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Cobble Hill
From the number-one New York Times best-selling author of the Gossip Girl series, a deliciously irresistible novel chronicling a year in the life of four families in an upscale Brooklyn neighborhood as they seek purpose, community, and meaningful relationships—until one unforgettable night at a raucous neighborhood party knocks them to their senses.
Welcome to Cobble Hill.
In this eclectic Brooklyn neighborhood, private storms brew amongst four married couples and their children. There’s ex-groupie Mandy, so underwhelmed by motherhood and her current physical state that she fakes a debilitating disease to get the attention of her skateboarding, ex-boyband member husband Stuart. There’s the unconventional new school nurse, Peaches, on whom Stuart has an unrequited crush, and her disappointing husband Greg, who wears noise-cancelling headphones—everywhere.
A few blocks away, Roy, a well-known, newly transplanted British novelist, has lost the thread of his next novel and his marriage to capable, indefatigable Wendy. Around the corner, Tupper, the nervous, introverted industrial designer with a warehouse full of prosthetic limbs struggles to pin down his elusive artist wife Elizabeth. She remains...elusive. Throw in two hormonal teenagers, a 10-year-old pyromaniac, a drug dealer pretending to be a doctor, and a lot of hidden cameras, and you’ve got a combustible mix of egos, desires, and secrets bubbling in brownstone Brooklyn.
Smart, sophisticated, yet surprisingly tender, Cobble Hill is highly entertaining portrait of contemporary family life and the colorful characters who call Brooklyn home.
Welcome to Cobble Hill.
In this eclectic Brooklyn neighborhood, private storms brew amongst four married couples and their children. There’s ex-groupie Mandy, so underwhelmed by motherhood and her current physical state that she fakes a debilitating disease to get the attention of her skateboarding, ex-boyband member husband Stuart. There’s the unconventional new school nurse, Peaches, on whom Stuart has an unrequited crush, and her disappointing husband Greg, who wears noise-cancelling headphones—everywhere.
A few blocks away, Roy, a well-known, newly transplanted British novelist, has lost the thread of his next novel and his marriage to capable, indefatigable Wendy. Around the corner, Tupper, the nervous, introverted industrial designer with a warehouse full of prosthetic limbs struggles to pin down his elusive artist wife Elizabeth. She remains...elusive. Throw in two hormonal teenagers, a 10-year-old pyromaniac, a drug dealer pretending to be a doctor, and a lot of hidden cameras, and you’ve got a combustible mix of egos, desires, and secrets bubbling in brownstone Brooklyn.
Smart, sophisticated, yet surprisingly tender, Cobble Hill is highly entertaining portrait of contemporary family life and the colorful characters who call Brooklyn home.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 20, 2020
About the author
Cecily von Ziegesar
142 books2,815 followersCecily von Ziegesar is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Gossip Girl novels, upon which the hit television show is based.
Cecily von Ziegesar was born in New York City. Her childhood dream was to grow up to be a ballerina; she began lessons at age 3 and auditioned for the School of American Ballet at age 8, but was rejected.
As a teenager, von Ziegesar commuted to Manhattan at 6 a.m. to attend the Nightingale-Bamford School. After graduating from Nightingale, von Ziegesar attended Colby College before spending a year in Budapest working for a local radio station.
Von Ziegesar returned to the United States to study creative writing at the University of Arizona, but dropped out shortly thereafter.
Back in New York, while working at book-packaging firm Alloy Entertainment, von Ziegesar became inspired to create the Gossip Girl series, which follows the lives of privileged teenagers in New York. The series climbed to the top of The New York Times best-sellers list in 2002. A spin-off series, The It Girl, made the list in 2005.
The Constance Billard School for Girls in Gossip Girl is based upon an exaggerated version of von Ziegesar's alma mater, Nightingale. She also culled events from the book from the lives of her extremely wealthy friends, as well as her own life as a perpetual gossip.
She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family.
Cecily von Ziegesar was born in New York City. Her childhood dream was to grow up to be a ballerina; she began lessons at age 3 and auditioned for the School of American Ballet at age 8, but was rejected.
As a teenager, von Ziegesar commuted to Manhattan at 6 a.m. to attend the Nightingale-Bamford School. After graduating from Nightingale, von Ziegesar attended Colby College before spending a year in Budapest working for a local radio station.
Von Ziegesar returned to the United States to study creative writing at the University of Arizona, but dropped out shortly thereafter.
Back in New York, while working at book-packaging firm Alloy Entertainment, von Ziegesar became inspired to create the Gossip Girl series, which follows the lives of privileged teenagers in New York. The series climbed to the top of The New York Times best-sellers list in 2002. A spin-off series, The It Girl, made the list in 2005.
The Constance Billard School for Girls in Gossip Girl is based upon an exaggerated version of von Ziegesar's alma mater, Nightingale. She also culled events from the book from the lives of her extremely wealthy friends, as well as her own life as a perpetual gossip.
