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New Amsterdam: Tess
by
Thessaly Sinclair owns an artisanal shop in the historic Seaport district of Lower Manhattan. She's savvy and charming, and appears to have it all, but a romantic hang-up is holding her back from experiencing true love.
**From the Author**
New Amsterdam is dedicated to the Humans of New York
In the summer of 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton began an ambitious project - t ...more
**From the Author**
New Amsterdam is dedicated to the Humans of New York
In the summer of 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton began an ambitious project - t ...more
Published
October 2015
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A Visual Reading Experience: Looking Through the Eyes of a Camera Lens
New Amsterdam: Tess, the first in a series of “petite novels” by Ashley Pullo, is a wonderful, visual experience for the reader. Full of great imagery and detailed, witty prose, this novel is an entertaining and fun read. Pullo puts her signature touch on the book with her unique writing style, which takes the reader on a sensory experience of New York City. It’s as if I were inside the book itself walking along with the chara ...more
New Amsterdam: Tess, the first in a series of “petite novels” by Ashley Pullo, is a wonderful, visual experience for the reader. Full of great imagery and detailed, witty prose, this novel is an entertaining and fun read. Pullo puts her signature touch on the book with her unique writing style, which takes the reader on a sensory experience of New York City. It’s as if I were inside the book itself walking along with the chara ...more

Jan 13, 2016
Lori Otto
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
high-priority,
friends
This book is unlike anything I've read before. The format is completely unique, and as a follower of HONY, I sense the connection and love how Ashley has woven the stories of her characters into tales like those Humans of New York. It's brilliant. And speaking of her characters, how can you not love them all? Tess is fascinating and I loved the idea of her shop. I want it to exist and I want to buy all the things. :) This was just so clever and I wish I'd read it sooner. I'm happy it's a series
...more

Drawing inspiration from the popular blog Humans of New York, the New Amsterdam series takes a look at the lives, loves, and struggles of young New Yorkers. In this first installment, we meet Tess, owner of a boutique specializing in artisanal honey and other locally and organically sourced sundries. When she meets Levi, the owner of a rooftop gardening collective, there is an instant connection, but what unfolds is not your typical romance.
Throughout the book, coined as a petite novel, we’re i ...more
Throughout the book, coined as a petite novel, we’re i ...more

After reading Ashley's Discography series I've come to expect a certain level of romance, but part of the romance is the build up leading to it. That is Tess!
The characters are charming and witty! Young entrepreneurs conquering NYC while exposing real life stories along the way. Ashley's realistic writing pulls you into the story and you feel like you're right there with them! You want to be their friends, know more about them and what happens next!
The chemistry is buzzing and the flirtatious ...more
The characters are charming and witty! Young entrepreneurs conquering NYC while exposing real life stories along the way. Ashley's realistic writing pulls you into the story and you feel like you're right there with them! You want to be their friends, know more about them and what happens next!
The chemistry is buzzing and the flirtatious ...more

Charming, Witty and Brilliantly Entertaining - Pullo regales readers with a story of friendships, family, love and the journey towards self-realization.
I was richly invested in these characters, the relationships they cultivated and their respective stories. It was full of awkward encounters, quirky characters and humorous banter - all things I have come to adore from Pullo's writing style. The romance woven into the story was exciting and accompanied by an intense attraction and wickedly seduct ...more
I was richly invested in these characters, the relationships they cultivated and their respective stories. It was full of awkward encounters, quirky characters and humorous banter - all things I have come to adore from Pullo's writing style. The romance woven into the story was exciting and accompanied by an intense attraction and wickedly seduct ...more

4.5 Stars...
Reading Tess was an experience for me. I knew going in this was women's fiction with romantic elements. I normally read 'regular' romance but I was pleased with how quickly I was immersed in Tess' character and her world. This story is all about the characters and the vivid imagery the author creates with her scenes and story.
The New Amsterdam series are shorter novels/long novellas and I won't lie, I wish it was longer. And that's because I found these characters so witty and engagi ...more
Reading Tess was an experience for me. I knew going in this was women's fiction with romantic elements. I normally read 'regular' romance but I was pleased with how quickly I was immersed in Tess' character and her world. This story is all about the characters and the vivid imagery the author creates with her scenes and story.
The New Amsterdam series are shorter novels/long novellas and I won't lie, I wish it was longer. And that's because I found these characters so witty and engagi ...more

