Brooke Lea FosterBesprekingen

A fun ride and different perspective from the typical Vineyard book

Interesting book. Mental health issues, horrible men, 1957 was not a fun time for women, artist. Nice story.

This was such a great read! It only took me a couple days and I didn't want to put it down. Don't wait for a summer day and the beach, any time you get to read about The Hamptons it's a perfect time.

I absolutely adored this until the ending, which wasn't exactly what I expected and I didn't think it quite fit. I think this missed many moments for potential conflict, but the writing was very solid and though I've been struggling with historical fiction recently, it was fun and readable.

On Gin Lane by Brooke Lee Foster is a 2022 Gallery Books publication.

Everleigh’s fiancé, Roland, surprises her with a hotel he built for her in the Hampton’s. Though she didn’t ask for this, Everleigh, embraces the role, but then a fire breaks out, putting Roland in a financial bind, and both of them under suspicion, as detectives believe arson might be to blame.

Under the strain, Everleigh’s relationship with Roland, begins to fray, and she begins to second guess her decision to marry him. Meanwhile, Everleigh’s love of photography gives her an opportunity to work doing something that she loves. Yet her family, and Roland, are determined to force her to quit…

As she digs her heels in, Everleigh is becoming more and more certain she’s made a mistake with Roland, but can’t seem to find a way out of her engagement…

Although Everleigh is naïve, and comes from a wealthy family, she spends her summer in the Hamptons growing up and becoming wise. She still must fight with herself about social standings and appearances, duty, and how her decisions will affect her family, but she comes into her own, in her own good time.

There is a mystery, an investigation, and loads of questions about that fire, but for a long time the mystery runs in the background as Everleigh struggles with her failing romance, her desire to break free from the strictures of her life, as she falls under the spell of both her new photography mentor, Starling Meade, and Curtis, a doctor she keeps bumping into.

Once the revelations start pouring out, though, the surprises are stunning, and not nearly as predictable as I expected them to be...

This was a book I had intended to read over the summer-but I crammed too many ‘Beach’ reads onto my summer list, and, sadly, ran out time before I had a chance to read all of them. Usually, I packed all seasonal books away until the next year- but the premise for this one sounded so good, I had to have just one last summer fling before I pack away the summer books for good this year.

I loved the setting, the location, and the quiet way the novel unfolded, the character growth and the pioneers who paved the way for women to have more options in life and step out from behind the shadows of their fathers and husbands to gain more independence and control over their own destinies.

Starling might have been the trailblazer in this story, but though it seemed unlikely, Everleigh also became a trailblazer in her own right, as well.

Overall, I have to say I enjoyed my last beach flirtation, and think this was a lovely swan song for the summer of 2022…

4 stars

On Gin Lane is the story of a socialite, Everleigh, in 1957 whose fiancé , Roland, unexpectedly gives her a hotel as a surprise wedding gift in Southampton, NY. Everleigh doesn't want to live in a hotel, having been raised in one her entire life. Tragedy strikes on the opening night of the hotel, and then Everleigh's life begins to unravel, and she begins to see that Roland is not what she expected. As they become more and more distant from each other, Everleigh begins to find herself, as a photographer and as a woman taking control of her life.
This is historical fiction, and while it highlights the perils of women in the 50s, the depiction of the socialites and the way they spent money bothered me.

An effervescent, nostalgic look at The Hamptons in the '50's. Centers mainly on solving the mystery around a fire. And of a young woman trying to find her way in life.
Not too heavy handed in the tired "I want to be more and feel held back by men" vein, so that is good.
A couple of fun celebrity character cameos.
It bothers me that there that the cover art shows a blonde, when our main character Everleigh (love that name!) is a brunette.
Overall, a good summer read, with happy endings for most.

3.5 Stars

I'm not quite sure how I would describe this book - as women's fiction? A coming-of-age novel? A mystery? Or all of the above? This book has a bit of it all, about the only thing lacking is a murder! As I was reading, I kept forgetting that this book was set in 1957. I was getting so frustrated with Lee's, well, shall we say, naivete. How she allowed everyone to walk all over her. Then it would dawn on me that it was '57, and they were upper-class, which would pull me back into the story.

It is difficult for me to gush about this book since all of the characters (at least all the main ones and most of the secondary and tertiary ones, too) were quite unlikeable and unrelatable.

There is plenty of mystery for those looking for such and just a dab of horror.

I might have liked this book better had it been about 100 pages shorter or the writing a bit more concise; less introspection/inner angst.

