Daniella Brodsky, The Velvet Rope Diaries

The Velvet Rope Diaries

Daniella Brodsky

Berkley, October 2006, $13.00

ISBN: 042520782X

Anna Walker loves writing, so when the perfect job is offered to her she jumps at it, though she has some concerns. The topic frightens her, as she knows nothing about the New York nightlife, yet that is what Anna must cover.

Gritting her teeth and leaving the popcorn and cable movies behind, Anna begins her quest to conquer the New York night scene, as she must not just survive; she needs to write about it. Anna also hopes the job will help occupy her mind, as she suffers form survival guilt, in that she manages to get out of the fire that killed her father. As she meets men, including Ray from her past, her peers and some of her so-called friends want her to fail out of envy, but though she is unaware of it, the fire has strengthened Anna's resolve.

This is a terrific chick lit tale, because the not so prime time player seems very real due to her doubts about diving into a different pool filled with the rich and famous, and that frightens her. Anna's growth from hiding in the shadows to increasingly confident woman, as her asides depict, make for a wonderful coming of age story that sub-genre fans will appreciate.