Rating: 
Summary: Why?
Review: I love reading 'chick-lit' as much as I love watching chick-flicks. I read 4-Blondes a couple of years ago and vaguely remembered the chapters about Janey Wilcox as being the best so when this book came across my desk I noted its title and waited for a chance to grab a copy from my company's scrap book area. When I first opened 'Trading Up' to start reading, I noticed how small the type was and that it had 404 pages so I immediately thought that it was going to be a great book! Well, I have to say I've never been more disappointed in a work of fiction in my life. Janey Wilcox is the most unlikable protagonist I've ever read. Throughout the book, readers will see her walk all over people without even once feeling guilty for more than a few seconds. First, I'd like to know why Selden Rose being so incredibly rich and supposedly powerful in his field would tolerate that woman's behavior. I kept waiting for him to lose his temper and smack her around or at the very least, tell her off and I'm COMPLETELY against all forms of spousal abuse! Secondly, when Janey is telling about her first encounters with Mimi Kilroy, you get the impression that Mimi is not the kind of woman that allows herself to be walked over or taken advantage of. Yet later in the book we see Mimi's character stumbling over words, clinging to clothing racks for support and faltering all over as Janey practically runs her through the ground! I kept waiting for Mimi to say or do something that matched her with the Mimi from earlier in the book... It NEVER happened... And Patty, Janey's sister! I know for d*mn sure that if my sister treated me with the same regard with which Janey treated Patty, I'd never even acknowledge that she existed. Especially if I were married to a famous rock star! It's not like she needed to cling to her sister to be a part of her stardom... She had her own! What about this brother, Pete, who we find out about in one of the final chapters of the book? Where the hell did he come from? And where the hell is he now?? That totally threw me for a loop... I think Ms. Bushnell's brain was reset at least 4 times throughout her writing this book and the only part of her memory that she had ever bothered to 'save' was the part about Janey being a self-centered, heartless b*tch! And this, by the way, forms the question in my mind of just what kind of person is Ms. Bushnell? At any rate, as I was reading, I kept questioning myself as to why I was even bothering to finish this book. Well, the reason was always the same. I was just dying to see if something completely terrible would finally happen to Janey Wilcox that would knock her down on her ass where she belongs. Needless to say, I was left feeling completely at a loss when this never happened! I am still in shock that she managed to make her way to Hollywood to start the next chapter of her worthless existence. Ms. Bushnell is very clever in setting that up to feed her next novel. The sad part is that as much as I hated this book, I know I will read her next one. Probably hoping, the whole time, that finally Janey gets what she most definitely has coming!
Rating: 
Summary: Like watching a train wreck
Review: ... or a car crash. You are driving by and want to avert your eyes and focus on the road but you just can't .... this protagonist is not a nice person, in fact I don't think ANYONE in the book was nice and you didn't even care what good or bad things happen - the only good thing about it was the kind of "insider gossip" info ....
Rating:
Summary: A Load of Fun, if You're a New Yorker & don't mind rip-offs
Review: This book is loads of fun if you're familiar with the NYC glitterati (and geared for women)--however, be warned, it's satire doesn't quite cut the recipients as opposed to glamorize them. It's a bit on the fluff side The other problem with this book is that it has ripped it's entire character and plot from Edith Wharton's Customs of the Country (the publishers must know this as they constantly mention Wharton when describing Bushnell). If you want a great book that doesn't leave you slightly depressed by human vanity, ambition, and greed--pick up Customs of the Country. It's essentially the same, but with a more ironic tone and a better detachment (i.e. writer does not WANT to be the Beautiful Young Thing.
Rating: 
Summary: I enjoyed it
Review: Possibly because I wasn't expecting much, I really, really liked this book. I had only briefly heard about it and thumbed through it in the store. And hour later I was still standing there reading, so it must have something going for it. Great fun. Also would recommend: McCrae's Bark of the Dogwood and The Da Vinci Code
Rating: 
Summary: Trading Up
Review: I think this is the greatest book I've ever read. Candace Bushnell is a fabulous author and really brings her characters to life. Janey Wilcox has so many things going on in her life and Bushnell manages to describe each detail so well it felt like i was part of the story. I love the way she displays Janey as a ditzy blonde who will do anything to get to the top. I strongly recommend you to read this novel because it is a fun read which will make you think about all the self centred people in the world but at the same time it shows you that its not all fun and games being a celebrity in New York because you never know when your past will just lurk up behind you!
Rating:
Summary: A long hard slog
Review: I really like Sex and the City, but Trading Up is just stupid. The characters aren't insightful and it's full of cliche, even the ending where everything comes together magically in 8 pages. Barf.
Rating:
Summary: More like "Trading down"
Review: This book was stupid, to say the least. Raunchy, filthy, not to mention pointless. It was equally as retarted as "Sex and the City"(The name tells all). Janey Wilcox is the junkiest, most irritating character in any book that I have ever read. I couldn't even finish it because I was so disgusted. To wrap it up(like a bean burrito) it stinks(like rotten cheese), and I reccomend never reading it.
Rating:
Summary: transparent as the character, Janey
Review: If you like to read six-hundred pages about Prada handbags, seducing men, more Prada handbags topped off with a cocktail, this book is for you. I can't believe that I felt committed enough to finish it.
Don't be tricked into thinking it's going to be as clever as Sex in the city. Where was Bushnell's editor?
Rating:
Summary: Love of designers
Review: I love sex and the city and thought 4 blondes was okay I was glad that my favorite character from 4 blondes was the focus of this book. If you love the fashion of sex and the city and the designer band names you will love this book. It is sad to see the fall and raise of the main character. This story gives you hope to overcome a lot of difficult things. I thought this was a good read and I was sad to see it end. I can't wait for the next book by Candace Bushnell.
Rating:
Summary: Shame on you Ms Bushnell!
Review: From the terrific Sex & The City, to the satisfactory 4 Blondes, Candace Bushnell has hit a iceberg with Trading Up. Janey Wilcox is the main character in this book (first introduced in 4 Blondes) and she is possible the most unlikeable character ever! I found I couldn't sympathise with her in this novel. Perhaps that was the idea Bushnell had - to create a female protagonist whom the reader dislikes. This book is sllllooooow moving, though towards the latter stages of the novel it got slightly more interesting (barely). I was disappointed with this one - if you're really stuck for something to read then this is the book for you! I think Sex & The City (on which the show is based, in case you've been living under a rock!) was heaps better!
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