A Fortune of Sand

by Ruta Sepetys (Author & Narrator), Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator)

The daughter of an automotive magnate escapes to an artistic retreat that holds more secrets—and more intrigue—than she could have ever imagined, in this Prohibition-era novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Salt to the Sea.

Detroit, 1927. A city of smoke and ambition, where glittering wealth conceals a graveyard of secrets.

Marjorie Lennox is the youngest daughter of a powerful automotive dynasty, a family known for money, not manners. Artistic, impulsive, and always slightly out of step, Marjorie has long been dismissed by her controlling father and self-absorbed siblings. But when she secretly applies to an exclusive arts program funded by an elusive benefactor, she sees a chance to redefine herself on her own terms.

The building is grand. The participants are gifted. But something…is off.

The program is uncomfortably restrictive. Doors lock at odd hours. Strange sounds echo through the halls amid whispers that women are disappearing. And the handsome benefactor’s presence—mostly absent, yet somehow everywhere—begins to unnerve her. As Marjorie’s sense of self begins to slip, so does her grip on the truth. What happens to women who don’t fit neatly into a gilded frame?

Set against the crumbling grandeur of 1920s Detroit and inspired by actual, long-buried historical events, A Fortune of Sand is a haunting mosaic of glamour and grift—a novel about those who vanish, and those who demand to be seen.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Adult, Adult Fiction, Gothic

Audible Audio

First published May 26, 2026

About the author

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author and Winner of the Carnegie Medal.
Ruta Sepetys was born and raised in Michigan in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. The daughter of a refugee, Ruta is drawn to underrepresented stories of strength through struggle and hopes to give voice to those who weren't able to tell their story. Her award-winning historical novels are published in over sixty countries and have received over forty literary prizes.

For more information:
https://www.rutasepetys.com
https://www.facebook.com/rutasepetys
https://www.instagram.com/rutasepetys...
https://www.twitter.com/rutasepetys

Reviews

[h i n d]

auto read author

[ellie (semi ia) · Rating 2 out of 5]

➳ 2.5 ☆! ⏳ spoiler free + mini review
⤷ okay this was insightful. im already eager to see what ruta does next!
arc! @netgalley

⋆˚࿔ 42nd review of the year

book summary: marjorie lennox is the daughter of a wealthy automotive dynasty set in 1927 detroit. the arts program that she applies to has something fishy going on.. with self-centered siblings, complicated relationships with families, what will marjorie do when she finds women are expected to fit into a certain agenda? will she be the one to break through? find out the mystery with her!

₊‧꒰my thoughts꒱ ‧₊+
⤷ when i first received the email that i'd be able to read this book early, i was ELATED!! super excited because ruta sepetys is one of my all time favorite authors, especially for the historical fiction genre. i was also very intrigued because this was her adult debut and she hasn't released a new novel in a while. unfortunately, i didn't end up loving this one as much as her other works! but i think the writing was solid, the plot line was unique, and if anyone is interested in detriot 1920s with an intriguing family history.. it's worth a shot! 🤍

⤷ i believe the main reason i wasn't as immersed in this novel was because i couldn't connect to the characters. i didn't really care for them and i dont think i could understand them on a deeper level. imo, they felt a bit surface level and that can be a problem for me! (since characters make up one of the biggest reasons on why i love a book) other than that, the romance was okay. its not really the center of the book so dont expect much! 💫

⤷ for my favorite parts: i can always appreciate ruta for making her writing and chapters simple and sweet! it was a breeze flying through this and i loved some of the humor that was brought up. i also love how ruta was from detroit and that she decided to do this project to discover more. i will always appreciate an author who brings something from the past (whether that be good or bad) into the light! ⏳

~ with all the being said, i cannot wait for others to read it and i hope they love this! my main issue was that i just couldn't fully connect/get into the story. im also excited to see if ruta will publish something soon again 🤭 can't help the reader fan in me! until the next one 👀


tropes!
⋆ detroit 1920s
⋆ historical fiction
⋆ family drama/scandals
⋆ women led

₊‧꒰info!꒱ ‧₊
⤷ find my book review on goodreads @elliexreads
⤷ this is recommended for adult and new adult readers
⤷ adult historical fiction
publish date: may 26, 2026


