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Speakeasy
In the height of the Prohibition era, recent Yale graduate Heath Johnson falls for Art, the proprietor of a unique speakeasy tucked away beneath the streets of Manhattan where men are free to explore their sexuality. When Art’s sanctuary is raided, Heath is forced to choose between love and the structured life his parents planned for him.
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 18, 2016
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327 people want to read
About the author
Suzey Ingold
5 books26 followersSuzey Ingold is an author of historical fiction and romance. When she's not deep in researching for another adventure, she's working as a freelance writer and in the film industry. She currently lives in Toronto, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 20, 2016
My review on Prism Books Alliance
“It was an age of miracles, it was an age of art, it was an age of excess, and it was an age of satire.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald
SPEAKEASY is set in New York City, in the summer of 1927, and basically tells the story of 21 year old Heath Johnson, in particular, how he is finally growing up and becoming his own person.
He’s come home from finishing his studies at Yale and his parents expect him to start working in his father’s firm and to marry a nice young woman, but while Heath knows that he wants neither, he can’t quite figure out what it is that he wants to do with his life.
But he’s still got the summer ahead of him.
His dear friend Frankie introduces him to the TJ, an underground speakeasy, in which not only alcohol is served but which has become a haven and family for gay men of the time, and where he meets the owner Art. It is so wonderfully romantic and sweet how these two fall in love with each other and was just lovely <3
I was pretty much in book heaven until the 80% mark because the book has an interesting, atmospheric, and realistic setting, the characters are well-crafted, even the secondary ones, the language is beautiful, and the romance even more so.
I thought it was extraordinary how fast and deeply I cared for Heath.
The author has an eye for details without getting overly descriptive, and I think she’s really talented in how she brings the story alive. I also really loved her choice of a third person, present tense narration.
But… I think even before the 80% mark I started to wonder why Heath wasn’t facing his problems, like, at all. To give you a clearer picture:
Heath always avoids the path of conflict or complication, allows himself to be guided by his parents and their expectations and is suggestible to a fault.
This couldn’t be any more true. Although, of course, Heath falls in love and gets to know other men like him, he just needs ages, AGES, to make his own decisions. When he finally does, it is so late in the story, I couldn’t even believe in him anymore, because of what he did before, because of what leads to his decision. Actually, to be honest, if it weren’t for how things played out with Art, I don’t believe Heath would have come to his senses. He would have led a miserable life, with a wife and a job he hates. He came so close.
So, I neither liked this—because gosh, was this miserable—but moreover I don’t think this was well done in terms of character and plot development.
Another thing that seems a bit implausible to me is the way their sexual attraction and physical relationship is handled. I liked that the book has a strong focus on the emotional part of the relationship and I didn’t miss a sex scene per se, but since they sleep together in a bed, have a bath together, and tease each other about taking their attraction further, it simply seems odd that nothing ever happens, not even off page. It’s like their libido doesn’t exist at all, and if it weren’t for the teasing, that might be believable, too, but not like this.
I always find it very difficult to rate a book that was so amazing at first but then disappoints me in the end, because it was such a great read for most of the time, but leaves me with a slightly unsatisfied feeling behind and I don’t want to be unfair.
So, I still recommend reading this book—and maybe you won’t be bothered by my complaints at all; good for you then :) —because there is a lot to love here. If it hadn’t been for the lack of sensible character development, I’d have given at least 4.5 stars.
_____________________
Genre: historical, romance
Tags: m/m, prohibition, New York
Rating: 3.75 stars
I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with the eARC of this title in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 25, 2016
Review to come.
Loved the setting, the characters and the story. Really felt like I was in the 1920s. Everything was so real and alive. Recommended!
Loved the setting, the characters and the story. Really felt like I was in the 1920s. Everything was so real and alive. Recommended!
March 5, 2016
There’s something brilliant about telling the story of two men in love in America in the early 20C and setting it in a speakeasy during Prohibition. We Americans look back on Prohibition and shake our heads—it seems a completely stupid time, and the laws against alcohol only increased the violence done in the name of alcohol and its repression. So, it seems kind of natural to set a story of love between two men in that scene: stupid and senseless repression that only increases violence done in its name? As I said, it’s a brilliant, fitting setting for this love story.
