Emily Ever After: A Novel

by May Vanderbilt and Anne Dayton

Book Overview

A young woman heads to the city for her dream job as New York editor in this contemporary retelling of the story of Esther. When Emily Hinton, a quirky and quick-witted Southern California girl, lands... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385514638
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Crown
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

good chic lit

I liked this book a lot it was good. I want to move to New York like Emily and I was proud she stuck by her morals and didn't change. I hope there is a sequel because I want to find out what happens with Emily!

Emily Ever After

This was a fun, easy-read novel with a moral and a message. My daughters loved the details tying CA & NY as we have family in both areas. Emily's struggles to remain true to her own personality, hold onto the foundation of her faith, and live in the real world ring true. Without becoming "preachy", Emily models real life struggles, slip-ups, and successes. Maryanne from Milpitas

It was SUPER!!

This was a remarkable book, and definitely the type of writing I'd like to see more of in chick-lit. Emily, a small town girl, moves to Manhattan to pursue her dreams, but struggles along the way to fit in with her new friends and co-workers. Her Christian values often conflict with the big-city lifestyle, and we watch as Emily goes through a series of changes throughout the book - at first she is shy and awkward, then makes herself over to fit in, and finally comes back to her own beliefs and finds her own voice. I'm not Christian, or even religious, but was not put off by the thread of Christianity in this book. Almost any 20something will be able to identify with parts of Emily, and the book did not preach Christianity or anything of the sort. The book used Emily's faith as a way to show her internal struggles to fit in, and fitting in with a new crowd is something we can all identify with. Emily was a super character - she was smart, ambitious, a girl's girl, sociable yet reflective, and very caring and thoughtful. Her character stayed 'in character' the entire time, and even when Emily started developing new habits (like drinking and making out with her boyfriend), Emily was always concerned with her actions. The book did have romance, in fact there was quite a bit of it - no, there were no sex scenes, but that wouldn't have worked in this book. There was a sweetness and purity to Emily that made her eventual relationship even more romantic and fulfilling to read about. The writing itself was engaging, and smart. And, the ending was satisfying - although I did hold out hope that Emily would come to love NYC!

intriguing contemporary tale

Her Uncle Matthew obtains Emily Hinton a job as assistant to a long time friend Bennett, a publisher at Morrow and Sons, a highly regarded Manhattan publishing firm. Though her parents are concerned that their daughter is moving to the capital of glitz, an excited Emily relocates from Jenks, California (near San Diego). In New York, Emily tussles with the looser lifestyle as emulated by her roommate, her boss and her peers at the company. She finds some solace when she works at her Uncle's soup kitchen, but notices how his partner Josie loves him though Matthew is unaware of her feelings. Emily struggles between what she believes is right and the hedonistic fun of her new friends and city until she must take a moral stand on a book's content knowing it will cost her a job she treasures if she doe. Will Emily do what she believes is the right thing or will she remain silent as a lamb? EMILY AFTER EVER is an intriguing contemporary tale starring a delightful protagonist struggling with the materialistic and often cynical assault on her spiritual beliefs. Emily is a terrific character who originally goes along to belong, but soon has doubts as she is uncomfortable with not being herself. Though her final stand turns too easily as black and white in spite of a revelation about the married Bennett and his "girlfriend" readers will admire Emily's courage to adhering to her beliefs rather than pretending all is well. Harriet Klausner

finally a book for me

My mother gave me a copy of this book for my 18th birthday and it was really good. I totaly identified with Emily who is the main character. I am from a small town too in Illinois (Wheaton!) and am moving to a big city for college - Chicago! But I'm worried about losing touch with my Christian values becuase I will be so far from my Family and my Church. I t was nice to see that someone is writing in a real way about how hard it is to be a Christian sometimes with all th worldly pressures and temptations. Some of the other Christian books I have read make it seem so black and white, but its not. Emily has these temptations too and without giving anything away I think she deals with them very well. Although she does drink a little too much once or twice she is able keep in touch with her Christian values - and with her friends back home (shout outs to Kim Katie and Geoff). This would be a great present for any girl or "young woman" who might be going off to school somewhere far away from her roots. Plus it's a really funny book sometimes especially when Emily is with her girlfriends talking about their boyfriends. And it's really touching too when she has to choose between a guy who seems really dreamy and a guy who is much more perfect for her. This is my first reveiw and I totally recommend this book.