Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places

Here is a synopsis of the novel, including studies of some of the main characters within the book:

    LOOKING FOR LOVE

A BRIEF SYNOPSIS

Looking for Love is a novel that takes a spirited look at the lives of four young women who live and love in New York City.  How they manage a multitude of character-testing experiences and sail through some rather risqué antics, and how two of them cope with a case of sibling rivalry are major elements in the story.  From seeking out the right man to marry, to having married the wrong one, and even to having a same-sex partner, the women live unpredictable lives.  Because all of the women in the book, mothers, as well as daughters, have been looking for love and don’t always find what they want, (or sometimes lose what they have,)  the book also suggests the dark “Miss Lonelyhearts” side of life.  But in the end, there is a happy conclusion -- with the main heroine, Tessa McMullan, walking down the aisle a smarter, more evolved young woman.

The story takes place in 2009; three of the women are now in their mid-twenties, while Katy, the CSU Detective, has just turned 32. All of them want to achieve their goals and a successful quality of life. For some this encompasses good relationships and, yes,

happy marriages; for others a good career is the best recompense.  Why not all of it, why not happy endings?

THE BACKGROUND

The women were reared in Larchmont, N.Y., a toney upper middle-class Westchester suburb; three of them were high school friends.  Two, Katy and Tessa McMullan, are sisters.  Tessa graduates from NYU, having majored in drama, while her older sister attends one year and then drops out to pursue a career in law enforcement.  Vera Stern, the only one of the women who comes from poor circumstances, is very bright, sails through Barnard College, graduating cum laude, while Angel Manelli, the shyest of the group, remains at home, attending a local community college, and works in her father’s boating business.

By 2006, all four have relocated to Manhattan.  The main group of women, Tessa, Vera and Angel, meet for bimonthly brunches and often share by cell phone.  They call themselves “The Bod Squad.”

Some of the sub-plots include Tessa learning the hard way that she must be more cautious in whom she dates after she encounters a sociopath – a disturbed young man who  was so maltreated by his mother that he really detests women and so when Tessa rejects him (and also accidentally breaks his nose) he is in a demonic rage.  He begins to stalk her and eventually hires someone to throw acid in her face so no one can say she’s pretty any longer.  After hang-ups and anonymous threats in the mail, Tessa reaches out to her friends.  One of them shares Tessa’s concerns with Katy, her sister, who is a New York City detective.  Katy gets background information on the man and his brother, obtains permission to have a plainclothes detail follow and protect her sister.  In the end, the careful surveillance this saves Tessa, and of course helps diminish any vestiges of rivalry between the sisters.

Another subplot involves Angel Manelli, who is conflicted about family loyalties.  She feels guilty when she realizes that her mother, a stay-at-home traditional Italian wife, knows nothing of her husband’s deceitful affairs.   Angel finally confronts her father about his extra marital relationships.  Her taking a stand eventually leads to her rejecting the overly conservative customs within her traditional Italian family and she begins to deal with her life-long addiction to food.  Meanwhile, her mother Lorraine finally confronts her own uncertainties and faces her long-time unfaithful husband and her future with newfound courage.

 Some Excerpts from the Novel

On Vera Stern-Klinghower:

Just so she'd look studious, (and a little bit "racy,") Vera kept the book with the almost unpronounceable title on the table beside her, (the requisite red rose on top of it).

"Meaning and content of sexual perversions; A daseinsanalytic approach to the psychopathology of the phenomenon of love" by Medard Boss certainly should be a conversation opener!

Little did she know she wouldn't need it when the stranger who answered her ad appeared.  You couldn't make this one up: it was her husband.

On Tessa McMullan

                 “Please, enough already, darling.  I’m tired,” Tessa muttered.  I mean, really, what is it with this idiot – I meet him at the party, leave with him, share his bed the first night and twice is not enough?  Excuse me, but you are not exactly a great lover, my dear.  Tessa McMullan, all of 105 pounds, was dying to get out of this uncomfortable situation.  Foiled once again in her desire to look and find love.  

                            *****

“Listen, honey bun,” Tessa purred fallaciously at her sister.  (Multi-tasking as usual, she was chatting into her cell phone while rummaging through a designer sale rack at Bloomie’s.)  Some sale! The sweaters began at $400, and the dresses had price tags starting at $800.  Phooey!  She had an opening to go to -- last minute thing -- heard Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon were going to be there.  She absolutely had to wear something spectacular.  What the hell. She’d posed for that super sexy negligee shot for Playboy which allowed her $1,000 extra wardrobe money.  (Too bad that she was a cup size away from a centerfold – the real big time.) She was actually thinking about larger implants, but that was costly too.

On Lorraine and Carmine Manelli

Carmine was obviously distressed.  His face was blotchy red, tears filled his eyes, he looked like a man being given a death sentence.  “It could work out Lorraine.  I already went to see Father O’Malley twice.  He’s listened to my confessions and he’s also guiding me.  I want to be with you, to spend the rest of my days with you.  I love you, truly I do.”

“Oh Carmine, that’s very nice, but it’s not good enough for me.  I have made up my mind,” Lorraine said, as she gently took her hand out of his hand and with this final gesture let him know it was really over.

You may read the first chapter of 'Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places', for free, by clicking either of the links below:

Read Chapter One Online

Read Chapter Seven Online

Download as .PDF (coming soon!)

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