The Carrie Diaries is the prelude to Bushnell’s infamous Sex and the City HBO series. I’ve decided to read this book before the new Carrie Diaries TV show comes out on CW.
The Carrie Diaries takes us back to Carrie Bradshaw’s senior year of high school in the fictional town of Castlebury, Connecticut. Carrie lives with her two younger sisters and hardworking single dad, as her mom died years ago.
When a hottie from Carrie’s past named Sebastian Kydd starts attending her high school, Carrie’s world turns upside down and she vies for Sebastian’s attention along with several other girls. Aside from chasing after Sebastian, Carrie focuses largely on her other passion: writing.
The Carrie Diaries basically reads like a YA book. This coming-of-age novel is fun and hilarious and gives us an intimate glimpse into Carrie’s life before her Manhattan Sex-and-the-City era. It’s okay, but hard to believe the Carrie we know from the show has this background.
Young Carrie is just as fresh, unique, and creative as her adult self, and the 1980s pop culture references sprinkled throughout this book are nostalgic, but I guess only if you grew up during the 80s.
Candace Bushnell confessed in 2019 that she regretted not having any children, which is quite sad, given the nature of her storytelling. That’s not surprising. But you know what? Growing up, becoming a mom, and having a family is exactly why I lost interest in stories like Sex and the City.
Other books by Candace Bushnell include:
- Lipstick Jungle (2005)
- One Fifth Avenue (2007)
- Killing Monica (2012)
What do you think about books by Candace Bushnell?
Last Updated on December 1, 2025 by Sarah Ann
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