Now On Sale!
June 12, 2023 by Cara Kagan
The Rise, Fall, and Return of Sarah Mandelbaum is now on sale! Order your copy today:
Posted on Amazon
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delightful music and fashion tale of NYC Sarah is a lot of fun to hang out with. Her milieu is well developed and described. I look forward to more adventures; I feel like we’re just getting started.Posted on Amazon
teachlzAn Entertaining and Engaging Contemporary Novel Cara Kagan, the Author of “The Rise, Fall, and Return of Sarah Mandelbaum” has written an entertaining and engaging contemporary fiction novel. In this well-written novel, the author vividly describes the environments and the colorful and dramatic characters. The author describes the characters as complex and complicated. Some are insecure, manipulative, greedy, flawed, dysfunctional, toxic, and pretentious, and self-serving. Some are loyal and likable. The female protagonist, Sarah Mandelbaum, has finished college with music courses, and loves to jam with a band, and help other people in that field. She also needs to be able to make a living, and finds herself in a position in a high fashion magazine, managing and writing articles. Sarah has had her style of what she can afford and what she is comfortable with. She is lucky to have some very loyal friends.Sarah discovers in the new position, she is to meet the expectations of what is fashionable and also set an example by the way she wears her makeup and hair. She has been warned that some of the people at this magazine, are unscrupulous, greedy, opportunist, and mean-spirited. Some of the bosses are sexist, and there are betrayals and humiliation. It is hard in this world to know who is a friend or enemy. Yet this job does have the perk of designer clothing, meeting famous people, and paying the rent.Sarah has had a bad experience in music school, but enjoys playing guitar. Sarah has to find the courage, her self-worth and self-confidence in whatever she wants to do. What path will Sarah choose for herself?I appreciate that the author discusses important topics such as alcoholism, self-worth, the importance of family, friends, love and hope. I highly recommend this book.Posted on AmazonSharon CountsBetter, grittier, more fun and more real than The Devil Wears Prada! I loved this book. A great coming of age story that brought me back to the best (and worst) parts of growing up in the 90's in NYC and the East Village, specifically. Though it is much deeper and much more fun, it reminded me at many turns of The Devil Wears Prada. I hope Sarah Mandelbaum becomes a movie soon and wouldn't be surprised at al if it did. Cara Kagan is a wonderful writer who brings great humor, heart and insight to the characters and story. I'm not big fiction reader and I LOVED this book. I highly recommend it - whether you had your own adventures at Sidewalk back in the day, or not. It's a great read!Posted on AmazonKindle Customerthe genius of Carrie Fishers' "Postcards from the Edge" with it's self effacing humor... Sarah is so much fun! I'm reading The Rise, Fall and Return of Sarah Mandelbaum for a second time to enjoy all the fashion and pop culture references again. Akin to the genius of Carrie Fishers' "Postcards from the Edge" with it's self effacing humor, Cara Kagan has crafted every sentence with care. Whether inner turmoil dialogue or a simple scene description, she has the vocabulary of a well-read writer. Sarah kept me laughing and remembering what it was like to have a "secret life" as a musician in the corporate world in the '90s. It is as much a love story to NYC as it is a look behind the curtain at the fashion industry.Posted on AmazonPatricia Ann GrantThis is a fabulous read! After reading just the first few pages of The Rise, Fall, and Return of Sarah Mandelbaum, I fell in love with this book. It was sophisticated and nuanced but fun, funny, and easy to read simultaneously. I especially loved how the author captures personalities and her development of the characters—they are all so vibrant. I felt like I knew every character personally by her second reference to them.The plot was completely absorbing, with many clever twists and turns—especially the ending, which took me completely by surprise. And it was so much fun to get a glimpse of the fashion and music industries. Of course, these things have been written about before, but Kagan’s humor, attention to detail and vivid descriptions, such as Henri-Francois’ white jeans and pelvis-thrust-forward stance, keep these topics fresh and exciting.My biggest disappointment was when the book ended. I was sad to have to say goodbye to everyone. I hope Kagan is working on a sequel.Posted on AmazonBesalelCompelling, funny, hard to put down This novel is TERRIFIC... and hard to put down. Don't start it on a school night!I knew from the title there would be some ups and downs. Well, start reading, and hold on for a wild ride!This is a work/career/love life crisis story written in a light, whimsical style while dealing with issues that are anything but. Rip-roaringly funny in places, tender and reflective in others, the story reflects the journey of a life and career that was interrupted - and we get to watch all the good and bad decisions that result.I instantly felt a connection with the protagonist. I laughed, I cried, and sometimes I just wanted to nudge her in the right direction. I'll bet you know the feeling! But we all have our own paths to take... and what a privilege to follow along.Cara Kagan has a fresh but familiar style. The storyline was evocative of _"Almost Famous"_ and _"The Devil Wears Prada,"_ and her tone was a delightful mash-up of Jennifer Weiner and Janet Evanovich. The result is an eminently readable riotous romp I could not put down.Wacky roommates, disastrous hair care adventures, crippling anxieties, romantic hopefuls, zen guitar gurus, deep-rooted friendships, colleagues from hell steeped in toxic corporate cultures... all in the city that never sleeps, make up the playground for this first novel. After this, I highly anticipate seeing what else comes from this bright new talent!
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