₊‧ all ratings and opinions are my own ₊‧
⤷ thank you @netgalley and random house publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review !🫂

---------

₊‧꒰preview ᝰ.ᐟ꒱ ‧₊ ⏳

₊‧꒰5.1.26꒱ ‧₊
⤷ happy may everyone!! wow.. how are we already here?! anyways, thank you to netgalley and the author for providing this arc!! was elated when i got the email 🥹💫 i literally just read a book by ruta a few days ago and enjoyed it! i love that this is her debut adult novel, more thoughts soon

[Laura and Literature · Rating 1 out of 5]

To say I’m disappointed is a gross understatement. Ruta Sepetys has a true talent for writing wonderful, amazing stories. This story does not fall under that category, unfortunately.

This book falls into the category of an interesting story in the hands of a very talented story teller, who writes a good story and then taints it with content that takes away from the story and ruins the reading experience.

She did up the reading age from YA to adult.. so I’ll give her that I suppose.

Content: STDs, tons of alcohol abuse. Spouse abuse. Mentions of the FMCs friend having “fun” with her father when she dresses up as her deceased mother. 🤢 … which actually turns out to be her pedophile husband who married her at the age of 13 that requires her to call him “daddy” 🤮, crass innuendos, the MC observing an orgy through a window, nothing descriptive but leads us to use our imaginations.. (I don’t want my imagination going to the places she’s leading us to.)

I’m not sure what happened here but I definitely won’t be reading anymore from this author if this is the direction she is going to pursue with her writing. This story could have been SO good! Very disappointing.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the arc of this book.

I don’t even know what to rate this.. I’m just going to go with a 1 star for the pedophile being called daddy. It’s just too much.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A FORTUNE OF SAND
By Ruta Sepetys

4.5 stars rounded up
A strange and quirky read inspired by long-buried true stories from Detroit during the Prohibition era.

Set in Detroit during Prohibition, A Fortune of Sand follows Marjorie Lennox, the overlooked and whimsical daughter of a wealthy, eccentric, and deeply complicated automotive family. Hoping to find freedom and purpose, she secretly joins an exclusive arts residency called “Nightingale.” But when women begin disappearing and unsettling secrets come to light, Marjorie realizes the residency may be far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

Who’s really playing who in this unusual and atmospheric story?

Having lived my entire life in the northern suburbs of Detroit, I especially enjoyed the setting — the sprawling estates along Lakeshore Drive and in Grosse Pointe, along with references to the DIA and the famed Eloise Psychiatric Hospital — which made the reading experience even more engaging for me. I’ve often said of these mansions, “If only the walls could talk — the stories we might hear.”

The writing is straightforward, and the story itself is unique. The Lennox family is a nest of secrets, with the ruthlessness and manipulative games they play contributing to the family’s questionable morals and unethical behavior.

The tone is atmospheric and mysterious, and the quirky, eccentric personalities combined with the dark humor were particularly appealing to me. The Prohibition-era Detroit setting feels historically immersive. The pacing is more measured, with the layers unfolding gradually as secrets come to light. I also enjoyed the witty banter among the Lennox family members, which added genuinely comical moments throughout the story.

I’ve read a few of Ruta Sepetys’ other books and enjoyed them, but I loved this one. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for the advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I first heard Ruta Sepetys was coming out with a new book in the adult fiction genre I was so excited. I have enjoyed her YA books so I assumed A Fortune of Sand would be just as good if not better. Boy was I in for a shock! I am about to give you my honest thoughts, so buckle up. 😉

Let me start with a short synopsis. The book is set in 1920s Detroit. The FMC, Marjorie Lennox, is the daughter of an automotive dynasty. She is creative and imaginative but dismissed and ignored by her father. She applies and is accepted into an art program that is funded by a secret benefactor. However, things are not as they seem and Marjorie starts to unravel the truth about her family and what happens to women who do not fit in.

