book.

A fun easy read set in the 2000s so full of nostalgia for readers in the mid 30s. Would recommend as a great holiday read. Thanks to Netgalley for the read.

I loved the nostalgia of this book of living in the early 2000s. It's actually refreshing to get a story set in that decade because so many books now make too many references to social media. I enjoyed the story and the characters, and the setting of city life in NYC. I'd never live there myself, but it's nice to escape and feel like I am when I'm immersed in a book like this.

"An Upper West Side Story" by Rachel Cullen offers readers a glimpse into the intricacies of urban relationships against the backdrop of the bustling Upper West Side. The story revolves around the lives of diverse characters as they navigate love, friendships, and the challenges of city living.

Cullen's portrayal of the urban setting is vivid and immersive, capturing the energy and complexity of city life. The characters in the novel come from different walks of life, each bringing their own perspectives and experiences to the narrative.

The interactions between the characters are dynamic and authentic, reflecting the connections and conflicts that arise in close-knit communities. The exploration of relationships, both romantic and platonic, adds depth to the story, allowing readers to connect with the characters on a personal level.

The writing style is engaging and descriptive, painting a vivid picture of the city and its inhabitants. While the novel successfully conveys the urban atmosphere, there were moments when certain character arcs could have been further developed to enhance the emotional impact.

In summary, "An Upper West Side Story" provides a multifaceted look at relationships, community, and city life. If you're interested in stories that delve into the complexities of human connections against the backdrop of a vibrant urban landscape, this book offers an engaging and relatable narrative.

This has been a super nice and cozy read to me, backed with its simplicity and the nostalgia of 2004's Upper West Side--it's almost make me feel the same things that I feel when I watched friends. It follows four different main characters with a completely different background stories are intertwined and find themselves live in the same floor at an apartment at Upper West Side--expect a changing POV between the four of them, but it's been executed so well that it's not hard to follow through. I love how it tells the struggles of each the character, how they managed to overcome it, and of course on how they became close to each other. Also, through it's simplicity there are more depths of the story than it's lighthearted theme.

<i> Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the e-ARC </i>

Charming novel about people needing roommates on the Upper West Side. Lots to like, but it was mostly a frothy beach read.

4.5 ⭐️ i really liked this book. It was so much fun to follow these characters and see them get closer to each other. Only complaint is that i wish it was longer 😜.

i enjoyed this one. i had to keep remembering that it was set in 2004 because when tory referred to per se as a new restaurant i got momentarily annoyed but if that's my biggest complaint, it could have been worse. i want separate stories of each character but i don't think that will ever happen.

A very fun, nostalgic romance that will be perfect for women in their mid to late 30s. I loved the lives of the women in this story and all the references you would only get if you were in a certain age range. It made the read more fun to feel like I was "in" on all the jokes and nostalgic bits, and this would do well on any display about the 2000s. The only issue I had was our main three woman had a lot of similarities in personality so it was hard to distinguish the stories from one another.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lime Street Press for the opportunity to read An Upper West Side Story by Rachel Cullen. This was fun and I really enjoyed spending time with these characters. Maybe we'll catch up with them again??

This book reminded me of an early 2000s sitcom, like Friends! The four different POVs weren't hard to follow, but some of the dialogue was cheesy but thinking about a sitcom, it makes sense. Due to its shorter length and short chapters, it's a perfect vacation or summer read. Thank you NetGalley for my copy in exchange of my review!

This was a great summer read, set in NYC in 2004, with some major Sex & The City vibes.

I posted an aesthetic on my Tik Tok account:: https://www.tiktok.com/@semperfidani/video/7263681403009666309

Note: I actually rank this a 3.5, but there is no 1/2 star options!

We follow four characters (Robin, Tory, Jessica & Zach). whose lives intersect at this Upper West Side apartment building. The four of them are brought together through a series of circumstances. They are all at a cross-road in their professional and personal lives, and we observe how they navigate that.

What I loved:

The author has a natural gift for writing and weaving these stories together, but still maintaining their independent beats.. I never felt confused despite the many characters and arcs. The professional aspects of their life was so relatable.

The pacing, dialogue and development of each character felt natural. The writing style was light and easy, and made for a perfect summer read and NYC was a great setting for this type of story. Loved the SATC vibe.

As someone who had graduated in 2001, I was immediately brought back to the era. I personally enjoyed the nostalgic references. (Aside; I miss the Motorola Razr flip phone, and flip phones in general.)

I really loved the Jessica/Zach arc. Honestly, I could have read an entire story just on them.


Critique:

There was a part of me that felt like we got a lot of build-up, but then once each character reached the climax of their plot, the march to the conclusion at times felt rushed or contrived/convenient Introducing a specific love interest for Robin felt was unnecessary; but if so, then there was more obvious options from her workplace (or even her ex-roommate) than who we got, which felt a bit out of left-field. Tory's situation was intriguing as a premise, but that resolution felt contrived, and thus, I never felt connected to her as a character because she was wasn't particularly relatable. And Jessica and Zach's conclusion felt very rushed post-California.

The other minor quibble is that, to be honest, while the characters as a whole were inter-connected via the various story beats and circumstances of where they lived, the group as a whole never felt very connected to each other (at least not so much that they would be the great friends they were portrayed at the end). Maybe, in part, instead of bringing their original friends back into the story at various times, the same effort could have gone into deepening Robin, Jessica, and Tory's relationship. The handful of "friendship" scenes we got felt stilted and awkward,

But all of my quibbles are minor, because this was a great story overall, and I would read more from this author.

***
I want to thank Lime Street Press and Rachel Cullen for permitting me to read a DRC through NetGalley. In exchange, I offer my honest opinion.

Thank you for allowing me to read and review this book!

What a lovely book!

It was a bit of an adjustment to travel back to 2004, but the amount of references to specific mobile phones made me laugh- it was exactly like that, the type of phone showed how cool you were!!

I loved spending time in New York City and the descriptions of the neighbourhoods and streets and buildings and other places of interest were great.

It was a bit hard to keep track of all the four main characters’ points of views.
Zach was easy as the only guy, but almost every chapter I had to remind myself who Jessica, Robin, and Tory were, what jobs they did, and which life story was there.

Thankfully, around half way it got easier and I was able to discern between everyone and really enjoy the flow of the story.

This one was an adorable, light hearted read. It's on the shorter side so if you're looking for a quick, light read this is a great one. I found the transitions between POVs to be a little abrupt and feel they could have been smoother. Also I wasn't able to really connect or become invested in any of the characters since the chapters were so short and switched POV so quickly. Overall I thought it was a cute read.