The story itself is of Art (who runs a speakeasy for gay men in the basement of a barbershop) and Heath (from a Good Family, graduate of Yale, Going Places If He Plays His Cards Right). Heath is introduced to the speakeasy by a friend, and soon after meets Art, and the two begin a courtship that must be hidden from society, including Heath’s family (who expect him to marry a woman of their own social circle). In one scene, Heath and Art climb the stairs from the speakeasy and must stop holding hands before they get to the street. It’s a poignant moment for any of us who’ve stopped holding hands with a beloved because the atmosphere seemed too dangerous for it, but it highlights for all readers the ways that secrecy is used, ironically, to preserve freedom in this novel (and all the ways that fails, too).
Beyond the intelligence of the setting here, the two plotlines (the love story and the story of the speakeasy itself) weave together and apart and serve to amplify each other (what a great example of novel with great rhythm). Both the life of the speakeasy and the life of the relationship depend upon disobedience, secrecy and passion, in equal measures.
Aside from what happens, I can also say that how the story unfolds is really great, through narration that feels natural and real (and perfectly-paced) and lets the reader get to the story without getting in the way.
Reading novels electronically means that I don’t always see the end nearing—sometimes you can feel it coming, but you have no dwindling unread pages to remind you. Though the ending was natural and thoroughly earned, I was unhappily surprised when this book was over, if only because that meant the story and the world were no longer mine to spy upon.
The story itself is of Art (who runs a speakeasy for gay men in the basement of a barbershop) and Heath (from a Good Family, graduate of Yale, Going Places If He Plays His Cards Right). Heath is introduced to the speakeasy by a friend, and soon after meets Art, and the two begin a courtship that must be hidden from society, including Heath’s family (who expect him to marry a woman of their own social circle). In one scene, Heath and Art climb the stairs from the speakeasy and must stop holding hands before they get to the street. It’s a poignant moment for any of us who’ve stopped holding hands with a beloved because the atmosphere seemed too dangerous for it, but it highlights for all readers the ways that secrecy is used, ironically, to preserve freedom in this novel (and all the ways that fails, too).
Beyond the intelligence of the setting here, the two plotlines (the love story and the story of the speakeasy itself) weave together and apart and serve to amplify each other (what a great example of novel with great rhythm). Both the life of the speakeasy and the life of the relationship depend upon disobedience, secrecy and passion, in equal measures.
Aside from what happens, I can also say that how the story unfolds is really great, through narration that feels natural and real (and perfectly-paced) and lets the reader get to the story without getting in the way.
Reading novels electronically means that I don’t always see the end nearing—sometimes you can feel it coming, but you have no dwindling unread pages to remind you. Though the ending was natural and thoroughly earned, I was unhappily surprised when this book was over, if only because that meant the story and the world were no longer mine to spy upon.
February 25, 2016
Heath is a young man in a wealthy family just back form his graduation from Yale. His father’s pushing him toward a job in investment banking, with his own firm, but Heath’s been resistant. He’s negotiated a last summer of freedom before he chooses a job and settles down, and he’s playing chaperone to his younger sister Amelia as she decides on a husband. His parents, affectionately known as the Duke and Duchess of their social circle, are also pushing Heath to marry a girl.
Heath’s known for a long time that he’s not interested in women, and copping to a sham marriage is not something he’s willing to do. He’s a romantic at heart, and longs to fall for someone who’d love him back ardently. His best friend from college knows this, and brings Heath to a speakeasy that caters to men who favor men. I should mention here that speakeasies were illegal bars run in the period of Prohibition in the US–during the 1920s when liquor production and sale was illegal. It’s a whirlwind experience for Heath, especially as Heath’s nature is to acquiesce to his parents’ desires. Seeing men being free with their affection lights Heath in fire in a number of ways, not all of them positive. He’s fairly gobsmacked.
He does return, however, and he strikes up a friendship with Art, owner of TJ, the speakeasy that blows Heath’s mind. During the course of the summer Heath and Art become very close, Heath imagining a life spent with the man who is winning his heart, but all good things are not happening. There is constant pressure from Heath’s parents to settle on a job and a wife, and Heath’s attempts at subterfuge are not sufficient to afford him freedom. And, ever present is the possibility of discovery, not just of TJ, but of Art, and exactly what Heath wants to do with him.
