The Perfect Manhattan

In their attempt to titillate while criticizing the high life, bartender/writer Shear and bartender/actress Toomey shake an imperfect cocktail with this story of a sexy young mixologist's fabulous but sordid summer working in the Hamptons. After graduating from Columbia, aspiring writer Cassie tends bar at a posh SoHo watering hole, experience that lands her a summer spot at the front bar of Hamptons hot spot Spark. Cassie, who has blue collar roots, is quickly swept up in the scene: flirting for tips up to $1,000 and landing handsome trust-fund boyfriend James Richard Edmonton III. By Labor Day weekend, the frenetic socializing and spending hard-earned cash on designer dresses take a toll on the hopeful screenwriter. While the authors divulge interesting behind-the-bar secrets plus tidbits on how bartenders rip off bar owners, in fleshing out the Hamptons elite they resort to stale Lizzie Grubman and P. Diddy references and WASPy stereotypes. (Cassie dubs her romantic rivals, decked out in pastel cashmere sweater sets and pearls, the "Pearls Girls.") Add banal commentary on differences between old and nouveau riche to Cassie's ultimate disavowal of "selfish, shallow, boring people spending money," and this concoction's fizz goes flat. Agent, Elizabeth Weed . (July)