Summer Wives (Part 1 of 2)
My friend Anna is a summer wife.
You see, her "summer" husband, Abraham, does what all high-powered law firm partners do each summer: he dispatches his wife to the summer home in the Hamptons or Shelter Island or Martha's Vineyard.
This allows Biglaw partners to supper in the city with the single senior (or summer) associates. I mean, these guys can't be alone at dinnertime. They have to supper with someone, so why not with an associate who is close by or, better yet, in the same office?
One night, after I meet Abraham, I ask him about his family in exile, and how he is adjusting to their absence from his day- to-day life. He says: "Well, it's better for the kids to be out there in the summer.... They have the beach, their grandparents are there...."
Blah. Blah. Blah. We're in the midst of a global warming crisis; we're all supposed to be wearing SPF 45, even when just driving in our cars. Do the kids really need that much sun and sea? And is it really benefiting them if their father is absent from their lives most days of the week? Or is this arrangement really better for you, Abraham?
Read more, after the jump.
My friend Anna is a kick-ass, no-nonsense Wall Street lawyer, both beautiful and brainy. It's an intimidating but saucy combination. She is making bank, has no regrets, and makes no apologies. She has traveled the world, dated men in Europe whom she met in Russia, and explored the jungles of Nicaragua by herself. She has a boyfriend in every port -- when she wants it that way. But like most of the men she works with, she mainly just likes to make money. The boys are really an afterthought -- a dessert, if you will.
She always has boyfriends, but most of her relationships are ephemeral in nature. She prefers it that way.
In the evenings of the summer months, she has the pick of the litter: all these undersexed, overprivileged, overworked men at law firms who are without wives for the summer. I mean, they may see the wives on the weekends, but often they get "tied up" with a deal on Friday, and they just have to stay in the city. It's kind of like the advertising execs in Mad Men -- sometimes they just can't make it home during the week. Sometimes they can't come home on the weekends (or even for Thanksgiving). Work is just so busy. And the wives buy it. Or do they? It's interesting to see how little has changed since the 60s. Good grief.
August is a particularly hot month for my friend Anna. These fellows realize that August is the last official month of summer, and recess is soon coming to a screeching halt. September is right around the corner. They've got to get everything in -- no pun intended -- in the next few weeks. And I mean every little thing....
TO BE CONTINUED
Earlier: Collected posts of Hope Winters (scroll down)
(183) Comments
FIRST to say "where have you been Hope Winters!?!"
seriously. wtf?
FIRST to say start your own blog. RELEVANCE?!?!
WTF? this was terrible.
first to say #3 is RIGHT ON THE MONEY. Start your own blog, Hope.
Wow this is awful. I'd rather have faux-LAT drop "Harvard Law" in an article a half-dozen times. Epic fail.
To be continued????
Why must you play with my heart? Why??????????
(I like question marks).
"My friend Anna is a kick-ass, no-nonsense Wall Street lawyer, both beautiful and brainy. It's an intimidating but saucy combination."
*sigh*
Hope -- get off the computer and back on the stripper pole, pronto! There, that's better. Know your role & shut the F up.
This has to be some kind of [TO BE CONTINUED] joke
I LOVE HOPE WINTERS!!!
Welcome back, girl!!!
I liked it better when Danielle Steele was writing it.
Isn't this the same judgmental author who was the only one not getting any action at the firm retreat? Is she going to be judging others having sex again?
Your "saucy" friends hate you. Go home to your twelve cats and knit something.
"She is making bank, has no regrets, and makes no apologies."
Parallelism? I'm continually surprised by how often well-credentialed lawyers make simple grammatical mistakes.
cliche
ciiche
cliche galore
yawn
"September is right around the corner. They've got to get everything in -- no pun intended -- in the next few weeks. And I mean every little thing...."
wow, you told the same joke 3 times in 3 sentences.
everything in, get it? it's a pun. get it?
Hope Winters likes to call people undersexed, and then describe their sex lives, which inevitably turn out to have more action than her own sex life. What does this tell us about Hope Winters? Discuss.
Theres enough real shit in the legal world that we don't need to read fake stories about fake people doing fake things. Get a LIFE Hope Winters .
I enjoyed this.
dude - I start work in like a week and a half. Give me something exciting to do until then. I thought this woman went the way of the dodo after her last epic failure.
