Luxist Review and Giveaway: The Recessionistas by Alexandra Lebenthal

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Aug 2nd 2010 at 10:01AM

Ah, the summer beach read. There's nothing quite delicious as a late summer afternoon at the beach, toes in the sand and a good dishy book. "The Recessionistas" by Alexandra Lebenthal is like a Gossip Girl for grown-ups (in fact the author of those books is namechecked in the first chapter) but with a dollop of schadenfreude. The Recessionistas, you see, is about what happens when perfect falls apart. It's not so much a novel about a protagonist or antagonist, the star is New York, early fall 2008, when once-solid financial empires crumbled.

The book opens with the story of Grigsby Somerset, a blonde New York City socialite with a husband who works at Lehman Brothers, children who attend private school and a busy schedule which includes getting her highlights done at Oscar Blandi. It's enough to make you yearn for her eventual comeuppance. But readers be warned, this isn't just a name-dropping, more-fabulous-than-thou fluff read, Lebenthal also spins quite a good financial tale as well. For every fashion name dropped there's a financial one too. No surprise there, in her own life, Lebenthal adroitly straddles both worlds. A piece from 2008 in the New York Social Diary gives clues that Lebenthal's life, style and tastes bear more than a passing resemblance to her book's Sasha Silver, CEO of bond manager Silver Partners and one of the more engaging characters in the book. For the most part characterization is a bit thin, these aren't people you'd want to go to lunch but the lack of investment in the people is made up for by the rich detailing of the scenes. It's clear that Lebenthal knows her subject matter intimately.

Grand Central Publishing and Alexandra Lebenthal collaborated with Judith Leiber to create the crystal rendition of the New York City skyline on the book's cover. Leiber along with actress/model Molly Sims will host an event during Fashion's Night Out on September 10 to benefit one of Lebenthal's causes, The Rita Hayworth Foundation.

I'm giving away my hardcover copy of The Recessionistas list priced at $24.99.

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before August 9, 2010 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive a hardcover copy of The Recessionistas, list priced at $24.99.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

See complete giveaway rules here.

This contest is now closed. Thank you for your participation.

Tags: alexandra lebenthal, luxist giveaway, the recessionistas