I really enjoyed the period aspects of this piece. The setting is so completely Prohibition Era and the prose is an effortless, flawless read. If I have a grumble it’s wishing for some steam. The resolution is very sweet and tender, with Heath making his mark on the world in his own way, and with the support of unexpected people.
Heath’s known for a long time that he’s not interested in women, and copping to a sham marriage is not something he’s willing to do. He’s a romantic at heart, and longs to fall for someone who’d love him back ardently. His best friend from college knows this, and brings Heath to a speakeasy that caters to men who favor men. I should mention here that speakeasies were illegal bars run in the period of Prohibition in the US–during the 1920s when liquor production and sale was illegal. It’s a whirlwind experience for Heath, especially as Heath’s nature is to acquiesce to his parents’ desires. Seeing men being free with their affection lights Heath in fire in a number of ways, not all of them positive. He’s fairly gobsmacked.
He does return, however, and he strikes up a friendship with Art, owner of TJ, the speakeasy that blows Heath’s mind. During the course of the summer Heath and Art become very close, Heath imagining a life spent with the man who is winning his heart, but all good things are not happening. There is constant pressure from Heath’s parents to settle on a job and a wife, and Heath’s attempts at subterfuge are not sufficient to afford him freedom. And, ever present is the possibility of discovery, not just of TJ, but of Art, and exactly what Heath wants to do with him.
I really enjoyed the period aspects of this piece. The setting is so completely Prohibition Era and the prose is an effortless, flawless read. If I have a grumble it’s wishing for some steam. The resolution is very sweet and tender, with Heath making his mark on the world in his own way, and with the support of unexpected people.
February 5, 2017
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review
I totally have a thing for the Prohibition era and the whole air of forbidden love and fun it brings, so I was thrilled to discover “Speakeasy”. I will say that while I find the era fascinating, my historical knowledge about is pretty much non-existent. If you want to know if this story sticks to historic facts, then I’m not the right person to ask.
Heath is a good boy. Quiet, obedient, good grades and never disputes his parents’ decisions. Of course they don’t know that he actually prefers men and has no intention of marrying the girl his mother picked for him. I really liked Heath from the very beginning. He really matures over the course of the book and finally starts living his own life.
Art was a true gentleman and I loved the way he wooed Heath. It was charming. He can easily relate to Heath’s need to keep quiet and please his parents, having a very similar background. There’s no unnecessary drama about money, since both MCs aren’t exactly poor. This way, there was more room for real plot.
The romance was rather slow burn and there was absolutely no explicit sex. Every time, Heath and Art were together, I truly felt their infatuation and got that silly grin of the newly in love myself. It was wonderful.
There were only two minor things I didn’t like so much. The HEA was a bit too easy for me, given the circumstances. And I’m not a huge fan of first person present tense POV. I decided to give this book 5 stars anyway, simply because it was such a very charming love story.
Overall, I really, really liked “Speakeasy” and I will definitely keep an eye out to other works Suzey Ingold.
The cover is absolutely gorgeous. It’s what made me take a closer look at the book in the first place.
I totally have a thing for the Prohibition era and the whole air of forbidden love and fun it brings, so I was thrilled to discover “Speakeasy”. I will say that while I find the era fascinating, my historical knowledge about is pretty much non-existent. If you want to know if this story sticks to historic facts, then I’m not the right person to ask.
Heath is a good boy. Quiet, obedient, good grades and never disputes his parents’ decisions. Of course they don’t know that he actually prefers men and has no intention of marrying the girl his mother picked for him. I really liked Heath from the very beginning. He really matures over the course of the book and finally starts living his own life.
Art was a true gentleman and I loved the way he wooed Heath. It was charming. He can easily relate to Heath’s need to keep quiet and please his parents, having a very similar background. There’s no unnecessary drama about money, since both MCs aren’t exactly poor. This way, there was more room for real plot.
