Meet Vanessa, an almost thirty-something New Yorker who thinks she’s got it all: marriage-material boyfriend Ethan, her own bilingual preschool, a closet full of designer fashions, and daily diner dates with her best friend Emily. But when Ethan doesn’t turn out to be all he’s supposed to be, Vanessa’s world instantly unravels. Suddenly single, she stumbles upon a wealthy man and moves to Palm Beach to marry him, only to find the shocking truth behind the source of his wealth. Is having everything worth sacrificing who you really are? But what about the Shoe Salon at Bergdorf’s? The Louboutin collection? Vanessa finds herself at a crossroads, and the choices she makes might surprise everyone—even herself. Witty, insightful, and eminently relatable, Erica Negi’s story is a modern twist on the Cinderella tale—albeit in designer shoes. Reminiscent of the works of Jennifer Weiner and Candace Bushnell, My Life in Loubies is one woman’s uproarious journey to adulthood.

Vanessa wants it all. Her dreams include an Upper Eastside apartment, an enormously successful business, the perfect Legacy ring from Tiffany’s and of course a closet full of Louboutin’s. So what happens when she achieves all of this and more? Thrilled by her new life and love jet-setting from Manhattan to West Palm Beach it’s hard to believe that only a few months ago she was on the losing end of a not-so-ideal relationship. But is her new life and success worth it? Will Vanessa discover there could possibly be more to life than that closet full of Louboutin’s with a castle and “prince charming” as well?

My Life In Loubies is one of those rare books I broke into nearly the moment I had access to it. Something about the premise along with the cover image as well as the very wonderful author, Erica Negi. Unfortunately though, the book didn’t capture me the way I had hoped it would. It was nearly 50 pages in before I felt as though the story was progressing in a way I could connect to. That’s not to say the writing wasn’t excellent, because I definitely felt Erica wrote well, I simply needed more to propel me forward in the book.

Vanessa was an independent do-it yourself kind of woman in possibly the most extreme way. A self-made entrepreneur with her business, a set of exclusive preschools that cater to the “Summer in the Hamptons” crowd. Now, though I’m obviously far from her social status I still felt like there was emotion lacking from this serious woman on a mission. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’d like to think that the social elite still have a heart and some consideration even if it’s reserved for a select few including their own family. In Vanessa’s case, with her niece recently adopted after the death of her twin sister I thought there would be more feeling and reflection on her part even if only for her sister. There is later in the book, but even at that point I wanted more. The end of her three year relationship was also another thing that baffled me, because she didn’t seem to bat an eyelash at his loss. It all made it a little difficult for me to connect with, which in turn made it difficult to keep reading though I did finish the novel.

In addition to the loss of emotion I felt throughout the book, I also felt like there could have been more mention of the shoes that grace the cover and title of the book. For me, if there’s going to be an emotional disconnect than I want to hear about the fashion and especially in My Life In Loubies I wanted to know about every pair of Louboutin’s Vanessa put on her feet. Well, with the exception of a small shopping spree in the beginning of the book and possibly three or four more mentions, that was it. I wanted more. More to compensate for my feelings of loss at not truly knowing or understanding a character until the last 30 or so pages of the book.

Now, all of this being said I still feel that My Life In Loubies is a book that has the potential to be enjoyed by quite a few readers, I just happen to not be one of them. Erica Negi is absolutely a wonderful writer and one that I’d still read more from depending on the subject matter. Overall I felt a disconnect from the characters from the main character Vanessa to the supporting cast including Ethan, Carmen, Emily and even four year old Sophia. Yes, it may be true that a number of people with wealth and all the possessions they could want have cold hearts, but this seemed incredibly extreme. Because of this lack of connection as well as a lack of fashion as a replacement I found it difficult to thoroughly enjoy my reading, but am still interested in seeing what Erica Negi will offer in the future.

Thank you so much to the author, Erica Negi, for providing me with a copy of her book for review and giveaway! US residents, please make sure to visit our giveaway post for My Life In Loubies to enter to win a signed copy!

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