Abandoning the Script

by Linda Rosen

"Engaging and immersive, Rosen delivers a deeply moving plot with a heartfelt conclusion." -Rochelle Weinstein, bestselling author of We Are Made of Stars

Lucy never wanted the life that's been thrust upon her-the wedding band or the baby in the crib. A woman of ambition, she longs to pursue her dreams on stage, but her husband insists on locking her in a gilded cage under his control. And in 1922, alternatives are almost nonexistent and certainly not acceptable, forcing Lucy to make an impossible choice. Bound by convention but driven by a fierce desire for independence, she flees a life she can no longer endure. With heartbreak, she leaves a pair of cherished earrings along with a note for her daughter to read when she's older.

Nearly thirty years later, in 1951, Lucy's daughter, Anna Dodge, is given her deceased grandmother's journal that's been hidden away for years. Within its pages lies a long-buried secret, casting doubt on everything Anna believes about her family and herself. Among the clues is the story of the earrings, hinting at truths that defy what Anna has always known.

Devastated and determined to understand her past, Anna embarks on a journey to unmask the truth. As she does, she discovers the past isn't just something to uncover-it's something that could determine her future.

Genres: Historical Fiction

307 pages, Paperback

Published March 5, 2026

About the author

Fitness Professional turned novelist, Linda Rosen’s books are set in the “not-too-distant past” and examine how women reinvent themselves despite obstacles thrown their way. A central theme is that blood is not all that makes a family– and they always feature a piece of jewelry!
She is published by Black Rose Writing.

She is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association and co-founder of the South Florida chapter of the Women’s National Book Association where she holds the position of VP of Programming. In addition, Linda is on the board of Trails of Delray, her local chapter of the Brandeis National Committee, and an administrator of the 5K+ member Facebook Group Bookish Road Trip and editor of their newsletter, Wanderlust.

After living most of her life in New Jersey (and only a short trip into NYC) Linda now lives with her husband in sunny Florida happily wearing sandals all year long. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her on the Pickleball court, in the pool, or reading with her feet in the sand.

Learn more about Linda on her website www.linda-rosen.com where you can sign up for her occasional newsletter, Linda’s Tea Room. She promises not to clutter your inbox.
Follow Linda on BookBub to learn about her new releases and sales. https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda...

Reviews

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been loving Historical Fiction a lot lately and I'm so happy that I was able to be on this book tour because this one was so good! Taking place in the 1920’s NY, Lucy is an independent and motivated woman who loves her career. She marries her husband, Charles and has a daughter, Anna. Her husband wants her to be at home and raising their daughter, as that's where he feels women belong, But she can't stop thinking about what could be. Lucy makes the heartbreaking decision to leave her daughter for her career. I definitely didn't agree with Lucy's choice but the author made it feel like Lucy had made the right choice at that time. We get to read about Anna's life. As she grows up without her mother. I loved the final chapters of the book and the way these relationships wrapped up. Such a captivating story about motherhood, family, mental health, and ambition. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Lisa Montanaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Linda Rosen's fourth novel, Abandoning the Script, just as I loved her previous three novels. This novel is set primarily in the 1920s, with the third part jumping to the 1950s. It is set mostly in Manhattan, NY, with some later scenes in Culver City, California. The world building with period details is superb, the character development is deep and satisfying, the story feels unique, and the ethical dilemmas and story questions are thought-provoking.

Lucy Perkins is a wife and mother who longs to pursue her art of being a stage actress after essentially being forced into a society marriage by her family and the strict misogynistic social mores of the time. Her traditional husband forbids her from wearing multiple hats, even going so far as to send her away for a period of time until she's compliant. Lucy makes the devastatingly difficult decision to leave her life in New York, her husband, her friends and family, and her toddler daughter — a decision that will no doubt provoke much heated discussion among book clubs and readers. This ethical dilemma is at the heart of the book.

Anna Dodge is Lucy's daughter, and we get to see her as an adult find out the truth about her mother, break barriers in her own life by pursuing a career as a lawyer at a time when not many women did so, and reconciling her past and the truths kept from her.

What a great read! If you love historical fiction, don’t miss this one.