She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,168 reviews
June 15, 2020
Thank you netgalley for my ARC
Have you ever finished a book and just been like what?🤨 that is how I felt after reading this. I was left scratching my head wondering what I just spent all this time reading. I am really really sad. I wanted to love this. I wanted the same magic I felt when I read her other books Gossip Girl or It Girl. None of that magic was in this. It was a bunch of loosely connected characters who were just bizarre and not in a charming way, they also weren’t really relatable or had any depth. These characters were connected by their neighborhood but it all felt forced and superficial. In the end... I’m not sure what I was supposed to get out of it because I didn’t get anything.
Have you ever finished a book and just been like what?🤨 that is how I felt after reading this. I was left scratching my head wondering what I just spent all this time reading. I am really really sad. I wanted to love this. I wanted the same magic I felt when I read her other books Gossip Girl or It Girl. None of that magic was in this. It was a bunch of loosely connected characters who were just bizarre and not in a charming way, they also weren’t really relatable or had any depth. These characters were connected by their neighborhood but it all felt forced and superficial. In the end... I’m not sure what I was supposed to get out of it because I didn’t get anything.
September 21, 2020
This is a quirky and fun book that perfectly captures the essence of the new Brooklyn. I was extremely excited to read this book, because I used to live in Carroll Gardens on the border of Cobble Hill. When I moved there, the area was mostly an Italian neighborhood that was more affordable than Manhattan. By the time I left, it was heading fully in the direction this book describes of celebrity, new money, and hipster adults with their kids.
Cicely von Ziegesar, who wrote the Gossip Girl series, proves that she can write adult fiction that is just as juicy. The characters in this book are a hoot. My favorite character was Stuart Little, a member of the rap group Three Blind Mice who I thought was pretty clearly based on Mike D. of the Beastie Boys (a famous former resident of Cobble Hill, where he lived in and renovated a brownstone). Stuart is married to his high school sweetheart but also develops an infatuation with his kid’s school nurse, who naturally is named Peaches. I loved Peaches, even though she was not the world’s most sympathetic character. The other characters are just what the neighborhood attracts these days: a pretentious artist, a tortured writer, an inventor of tech surveillance and the like, and their children.
Overall I was extremely entertained by the book. There were a few stories I did not like, particularly one where a character fakes an illness for reasons that are never compellingly explained. (This isn’t a spoiler as this storyline begins at the start of the book and we are immediately told the character is faking, which is a choice I’m not sure I liked.) Also it must be said that the book is somewhat superficial and never really goes too deep on the issues it touches. But for what it is — a light, humorous look at the pretentious and moneyed crowd that has invaded Brooklyn — it is entertaining and compelling. It recalls Jay McInerney’s Bright Lights, Big City for the upper-class Brooklyn hipster pot-cookie set. I really enjoyed this read, which made me both miss Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens, and also feel relieved I got out before it became this crazy.
Thanks to Atria Books, NetGalley and Cicely von Ziegesar for the ARC of this funny and timely read.
Cicely von Ziegesar, who wrote the Gossip Girl series, proves that she can write adult fiction that is just as juicy. The characters in this book are a hoot. My favorite character was Stuart Little, a member of the rap group Three Blind Mice who I thought was pretty clearly based on Mike D. of the Beastie Boys (a famous former resident of Cobble Hill, where he lived in and renovated a brownstone). Stuart is married to his high school sweetheart but also develops an infatuation with his kid’s school nurse, who naturally is named Peaches. I loved Peaches, even though she was not the world’s most sympathetic character. The other characters are just what the neighborhood attracts these days: a pretentious artist, a tortured writer, an inventor of tech surveillance and the like, and their children.
Overall I was extremely entertained by the book. There were a few stories I did not like, particularly one where a character fakes an illness for reasons that are never compellingly explained. (This isn’t a spoiler as this storyline begins at the start of the book and we are immediately told the character is faking, which is a choice I’m not sure I liked.) Also it must be said that the book is somewhat superficial and never really goes too deep on the issues it touches. But for what it is — a light, humorous look at the pretentious and moneyed crowd that has invaded Brooklyn — it is entertaining and compelling. It recalls Jay McInerney’s Bright Lights, Big City for the upper-class Brooklyn hipster pot-cookie set. I really enjoyed this read, which made me both miss Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens, and also feel relieved I got out before it became this crazy.
Thanks to Atria Books, NetGalley and Cicely von Ziegesar for the ARC of this funny and timely read.
Shelved as 'dnf'
April 23, 2021DNF AT 56%
I’ve never read Gossip Girl or even watched the show but because of its popularity I thought it would be fun to try this authors newest novel. It ended up being a mess.
Cobble Hill follows four families who are neighbors in Brooklyn, New York. There were way too many characters I kinda got lost but eventually, I was able to keep track of them all (but by then I realized I didn’t care). We learn about everyone’s different personalities and these neighbors lives are eventually entertwined together. I suppose this could be entertaining, if done right but this lacks a plot. There’s literally no point to this book, not even a story or lesson of friendship could be gotten from this. I didn’t care for any character, found no one relatable, and thought everyone was kind of weird but not in a good way. I was adamant to finish the book but HONESTLY once I realized I started skimming I decided to end my suffering because it wasn’t worth it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for the advanced copy!
I’ve never read Gossip Girl or even watched the show but because of its popularity I thought it would be fun to try this authors newest novel. It ended up being a mess.
