Hotlanta, No. 1 [Paperback]

Denene Millner (Author), Mitzi Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008

Designer clothes. Gorgeous boys. Family secrets. Major drama. Welcome to Atlanta and the lives of the Duke twins, Sydney and Lauren. They don't call it Hotlanta for nothing!

The Duke twins, Sydney and Lauren, live the life: They attend the fanciest school in Atlanta, they live in Buckhead, the most exclusive neighborhood, and they only date the hottest guys. And their secrets? Are the darkest of all. When their estranged father is released from prison and a murder is committed, their lives are plunged into a whirlwind of tabloid scrutiny, vicious gossip, and shocking revelation. Lauren, always such a party girl, and Sydney, bent on perfection by way of the Ivy League, can't trust anyone. Not their mother, not their rich stepfather. Maybe not even each other.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7–10—Twins Sydney and Lauren lead charmed lives in Buckhead, a tony section of Atlanta. Their stepfather, Altimus, is wealthy, and they attend a posh private school for the city's wealthiest blacks. What could be better? They buy the fliest clothes, drive the most expensive cars, and are school leaders. Still, their lives are not idyllic. Their mother is a shrew, they constantly fight, and their birth father just got out of jail. This fast, fun read will delight fans of Cecily von Ziegesar's "Gossip Girl" and Lisi Harrison's "Clique" series (both Little, Brown). The plot is rather convoluted, with a number of story lines, none of which is truly resolved at the end. Yes, the twins do realize that they really only have one another, and Sydney jettisons her faithless boyfriend, but a brutal murder remains unsolved, their father is still odd man out, and Altimus still rules the hood. It would appear, however, that the loose ends will have to wait for the second book in the series.—Carol Jones Collins, Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

DENENE MILLNER is a columnist for Parentingmagazine and has worked as an entertainment journalist for Essence, Entertainment Weekly, Honey, and the New York Daily News. She's authored or coauthored eleven books, including The Sistahs' Rules, The Vow, and the adaptation of Dreamgirls. Denene lives in Atlanta with her husband, Nick Chiles, and their two daughters and son. MITZI MILLER, currently a contributing editor for Essence magazine, is a freelance journalist and screenwriter. She's written for Elle (U.K.), Essence, Vibe, and Honey magazines and is the coauthor of The Vow and The Angry Black Woman's Guide to Life. She resides in New York City.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: Point (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545003083
• ISBN-13: 978-0545003087
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #785,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Number 1 New York Times bestselling author Denene Millner has written 19 books, including "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man," which she co-authored with Steve Harvey. "Act Like A Lady..." debuted No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller's list and was named by Nielsen the top selling nonfiction book of 2009. She also co-authored Harvey's new book, "Straight Talk, No Chaser," which hit bookstores in December 2010.

Millner also penned the best-selling advice book series, "What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know," and the novels, "Love Don't Live Here Anymore," "In Love & War," and, "A Love Story," each co-authored with her husband, Nick Chiles; the novel, "The Vow," named one of Borders Best of 2005 and optioned by Lifetime Television; the novelization of the Academy Award-winning movie, "Dreamgirls,"; and the three-book teen series, "Hotlanta." She also wrote "Never Make the Same Mistake Twice" for the Real Housewives of Atlanta star Nene Leakes, and served as an editorial consultant for Holly Robinson Peete's new children's book, "My Brother Charlie." And her book, "Miss You, Mina," published in August 2010, is the first in the hugely popular Scholastic Candy Apple series to feature an African American main character.

Millner, a mom of three, also provides witty, engaging, mom-to-mom advice on ethics and etiquette in everything from childrearing and marriage to work and friendship for Parenting magazine. Millner is also the founder and editor of MyBrownBaby.blogspot.com, a critically-acclaimed blog that examines parenting and motherhood through the lens of a multi-cultural experience. She also is a contributing editor for Essence, and writes articles for a plethora of magazines and websites, including Health, Entertainment Weekly, Heart & Soul, Money, Ebony, Dove.com, Unilever's "Don't Fret the Sweat" tween advice site, iVillage Health, and iVillage's Momtourage, among others.

The former political reporter and entertainment journalist lives in the Atlanta area with her husband, their two daughters and an adorable Goldendoodle named Teddy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars (RAW Rating: 4.5) - Hot Like Fire, March 29, 2008

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hotlanta, No. 1 (Paperback)

It seems like Hotlanta would be a cool place to grow up, especially if you're one of the Duke twins. Sydney and Lauren Duke live the life. They live in the exclusive Buckhead community, attend a high-profile private school, and wear clothes and drive cars most of us will only dream about. And they take it all for granted, until a series of events force them to take a cold, hard look at themselves and the lives they're living.

What happens when you find out the parents you believe are flawless are really people you don't know at all? Why is love so hard? Who are the people you call friends? And why can't secrets stay buried? These are all questions the twins ponder at some point in HOTLANTA. Denene Millner and Mitzi Miller portray teenage angst and drama realistically and expertly, creating a world any teenager can relate to. Adult readers will find themselves reminiscing about the good old days, when the slightest happening meant the end of the world and everything was exciting and new. This is a page-turning, engaging, two-thumbs-up read and I, for one, am sincerely hoping there's a part two in the works. I wasn't quite ready to leave the Duke twins to their own devices just yet.

Reviewed by T. Shelly B.
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, May 29, 2008

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hotlanta, No. 1 (Paperback)

Atlanta just wouldn't be anything without the Duke twins.

First there is Sydney, the twin who knows exactly what she wants in life, which is to get out of high school at the top of her class, go to an Ivy League college, and develop the perfect family. Sydney's hobbies include planning social events, making sure she has enough extracurricular activities, and hanging out with her wonderful boyfriend.

Then there is Lauren, who wants to become the biggest super-model ever, trying to grab the attention of those who can take her places. Her hobbies include reckless driving and getting in the hottest music video ever made.

Even though they are totally different from one another, they both share the same story. Their biological father was sent away to prison but their mother married soon after that, making the girls' lives go from rags to riches.

Their lives were pretty sane after adapting to their new lifestyles. Then they receive a phone call that their father is finally out of prison, and chaos breaks loose. Sydney, who still cares for her father, doesn't mind seeing him again, but Lauren regrets ever knowing him. Soon enough the girls' worlds are turned upside down as crimes are committed and their new family name is in trouble. Everyone they know has a secret, and the only ones they can turn to are each other.

Thrilling and very entertaining, HOTLANTA gives another perspective on how the lives of the wealthy have major flaws. The best part is, the story of the Duke twins isn't over yet, since the sequel, IF ONLY YOU KNEW, will be releasing in the fall!

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

3.0 out of 5 stars Divas Read 2 Book Club, February 21, 2009

By 

Lolita (Dallas,TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hotlanta, No. 1 (Paperback)

With Hotlanta, you realize money doesn't always buy happiness. Lauren & Sydney have there world turned upside down when their fathers gets out of jail and are requesting to see them. Not to mention the many secrets their mother and step father have been keeping for them. On the outside they seem to have the perfect life, but that couldn't be furthest from the truth.

The book started out slow but it did have some exciting points and did make you question how easy, is it to be wealthy. I would give it three out of five stars.

Diva Reviewer - Robyn Fletcher
www.divasread2.com