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Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn
When an elusive Southern stranger arrives in 1960s New Rochelle, three generations of women are forever changed.
When the heart finds its home, anything is possible.
Geraldine, Emilia Mae, and Alice Wingo couldn't be more different from each other. Geraldine is a fiery beauty, turning heads while running the local bakery with her devoted husband, Earle-but she never quite takes to motherhood. Her daughter, Emilia Mae, spends her life chasing her mother's affection and goes looking for love in all the wrong places. So when she gives birth to her own daughter, Alice-the girl with the quick laugh and music running through her veins-she vows to do things differently.
Then, Dillard Fox, a handsome stranger with a Southern drawl sails into town, bringing with him a gentle warmth that draws in all three of the Wingo women. Emilia Mae, never thinking she'd find true love, builds the kind of happy life with Dillard that neither of them ever expected. Geraldine slowly learns to be kinder to her difficult daughter, and young Alice may have found the father figure she always wanted. But everyone has their secrets, and the one that Dillard has been carrying all of these years threatens to upend their idyllic family.
Over the course of their lives, these three women navigate their relationships with each other and the changing world around them. Filled with Carter's characteristic wit, this charming, wise novel is a paean to love-any way you can find it.
When the heart finds its home, anything is possible.
Geraldine, Emilia Mae, and Alice Wingo couldn't be more different from each other. Geraldine is a fiery beauty, turning heads while running the local bakery with her devoted husband, Earle-but she never quite takes to motherhood. Her daughter, Emilia Mae, spends her life chasing her mother's affection and goes looking for love in all the wrong places. So when she gives birth to her own daughter, Alice-the girl with the quick laugh and music running through her veins-she vows to do things differently.
Then, Dillard Fox, a handsome stranger with a Southern drawl sails into town, bringing with him a gentle warmth that draws in all three of the Wingo women. Emilia Mae, never thinking she'd find true love, builds the kind of happy life with Dillard that neither of them ever expected. Geraldine slowly learns to be kinder to her difficult daughter, and young Alice may have found the father figure she always wanted. But everyone has their secrets, and the one that Dillard has been carrying all of these years threatens to upend their idyllic family.
Over the course of their lives, these three women navigate their relationships with each other and the changing world around them. Filled with Carter's characteristic wit, this charming, wise novel is a paean to love-any way you can find it.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2020
41 people are currently reading
4920 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Carter
11 books188 followersI am the author of the novel, Swim to Me, which was published in August 2007 by Algonquin Books who also published, The Orange Blossom Special in 2005. My memoir Nothing to Fall Back On was a national bestseller. I write for O: The Oprah magazine, Good Housekeeping, New York, Glamour and Hallmark, among others.
I was a reporter at Newsweek for nine years, and then served as the Editorial Director of Esquire magazine. I was the founding editor-in-chief of New York Woman as well as My Generation Magazine. I was also the Executive Editor of Harper’s Bazaar and editor-in-chief of New Woman magazine. I live in New York City. My novel, The Puzzle King, will be published by Algonquin Books in the fall of 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
January 30, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! If you like multigenerational family tales, you will love it. The dysfunction was page-turning and I enjoyed the mystery man who came to town and shook up the women’s lives forever.
This book does feature LGBTQ+ characters, so if you are a shitty person like some reviewers on here who get *offended* by that, go read a boring book. This one rocks.
I received a copy from the publisher. :)
This book does feature LGBTQ+ characters, so if you are a shitty person like some reviewers on here who get *offended* by that, go read a boring book. This one rocks.
I received a copy from the publisher. :)
November 27, 2020
I was really looking forward to this one. I'll admit that I was a sucker and bought it because I liked the title and the cover, but also the storyline of the three generations of women appealed to me. I enjoy a novel with Southern characters as well.
However, I only made it to page 85 or so before I had to give up due to unexpected content. The Dillard character turns out to be not at all what you would guess from the publisher's synopsis, and turned me off from reading further.
However, I only made it to page 85 or so before I had to give up due to unexpected content. The Dillard character turns out to be not at all what you would guess from the publisher's synopsis, and turned me off from reading further.
September 21, 2020
Marvelous!
Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn is a wonderful read by the very talented author, Betsy Carter. Tender, thought provoking and beautifully written, it explores the very human thirst for love, acceptance and a sense of belonging with insight and compassion. Her best book yet!
Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn is a wonderful read by the very talented author, Betsy Carter. Tender, thought provoking and beautifully written, it explores the very human thirst for love, acceptance and a sense of belonging with insight and compassion. Her best book yet!
March 9, 2021
I finished Betsy Carter's "Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn" half an hour ago. I think my tears are finally under control so that I can write a review, but first, I have to ask myself hoow could I not have been aware that the most incredibly brilliant author existed in all the years she has been writing? How did I never read about her books (and her interesting life which influenced her writing of this book)" I am so grateful I have read this moving novel, and plan to read anything and everything Ms. Carter has written, as well as anything she writes in the future. If you read about her, you will be impressed!
The title might lead you to think this is a light "summer" or "beach" read, but you would be way off. It is neither of those things, and The Neptune Inn does not play a huge roll in the story, though it does change the life of fifteen year old Emelia Mae when her mother sends her there to work. More of the story takes place in two homes in New Rochelle New York (where the inn IS located) and at the bakery owned by her parents, Geraldine and Earle in the 1930's. It is their story, and of the generations which followed, that of their daughter Emelia Mae (whom Geraldine felt was filled with the devil), her daughter, Alice who has "the voice of an angel," and of Dillard Fox, a character who will break your heart, but whom you will love and want to tell that it is ok to be your genuine self. Alas, this was not easy in the middle of the 20th century.
There was a lot of abandonment in the novel, with mothers leaving children, and there was death and sorrow, but there was also a lot of love, even when it was not easy to see or feel. We are all a product of our childhoods. Mine was happy, but I know not everyone can say that. Those who felt neglected, unloved, or misunderstood carry those feelings throughout their lives. Some can work through their struggles and come to a better place and build a happier life than than they once had. Others can never quite do that, but there is always hope.
It is also the story of Alice, Emelia Mae's beautiful, sweet, kind, and loving little girl who befriends Dillard when he arrives in New Rochelle the way only a bubbly child can do. That bond may be tested as Alice heads to college and rebels against her old life, but it never dies. I loved reading about Alice's college years, which took place just a few years before mine, so they felt familiar. Also, as a parent, I remember my own children leaving for college, coming back for a school break seeming so much older and with new ideas, new friends I might never meet, and clearly now living a life that was forever thereafter going to be different than when they were small and always with us. Carter writes those scenes so well when Alice comes back to New Rochelle for her first Thanksgiving after starting college.
Besty Carter is at the top of the list of writers who can develop characters so intimately and intricately, that we feel we truly know them, can see them, hear their voices, recognize their idiosyncrasies, feel their joys and weep at their sorrows. She is brilliant in this regard.
Some passages at the start of different sections of the novel describe Dillard Fox's memories of Skyhill, NC. I could see the columbine, smell the briny air by Lake Lure, imagine the mist he remembered as like that of Brigadoon, and picture Skyhill as the tiny town is would have been when Dillard was a boy and young man, before he had to run away, far away after an incident that caused him such anguish that it effected every choice he made in life thereafter. At one point, he worked for a short while at the inception of Freedomland, which was supposed to be bigger than Disneyland and was proposed to be the largest amusement park in the US. It was located in the Bronx, but only operated from 1960 to 1964. Reading about it, I do believe I was taken there as child. It definitely was familiar when described. Dillard did not stay long, as the place infiltrated with mosquitoes. Thus, he left and moved northwards, landing in New Rochelle where he finally built a life, found a semblance of happiness and love, but more importantly, he found family, a family not made up of blood relatives but a family still, because isn't that really a feeling, one that we can create? His demons and pain followed him, though, and changed the lives of people whom he loved in New Rochelle.
Everyone has secrets. Some are never told and do not need to be, but some can destroy a life. That is what Dillard comes to realize. There is a lovely couple, a preacher and his bubbly wife, Cora, who befriend Emelia May, Alice, and later Dillard, They are such good people, but even a preacher can go to his grave with secrets. Sometimes, a person can unburden themself to the least likely listener. No one is spared great suffering in this life, nor loss and longing.
"Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn" is a story with great heart, epic in scale from the 1930's until the early 1980's. I loved reminiscing about the decades I remember (from the 50's and up). The music, the food and fashion trends, women's roles, gay rights, which really were non-existent still. I had not known that gay men could be arrested if caught with another man even in the 1960's. So atrocious! So cruel, but it's the truth, and is an ugly part of our history.