The romance was rather slow burn and there was absolutely no explicit sex. Every time, Heath and Art were together, I truly felt their infatuation and got that silly grin of the newly in love myself. It was wonderful.
There were only two minor things I didn’t like so much. The HEA was a bit too easy for me, given the circumstances. And I’m not a huge fan of first person present tense POV. I decided to give this book 5 stars anyway, simply because it was such a very charming love story.
Overall, I really, really liked “Speakeasy” and I will definitely keep an eye out to other works Suzey Ingold.
The cover is absolutely gorgeous. It’s what made me take a closer look at the book in the first place.
March 26, 2016
Excellent read! This book is a gem; Ingold draws us into a nostalgic world and paints a picture of aching, of longing, coming of age and falling in love with a writing style that completely supports and compliments it.
It took me a few paragraphs to hop into the story, but once I was in, I was *in*. I fell in love with Heath immediately and hard. Ingold does a great job drawing the reader into his internal conflict -- I ached for him because she set up his summer so clearly as a kind of final summer before he had to go to work for his father and give up on any chance that he'd ever find his own happiness.
The relationship between Art and Heath felt like breathing -- it felt natural and seamless, like that kind of love at first sight the author never tells you is. Ingold showed it beautifully without telling. I love the intimacy and tension between them. Having anything graphic felt to me like it would have been jarring -- in fact most of the book I was hoping the author would *not* take us there, because the tone and vivid picture she was painting were so strong and unique. The little moments she gave us were so sexy for their restraint, and my imagination was happy to do some legwork.
I cared for and fell in love with the cast of characters around Heath and Art, who had depth and independent stories that really rounded them out.
This is a book I started and thought I'd only have time to read in snatches -- but I started and then spent the rest of the following day counting down the minutes until I could read again.
It took me a few paragraphs to hop into the story, but once I was in, I was *in*. I fell in love with Heath immediately and hard. Ingold does a great job drawing the reader into his internal conflict -- I ached for him because she set up his summer so clearly as a kind of final summer before he had to go to work for his father and give up on any chance that he'd ever find his own happiness.
The relationship between Art and Heath felt like breathing -- it felt natural and seamless, like that kind of love at first sight the author never tells you is. Ingold showed it beautifully without telling. I love the intimacy and tension between them. Having anything graphic felt to me like it would have been jarring -- in fact most of the book I was hoping the author would *not* take us there, because the tone and vivid picture she was painting were so strong and unique. The little moments she gave us were so sexy for their restraint, and my imagination was happy to do some legwork.
I cared for and fell in love with the cast of characters around Heath and Art, who had depth and independent stories that really rounded them out.
This is a book I started and thought I'd only have time to read in snatches -- but I started and then spent the rest of the following day counting down the minutes until I could read again.
April 21, 2016
If I were any good at voicing my thoughts, I would write an elaborate review here, describing in the finest detail why I love this book so much. Unfortunately, putting my thoughts into words is not my strongest suit, so I'll keep it short: I really enjoyed reading Heath and Art's story. It left me with a big smile on my face.
February 24, 2016
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher via Pride Promotions in exchange for an honest review*
Newly graduated from Yale, Heath returns home. He plans to spend the summer hanging with his friends. His parents have other ideas. They feel it's time for Heath to use his degree to join his father as a stockbroker on Wall Street, and pick a nice girl to marry and start a family with. His father agrees to give him the summer to decide his future. When Heath's bestfriend, Frankie takes him to TJ, a Speakeasy, an illegally operated bar during the prohibition era, Heath is surprised to discover it's a special speakeasy. One for men like himself. Gay men. There he meets the owner, Art. They connect and begin meeting in secret. This is a dangerous situation in 1927. Heath not only has to lie to his family about where and with who he is spending his time with, but he and Art have to be careful not to get caught.
I absolutely loved this story. I couldn't put this book down. The author drew me in and didn't let go. I enjoyed the sweetness and innocence of Heath and Art's relationship. I'll be honest, I like sex in my books. This book had none, but strangely enough I found myself not missing it all that much. Heath and Art had an amazing connection and chemistry. My co-blogger is the historical nut, I usually stick to between the 1970's to the present, but I really loved the era. I adored the backdrop of NYC. I just returned from my first vacation there a couple of weeks ago. We've all seen NYC on tv, but to know where the author was talking about, and having just walked down some of these streets made this story feel a little more magical.
