Beth A. (PaperVistas) reviewed on 7/19/2006 + 33 more book reviews

Janey Wilcox is an M.A.W. (that's Model/Actress/Whatever to the uninitiated). The problem with Janey, the protagonist of Candace Bushnell's first novel, Trading Up, is not the M or the A part. It's the W. Here is a rare alphabetical anomaly: In Janey's case, W stands for "prostitute." Oh, Janey never crosses the line into actual hookerdom, but she does sleep with extremely wealthy men in the hopes they'll improve her status, her financial situation, or her lifestyle. When we first met Janey in Bushnell's novella collection 4 Blondes, she was up to her usual tricks (so to speak)--scamming a guy for a Hamptons vacation rental. At the opening of Trading Up, her fortunes have improved. She's now the star of a Victoria's Secret ad campaign, and as such she's found access to undreamed-of echelons of New York society. She makes friends with Mimi Kilroy, a senator's daughter "at the very top of the social heap in New York." She gets invited to all the best parties.

By Claire Dederer
In many ways Janie and her various friends are bad news indeed but they are still a lot of fun. I just love the insights into the power (and power hungry) world of New York. All of the back stabbing and the treachery; great trash! It seems very real to me and I really think Bushnell understands that universe perfectly, both from the male and female points of view.
by Anne (of Chicago, IL)

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