Cobble Hill follows four families who are neighbors in Brooklyn, New York. There were way too many characters I kinda got lost but eventually, I was able to keep track of them all (but by then I realized I didn’t care). We learn about everyone’s different personalities and these neighbors lives are eventually entertwined together. I suppose this could be entertaining, if done right but this lacks a plot. There’s literally no point to this book, not even a story or lesson of friendship could be gotten from this. I didn’t care for any character, found no one relatable, and thought everyone was kind of weird but not in a good way. I was adamant to finish the book but HONESTLY once I realized I started skimming I decided to end my suffering because it wasn’t worth it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for the advanced copy!
November 18, 2020
Truthfully- I finished this book but I wish I hadn’t. I found it to be ridiculous and a waste of time. The characters are not likable, just a bunch of insipid bores. There’s no plot, or direction in the book. It just kind of ambles along. This is a collection of flawed people and their lives. Great idea, but fails in the execution. My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.
November 12, 2020
Cobble Hill by Cecily von Ziegesar is a great novel about families in a Brooklyn neighborhood.
Cobble Hill starts out giving a good introduction to all the characters current situations. Then the drama starts. I read Cecily von Ziegesar novels for the drama and Cobble Hill did not disappoint. There is so much going on with all of these characters. All the characters are lying and hiding something. There were so many times I just couldn’t wait for the other characters to discover the secrets or I wanted to find out. The characters have separate stories but keep intertwining with each other.
I recommend Cobble Hill to anyone that is a fan of dramatic fiction novels especially fans of Cecily von Ziegesar.
Thank you libro.fm and Simon & Schuster Audio/Atria Books for the Cobble Hill audiobook.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
Cobble Hill starts out giving a good introduction to all the characters current situations. Then the drama starts. I read Cecily von Ziegesar novels for the drama and Cobble Hill did not disappoint. There is so much going on with all of these characters. All the characters are lying and hiding something. There were so many times I just couldn’t wait for the other characters to discover the secrets or I wanted to find out. The characters have separate stories but keep intertwining with each other.
I recommend Cobble Hill to anyone that is a fan of dramatic fiction novels especially fans of Cecily von Ziegesar.
Thank you libro.fm and Simon & Schuster Audio/Atria Books for the Cobble Hill audiobook.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
September 29, 2020
Overall I enjoyed this book. I think it would be good as a tv series or movie. The characters - so full of secrets were all flawed and interesting, the storyline moved at a solid pace and a lot of the situations were things I could see actually happening in real life (except maybe the bar scene, that was beyond bizarre) I also had a couple of laugh out loud moments which I appreciated.
Two things I found irritating...
Beep Beep is not the sound a whistle makes ...
Character building can be achieved without the constant use of the word fat. It seemed really unnecessary and tactless.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for my review copy!
Two things I found irritating...
Beep Beep is not the sound a whistle makes ...
Character building can be achieved without the constant use of the word fat. It seemed really unnecessary and tactless.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for my review copy!
October 20, 2021
Random Mess.
Problematic.
Did not care about the characters.
Family Drama leading no where.
Plot is directionless.
Problematic.
Did not care about the characters.
Family Drama leading no where.
Plot is directionless.
December 9, 2020
2.5 - such an underwhelming book
Many reviews have stated this is 300 pages of words with no clear direction, and I can say that is 100% TRUE!
You follow the everyday lives of 3 Brooklyn families living in the affluent neighbourhood of Cobble Hill – and that’s about it. Like I said, there is no real story line just people doing what people do. Towards the end I was rushing through this book, practically skimming the stories/characters I wasn’t too interested in(ahem Tupper & Elizabeth Paulson), just so I could finish it and get onto my next book. Mind you, some of the characters’ stories were mildly interesting, like Peaches & Stuart, at the beginning but towards the end they just dragged on.
Many reviews have stated this is 300 pages of words with no clear direction, and I can say that is 100% TRUE!
You follow the everyday lives of 3 Brooklyn families living in the affluent neighbourhood of Cobble Hill – and that’s about it. Like I said, there is no real story line just people doing what people do. Towards the end I was rushing through this book, practically skimming the stories/characters I wasn’t too interested in(ahem Tupper & Elizabeth Paulson), just so I could finish it and get onto my next book. Mind you, some of the characters’ stories were mildly interesting, like Peaches & Stuart, at the beginning but towards the end they just dragged on.
November 16, 2020
9 hours of a story I didn't care about. Narrator was great, but I was legit bored out of my mind. Should have DNF'd. Between the ridiculous names, the soap opera drama within the neighborhood of Cobble Hill, and unlikable characters, I don't think
Cobble Hill
was a great fit for me.
October 27, 2020
3.5/ 5 stars
I was a big Gossip Girl tv show fan. So I was excited to read a book by the author who created that world.
Cobble Hill is divided into five parts. The book focuses on four families who live in a Brooklyn neighborhood.
There is Mandy, her husband Stuart (was in a popular band) and their young son Teddy. There is Peaches (the school nurse), her husband Greg, and their son Liam. There is Roy (a famous writer), his wife Wendy, and their daughter Shy. Then there is Tupper (inventor) and his wife Elizabeth (artist).
We get 3rd person POVs of most of these characters.
