I Heart New York

Last week I was raving about Sophie Kinsella’s fantastic book trailer for her new title, Twenties Girl which I thought was an innovative way to market books. However yesterday I was sent to the chick lit heaven when I came across I Heart New York in a supermarket. Yes the book is set in my favourite city of all time and it is about a sassy chick lit about a thoroughly modern Millie who shuts up shop and moves to a new city. Angela Clark takes off to New York for fun and adventure after discovering that her boyfriend is cheating on her. She checks into a hotel, quickly makes friends with Jenny who gives her a makeover, starts dating two cute guys and lands a job on a fashion magazine writing a blog about her life. Very Carrie Bradshaw me thinks. What blew me away was the concept of I Heart New York; it is a chick lit come travel guide all in one that sells an aspirational lifestyle in a chic city. You only need to have a look at the website to see this, for instance there is a blog that keeps you up to date with the protagonist, a link to LoveFilms and Angela’s top ten movies set in NYC and a guide to the hip places in the Big Apple.

The idea is that you buy into Angela as a real person and therefore go out and buy the book including the pending sequels; I Heart Hollywood and I Heart Paris. Lindsay, an editor and brand manager at Harper Collins has clearing put her branding experience to good use by using similar brands such as LoveFilm as tie ups. Furthermore there is talk that companies such as Starbucks, WHotels and Bliss are to come on board. While Lynne Drew, Publishing Director for Harpers who signed up Lindsey will draw on her expertise in working with pop titles such as The Devil Wears Prada. When she is not penning mouth watering books, Lindsey also writes a blog called Beauty Mecca which you can check out here.

I Heart New York is out in paperback now. Look out for I Heart Hollywood in January 2010 and I Heart Paris in July 2010.

Check out a short interview with Lindsey Kelk here.

PS: R.I.P Borders on Oxford Street, I have spent many a blissful hour there leafing though magazines and books while waiting for many a late friend. Therefore I was truly saddened to hear that the store will be one of five stores in the UK that are closing. An end of an era I say.