Saturday 20 August 2016

Book Review : What Might Have Been by Lynn Steward

Book- What Might Have Been

Author- Lynn Steward

Genre- Fiction (Romance/Women’s Fiction)



Blurb-

As a fashion buyer at one of New York’s most glamorous departmental stores, Dana McGarry is a tastemaker, her keen instinct for fashion trends and innovative ideas coupled with a razor sharp business sense. But like the elegant and conservative store that employs her, Dana is caught between two eras- between being like and standing her ground, between playing by the riles and being a maverick. Dana is sensitive and beautiful, but what you see is not what you get. Behind the cool and attractive facade, Dana is both driven by her need to control yet impeded by her expectation of perfectionism. As she competes to replace women at the top of their game, she is challenged by jealous colleagues. And when a wealthy love interest wants to open doors and support her ambition, she embraces Coco Chanel’s mantra of “never wanting to weigh more heavily on a man that a bird.” As the women’s movement paves the way, Dana finds a path to the carer she wants at the expense of happiness that was not meant to be.

Steward captures the nuances of 70s life in New York City and provides the perfect backdrop for an independent woman determined to make her mark. What might have been is a story that transcends any period.



Review-

The novel is set in 1970’s and the author has tried her best to bring in the flavour of the old school. The cover of the book is quite enchanting and it gives the feeling of independent behaviour. It is certain after having a good look at the cover of the book that the story will revolve around the "meaningful and challenging" life of a lady.

Penning female protagonist is not hard but it surely is challenging. Because one has to take care that the lady comes out to be serene and not just a subject.

The author has tried her best to talk more about Dana's professional life which made it easy for me to see a person rather than a lover, a wife or a friend in larger sum.

There were some characters like Father Macaulay, Patti, Andrew, etc who allowed me to explore the other sides of Dana. I thought that author has done justice in presenting the different characters and also connecting them with the main protagonist.

Also I loved the detailing done by the author in order to present the likes of Dana and how she explores various artistic aspects. For those who have lost hope after losing some bits of their life in the long run then Dana can be your perfect companion. She can help you to look beyond and fathom a world for yourself, made by your whims and fancies.



Eye-catchers-

• “...a determined woman could accomplish anything if, above all, she didn’t lose the spirit to fight for what she believed.”

• “A life worth living she realized had to be shared with others.”



About the author-

Lynn Steward, a veteran of the New York fashion industry and a buyer on the team that started the women’s department at Brooks Brothers, created the Dana McGarry series, set at a transformational time in 1970s world of fashion and in the lives of multigenerational women. What might have been is the second volume in the series. A Very Good Life, Steward’s debut novel, was published in March 2014.



Connect with the author-

• LynnSteward.com

• Pinterest.com/LynnStewardny

• Facebook.com/LynnStewardnyc

• Twitter- @LynnStewardNY



Buy the book-

• Amazon link- https://www.amazon.com/What-Might-Have-Been-McGarry-ebook/dp/B00U8CR2KG

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