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Julia Summers seems to have it all: a sprawling Upper East Side apartment, a successful husband, and two adorable children attending the best private school in the city. She relishes wielding influence over her well-heeled girlfriends . . . but her star appears to be fading. That’s why, when stranded in Manhattan for the summer as her entire crowd flees to the Hamptons, Julia is on the hunt for the next big thing that will make her the envy of her friends and put her back on top.
Enter Flame, the new boutique gym in her neighborhood. Seductive and transformative, Flame’s spin classes are exactly what Julia needs—and demure, naïve instructor Tatum is her ticket in. But rebranding Tatum as a trendy guru proves hard work, and Julia’s triumphant comeback at summer’s end doesn’t quite go as planned. Tatum begins to grasp just how much power her newfound stardom holds, and when things suddenly get ugly, Julia realizes she’s in way over her head.
Julia’s life is already spiraling out of control when her husband is arrested for fraud and bribery. As her so-called friends turn their backs on her, and Tatum pursues her own agenda, Julia is forced to rethink everything she knew about her world to reclaim her perfect life. But does she even want it back? Witty and incisive, Sophie Littlefield and Lauren Gershell’s That’s What Frenemies Are For provides an engrossing glimpse into the cutthroat moms’ club of the Upper East Side.
Advance praise for That’s What Frenemies are For
“Pack up your beach bag and put your phone on Do Not Disturb: This modern-day Pygmalion story is juicy fun! Fans of Lauren Weisberger and Jill Kargman will delight in this delicious romp about how the other half lives.”—Jamie Brenner, bestselling author of The Forever Summer and Drawing Home
“Whether this book hits a little too close to home or offers the perfect escape, readers will love the insanity of Julia’s social ups and downs in this clever novel.”—Laurie Gelman, author of Class Mom
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
July 30, 2019 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781984889898
- File size: 322359 KB
- Duration: 11:11:34
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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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
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