My thoughts: to start there was so much cursing and vulgarity, so much! Not just “mild” words either, there are f bombs. There are sexual innuendos, alcohol consumption and abuse, spousal abuse, two bedroom scenes (while not described in detail one scene gave to much detail after the fact), one character that was very sexualized and was forced to marry at 13 and she calls her husband daddy. There is an orgy that takes place, while not described you know what is happening.

As far as the story and plot go I felt the characters were very poorly developed. There was so much going on in the story that it felt like she was rushing through every part of the story and not taking time to really draw readers in. It took me about 60% of the book before I felt invested and interested in the story. It took all that time to really grasp where the story was going and what was happening. Just when I was figuring it all out the book was suddenly over. The ending was so abrupt and incomplete. It was the most dissatisfying book ending I’ve ever read. It left so much of the story unfinished and left me with so many questions.

[Abby Nicole]

!!!!!! Can’t possibly wait for the SUMMER

[Renée | apuzzledbooklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Sepetys books. I believe I’ve read all of them except for The Bletchley Riddle. This book is set in Detroit during its Golden Age. It has such an interesting premise. At face value, it should have so many aspects that I would enjoy. The Lennox family has made their mark on the area and their fortune as well, in the automotive industry. They also have some dark secrets…

Marjorie Lennox is the youngest child in the family, and she is a big focus of the story, a bit of a wild child, an artist who applies to an exclusive arts program and is thrilled to be accepted by a very mysterious benefactor. But it is not at all what she would have expected.

There is another minor storyline, which kind of gets lost in the shuffle and honestly was very confusing. The story was frustrating in its entirety, and it felt so slow. This book has a completely different feel than any of her books that I have previously read. I could not get into the story, at all. I did not connect to the characters and found myself not wanting to return to reading. It makes me so sad.

[Rating • 2.75 ⭐️]

The author's note was one of the most interesting and informative parts of the book. Be sure to check it out.

[Thanks to the publisher, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.]

CA | Contains a few crass sexual descriptions, a bit of innuendo and a brief fade to black love scene. Also a couple of instances of strong language.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A FORTUNE OF SAND

This story is set in Detroit and Grosse Pointe in 1927 and centers around the very wealthy Lennox family. In the automotive capital of the world, they’ve made their fortune in windshields and have become members of the Nouveau Riche.

Family dynamics range from bizarre to really bizarre, with three generations living in the magnificent Glen Arden estate. Secrets, lies, schemes, and crimes are plentiful. And of course there is a handsome, rich, reclusive bachelor who lives just down the road a ways.

Full of glitz, glamour, and humor, many important topics are also interwoven, including mental health, grief, decadence, trust, and changing societal norms. There is a lot of terrific information about the auto industry, prohibition, and Detroit and Grosse Pointe areas 100 years ago.

“The glamour of old Detroit is now eclipsed by the grit of its underworld.”

I would like to thank NetGalley, Ruta Sepetys, and Ballantine Books/ Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Melodi | booksandchicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Major Ruta fan here and I’m so sad I didn’t love this more. Let me explain my rating without spoilers.

Loved the time period, it had a vibe of Great Gatsby but in Detroit, with big family money due to the automobile industry.

I enjoyed following our protagonist, Marjorie, as she navigates life, a young woman in her 20’s. The chapters rotate between her and her siblings.

A focus on the arts was interesting-but perhaps what made it falter for me?

A mixture of history with suspense that kept me wanting. The mystery aspect didn’t drop enough breadcrumbs for me.

Marjorie falls for a guy she meets once and can’t get him out of her mind. Seemed juvenile to me and not realistic.

It felt very slow. Not much happens until 70%, but once I got to that point it picked up and ended well. A lot of story development that took too long developing and not enough time for me to enjoy the story. It took forever for me to pick up where the story was going. That said, the chapters were short enough that it didn’t drag too much.

Loved the historical content once I knew it was historical in the authors note. I would have liked even more of the history.

If you’re a Ruta fan, you should read this, but it’s not as strong as her other works IMHO.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the gifted e-arc.

[WILL U READ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Publication date: June 2, 2026.