[Darlene Golbitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courtesy of the author, Linda Rosen, I received an ARC of Abandoning the Script. This historical novel begins in 1922, New York City, with a young college educated mother confined and controlled by her husband, demanding she give up her stage career and be limited to only staying at home. As much as she loves her daughter Anna, she decides to leave her, the marriage, and her friends to escape these social expectations and travel to California. I had mixed feelings about this decision, but then realized she couldn't nurture her daughter in that environment. The second timeline proves that Anna was raised in a loving home, even if she was shocked to learn the truth. I loved the concluding chapters!

[Donna Norman-Carbone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abandoning the Script by Linda Rosen is immediately immersive, transporting the reader to the early 20th century with vivid precision and grace. 

At the heart of the story is Lucy, a curious and compelling protagonist who knows exactly what she wants and struggles to reconcile her full, authentic self within a society bound by oppression and patriarchy. Lucy longs to claim her place in the world—on the stage—the only place she feels she truly belongs, but must do so at the most heartbreaking cost.

Rosen’s command of period language is impeccable, grounding the narrative in authenticity while never slowing its momentum. The novel is layered with delightful literary and theatrical allusions which enrich the text, reinforce its intellectual depth and emotional resonance.

Abandoning the Script is more than historical fiction—it’s a powerful meditation on identity, ambition, and the cost of defying expectations. Linda Rosen has crafted a novel that honors the past while speaking urgently to the present, making Lucy’s story one that lingers long after the final page.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading Abandoning the Script by Linda Rosen

Set in post–WWI New York, Abandoning the Script follows Lucy, a young woman pushed into a life that never felt like her own. Forced by her cold, demanding mother to “follow the script,” she marries a controlling man who dismisses her passion for acting. When motherhood brings even more pressure to abandon her dreams, Lucy faces an impossible choice: remain trapped in a life others have written for her or break free and create her own future.

Rosen tells the story in a clear, engaging way without unnecessary twists, allowing the emotional journey to take center stage. Both Lucy and her daughter Anna are wonderfully drawn—resilient, determined, and easy to root for. One of my favorite elements is the symbolic pair of earrings that connects characters across time; it’s a subtle but powerful narrative thread.

The historical setting is vivid and well researched, immersing readers in the social expectations and limitations of the era. Rosen’s Author’s Note is especially helpful in distinguishing fact from fiction.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to readers who love historical fiction with strong female characters and a heartfelt, empowering arc.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Rosen, the Author of “Abandoning the Script” uses the perfect title in this memorable, thought-provoking and entertaining novel. In this well written, emotional and intriguing novel, Linda Rosen vividly describes the perfect setting, staging and creates a cast of colorful, dramatic, complex, complicated and flawed characters. The timelines for this story are set in 1922, and go to 1951. One of the female protagonists, Lucy, is extremely ambitious, and loves acting, and being on the stage. Lucy does marry a successful physician, and has a baby. In 1922, there were certain expectations of women in society. Lucy’s husband wants her to stay at home, and take care of their baby daughter. When Lucy doesn’t behave in what her husband’s expectations are, the husband becomes emotionally abusive and manipulative. Lucy has several friends and has the support of her husband’s mother. Lucy tries to compromise, but when she can’t take any more, she is faced with terrible choices. Lucy does what she feels will be best for her daughter, and herself. Lucy chooses to discover what role she should take.

In 1951, Lucy’s daughter Anna discovers in her deceased grandmother’s belongings, letters and her grandmother’s journal. Anna is now married, and wears a significant pair of earrings that Lucy left for her. Anna, however is not aware at this time, that she had another mother, since her father had married someone else. Anna learns the history of the earrings, and has the courage and determination to unlock the secrets and mysteries in her life.
I appreciate that Linda Rosen discusses the importance of honesty, communication, friendship, neighbors, family, hope and love. The author mentions self worth, following one’s dreams and heart, and having the courage to discover the truth. I loved this memorable and heartfelt story based on historical fiction and highly recommend this to other readers.

[David Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to the publisher and author for an advanced review copy. Abandoning the Script by Linda Rosen is a beautifully written historical novel that explores the difficult choices women have faced—and the lasting impact those choices can have across generations. With emotional depth and vivid storytelling, Rosen creates a compelling narrative that moves seamlessly between the worlds of 1922 and 1951.

At the center of the story is Lucy, a talented actress who dreams of a life on stage but finds herself trapped in a rigid marriage at a time when society allowed women very little freedom. Her struggle between personal ambition and the expectations placed upon her as a wife and mother is portrayed with remarkable empathy and nuance. Lucy’s heartbreaking decision sets the story in motion, leaving behind a mystery that will shape her daughter Anna’s life decades later.

