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Wednesday 20 April 2016

A KISS FROM MR FITZGERALD by Natasha Lester


It's the roaring twenties in the Manhattan of gin, jazz and prosperity. Women wear makeup and hitched hemlines and enjoy a new freedom to vote and work. 

Not so for Evelyn Lockhart, who is forbidden from pursuing her passion to become one of the first female doctors. Chasing her dream will mean turning her back on her family: her competitive sister, Viola; her conservative parents; and the childhood best friend she is expected to marry, Charlie. 

 In a desperate attempt to support herself through Columbia University's medical school, Evie auditions for the infamous late-night Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway. But if she gets the part, what will it mean for her fledgling relationship with Upper East Side banker Thomas Whitman - a man Evie thinks she could fall in love with, if only she lived a life less scandalous . . .


Firstly, I just want to thank Hachette Australia for sending me this wonderful book. And by the way, isn't the cover beautiful? It looks even better in person. The attention to detail is gorgeous.

I read the prequel short story for this book a few weekends ago and I enjoyed it so much I couldn't wait to read the book. I'm really glad that I read the short story first, because it introduced me to the character responsible for some of the decisions Evie makes at the beginning of this book. :)

Evelyn 'Evie' Lockhart lives in the conflicting world of the 1920s, where women are expected to act a certain way but are just starting to chase their own dreams. She's from a small town, and even though women are starting to live independent lives in the city with their own jobs and rent to pay, girls in Smalltown U.S.A. are expected to want only one thing: to marry well. And her conservative family is no exception. Her stuffy mother wants her to marry their neighbour and childhood friend, Charles Whitman. 

But Evie wants so much more from life. She's always been happy and carefree, curious and determined to study. And attending several anatomy classes in secret has fueled her desire to chase a real education. 

When fate delivers a sad and terrible situation into her life and she watches one of her friends die during childbirth, Evie decides she wants to help other women by becoming a doctor. And her ambition is further stoked after a chance encounter with the handsome and charming Thomas Whitman. He might be Charles' older brother, but she hardly knows him and is surprised by how easygoing and supportive he is. Before long, she finds herself in New York City for the chance to study medicine so she can become an obstetrician, as well as widen her horizons and live her own life.

In order to support herself so she can afford to go to college, she becomes one of the Ziegfeld Follies. A job that sees her scantily dressed and on parade for men to lust over, but also gives her the chance to perform on stage, and make good friends. She even manages to help the other girls with medical issues. But with the risk of her secret being found out, the cruelty of the medical profession towards women, keeping a shameful family secret, a scorned man willing to do anything to ruin her happiness, and the fact she's falling in love with a good man who stands to lose a lot if he's attached to her, Evie finds herself having to make some heart-breaking decisions...

This book was amazing!

As soon as I started Evie's story, I was hooked. Not only is she a wonderful, kindhearted, adventurous narrator, but her story swept me off my feet. It had me cheering for her every step of the way. Had me damning the awful sexist pigs not willing to give her the shot she deserved when she was clearly the smartest person in the room. And had me swooning over the charming and good man that was Thomas.

The early twentieth century was a time when women were trying to breakout on their own, but surviving in such a male-dominated world was hard. These women were ridiculed if they wanted more from life than marriage and children. Belittled if they wanted to make a difference. Their everyday struggles are captured perfectly in this book, and it doesn't shy away from the many highs and lows Evie's hard choices lead her to. Or the price all of these pioneering women had to pay for wanting an education.

Evie is one of those characters that worms her way into your heart so deeply you feel every single thing she does. This book toys with your heart and emotions. One second you're overjoyed, and the next you're sad. It never stops. The tension, the secrets, the struggles, the family drama and the romance ALL keep you glued to the pages until you reach The End.

*sigh*

A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald is an amazing, well written, heart-wrenching story that I'll never forget. It threw me so deeply into the very colourful, lavish world of this tumultuous time that every vivid detail played out inside my head like moving pictures. It features an endearing, fun, smart, kindhearted, strong heroine who'll capture your heart as much as the wonderful friends she makes along the way.

So much happens in this book that I don't think any review can do it justice. You just have to read it yourself, to experience the awesomeness. :)

I loved this book SO much, it's going on my keeper shelf!


A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald, April 2016, ISBN 9780733634635, Hachette Australia

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