Review by Megan Tudi

With the recent release of the "Sex and the City" movie, this is the summer of fashion, sex and martinis. For anyone who is a fan of the new wave of over-the-top, E! newsworthy books, "The Manny" by Holly Peterson is sure to please.

Following closely in the footsteps of "The Devil Wears Prada" (Lauren Weisberger) and "The Undomestic Goddess" (Sophie Kinsella), "The Manny" provides an intimate look into the lives of obscenely wealthy women living in New York City who base their success in life on the price of shoes. The women from Bravo’s "The Housewives of New York City" could easily have walked off the pages of this fun and surprisingly insightful summer read.

Even with a live-in housekeeper, full-time nanny, and two personal drivers, Jamie Whitfield finds herself at the bottom of the social totem pole. Not that that bothers her. Raised in Middle America, Jamie is perfectly content with her part-time job as a successful news producer and the mother of three beautiful children.

Her life would be seemingly perfect if it weren’t for her charming yet egomaniac lawyer husband and the band of women from “the Grid” whose sole purpose in life is to make the lives of their so-called friends miserable. While Jamie never fully embraced the socialite life, she was floating along just fine. All of that ended when she realized her young son was in desperate need for a positive male role model to replace her often absent husband. What is any young, rich mother to do? Hire a manny.

Peter Bailey is the polar opposite of Jamie’s spoiled, demanding husband. A laid-back skier from Colorado, Peter is never afraid to tell it like it is. This unconventional manny turns the Whitfield family upside down allowing them to land right side up. Through a career-destroying broadcast, several indiscretions, and numerous social blunders, Peter helps Jamie return to her roots and rediscover the life she thought she had given up forever.

Despite numerous stereotypes and a predictable plot, The Manny is a fun, sexy read that will leave you wanting more. Peterson incredibly creates sympathy for a wealthy, Manhattan socialite, proving that people are not always as they seem. So sit back, grab a martini and enjoy the view from the top.