When Anna discovers her grandmother’s hidden journal and the story behind a pair of cherished earrings, she is forced to question everything she believed about her family and her past. Watching Anna uncover long-buried truths is both moving and suspenseful, and Rosen does a wonderful job showing how the past continues to shape the present.

What makes this novel especially powerful is its exploration of identity, motherhood, and the roles society assigns to women. Though set in the early twentieth century, the themes feel strikingly relevant today. Rosen’s characters are complex and deeply human, and the relationships between the women in the story—marked by love, misunderstanding, sacrifice, and resilience—give the novel its emotional heart.

Thoughtful, immersive, and ultimately hopeful, Abandoning the Script is a memorable read that will stay with you long after the final page. It’s the kind of book that invites reflection and discussion, making it a perfect choice for book clubs and anyone who enjoys character-driven historical fiction.

[Chelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy wed Charles as expected of her and life is not at all what she has wanted. Charles has become very controlling in almost all aspect of Lucy's life. So when she becomes pregnant, and sees a softer side of Charles, she feels maybe things will change a little. Their daughter may have captured his heart, but his only seems to grow colder towards Lucy. When her mother-in-law comes to help with the baby, it's a godsend and she once again is able to visit with girlfriends, go to lunches and dabble with the local theatre again. But Charles wants her to be the homebound housewife, caring for their child and having dinner on the table every night. Lucy just cannot live this way and only continues to feel trapped until one deceiving day when she decides she has to do what is best for her and their daughter. She is not and never will be the person Charles expects. Decades later, Lucy's daughter reaches out to another female attorney for advice, but Crystal seems to want to know more about her background than really giving her career advice. Where she grew up, who her mother is, where did she live? Anna isn't quite sure why Crystal is so curious about her, until she meets up with her and a journalist friend who also has interest in Anna. But the story they tell her is shocking and yet they know too many things them to be telling lies. What would they gain in telling her these things, if they weren't true? As Anna confronts her past, she finds out the truth about who she is, her mother was, and who her father really was as a person. I really enjoyed this historical novel, I loved that there were true people, places and events based throughout this storyline. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the tour invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Julie Coder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women and the Roaring Twenties!

This ambitious historical novel opens during the Roaring Twenties with Lucy, a young married woman who was a successful actress prior to giving birth to her first child. Now, her domineering husband forbids her to pursue her passion for being on stage, insisting she remain at home with their daughter, even though they have the financial means and familial support for Lucy to continue working. Against a political backdrop of newfound freedom for women, Lucy also reveals the inner conflicts women faced as they became aware of the power they still lacked in society, as well as in their own homes. Forced into a role she did not choose or desire, Lucy needs to make a choice: her daughter, or a fulfilling career as an actor.

I didn’t always like Lucy or her decisions, which is part of the reason I kept turning the page, wondering what she would do next. As this story progresses, we also meet Lucy’s daughter, Anna (Rosie). Through her perspective, we witness a softening of previous “rules” and more openness to women’s rights over time. Anna has her own challenges, especially when her life is turned upside-down as she learns the truth about her mother and their family’s past.

I loved the historical details in this story, which deepened my understanding and connection with the characters and time period. I was not aware of specifics regarding the history of women’s rights, so I appreciated that this information was woven in, without being cumbersome or distracting. I enjoy reading thought-provoking stories, and this story still has me thinking about the characters and their situations, days after finishing the book.

If you enjoy reading period fiction with elements of feminism and family, this is a must read!

[Sublime Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating = 4.08

Storyline & Concept = 3.25
Writing & Delivery = 4
Editorial = 5
Beginning in 1922, Abandoning the Script introduces Lucy, a woman whose hunger for independence and a career as a stage actress clashes with the expectations placed upon her by her controlling husband and a society that offers few options for women. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Lucy struggles with a heartbreaking choice between her own happiness and a young daughter she feels will be better off without her. The narrative shifts to 1951, where Lucy’s daughter, Anna, discovers the secret her family withheld from her. With the help of her grandmother’s journal, she follows the trail to unravel the truth about her past.
The author expertly layers the dual timelines in this novel while respecting the historical significance of both periods. The characters and the settings are well-developed, immersing the reader into a poignant portrayal of women’s lives constrained by social norms. Although I greatly sympathized with the plight of the women in Lucy’s timeline, I had difficulty connecting with Lucy herself and never truly did. Anna, for me, was a much more powerful and realistic character, tying the two timelines together and providing a nice resolution. This novel will appeal to readers who appreciate emotional and layered historical fiction, particularly in relation to women’s rights and freedoms.
Sublime Line: “A moving and emotional historical novel about women’s voices, sacrifices, and courage.”