I'm not exactly sure what genre to call this book. It is sort of a cross between Women's Fiction and General Fiction. There are quite a few male POVs, so because of that it felt less like Women's Fiction.
There were definitely a lot of interesting characters in this book. Roy Clarke had written a bunch of best selling books. But he was struggling to write something new. His writing process, and the story that he was working on were really bizarre.
Stuart was a famous musician. Many of the neighbors in Cobble Hill were big fans. His wife Mandy just wanted to stay home and do nothing. Her story-line ended up being quite crazy. The stuff with the food on the porches was my favorite part of her story.
There was the new school nurse Peaches. She was Liam's mother. I thought that the lice story-line was funny. And I enjoyed seeing her job.
Elizabeth and Tupper were definitely the strangest neighbors. Her art was so weird. I can't even describe how creepy she was.
There were so many intriguing things going on in this neighborhood. So many of the characters had really interesting stories. However, while reading this book I was not really sure what the book was actually about. There was very little romance. There was no mystery. It was basically just looking at the lives of these four families over a one year time period. And I'm not sure that was enough for me.
I enjoyed the book while I was reading it. I just wanted a bit more.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.
I was a big Gossip Girl tv show fan. So I was excited to read a book by the author who created that world.
Cobble Hill is divided into five parts. The book focuses on four families who live in a Brooklyn neighborhood.
There is Mandy, her husband Stuart (was in a popular band) and their young son Teddy. There is Peaches (the school nurse), her husband Greg, and their son Liam. There is Roy (a famous writer), his wife Wendy, and their daughter Shy. Then there is Tupper (inventor) and his wife Elizabeth (artist).
We get 3rd person POVs of most of these characters.
I'm not exactly sure what genre to call this book. It is sort of a cross between Women's Fiction and General Fiction. There are quite a few male POVs, so because of that it felt less like Women's Fiction.
There were definitely a lot of interesting characters in this book. Roy Clarke had written a bunch of best selling books. But he was struggling to write something new. His writing process, and the story that he was working on were really bizarre.
Stuart was a famous musician. Many of the neighbors in Cobble Hill were big fans. His wife Mandy just wanted to stay home and do nothing. Her story-line ended up being quite crazy. The stuff with the food on the porches was my favorite part of her story.
There was the new school nurse Peaches. She was Liam's mother. I thought that the lice story-line was funny. And I enjoyed seeing her job.
Elizabeth and Tupper were definitely the strangest neighbors. Her art was so weird. I can't even describe how creepy she was.
There were so many intriguing things going on in this neighborhood. So many of the characters had really interesting stories. However, while reading this book I was not really sure what the book was actually about. There was very little romance. There was no mystery. It was basically just looking at the lives of these four families over a one year time period. And I'm not sure that was enough for me.
I enjoyed the book while I was reading it. I just wanted a bit more.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.
December 1, 2020
I want to start by saying that I have not, and will not, read this book. Thanks to a CW/TW shared by an online reviewer outside Goodreads, I was spared from (some of) the anger and heartache I would have felt as someone who has lived with multiple chronic illnesses for 23 years.
In this novel, one of the characters fakes a chronic illness (MS) to be able to stay in bed and do nothing all day. Sounds harmless, right?! The faulty judgement of a character with often outrageous behavior.
Except it erases the suffering of those of us living with serious, incurable, and a lot of times fatal illnesses. And it only contributes to the misconception that we are lazy, faking, and seeking attention. Having an invisible illness means fighting every day for doctors, employers, family, friends, and strangers to believe us.
Faking a chronic illness isn’t quirky. It’s privileged as sh*t.
It’s time we include ableism in the conversations surrounding discrimination of minority groups in this community.
We need to start calling ableism out.
In this novel, one of the characters fakes a chronic illness (MS) to be able to stay in bed and do nothing all day. Sounds harmless, right?! The faulty judgement of a character with often outrageous behavior.
Except it erases the suffering of those of us living with serious, incurable, and a lot of times fatal illnesses. And it only contributes to the misconception that we are lazy, faking, and seeking attention. Having an invisible illness means fighting every day for doctors, employers, family, friends, and strangers to believe us.
Faking a chronic illness isn’t quirky. It’s privileged as sh*t.
It’s time we include ableism in the conversations surrounding discrimination of minority groups in this community.
We need to start calling ableism out.
November 15, 2020
I just finished Cobble Hill and don't really need any time to ponder my review because there really is nothing to ponder. This is really a book about nothing. It just centers around a bunch of neighbours who eventually all become linked. They are all a strange, weird mix of rag tag characters and their interactions with each other that really lead to some strange events that don't lead anywhere. I really expected one of the threads of the book to lead into something interesting happen but it just doesn't go anywhere.
I always try to impart something positive in every review I write even if I didn't particularly enjoy the book but honestly I'm not sure what to give you on this one. It missed all the marks for me but maybe you'll enjoy it.
**Received through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**
I always try to impart something positive in every review I write even if I didn't particularly enjoy the book but honestly I'm not sure what to give you on this one. It missed all the marks for me but maybe you'll enjoy it.
