Chasing Harry Winston: A Novel

by Lauren Weisberger

book data

4,214 ratings, 3.05 average rating, 1,008 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		7%
4		23%
3		41%
2		19%
1		7%

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published

May 27th 2008 by Simon & Schuster

binding

Hardcover, 281 pages

isbn

0743290119 (isbn13: 9780743290111)

description

The bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada and Everyone Worth Knowing returns with the story of three best friends who vow to change their entire...more

[close] The bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada and Everyone Worth Knowing returns with the story of three best friends who vow to change their entire lives...and change them fast.

Emmy is newly single, and not by choice. She was this close to the ring and the baby she's wanted her whole life when her boyfriend left her for his twenty-three-year-old personal trainer -- whose fees are paid by Emmy. With her plans for the perfect white wedding in the trash, Emmy is now ordering takeout for one. Her friends insist an around-the-world sex-fueled adventure will solve all her problems -- could they be right?

Leigh, a young star in the publishing business, is within striking distance of landing her dream job as senior editor and marrying her dream guy. And to top it all off, she has just purchased her dream apartment. Only when Leigh begins to edit the enfant terrible of the literary world, the brilliant and brooding Jesse Chapman, does she start to notice some cracks in her perfect life...

Adriana is the drop-dead-gorgeous daughter of a famous supermodel. She possesses the kind of feminine wiles made only in Brazil, and she never hesitates to use them. But she's about to turn thirty and -- as her mother keeps reminding her -- she won't have her pick of the men forever. Everyone knows beauty is ephemeral and there's always someone younger and prettier right around the corner. Suddenly she's wondering...does Mother know best?

These three very different girls have been best friends for a decade in the greatest city on earth. As they near thirty, they're looking toward their future...but despite all they've earned -- first-class travel, career promotions, invites to all the right parties, and luxuries small and large -- they're not quite sure they like what they see...

One Saturday night at the Waverly Inn, Adriana and Emmy make a pact: within a single year, each will drastically change her life. Leigh watches from the sidelines, not making any promises, but she'll soon discover she has the most to lose. Their friendship is forever, but everything else is on the table. Three best friends. Two resolutions. One year to pull it off.

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01/07/08

Sarah rated it:

bookshelves: craptastic

Read in June, 2008

recommends it for: Idiots

So far this book is like a martini topped with mini marshmallows.

Update: I'm past the halfway point and the book is now a martini topped with marshmallows poured over a steaming pile of dog excrement.

Update the second: I retract my earlier statement, as it is demeaning to the martini. Martinis are fabulous and should never be associated with dreck like this. It is, however, like mashmallow-dotted dog poopie, as it is cloyingly sweet, fluffy, and a real stinkeroo.
...more

Like this review? yes (22 people liked it)

13 comments

06/22/08

Jaye rated it:

Absoulutely one of the worst books I've ever read. I am completely done reading the vapid crap that this woman purports to "write". She's a no talent-hack, who I'm convinced just knew the right people and got a contract for telling-all about Anna Wintour. When people bought that admittedly interesting, albeit horribly written book, it perpetuated a book deal and now she won't stop writing. And she should. She's HORRIBLE.

Like this review? yes (8 people liked it)

1 comment

07/14/08

Opal rated it:

Read in August, 2008

I absolutely LOVED "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Everyone Worth Knowing." I live in NYC and love reading about places I've been to, or places I've heard of. I understand what it's like to work in NYC. I could not wait for this book to come out, and even splurged and bought it before it was out in paperback. I am on page 115 and I'm completely regretting it. The most annoying parts are the following:

-Otis, Emmy's ex-boyfriend's African Grey parrot or bird that ...more I absolutely LOVED "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Everyone Worth Knowing." I live in NYC and love reading about places I've been to, or places I've heard of. I understand what it's like to work in NYC. I could not wait for this book to come out, and even splurged and bought it before it was out in paperback. I am on page 115 and I'm completely regretting it. The most annoying parts are the following:

-Otis, Emmy's ex-boyfriend's African Grey parrot or bird that he left behind. I cringe every time I read about him. Hearing him constantly yelling out demands and criticisms is beyond boring, and I could care less what it eats. Who let's their boyfriend brutally dump them, and then say, "Sure, I'll take care of your pet that I hate." What kind of person leaves their pet behind? If she loved it, I'd understand, but she hates it so why doesn't she sell it or give it to a pet store so that someone can love it, give it attention and not constantly be covering it with a towel? There have been two long passages about Otis already in this book, and the worst part was when Emmy decides to travel and dumps the bird on her friend Adriana. The fact that the bird can shout out that Adriana is a "Fat Girl" and her actually contemplate losing weight makes me furious.

-Adriana's use of the word querida in EVERY sentence. You can open the book to any page and find it. Since she is Brazilian, I assume that this is Portuguese for something. Upon translating it, I found that it means "wanted" rather than what I thought, which was "Sweetie" or "honey." Can someone please enlighten me? Do Brazilians use the word querida to mean something else? Otherwise, her saying, "Yes, [wanted], I'd marry you in a second," just doesn't make sense. All I'm saying is that I don't know why she says it, why it's the only Portuguese word she ever says, and why she says it in EVERY sentence. I'd kill my friend if she did this.

This doesn't even start with the fact that I can't identify with any of the girls or why they are friends. Adriana, the only thing the novel has her ever thinking about is how beautiful she is, how people look at her, how everyone loves her, how 8 men wanted her, etc. It is sick. Leigh knows she's not in love and gets engaged anyway. This may be understandable at 22, but she's 29, get ahold of your emotions. And Emmy, allowed herself to be with a man for 5 years who wore her thongs and cheated on her so many times he gave her STD's - come on. It is just something disgusting I don't want to read about - again, she's 29 and I'd hope she'd be thinking of a future and realizing that this was NOT the man.

I try never to give up on books, but we'll see how much farther I can get it. (less)

Like this review? yes (6 people liked it)

2 comments

05/26/08

Suzanne rated it:

bookshelves: adult-fiction, chick-lit

Read in June, 2008

Leigh, THE BOOK EDITOR, got engaged and went to visit her mom. Her mom says "I can't believe I had to wait TWELVE DAYS to see this sparkler." Then, two pages later, an incident that happened the day of the engagement is referenced as "it had been TEN DAYS since." About 200 pages later Leigh's name is spelled LEAH. This is the kind of crap that makes me want to burn books and then back over their ashes with my car. Or just complain incessantly to anyone that will listen.
...more

Like this review? yes (4 people liked it)

1 comment

05/21/08

Liisa rated it:

bookshelves: books-i-adored-, fab-chick-lit

Read in May, 2008

recommends it for: Girlfriends

By page nine, I had already laughed out loud and at page 38, I already LOVED "Chasing Harry Winston" by Lauren Weisberger.

It's the story of three best friends: Emmy, Adriana and Leigh and a year in which they plan to change their lives. Set in New York, focussing on dating and sex, you can't help but compare it to "Sex and the City" but it isn't a carbon copy nor are the similarities a bad thing.

I found "Chasing Harry Winston" highly entertai...more

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07/15/08

Jill rated it:

Read in July, 2008

I'm not sure why this book has been getting such terrible reviews, because I didn't really see much wrong with it at all. No, it wasn't Everyone Worth Knowing - which, coincidentally, is a fabulous book and especially great for summer - but I don't think it necessarily deserved the bad rap it got.

Sure, the characters can, at times, be so frustratingly typical and absurdly blind to their own mistakes that you find yourself wanting to yell out loud, perhaps in an effort to channel t...more

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06/01/08

Ummi rated it:

bookshelves: rubbish

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in June, 2008

Adriana, Emmy and Leigh are best friends living in Manhattan, New York.

Adriana - The Brazilian goddess, the ultimate ~~slut~~ socialite who will sleep with just about anything male.