[Lucille Guarino · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s 1922 when we first meet Lucy Perkins. A thespian in spirit and in life until a forced marriage to a man she didn't love ended her career ambitions. Lucy’s husband Charles is a doctor, brilliant and accomplished. He is also haughty and controlling. A husband who will never support Lucy’s dreams for herself or understand her deepest desires. In one scene, Lucy thinks while riding an elevator that Charles will always cage her, and she will never be able to stretch her wings. To compound her oppressive situation, she has a baby with Charles. She names her Anna, but her domineering husband rejects that name and calls her Rosy. Lucy tries reasoning with Charles, trying to impress upon him that it would be more fun to have a partner who is an equal, but Charles doesn’t want an equal. He will not compromise and is adamant that Lucy be content to be a housewife and mother. Two roles that she was averse to. Choices for women back then were nil. She would have to accept her lot in life or, as a last resort, run from it. From New York to LA, I followed Lucy’s physical and emotional journey, wondering if she would find fulfillment in her chosen path given what she had to give up.

This will definitely spark book club debates where perspectives will be as diverse as the readers themselves. Historically immersive and thought-provoking, Lucy’s story will linger in your mind long after you've finished reading.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well-written novel, set in the 1920s to 1950s, was inspired by a woman’s club in New York that encouraged members to fight for women’s rights, including the vote and access to contraception. Rosen begins with the story of Lucy, an affluent young woman who cannot bring herself to defy her cold and controlling mother. Lucy marries a man she does not love, who is even more rigid and unempathetic. Perhaps it is not surprising that the love she feels for her infant daughter is ambivalent, and not strong enough to keep her from finding a way to have the future of her dreams. Although we see life through Lucy’s eyes for much of the book, the author switches to the experiences of Lucy’s mother-in-law, Lucy’s grown daughter, and even the woman who marries Lucy’s ex-husband. Through these differing points of view, Rosen illustrates the costs and the rewards of defying traditional gender roles in more repressive eras. I would have liked a deeper insight into Lucy’s later life. It seemed she paid for her freedom by having limited relationships with others. We never see her reunite with her dear friends from childhood, even after they presumably could communicate with her again. Sadly, with the resurgence in oppression of women in our current time, this novel remains relevant, rather than just giving a glimpse into the past.

[Jan Anthonsen]

This is the fourth book I've read of Linda Rosen's and I believe it's my new favorite. This is a story of women's rights-or rather-lack thereof in the 1920's.

Lucy is married to a doctor and has a thirteen month old daughter, Anna. Neither of which she wanted, but was forced upon her by her family.

Lucy longs to be on stage, fostering her love for acting and teaching, but that is something her controlling husband forbids.

Fearing his control over her, Lucy leaves New York and travels to California to begin a new life leaving her husband, loving mother -in-law, daughter, and two best friends behind. Seemingly with no notice.

Anna's father remarries and his wife becomes the only mother she remembers. Young Anna grows up to become a lawyer and takes an interest in helping oppressed women. On her journey, she meets another lawyer, Crystal, who is fascinated by the pair of earrings Anna wears.

This piece of jewelry will help bring together Anna and the mother she never knew existed. It's a story of love and sacrifice, beautifully told. I highly recommend reading "Abandoning the Script."

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book! I hated for it to end. I wanted more, more, more.

As in all her books, a piece of jewelry is always featured in the story. Linda Rosen did not disappoint in this book with a pair of earrings. We learn the history of Lucy's earrings and how important they are to the story.