**Received through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**
January 2, 2021
I really should stop reading these "funky Brooklyn neighborhood" books. There's nothing in there! It's not smart, it's not funny, it's not dramatic or engaging. It's just blah. Can't believe this got to be first book of the year. I should really be more strict with myself and just Read Better Books.
October 27, 2021
What an enjoyable read! This book starts with everyone's biggest commonality, their neighborhood. From there we see, secrets and all, how a community can come together to support one another in it's own way. It was fun to see how these very different peoples stories come together.
September 14, 2022
This book read like an uneventful book adaptation of the show "Desperate Housewives" however, it also gave you the perspective of the desperate husbands as well.
You either are going to like this book or not (revolutionary right?). If you like stories that follow the average, everyday lives of characters living in the same neighbourhood/city, you might like this book. Until the end of the book, there isn't really anything that makes this story exciting or entertaining. It is a glimpse at the lives of these characters.
When it comes to these characters, I will admit...I didn't really like ANY of them. That's okay because there are plenty of books that I enjoy with unlikable characters. But this book took unlikable characters to the extreme by creating a full of cast of them. These characters were irritating and when it comes to the character of Mandy, also problematic.
Did I hate this book? No. Did I enjoy it? No. It's one that I read and will quickly forget about because there was nothing about this story that was memorable.
You either are going to like this book or not (revolutionary right?). If you like stories that follow the average, everyday lives of characters living in the same neighbourhood/city, you might like this book. Until the end of the book, there isn't really anything that makes this story exciting or entertaining. It is a glimpse at the lives of these characters.
When it comes to these characters, I will admit...I didn't really like ANY of them. That's okay because there are plenty of books that I enjoy with unlikable characters. But this book took unlikable characters to the extreme by creating a full of cast of them. These characters were irritating and when it comes to the character of Mandy, also problematic.
Did I hate this book? No. Did I enjoy it? No. It's one that I read and will quickly forget about because there was nothing about this story that was memorable.
January 17, 2020
Weird and wonderful. I don't know how to describe this story except to say that this neighborhood full of very different personalities (an aging rock star, a confused and famous author, former model, school nurse, a kooky inventor, all of their frustratingly real children) somehow becomes entirely compelling, to the point that I wonder where they are now. They're three dimensional and alive (and not all totally like-able), but I still cared what happened to each of them and couldn't wait to see how the author brought their story to a close. Next stop, a day trip to Cobble Hill. RECOMMENDED!
November 29, 2020
2.5-ish stars. Thanks to Atria and the author for this ARC.
Cobble Hills starts out by giving the reader exactly what they want. A thorough exploration into the quirky and colourful characters of a Brooklyn neighbourhood, including insight into their many secrets. And this autumnal novel about New York families delivers when it comes to developed relationships and complex dynamics. But sadly, the plot fell flat, and as a result, this Cobble Hill didn’t earn the 5 stars I predicted it would.
The story opens with a bookstore. What better setting for a book to begin? And it's so easy to place yourself in bustling New York as you dive into Cobble Hill. Just like a real small neighbourhood, there's an entangled web of acquaintances and relationships masked by the chaos of everyday life. Von Ziegesar’s style is lively and laced with humour, as she assembles the many pieces to this tale.
And there are a lot of characters in this book. First, are the Stuart, Mandy and Ted Little. Then there’s Peaches, Greg, and Liam Park. Next, Roy, Wendy, and Shy Clarke. And finally, Tupper & Elizabeth Paulsen. The narrative regularly sways between the lives of the characters within each family, and their interlinked timelines are Cobble Hill’s biggest strength. There’s an authenticity to the egos, flaws, and mishaps of the families, which makes them a delight to learn about.
However, Cobble Hill doesn't really have a plot. As strange as it sounds, this is a book with very little direction. Its character-heavy, and there are plenty of happenings taking place, but as a reader I felt unsure of where they were going. So, the pace is quite motionless, there's no rhythm or intensity. I'm also not fond of how the author shapes the "fake disease" subplot. Mandy is pretending to have a devastating illness that completely destroys the human body, and the nonchalant tone felt insensitive. If there was one character that seemed to really understand the scope of this lifelong condition that would have balanced it out. But it seem dusted over when it could have been handled with more sympathy and care.
And “Black Ryan”? No. Absolutely not. Bad idea. As the only character of colour in the book, I like how he reclaimed the title to use to his advantage, but that’s not the point. It’s not something he should have to do, and he, or any other Black people, should not have to deal with degrading nicknames in the first place.
If you’re expecting Gossip Girl, you will be disappointed. Cobble Hill doesn’t have the same flare or addictive narrative. But it is a study of character and the drama and secrets hidden in the brownstones of Brooklyn are entertaining to read. Still, if it were not for the complex array of characters, sadly there wouldn’t be much to this slightly problematic book.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram 📚✨
Cobble Hills starts out by giving the reader exactly what they want. A thorough exploration into the quirky and colourful characters of a Brooklyn neighbourhood, including insight into their many secrets. And this autumnal novel about New York families delivers when it comes to developed relationships and complex dynamics. But sadly, the plot fell flat, and as a result, this Cobble Hill didn’t earn the 5 stars I predicted it would.