A worthy book for those who like seeing the wealthier (but non-famous people) side of the mid-last century, with a hint of the upcoming hippy era thrown in for good measure.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Simon & Schuster, the author, and ATTL/Edelweiss.½

A great summer read. I enjoyed Everleigh's story and how she and her fiancé Roland navigated after tragedy. This book takes place in 1957 in South Hamptons and I felt like I was also spending the summer there. Thank you to Simon and Schuster for an early copy of this great book!

Everleigh is on track to the life she is expected to have. College educated and beautiful, Lee grew up in the Plaza, her wealthy parents’ happiness shattered by her mother’s mental illness. She finds her bliss as an amateur photographer. She has already gone through one fiancé’ when she meets the man who, she hopes, is a perfect match for her, a man who will please her parents. He is handsome and charming, the son of a Detroit automaker family.

Lee accepts Roland’s proposal, allowing him sexual access, and is planning their wedding when he announces he has turned the Long Island family vacation home he inherited into a hotel. It’s not Lee’s dream life, but she rallies from her disappointment to support him. The night after the hotel’s grand opening party, the rich and famous in attendance, the hotel burns down.

Over the summer of 1957, Lee struggles with the heavy burden of female acquiescence to a man’s control. The country club life bores her. Lee becomes a galley assistant to a female photographer from the artist colony, hoping to hone her skill with the camera. Roland is occupied with rebuilding the hotel, using Lee’s trust fund money and taking on partners.

The police investigates the fire, sure it is arson. Could the fire have been set by one of their friends, an old enemy, a hotel staff member, or one of Roland’s past flames? As Lee reassesses her friendships and her husband’s new associates, she discovers that Roland is not the man she thought he was. Still determined to go through with her marriage, even as Roland begins to spiral away from her, she also must contend with the attraction that is emerging between her and the local doctor–who also races cars.

On Gin Lane is a great summer read, well written, with interesting characters, a compelling plot line with a mystery and a twist, and a happy resolution. The development of Lee’s independence will resonate with contemporary readers. But what I enjoyed most of all was Lee’s development as an artist.

Art isn’t something you do. It’s something you are.

from On Gin Lane by Brooke Lea Foster
Lee longs for a life with meaning. Her best friend is content to marry and have children and spend summers at the beach. Lee has been drawn to photography all her life. When she learns that the legendary female photographer Starling Meade is at the local artist colony, she turns up at her door to meet her. Starling has the life that Lee secretly wants to have.

To be an artist, a woman must be willing to give up everything. Starling lost her husband and daughter to pursue her art. When Lee takes a job with Starling at her gallery, preparing for Starling’s show, she meets with rejection from Roland, and apparently her parents. “Creation could feel like an obsession,” Lee thinks, and she knows she will be forced to chose between Roland and her art.

Readers of historical fiction and women’s fiction will enjoy this novel. The historic New York setting, city and in Montauk, is exotic and exciting. And, readers with an interest in women in the arts will appreciate this story.

I received an ARC from Book Club Favorites at Simon & Schuster. My review is fair and unbiased.

Moving to become a nanny, Heddy finds herself among the rich couples of Martha's Vineyard! The change in atmosphere leaves more questions than answers as she integrates into their society more and more.

Money does not always equal happiness, and Heddy soon begins to discover this about those around her. How people show one face in public and another in private.

Such an enjoyable read! I felt like I was right there among everyone during that summer. I loved the 60's culture. I was disappointed in the end - it was a bit wild... but overall, I loved every moment of it!

This was a very good book. The characters were so well described I could picture them. This is what being a nanny for the summer on an island I imagine would be like would be like. It reminded me a lot of Elin Hildebrands stories from Nantucket.

The Short of It:

Everything you want in a summer read, a slow-burn romance, a Martha’s Vineyard setting, a 1960’s backdrop of money and glamour but also a tiny bit of deception to keep you interested.

The Rest of It:

I went into this read with an open mind and it surprised me in a lot of ways. It wasn’t a straight-up beach read, as you’ve come to expect from a cover like the one above. Summer Darlings offered quite a bit more and kept me interested very early on.

After losing her scholarship at Wellesley, Heddy must find a way to earn her tuition money quickly and the easiest way to do that is to be a nanny for one of the wealthiest families on the island. Heddy is great with children but the lifestyle is a stretch for her. She has never been surrounded by so much wealth and opulence, nor has she any experience with how social circles work.