Linda's characters face many obstacles and we soon have empathy for the characters. In 1922, Lucy was expected to be a good wife and mother. Unfortunately, Lucy wanted more which was frowned upon by her husband. She made a difficult decision to leave this life behind her and found it impossible to keep in contact with her family and friends. Her mother-in-law, Mama Brandt, sided with Lucy but did not speak up because it was not a woman's place to do so. Forward to 1951 and the death of Mama Brandt and how her journal changed her granddaughter Anna's life forever. In the search for Lucy's story, Anna unknowingly befriends Lucy's friends from the 1920's and Lucy's story is revealed. This revelation affects Anna in ways she never expected.

I’m still in awe how authors can come up with such great stories!

[Karen K Brees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Societal expectations rooted in biology have been the bane of female existence since Greek and Roman times and probably date back farther than that. Seen as property or the intellectual inferiors of males, it’s not been easy to break free and assert independence when you don’t control the money and the law is formulated to keep you in your place. Still, we try, and inch by inch are making progress. It hasn’t been easy.

This is Lucy’s reality. She’s intelligent and talented. Unfortunately, she’s also married and a mother, and it’s New York in the 1920s. The moment she said “I do” gave her husband the right to say, “No, you don’t.” She struggles against the bonds of matrimony and motherhood, until finally, she breaks free. But the cost is great. She’s not alone, however, and as she carves her own way in this man’s world, she learns the secrets of other women, and some of these women are very close to home.

Rosen has crafted a novel much in the vein of Kate Chopin’s The Awakening. Rosen’s work is more deeply layered and more relevant to our times, even after a century has passed. It’s a good read and a reminder that the struggle continues.

Highly recommended.

[Sandra Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a rich narrative wrapped around theater performance, feisty feminist women, and a retro 1920s setting, Abandoning the Script delivers a fulfilling read that’s perfect for book clubs.
Besides these favorite tropes, I loved the fashion references and obvious attention to detail and research. But amongst these positives, readers must weigh their feelings for a strong protagonist who seeks her own fulfillment to the detriment of her family. Linda Rosen portrays Lucy with strong humanity and backstory so that we understand her plight. Thus, some will sympathize with her, while others may question her actions, setting a stage for great bookish debates.
Through a dual timeline into Anna’s story--Lucy’s now-adult daughter—the book dives into other hefty discussion topics: the potential for redemption and forgiveness, and the slow evolution of women’s status in society. If you love a well-drawn historical laden with women’s fiction emotion, Abandoning the Script should headline your 2026 TBR.

[Catherine Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was outraged in 2000 when a father of one of my students, upon hearing I was pregnant, asked if I would be taking the next eighteen years off. Boy, did I have it good. Linda Rosen’s new novel, Abandoning the Script, illustrates this beautifully. Set in the 1920’s, this meticulously researched story brings to life the very real and varied experiences of women navigating relationships, motherhood, and work at a time when wanting any combination of these meant giving up your power and control. As timely as these issues were then, they are now—which makes this book all the more compelling. You cannot help but be drawn into the main character’s heart and mind through Rosen’s words. Though you might not have made the same choices as she, the reader cannot help but appreciate the courage required and cost of forging one’s own path in defiance of family expectations, social norms, and even the law. Abandoning the Script is one of those stories we must remember and share with our daughters. I highly recommend Abandoning the Script by Linda Rosen.

[Rebecca Rosenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting story about the cost of freedom

I just finished Abandoning the Script and I’m still sitting here thinking about Lucy’s choice. This isn’t your typical "happy" historical romance; it’s a much deeper look at what women actually had to give up to have a life of their own in the 1920s.

What really got to me was the tension in the New York scenes. You can feel the suffocating atmosphere of Lucy’s marriage to Charles—the way her involvement with the Heterodoxy Club was her only lifeline. Linda Rosen does a great job showing that Lucy wasn't just "bored"; she was disappearing.

The middle of the book is tough. Watching her choose her career over her daughter, Rosy, was heartbreaking, but Rosen writes it in a way that makes you understand why she felt she had no other choice. It makes the later chapters with her daughter Anna feel so much more earned. If you like historical fiction that actually tackles the messy, complicated parts of motherhood and ambition, you need to pick this up.

[Debra Borchert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Linda Rosen excels at plunging readers into historic eras rife with women struggling for their rights and against society—its expectations and limitations, all the while determining who they are.

Imagine if you needed your husband’s permission to open a bank account and work outside the home. Imagine if your only choice of identity was wife and mother. Rosen brings historic realities to life with tenderness and grace.

