The Ivy Chronicles

By: Karen Quinn

Narrated by: Julia Gibson

Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Fans of New York Times best seller The Nanny Diaries will rejoice in this wickedly hilarious novel, which acclaimed author Katharine Weber says is "much funnier and darker". Optioned for a major motion picture starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, The Ivy Chronicles skewers the twisted priorities of America's well-heeled elite.

Ivy Ames, 40-something mother of two, loses her high-flying job (to downsizing) and her husband (to their neighbor) in the same day. To pay for her daughters' private schooling, she starts a new business helping wealthy Manhattanites get their resume-toting youngsters into the best kindergartens. Soon her clients include media moguls, mob bosses, and a lesbian couple that believes their adopted African-American disabled son is "the triple crown of diversity" who schools will clamor to enroll.

Prepare to laugh uncontrollably, and possibly be a little frightened, by this witty look at our sometimes preposterous society.

©2005 Karen Quinn (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"A guilty pleasure worth indulging." (Booklist)

Great Book!

What did you love best about The Ivy Chronicles?

The book was very entertaining with lots of humor and a good story. I couldn't wait to listen to the next chapter!

The Ivy Chronicles

It was an OK listen. The story of course was very shallow, however, that was what I expected to begin with. So it was good to listen to when doing house chores or working out at the gym. The narrator was generally fine too. I think her voice was a very good match for Ivy's character. However, quite often she swallowed hard and the sound of it annoyed me throughout the book! I have listened to so many books before and I never noticed such an issue with any of them!

Fun and Fluffy

This story is funny and quirky. A good listen for light days where you just need to laugh at the total craziness of society.

Funny but squeaky

If you can get past the narrator?s squeaky voice you?ll like the story. It?s very funny and true to life.

Ahh....chic lit

Enjoyable listen. Had a few laughs and it was relaxing to listen to after working.

Not a thinker's book, but it is funny

This isn't a WAR AND PEACE or any other 'meaningful' read, BUT it did make me laugh now and then. I would make a slight comparison to the original "Bridget Jones" book. If you like that kind of humor, you'll enjoy this audiobook.

Fun but editing sucks!

This is a light, enjoyable fluff of a story. However, the mouth noises (swallowing, lip smacking, and other various disgusting noises) drove me to distraction. I know it is normal for people to make such noises, but they are not audible on most books I have listened to. That leads me to conclude that this must be due to poor editing.

Brilliantly funny

I'm amazed to see that some reviewers disliked the book - I loved it. Had me laughing out loud (not always good when you're in a public place). Yes, some of the characters are morally corrupt, but lifes like that. I found it a very entertaining read and would recommend it to anyone.

Great entertainment!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Ivy Chronicles to be better than the print version?

Although one may not agree with the moral choices of characters in this book, it was still very entertaining and kept me interested the whole way through. Overall a good read.

Ridiculous

What did you like best about The Ivy Chronicles? What did you like least?

I bought this book looking forward to a 'Nanny Diaries' sort of experience and was sadly disappointed. The main character is not well developed, and comes across as silly and inconsistent in her moral codes. The story itself is utterly ridiculous. I KNOW people go through channels to insure their childs place in today's competitive enrollment processes, but come on. Painting a child to look black? Alligators? And the scenes with George Clooney? Oh, please. He just shows up with no one else around him and then of course, this gorgeous Hollywood movie star is going to find out Ivy irresistible. Yeah, right. Help!!!! Is this what the publishers are going for now? I doubt that in today's market, Dickens or Faulkner would have had a chance.