Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes (3.5 stars)

About Bergdorf Blondes

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; Reissue edition (August 19, 2014)

The tenth anniversary edition of New York Times bestselling author Plum Sykes’s timeless satire

Bergdorf Blondes are a thing, you know, a New York craze. Absolutely everyone wants to be one, but it’s actually très difficult. You wouldn’t believe the dedication it takes to be a gorgeous, flaxen-haired, dermatologically perfect New York girl with a life that’s fabulous beyond belief. Honestly, it all requires a level of commitment comparable to, say, learning Hebrew or quitting cigarettes.

Our heroine, “Moi,” described as a “champagne bubble of a girl about town,” gets into misadventures with fellow socialite and best friend Julie Bergdorf, a department store heiress. When Moi notices that getting engaged brings about a glow unattainable by facials, she and Julie scheme and shop to attract the perfect PH (Prospective Husband). Sykes’s debut is a pitch-perfect examination of the glittering lives of the young, rich, and fabulous living in New York.

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Review

The main character, "Moi," details what it takes to be a high society--Bergdorf Blonde--woman in New York. It's all about Chloe jeans, facials, great restaurants, and finding the perfect fiancee. Marrying that person isn't as important as the ring and showing off your guy.

I am so torn about this novel. At times, I was swept away in the superficial world of jet-setting. Then, the romance heated up, and I felt lost. Moi (and I found it annoying that her name wasn't clearer) whined through one bad relationship after another. Sadly, the guy you wanted her with came into the picture early, but after a while I wished he'd run away because she couldn't get her act together. But I did love his character and the twist in the end of who he was.

To be fair, she was immersed in a world that only added to her insecurities. Still, I wanted to see a backbone emerge. However, every time I thought I'd quit this book, I was drawn back in. So maybe I'm somewhat like Moi in that regard. She was definitely deeper than the women surrounding her, but that doesn't say a whole lot.

Bottom line... it was entertaining at times, and I couldn't help but want to know what would happen to the main character. It's like the beautiful candy you see in the store and can't resist. 

If you love diving into a well-detailed world and connecting with a character, then give Bergdorf Blondes a chance. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

About the Author

Plum Sykes was born in London and educated at Oxford. The author of the novels Bergdorf Blondes and The Debutante Divorcée and the Kindle Single memoir Oxford Girl, she is a contributing editor at American Vogue, where she writes about fashion, society, and Hollywood. She has also written for Vanity Fair. She lives in the English countryside with her husband and two daughters.

Thanks to TLC for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

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