This book is like the ultimate nostalgic trip to early 2000s NYC. Four twenty-somethings are figuring out life, love, and *how on earth do you find an apartment in Manhattan?* Robin’s got a rent-controlled place on the Upper West Side, but needs a roommate. Jessica just caught her boyfriend cheating and needs a new place to crash. Tory’s trying to escape her crazy rich family. Zach—who’s kinda a tech genius—offers Jessica a spot, and things get a lot more complicated from there.

The story hops between the four of them, and each of their journeys is fun, relatable, and a bit messy. It’s got that early-2000s NYC charm, mixed with friendship, romance, and some major life realizations. If you want a cute, heartfelt read with a little drama but a whole lotta heart, this one’s perfect.

This book was written for you if:
1. You’re a sucker for early 2000s New York City vibes.
2. You love stories with different perspectives that all come together.
3. You want a fun read about friendships, love, and figuring it all out.

To the Upper West Side.If it hadn't been for our chance encounters and random roommate matches, who knows where we would be today."🗽

🗽La storia è narrata da quattro pov diversi e pagina dopo pagina ci immergiamo nelle vite piene di alto e bassi di Jessica ,Robin,Tori e Zach nell’Upper West Side. Immediatamente ognuno di loro acquista profondità e carattere facendosi distinguere senza difficoltà dagli altri personaggi. Li ho amati tutti singolarmente ma li ho amati ancor di più una volta hanno incrociato i loro percorsi andando a creare così una bellissima amicizia che presto è quasi diventata una seconda famiglia per ciascuno di loro.

🗽nonostante non sia mai stata a New York l’autrice è stata in grado di descrivere luoghi,strade e vicinati in maniera talmente vivida da farmi vivere la città insieme ai protagonisti.

☀️ Questo libro è stato un viaggio che mi ha riportata nel 2004 prima di Netflix, gli smartphone e degli uber che fin da subito mi ha trasporta in una delle serie tv degli anni 2000 con delle vibes alla Friends che non puoi fare a meno di divorare! Inoltre grazie alla scrittura leggera e scorrevole dell’autrice è stata una lettura rapida ,perfetta per l’estate e che rileggerei sicuramente!

heartwarming tale of love and friendship in manhattan that follows several peoples lives, set in the early 2000s

*An Upper West Side Story* by Rachel Cullen is a sweet, contemporary romance set against the backdrop of New York City's iconic Upper West Side. Cullen’s writing captures the vibrant energy of the setting, and the chemistry between the protagonists is evident from the start. The story offers a charming look at love, self-discovery, and navigating life’s challenges in a bustling city.

However, while the novel is enjoyable, it falls into some predictable romantic tropes and doesn’t offer many surprises along the way. The characters are likable, but their development feels a bit surface-level at times, and some of the secondary plotlines could have been fleshed out more. The pacing occasionally slows, and the conflict feels somewhat forced in parts. Overall, *An Upper West Side Story* is an enjoyable, feel-good read, but it lacks the emotional depth or originality to make it stand out in the crowded contemporary romance genre. It's perfect for fans of lighthearted, city-based romances but doesn't offer much that feels fresh or unexpected.

This was a quick and enjoyable read that I would recommend to others.

While I enjoyed the characters, I feel that there were too many, and too many POVs. Personally I prefer when there are only one or two narrators in a book.

Rachel Cullen’s An Upper West Side Story offers a nostalgic glimpse into early 2000s Manhattan. The novel follows a group of young adults as they navigate love, friendship, and career aspirations in the bustling city. While the book effectively captures the zeitgeist of the era, the plot is somewhat predictable (though in a comforting way).

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. This engaging book about four 20-something’s navigating their lives after collage through work, love, friendship, family demands, living on their own for the first time and just living in 2000 New York City. It reflects what some might think was a simpler time, without social media, smart phones, search engines and Uber. I enjoyed the nostalgia; it often reminded me of my own fears, pressures and searching when I moved to a large city away from home. I related to the character’s struggles to find their path in the world. Although I found this book to be a light, enjoyable read, the similarity of three of the characters had me flipping back and forth to remember the individual back stories. It was a light, enjoyably easy read.

Unfortunately I think this fell victim to my dwindling attention span, and I got a bit overwhelmed with the amount of characters, and how it felt like their POV's were changing, but nothing had really happened in the chapter. I haven't posted a main review post on this as I wanted to be as honest with my audience as possible whilst still trying to support books/authors. I loved the concept and it nearly had me, I just needed a bit more to hook me in the first quatre of the book.

Perfect read if you are looking for a rom-com that gives the perfect early 2000s NYC vibes. Set in 2004, this book gives so much nostalgia for that time. A quick and easy read perfect for the beach or your subway commute.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Loved the multiple storylines in this book that all led to the same plot line. i enjoy books where I am able to dive into each characters lives and this book did just that for me!