This is a true phenomenon. About three partners I work with pack their wives and kids off to the beach for the summer.
Winters has potential to be as interesting and memorable as the Sex and the City TV show.
Does anyone actually believe that married partners are banging associates and summer associates left and right ? Have you seen the partners at an average NYC firm? They're not an attractive bunch and most are socially awkward. Nevermind that 3/4 of female associates (all aged 26-35) are either married, engaged or living with their boyfriends.
Sure it occasionally happens at every firm, but the reason it's so scandalous is that it's not common place.
Hope Winters is just David Lat when he is feeling especially sassy.
When did ATL turn into a soap opera?
22: maybe on Planet Awkward Law Firm, firms can afford to keep awkward partners, but on this one, they're often the rainmakers that provide everyone with enough work. They're outgoing, curious, brilliant, and suave.
I agree, however, that most young female associates are married or in a committed relationship. I don't think they're interested in the advances of the partners, if they were to make any (these things are often litigation pitfalls).
If Obama is going to give us more Hope, count me out.
Yes, these things really do go on! Thanks for speaking the truth Hope! Another great short. I love it, and you! xo
This is so, so, so awful. Most horrendous post ever.
What a way to end the summer! Thanks for the page turner Hope! Can't wait for the next!
I love how Hope Winters posts always end on a pseudo-cliffhanger note, with an implied promise of something naughty on the other end.
Bow chica wow wow.
wrong forum. old stuff. who cares. how much did you pay abovethelaw to get this published? maybe you can tell us how being a cheating law partner can get us a job in asia. now THAT would be a useful post.
Mad Men is a great show. Everyone should watch it.
WTF? this doesn't even make sense. If Anna is hot, etc., and gets laid, as well as being a "Wall Street" attorney, what the hell is she doing getting sent off to the Hamptons? And who are these undersexed attorneys she's banging, if she's out there. I DON'T GET IT!!!
http://img2.travelblog.org/Photos/28119/130680/f/909426-Old-Town-Bratislava-1.jpg
For the record, Bratislava is actually pretty nice.
25 = awkward partner in denial
these hope winters stories are so bad i initially thought that they were offered as parodies of bad fiction. they i realized you were serious.
This is awful. Poorly written, cliched, boring. Hope should stick to law and avoid creative writing.
This article gives partners way to much credit. No way most partners at an NYC firm could every pull this off. 22 nailed it - most of these lawyers are ugo, and social awkward. Plus, the young women of New York who actually would hook up with an older man for his money and rank are hooking up with bankers, not lawyers.
Please, please, please, oh, please killself, Hope Winters.
IF YOUR FRIEND WAS SO HOT, SHE WOULDN'T BE FUCKING LAWYERS!
This article gives partners way too much credit. Most partners at big firms could never pull this off. 22 nailed it - most of these lawyers are ugo, and social awkward. Plus, the young women of New York who actually would hook up with an older man for his money and rank are hooking up with bankers, not lawyers.
Unbelievably bad. Unreadable. Why is she back?!?
Is Hope really David Lat?
Go girl!
Totally over the top and cliche. We all know that some people cheat on their spouses. They are known, in common parlance, as douchebags. Get over it and tell me something that's relevant to my life.
IF YOUR FRIEND WAS SO HOT, SHE WOULDN'T BE FUCKING LAWYERS!
Is Hope really David Lat?
Go girl!
This article gives partners way too much credit. Most could never pull this off -22 nailed it - they're too ugly and socially awkward. Plus, the young women of New York who actually would hook up with an older man for his money and rank are hooking up with bankers, not lawyers.
33: You misunderstood (admittedly, so did I the first time I read this). Her friend Anna is a "summer wife", not the regular wife of the partner. She is sleeping with the partners while their wives are off in the Hamptons.
Fabio should be in the pic for each of her posts.
25,
The partners that took you out for drinks as a summer aren't representative of the partners you'll be working for when you join the firm as a full time associate.
Your "friend" has self esteem issues. Dating married men for the summer? If your friend was as hot and "saucy" as you said she was, she would have married into money by now and would be the one summering in the Hamptons with her 20 something tennis coach while her husband was slaving away in the city.
HTH.
cheating on spouses and getting nailed by rich guys are both inherently cool ?