I've come to expect that when I read a book by Ashley Pullo it will have tight, concise writing, a sense of place as strong as any character, pop culture references, witty dialogue, and characters I want to be friends with. That was the only expectation I had going into this book from her new series, and it was everything I wanted it to be! If you like Humans of New York, are a fan of character-driven plot, and you like strong female characters who lead the story... read this book!
...more

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kimberlyfaye reads.
I wouldn't call myself a rabid Humans of New York fan, but I've always had an appreciation for Brandon's work and the stories he tells. I even had the opportunity to listen to him speak a few years ago at a conference, but that's a little off topic. (He was amazing though.) New York City is such a mixing pot and humans are fascinating. He does a great job of telling their stories. The same can be said for Ashley Pullo and this series.
Tess (the ...more
I wouldn't call myself a rabid Humans of New York fan, but I've always had an appreciation for Brandon's work and the stories he tells. I even had the opportunity to listen to him speak a few years ago at a conference, but that's a little off topic. (He was amazing though.) New York City is such a mixing pot and humans are fascinating. He does a great job of telling their stories. The same can be said for Ashley Pullo and this series.
Tess (the ...more

4 /2 stars, I adored this!!
My only complaint: I wish it was a full sized novel. Because this is one of those joyous read with a smile on your face kind of read, snorting at the witty infused humour. But, I know this is part 1 of 4, and more is to come soon.
I'm familiar with this author's other novels from the Discography series. This new series continues Ashley's poignant writing of New York. Intelligent, witty, heartfelt, likeable characters who are fleshed out and real. Secondary characters ma ...more
My only complaint: I wish it was a full sized novel. Because this is one of those joyous read with a smile on your face kind of read, snorting at the witty infused humour. But, I know this is part 1 of 4, and more is to come soon.
I'm familiar with this author's other novels from the Discography series. This new series continues Ashley's poignant writing of New York. Intelligent, witty, heartfelt, likeable characters who are fleshed out and real. Secondary characters ma ...more

4.5 STARS!
I agree with the other readers who said this story is a visual experience: I felt completely immersed in Thessaly Sinclair's world. I loved living in this beautiful microcosm for a few hours. I adored all the characters and their backstories (minus Paul), and I fell in love with the author's fluid lyricism.
My only complaint?
I wish I could have lived in Tess's world a little bit longer.
...more
I agree with the other readers who said this story is a visual experience: I felt completely immersed in Thessaly Sinclair's world. I loved living in this beautiful microcosm for a few hours. I adored all the characters and their backstories (minus Paul), and I fell in love with the author's fluid lyricism.
My only complaint?
I wish I could have lived in Tess's world a little bit longer.
...more

One of Ashley Pullo's greatest strengths as a writer is her ability to paint a picture for the reader with her witty and descriptive prose. Tess was no exception. I felt that I was right there with her in New York, visualizing The Hive, Seaport, Brooklyn Soil, and everything along the way...even though I have never actually been to NYC.
"As the taxi picks up speed across the Brooklyn Bridge, the fading sunlight drips through the rusty cables and casts hues of sepia on the cars below. It's a timel ...more
"As the taxi picks up speed across the Brooklyn Bridge, the fading sunlight drips through the rusty cables and casts hues of sepia on the cars below. It's a timel ...more

I fell in love with Ashley's writing while reading The Album. Not only is she witty but she has an amazing, unique style of prose. Her characters become your friends and they are hard to let go of once you are done the book. So, of course I jumped at the chance to read an advanced copy of Tess. Like the Discography series, Ashley introduces the reader with surprisingly real characters and situations. For me, her stories also have a magical element to them - magical in the sense that you wish so
...more

Ms. Pullo gave me a copy for feeback and my honest review and all I can think about is honey. Honey is the family business for Tess, even making a boutique store selling to various businesses and events. The variety of honey and beverages described have given me reason to hunt some down. Tess is a lovely young lady with a naive dream of being married to Mason, the man she followed to New York. While he enjoyed the playboy lifestyle Tess matured and began a successful business without any interes
...more

What a charming story. This quick and witty read was fun, funny and fresh.
Tess and Levi reminded me of Kathleen Kelly and Joe Fox from you've got mail. Instead of Godfather references, there were endearing nods of a much more humorous nature to Pee Wee's big adventure. The only way it could have gotten any better would have been to sneak something in there about Simone's big but.
I hope there will be more in this series. I read Julia before Tess and although I see the transition from one story l ...more
Tess and Levi reminded me of Kathleen Kelly and Joe Fox from you've got mail. Instead of Godfather references, there were endearing nods of a much more humorous nature to Pee Wee's big adventure. The only way it could have gotten any better would have been to sneak something in there about Simone's big but.
I hope there will be more in this series. I read Julia before Tess and although I see the transition from one story l ...more