This was a very good book. I enjoyed reading it. The characters and plot kept me interested. I would read another book by this author.

Thank you Lime Street Press and NetGalley for the eARC of An Upper West Side Story! All opinions in this review are my own.

I DNFed this one at 31%. I felt like it was hard to differentiate between the characters when they all had a similar issue, trying to find an apartment or a roommate. I expected this to be more about a group of 20 somethings living in one building similar to Friends. Overall, this one wasn't for me but I can see why people connected with the story.

Really liked this book, loved taking a trip back in time to 2004 rather than it being set in 2023. Also really liked the setting and the characters. Thanks for the eARC in exchange for my honest review

Rachel Cullen's "An Upper West Side Story" takes readers on a nostalgic journey back to Manhattan in 2004, where real estate decisions drive relationships and friendships blossom in the most unexpected places. With its engaging plot, relatable characters, and heart-warming themes of love and friendship, this novel is a delightful and captivating read that will resonate with readers of all ages.

Set against the backdrop of the bustling streets of Manhattan, the story follows the lives of four individuals whose paths intersect in unexpected ways. Robin, Jessica, Tory, and Zach find themselves facing pivotal moments in their lives, from navigating the challenges of finding roommates to grappling with the complexities of love and self-discovery.

What sets "An Upper West Side Story" apart is its authentic portrayal of life in the city that never sleeps. Rachel Cullen expertly captures the essence of New York City in the early 2000s, from its iconic landmarks to its vibrant culture and bustling energy. Readers will find themselves immersed in the sights and sounds of the Upper West Side, feeling as though they are walking alongside the characters as they navigate the streets of Manhattan.

Moreover, Cullen's characters are wonderfully drawn and highly relatable, each with their own hopes, dreams, and struggles. From Robin's determination to find a roommate to Zach's unexpected offer to rent out his spare bedroom, each character's journey is filled with humour, heart, and genuine emotion. As they forge unexpected connections and form lasting friendships, readers will find themselves cheering for their successes and empathising with their challenges.

In addition to its engaging plot and well-developed characters, "An Upper West Side Story" is also a celebration of the power of friendship and the importance of human connection. Through their shared experiences and shared moments of laughter and tears, Robin, Jessica, Tory, and Zach discover that true happiness can be found in the bonds we form with others.

In conclusion, "An Upper West Side Story" is a charming and heart-warming novel that captures the spirit of New York City and the magic of friendship. With its nostalgic charm, relatable characters, and heartfelt themes, Rachel Cullen's novel is sure to leave readers with a smile on their faces and a warm glow in their hearts.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of An Upper West Side Story by Rachel Cullen in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This was a fun trip back in time to 2004 which was life pre cell phones, etc. I really enjoyed the trip back in time as I truly think life was easier than! Great read and if you love NYC than you will really enjoy this.

This story is told from the perspectives of Jessica, Robin, Tory and Zach; four young adults living in New York in 2004 who are going through changes in their lives. Multiple housing mix ups and roommate searches cause them all to intercept and develop friendships and an unexpected romance.
I loved how each character was so different and came from such differing backgrounds but in their own ways each character was trying to figure out their life and therefore had enough in common to build relationships with one another. There was definitely a few miscommunications throughout the story but the one between Robin and Tory just added a comedic element and the miscommunication between Zach and Jess provided the catalyst for their relationship to strengthen. I was pleasantly surprised by this story since I went into reading it only knowing a brief description. It had a sweet love story element along with strong female friendships and self-discovery. I would absolutely recommend this book.

This was a great quick read! At certain points it was a bit hard to follow the different points of views but ultimately found the book to have a satisfying conclusion and it was interesting to see how the different character’s story lines fit together.

While it took me much longer than expected to start this book. I am so glad that I finally got into it. It was such a fun and refreshing story. I loved each of the characters and the story was so light-hearted. It was definitely a quick read and filled with nostalgia that I was not expecting going into it. I am not sure what I expected but it was not what this and I am very pleasantly surprised with the outcome of this book!

An Upper west side story follows 4 individuals who all live in New York and whose lives come together due a series of unfortunate events but change their lives for the better. Jessica, Robin, Tory and Zach all have a different story to tell and are in their current situation but are fearful of how to get out of it. In time they encourage each other to take the brave steps forward to change their lives and in time become the best of friends.

This story was so wholesome and heart warming; this was a story that you could find relatable as you read it which made you route for each of the characters. The plot lines are quite predictable but with the way it was written I wasn't mad about this. I loved that everything came together at the end and each of them had what they had been looking for in the end which was satisfying. Cullin's writing style was so smooth and you felt that you rolled along with the lives of each of the characters; completely wrapped up in the story.

There wasn't an awful lot to the plot; it felt quite simple which made it such an easy read but wasn't one that I was desperate to keep picking up.