Monday 1 July 2013

Book Review: Brooklyn Girls by Gemma Burgess.


Product details:
Publisher: Quercus.
Paperback, 352 pages.
Release date: July 4th 2013.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: 15+
Source:Received from publisher for review.

Pia is living the dream: fresh out of college and sharing a house in Brooklyn with her best friends. So why is everything so complicated?

A drunken indiscretion has led to the loss of her boring office job, while her love life is a dizzy mess of accidental hook-ups and heartbreak...

Her parents don't trust her and, if she doesn't sort her life out soon, they're going to make her move back in with them...

But all that's nothing compared to the kind of trouble she's about to face.

At least she can rely on her friends - Coco, Angie, Julia and Madeleine. But how much can she really expect them to put up with?



Meet Pia. Pia’s life is a whole lot of fun - at least while the party is rocking and the booze is flowing. Of course it’s a good idea to hook up with her housemate’s brother. Of course it is. Also, topless-dancing-on-tables. So. Much. Fun. Until the next morning when her hook up turns clingy and photos of her ‘just a bit of fun’ topless dancing make their way to Facebook.  Cue unemployment and a severe telling off from her overbearing parents, who inform Pia that she’d better shape up, or they’ll be shipping her out of New York – and fast.

Welcome to the world of Brooklyn Girls, otherwise known as Pia, Angie, Julia, Coco, and Madeline, the fabulous protagonists of a fantastically fun new series from Gemma Burgess. Think Sex and the City (for the fashion and the friendship) meets Girls (thankfully Hannah Horvath is nowhere to be seen!) set in a fabulous Brooklyn brownstone and you’ve got Brooklyn Girls. This one is categorised as New Adult, but is very different than anything you’ve read before in the New Adult genre, which, by the way, is a very good thing, in my opinion.  In the days before the ‘NA’ tag, you’d have known and loved this book as straight-up chick-lit.

All the girls – Pia (the dramatic one), Angie (the gorgeous fashionista), Julia (little miss sensible), Madeline (could she be more uptight?) and Coco (sweet little sister) are recent graduates in their early twenties, save for Coco, the baby of the group, who is still at school.  Brooklyn Girls explores the trials and tribulations that come with starting out in a new city at a time in life when your friends are your family and there is nothing more important than a killer outfit and a good night out with the girls.  

Pia is our narrator here, and as you'll soon find out if you read this book, wherever Pia goes, drama soon follows. There’s never a dull moment with this girl around, that’s for sure.  Determined to prove to her parents (who seem to think Pia incapable of even tying her own shoelaces) that she can fend for herself, Pia, on a whim (and having being subsequently fired from yet another job in a restaurant – short stint – long story), decides to go and buy a beat up pink food truck called Toto, enlisting the help of a loan shark in the process. Ooops! Pia isn’t worried about paying back her loan, though. After all, it’s New York City. It’s food. And people need to eat, right? She’ll make the money back in no time. Oh, Pia, Pia, Pia.

As a character, Pia isn’t my favourite of the girls (I’m intrigued by Angie and her very messed up self), but I have to say that Pia grew on me over time with her enterprising spirit, her determination, and her caring side. Say what you will about these girls, but they are really there for each other through thick and thin.  Pia shines, especially in her dealings with her best friend Angie and Julia’s little sister, Coco.  There is also romance for Pia, in the form of Aidan, but romance doesn’t take center stage here, which was refreshing but also kind of a pity, because I like a little romance and Aidan was definitely hot. But it’s a tiny quibble, as is my small gripe with how the girls refer to each other as ‘ladybitches.' Maybe that's a Brooklyn thing - I wouldn't know.

Overall, I pretty much loved my first foray into the world of Brooklyn Girls and I’m really looking forward to reading Angie’s story in Love and Chaos, the next book in the Brooklyn Girls series, which releases in 2014. 



US Cover

21 comments :

  1. I'm glad that you enjoyed Brooklyn Girls Leanna, there had been quite a few disappointing reviews around especially in regards to Pia's character. But from your review this book sounds like a great new series to start! :)

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  2. I love gemma burgess and am so excited to read this, especially after reading your review. So jealous you've had a chance to read it already!