Super cliched - you know you suck at writing when you describe things by comparing them to other things; "kind of like the advertising execs in Mad Men."
HW - your writing sucks, kinda like your porn name (Hope Winters? Seriously?).
I'd much rather read a post full of LOLcats. Now those are creative.
48- 33 here. Thanks for clarifying. So this is just a story about her "friend" who has sex with married lawyers, whose wives are in the Hamptons. Fascinating.
Hope - that totally rocked. Loved reading about the Summer Wives. And it's TOTALLY true - every last word! BG
Sign on to 22, and declare that 25 has no idea what s/he's talking about.
This was the worst post ever...
Oh well, I was just thinking about shooting myself in the head, but I suppose reading some poorly written faux-Sex in the City-style column is a better option...just barely. If only the whole story were here! I can't wait for part 2!!! Hopefully it's not interrupted by something slightly more topical and interesting, like Harry Potter slash-fic or something.
Cosign 45.
If she is a lawyer, chances are she is a 7 at best.
Does she lure those partners with Warcraft games or boxes of frosted donuts? Sexy!!!
Dear Penthouse . . .
I think this is hysterical and so true!
rock on hope and welcome back. i missed you!!
Bring back the law firm gossip and real-life scandal!!
The only reason I am still reading ATL is because it is my only source of news/gossip on Heller. Other then that, this blog has lost its appeal ...
Lame post.
"Supper"? How the hell old are you--90?
59: you're being ridiculous. Even at the highest levels, there are many beautiful women lawyers. Her friend could be a ravishing young woman.
64,
The lonely partner only looks ninety. He's really fifty-two and makes up for his gray hair, bald head and pot belly by being outgoing, curious, brilliant, and suave.
OBJECTION, FORM
OBJECTION, RELEVANCE
OBJECTION, CALLS FOR POOR TASTE IN WRITING
OBJECTION, RECITATION OF CHEESY ROMANCE TALE WITHOUT DISPLAY OF FABIO IMAGERY
YOU SUCK
YOU SUCK IT HARD
STOP POSTING
STOP WRITING
KILL YOURSELF.
Why does this take two posts? This is going to be like the last one, where it all could have been condensed into one, with buildup for absolutely nothing. With little interest to support one post, let alone two.
Fail.
ATL: swirling down the shitter.
Hope Winters is terrible. The tags on this story are ridiculous.
"Feminism, Gender, Romance and Dating, Sex, Sexism, Sexual Harassment"
Sexism? The ugly fat cow can't find anyone dumb enough to commit to her so she sleeps around and tries to convince herself that she WANTS this lifestyle because it's a move towards female equality. Stupid cow.
This was done a long time ago in the Seven Year Itch with Tom Ewell and Marilyn Monroe. Get some new material.
I would eat through a wall of shit to get away from any more posts resembling this one.
This existence is very foreign to me. It is interesting to read about. Hope Winters is convincing. I wonder what happens to these people 25 years later.
which do you suppose happens more: the scenario described above or the one in which our partner is simply a dutiful husband and father, who works like crazy his entire life to give the best life possible to his wife and children, who generally do not appreciate the effort, mock him openly when they see him, and sponge off him for decades even after they grow up/divorce him?
I cheat on my wife all the time, and I haven't even made partner yet.
Big f~cking whoop.
People, people, look at it this way: Hope may be less than stellar, but she's better than Elie.
That said, who uses "supper" as a verb, twice, without any sense of irony?
75 is dead on. 95% percent of the young partners at my firm are married with children. Without a wife and kids to support, I can't imagine why anyone would do this god awful job (i.e. working at a big law firm) for longer than a few years.
I think I'm more upset that this post was boring and unoriginal than I am that it was entirely not related to law or the legal profession.
Your friend is a cumwhore, and so are you. At least she seem to be successful outside her sperm-guzzling pursuits.
Guys at my high school used to sleep around with lawyers while their wives were in the Hamptons and then write REALLY crappy melodramas about it. It was no big deal.
If you want better writing on the same topic, try this old (1997) story from DC Darkside:
http://www.dcdarkside.com/graveyard/june17.htm
Hope Winters can gulp on my GULC anytime.
