Uptown: A Novel [Paperback]

Virginia DeBerry (Author), Donna Grant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 2010

ENTER THE WORLD OF UPTOWN

Uptown . . . where money rules

Uptown . . . where ambition trumps tradition

Uptown . . . where politics come before everything

Uptown . . . where a family’s secrets will bring them together—or down

After twenty years away, Avery Lyons returns to New York when her mother and uncle suffer a serious car accident. The tragedy brings the family together, but Avery is not happy about the impromptu reunion. She no longer recognizes the Harlem of her childhood, but the same old family dynamics and secrets are all too familiar . . .

Heir to a real estate empire, Dwight is willing to do anything to realize his aging and demanding father’s dream: Dixon Plaza, a luxury high-rise development on Central Park North that will change the face of Harlem forever. There’s only one thing in his way: his cousin Avery has inherited a share of the property. She’s more than willing to sell until a reporter uncovers the truth behind the rumored shady dealings . . .

In Uptown a prominent Harlem family is strained to the breaking point by the high-stakes world of the Manhattan real estate industry, and one woman searches for her identity and the will to forgive. Steamy, provocative, and sexy, Uptown is a turbulent and triumphant read.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

DeBerry and Grant (Exposures) continue both their ongoing love affair with Harlem and the story of the Dixon real estate empire in this smart and compelling tale of how selfishness and avarice can destroy a family's work and reputation. Dwight Dixon takes the reins from his elderly father, King Dixon, moving the family real estate holdings to the big-time New York stage with the development of Dixon Plaza on Central Park North, a controversial development aimed at transforming Harlem. But problems abound: defective Chinese drywall, cheap fixtures and myriad changes to the project. Then Dwight's cousin, Avery Lyons, returns to tend to the affairs of her dead mother and an uneasy and disturbing past is revealed that causes the empire to crumble. DeBerry and Grant capture timely and increasingly universal themes with this dramatic, epic and often tragic story of triumph and failure. New York and Harlem come alive and the occasional stereotypical characters and a few contrived situations are minor quibbles with a novel that is both relevant and entertaining (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

A family tragedy brings Avery Lyons back to Harlem after 20 years in the Foreign Service. When she needed her family’s help, they let her down, especially her cousin Dwight, whom she revered. But still, she comes home to take care of her injured mother. Then, when her mother dies, Avery is set adrift in a landscape she hardly recognizes, as the Harlem of her youth is obliterated by gentrification. Her cousin wants to bring an upscale development to one area. After years of negotiations, the only impediment is a piece of property that Avery has inherited from her mother, which her mother intended to sell, as does Avery until she meets the tenants who will be displaced. Her feelings toward Dwight after he betrayed her come back to haunt her as she struggles to adapt and find her happiness. The team of DeBerry and Grant sure knows how to give readers a vibrant family story, a real gem that encompasses betrayals, secret lives, and forgiveness. --Patty Engelmann

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (March 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439137765
• ISBN-13: 978-1439137765
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #995,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

With seven novels to their credit, Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant, best friends for more than 25 years, have turned a friendship into one of the most successful and enduring writing collaborations in women's fiction.

Before becoming novelists, Donna was dared by co-workers at the New York Daily News to attend a model agency open call, which led to more than a decade as a plus size model, represented by the 12+ division of Ford Models. During that career, Donna was featured in catalogs and national ads, on the pages of such magazines as Essence, McCalls, Family Circle and Woman's Day, and made appearances on "Today," "Good Morning America," and "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee."

Virginia, a former high school English teacher from Buffalo, NY moved to New York City, after almost 10 years in the classroom, at the urging of a friend in the fashion business and started a successful career as a plus size model. She was frequently featured in catalogs, advertising, magazines and appeared on several television programs including "The Today Show." She retired from modeling after two years and became Vice President of BB/LW, an agency for plus size and petite models, as well as a spokeswoman for Hanes hosiery.

The duo's modeling careers led to the opportunity to launch Maxima, a fashion and lifestyle magazine for plus size women, where Virginia was editor-in-chief and Donna the managing editor. When publication of Maxima ceased, Virginia and Donna decided to try writing a book together. Their efforts eventually led to Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made (1997), which was a critical success, an Essence magazine bestseller, and won the Merit Award for Fiction from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, as well as the 1998 Book of the Year Award from the Blackboard Bestseller List/African American Booksellers Conference-Book Expo America. More than that, Tryin' hit an emotional nerve with readers from all over the world who continue to write to Donna and Virginia more than a decade later. Far From the Tree (2000) became a New York Times bestseller, and Better Than I Know Myself (2004) received two Open Book Awards, and was included on the Best African American Fiction of 2004 lists of both Borders and WaldenBooks.

Donna attended Barnard College and is a graduate of New York University. A Brooklyn native, she currently lives in the borough with her husband.

Virginia attended Fisk University and is a graduate of SUNY at Buffalo. Virginia now lives in New Jersey.

In March 2010, Touchstone Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, will publish DeBerry and Grant's new novel UPTOWN.

Please visit Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant at http://www.deberryandgrant.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The New Harlem, February 24, 2010

By 

Angelia Menchan "acvermen.blogspot.com" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uptown: A Novel (Paperback)

Uptown by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant takes readers to the new Harlem and it also makes us look at family dynamics and relationships in a fresh, new light. Avery Lyons left Harlem years ago. Since then, she has spent all that time globe-trotting for her job and traveling light. Her mother visits her in lovely places, such as Paris, France and her love life occurs on her own terms. Everything seems good, on the surface, but, a tragedy forces Avery to return home and to open up wounds from a well-buried past.

Dwight Dixon is very successful; however, he has never been able to get from under the thumb of his tyrannical father, the self-named King. King is a walking stereotype of the old-school Harlemite who has done well and always wants things his way. Dwight has never been able to please his father or gain his approval. There is a real estate deal that could make or break the Dixon family's business and Avery Lyons return will determine whether the Dixon Kingdom thrives or fails. The relationship between Avery and the Lyons, especially Dwight, is filled with bad history and she might not be as willing a participant as they would like. The question becomes will she play by their rules or will she upset the whole game?

DeBerry and Grant have written a timely novel that allows readers to become enmeshed in the lives of the main characters. Though, at times, I absolutely knew where the authors were taking me, there were other times when I was in for a surprise and I enjoyed the experience. The story is entertaining and told in a leisurely manner to allow the reader time to get caught up in the dynamics of the story. I recommend Uptown to all readers who enjoy, mature, well-told stories, filled with the culture of a community and what goes on in the lives of its inhabitants.

The novel was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Just not what we're used to.., June 15, 2010

By 

Robocop "Robo" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uptown: A Novel (Paperback)

I would like to start off by saying that I've loved all of the books by these two authors. They are usually very entertaining, the story line is easy to follow & you truly get to know the characters. I was so anxious for this new release but I was truly disappointed. The story was very hard to follow & I constantly skipped paragraphs because there was way too much detail. Normally detail adds to the storyline & helps you to visualize the characters, get to know their background, visualize the location & how it all ties into the storyline. I just didn't find that to be true with this book. The writing doesn't seem like the authors that I'm used to reading...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too much, Too soon!, April 11, 2010

By 

L. SOMMERVILLE "lovestoread" (MI, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Uptown: A Novel (Paperback)

I have enjoyed many of the books by these co-authors. Their book "Sleeping in the bed you made" is one of my favorite books. I was very disappointed with this book. My head spun as I tried to keep up with the numerous characters introduced in the first "chapter". There were no subtle intros, just more info and no plot. I tried skipping pages, again this book is clumsy.