The last twenty pages will break your heart unless it's made of stone or ice. I don't want to give anything way, so I will just say I remember those days, and they were not pretty. I highly recommend this absolutely beautiful novel, with no reservations! It's incredible!
The title might lead you to think this is a light "summer" or "beach" read, but you would be way off. It is neither of those things, and The Neptune Inn does not play a huge roll in the story, though it does change the life of fifteen year old Emelia Mae when her mother sends her there to work. More of the story takes place in two homes in New Rochelle New York (where the inn IS located) and at the bakery owned by her parents, Geraldine and Earle in the 1930's. It is their story, and of the generations which followed, that of their daughter Emelia Mae (whom Geraldine felt was filled with the devil), her daughter, Alice who has "the voice of an angel," and of Dillard Fox, a character who will break your heart, but whom you will love and want to tell that it is ok to be your genuine self. Alas, this was not easy in the middle of the 20th century.
There was a lot of abandonment in the novel, with mothers leaving children, and there was death and sorrow, but there was also a lot of love, even when it was not easy to see or feel. We are all a product of our childhoods. Mine was happy, but I know not everyone can say that. Those who felt neglected, unloved, or misunderstood carry those feelings throughout their lives. Some can work through their struggles and come to a better place and build a happier life than than they once had. Others can never quite do that, but there is always hope.
It is also the story of Alice, Emelia Mae's beautiful, sweet, kind, and loving little girl who befriends Dillard when he arrives in New Rochelle the way only a bubbly child can do. That bond may be tested as Alice heads to college and rebels against her old life, but it never dies. I loved reading about Alice's college years, which took place just a few years before mine, so they felt familiar. Also, as a parent, I remember my own children leaving for college, coming back for a school break seeming so much older and with new ideas, new friends I might never meet, and clearly now living a life that was forever thereafter going to be different than when they were small and always with us. Carter writes those scenes so well when Alice comes back to New Rochelle for her first Thanksgiving after starting college.
Besty Carter is at the top of the list of writers who can develop characters so intimately and intricately, that we feel we truly know them, can see them, hear their voices, recognize their idiosyncrasies, feel their joys and weep at their sorrows. She is brilliant in this regard.
Some passages at the start of different sections of the novel describe Dillard Fox's memories of Skyhill, NC. I could see the columbine, smell the briny air by Lake Lure, imagine the mist he remembered as like that of Brigadoon, and picture Skyhill as the tiny town is would have been when Dillard was a boy and young man, before he had to run away, far away after an incident that caused him such anguish that it effected every choice he made in life thereafter. At one point, he worked for a short while at the inception of Freedomland, which was supposed to be bigger than Disneyland and was proposed to be the largest amusement park in the US. It was located in the Bronx, but only operated from 1960 to 1964. Reading about it, I do believe I was taken there as child. It definitely was familiar when described. Dillard did not stay long, as the place infiltrated with mosquitoes. Thus, he left and moved northwards, landing in New Rochelle where he finally built a life, found a semblance of happiness and love, but more importantly, he found family, a family not made up of blood relatives but a family still, because isn't that really a feeling, one that we can create? His demons and pain followed him, though, and changed the lives of people whom he loved in New Rochelle.
Everyone has secrets. Some are never told and do not need to be, but some can destroy a life. That is what Dillard comes to realize. There is a lovely couple, a preacher and his bubbly wife, Cora, who befriend Emelia May, Alice, and later Dillard, They are such good people, but even a preacher can go to his grave with secrets. Sometimes, a person can unburden themself to the least likely listener. No one is spared great suffering in this life, nor loss and longing.
"Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn" is a story with great heart, epic in scale from the 1930's until the early 1980's. I loved reminiscing about the decades I remember (from the 50's and up). The music, the food and fashion trends, women's roles, gay rights, which really were non-existent still. I had not known that gay men could be arrested if caught with another man even in the 1960's. So atrocious! So cruel, but it's the truth, and is an ugly part of our history.
The last twenty pages will break your heart unless it's made of stone or ice. I don't want to give anything way, so I will just say I remember those days, and they were not pretty. I highly recommend this absolutely beautiful novel, with no reservations! It's incredible!