This was an enjoyable, and well written story. A tad slow at times, but my attention never wavered. Highly recommended!!
February 27, 2016
I have had the privilege of reading Suzey Ingold’s work for several years now, and when I was offered an advance copy of her debut novel, Speakeasy, I couldn’t have been more thrilled. From the very first few pages Suzey captures a New York she made me want to return to, and that included its hot blistering summer. But Suzey does more than that, she brings to life a New York in a different era, that of the 1920s, painting vivid pictures of its upper classes, its lively boardwalks, and the routes one might take in search of love.
Suzey gives us Heath Johnson, a young man struggling to find his way in life, making him not only recognizable but relatable. Heath struggles with what his parents want for him on a professional level and on a personal level. The snapshots we get of Art’s family, his life with the Duke and Duchess and his sister Amelia, show us a kind man, slightly sentimental about the past, and quietly hopeful that the future could just be of his own making.
The cherry on top of this all becomes his relationship with Art, proprietor of TJ. Art shows Heath the road he might take, the one road that might lead to his happiness, and I had the best time watching their relationship unfold on the page.
Suzey amazes me, she impresses me, and Speakeasy shows not only her love for her craft, but showcases her strengths. Speakeasy is a feel-good story with the right amount of pinches of reality. All in all a cocktail for an amazing night in.
Suzey gives us Heath Johnson, a young man struggling to find his way in life, making him not only recognizable but relatable. Heath struggles with what his parents want for him on a professional level and on a personal level. The snapshots we get of Art’s family, his life with the Duke and Duchess and his sister Amelia, show us a kind man, slightly sentimental about the past, and quietly hopeful that the future could just be of his own making.
The cherry on top of this all becomes his relationship with Art, proprietor of TJ. Art shows Heath the road he might take, the one road that might lead to his happiness, and I had the best time watching their relationship unfold on the page.
Suzey amazes me, she impresses me, and Speakeasy shows not only her love for her craft, but showcases her strengths. Speakeasy is a feel-good story with the right amount of pinches of reality. All in all a cocktail for an amazing night in.
February 15, 2016
While I really loved the way this author wrote this time period. I have to be honest and say so much of this book honestly just dragged for me.
Heath falls for Art who owns a speakeasy. Well this is where I am going to say I was not a fan of Heaths character at all. For some reason he just annoyed me so much! There was a lot of up and downs between these two with what time period they were in and how the their relationship was not accepted at all, so they had to hide it.
There was some sweetness in this book between these two men along with angst. I did love the authors pretense of this story and the way she portrayed the characters in this time period. I was just not a huge fan of one of the MC's and there were parts of this book that sadly just dragged for me...
So I will leave this review with.. I am sad to say this book was just not for me!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
Heath falls for Art who owns a speakeasy. Well this is where I am going to say I was not a fan of Heaths character at all. For some reason he just annoyed me so much! There was a lot of up and downs between these two with what time period they were in and how the their relationship was not accepted at all, so they had to hide it.
There was some sweetness in this book between these two men along with angst. I did love the authors pretense of this story and the way she portrayed the characters in this time period. I was just not a huge fan of one of the MC's and there were parts of this book that sadly just dragged for me...
So I will leave this review with.. I am sad to say this book was just not for me!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
February 10, 2016
Speakeasy is a beautiful love story between Heath, a recent Yale graduate living in 1920s Manhattan, and Art, the handsome man he meets who is responsible for creating Heath's new safe haven, TJ.
Told through stolen glances and secret rendezvous, the story is intimate and delicate, not only between Heath and Art, but also between their families and friends. Every chapter will leave you wanting more, and the characters will grow on you so incredibly quickly that you'll feel like you've known them forever.
I would very rarely read any fiction set in pre 1990s, and yet I found the time period of this story a massive part of its charm, and thoroughly enjoyed how authentic the dialogue and descriptive language felt.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a lover of romantic fiction, historical fiction, or anyone who wants an easy and enjoyable read!