At first she is envious of her boss. She seems to have everything, a beautiful home, an attractive husband but no matter how much money you have, things are never as perfect as they seem. Between the other inhabitants of the island and her keen observations, there is definitely trouble in paradise.

I really loved that this story had a little bit of everything. It had all the glitter and glamour you’d expect from the island rich, but there is a bit of darkness too and honestly, it caught me by surprise. Heddy is young and impressionable but she doesn’t always make good choices, which surprised me given her upbringing. Nonetheless, I found it to be a great summer read and a good kick-off to summer reading. Have you read it?

For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.

2.5 NOT QUITE A 3 ?
Martha's Vineyard in the summer of 1962, Heddy snagged the dream job of being a nanny for one of the islands upper crust families. Sharp lines differentiate the social hierarchy, as she yearns to be accepted by the elite. Over time she becomes aware that the moneyed life is not all smiles and sparkles.....
This book is a good summer read but unfortunately does not live up to all the hype.

This was a great coming of age novel set in the 1960s. After Heddy looses her scholarship at a prestigious school, she embarks on a new adventure as a babysitter for the rich, desperately wanting to be just like them, but it's obviously not all it's cracked up to be. If you like glamour, drama, and a soap opera type setting, this book does not disappoint.

I loved that she made friends with Gigi, the local celebrity, because Gigi seemed to be more down to earth than most and the one who taught her the biggest lesson, we all want a happy ending, but a man does not define who you are. Gigi was way ahead of her time, and for one night, she let Heddy knew what it felt like to be one of them.

It had a surprising twist at the end I definitely didn't see coming, but the author just left the story hanging. An epilogue would have been nice, but maybe the author will consider continuing this story. Thank you Netgalley.com for another fun read.

"Summer Darlings" evokes the life of the rich and famous on Martha's Vineyard. Set in the 1960's, the novel describes the events of one summer in the lives of two young women who work in the household of one of these wealthy families. The setting is described in detail, enabling the reader to experience the sights and sounds of the island. The characters are well-drawn and the plot provides a gradual build up to the dramatic ending. Are there secrets and hidden agendas? Oh yes, for sure there are those! This is a great beach read in many ways.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Historical Fiction set in 1962 in Martha’s Vineyard. Heddy has taken a job as a nanny to one of the wealthiest families. As a rising senior at Wellesley College, she has just found out that her scholarship has been revoked. Her mom is a hard working woman barely able to keep their apartment and she doesn’t know her father. Heddy thinks money makes you happy, solves every problem. Yes, even though it does make life easier, it doesn’t solve everything. As Heddy finds out, what looks perfect from the outside, isn’t always the true picture. She comes for the summer needing to find ways to get money to go back to school. She gets a different education for sure.

Enjoyable debut novel. A realistic look at the rich in their summer element. Lies, back stabbing, social status and bigotry, jealousy and most of all secrets! Characters are well developed and story line plays out nicely. Found this book well written and easy to lose yourself in. There is a lot going on in this book, but it’s easy to follow. I was slightly disappointed in parts of the ending. I do look forward to reading this Author’s next book.

Thanks to Ms. Foster, Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

I read as fast as my poor vision allows me but I really did enjoy it. Having lived through the 1960' s, it brought back many memories and I did not find anything out of place in this historical fiction book. I have never been to Martha's Vineyard but I appreciated the beach and town settings.

The main character, Heddy Winsome, is from a very poor and underprivileged family. Naive, she had learns for herself that money does not buy happiness. But than that for me it was the discovery of self superiority maintained by the very rich. I do not think that she was prepared for that just I was not when my family moved from one neighborhood to another when I was twelve. I felt like In a different world. The family that she is the nanny project a fake kindness and deep selfishness. The marriage of her employers seething with hared could turmoil ready to erupt at any moment,
Their children were suffering from the lack of genuine parental love.

All the characters have deeply hiddeb secrets, including Heddie, her mother, her employers, the lone movie star on the island, and the men that Heddy dated.

Holding close to their secrets, the characters were thinking that they were protecting themselves, or getting ready to exact revenge from a wrongdoing but in fact they were being held prisoner by their own secrets.

I enjoyed reading this tale of deeply flawed characters. I particularly liked the advice that the movie star gave Heddy about men and do not ever think I will ever forget her spiel about the kind of watch that a man wears being key to his personal traits.

I received an Advance Reader's edition copy of this book from the Publisher as a win from FirstReads but that in no way made a difference in my thoughts or feelings in this review.