Customer Reviews

The Velvet Rope Diaries

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I have read all of Daniella's novels, and think this is the best yet! It is a great story that has a happy ending, but definitely has some "grit" and sadness that were not in her other novels. It was a great read!

Anna Walker has never gotten over the tragedy that she experienced when she was a mere child watching her father die in a fire, while she escaped with nothing more than a few singed shoelaces. Since that day, Anna has felt that there was something more she could have done to have saved her daddy from a fiery grave. But, alas, there wasn't. Now, even after moving to New York City to pursue a career in journalism, Anna feels guilt pangs at unexpected moments. But that doesn't stop her from ridiculing her plastic-surgery obsessed boss, Nasty. Of course, Anna doesn't expect to have her private thoughts regarding the fragile Cruella De Vil clone broadcast all over the city, causing her to lose her job. But maybe it was for the best. After all, it is only after being fired from her job as a PR puppy that she is offered the opportunity she has been looking for: the chance to write her very own column. Sure, it's a column about New York City nightlife, which Anna knows absolutely nothing about, but it's a column, and Anna feels that, given a little hard work, she'll be able to make it fabulous. But when she attempts to get through the Velvet Rope of a club during her very first assignment, and is turned away by the bouncer for wearing last year's Marc Jacobs heels, Anna instantly begins having second thoughts. That is, until she runs into a spicy stranger who assists her in making her way through the entrance, and stealing her heart at the exact same moment. Now, Anna is experiencing a bunch of firsts all at once, from kissing strangers to writing for a huge newspaper, and even being the lucky recipient of a to-die-for social life involving spa dates, and shopping sprees. But as Anna sinks deeper and deeper into her new existence, she begins questioning whether being on the A-list is truly what it's all cracked up to be, or if making a life of her own would be more desirable.

As a self-professed chick lit addict, and a writer myself, I couldn't resist picking up Daniella Brodsky's THE VELVET ROPE DIARIES when I saw it sitting upon the shelf at Barnes & Noble. From page one, Anna presents a vulnerability that makes the reader feel sympathetic to both her current situation, and her past; while at the same time showcasing a fresh voice that is unique, yet extremely relatable. Anna is enchanting and her life story is riveting. Her interactions with her platonic pal and roommate, Ray, are intoxicating, and lead the reader on a wild goose chase to discover whether the pair actually have underlying romantic feelings for one another; while Anna's struggles to make her way to the top are both easy-to-understand, and, oft-times, gut-wrenching. Brodsky has penned a marvelous addition to the chick lit genre that embraces two separate sides of the spectrum: hilarious, laugh-out-loud funny commentary, along with slightly melancholy undertones. The two contrasting ideas mixed together make a fabulous, original tale that will leave readers in a blend of stitches and tears. Keep the tissues handy - they will be needed.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Hmmm. I used to think that the anti-chick-lit lobby, who characterized the genre as being all about young women obsessed with clothes and shoes, didn't know what they were talking about. After reading two such books close together, I'm beginning to see what they mean. Fortunately, the other chick lit books I've read are allowing me to view these two as an aberration. My inner Mary Sunshine refuses to entertain the possibility that those previous reads are the ones that are unusual.

This one tries to be deep by having the heroine sabotaging her life because of guilt over her father's death when she was 8. That portion of the book was interesting and thought-provoking, but rather than making me feel sympathy for her, it just made me annoyed.

Other than that, Anna Walker is the typical chick lit heroine. She works as an assistant for a trendy NYC daily paper, until one day she vents her frustration over her boss by writing a mock-expose about her... and the paper's gossip columnist finds it and prints it. Surprisingly, this leads, not to being fired, but being offered a column of her own--writing about the hottest of the hot NYC nightlife.

She meets a sexy stranger, and deals with some strange vibes from her womanizing best friend and roommate, Ray.

It is actually an entertaining story, but every time I started enjoying it, up popped the guilt thread and brought me down again. I've been trying to figure out why that is, because I like--in fact, I prefer--my chick lit with a core of angst. I think it's because Anna knew all along what her problem was--she just kept dwelling on it without doing anything about it, so it wasn't so much discovery and growth as it was practicing to get over it.

Whatever it was, this blend of chick lit and women's fiction elements, though I can see how it would work for some readers, just didn't work for me.

I would describe this book by saying that it was to say the least, entertaining. I have read lots of chick lit and I can honestly recommend this one novel whose character goes through different jobs and manages to work her way through even though she lacks experience and more importantly : confidence.
The main character's dad died in a fire and she lives with a constant sense of guilt since she herself, managed to survive.
Overall, an entertaining novel that has a positive and happy end.

Anna Walker loves writing so when the perfect job is offered to her she jumps at it though she has some concerns. The topic frightens her as she knows nothing about the New York nightlife yet that is what Anna must cover.

Gritting her teeth and leaving the popcorn and cable movies behind, Anna begins her quest to conquer the New York night scene, as she must not just survive; she needs to write about it. Anna also hopes the job will help occupy her mind as she suffers form survival guilt in that she manages to get out of the fire that killed her father. As she meets men including Ray from her past, her peers and some of her so called friends want her to fail out of envy, but though she is unaware of it the fire has strengthened Anna's resolve.

This is a terrific chick lit tale because the not so prime time player seems very real due to her doubts about diving into a different pool filled with the rich and famous and that frightens her. Anna's growth from hiding in the shadows to increasingly confident woman, as her asides depict, make for a wonderful coming of age story that sub-genre fans will appreciate.

Harriet Klausner

This is MORE than a light and breezy chik lit book....This book is about self-forgiveness. It's a GREAT book with a great message.