A Charming Concept That Doesn't Quite Steal the Show

Adam Shankman and Laura L. Sullivan's Girl about Town promised a delightful and perhaps glamorous journey through a vibrant city, likely focusing on a protagonist navigating new experiences, relationships, and self-discovery. As a reader who enjoys contemporary fiction with a lighthearted tone and a focus on character, I was drawn to its seemingly charming premise. The book certainly has a pleasant feel and some genuinely engaging moments.

The strengths of Girl about Town lie in its appealing concept and the often-breezy narrative style. Shankman and Sullivan create a setting that feels lively and offers a good backdrop for the protagonist's adventures. There are moments of genuine humor and warmth, particularly in the interactions between characters as they explore the city and their evolving relationships. The protagonist is generally likable, and her journey of adapting to new surroundings and discovering herself is relatable. For readers looking for a light, escapist read, these aspects will likely be appealing. The book has a certain charm that makes it an easy, quick read.

However, despite its promising premise and pleasant tone, I found that Girl about Town didn't quite fully shine. The pacing, while generally good, sometimes felt a little uneven, with some sections moving quickly and others feeling a bit drawn out or repetitive. While the focus on the protagonist's experiences is a strength, the plot occasionally felt a little too simple or predictable, without many surprising twists or deeper conflicts to truly elevate the narrative. The emotional impact, while present in glimpses, didn't consistently land with the depth I had hoped for, making it hard to fully invest in the characters' personal growth. Some of the resolutions felt a little too convenient, preventing a stronger sense of catharsis.

Overall, Girl about Town is a pleasant and easy read that offers a charming escape. It's a solid choice for those who appreciate light contemporary fiction with a focus on personal journeys and navigating new environments. While it didn't quite reach its full potential to be a truly memorable or impactful read for me, it's a well-intended story that will likely appeal to readers seeking a more serene and hopeful narrative.

Lulu Kelly, once Lucille O'Malley of New York, is given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make something of herself. She's given a one-way ticket to fame and fortune in the glittering lights of Hollywood, as long as she keeps her mouth shut about what she saw. Freddie van der Waals, once a young, handsome heir to a fortune and fiance to a beautiful, vapid girl, has chosen the streets as his home. Jaded by his discoveries of how his family fortune was made Freddie sets off for the west, encountering every bit of bad he never hoped to meet. When their lives intersect by chance in Hollywood they are drawn together, Lulu seeing a bit of herself in him and Freddie seeing an opportunity to do the right thing when his family never has.

I genuinely enjoyed Adam Shankman's Girl About Town, the character driven novel is exciting and historically accurate. With young characters, but a rather serious story line it is geared toward a wide age group of readers. It's mysterious and detailed, offering more than a glimpse at the life of both the rich and the poor, the famous and the forgotten. Unfortunately, Girl About Town lacks a certain jenesequa that would make it just that much more exciting. It's an enjoyable read, but it doesn't stand out among the crowd of other historical fictions. Young Adult fans will likely enjoy this, but a more adult genre reader may find the lose strings a nuisance.