First, I have read all of Ashley's books so far, and this, this, this! Loved every word. It was charming, sexy, adorable and addicting. I read it in two sittings, and was in a better mood both times for it. Her characters are delightful and memorable, the love story believable (haven't we all been in that place between two choices??!) and the backdrop of Asheville and Manhattan were colorful and creative. I am so excited to read the next two! Do yourself a favor, make a pot of coffee (or open a
...more

"Love is pure. Love is organic. Love is raw. Love is sweet. Love is non-perishable? Love is wild honey."
So happy that I was introduced to Ashley Pullo's books! I fell in love with The Album/The Ballad and needed more of her refreshing writing style....so of course I looked for her next book which is Tess and proceeded to devour every word. I truly enjoyed this story of Tess and her quirky friends, her coming into her own bold self, the sexy and fun romance that develops...kept me smiling and glu ...more
So happy that I was introduced to Ashley Pullo's books! I fell in love with The Album/The Ballad and needed more of her refreshing writing style....so of course I looked for her next book which is Tess and proceeded to devour every word. I truly enjoyed this story of Tess and her quirky friends, her coming into her own bold self, the sexy and fun romance that develops...kept me smiling and glu ...more

I absolutely loved reading New Amsterdam: Tess by Ashley Pullo. I loved reading Thessaly's story of love, dedication and finding the one true love. Thessaly has a past romance that continues to hold her back from finding her one true love. I thought the author did an amazing job at capturing the characters and making you care for them. I can't wait to read more by Ashley Pullo.
...more

The sweetest thing.....
From its gorgeous cover to the last page Tess is the this perfect confection. Ashley Pullo has not just woven a love story, she has created a valentine/travelogue for New York. I'm in love with this book and can't wait for Julia's story! ...more
From its gorgeous cover to the last page Tess is the this perfect confection. Ashley Pullo has not just woven a love story, she has created a valentine/travelogue for New York. I'm in love with this book and can't wait for Julia's story! ...more

A tad slow at first, but once we see Tess in action in NYC the story became so much more interesting. It was a great story that mainly focused on Tess but we also got snapshots of other characters that are in Tess’s life, whether her friends or random people she encounters. I wished there would’ve been a bit more to Tess’s story but I don’t think this is what the author intended with this book.
I’d previously read the Album and Ballad stories from this author and had Tess sitting idle and forgot ...more
I’d previously read the Album and Ballad stories from this author and had Tess sitting idle and forgot ...more

Tess owns a shop in downtown NY that sells honey and hand crafted jams. Levi is a Brooklyn rooftop farmer.
Tess is still hoping to get back together with her ex, Mason, who she is currently in a friends-with-benefits type relationship. She followed him from North Carolina to New York and then they broke up. When she meets Levi, she is attracted to him but not willing to move on from Mason.
As with the other books in by this author, the main characters are not the only focus of the story and the ...more
Tess is still hoping to get back together with her ex, Mason, who she is currently in a friends-with-benefits type relationship. She followed him from North Carolina to New York and then they broke up. When she meets Levi, she is attracted to him but not willing to move on from Mason.
As with the other books in by this author, the main characters are not the only focus of the story and the ...more

*I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Having read all of Ashley Pullo's previous books, I went into New Amsterdam: Tess expecting her unique, descriptive writing style. What I experienced was love at first sentence... I totally fell in love with everything about the characters, the setting, the story. Dare I say - this is her best work yet!
Inspired by the blog Humans of New York, Tess follows the story of Thessaly Sinclair (Tess) - small town girl now li ...more
Having read all of Ashley Pullo's previous books, I went into New Amsterdam: Tess expecting her unique, descriptive writing style. What I experienced was love at first sentence... I totally fell in love with everything about the characters, the setting, the story. Dare I say - this is her best work yet!
Inspired by the blog Humans of New York, Tess follows the story of Thessaly Sinclair (Tess) - small town girl now li ...more

Ashley Pullo is the master of sweet, endearing, emotion packed vignettes. I'm a BIG fan of her other books, The Album and The Ballad. Her newest, Tess, did not disappoint.
Inspired by Humans of New York, this "short novel" is centered around sorta-random, every day people. But, they're wonderful! They have interesting lives and careers and emotions. Like Pullo's previous books, you can see how lives intertwine and the decisions/interactions of one character may impact another without even knowing ...more
Inspired by Humans of New York, this "short novel" is centered around sorta-random, every day people. But, they're wonderful! They have interesting lives and careers and emotions. Like Pullo's previous books, you can see how lives intertwine and the decisions/interactions of one character may impact another without even knowing ...more

