Review: The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

         

         

Title: The Carrie Diaries

Author: Candace Bushnell

Pages: 400

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: 29th April 2010 (UK)

Source:  Review

  

The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of one of the most iconic characters of our generation. Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend's betrayal makes her question everything. With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Readers will learn about her family background, how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins. 

I read this book when I went away to a spa for 2 days and let me tell you. It was the perfect place to read this book. Light, fun, girly. It didn't take itself too serious. It was just a nice chicklit book. It didn't move me or touch me but I don't believe it was trying to.

This being said it wasn't overly predictable. Or maybe it really was. I'm not too sure. The ending fitted Carrie's character to a T and I think it needs to happen. It felt like a very real ending which is saying a lot when it comes down to chicklit. 

I liked Carrie. She was headstrong and bold. Well, until she was with a boy. She was very dependent on the opposite sex. For a feminist she was extremely boy orientated. It didn't bother me that much because she is a teenager and I think it is something a lot of girls do when it comes down to first love. It also make me like her more as she was flawed.

Ah. Now to the boys. I didn't like either of them. No. No. No. Sebastian - a bastard jerk. George - pompous, arrogant, and whilst he has good intentions, he has crap execution. There was the typical bad boy, good boy dilemma. The passion V. Sincerity. I didn't, however, get that sweet vibe from George that was intended. He just pissed me off. I do, however, kind of think that is the point. That we aren't meant to love them. The book is a lot more about growing up and finding yourself rather than finding a boyfriend. Yes, that was a huge part of the novel, but at the end it was clear that Carrie was important, not the boy. 

The writing was nothing to write home about. It didn't enhance nor detract from the enjoyment of the book. There was definitely a teenage voice though, which is always good.

Overall, I really liked this book and I am really excited to read the next book in the series which is released at the end of April. If you are looking for some light hearted fun with some romance then this is for you!