The story opens with a bookstore. What better setting for a book to begin? And it's so easy to place yourself in bustling New York as you dive into Cobble Hill. Just like a real small neighbourhood, there's an entangled web of acquaintances and relationships masked by the chaos of everyday life. Von Ziegesar’s style is lively and laced with humour, as she assembles the many pieces to this tale.
And there are a lot of characters in this book. First, are the Stuart, Mandy and Ted Little. Then there’s Peaches, Greg, and Liam Park. Next, Roy, Wendy, and Shy Clarke. And finally, Tupper & Elizabeth Paulsen. The narrative regularly sways between the lives of the characters within each family, and their interlinked timelines are Cobble Hill’s biggest strength. There’s an authenticity to the egos, flaws, and mishaps of the families, which makes them a delight to learn about.
However, Cobble Hill doesn't really have a plot. As strange as it sounds, this is a book with very little direction. Its character-heavy, and there are plenty of happenings taking place, but as a reader I felt unsure of where they were going. So, the pace is quite motionless, there's no rhythm or intensity. I'm also not fond of how the author shapes the "fake disease" subplot. Mandy is pretending to have a devastating illness that completely destroys the human body, and the nonchalant tone felt insensitive. If there was one character that seemed to really understand the scope of this lifelong condition that would have balanced it out. But it seem dusted over when it could have been handled with more sympathy and care.
And “Black Ryan”? No. Absolutely not. Bad idea. As the only character of colour in the book, I like how he reclaimed the title to use to his advantage, but that’s not the point. It’s not something he should have to do, and he, or any other Black people, should not have to deal with degrading nicknames in the first place.
If you’re expecting Gossip Girl, you will be disappointed. Cobble Hill doesn’t have the same flare or addictive narrative. But it is a study of character and the drama and secrets hidden in the brownstones of Brooklyn are entertaining to read. Still, if it were not for the complex array of characters, sadly there wouldn’t be much to this slightly problematic book.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram 📚✨
December 19, 2020
This is one of the worst books I’ve ever read. I typically love neighborhood/ family drama books and this book was soooo boring. There was 0 character development and I could not care less about any of the events or story lines. Do not recommend.
February 3, 2021
“Cobble Hill” is not in the category of books I usually read, but with the “pandemic” and being stuck at home, I was looking for something different, something fun and easy to read; this certainly fits the bill. The characters are certainly crazy and yet funny and enjoyable. It is a world I certainly do not often visit in my reading, but I enjoyed the diversion. Rich kids in Brooklyn can be compelling and hilarious with their own drama and trauma. Things happen, and I kept reading to find out what might happen next. I laughed, I cringed, and I turned the pages.
I received a review copy of “Cobble Hill” from Cecily von Ziegesar and Atri Books. It was more than I expected, and yet just what I needed to read.
I received a review copy of “Cobble Hill” from Cecily von Ziegesar and Atri Books. It was more than I expected, and yet just what I needed to read.
December 24, 2020
3.5 ⭐️ but rounding down.
What a fun/quirky/light read! The author caught my eye as I was recovering from the news that Gossip Girl was leaving Netflix. In many ways, the characters are more mature and complex than GG. However, like GG, there are many nothingburger plotlines that seem rogue.
What a fun/quirky/light read! The author caught my eye as I was recovering from the news that Gossip Girl was leaving Netflix. In many ways, the characters are more mature and complex than GG. However, like GG, there are many nothingburger plotlines that seem rogue.
August 22, 2020
I personally didn't care for this one. The characters, and their concerns, did not interest me at all. Although, they were well-written, because I kind of hated all of them (ha ha)!
So, rather than giving a 1 Star review for "Did Not Like It", I'll bump it up to a 2 Star for "It's Okay", since the author did do a good job of story telling and giving an authentic glimpse into the every day life of of four American families. So, without further ado, here's my recap for those for whom this story might be a better fit:
A slice of modern American life in a small neighborhood in Brooklyn New York, which just might make you realize you’re not doing so badly after all. Perfect for fans of stories with a large cast of characters, such as the movie “Love Actually” or the novels by Maeve Bincy.
We meet four families who begin the novel as strangers, but who become close, although imperfect, friends by the end of the tale. We meet famous novelist, Roy, who is struggling with a six-year writer's block dry spell, his wife Wendy who is not sure what is expected of her at her fancy new job, and their teenage daughter, Shy, who has a concerning crush on her Latin teacher and is failing all of her classes but Latin. There’s Stuart the former rock star, whose wife Mandy has lost her zeal for life and fakes a serious illness, and their grade schooler Ted who becomes fascinated with fire. We also meet the vivacious, school nurse Peaches who attracts the attention of both Roy and Stuart, her musician husband Greg, and their teenage son Liam who has a serious crush on Shy. Lastly, there’s the awkward genius Tupper and his elusive, artist wife Elizabeth.
Quirky situations ensue, the characters cross paths in unusual ways, and secrets start to unfold as the neighbors’ circles tighten, and the various story lines move toward explosive conclusions. The large cast of personalities is at times a bit hard to keep track of. And while each individual character’s list of faults can be tiresome, it can’t be argued that the novel accurately captures the issues and struggles of modern, American, city life. The book is likely to be a huge hit with fans of “real”, if perhaps a bit gritty, fictional characters.
