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A review by jmatkinson1
Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau
4.0
Peggy might be working in a bookstore but she is from old money and when her powerful family insists that she spend the summer with them on Coney Island she is powerless to say no. The request is at the behest of her sister's fiancee, an ex of Peggy herself. Frustrated during the long hot summer of 1911 Peggy finds herself drawn to the public end of Coney Island and the amusement park known as Dreamland. When she meets an aspiring Serbian artist she falls hard but as he is a murder suspect Peggy finds herself torn between love and family duty.
I thoroughly enjoyed much of this novel as it pushes itself beyond the simple historical romance. The undercurrents of racism and prejudice between classes and between different immigrant populations give the story an edge. Whilst the final few chapters lurch a little too far into melodrama the rest of the book is great.
I thoroughly enjoyed much of this novel as it pushes itself beyond the simple historical romance. The undercurrents of racism and prejudice between classes and between different immigrant populations give the story an edge. Whilst the final few chapters lurch a little too far into melodrama the rest of the book is great.