Pineapple Street - my last review for 2023

A great book to read pool or beachside this summer

If you are looking for some light-hearted summer reading, let me introduce you to Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson. This book has a mixed bag of reviews online, but this was a right place, right time book for me when I needed something light, funny and engaging to read. This book was full of wit, wealth and what-the-heck moments! It reminds me of Gossip Girl. (I was going to say this reminds me of the book form of Gossip Girl but turns out Gossip Girl was a book first. Who knew?)

This book is set in Brooklyn Heights. It's like stepping into a world where even the pets probably have trust funds. And right at the heart of it all is Pineapple Street.

We meet three women from the Stockton family – Diana, Darley, and Sasha. Diana, the matriarch, is the epitome of Upper East Side elegance and expectations. She always has a critical eye on everything but with a heart of gold buried somewhere deep down. Then there's Darley, her daughter-in-law, who's navigating the high-society life with the grace of a swan on a frozen lake – a bit wobbly but still elegant. And then there’s Sasha, the 'almost' Stockton, engaged to the family's golden boy. She's like that friend who's always one step away from either a breakthrough or a breakdown.

This book is so charming and enjoyable. Jenny Jackson has this snappy, witty writing style that's addictive and hard to put down. You'll find yourself chuckling at one line and gasping at the next. It's a peek into the world of the uber-rich, where the problems are very unique and beyond “first world”.

The dynamics in the Stockton family are interesting and at times frustrating. Everyone's making moves – some for money, others for love, and a few just for the sheer thrill of it. What's fantastic is how Jackson weaves in themes of loyalty, privilege, and the quest for personal identity amid all the glitz and glamour.

Brooklyn Heights is practically a character in itself. The lavish parties, the whispered secrets in opulent drawing rooms, the clink of champagne glasses – it's all so vivid, you can almost smell the money in the air.

Pineapple Street is a deliciously witty, entertaining read that offers a cheeky glimpse into a world where money isn't an object, but the root of some truly fascinating stories. This book is rich and indulgent, and you can't help but want more.

This is a great one for the beach this summer – easy reading escapism at its finest, because life is too short to read bad books.

P.S How is this my last post of 2023?! Thanks for following along this year, and I hope you have been introduced to some great books. I’d love to hear about your favourite book of 2023? Let me know in the comments.