“Abandoning the Script” reveals women’s inner struggles that give them courage to act and the knowledge to determine who they are and who they want to be. One of Rosen’s protagonists, Lucy, is particularly honest with herself, making this reader wonder if she would be as honest with herself. Rosen often writes of the power of female friendships and here, this theme winds through three generations of women who treasure and support one another.

Engaging, immersive, heart-warming and compelling, this emotionally layered story will keep you reading late into the night, wishing these characters were your friends. Highly recommended.

[Cam Torrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Abandoning the Script" fixes the reader in Greenwich Village of the early 1920s, following Lucy Brandt—a talented actress trapped in a suffocating marriage—as she reconnects with the pioneering women and ideas that ignite her true self. From the clandestine meetings of the Heterodoxy Club to the lively bohemian theater scene, Rosen shows how Lucy’s world broadens each time she dares to unshackle herself from her controlling husband. Her struggle is emotionally resonant: torn between the expectations of motherhood and the passion that gives her life meaning, she feels painfully real. Rosen is known for her atmospheric detail, and her latest doesn't disappoint—wool coats, smoky cafés, Model Ts, progressive feminist thinkers, and the electricity of the Provincetown Playhouse bring the 1920s to life. Moving and empowering, Abandoning the Script is a story about reclaiming one’s identity, even when the cost is high.

[Paulette Mahurin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The early twenties burns from the page as this story begins and Lucy is on her way to a secret meeting, a meeting of intellectuals, artists, all women advanced for their oppressed place in time living at the cutting edge of the eruption of feminism. The secret meeting houses Margaret Sanger, the topic birth control. In the backdrop, Lucy reflects on her stressful marriage to physician Charles a traditionalist challenged by his forward wife. The beginning is smartly written incorporating historical accuracy into dialogue and narration, all moving forward to a different time, some thirty years later, to a granddaughter, Anna, receiving her deceased grandmother’s diary. As the story moves along and tension heightens information unravels in ways that keep the story moving at a rapid clip. Scene description and character development are top notch and I’m impressed with the juxtaposition of the women’s lib movement threaded throughout. An entertaining read.

[Marilee Dahlman · Rating 5 out of 5]

New wife, mother, and aspiring actress Lucy faces a domineering husband in a time when it’s nearly impossible to fight back. This tale is historical fiction that sweeps across generations from the 1920s Jazz Age, the Depression era, and the early 1950s, from the backstages of New York City theaters and across the country to Hollywood. Carefully researched and extremely readable, lose yourself in the time of Eugene O’Neil, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Dorothy Parker. Themes of wealth, women’s rights, mother-daughter relationships and marriage dynamics take center stage. And at the heart of it all, Lucy’s quest for self-fulfillment. Her husband wants to control her clothes, her career, her whole existence. Lucy seeks freedom and true meaning in her life, but it may come at extraordinary cost. Great for book clubs that love a flawed main character who is willing to defy society’s expectations and do whatever it takes to achieve what she wants.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abandoning the Script by Linda Rosen expertly immerses readers in the early 20th century life of women, which sets the tone for the novel. Lucy, both and engaging and compelling protagonist, struggles to define her authentic self against a backdrop of patriarchal society and the heartbreaking cost of defiance (situations that still resonate in today's 21st century world). As other reviewers have mentioned, Rosen’s masterful use of period language and rich literary and theatrical allusions grounds the novel, bringing the characters, setting, and plot to life and deepening its emotional impact. Fans of historical fiction will love this novel, but so will those who look for stories that feature themes of identity, belonging, determination, feminism, and the resilience of the human spirit. I've read several of Rosen's novels--all of which I've enjoyed--but Abandoning the Script is now my new favorite.

[Grace Sammon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Abandoning the Script, Linda Rosen once again proves she is a master of writing women who dare to want more—more agency, more truth, more room to breathe.
Set in the early twentieth century, the novel examines the roles women are expected to play and the quiet, often painful consequences of stepping outside them. What makes this story especially powerful is how those choices echo across generations, shaping not only the lives that follow but the stories women inherit about who they are allowed to become.
Rosen writes with compassion and clarity about ambition, motherhood, friendship, and the bonds between women—reminding us that while the setting may be historical, the questions are unmistakably modern. Abandoning the Script speaks to anyone who has ever felt constrained by expectation, and to the daughters still unraveling the truths left behind.
This is a novel that bridges past and present with grace and emotional depth -- one book clubs will cherish!

