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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
THAT ENDING! Truly, I'm shocked. Never in a thousand years would I believe that this narrative would end the way it did.
Not to mention, I'm in love with Marcus and Clara's characters. The way they interact with each other is adorable. I wish that I had someone I could craft stories with on a whim!
Not to mention, I'm in love with Marcus and Clara's characters. The way they interact with each other is adorable. I wish that I had someone I could craft stories with on a whim!
Very slow start, thought it was trying too hard at first, but then got really good, can't wait until I read the next one!
writing does not flow, story not beautiful, characters unlikeable
I wanted to love this book. As it is, I really like it, but only read it if you really like flappers.
The plot was pretty good, if heavy handed at times. Not everything was resolved at the end because it's a trilogy. So you gotta leave your readers wanting more. The characters are inconsistent. Especially Clara. I don't know - they were stronger by the end of the novel, so maybe Larkin was using this book as a means of figuring out who these young women are, and they'll get stronger as the series go?
I plan on reading the second one soon.
The plot was pretty good, if heavy handed at times. Not everything was resolved at the end because it's a trilogy. So you gotta leave your readers wanting more. The characters are inconsistent. Especially Clara. I don't know - they were stronger by the end of the novel, so maybe Larkin was using this book as a means of figuring out who these young women are, and they'll get stronger as the series go?
I plan on reading the second one soon.
Good start to the series with the cliffhanger of an ending. A little rougher than Godberson's Bright Young Things buit I enjoyed learning all the flapper slang is this book.
Since I've been obsessed with flappers for, mm, ever I thought this might be a fun little read. Meh. It was really just a trashy romance novel with some period details and some glaring inaccuracies. I remember reading, "Rowr." Really? Really?! Also, to be historically accurate everyone would have referred to Jerome and colored or negro, it wouldn't have been Gloria calling him black and everyone else calling him colored. I understand that the author was trying to show off Gloria's acceptance and open mind but it just bothered me.
Liked the attention to fashion and music, liked the action in the last chapter or two, didn't like Lorraine's pining, being made a villain, and the annoying contemporary nicknames. Raine and Bastian, ugh.
Liked the attention to fashion and music, liked the action in the last chapter or two, didn't like Lorraine's pining, being made a villain, and the annoying contemporary nicknames. Raine and Bastian, ugh.
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I bought this from Boarders in 2010, when it was first published. I read a lot more YA back then and I think it was the cover that caught my eye.
The story is told from the three POVs: Clara, Gloria, and Lorraine. I'm pretty sure the "Vixen" is Clara, and I think it's her on the cover. (Lorraine has raven hair and Gloria is a red head, so they're on the sequels; Ingenue and Diva.)
Clara is called a "vixen" and although she has a scandalous past, she's not behaving as such in present day. Gloria, Lorraine and their friend Marcus scheme to run her out of town before they even met her. And once she arrived she gave them no reason to be mean and catty.
Luckily that plan to run Clara out of town was not the main story and the book had better plots.
There was no clear turning point for Gloria to go from unwarranted hate to liking Clara. Their relationship was a bit underdeveloped.
Gloria's focus was her insta-love for Jerome, a black jazz pianist. While I did not feel the magic between them I actually did like that storyline. (It's funny that Clara is on the cover but this felt more like a Gloria centric book.)
Lorraine was a mess. She was my least - actually I didn't like her at all. She had no redeeming qualities. Sometimes there can be a character that is unscrupulous yet you still find them lovable. Lorraine is not.
I don't know much about the 1920s but it sounds like it was well researched and the vernacular seemed accurate. (I found out cake-eater back then meant a ladies man. I thought it meant a gay man, but that is the modern meaning.)
The story started out a bit slow and really picked up towards the middle to the end. It ended on a cliffhanger, of sorts, but I'm unsure if I'll continue with the rest of the trilogy. If I do I'll get the ebooks from the NY Public Library.
2.5 out of 5 Cat's Pajamas
Favorite Quotes:
Page 364: "Everyone has a skeleton or two in his closet. Most people sympathize. What they don't necessarily like are the people who open the closet doors. Scared them."
Page 151: "I can't promise miracles, but I can promise mascara."
Page 119: "Something about how if Loraine feels the need to fake drunk, she probably fakes everything else, too."
The story is told from the three POVs: Clara, Gloria, and Lorraine. I'm pretty sure the "Vixen" is Clara, and I think it's her on the cover. (Lorraine has raven hair and Gloria is a red head, so they're on the sequels; Ingenue and Diva.)
Clara is called a "vixen" and although she has a scandalous past, she's not behaving as such in present day. Gloria, Lorraine and their friend Marcus scheme to run her out of town before they even met her. And once she arrived she gave them no reason to be mean and catty.
Luckily that plan to run Clara out of town was not the main story and the book had better plots.
There was no clear turning point for Gloria to go from unwarranted hate to liking Clara. Their relationship was a bit underdeveloped.
Gloria's focus was her insta-love for Jerome, a black jazz pianist. While I did not feel the magic between them I actually did like that storyline. (It's funny that Clara is on the cover but this felt more like a Gloria centric book.)
Lorraine was a mess. She was my least - actually I didn't like her at all. She had no redeeming qualities. Sometimes there can be a character that is unscrupulous yet you still find them lovable. Lorraine is not.
I don't know much about the 1920s but it sounds like it was well researched and the vernacular seemed accurate. (I found out cake-eater back then meant a ladies man. I thought it meant a gay man, but that is the modern meaning.)
The story started out a bit slow and really picked up towards the middle to the end. It ended on a cliffhanger, of sorts, but I'm unsure if I'll continue with the rest of the trilogy. If I do I'll get the ebooks from the NY Public Library.
2.5 out of 5 Cat's Pajamas
Favorite Quotes:
Page 364: "Everyone has a skeleton or two in his closet. Most people sympathize. What they don't necessarily like are the people who open the closet doors. Scared them."
Page 151: "I can't promise miracles, but I can promise mascara."
Page 119: "Something about how if Loraine feels the need to fake drunk, she probably fakes everything else, too."
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars from me. I didn't know what to expect going into this book at all. I truly enjoyed it. There were a handful of beautiful literary moments, too. Made it even better. Can't wait to keep listening.