Told through stolen glances and secret rendezvous, the story is intimate and delicate, not only between Heath and Art, but also between their families and friends. Every chapter will leave you wanting more, and the characters will grow on you so incredibly quickly that you'll feel like you've known them forever.
I would very rarely read any fiction set in pre 1990s, and yet I found the time period of this story a massive part of its charm, and thoroughly enjoyed how authentic the dialogue and descriptive language felt.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a lover of romantic fiction, historical fiction, or anyone who wants an easy and enjoyable read!
March 2, 2016
I devoured this book in less than a day. I read it through work, through class. It felt a little Great Gatsby, but slightly more queer and with a happy ending (a hard find in the LGBTQIA genre). The 20's were fun place to be transported to, but I couldn't stop wondering where these characters would be after the market crash. What a fun and lovely read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2017
This was a cute little historical romance between two enjoyable male characters. Definitely enjoyed the 30's culture; Not-Really-Spoiler: not as much of a fan of what I thought was slightly forced conflict in third act and resulting slightly too-easy resolution. That's just personal for me, but a fun, sweet, and relatively fast read overall.
May 24, 2016
Nice Period Piece
There are many things I liked about this one including the fact that every character was perfectly drawn given what was expected considering his or her background and the time in which the novel took place.
Heath was the quintessential spoiled upper East Side trust fund brat, and my feelings toward him did not warm up until the last part, and even then I didn't feel sorry for the mess he'd made for himself. His best friend Frankie was a perfect example of how rich Southern boys never went back home after Yale, but his dedication to Heath never crossed the straight-gay border. It was touching.
Heath's father, the "Duke," was the perfect Wall Street jerk. I would like to know what happened to him in 1929, a year after this book ended. His mother, the "Duchess," was mercilessly drawn, her status-driven life totally uncomplicated by a brain. His sister Amelia was the female equivalent of a twit, and redeemed herself somewhat as the plot went on.
But this was Art's book, even though there wasn't a single chapter which focused on him. The book is written in the third person but presented from Heath's viewpoint all the way, and it suffered somewhat because of that. Art and his associates Alfie, Jerry, Julian (also Heath's formerly close friend), and Edward (who comes to play a major, and what might be considered an unbelievable, role, but not so much if you know the temper of the times), were a family of their own, and I totally enjoyed any part of the book in which they and Heath interacted.
Although I thought the cover was extremely clever in depicting the art deco world of the 1920s in New York, I found that it actually distracted me from imagining what Art and Heath really looked like. I especially expect that clarity in a book in which one character (Art) is older, but nowhere in the book did it appear that his age was mentioned (I guessed at about late 20s to Heath's 21). The cover made it appear like he may have been in his early 40s, clearly not the case.
I was not driven to stop reading because there was a chapter I knew would be trouble coming up (not much happens), and I also was never in the "can't-put-it-down" school, either. There was some action, but tame, and the romantic scenes were chastely described except for a ton of kissing.
In sum this was like a Regency M/M romance in many respects transported two centuries to a society that although not British wanted very much to be so in so many ways. The Epilogue was worth the journey, and elevated the entire experience up an half-star.
There are many things I liked about this one including the fact that every character was perfectly drawn given what was expected considering his or her background and the time in which the novel took place.
Heath was the quintessential spoiled upper East Side trust fund brat, and my feelings toward him did not warm up until the last part, and even then I didn't feel sorry for the mess he'd made for himself. His best friend Frankie was a perfect example of how rich Southern boys never went back home after Yale, but his dedication to Heath never crossed the straight-gay border. It was touching.
Heath's father, the "Duke," was the perfect Wall Street jerk. I would like to know what happened to him in 1929, a year after this book ended. His mother, the "Duchess," was mercilessly drawn, her status-driven life totally uncomplicated by a brain. His sister Amelia was the female equivalent of a twit, and redeemed herself somewhat as the plot went on.
But this was Art's book, even though there wasn't a single chapter which focused on him. The book is written in the third person but presented from Heath's viewpoint all the way, and it suffered somewhat because of that. Art and his associates Alfie, Jerry, Julian (also Heath's formerly close friend), and Edward (who comes to play a major, and what might be considered an unbelievable, role, but not so much if you know the temper of the times), were a family of their own, and I totally enjoyed any part of the book in which they and Heath interacted.
