In my quest of love for all things NYC, I picked up Park Avenue Summer and it was just what I hoped it would be! A little nostalgia, a little glam, and a whole lot of women empowerment, this book was a gem.

Based around the true story of Helen Gurley Brown, Cosmopolitan magazine’s first female editor-in-chief, Park Avenue Summer gives us a peak into the not-so-glamorous moments of a cut throat industry where women are seen as inferior to men. Helen Gurley Brown was cutting edge in every sense of the word – she was sexual and outspoken and believed women should use their sex appeal to their advantage. When every man doubted her ability and questioned her motives for wanting to spice up Cosmo, she proved each and every one of them wrong with her wit, determination, and vision for the future of women. Proving that women no longer needed to be submissive housewives, Helen Gurley Brown was the ultimate trailblazer for women and media.

I absolutely loved reading about NYC in the 1960s and I was fascinated with Helen Gurley Brown’s life – the author’s note at the end clarifies which pieces of the book were works of fiction and which was true. This book was very inspiring and much of its meaning still holds true today – women can do just as much, if not more, than our male predecessors and if you have a passion for something, there is nothing stopping you.

If you love NYC, the 1960s era, or are/were an avid  Cosmo Girl, I think you will fall in love with Park Avenue Summer, as I did.