Emmy - The flat-chested serial monogamist who had been dumped by her five-year boyfriend for a virgin cheerleader (like I would believe that for a minute!).

Leigh - The obsessive and compulsive one with lots of issues despite having perfect everything i.e boyfriend, job, place... or so h...more

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01/04/09

Jen rated it:

Read in January, 2009

I'm not sure why I am still reading this dreck. I didn't purchase it on my kindle because it had such horrible reviews, but when I saw it at the library I thought I would give it a chance. I think I am just avoiding housework but the pile of laundry is starting to look more appealing.

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

2 comments

08/12/08

Nic rated it:

Read in August, 2008

I'd never read anything by Laura Weisberger before. I'd seen the movie "The Devil Wears Prada", and to be honest, that was pretty rubbish storyline-wise, but I thought hey, I'll give her a chance. So I saw this book, thought it might be a laugh. Gave it a go.

One of the first things I noticed was that every time I picked it up, I wanted to put it back down again about a minute later. It was that unreadable, clearly. But I did get through it. Although I really wish I hadn't w...more I'd never read anything by Laura Weisberger before. I'd seen the movie "The Devil Wears Prada", and to be honest, that was pretty rubbish storyline-wise, but I thought hey, I'll give her a chance. So I saw this book, thought it might be a laugh. Gave it a go.

One of the first things I noticed was that every time I picked it up, I wanted to put it back down again about a minute later. It was that unreadable, clearly. But I did get through it. Although I really wish I hadn't wasted my money on it.

It had the potential to be quite a good book. You read the blurb, and think ok, this could be good. If a really good author had written it, it could be really good. But nope, it was written by this one. Then again, I bet the blurb for the Devil Wears Prada looked good as well.

Adriana was quite honestly the most annoying person I've ever met. I was begging she would get pregnant or get an STD and maybe, just maybe, think "oh, maybe being a slut ISN'T the best way to spend your life as a 30+ year old". I thought that might've been what the author was going for, this woman you're meant to laugh at. But things continue to play out for her, and she soon becomes a columnist. Oh come on, a columnist! It's like the bloody Wag diaries all over again. And then a movie comes. Come on!

I wanted to slap Emmy for being such a pushover. Seriously, she was absolutely pathetic. And Leigh... Leigh could have been a likeable character. Kind of someone you could relate to. But then she gets proposed to and doesn't have enough backbone to say "err, no, actually, I'm not ready". And has an embarrassing sex scene with some bloke she hates. And then you just want to slap her as well.

Not only that, but the entire book promotes the idea that being a slut is the only way forward. It really isn't. It made Adriana look pathetic. Yes, querida, it did. I bet she'd be having sex with that bloody parrot given half a chance.

It also has such pointless moments. Like when they randomly went on holiday very briefly. Smack bang in the middle of their working lives, for some reason, they just go on holiday, and you learn about the plane trip. And that's it, really. It just ends and suddenly, everything's back to normal. I'm sorry, but what? Why would this still be in here?

The ending was appalling. It collapsed completely. Perhaps her editor saw it and thought "you better end this quickly... hurry up!"

Speaking of editors, it's dead ironic that one of the characters was one, and was complaining about a book that was poorly written. But the funny thing was that she didn't have the guts to really tell him it was bad, because he was such an acclaimed author. This, to me, sounds like exactly what must have happened when this book was being published. Weisberger's editor didn't have the guts to tell her "umm, your book stinks" because she was so well known and loved after The Devil Wears Prada. So the gutless editor just let it get published, and the book went down.

I guess my experience with Laura Weisberger hasn't had a good start. But if I see another book with a shoe on the front sitting on the bookshelf, I'm steering clear of that.

