Lipstick Jungle

A Novel

By: Candace Bushnell

Narrated by: Cynthia Nixon

In her fourth novel, Candace Bushnell writes about three powerful New York City women at the top of their fields, each navigating her way through business, relationships, scandal, success, and betrayal.

Nico O'Neilly is the ultimate executive: cool, glamorous, and always in control. The editor-in-chief of Bonfire magazine, Nico is poised to take over the entire division of the company. Nico has a stellar career, a well-respected husband, and a teenage daughter whom she adores; but the romance has gone out of her marriage, and she is tempted to find refuge in the arms of a younger man. If she does, will this derail her secret ambition to become the first female CEO of Splatch-Verner?

Wendy Healy is the president of Parador Pictures. The mother of three children (actually four, if you count her husband), Wendy's hard work has propelled her to the top of the cutthroat movie business. Her nonstop career has made her too busy to notice that her marriage to her metrosexual husband is about to unravel. Can Wendy save her most important production: her family?

Victory Ford is the darling of the fashion world. Fiercely idealistic and immensely talented, Victory can hardly keep up with her own ideas. She's created a fantasy career as one of New York City's top designers, but when she begins dating a cosmetics billionaire, she not only questions what it's like to find love, but what it's really like to succeed in big business. And why shouldn't a woman be as rich as a man?

©2005 Candace Bushnell (P)2005 Hyperion

Critic reviews

"Readers who want to immerse themselves in the trendy world of New York's high society will find themselves at home in this scintillating novel." (Booklist)

Fun and Entertaining

I greatly enjoyed the book -- especially Cynthia Nixon as narrator -- she did a great job! I love Bushnell's work and appreciate her insights and timely examination of issues affecting modern-day women in relationships, such as what happens when the woman is the major bread-winner, etc. I will concede, however, that her plotline was superficial -- I was expecting more twists and turns, along the lines of her novel "Trading Up," but, although she set up the plotline well, everything resolved way too neatly, which is why I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5, but, for "chick lit," it served its purpose for me, that is, being (1) entertaining, (2) engrossing, (3) providing interesting characters, and (4) good narration, although a little weak on (5) plot. Still, very worthwhile.

Airheads

I had never read any Bushnell before but from Sex and The City I was expecting more intelligent, perhaps witty characters which these four are not. Very superficial, predictable and stereotypical characters to a fault.I think one would safely called this book 'dialed in'. Too bad it was my first foray into audiobooks, I won't go for this type again and rather will look for more interesting, unique characters and stories. It is not because you are listening rather than reading that you should compromise - lesson learned.

T.V. show much better than the book but love Cynthia’s voice

Enjoyed Cynthia Nixon’s narration- I swear she has the best voice. I’m a troubled sleeper and I listen to this to fall asleep cos her voice is very soothing.

The book though is very meh. Now looking back the tv show was really good If this is the book they had to work with. Candace Bushnell must be a damn lucky woman cos her work keeps getting published then made yet I’m sure I’m right when I say her imagination is a bit bland.

Entertaining Read, Good Book

This was definitely an entertaining read. The story-line was just a little too predictable though. I love the way that the author entangles you into the story of these 3 high-powered New York women. It was difficult to stop listening once you got into the story.

Moderately entertaining, but patchy

I was disappointed with the book. It is a story of 3 women struggling to succeed in the City, and in their families. I had the feeling that the book was supposed to be feminist, but could not quite pool it, instead, it displayed patchy clich?s; that it was supposed to be entertaining, but was rather insipid.
With the exception of several episodes, the book left me indifferent. The characters did not speak to me at all, they were so underdeveloped, that sometimes they blurred into one and I had hard time figuring out who was the main character of a given part.
Overall, pretty shallow, sometimes moralizing, and not that much fun...

Good, story, disappointing end

I recently finished Trading Up and decided to get Lipstick Jungle on audiobook. Some of the characters overlap and the tone is very similar. More characters lives are explored in this book and the storyline is engaging. I gave it 3 stars, however, for two reasons. Cynthia Nixon was great as Miranda on Sex and the City, but she is not a great narrator. The women are strong characters and her voice doesn't reflect that, nor does it change tone much. The second reason for 3 stars was the end. It may be that this is an abridged version, but the end seem rushed and I was hoping for something a little more substantial at the end - not sure what, but I felt disappointed. Still worth a listen.

Mediocre

I thought there would be so much more. A good listen but I would have liked more of a story since my show is off the air.

Great Narration, So-So Story

Candace Bushnell really struck paydirt with "Sex and the City," because she's not that talented as a writer. "Lipstick Jungle" follows the careers of three NYC career women, with a fairly predictible plot line and no surprises. It probably works better as an audio book than in print, thanks to the fine narration by Cynthia Nixon (Miranda from the HBO series Sex and the City). An entertaining listen for a long car ride or when working out.

Not much to write home about

Pretty average.

Waste!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The plot and storyline were insignificant. There was no real substance. I am a HUGE SATC fan and did like the Lipstick Jungle TV series a few years ago. I am so disappointed with this book. Cynthia Nixon is a great reader and that was a high point. It felt like I was listening to a writer's meeting on a possible movie and waiting for someone to add some thoughts on the subject. I couldn't even tell you what the moral of the story was...I was looking forward to listening to the SATC Carrie books by Candace Bushnell but definitely not going to risk it at this point. I should have listened to the other reviews!