In Maxi Amerville, Krantz has attempted to create a heroine in the mold of Scarlett O'Hara, a woman who has many flaws but is, ultimately, so charming as to win the affection of women and love of men. Unfortunately, Maxi is distinctly unlovable.

Krantz is reduced to mentioning, repeatedly, how her physical presence has an unsettling effect on men, which does little to endear her to female readers. Maxi's flaws are very irritating, as she is selfish, spoiled, egotistical and insensitive to every other character in the novel. Her momentary pangs of doubt or uncertainty are so brief and self-centered as to be unappealing, and her struggle to overcome the mounting odds against her magazine fail to win much admiration because she starts with so much and struggles so little before the final triumph. When faced with financial problems, she is forced to sell her beloved apartment, but...