The beginning was good--New Year's Eve, two girlfriends on the town; then it was downhill from there. It meandered...As much as I hate when people complain "nothing happened," that's how I felt for at least half the book. I'm not one of those readers who need a plot. If there's good writing and internal happenings I'm satisfied. For me, the writing ranged from good to tiresome. For instance, the love interest--Tinker--was introduced in the first chapter, left, and was out of sight for most of the book. Did Kate miss him? I couldn't tell, because Towles seemed more concerned with propping up scenes of 1938 Manhattan in front of the reader, and many of the scenes went nowhere. 
 Although not of "high birth," Kate is smart, gets a job at a glamorous magazine, can repartee with the witty, and finds herself befriending the society folk. I can't help but think this novel is chic lit disguised as literary historical drama. I didn't get much from Kate, and I didn't care about her. The character development was neglected for all the glitzy, jazzy details of the setting. 
 The book is sectioned in four parts. Part four started to get me engaged again, because Tinker and Kate get together; but for some reason that I didn't get, he leaves her with a corny note which says, "I'm not sure where I'm going, but I'll start everyday by saying your name." Ugh. There was some good writing in part four, and the end could've saved it for me, but instead it disappointed.