"Full of heart, wit, and passion."
"Another winner!"
In Manhattan Cinderella, the first book in the Fairy Tales in New York series by Kate O’Keeffe, Gabriella Davis, or Gabby, is the Cinderella in this story. Even though she is a talented singer herself, her stepmother has her working as the assistant to the latest pop duo, the Pop Princesses, her stepsisters. She may be old enough to be on her own, but she has to protect her kid sister. Then she meets Tennessee native Cole Grant, her potential prince if you will. They each have family secrets they would rather not broadcast to the world, but they are instantly drawn to each other. Not only is this a modern twist on a classic story, but we also witness the budding unlikely romance between a city girl and a country boy.
I absolutely love Cinderella stories, but this one shouldn’t only be bundled into that category. Yes, it has similarities with the classic story and that makes it fun, but it also has its own unique elements that make it stand out from the rest. As in the story we all know and love, we get to know the wicked stepmother and her spawn and, as a reader, you will want to slap them at times, but then we get a glimpse into a more positive part of Gabby’s life. When Gabby is singing or when she is with Cole, you almost forget about her unfair and broken home life. It is a nice escape from her reality. It’s also great to read this story from two different points of view, which is a nice little spin on the classic story. We’re not left wondering what Cole is up to or what he is thinking.
What I enjoyed the most about this book is that Gabby is her own person. Gabby and Cole bring joy into each other’s lives, but she doesn’t need a prince to rescue her. Manhattan Cinderella will give you a mixture of emotions: the joy, the excitement, the anger, the laughter, the sadness, all of it. And at the end of the day, you won’t regret reading it. Kate O’Keeffe is a talented writer, and it shows. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
"I loved this book!"