Tess knows honey. Her family owns a large farm that, amongst many things, collects honey. Tess has a little boutique in New York City that sells artisanal honey. Lately, her life has revolved around her business while she waits for Mason to come back to her. Mason and Tess were college sweethearts. She followed Mason to New York City thinking they were going to spend the rest of their lives together. But life had different plans for them and they decided to take a break. They both assumed they w
...more

Charming, whimsical, humorous, and sexy!!
4 /2 stars, I adored this!!
My only complaint: I wish it was a full sized novel. Because this is one of those joyous read with a smile on your face kind of read, snorting at the witty infused humour. But, I know this is part 1 of 4, and more is to come soon.
I'm familiar with this author's other novels from the Discography series. This new series continues Ashley's poignant writing of New York. Intelligent, witty, heartfelt, likeable characters who are fles ...more
4 /2 stars, I adored this!!
My only complaint: I wish it was a full sized novel. Because this is one of those joyous read with a smile on your face kind of read, snorting at the witty infused humour. But, I know this is part 1 of 4, and more is to come soon.
I'm familiar with this author's other novels from the Discography series. This new series continues Ashley's poignant writing of New York. Intelligent, witty, heartfelt, likeable characters who are fles ...more

This is my first book by Ashley Pullo. It's a contemporary romance with a little humor. The author has a witty writing style that spurs you to want to read more. It was tough to put the book down. The characters are well defined and you want to know more about them.
This could have been a four stars review for me but two of my pet peeves were woven in throughout the book.
One - I hate product placement. I don't watch a lot of television because I hate commercials. I don't want commercials in the ...more
This could have been a four stars review for me but two of my pet peeves were woven in throughout the book.
One - I hate product placement. I don't watch a lot of television because I hate commercials. I don't want commercials in the ...more

What a breath of fresh air this book is. Being a big fan of Ashley’s work, after being teased all summer with post about her new series, New Amsterdam, I was looking forward to getting my copy of Tess.
The story of Tess is refreshing because Tess could be any of us. I just love how she has traditional values, but still has that spunk in her that makes her a wildflower in New York City. Tess is not the only character that I enjoyed in the story, Seth and Meg are the friends everyone wish to have ...more
The story of Tess is refreshing because Tess could be any of us. I just love how she has traditional values, but still has that spunk in her that makes her a wildflower in New York City. Tess is not the only character that I enjoyed in the story, Seth and Meg are the friends everyone wish to have ...more

Tess
I adored this light, funny, and sexy read from Ashley. It was my first of hers and she did not disappoint. I felt like I was a part of the story, as if Tess was an old friend. I've never been to NYC, but Ashley made it possible to imagine with her beautiful writing. I loved so much that this story was different from anything else I've read. Yes it's romance, but it's also more than that. It's about family, friendship, love, and Tess learning that she deserves more than she gives herself cred ...more
I adored this light, funny, and sexy read from Ashley. It was my first of hers and she did not disappoint. I felt like I was a part of the story, as if Tess was an old friend. I've never been to NYC, but Ashley made it possible to imagine with her beautiful writing. I loved so much that this story was different from anything else I've read. Yes it's romance, but it's also more than that. It's about family, friendship, love, and Tess learning that she deserves more than she gives herself cred ...more

A great summer read!
This is my new favorite summer book! It's about a woman named Tess who owns her own artisan honey/jam shop in NYC. It's all about how she gets over an old love and finds a new one. It also shows her busy life with her business and friends.
I like that he book jumps perspectives between the characters, and I really like that you get a glimpse into each characters life. I like that it's a romance without the sex scenes (although they are certainly alluded too).
Warning! You wil ...more
This is my new favorite summer book! It's about a woman named Tess who owns her own artisan honey/jam shop in NYC. It's all about how she gets over an old love and finds a new one. It also shows her busy life with her business and friends.
I like that he book jumps perspectives between the characters, and I really like that you get a glimpse into each characters life. I like that it's a romance without the sex scenes (although they are certainly alluded too).
Warning! You wil ...more

I love Ashley Pullo's writing. She's never pretentious or overwrought with her characters or her storylines. Her style is witty and playful without being shallow and her characters feel more like actual people then caricatures. This homage to Humans of New York is beautifully done, with a light touch that doesn't skimp on the lovingly rendered descriptions of a particular corner of this city or the small group of people that inhabit it.
...more
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