Trading Up

Janey Wilcox is an M.A.W. (thats Model/Actress/Whatever to the uninitiated). The problem with Janey, the protagonist of Candace Bushnells first novel, Trading Up, is not the M or the A part. Its the W. Here is a rare alphabetical anomaly: In Janeys case, W stands for “prostitute.” Oh, Janey never crosses the line into actual hookerdom, but she does sleep with extremely wealthy men in the hopes theyll improve her status, her financial situation, or her lifestyle. When we first met Janey in Bushnells novella collection 4 Blondes, she was up to her usual tricks (so to speak)–scamming a guy for a Hamptons vacation rental. At the opening of Trading Up, her fortunes have improved. Shes now the star of a Victorias Secret ad campaign, and as such shes found access to undreamed-of echelons of New York society. She makes friends with Mimi Kilroy, a senators daughter “at the very top of the social heap in New York.” She gets invited to all the best parties. And she finally finds a wealthy man who will actually marry her: Seldon Rose, a powerful entertainment industry executive. Of course, Janeys social ambitions are not stoppered by her marriage to Seldon, and the clash between her expectations (more parties!) and his (normal life) send Janey into a tailspin that leads to heartbreak. Bushnell is clearly trying to channel Edith Wharton (The Custom of the Country is even invoked by Janey as a screenplay idea), but ends up sounding a lot more like a cross between Tama Janowitz and Judith Krantz. This is a novel about shopping and sex, and while its fizzy enough, its not Cristal. –Claire Dederer