Summer and the City

On her first night in the city,Carrie meets party girl Samantha Jones. Samantha takes her to an event where Carrie meets an older,recently divorced and incredibly handsome playwright. That is how Carrie begins her adventures as a writer in Manhattan.

Carrie spends the summer mulling over her dream of becoming a famous writer while hoping to win the affection of her mysterious older boyfriend. Bushnell does a great job of entwining sexuality as a recurring theme in the book,but as a PG-rated version for her younger audience.

Carrie falls in love with Manhattan,and even the most jaded New Yorker will appreciate her discovery of the city8217;s charms. But the similarities end there. In trying to craft a stand-alone series,Bushnell strays so far from the characters that it8217;s difficult to stay engrossed in the story. And avid fans will notice inconsistencies.

8221;Summer and the City8221; would have been a terrific young adult book if Bushnell had introduced four new characters. The problem is readers8217; history with Carrie,Samantha,Miranda and Charlotte,and their devotion to these characters might be the downfall of this series.