That's What Frenemies Are For

May 27, 2019
Littlefield (House of Glass) teams up with debut novelist Gershell in this witty glimpse into the lives of the very wealthy residents of Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Julia Summers lives a life of luxury as wife to real estate developer James and mother of Henry and Paige, who attend the exclusive Graylon Academy. When pipes burst in the family’s Hamptons summer home, the repairs for which will take the entire summer, she is forced to stay in the City for the season. Julia tries out new fitness club Flame and mentors personal trainer Tatum by helping her develop her own style and gain clients. As Tatum gets Julia into shape, Julia lets Tatum live at her apartment for a while. But Julia soon suspects that Tatum may have stolen from her and told lies about Julia to her friends. As Julia’s friends become more distant and James is arrested and charged with bribery, Julia becomes the immediate target of gossip and soon discovers who her true friends are. The authors keep the plot moving at a quick pace, and it’s fascinating to follow the two-sided personalities of her characters—superficially friendly but backstabbing when the opportunity arises. This entertaining page-turner is delicious, biting fun.

Allyson Ryan impressively navigates the variety of New York characters and accents in this social commentary about the wealthy elite. As Julia, Ryan connects to listeners directly, creating an intimate feeling of conversation. Trendsetter Julia worries that her status is slipping among the fierce moms of the Upper East Side. She plots a way back to the top of her social ladder by making the popularity of her fitness instructor, Tatum, a personal project. Tatum's alternating enthusiasm and dreaminess toward her goals contrast with her steely coldness when she flips the script on Julia. When Julia's husband finds himself in trouble, the drama kicks into even higher gear. Ryan gives Julia a motherly voice with her kids and prot�g�e, and the sophisticated tone of Old Money among her social set. A.L.C. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine