The Gin Lovers

Set in 1920s New York City, The Gin Lovers takes you on an adventure through the Prohibition Era. Jamie Brenner shows her readers a behind the scene view of the scandalous lifestyle of flappers and speakeasies.

Charlotte Delacourte is a socialite living with her husband William in Manhattan, and is soon joined by William's sister Mae after the death of their mother. Mae is introduced as the party loving free spirit with no regard for propriety. Charlotte tries to reprimand young Mae for her lifestyle, scolding her for staying out until all hours of the night and keeping company with the wrong people. However, after being dragged out one night by Mae and thrown into the scene, Charlotte soon finds herself unable to stay away. She meets a young man named Jake who runs a forbidden speakeasy. Jake is fun and mysterious and Charlotte soon finds herself caught up between the two worlds and becoming more understanding of young Mae. She can't help but appreciate someone who is so free and happy to be herself.

The Gin Lovers is an incredible story filled with passion and mystery. I think having it set in the 1920s is really what makes the story. It's a period that I have always been fascinated with and being able to read a story about people living in the midst of such a glamorous time was really interesting. The story itself would be pretty generic in another setting I think - girl is unhappy in her marriage, girl meets new boy, husband is unfaithful and gives her reason to leave, etc. It's a story we've all heard before. But put that against the backdrop of pearls, flappers, secret speakeasies, and the upper class Manhattan socialites, and this book was one of the most entertaining fun reads I've come across in a long time.