“A Fortune of Sand” is an atmospheric, ever-shifting historical novel that feels less like a single fixed story and more like a series of revealing character moments that gradually accumulate weight. Set against 1927 Detroit, the book captures an uncertain era shaped by ambition, wealth, performance, and the cost of progress.

Marjorie is written with warmth and complexity. She doesn’t always understand things immediately — and that delay feels intentional. Her growth comes from observation, lived experience, and emotional reckoning rather than quick realizations. Watching her piece things together gives the story its quiet momentum. When other characters are confronted by her presence, they often respond with unexpected vulnerability, seeking deeper connection in ways that feel authentic rather than tidy.

The narrative widens beyond Marjorie at times, giving space to her family and others, which enriches the emotional landscape and reinforces how interconnected personal choices and social expectations are. The story is constantly evolving, and while a few moments feel slightly forced, they are rare and never overpower the larger emotional truth.

Sepetys’ craft shines in the details — reflective chapter headings, period newspaper excerpts, and visual materials that ground the story in its historical moment. The acknowledgements and author’s note are especially thoughtful and add meaningful context to the work as a whole.

This is a layered, adult historical novel about perception, reputation, and the slow understanding of truth — one that lingers well beyond the final page.

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

No one is more upset than I am that this didn’t work for me. I grant this an unfortunate 2.5 stars.

As the daughter of a wealthy automative magnate, Marjorie Lennox and her artistic free spirit don’t fit in. Her selfish siblings and inattentive father constantly dismiss her. For a change of pace, Marjorie jumps at the chance to attend an exclusive artist’s retreat in Detroit and refine her fashion designs. However, nothing is as it seems at the Nightingale with locked doors, restrictive contracts, and disappearing artists. Meanwhile, her brother Graham navigates the family business and his father’s ambition.

I’ve been a fan of Ruta Sepetys for years, so I jumped at the opportunity to read and review her latest work set in the glamorous and smoky 1920s. This is her adult debut, so I expected changes in content, but this unfortunately did not feel like a Ruta Sepetys book.

My major issue is the characters. Most of them lacked depth and I found them insufferable. Aside from Marjorie and Ivy, I didn’t connect with anyone. I wish the book had been entirely from Marjorie’s perspective; Graham’s POV didn’t add anything aside from showing me again and again how terrible their family is. Reading about the Lennox’s filled me with dread and I had to keep putting the book down.

As for the plot, I felt like there was no true resolution. It felt unfinished and just… ends. The romance was simply there. I didn’t care for Bonafante.

I appreciate the topic Sepetys was trying to cover. She’s a master at bringing hidden pieces of history to light. I can’t say what it is without spoiling a major plot point, but I wish we had focused more on that worthy cause. Ivy’s story truly touched me and I wanted more of that and the Nightingale.

Readers who are not as familiar with Ruta Sepetys might enjoy this more than I did. If you like rich people drama, this might be for you.

Thank you to Ballantine for this ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sepetys is a great writer, and she’s been an auto-read author for me for a little while now. “I Must Betray You” was a fascinating window (although also horrifying) into the Romanian dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu at the end of the 1980s.

This new novel dives into 1920s Detroit and examines life for a rich young woman who doesn’t quite fit into the mold of how society thinks she should behave. This subject normally wouldn’t be something that I would pick to learn about, but I was willing to give it a try.

Prepare yourselves for a very slow burn. Marjorie Lennox applies to an arts program to prove herself when she annoys her father one too many times, but when she gets there, a lot of little things don’t add up. Why do the women have to lock their doors at all times? Why are they restricted from going outside much? Above all, why are there SO MANY RULES??

Sepetys does immerse the reader into the time period, and there are genuinely interesting tidbits about the 1920s, but I ultimately was disappointed in this story. It was hard to connect with the characters, and it took *forever* for anything to actually happen.

Unfortunately, I have to give this 3 stars as is, which pains me to give to such a talented writer. Here’s hoping that Ms. Sepetys’ next novel will be more engaging.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an eARC. All opinions are my own.

