First Impressions: Prospect Park West by Amy Sohn

Synopsis from the back of the book:  Brooklyn's famed Park Slope neighborhood has it all: majestic Prospect Park, acclaimed public schools, historic brownstones, and progressive values.  Among bohemian bourgeois breeders, claiming a stake in Park Slope is a competitive sport.

In Amy Sohn's smart, sexy, satirical peek into the bedrooms and hearts of Prospect Park West, the lives of four women come together during one long, hot Brooklyn summer.  Frustrated Oscar winning actress Melora Leigh, eager to relieve the pressures of raising her adopted toddler, feels the seductive pull of kleptomania; Rebecca Rose, missing her formerly robust sex life, begins a dangerous flirtation with a handsome neighborhood celebrity; Lizzie O'Donnell, a former lesbian (or "hasbien"), wonders what draws her to women despite her sexy husband and adorable baby; and Karen Bryan Shapiro consumes herself with a powerful obsession- snagging the ultimate three bedroom apartment in a well maintained, P.S. 321-zoned co-op building.  As the women's paths intertwine (and sometimes collide), each must struggle to keep her man, her sanity... and her playdates.

My thoughts: I had high hopes for this one when I read the synopsis.  It struck me as a fun read.  I should have known what I was in for when I saw the quote on the front of the book stating "Makes Desperate Housewives look like amateur hour".

I was a bit skeptical after the first page that the story was going to live up to my hopes, but I trudged on hoping for the best.  Sixty pages in I determined that this book is just not for me and I gave up.  Usually by that point in a book you can see where the story might be headed.  I didn't feel like this one was going anywhere. There was a lot of name dropping and celebrity worship.  It was also much racier than I expected.   I can handle a little bit of raciness in a book if the plot can support it.  This one starts off racy and just keeps on going.  It could be possible that the plot can support it later on, but I will have to wait for someone to tell me.  I am going to pass this one on to another book lover, hopefully she likes it better than I did.


You can visit these blogs to see what they thought of Prospect Park West

Frugal Plus: http://frugalplus.com/
Country Bookshelf: http://www.countrybookshelf.blogspot.com/
Just Another New Blog: http://justanothernewblog.blogspot.com/
Booktumbling: http://booktumbling.com/
Books Gardens & Dogs: http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/
Renee’s Reads: http://www.renees-reads.blogspot.com/
Starting Fresh: http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
Star Shadow: http://www.starshadowblog.com/
My Book Views: http://my-book-views.blogspot.com/
Jeanne's Ramblings: http://www.jeannesramblings.com/
Avid Reader: http://www.tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com/
Books Like Breathing: http://bibliophile23.wordpress.com/
Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
I Heart Book Gossip: http://juniperrbreeeze.blogspot.com/
Knitting and Sundries: http://www.jewelknits.blogspot.com/
My Life In Not So Many Words: www.ziarias.blogspot.com/
A Room Without Books Is Empty: http://detweilermom.blogspot.com/
Booksie’s Blog: http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
I Read: http://bookswithcoffee.wordpress.com/
Books in the City: http://booksnyc.blogspot.com/
Teresa’s Reading Corner: http://www.teresasreadingcorner.blogspot.com/
Reminder List: http://reminderlist.blogspot.com/
Loving Heart Mommy: http://www.lovingheartmommy.com/
Tethered Mommy: http://www.tetheredmommy.com/
Wise Owl Book Review: http://www.wiseowlbookreviews.com/
The Book Tree: http://thebooktree.blogspot.com/
The Down Home Diva: http://thestuffyouneedtoknow.blogspot.com/
Once Upon a Twilight: http://twilightsdance.blogspot.com/

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.