::: WELCOME TO THE NEW ATL :::
WHERE EACH NEW POST IS NOW THE WORST POST EVER!
this is stupid
Look how far ATL has fallen. The first Hope Winters fiasco produced some classic ATL comment threads. This time it's just banal and horrible. I don't think I'm coming back.
"I would eat through a wall of shit to get away from any more posts resembling this one."
I'm sure you would eat through a wall of shit for many, many reasons, 73.
I bet Lat laughs whenever he sees the comments saying that ATL is lame and that it sucks. There are 85 comments here on this wack post and more on the better ones. More clicks, more $$.
Guys in my high school used to rename the Lansdowne retreat "Pants Down" all the time, it was not a conspicuous event.
drivel. really just awful.
Hope (aka 11, 29, 55, 62, 87) -
Your comments in response to this post show much more creativity than the post itself.
Hope that helps -- no pun intended. REALLY hope that helps.
boring
I think ATL is onto something with bringing back Hope Winters. Her hackneyed cringefests spur us to ever greater heights of angry commentary. WE ARE THE HUMOR WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!
I will never come back after this post
this post is making me...worsty!!!!!!
Yes, I'm sure this hot chick is going to go out with some fat, soft, weak, balding, dork lawyer who works at biglaw who stinks to high heaven over any truckload of the available, young multi-millionaires she can find any night of the week at Ulysses or like bars on Wall Street.
I have read every post so far. Suck it, GULC.
Could this be any vaguer? I mean, "I have an attractive friend who dates married men..." Seriously!?! WHO CARES?
Beyond boring/cliche. Closer to tedious..
No doubt the no offered summers and the laid off associates appreciate this blog's coverage of Fabio's forays into the legal world.
There's lots of competition for available, young multi-millionaires -- not so much for fat, soft, weak, balding, dork lawyers.
75: why do you cheat on your wife?
Though Hope has password-protected her blog site, the cached versions are still available in Google. The Summer Wives story is posted on her blog and is deathly boring.
74: "i wonder what happens to these people 25 years later."
They continue to lead poorly-drawn and unconvincing lives, despite their passing resemblance to real people. Eventually, they come to a much-hyped, but ultimately boring and unsatisfying end. Readers are left wondering whether there are any other legal tabloids with better material. The end, HTH.
Guys at my high school used to send their wives and kids off to their summer homes in the Hamptons, then sleep with senior associates all the time. It was no big deal.
OK, new ATL feature. Readers, submit rewrites of Hope Winters' sentences or paragraphs in the comments. Whoever can make them marginally interesting wins. There is, however, no prize.
Loved it. Hope Winters says what everyone else is really thinking. Can't wait to read more Hope.
Loved it. Hope Winters says what everyone else is really thinking. Can't wait to read more Hope.
I'm #27,29. Hope ,you're awesome ! I love reading this, and they must too, or you wouldn't have so many comments!! Admit it! You guys can't get enough of Hope Winters!
Traditionally, the rich packed the family off to the summer home, with dad visiting on week-ends.
It is an ideal life that few can now afford in this era of two breadwinners and huge mortgage payments.
(I rarely saw my dad during his peak earning years, but when I did it was real quality time.)
I think 75 that this lifestyle is not imposed, and has great benefits for those who can afford it, including a worry-free childhood.
If life could be so simple for the rest of us struggling to make ends meet and sock away enough for the kids’ educations….
please do not write articles like this anymore.
25: I'd like to meet some of these charming and attractive partners you mention.
In reality, most law firm partners are nebyish workaholics who can't even imitate a genuine social relationship. Fortunately, and contrary to your contention, it's rarely necessary for them to do so. Partners only have to impress general counsels, who are usually alumni of the same kinds of big firms that breed socially akward partners. Its like a big, high-dollar, star trek convention.
Of course, this wasn't always the case. Once upon a time, firm lawyers had to actually try cases. And in order to be good at that, you have to be able to connect with a jury. But those skills are no longer necessary (or even sought-after) in law firms, so the witty and charming trial lawyers have been replaced by nerdy rainmakers.
This is a really stupid, pointless waste of time. I think I'm just about done with this site - used to be fun and interesting, now it's just trashy and lame. Yick. Sorry, Lat, you had a good run.
please do not post part II, i am begging you. please.
