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acaciabergmann's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Great book about a woman’s journey of her career during the Great Depression. From dancing, meeting new people, travel, and nursing.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Self harm
The woman in this book doesn’t have a great mother. But the mother daughter relationship isn’t what the book is fully about.micasreads's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Sarah Bird, St. Martin's Press, and Sarah Bird for the chance to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was published on April 12, 2022.
Evie Devlin was raised by a narcissistic mother who spoke badly of her father for joining the military and then having the nerve to die. In order to escape, Evie lies to get into nursing school as her way out. When the Director of the school receives information about a shady part of Evie's past, she denies her the chance to fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse. After returning to the area she grew up in and ensuring her Grandma is taken care of when she is diagnosed with pneumonia, Evie travels to Houston and becomes a nurse for a dance marathon.
In 1932, dance marathons were an important way for young people suffering during the Depression to ensure that they had food in their stomachs and a roof over their heads. Evie becomes the official nurse for a dance group and eventually part of the act when she falls for the main dancer, Zane. Evie learns to handle the days as they come and attempts to figure out how to receive the registered nurse pin she worked so hard for. Evie learns the hard way that you have to make do with the cards you're dealt until the chance to change them pops up.
This is a bit of a different story for me and I felt it took me far longer than it really should have. It seemed that there were times when whole passages could have been edited out to help the flow of the story. All in all, it was a sweet story that helped pass the time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt
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