Daniella Brodsky Princess of Park Avenue

Princess of Park Avenue

Daniella Brodsky

Berkley, Dec 2005, $13.00, 336 pp.

ISBN: 0425205371

In Brooklyn twenty-eight year old Lorraine gave up her life, including a scholarship to NYU, when she fell in love with Tommy two decades ago. However, she re-looks her goals when he informs her he is going places, while she will always be here with no ambition.

Lorraine attends a stylist class in Manhattan where she meets Don, who introduces her to his Uncle Guido at Bendel's in the Waldorf-Astoria. Guido hires her, and when the salon's superstar breaks down, Lorraine takes care of the Park Ave. Princesses, a group of spoiled wealthy offspring who can make or break a place or stylist. She becomes stylist to the group at about the same time her dog Pooh-Pooh introduces her to her neighbor Matt and his canine Lena Horne. As she wonders how she could have fallen in love when she always thought Tommy was her Dodger, she begins to dream of opening her own place. However, the Queen of the Princesses has plans that include destroying her Brooklyn rival.

This fun chick lit tale centers on the prime question of the universe that "you can take the girl out of Brooklyn, but can you take Brooklyn out of the girl?" Lorraine proves she can adapt to the Park Avenue world of the princesses, while always being that woman from across the bay. Fans will appreciate her maturity in Manhattan, while wondering what took her so long to move past Tommy. Lorraine keeps the story focused as the hair stylists to the prima donnas, whose airs are higher than the stratosphere, and ethics at the dregs of a septic tank. Readers will appreciate Brooklyn defeating Manhattan.

Harriet Klausner