When she loses her high-powered job, her husband and her plush Park Avenue apartment in one afternoon, Ivy Ames emerges broken but unbowed. The newly single mother-of-two picks herself up, dusts herself down and reinvents herself as a private school admissions advisor. But Ivy has no idea what she's let herself in for. In a parent-eat-parent world where even four-year-olds have CVs, Ivy is driven to lengths she'd never dreamed of to satisfy those well-heeled clients who'll do literally anything to get their little darlings into the A-list schools. Fast paced, feel good and very, very funny, this deliciously over-the- top tale of mid-life reinvention and unexpected romance will appeal to anyone who has ever lost all they hold dear and had to start over again.
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* 'I laughed delightedly with the wry laugh of a parent who had been there' ELIZABETH BUCHAN * 'Hilarious, spirited and wise. With humour and heart, Karen Quinn brilliantly skewers the insanely competitive world of wealth we love to hate' LESLIE SCHNUR,
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About the Author
After losing her job, Karen Quinn helped found Smart City Kids, a New York-based company that helps families survive the application process to Manhattan's most competitive public and private schools. Now a full-time writer, she lives in New York. The Ivy Chronicles is her first novel.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I quite enjoyed this book and I would say it is worth reading if you want a light novel for some holiday reading or such. Abit shallow at times, but Ivy is a likeable character. Give it a go....
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Lucy Reynolds
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Ivy is a high-powered “suit” living the kind of life that most people can only dream about. She has a successful husband and two children, an apartment in a desired area, and is part of an elite social circle.
However, in a very short time her life is turned upside down as she loses her job, discovers her husband is having an affair, and as a result of leaving him and moving into a less desired area, she is rejected by the social elite.
She starts life over again as a kindergarten admissions advisor, dealing with the little “darlings” of those very people that have rejected her.
However, in a very short time her life is turned upside down as she loses her job, discovers her husband is having an affair, and as a result of leaving him and moving into a less desired area, she is rejected by the social elite.
She starts life over again as a kindergarten admissions advisor, dealing with the little “darlings” of those very people that have rejected her.
The novel is one of the funniest romantic comedies that I have ever come across, and is a wonderful read. It’s an uplifting story with a poignant message about how wealth is not the answer to a happy life.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It's interesting to see the very divided reviews there are for this book - it's obviously a case of love-it or hate-it.
I must say that I fall into the hate-it camp. This book contains some really horrible charaters and the narrator is one of them. The story itself is full of far fetched episodes (Best friend marries billionaire, hostage siege, eaten by crocodiles? Really?) and grotesque caricatures of shallow, poisonous upper middle class New York folk. Think Sex and the City without any warmth, humour or wit and add pre school kids. I found the central character Ivy very hard to like or sympathise with as she seemed like a bit of a bitch. The only mildly interesting thing was the descriptions of the machinations of the school selection process in New York although I don't really know how realistic this is, given that the author was trying so hard to be sassy and outrageous. The book seems to vacilate between wild fantasy and gritty reality so it inhabits a queasy middleground where you just can't believe any of it. Is it meant to be some sort of expose?
I also felt that the cute 'Lulu Guinness-esque' cover (of this edition anyway) didn't tally with the sleazy content so don't be fooled.
The whole thing made me feel a bit grubby to be honest, but I was stragely compelled to stick with it until half way through but couldn't stand it anymore and ditched it. If you like Kathy Lethe's 'offerings' (and I do not) you will probaby like this. Luckily someone gave me this so don't waste your money. Ugh! Grim.
I must say that I fall into the hate-it camp. This book contains some really horrible charaters and the narrator is one of them. The story itself is full of far fetched episodes (Best friend marries billionaire, hostage siege, eaten by crocodiles? Really?) and grotesque caricatures of shallow, poisonous upper middle class New York folk. Think Sex and the City without any warmth, humour or wit and add pre school kids. I found the central character Ivy very hard to like or sympathise with as she seemed like a bit of a bitch. The only mildly interesting thing was the descriptions of the machinations of the school selection process in New York although I don't really know how realistic this is, given that the author was trying so hard to be sassy and outrageous. The book seems to vacilate between wild fantasy and gritty reality so it inhabits a queasy middleground where you just can't believe any of it. Is it meant to be some sort of expose?
I also felt that the cute 'Lulu Guinness-esque' cover (of this edition anyway) didn't tally with the sleazy content so don't be fooled.
The whole thing made me feel a bit grubby to be honest, but I was stragely compelled to stick with it until half way through but couldn't stand it anymore and ditched it. If you like Kathy Lethe's 'offerings' (and I do not) you will probaby like this. Luckily someone gave me this so don't waste your money. Ugh! Grim.
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3.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting insight.
I definitely enjoyed this book although it took a while to really get into it. There were a few laugh-out-loud moments and I was genuinely shocked at how difficult it is to get... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Zara
1.0 out of 5 stars
The worst book I've ever read.
It literally is the worst book I've ever read. I'm amazed that anybody thought it would be worth publishing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Rosie from Cornwall
4.0 out of 5 stars
Escape from reality
Read this in a few days, I loved her previous book "Wife in the fast lane" so was really looking forward to this and was not disappointed. Read more
Published 6 months ago by F Keegan
3.0 out of 5 stars
Far-fetched or for real?
I am wishing, praying and hoping that I don't have the misfortune to suddenly become a billionaire and have to live in New York. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Moose Papoose
5.0 out of 5 stars
light hearted good read
A light hearted fun read with similarities and situations lots of women will relate to. This book made me laugh out loud on several occasions and there was nothing to heavy or... Read more
Published on 14 May 2011 by debi1603
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good light read
The subject matter of this novel intrigued me, being British and all, and I must say that it in terms of its revelations about society New York it didn't let me down. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2011 by Love2ReadUK
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant read
I'd read Wife in the Fast Lane and was left wanting much much more of the same. The Ivy Chronicles gave me another boost. Can't wait to read more of Karen Quinn's stuff.
Published on 17 Dec 2010 by L. Betsch
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice Read
I wanted to read this as I have heard that it is currently being made into a film and I always like to try and read the book first! Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2010 by Jennifer
1.0 out of 5 stars
Meh
I tried, I really did... but I couldn't make it past chapter one. Every cliche you can imagine.
Published on 24 Nov 2008 by K. Vidamour
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dull, disappointing and amateurish
I don't like this book at all. I haven't even finished reading it, I'm over half way through it but I don't think I can persevere to the end. Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2008 by Tulip
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