[L A]

RTC 🌸

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fortune of Sand by Rita Sepetys is a dazzling and dangerous glimpse into the lifestyle of Detroit, Michigan in 1927. Her debut adult novel is a haunting historical tale set during Prohibition, weaving together gangsters, jewel heists, automobile dynasties, and stories long forgotten.

At the center is Marjorie Lennox, a bubbly, aspiring fashion designer determined to forge her own path despite her father’s harsh expectations. As the truth-to-a-fault daughter of a windshield developer during the height of the automobile boom…she longs to prove to her eccentric family that she can succeed if she only follows her heart. For Marjorie, fashion is her heartbeat. Yet part of her heart also beats for a mysterious, reserved man she has spoken to only once.

With the help of her dashing, Yale-educated, boisterous brother Graham, and her melancholy, death-obsessed sister Chet, Marjorie secretly attends a women-only artistic residency in a Detroit Mansion — hosted by the very man her heart longs for.

While the residency starts as a dream opportunity for her, slowly things start to darken. Women disappear in the night. Strange sounds echo throughout the halls. Rules are strictly enforced, and Marjorie senses that there might be something sinister lurking behind this residency. As secrets start to unravel in the mansion, her family is starting to come apart at the seams, as the years of hidden secrets start to come to light. Marjorie must face truths that threaten her dreams and more importantly, her life.

Rita Sepetys skillfully transports you to the glamour and grit of the 1920’s. She captures the tension between wealth and corruption, ambition and loyalty. This novel is a must-read for those who seek richly detailed historical fiction that is seamlessly weaved with mystery, family drama, and the timeless strength of self-determination. Marjorie’s story will stay with you long after the final sentence. Thank you to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I loved this book and I will remember it for years to come.

[Sophia LB · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Ruta strikes again! What a magnificent book. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for the ARC. Ruta is my favorite writer, so it was a privilege to have early access.

I LOVED the plot. The mystery. I really felt the tension, and my curiosity was desperate. This book is very reminiscent of "Out of the Easy," which is my second favorite of Ruta's book, so this was right up my alley. It's not surrounding a big, flashy historical event like most of her books are, so it's got a very different vibe to it.

Marjorie is one of Ruta's best protagonists, and I'll say that with my full chest. She is vibrant, bubbly, fun, full of life, and her arc is fascinating. I love how she handles her situation, it was very satisfying. I also loved Graham. I love his sharp wit, and especially his dynamic with Chet. They're really funny together. I also LOVED Ivy and Bernice. Overall, such a colorful ensemble, really well-written. Even the odious characters, I still enjoyed reading them because they were really well done.

The dialogue is very fitting for the glamorous, Gatsby-like (there's even a dog named Daisy haha) setting the story is set in. I also love Bonafante and Marjorie's chemistry towards the end.

Overall, loved loved loved this book. It's criminal that one must wait a year or more for a Ruta Sepetys novel, but this one was well worth the wait. I rated it 4.5 stars for now just because I like to save my 5s, but this book definitely has potential to earn that extra .5 in the future.

Special shoutout to Granny. I strive to be like her when I'm old. What an icon.

#AFortuneofSand #NetGalley

[Miriam Simut]

Can't wait!!!!!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced, with lots of Detroit references this former Livonia girl enjoyed. The late 1920’s & the Motor City … I enjoyed this thoroughly! Another Ruta Sepetys book I loved!

Thank you to Ballantine Books for this advanced reader’s edition! Get your copy on 6/2!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read a book by this author, but her YA historical fiction novels are quite popular. This is her adult debut and I was intrigued because it is a historical/mystery hybrid set in 1920s Detroit.

I was drawn into the story almost immediately, especially the segments following Marjorie attending her special arts program. The character of Dock was definitely creepy and the overall vibe of the program was strange. I had to keep turning the pages because I was so curious about the secrets that place was keeping.

The segments following Marjorie’s siblings I didn’t enjoy as much, though I liked learning more about them.

I will say that after some of the reveals, I found the pacing to be a little slower. I also felt like a lot of the reveals were very anticlimactic as well. Someone would mention something offhand that was a HUGE part of the story. This happened a couple of times and the effect was somewhat underwhelming. I also found the ending to be somewhat open and I could have used more answers.

