Book Review: A Dangerous Age

Author: Kelly Killoren Bensimon

Publication Date: June 7, 2016

Publisher: Gallery Books

Couture royalty meets downtown grit and heady artists mingle with freewheeling socialites in A Dangerous Age, a sophisticated, indulgent, and delicious novel of contemporary New York City that women of all ages will devour.

It’s the dog days of a sweltering Manhattan summer, and four sophisticated best friends who once took New York by storm are secretly falling apart at the seams. Lucy’s marriage to a renowned artist is slowly crumbling, with an explosive secret that threatens them both. Sarah, in the middle of auditioning for an auspicious new television show, realizes that her socialite standing is in jeopardy after countless disastrous events. Billy—a queen in the kitchen—has finally left her former life behind to become a highbrow cuisine artist. And Lotta, a knockout downtown art dealer, spends her free time guzzling cocktails in both the grittiest and most expensive clubs around town—but now, she’s taken it a little too far.
In this addicting and refreshing comedy of manners reminiscent of Edith Wharton, Lucy, Sarah, Billy, and Lotta go to all ends to hide their troubles in a city that worships only the young, twentysomething it-girl. But in the end, there’s no denying that these women have all entered a very dangerous age...and who knows how they’ll emerge on the other side.

I wanted my heart to race in fear at the thought of a life without Titus. What worried me more than anything was that it didn’t.

Fire lilies, my darling, for your birthday. Like you, they are bold and beautiful and as priceless and rare as precious stone. They are delicate, and fleeting.

She went east. I went west. Into the sunset.

If love is a sandwich, then I wonder what desire is. Maybe the Haute Chocolate sundae at Serendipity.

This book was just my cup of tea! An absolute perfect read for summer! It reminded me so much of Sex in the City: New York City, four girlfriends all very different, but all very similar, these girlfriends trying to climb the social ladder, and of course the men they date, wed, or bed! I expected this book to be full of fluff, but I must admit that the author chose to take on some pretty weighty issues and dilemmas. The women in this book were all facing very different situations, but mostly focused on Lucy. Lucy has a bit of a mystery to solve throughout the story, but I am not going to reveal any more on this because I don’t want to spoil anything. Lucy’s character did turn out to be one of my favorite ones because of her sheer determination to find answers and rediscover herself and her marriage again.

This story is not for the faint-hearted, as I mentioned previously. There is some mention of drug use and one character in particular gets pretty heavily invested in drug use. There were times while reading when I questioned if certain characters would make it out alive, and at this time I realized that I was invested in their stories and interested in their lives. They share laughter, love, heartache, and cold hard facts with one another. You will find yourself laughing while reading as well as sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for something or someone to explode. I was finished with this book in one day and was sad to reach the last page. I am looking forward to much more from this author!

***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers in exchange for my honest review***