Although I thought the cover was extremely clever in depicting the art deco world of the 1920s in New York, I found that it actually distracted me from imagining what Art and Heath really looked like. I especially expect that clarity in a book in which one character (Art) is older, but nowhere in the book did it appear that his age was mentioned (I guessed at about late 20s to Heath's 21). The cover made it appear like he may have been in his early 40s, clearly not the case.
I was not driven to stop reading because there was a chapter I knew would be trouble coming up (not much happens), and I also was never in the "can't-put-it-down" school, either. There was some action, but tame, and the romantic scenes were chastely described except for a ton of kissing.
In sum this was like a Regency M/M romance in many respects transported two centuries to a society that although not British wanted very much to be so in so many ways. The Epilogue was worth the journey, and elevated the entire experience up an half-star.
February 24, 2016
Heath has just graduated Yale. His parents have his life planned. They want him to work for his father and get married and have children to carry on their name. They even have a sweet girl they like chosen for him. They are giving him a choice on his job but he has to choose after the summer. His friend Frankie from college takes him out to celebrate his birthday at a place he found that he thinks is perfect for Heath. It is a speak easy for likeminded men like Heath. Though Frankie brought him there to meet up with Heaths college crush Julian, Heath quickly fell for the owner. In a time of prohibition and when it’s dangerous for gay men can this relationship last or will Heath choose to follow his parent’s wishes.
This is a beautifully written story of the prohibition eras which is my favorite historical time period. Suzy Ingold does a great job giving the book that nostalgic feel. Speak Easy is character driven as we follow Heath through his summer and his decisions. It’s very clean with no sex, but a beautiful, bittersweet romance with a satisfying ending.
If you like the 1920 prohibition era, coming of age, new adult, clean stories, I think you will like this one!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
This is a beautifully written story of the prohibition eras which is my favorite historical time period. Suzy Ingold does a great job giving the book that nostalgic feel. Speak Easy is character driven as we follow Heath through his summer and his decisions. It’s very clean with no sex, but a beautiful, bittersweet romance with a satisfying ending.
If you like the 1920 prohibition era, coming of age, new adult, clean stories, I think you will like this one!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
August 31, 2016
Speakeasy is a perfect end-of-the-summer read. Set in the 1920s, a sweltering summer in NYC, I was immediately drawn in to the world the author created. Heath is a character who's easy to relate to - he's not sure what he wants out of life or where he's going, but he longs for something more, something different. He finds that something different in Art, the owner of an underground speakeasy for queer men. Art manages to be both suave and rough around the edges at the same time, perfectly intriguing and it's easy to see why Heath falls for him!
A bit minor, but one of my favourite things about this book was the treatment of a side character who did sex work - he wasn't vilified or pitied in any way, and it was treated as something he chose to do and his friends supported him in that choice.
Speakeasy was a delightful trip back in time, and when reading I recommend having a fully stocked bar within arms reach as you'll be dying to try some of the cocktails ;)
A bit minor, but one of my favourite things about this book was the treatment of a side character who did sex work - he wasn't vilified or pitied in any way, and it was treated as something he chose to do and his friends supported him in that choice.
Speakeasy was a delightful trip back in time, and when reading I recommend having a fully stocked bar within arms reach as you'll be dying to try some of the cocktails ;)
February 28, 2016
This book whiskedme away to New York in the 1920s, to the world of Speakeasies and upper class Manhattanites
To a world of love and crossroads
The characters--the whole "cast" of them--are all complex and deep, which made the slower parts of the story completely enjoyable and fun
I highly recommend this book for an historical romance that reads easily, but is far more complex than you may think !
To a world of love and crossroads
The characters--the whole "cast" of them--are all complex and deep, which made the slower parts of the story completely enjoyable and fun
I highly recommend this book for an historical romance that reads easily, but is far more complex than you may think !
March 11, 2016
5 STARS....Great cover art. Well written. Makes a statement without being crude or vulgar. Love can be loverly.
February 24, 2016
it a good book
June 2, 2018
*3.5/5
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