Tuesday 28 February 2012

The Flappers: Vixen by Jillian Larkin (Young Adult, Historical)


1st March 2012, Corgi
400 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: 1920s, rich girl rebellion, racial prejudice, gangsters, alcohol prohibition, debutantes, scandal in elite society, love of all kinds, friendship, betrayal, mistakes, some moderate violence, a few adult situations, some humour, lots of plot twists, a tissue needed.

Summary from Random House Children's Books
Three girls. One city. Who will be the last flapper standing?

It's Chicago 1924. Born into American high society, Gloria is the girl who has it all. Living the debutante dream along with her best friend Lorraine, Gloria is just a trip down the aisle away from her future life as Mrs Sebastian Grey.

But surely there's time for a little partying before she settles down?

With an illegal speakeasy on every corner and mobsters rubbing shoulders with the city's most sensational flappers, Chicago's jazz-fuelled underworld is certainly not the kind of place for a society princess like Gloria.

And she's never had so much fun.

Nayuleska's thoughts  
It took me 1/3 of the book before I really liked any of the girls, but at that point something major happens and all the building up of what the girls are like made sense. I only really like Clara, trying so hard to turn over a new leaf. I hope she gets happiness in the next book. I adored how the mob pulled strings all over society, and how the girls' lives are mode entwined than they would like. After the slow start (for me), the fast paced plot gets 9/10 from me.

Suggested read
For another 1920s read check out Bright Young Things by Anna Godberson - there's equal drama and mob activity. 

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