A Very Good Life by Lynn Steward
The 1970’s was a cool time to be growing up and coming of age. Ok, yes I am telling my age. It was the time of big changes for women coming into their own. I was looking forward to reading and reviewing a new novel set in this from a new author and I was not disappointed.
A Very Good Life by Lynn Steward
Series: A Very Good Life
Publisher: Lynn Steward Publishing; 1 edition
Publication Date: March 8, 2014
ISBN-13: 978-0991500772
Synopsis: Although A Very Good Life, takes place in 1970s New York City, the emotional story transcends any period. Dana McGarry is an “it” girl, living a privileged lifestyle of a well-heeled junior executive at B. Altman, a high end department store. With a storybook husband and a fairytale life, change comes swiftly and unexpectedly. Cracks begin to appear in the perfect facade. Challenged at work by unethical demands, and the growing awareness that her relationship with her distant husband is strained, Dana must deal with the unwanted changes in her life. Can she find her place in the new world where women can have a voice, or will she allow herself to be manipulated into doing things that go against her growing self-confidence?
A Very Good Life chronicles the perils and rewards of Dana’s journey, alongside some of the most legendary women of the twentieth century. From parties at Café des Artistes to the annual Rockefeller Center holiday tree lighting ceremony, from meetings with business icons like Estée Lauder to cocktail receptions with celebrity guests like legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland. Steward’s intimate knowledge of the period creates the perfect backdrop for this riveting story about a woman’s quest for self-fulfillment.
My Thoughts: Having the story set in New York City during the 1970’s is important to the storyline of this book. The author creates a story of a young couple married for 8 years and takes us through their life and seasons of change.
Dana is a strong women who is learning her way through the corporate red tape in her job. She is smart and creative and knows that her ideas are strong and will serve her company well, but knowing how to maneuver through the hierarchy of the management is a learned trait. Dana catches on very quickly! But at the same time, she senses things are changing with her marriage. The story weaves through friends and family members that are a strong addition to the book and the author did a great job adding interest with twists and turns for Dana and her lawyer husband.
The author does a good job weaving in bit of history from the fashion and beauty industry into the story along with actual history from New York City in the mid 1970’s setting too. It was fun remembering some of the names I had forgotten in the beauty industry and even the British invasion that changed many of the beauty items we saw at that time was included in the storyline too. It is a combination women’s fiction novel with a splash of history. It made it an interesting read.
There were a few places in the novel that needed a bit of additional editing where a sentence stuck out as not being in the right place for the flow of the book. However, with this being the author’s first novel, overall the book flows well and she made it an interesting story that is unlike many I have read. I like that it is going to be a series because I want to follow Dana through her coming to age, so to speak and her life in the merchandising and fashion industry, as well as her personal trials.
This book is an easy read that is entertaining and great for that peaceful time you set apart to enjoy a good read. I look forward to additional titles from the author.
Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.