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to be given an advanced copy of Linda Rosen's newest novel Abandoning the Script which is scheduled to be released shortly. The novel begins in the early 1920s' New York where the independent and career-oriented, Lucy, marries a domineering and misogynistic Charles. When their daughter Anna is born, Lucy is put in a difficult position being told that her place was in the home and her role as "mother" and "housewife" were her only choices.
Thus begins a novel bringing all kinds of feelings to the surface for me, including anger, encouragement, empathy and more. The author does a wonderful job developing a host of characters all relevant to the storyline and the historic aspect of this book. The plot continues to thicken as the story evolves and I found myself up to the wee hours this morning eager to finish this enlightened book, while at the same time not wanting it to end!

[Janis Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abandoning the Script is a beautifully written story about choices, secrets, and how the past shapes the future. The title is absolutely perfect for a heroine, Lucy Perkins Brandt, who braves to exit from one life in order to be true to herself. She leaves behind not just heartbreak but also a legacy, symbolized by a pair of custom earrings.

Author Linda Rosen has a wonderful way of connecting generations of women, and I loved how she used the earrings as the thread tying it all together. It’s emotional, layered, and full of heart as Rosen depicts the real struggles women faced over the time span of the book, the 1920s to the early 1950s. And even though the setting is nearly a century ago, the parallels to today feel painfully familiar. One line especially hit home: “Women utter their frustration with the strangling laws prohibiting their personal freedoms.”

[Elaine Stock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Rosen's historical fiction novel, Abandoning the Script, is a poignant story about life in America. Set at a time when women had just gained the right to vote but were still seen as unable to balance family needs and a career, Lucy faces a tough choice. Her physician husband pushes her to choose between being a loving mother and a dutiful wife or pursuing a career as an actress. Not only does he view her as an either/or woman, but most of society--including her contemporaries who make the ultimate decisions about which actors get roles--also sees a woman with a child as irresponsible. Life changes--for everyone--when Lucy chooses which script to adhere to. In reading this well-written time-period story, one cannot help but contrast life for women "back then" with life for women today.

[Goodlittlewitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Rosen’s latest is, without doubt, her best yet. Tackling difficult topics that resonate as much today as they did 100 years ago, she deftly creates a narrator that we cheer for, even though she makes decisions we may not agree with, nor understand. As she always does, Ms. Rosen anchors this book in jewelry. This time, a pair of unique earrings; golden discs, etched with a Gibson Girl and adorned with three precious gem chips. The earrings provide a through line that allow the 1920’s to meet the 1950’s timeline seamlessly. She imbues Lucy, her main character, with vivid emotion, which took this reader from the heights of frustration and anger at Lucy’s controlling and emotionally abusive husband, to deep satisfaction at the life she creates for herself. Ms. Rosen also flavors the book with robust details of the time periods, giving us a vision, and the tastes and smells, of times long past. An engrossing read that left me thinking about how far women have come, and yet how far we have to go in being the authors of our own lives. Brava!

[Barb Ristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well-researched and engrossing story begins with one woman’s difficult choices in the tumultuous 1920s—whether to conform to her husband’s rigid views on the role of a wife and mother, or to follow her heart and pursue her career on the stage. Societal constraints and her husband’s demands force her to make a heartbreaking decision, but one that she believes is best for both her and her young daughter. The story later brings us to the 1950s when things have improved, slightly, for women, and her daughter is pursuing a career of her own when she learns of her mother’s choice.
ABANDONING THE SCRIPT deftly weaves in historical details of the early women’s movements for equality and the right to control their own bodies and destinies. It’s an engaging glimpse into the first half of the twentieth century in New York City and Los Angeles.

[Ruth Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy is a talented young woman who would rather play roles on the stage than the conventional role of wife and mother forced on her by her wealthy parents. But in 1922, that dream was nearly impossible, forcing Lucy to make a bold and difficult choice. Although life has improved for women since then, some of the challenges faced by Lucy and her friends are not so different a century later. I love the way Rosen skillfully weaves personal drama into a backdrop of American history (especially women’s rights) from the 1920s to the 1950s, introducing us along the way to some characters we root for and others we want to boo off the stage. I also enjoyed revisiting the iconic settings in my two favorite cities, New York and Los Angeles. Abandoning the Script is a highly immersive read!