The End of May by Kem Richards
There’s a scene in author Kem Richards’ The End of May (Grandeur Publishing) when Marcy, an up-and-comer from Ohio looking to make a new life in the lavish and lecherous world of New York City, is snubbed from a great entry-level job at Vogue magazine that she thought was hers. She somehow enters an elevator with her would-be tough boss Mrs. Price (think Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada), brings the elevator to a halt and gives Price a piece of her mind in no uncertain terms.
Price’s response to this defiant outlash: You start tomorrow morning at eight.
It’s this assertiveness and confidence that Marcy Burke portrays as a young girl hitting Manhattan, eyes gaping wide, in the hope of setting up a new, exciting life and building a career. It reminds us for a moment, in image only, of Mary Tyler Moore tossing her hat in the air at the start of her legendary series just knowing she’s going to make it.
But her career is more like a bobbing buoy, staying afloat as she hops from one club/restaurant/adventure to another seeking love and lust. There’s the matter of relationships, and Marcy has many — with one gorgeous man after another, each exuding more sexual aroma and attraction than the previous one.
But it’s not all just physical. She has serious designs at one time or another on David, who helped get her on Vogue’s radar, and Rafael, a realtor who found her first apartment.
Sex, Drugs and Payroll
Between all gulps and the gossip, readers are drawn into a world many have navigated with different degrees of success. The author does an admirable job of showing Manhattan as a character onto itself, from Central Park to its swanky lunch venues to its bustling skyscrapers and overall energy.
Things don’t always fit into a nice, neat box for our protagonist. Relationships are tricky business, and Marcy is no exception to having plenty of regrets, tears and difficult decisions.
And career aspirations have their challenges as well. In Marcy’s case, she journeys down a road she certainly wishes she didn’t have to take — sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. Is she capable of making a course correction? The way the author structures the book and the timing of various events, readers are very much kept in the dark for what’s in store.
Before Marcy does anything, she has to come to terms with who she is, where she came from, what got to this far and figure out the next logical move. Or is it really that logical?
For a fun ride through the city that never sleeps, with characters exposed to everything from the glitter to the gloom, pick up The End of May for a slice of life many have thought they wanted — as long as they don’t bite off more than they can chew.
Check out The End of May on Books2Read.com or at the links below.
New York-based writer Kem Richards, known for his ability to bring complex characters to life, has gained considerable popularity for his latest work, The End of May.
A writer of literary fiction and psychological suspense, Richards has been described as a “visual and diverse writer.” He has appeared in numerous interview platforms such as Young Boss Media and Katie Makes Friends. In addition to writing, Richards is also a lover of architecture, science, sports and art. He finds the art of storytelling to be thrilling and exciting.
Richards’ writing is often a reflection of his life experiences, hardships and his loved ones who inspired and changed his life. In addition to The End of May, Richards worked on many other pieces such as the widely acclaimed Fireworks for Francine and Hollander. He also writes other genres — psychological thrillers under the pseudonym K.B. Richards.
