On Gin Lane
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
“Utterly captivating. What a lovely summer novel!” —Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author
“On Gin Lane encapsulates the very best of historical fiction.” —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author
After her fiancé whisks her off to the glistening shores of Southampton in June of 1957, one young socialite begins to realize that her glamorous summer is giving her everything—except what she really wants—in this new novel from the author of Summer Darlings.
Everleigh “Lee” Farrows thinks she finally has life all figured out: a handsome fiancé named Roland, a trust in her name, and a house in Bronxville waiting for her to fill it with three adorable children. That is, until Roland brings her out to the Hamptons for a summer that will change everything.
Most women could only dream of the engagement present Roland unexpectedly bestows on Lee—a beachside hotel on the prized Gin Lane—but Lee’s delight is clouded by unpleasant memories of another hotel, the Plaza, where she grew up in the shadow of her mother’s mental illness. Shaking off flashbacks, Lee resolves to dive into an unforgettable summer with poolside Bellinis, daily tennis matches, luncheons with her Manhattan circle, and her beloved camera in tow. But when tragedy strikes on the hotel’s opening weekend, the cracks in Lee’s picture-perfect future slowly begin to reveal themselves, and Lee must look deep within herself to determine if the life she’s always wanted will ever truly be enough.
From the regal inns to the farmland, the well-heeled New Yorkers to the Bohemian artists, the East End of Long Island is a hodge-podge of the changing American landscape in the late 1950s—and the perfect place for Lee to discover who she really is.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Foster (Summer Darlings) pivots from Martha's Vineyard to the Hamptons for another perceptive beach drama. In 1957, New York City socialite Lee Farrows is whisked away from her controlling mother by new fiancée Roland Whittaker for a weekend in Southampton, N.Y. There, Roland reveals the beach club he built in her name as an early wedding present. But the hotel's opening is marred by a fire, leaving Roland scrambling to get insurance money to rebuild. While waiting for the results of the investigation, Roland and Lee stay at a nearby cottage, where Roland tries to get cash from investors and Lee continues to lend him money from her trust fund. Things go further south after Roland cozies up to a Dutch heiress and stays out late drinking. But when Lee, who is passionate about photography, is offered a job by a well-known photographer, her new sense of accomplishment eclipses her family's pressure to make a good society marriage. Foster expertly builds out the various characters, revealing the ugly truths hidden by their wealth and social status. This story of a young woman's self-discovery captivates.
Customer Reviews
Well done!
It was refreshing to read a well written story that didn’t rely on sexual content to keep my interest. Highly recommended.