However, the story was interesting (especially the mystery) and I absolutely flew through the book. I really liked Marjorie as a character, and I loved the side characters and Marjorie’s friendship with them.

[Betsy]

ARC Review
I am so sad - normally Ruta Sepetys books are my fav but this was a miss for me. I think it took too long to get to the meat of the story and then it felt rushed with an incomplete ending

[rachel x]

"Set against the crumbling grandeur of 1920s Detroit and inspired by actual, long-buried historical events, A Fortune of Sand is a haunting mosaic of glamour and grift—a novel about those who vanish, and those who demand to be seen"

it's ruta sepetys, of course i'm reading it

[Carol (Reading Ladies) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Kelsey Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruta does it again 👏🏻 I swear every time I read one of her books I end up devouring the majority of it in a day!

Thank you so much to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an ARC of A Fortune of Sand!

Vibes:
✨Gatsby-esque
✨Elite automotive family in 1920s Detroit
✨Artistic expression era
✨Prohibition and flapper era
✨Dirty money
✨Mystery man
✨Suspenseful twist

If I’m being honest, I kinda requested this blind because I love Ruta Sepetys and I totally forgot what the story was about before I started but WOW am I so glad I got to read this!

The banter between the Lennox siblings was what pulled me in from the beginning but the curiosity I had for Marjorie’s character and her mysterious artistic residency was what kept me interested! Up until the twist that I honestly wasn’t expecting 👏🏻 and what a good twist!! I know that Ruta always writes about times or issues in history that are important so I was really curious what she was going to focus on for this 1920s elite glamour-esque book!

Oh and can I just say “a fortune of sand” is the BEST title for this book!! I honestly thought that was so clever and brings the story full circle by the end of the book 🙂‍↕️

If you like Gatsby, the glitz and glam of the flapper era, secrets and lies of the rich elite and twisty stories… the 100% read A Fortune of Sand 💎

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Fortune of Sand is a literary historical fiction novel. Unfortunately I went into it thinking it was a gothic novel. Perhaps this unfairly prejudiced the review that follows, but ultimately I thought this book was extremely average. The characterization was fine. The pacing was a little spotty, but not enough so that I got hung up anywhere.

Marjorie’s family made their fortunes making glass for windshields. Marjorie is the freewheeling youngest daughter, constantly at odds with the more straightlaced members of her family. She gets accepted to an artistic residency run by a tall dark and handsome man, and something isn’t right about it.

The best thing about this novel was the sense of place and atmosphere. Detroit in the 1920s leaps off the page. Unfortunately I kept waiting for the magic, or the whodunit to really kick off, but this book is straight literary fiction. The weakest part for me was the ending. I felt like we never got the pay off for some of the character development we spent the whole book waiting for, and I think I’d feel that way even if I’d gone in knowing it was literary and not genre.

I received an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

[Leda · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars.

From the very first sentence, this book was both magical and mysterious. The mood of the book was beautifully conveyed with sinister and creepy vibes I could feel very thoroughly throughout. Marjorie and her siblings’ vibrant personalities and the charm of 1920s society also made the book such an enjoyable read. The characters were peculiar in a delightfully whimsical way, and I loved how they, especially Ivy and Bernice, were sophisticated yet quirky. The dialogue was probably one of the best parts of the novel, but I do feel that there were sections where description and/or backstory was dumped in a lengthy paragraph or two rather than distributed and interspersed more naturally throughout. However it was only really at the beginning and Ruta Sepetys’ writing makes up for it.

The dialogue was amazing and every sentence seemed to be told in the way that people would speak back then, but the plot initially wasn’t that intriguing to me because it didn’t have that emotion-piercing, heart wrenching aspect that some of Ruta Sepetys’ other books had. There wasn’t real pain, and so it didn’t hit me deeply like her other books did. It wasn’t quite as captivating at first, although I think that’s largely due to the time period this novel is set in, and the troubles Marjorie faces are very different than those surviving the horrors of war. Ruta Sepetys is one of my favorite authors in historical fiction, but this book just didn’t have that same style of hers I love so much, although it developed a unique style of its own that I began to love. But even if I wasn’t that interested in the plot for the first half, I still adored the interactions of the odd yet charming relationship between Graham and Chet, and Ruta’s writing was still done remarkably well. Despite the my somewhat lack of interest at the beginning, the clues kept me reading and wanting to find out more. This was a fairly fast read, and the writing was stunningly done.

