Book Review: Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson

As a little girl, Jane has no one. Her mother Vivienne Margaux, the powerful head of a major New York theater company has no time for her. But she does have one friend—Michael—and no one can see him but her. But Michael can't stay with Jane forever, and on her eighth birthday, her imaginary friend must leave her.

When Jane is in her thirties, working for her mother's company, she is just as alone as she was as a child. Her boyfriend hardly knows she's there and is more interested in what Vivienne can do for his career. Her mother practically treats her as a slave in the office, despite the great success of Jane's first play, "Thank Heaven." Then she finds Michael—handsome, and just the same as she remembers him, only now he's not imaginary. For once in her life, Jane is happy—and has someone who loves her back. But not even Michael knows the reason behind why they've really been reunited.

MY REVIEW:

I would like to start off by saying that I truly enjoyed reading this book. It was again, a book that I could not put down! I was so involved with following Jane's life that I wanted to know more and more as the story continued. I felt her pain when she was sad, and her joy when her life became happy.

Sundays at Tiffany's begins with Jane, the daughter of Vivienne Margaux who is a divorced successful New York City Broadway mogul. Jane's mother isn't a very hands on Mom during her early childhood. Vivienne is extremely involved with her own career and personal life, therefore she has very little time for her only daughter. They do however, have a Sunday ritual where they both go to the St. Regis Hotel and have brunch at the Astor Court. While they eat, her mom sits at a table next to her, and Jane dines with her imaginary friend Michael. Following their meal, they go shopping at Tiffany's (notice the title), and browse all the beautiful jewels. Jane loves going there to shop, and she looks forward to the special time she shares with her mother.

Michael is the only consistent person in Jane's young life. She is very connected to him, he knows everything about her. He meets her in the morning to walk her to school, and picks her up at the end of the day. Jane considers Michael to be her best friend, and confides in him all her secrets and feelings.

One day, when Jane was talking to Michael about celebrating her ninth birthday, she noticed a change in him. All of the sudden Michael became sad, and his face became serious. When Jane inquired, Michael had to tell her that he was going away and not coming back. The rule for imaginary friends is by age nine, they need to leave their life for good. This devastated Jane. She was hysterically crying, begging Michael to stay. He had no choice but to say goodbye and leave her life. When the imaginary friend leaves, the child is supposed to have no recollection of him. This isn't so in Jane's case.

The following day, when Jane went down to walk to school, she expected to see Michael. Hoping it was all a dream, she skipped out of her building and looked down the block searching for Michael. He was nowhere in sight. It was not a dream, it was true, he was gone forever.

As Jane grows up, she continues to think about Michael. She blossoms into a beautiful educated woman, and follows her in mother's footsteps and also becomes a very successful producer. She works for her mother's firm, and begins to date a self absorbed jerk. She doesn't have high self esteem, so her choice in men aren't the best. Both Jane and Vivienne continue their Sunday tradition of brunch and shopping at Tiffany's.

Then, one day Jane sees a gentleman she recognizes. It's Michael! This time he can be seen by others! Needless to say, they reconnect and form a new relationship, as adults.

The book continues with the mature relationship of Jane and Michael, and you learn how their adult relationship evolves. They experience love, happiness, sickness, sadness, and they have to make major decisions as adults. It is a great story line, that keeps the reader in suspense. Escape into the fantasy and true, deep-soul affection and love of two people who can believe that anything is possible. I found the plot to be very clever. As the reader, you feel the roller coaster of emotions that Jane experienced throughout their relationship. It was well written, and I found it to be an easy read. I have not read James Patterson's other novels, but if they are similar to this one, I will absolutely read more of his books!

Mara