Thank you to Cecily von Ziegesar, Atria Books, and NetGalley.com for providing this Advance Reader/Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.
#CobbleHill
#CecilyVonZiegesar
#AtriaBooks
#NetGalley
So, rather than giving a 1 Star review for "Did Not Like It", I'll bump it up to a 2 Star for "It's Okay", since the author did do a good job of story telling and giving an authentic glimpse into the every day life of of four American families. So, without further ado, here's my recap for those for whom this story might be a better fit:
A slice of modern American life in a small neighborhood in Brooklyn New York, which just might make you realize you’re not doing so badly after all. Perfect for fans of stories with a large cast of characters, such as the movie “Love Actually” or the novels by Maeve Bincy.
We meet four families who begin the novel as strangers, but who become close, although imperfect, friends by the end of the tale. We meet famous novelist, Roy, who is struggling with a six-year writer's block dry spell, his wife Wendy who is not sure what is expected of her at her fancy new job, and their teenage daughter, Shy, who has a concerning crush on her Latin teacher and is failing all of her classes but Latin. There’s Stuart the former rock star, whose wife Mandy has lost her zeal for life and fakes a serious illness, and their grade schooler Ted who becomes fascinated with fire. We also meet the vivacious, school nurse Peaches who attracts the attention of both Roy and Stuart, her musician husband Greg, and their teenage son Liam who has a serious crush on Shy. Lastly, there’s the awkward genius Tupper and his elusive, artist wife Elizabeth.
Quirky situations ensue, the characters cross paths in unusual ways, and secrets start to unfold as the neighbors’ circles tighten, and the various story lines move toward explosive conclusions. The large cast of personalities is at times a bit hard to keep track of. And while each individual character’s list of faults can be tiresome, it can’t be argued that the novel accurately captures the issues and struggles of modern, American, city life. The book is likely to be a huge hit with fans of “real”, if perhaps a bit gritty, fictional characters.
Thank you to Cecily von Ziegesar, Atria Books, and NetGalley.com for providing this Advance Reader/Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.
#CobbleHill
#CecilyVonZiegesar
#AtriaBooks
#NetGalley
May 23, 2020
This book reminded me so much of those late 90/early 2000 indie movies about married couples and their children and all the threads that connect them.
(Think "The Safety of Objects," "The Squid and the Whale," or any indie movie featuring Jena Malone.)
I didn't fully start to enjoy the book until halfway through when more of the drama started to happen.
That was why I gave this book 3 stars. It reminded me of the vibe those movies had and fed that nostalgia in me...and it was set in my beloved Brooklyn. This book reads like a script and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up becoming a movie/show featuring Jason Bateman, Toni Collette, Lili Taylor and Adam Driver actor types.
(Also because I adored the mention of "The Blue Lagoon" - that was a formative movie from my childhood.)
But on the flip side, I also only gave this book 3 stars because as a life long Brooklyn resident and WOC, I do have gentrifier resentment...and there were a lot of gentrifiers in this.
(Think "The Safety of Objects," "The Squid and the Whale," or any indie movie featuring Jena Malone.)
I didn't fully start to enjoy the book until halfway through when more of the drama started to happen.
That was why I gave this book 3 stars. It reminded me of the vibe those movies had and fed that nostalgia in me...and it was set in my beloved Brooklyn. This book reads like a script and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up becoming a movie/show featuring Jason Bateman, Toni Collette, Lili Taylor and Adam Driver actor types.
(Also because I adored the mention of "The Blue Lagoon" - that was a formative movie from my childhood.)
But on the flip side, I also only gave this book 3 stars because as a life long Brooklyn resident and WOC, I do have gentrifier resentment...and there were a lot of gentrifiers in this.
November 9, 2020
The synopsis for this book had my interest piqued... a year in the life of four NY families, with secrets and a bit of scandal thrown in. While the premise sounded fun, I found this story to be top-heavy with characters that I didn’t really get the chance to know or like. And while I generally like a multi-POV style, this book often did not have clear distinction of which character’s point of view was being highlighted, causing me to reread sections frequently. This story would probably serve well as a mini-series on television, and the book felt a bit as though it was written in preparation for presentation to a producer. Not likely to recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2021
I love those novels when you see a glimpse into the lives of several people and how they are intrinsically linked together. I find it fascinating.
I know other said that the characters weren't likeable, and it's true. But that's what made me like them. They are human, and they have flaws, like all of us.
I really enjoyed reading about this neighbourhood, and I hope you'll like it too.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I know other said that the characters weren't likeable, and it's true. But that's what made me like them. They are human, and they have flaws, like all of us.
I really enjoyed reading about this neighbourhood, and I hope you'll like it too.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 28, 2020
3.5 stars- I liked it? But also nothing happened?
October 25, 2020
What a wonderful and weird book about friendship, family, and the strange process of growing up. Thank you so much to Cicily von Ziegesar and Atria Books for my advance reader’s copy of this lovely book. Knowing her as the author of the Gossip Girl series, I didn’t expect this at all from von Ziegesar and was very surprised. This story is about a few families in Brooklyn that all have their own unique lives and secrets.