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  3. Jenny @ Supernatural Snark1 July 2013 at 14:57

    Hmmm. Pia seems like she might be a bit of a challenging girl to really connect to (at least for me), but I'm glad she at least grew on you over time Leanna. That means she must mature a bit even if she still gets herself into one dramatic situation after the next. This one is new to me so thanks for putting it on my radar!

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  4. ChristinaBookAddict1 July 2013 at 15:12

    Wow- this book seems like SO much fun and the type of book that would be perfect for vacation. I am STILL mourning the loss of SATC and this seems like something that might fill that void. I love all the drama and Pia sounds like a super entertaining narrator. I'll be adding this one to my TBR list. Great review!

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  5. I'm glad it's not typical NA as I don't really get on with that genre and this sounds like fun!

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  6. This sounds a bit like an edgier take on Gossip Girl, so colour me completely intrigued. Pia sounds like a handful, and I'm sure I'd have a few issues with her, but it sounds like it still managed to entice you, so I'm definitely curious now! Wonderful review, Leanna :)

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  7. Seriously cannot wait for this book! Awesome review!

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  8. This is the second positive review I've read about this particular book today and I must admit I'm in definitely intrigued!


    While I was initially worried I would have a difficult time warming up to Pia, I love the idea of her buying a food truck on the spur of the moment. I'm a huge foodie and I think that's such an interesting twist and plot point I haven't seen in a novel before.


    I was also pleasantly surprised to hear that the romance takes a back seat to friendship and personal growth. In my mind, that's what 'New Adult' should ideally be about, and I really respect this different approach to the genre.


    I'll almost certainly be adding this one to my TBR list. Great review, Leanna! :)

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  9. Jess Hearts Books3 July 2013 at 15:48

    This sounds like a really different NA book! I really love the sound of it! I received a copy for review but found the font really small (something I can't deal with) so I might end up buying it on the Kindle. Thanks for the review, glad to hear you enjoyed it!

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  10. daisychainbooks3 July 2013 at 20:50

    Pia is a little bit of an acquired taste at the start of the book, for sure. I was rooting for her by the end, but maybe she won't be for everybody! :)

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  11. daisychainbooks3 July 2013 at 20:51

    I haven't read any of her other books but when I first heard about this, I had a feeling I'd like it. I was right! :) Hope you enjoy when you read it.

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  12. daisychainbooks3 July 2013 at 20:51

    Pia definitely matures over the course of this book. I'm excited to read the next book in the series already! :)

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  13. daisychainbooks3 July 2013 at 20:52

    This one is a lot of fun, Christina! I think you'd like it.

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  14. daisychainbooks3 July 2013 at 20:53

    What? You don't get on with NA? I NEVER knew that! ;-p You might like this one - it's more about friendship and character development than falling at the feet of the hot tattooed bad boy alá most NA books I've read.

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  15. daisychainbooks3 July 2013 at 20:54

    Thanks, Melissa! It could be a post-college Gossip Girl without the oodles of cash (and no Chuck Bass!)

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  16. daisychainbooks3 July 2013 at 20:54

    Seriously cannot wait to see what you think of it! :)

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  17. daisychainbooks3 July 2013 at 21:03

    This book is ALL about the friendship. Before the NA tag came about I'd read plenty of books like this that were tagged chick-lit -- this one really doesn't follow the same path as a lot of the New Adult titles that are out at the moment. (That's a good thing IMO).

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  18. daisychainbooks3 July 2013 at 21:04

    Thanks, Jen. Hope you enjoy this one when you read it. I loved the food truck plot. :)

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  19. daisychainbooks3 July 2013 at 21:04

    I know! The text is tiny! I got a copy off Netgalley (US copy). I'm not sure if it's still on there, but you should go look. I think you'd like this one. :)

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  20. I like your cover better than the US cover, Leanna. This sounds like it would be a fun and frustrating read at the same time. I think Pia's actions would annoy me because it seems she doesn't think much of consequences. Hopefully, she grows as a person through the read. Great review, Leanna! :)

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  21. Ohh! This one sounds really interesting and like something I'd enjoy. I'm kind of a huge fan of characters that take a little bit of adjusting to get used to, so I'm interested in reading about Pia.

    Fantastic review! I'm looking forward to starting this series.

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