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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
readsdreamsplans's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. The ending knocked a half star off for me (there were so many options that would have made the ending so much more believable and stronger). I did love the setting of 1950's Hamptons and the mystery aspect of the story. I loved the development of Everleigh and her relationship with her mentor (drawing a blank on her name at the moment).
jbl7701's review against another edition
3.0
3.75 stars. I enjoyed On Gin Lane as I really like novels set during the time period of the late 1950s-1960s. It was an interesting time with so many societal changes.
Everleigh is a society girl where marriage and connections are everything. As the story unfolds she figures out who she really wants to be. I found parts of the story predictable. I figured out who started the fire and why early on in the story which is the main reason I gave the book 3.75 stars instead of 4. Also read and enjoyed Foster’s first novel Summer Darlings.
Everleigh is a society girl where marriage and connections are everything. As the story unfolds she figures out who she really wants to be. I found parts of the story predictable. I figured out who started the fire and why early on in the story which is the main reason I gave the book 3.75 stars instead of 4. Also read and enjoyed Foster’s first novel Summer Darlings.
steelingstephanie's review against another edition
4.0
I found myself completely captivated by this delightful book. With historical fiction flair, it's a great Elin Hilderbrand-esque dreamy beach town, small circle, strong woman story. Everleigh is a great, if frustrating at times, character to experience The Hamptons in the 50's with, and the charm and awe of what happens when you push boundaries to find yourself.
oliviadawson9's review against another edition
3.0
Ladies, you don’t need a man. You just need a cat, a hobby and a best friend.
Wanted to LOVE it but it dragged for a good bit of the plot and I didn’t realize I was signing up for photography lessons! Also got sick of the bad husband ruining my life trope. I wanted Lee to be crazy or a more active participant in the dissolution of their relationship. It would’ve been less predictable.
I questioned why someone born ~1930s would be named Everleigh (
Wanted to LOVE it but it dragged for a good bit of the plot and I didn’t realize I was signing up for photography lessons! Also got sick of the bad husband ruining my life trope. I wanted Lee to be crazy or a more active participant in the dissolution of their relationship. It would’ve been less predictable.
I questioned why someone born ~1930s would be named Everleigh (
bibliobleez's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the historical feel of this novel, the glamour and facade of high society in 1950s Manhattan, but I was disappointed by the number of plot lines. What was introduced as the main plot quickly multiplied and veered into many other plots, and the initial plot sort of hid in the background.
love_mhart's review against another edition
2.0
In desperate need of some character development and stakes. Her main relationships felt inconsistent, or contrived, and I was told a lot and not shown as much as I would have liked. Even with the mystery at the heart of the book - she was quickly disillusioned with both the man and the hotel, meaning there was no real force keeping here there except convention which isn’t interesting. I did read to see what happened, at least. Liked the main character’s growth.
dancingandtwirling's review against another edition
4.0
In the summer of 1956, Everleigh "Lee" Farrows faces a dilemma between societal expectations and her own desires. She must choose between marrying well and pursuing her passion for photography. After a broken engagement, Lee meets Roland Whittaker, who proposes to her. However, she soon realizes that Roland's intentions may not be genuine, as he expects her to move into a luxury hotel he built in the Hamptons. Lee instead moves into a small cottage with Roland, where she begins to question her role as a homemaker and her husband's true motives. Throughout the story, Lee navigates the constraints placed on women during that time period and ultimately finds her own path. "On Gin Lane" is a beautifully written novel that explores themes of societal expectations, self-discovery, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment.
teem1229's review against another edition
4.0
Slow to start with an empowering ending. An easy summer read with romance, mystery, and dreams of doing what you love wrapped into one. Everleigh being a generational curse breaker - making a statement for women in the 50’s, and even today, that a woman can do anything she wants - by herself and for herself. Only critique - most of the juicy drama you wanted from the characters came at the end and felt crammed into the last 90-100 pages.
michelereader's review
4.0
Travel back to 1957, a time period when the definition of a successful woman was based on her marrying right and having children. Socialite Everleigh “Lee” Farrows is twenty-three years old. While born into a life of wealth, she grew up having to endure periods of separation from her mother, who suffers from mental illness, and was essentially raised by a nanny in New York City’s The Plaza Hotel. Having had one broken engagement, time was running out to find a suitable husband. She seemed to have found the right one in Roland Whittaker, also from a wealthy family. As the couple is preparing for their wedding, Roland surprises Lee with his new venture: The Everleigh Beach Club Hotel. He has built a luxury hotel on family land in Southampton, New York. Initially horrified by the prospect of having to once-again spend an extended period of time living in a hotel, Lee pretends to be excited. But what truly excites Lee is her love of photography. When the hotel is destroyed by fire, will this tragedy give Lee the chance to reevaluate her life? Exposure to a colony of Bohemian artists in East Hampton, including a noted female photographer, shows her new possibilities as officials investigate the suspicious fire.
Having enjoyed author Brooke Lea Foster’s debut Summer Darlings, set in Martha’s Vineyard, I was happy to return to the past in her new book On Gin Lane. She has captured the time period and the world of the wealthy and privileged. I enjoyed the character of Lee, a creative young woman yearning to escape the country club life she was brought up in, while everyone she knows, and loves is telling her to stay on course. This is just the type of beach read I enjoy.
Many thanks to Gallery Books and Simon & Schuster for providing an advance copy of this appealing book about self-discovery.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Having enjoyed author Brooke Lea Foster’s debut Summer Darlings, set in Martha’s Vineyard, I was happy to return to the past in her new book On Gin Lane. She has captured the time period and the world of the wealthy and privileged. I enjoyed the character of Lee, a creative young woman yearning to escape the country club life she was brought up in, while everyone she knows, and loves is telling her to stay on course. This is just the type of beach read I enjoy.
Many thanks to Gallery Books and Simon & Schuster for providing an advance copy of this appealing book about self-discovery.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.