Chasing Harry Winston
Lauren Weisberger
Simon & Schuster
Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

In Lauren Weisberger’s third book, Chasing Harry Winston, the reader is introduced to three best friends who vow to change their lives in one year.  The light-hearted story follows Emmy, Leigh and Adriana, as they approach the big 3-0 and analyze where their lives are now, in none other than New York City.  Emmy was dumped by her third long-term boyfriend of five years for a 23-year-old gym instructor.  Leigh is an editor for one of the best publishers in the city and is dating Russell, the hottest sportscaster on ESPN. Finally Adriana is the gorgeous Brazilian, who lives off her parents’ money, and gets with just about every guy she meets. But all of this is about to change.

One night, when Leigh and Adriana take Emmy out to cheer her up about her break-up, the girls make a pact.  The girls persuade Emmy to engage in an around-the-world trip, sampling all the men she meets.   Meanwhile, the girls dare Adriana to stay in a monogamous relationship that may lead to marriage.   Lastly, Leigh, who everyone thinks has the perfect life, sits on the sidelines watching her friends go through these life-changing resolutions, but in the end she may be the one to lose the most. 

As the three are about to embark on these life changes, the friendship between them is the one constant in the story.  No matter where they are or who they are with, they are always in touch, and always there.  Their friendship will seem familiar to Sex and the City fans.  Readers might even draw find similarities between the friendships of the two groups.

Readers will be shocked by some of the decisions the three make throughout the story. This is by no means your typical girly story.  The girls are faced with real world temptations and act in unpredictable ways.

As the year goes by, the story follows the girls as they begin this plan of change. Emmy travels all over the world for her job and finds her sex adventures hard to start.  Adriana finds this pact easy, and has no problem meeting her potential husband.  Meanwhile Leigh continues on in a relationship she feels is going nowhere, and lands a huge account with the famed writer Jesse Chapmen.  All the girls feel like they are racing against the clock to meet the man of their dreams and settle down because of the impending thirtieth birthdays ahead.

This book is a quick read, with lots of twists and turns the reader does not expect because unlike other books in the literature and fiction category, it is not predictable.  Just like Weisberger’s other works, which include The Devil Wears Prada and Everyone Worth Knowing, there is no doubt Chasing Harry Winston will be another New York Times bestseller.   continue >>