All that said, this was certainly not what I was expecting, but it’s wonderful all the same. There was just enough romance that it had me on the edge of my seat waiting for more—and that first kiss was to DIE for. I adored the twist at the end, as well as the newspaper cutouts! It was such a brilliant and authentic way to reveal the truth about what happens and how all the secrets were revealed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the free eARC!

[Zinnia Bayardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know that Detroit was once the Paris of the Midwest? This was an interesting history and now I think of Detroit Rock City a little differently.

This isn’t my favorite Sepetys book. It was a little clunky to start and took a while to take off. But eventually the story took shape and I liked it. 3.5⭐️

[Tammy O · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unusual story with a lot going on. I wish there had been more closure— there should be a sequel!

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

[McKenna Lausch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads and Penguin Random House for this arc.

I have read and loved every single book by Ruta Sepetys so I was ecstatic to receive an arc of her first adult novel.

A Fortune of Sand, set in Detroit in the 1920s, has a wonderful setting that sucks you in. With lots of glitz, glamor, and all of the things that are hidden behind the charming veneer, this book was a very fun read.

The characters were also very entertaining and unique. I thought Marjorie, Bernice, and Ivy’s relationship was especially fun and enjoyed their loyalty and love for one another. Ruta Sepetys nailed it with Marjorie especially, having her grow and find herself throughout the novel in a very satisfying way.

I didn’t rate this one five stars, as I have almost every single one of her books, because I felt as though some of the details regarding character relationships were thrown together a little messily. It doesn’t effect the experience of the book too much, but there were just enough details that felt like they came out of the blue and didn’t really make sense that I had to knock it down a star.

Even though this wasn’t my favorite Ruta Sepetys book, I still highly recommend reading it. Her writing style in all of her books immerses you from the first page and keeps you very engaged throughout the entire novel.

[Genevieve]

Oh I've BEEN waiting

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detroit, 1927. The city hums with the rattle of assembly lines, the secret hush of speakeasies, and the soft clink of jewelry that may or may not be real. Into this hot, slightly rotten summer, Ruta Sepetys drops Marjorie Lennox, the youngest daughter of a windshield empire that built its fortune on the same glass concealing so many of the family's worst habits. A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys is the bestselling historical novelist's first book aimed squarely at adult readers, and it lands with the kind of confident swagger that suggests she has been holding this Detroit story in her chest for years.

Longtime readers of Salt to the Sea, Between Shades of Gray, and The Fountains of Silence will find the familiar Sepetys habits here: meticulous archival research, a deep loyalty to underrepresented history, and an instinct for the lives that get lost in official records. What changes is the playground. Trade the wartime gloom of Europe for a town that genuinely believes its own gilded press clippings, and you have a setting almost as theatrical as the people inside it.

A Sketch of the Story (Without Stepping on the Spoilers)

Marjorie is the artistic disaster of the Lennox clan, a fashion designer with quick fingers, a looser tongue, and a habit of reading people through their feet. Her three older half-siblings, the brittle Cecile, the obituary-writing Chet, and the eye-patched Graham, treat her like an heirloom that probably needs glass around it. Her father, the automotive heir Duncan Lennox, treats her like a problem.

When an invitation to a mysterious women's-only artists' residency appears in her bedroom, Marjorie packs a suitcase and runs toward what she hopes will be her own life. The residency, in a narrow building called the Nightingale, comes courtesy of Charles Bonafante, a wealthy, almost mythical bachelor whose face shows up in gossip columns more often than in actual rooms. The other artists are a peacock-loud painter named Ivy, a sturdy furniture builder named Bernice, and a playwright behind a locked red door. Bonafante is mostly a rumor. The locks are real. Somewhere between the city's jewel thefts, a too-curious newspaper boy named Hank, and the strange noises that pass through the Nightingale's walls at night, Marjorie begins to wonder if her escape was actually a delivery.