Thoughts: I enjoyed how quirky and unique this story was. I felt that it captured the feel of Brooklyn and the characters were so WEIRD and unusual and I loved it. This is not normally the type of book I read or enjoy, and I heard mixed reviews so I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. It was hard at the beginning but it was strangely addicting, like I wanted to know what happened in each odd character’s life. The thing I liked most was that it captured the human essence and the strange and individual nature of each character.
This book was about everything and also nothing at all. There wasn’t really a premise or storyline, but instead was full of meandering thoughts that showed the day to day life of the quirky and unique people in the story. If you like a neat and tidy ending or a story with a clear plot, this one isn’t for you. I both hated and loved the characters, but either way they were deeply flawed and unremorseful. 3.5 stars, but I really enjoyed the journey of this wandering story.
Thoughts: I enjoyed how quirky and unique this story was. I felt that it captured the feel of Brooklyn and the characters were so WEIRD and unusual and I loved it. This is not normally the type of book I read or enjoy, and I heard mixed reviews so I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. It was hard at the beginning but it was strangely addicting, like I wanted to know what happened in each odd character’s life. The thing I liked most was that it captured the human essence and the strange and individual nature of each character.
This book was about everything and also nothing at all. There wasn’t really a premise or storyline, but instead was full of meandering thoughts that showed the day to day life of the quirky and unique people in the story. If you like a neat and tidy ending or a story with a clear plot, this one isn’t for you. I both hated and loved the characters, but either way they were deeply flawed and unremorseful. 3.5 stars, but I really enjoyed the journey of this wandering story.
December 1, 2020
I wish I DNF'ed this book, because now I'm just mad I read to the end. (I have not read the Gossip Girl series, only saw a season or two of the show, which I liked okay.) I like fluff, really, I do! I was looking forward to this because I lived for two years in Carroll Gardens, right next to Cobble Hill.
But this was just a poorly written book about unbearable, privileged people. The characters weren't fully developed for me to really get a sense of who they were, but they were developed enough for me to roll my eyes at them. The author reminds us frequently that *even though* two of the female characters are fat (GASP!) they are still attractive! Thank goodness!
There are more people of color on the cover of the book than inside it. There is exactly ONE non-white character in this book, which is inexcusable for a book set in Brooklyn (yes, even for Cobble Hill). The casual racism that character deals with is then embraced by the character himself, thereby absolving others (reader included) of feeling guilty. Phew!
It's not the author's fault, but it was quite odd to read a book with the setting in late 2020 (references to Harry and Meghan living in LA and having their first Bonfire Night) and have no mention of COVID 19. She seems to acknowledge this with her inane note at the end of the author's note: "These pages went into production during a global pandemic and, a little later, a time of tragedy and protest. Our world has changed for good. I'm not sure what happens next, but I'm hopeful." Huh?
But this was just a poorly written book about unbearable, privileged people. The characters weren't fully developed for me to really get a sense of who they were, but they were developed enough for me to roll my eyes at them. The author reminds us frequently that *even though* two of the female characters are fat (GASP!) they are still attractive! Thank goodness!
There are more people of color on the cover of the book than inside it. There is exactly ONE non-white character in this book, which is inexcusable for a book set in Brooklyn (yes, even for Cobble Hill). The casual racism that character deals with is then embraced by the character himself, thereby absolving others (reader included) of feeling guilty. Phew!
It's not the author's fault, but it was quite odd to read a book with the setting in late 2020 (references to Harry and Meghan living in LA and having their first Bonfire Night) and have no mention of COVID 19. She seems to acknowledge this with her inane note at the end of the author's note: "These pages went into production during a global pandemic and, a little later, a time of tragedy and protest. Our world has changed for good. I'm not sure what happens next, but I'm hopeful." Huh?
December 9, 2020
Ugh I'm so proud of myself for finishing this. Incredibly bizarre and not in a good way. Unlikable, self absorbed characters and a nonexistent plot.
Fat phobia and So much unnecessary lying. I was so stressed out by one of the characters Also, how was I do not recommend.
Fat phobia and So much unnecessary lying. I was so stressed out by one of the characters Also, how was I do not recommend.
January 5, 2021
I mostly decided to read this one because I did read the Gossip Girl series by this author years ago, fascinated and totally swept up in the glitz, glamour and drama of teens living in NYC who did a lot of questionable or dumb things. After finishing COBBLE HILL, it feels just about right to give it a 3 star rating.
I couldn't stop reading this one once I'd started. I have an odd fascination with stories that depict slice of life stories about characters who are eccentric, odd personalities that don't always make the best choices. It's interesting to watch those sorts of stories unfold, especially when the author is able to write her character caricatures convincingly. I also got a particular kick out of the NYC vibes, though I'm not intimately familiar with Cobble Hill. While there isn't much about this novel that felt memorable, it was a quick read.
I couldn't stop reading this one once I'd started. I have an odd fascination with stories that depict slice of life stories about characters who are eccentric, odd personalities that don't always make the best choices. It's interesting to watch those sorts of stories unfold, especially when the author is able to write her character caricatures convincingly. I also got a particular kick out of the NYC vibes, though I'm not intimately familiar with Cobble Hill. While there isn't much about this novel that felt memorable, it was a quick read.
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