Style. Sabotage. Sisterhood.

When Cate and Andie Sloane's Upper East Side dad met Stella and Lola Childs's British-model mom, nobody thought a transatlantic relationship would last. But then their parents drop the M-bomb — marriage — and it looks like Cate, Andie, Stella, and Lola are going to be one big happy family. Well, big anyway. Meet:

Cate Sloane: She dominates the ninth grade at exclusive Ashton Prep. Tantrum-prone and competitive, Cate would rather wear Laura Ashley every day than be second best at anything. Luckily there's not a rival in sight. Yet.

Andie Sloane: Twelve-year-old Andie desperately wants to walk the runway. Her face is flawless, and boys flock to her like love-struck sheep. There's just one leetle problem: She's only 4' 11". But with a new supermodel stepmom, she'll be voguing in no time. Right?

Stella Childs: With her take-charge attitude and a closet full of supermodel swag, Stella was the It Girl at her London middle school. She's determined to rule Ashton Prep — even if that means dethroning the current queen bee. Can you say British Invasion?

Lola Childs: London boys called gawky Lola "Sticks," but she's got a new mission in Manhattan: boyfriend or bust! With the help of her boy-magnet stepsister, Lola sets her sights on supercute Kyle Lewis. Too bad Kyle's only got eyes for . . . Andie.

There's No Place Like Home...

Stella Childs watched, annoyed, as her twelve-year-old- sister Lola held her Burberry cat carrier steady on the black leather seat and peered inside.

"Don't be scared, Heath Bar," Lola cooed. "We're here! New York Sit-aaaay!"

A few whiskers poked out the front of the mesh grate and the giant orange cat mewed. Stella rolled her eyes and turned back toward the window.

"Stella, darling, you all right?" Emma Childs glanced across the limo at her oldest daughter, who was sitting on the other side of the cat carrier, tracing a finger over a red line in the Burberry plaid.

"Fine." Just fine. Stella rolled down the tinted window and let the warm wind whip through her shoulder-length blond curls. Times Square flew past outside, with its towering walls of garish billboards. A six-story-high Rolex watch showed the time: 4:07. Which meant it was a little after nine o'clock in London. Robin Lawrence was having a party at his flat in South Kensington, just like he did every year the Friday before school started. He had huge dark brown eyes and wild black hair that looked like it was cut with a machete. He was adorable. Stella should have been there.

Emma kept her green eyes on Stella and unbuttoned the top of her beige cropped trench coat. "I'm looking forward to spending the weekend together, getting settled before you girls start school. I missed you both so much this summer."

Stella and Lola had spent the summer in Tuscany with their grandmother, who had moved there ten years ago to grow organic grapes and make her own vinegarlike wine. But anything was better than being stuck in London, where the tabloids were cataloging every detail of their parents' recent divorce.

"Mum, are you going to be on the Ralph Lauren billboards?" Lola asked excitedly, staring up at an advertisement for Calvin Klein tighty-whiteys.

"I assume," Emma replied. "But we haven't started shooting yet, so not for a while."

Stella rolled her eyes. Emma, as British as cricket, tea, and crumpets, was now the face of the most American label on the planet. Soon she'd be eating corn dogs and throwing barbecues for the Fourth of July.

"Will you sit front row at their show at Fashion Week?" Lola continued excitedly.

"Probably." Emma just smiled.

"When you do, make sure you thank Ralph for ruining my life," Stella muttered, keeping her eyes on the mustard yellow cab speeding next to them. The little boy in the back seat had his thumb lodged up his nose.

"I know this is hard for you, Stella, but New York will be good for us. Winston is so excited to have you here, too," her mom said softly. "I'm glad you'll finally have a proper introduction."

Stella curled her toes in her Juicy espadrilles. There was that name again — Winston. The first time Stella heard about Winston was in the spring, after Emma got back from signing the Ralph Lauren contract in New York. Stella and Lola had been walking with their mom in Kensington Gardens, watching the mini-ature sailboats cut across Round Pond, when Emma dropped the news. Stella had only processed a few words — deep connection, New York, magical, banker, two daughters — but it had been enough to know her mum had a boyfriend. And she didn't want to think about Emma having a "deep connection" with anyone.

Five months later, it was clear that Winston wasn't going to disappear — but Stella intended to stay as far away from him as possible. After all, New York was a city of eight million people. How hard could it be?

Her mother kept her eyes on her older daughter as she finger-combed Lola's wind-knotted waves. "I know you're angry with me right now," she said as the limo wove through Central Park, where groups of teenage girls were sprawled on beach...

Anna Carey graduated from New York University and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she is at work on her next Sloane Sisters novel.