Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey are best friends from the same Ohio town. Letty is the oldest daughter of a strictly religious family who dreams of stardom - and she has the talent to succeed. Cordelia is the orphan of the town's promiscuous black sheep being raised by a strict aunt.
After Cordelia is caught skinny dipping with a boyfriend she is dragged to a shotgun wedding and the two girls see an opportunity to escape to New York City where they hope to find a better life. But neither girl is prepared for the shocks of big city life.
Letty and her voice are one of dozens searching for a break into the biz. She takes a job as a cigarette girl in scandalously short skirts and high heels. When a Broadway promoter offers he chance at a big break Letty isn't sure about the sleazy man, and questions how far is too far to achieve her dreams.
Cordelia is in search of her long-absent father, the bootlegger Darius Grey. Grey made his living and a fortune selling illegal alcohol and throwing lavis parties to capture the attention and trade of New York's bright, rich, and beautiful. But with the fame and money comes surveillance - someone might try to kidnap the boss's daughter to make a quick buck. Even worse is the discovery of her new beau's identity: Thom Hale is the son of a rival bootlegger.
The friends part ways early in the story and come across the variety of 1920s New York City: Letty meets showgirls, a starving writer Grady Lodge, and normal people of all kinds, Cordelia is surrounded by the elite socialites, flappers, and thugs hired to protect them. Astrid Donal takes Cordelia under her wing, and as lover to Cordelia's brother Charlie, Astrid has a unique take on her lifestyle.
No one cares where the girls are from, only where they're going and if they'll have a grand time on the way. The strict social structure of nineteenth century is crumbling as new money and illegal alcohol bring together the rich and beautiful of New York City. Readers who enjoyed Godbersen's Luxe series will enjoy her illustration of the high life at the end of the Jazz Age. With some promiscuity, Bright Young Things is aimed at teen and young adult readers.
No comments:
Post a Comment