That is the spine. The truth of it will have to wait for your own reading.

What Lifts the Book

The Detroit of A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys is the novel's most impressive achievement. Sepetys, born in Michigan with grandparents tied to Ford, spent a decade combing through newspaper archives, Grosse Pointe estate histories, and old police reports. You can taste the labor in every chapter. The Pontchartrain Hotel burning down by collective consent, the Dodge brothers' twin deaths, citizen patrols against jewel thieves, the chatter about Edsel Ford's new house, all of it sits in the background like wallpaper you keep wanting to lean closer to read.

The dialogue is the second pleasure. Sepetys writes the Lennox siblings with rapid-fire jokes that mask real grief. Chet, the secret obituary writer and self-appointed eulogist of strangers, walks away with at least half the book's sharpest lines. Granny, an elderly woman who names her many umbrellas after tyrants, is the kind of side character most novels would rationalize away.

A few standouts worth holding up:

The women's residency setup is a clever, period-appropriate vehicle for a gaslighting mystery without feeling stagey.
The first-person obituaries Chet writes are small set pieces that work as commentary, comic relief, and foreshadowing all at once.
The book takes the question of female sanity in the 1920s seriously, with thoughtful nods to the real Eloise Asylum, without turning that history into ornament.
Where the Sand Slips

No book earns a perfect mark, and the average four-star reception has a logic to it. There is a lot of cast in this novel. Four siblings, two parents, two grandparents, three residency mates, a houseman, a reporter, a former love interest, an absent uncle, plus servants who occasionally take the wheel. Readers who prefer a tight chamber piece may feel crowded in the early chapters, where Sepetys is still pinning the family tree to the wall.

The pacing also dips in the middle stretch, when the residency settles into routine and the mystery prefers to hint rather than press. Forward motion returns with force in the final third, and the reveals, when they arrive, are well-engineered. A few of them stack so quickly, though, that I caught myself flipping back to confirm a detail. The romance is the third small wobble. Bonafante is kept at arm's length for most of the novel, which is the right call for the mystery, but it leaves the eventual closeness feeling slightly hurried.

Voice and Sentence Craft

Sepetys writes in a clean, present-tense, theatrical style, with short chapters titled in two-word phrases that quietly comment on the action, like "Poor Peter," "Tick Tock," and "Smoke Screen." She also slips letter fragments addressed to a mysterious "Coco" into the narrative, which read like puzzle pieces you don't yet have a frame for. Her sentences are crisp, her observations human, and she resists the historical-fiction temptation to over-explain a period most readers already half-recognize from film.

Who This Book Is For

A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys will please readers who enjoy character-driven historical mysteries with a feminist undercurrent, a strong sense of place, and the patience for a roomy family saga. Fans of her earlier Out of the Easy, set in 1950s New Orleans, will recognize the spirited young woman trying to outwit a city that wants to box her in.

A Final Thought

Sepetys names her Detroit dynasty after the very thing they manufacture, glass, and the metaphor pays off quietly throughout. A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys is finally a novel about who gets to write the story, who gets to be believed, and what happens when an unfailingly polite girl in a leaf-covered tunic decides she would rather make her own rules than wear someone else's. It is not a perfect book, but it is a confident one, and her first move into adult fiction suggests there will be many more.

[Karen Reed]

Quick read! This was less tragic than most of her other books , but darker. It felt similar to Out of Easy in some ways but much more twisted. If you like historical fiction that is about a unique time period and not war time I would recommend this.
I also have seen some rather negative comments about some of the scenes in this book and I want to come back here and say I was rather surprised with the negativity. This book is adult not YA and still everything she describes is behind “closed doors “ - you get the idea of the indecency without any graphic descriptions, IMO and I do not like books that are overly graphic. I hope that those early reviews don’t hurt this book because I think it was an excellent historical fiction and maybe this shows us that we shouldn’t turn a blind eye to the abuses that occurred then and now. That’s my soap box.