Bad Girl

Moonlit flirtation, hard-edged humor, and working-class longing drive this vivid portrait of young love in the city. On a Hudson River excursion boat, Eddie Collins stands apart from the laughing crowd until Dot Haley, a bold ukulele player with quick wit and unpolished charm, draws him into teasing conversation, a kiss, and the promise of a future meeting. That brief, electric encounter opens into the cramped realities of their lives: Dot's Bronx home, ruled by duty, poverty, and her father's quiet devotion; Eddie's rough skepticism and uneasy pride; and the social world of apartments, neighbors, and low-paid work that shapes their choices. As Dot learns she is pregnant, the couple faces the strain of money, responsibility, and a baby neither fully understands. Their exchanges mix sarcasm, tenderness, frustration, and fear, revealing both the fragility of their bond and the stubborn affection that keeps them together. Set against urban bustle and holiday anxieties, the novel traces romance colliding with marriage, class, and the hard facts of adulthood. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.