I guess my review turned into a bit of a rant. Apologies for that. (less)

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08/01/08

fbuser733535218 rated it:

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in August, 2008

this book made my angry. i really had to put it down several times and walk away. aside from the fact that it reads as if it was written by a ninth grader, the overall tone and subject just supports the stereotype that all women (or at least those in a certain age bracket) are consumed with material things and status, and that true love is not quite as important as the size and make of your ring or the number of men with whom you have slept. i have known women like this (thankfully, not that ...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

2 comments

06/20/08

Jennifer rated it:

bookshelves: chick-lit

Read in August, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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05/01/08

furies rated it:

bookshelves: 2008, chicklit

Read in June, 2008

recommends it for: someone with absolutely nothing else to read.

it was okay.

i don't know if it's necessarily weisberger's fault - it's that after The Devil Wears Prada, i expected so much from her. and she hasn't delivered that blend of sarcasm, satire and naivety that made me like the first book so much.

this is the story of three girls who make a decision to basically change their lives in one year - the chronic commitment-phobe will be engaged, the serial monogamist will go on a "fuck tour", and the one in the perfect r...more

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1 comment

07/02/08

Shrabonti rated it:

It was one of those books I wanted to throw with great force (thanks Dorothy Parker) but still had to finish just so I could see how bad it could get.

The unforgettably bad bits:

1. Yes, I too was constantly checking the cover to see if I was mistaken in thinking those were rings coz nothing in the narrative justified that design. Except the art department wanted it to connect with 'The Devil Wears Prada', correctly guessing that was the only reason people would buy this b...more

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01/30/09

Ivonne Marie rated it:

Read in January, 2009

I love this book. Totally girlie and predictable, but fantastic!!!! I really enjoyed the way the author presented three female personalities whom I could either relate to, or identify them among my female friends. All three girls are fantastic and easy to love.

Great writing too. I couldn't put it down. Not in the suspense thriller kind of way, but in the I really want to know what's going to happen with the characters and what turns are their lives taking.

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06/08/08

Hope rated it:

Read in June, 2008

All the "nice guys" got to me! That nearly every man (even one night stands?) seemed to be overly considerate and romantic and unbeliveable in the least kinda wanted to make me gag a little. I suppose that is the kind of men to expect in chick lit, though?

Altogether it was a very easy and quick read. Not the best or worst. A mostly predictable plotline, and characters that are one-dimensional take away from the enjoyment. Having said that, it was a fun story about fabulous...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

1 comment

02/27/09

Rachel rated it:

Really fun book! It's about three late-twenties woman who are dreading their thirties and the bet they make as a result. I love the characters and I can see a little of me in each of them. Reminds me a lot of Sex in the City characters, only slightly younger.

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03/16/09

Naida rated it:

Read in March, 2009

Light and fluffy take on 3 women and their love lives. No where near as good as Devil Wears Prada, but a fun & easy read

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02/13/09

Sam rated it:

Read in January, 2009

Cute. Not realistic and sometimes frustratingly so.
I mean isn't kind of ridiculous for a writer to write with three characters that are three different versions of most girls perfection? All went to Cornell one is a publishing titan in training, one travels the world searching for great recipes and gets paid for it, and one is a gorgeous Brazilian heiress.

It's a fun silly read but at points I was just angry at the fact that a writer would so casually write about three perfect g...more

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06/16/09

Jen rated it:

Read in June, 2009

Reading this book is like eating potato chips. They might taste good at first, and go quickly, but ultimately they make you feel a little sick and mad at yourself for wasting your time.

If you like "chick lit" (I kinda hate that term), there are PLENTY of other superior choices out there. Go and read one of them.

Also, there were so many brand names in this book that it made me wonder if the author was being paid for product placement. I also find it amusing tha...more

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3 comments

05/02/08

Xarah rated it:

bookshelves: fiction

Read in July, 2008

Hmmm, the book was okay. I didn't like it as much as Weisberger's firt two books. As with the other two, I read these only because the characters' ways of life are SO different than mine - it's really hard for me to believe that people live like that.

I found it shocking and unsettling that one of the characters decided to change her life around by sleeping with more men. That seems extremely drastic and a very unsafe way to live.

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