Hope,
I seem to be one of the few people who actually enjoys your writing. I have read every post on your blog. WHY THE HECK DID YOU LOCK IT?
please open the blog so your fans can continue to enjoy your work.
make it stop
Just when you thought it was safe to visit ATL...
Alright, I get it. This "Hope Winters" imbecile is a cudgel that the other writers use to make us appreciative of their efforts. Sort of a reminder that things could be much, much, much worse. Fine, point taken.
Seriously though-- if I wanted to draw a relative comparison that made this site look good, I could visit womensspace, biting beaver, or some other repository for untalented women's sad attempts at writing. There is no need to bring that stuff here. It would suffice to threaten to post part II every time we come down too hard on one of the functionally literate columnists. Please, try that. I promise it'll work out better for everyone.
Wrong forum, crass ending, though otherwise interesting.
Seriously asked: is this the forward project of ATL?
F minus.
EPIC COMPLETE AND UTTER FAIL
Please go away as you SUCK beyond all belief
People on this blog need to relax.
It's a legal gossip blog. This post would have been better if it actually portrayed someone we could identify (as other posts have mentioned, very cliched) but the post invites comments.
I knew there would be some Hope hating, but not many of the comments have spoken to any associate experience regarding partner A and lawyer/paralegal/office staffperson B. Surprising...
I will agree that I don't think any of the people involved are as attractive as Hope makes them out to be. But Hope is likely in the 5-6 range herself, and thinks her friend (maybe a 7) is 'beautiful.' Hope's friend is likely an 'I am woman, hear me roar" type-A bitch that knows she can manipulate weak men in the law, since most that actually make it to the position she covets (powerful lawyers with money) are emotionally, physically, (and most important) sexually weak.
Cosign 75, and especially 78. Coworkers bought houses before they even started. Way to lock yourselves in...to hell!
Zero point zero.
Is "summer wife" a euphemism for slut? That you romanticize her life speaks poorly of your own judgment.
Co-sign 75, 78, and the guy who co-signed those already.
i found this post to be very entertaining! i've read every 'hope winters' post and am thrilled she's back! keep up the great work! i love hope!
i found this post to be very entertaining! i've read every 'hope winters' post and am thrilled she's back! keep up the great work! i love hope!
126/127 = Hope Winters.
I found this post to be neither intimidating nor saucy.
Hope Winters is an intelligent and successful person. Not only is she beautiful but she has probably accomplished more in her lifetime than many of you who are making the nasty comments. My daughter just calls it as she sees it.
Hope Winters is an intelligent and successful person. Not only is she beautiful but she has probably accomplished more in her lifetime than many of you who are making the nasty comments. My daughter just calls it as she sees it.
Hope, when you post comments supporting yourself, just click "Post Comment" the one time. Otherwise it becomes too obvious. Like your cliches!
PLZ DON'T MAKE US WAIT FOR POST 2!!!!!!!!!!! I WANT TO HEAR MOAR ABOUT THIS SEXUALLY CONFIDENT YOUNG WOMAN WHO TAKES WHAT SHE WANTS FROM TEH MAN'S WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111
Guys in my high school used to troll brilliantly by posing as Hope Winters' mom all the time, it was no big deal.
Does anyone at ATL actually READ this shit before they post it anymore? Seriously, Lat.
Lat, come on. Hope - go play in traffic.
Not only is this story poorly conceived, and as above-noted, rife with grammatical errors, but it is also a sad, sad commentary against the working woman. Please explain why beautiful and brilliant Anna would choose to bed cheating assholes who are undoubtedly older and less sexually attractive than she is? Isn't the whole point of making bank and avoiding relationships to AT LEAST do it with young hotties?
Hope makes Billy Merck look like Billy Fucking Shakespeare!
In the name of all that is holy, Lat - please stop this train wreck before part 2 is published.
This drivel is shit lit, not chick lit.
Like the last post, this nearly gave me cancer.
I'm not sure what's worse, the complete lack of interest in this "story" or the numerous grammatical/logical errors from a supposed journalist.
If we didn't need another reason for society to hate lawyers, we have this.
I bet Anna's Bratislavan boyfriend is quite the looker!!!
I bet Anna's Bratislavan boyfriend is quite the looker!!!
Utterly fucking terrible. It first says Anna is a summer wife out in teh Hamptons, then says Anna