May 20, 2024
This book had its ups and downs but ultimately it was very very emotional and moving. Upbeat cover and description is somewhat misleading…. Recommend.
January 17, 2025
I loved this book. It was beautiful. I enjoyed the authors style very much. I bought this book bc of the great title and artwork on the cover. I didn’t read the details of the book, it didn’t really matter to me. I just knew I wanted to read it. It was so beautiful. Thank you for telling this story ❤️
October 7, 2022
Sweet little book with fun characters. I enjoyed it.
August 28, 2023
This was quite a story; friendship, family, grief, love, secrets all rolled into one. I am grateful to have read it.
September 16, 2020
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Geraldine Wingo didn't want to have a baby, not so soon anyway. But her husband Earle dreamed of being a father, so she obliged. It wasn't long before Emalia Mae was born, but with her came went away all the things Geraldine loved about herself. No longer did men look upon her with want. It didn't help that Emalia Mae was a difficult child, so Geraldine didn't really try to love her daughter. Skip ahead many years later and Emalia Mae ends up having a daughter of her own. Alice loves music and has a voice like an angel.
Then a handsome, southern stranger walks into their lives named Dillard Fox. Through him, Geraldine starts to connect with her daughter, Emalia Mae begins to build a life she never thought possible, and Alice finally finds a father figure. Yet everyone has secrets, and Dillard's could upend this finally happy family.
Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn is not the typical type of book I read. I'm still new to adult books, and fiction that follows a family is something I never read. But I'm glad this is the book I got to start with. The reason I requested this book from the publisher was that it's set in New Rochelle, NY. I have an Aunt who lives there, so I'm quite familiar with it. The setting was definitely my favorite part of this story. Especially when I found out one of the characters was actually from the town where I live. (They even mentioned where I work!)
While I had a hard time connecting with the Wingo women (especially Geraldine), I really adored Dillard. He had such a hard life and just wanted to be accepted and loved. The story itself was paced nicely and kept me entertained. Some spots were a little dull, but they paired nicely with parts that I couldn't put down. I also adored the fact that it was told from multiple perspectives. We got to see got to see the story from Geraldine's, Emalia Mae's, Alice's, and Dillard's view, among others. And we got to see them over different stages of life. The story starts in the late 1920s and ends in the 1980s.
In summary Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn is an engaging story that follows the lives of three generations of interesting women. It's a perfect tale for anyone interested in the dynamics and drama of family. I would highly recommend it, especially if you are from NY like me!
Geraldine Wingo didn't want to have a baby, not so soon anyway. But her husband Earle dreamed of being a father, so she obliged. It wasn't long before Emalia Mae was born, but with her came went away all the things Geraldine loved about herself. No longer did men look upon her with want. It didn't help that Emalia Mae was a difficult child, so Geraldine didn't really try to love her daughter. Skip ahead many years later and Emalia Mae ends up having a daughter of her own. Alice loves music and has a voice like an angel.
Then a handsome, southern stranger walks into their lives named Dillard Fox. Through him, Geraldine starts to connect with her daughter, Emalia Mae begins to build a life she never thought possible, and Alice finally finds a father figure. Yet everyone has secrets, and Dillard's could upend this finally happy family.
Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn is not the typical type of book I read. I'm still new to adult books, and fiction that follows a family is something I never read. But I'm glad this is the book I got to start with. The reason I requested this book from the publisher was that it's set in New Rochelle, NY. I have an Aunt who lives there, so I'm quite familiar with it. The setting was definitely my favorite part of this story. Especially when I found out one of the characters was actually from the town where I live. (They even mentioned where I work!)
While I had a hard time connecting with the Wingo women (especially Geraldine), I really adored Dillard. He had such a hard life and just wanted to be accepted and loved. The story itself was paced nicely and kept me entertained. Some spots were a little dull, but they paired nicely with parts that I couldn't put down. I also adored the fact that it was told from multiple perspectives. We got to see got to see the story from Geraldine's, Emalia Mae's, Alice's, and Dillard's view, among others. And we got to see them over different stages of life. The story starts in the late 1920s and ends in the 1980s.
In summary Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn is an engaging story that follows the lives of three generations of interesting women. It's a perfect tale for anyone interested in the dynamics and drama of family. I would highly recommend it, especially if you are from NY like me!
September 18, 2020
When an elusive stranger arrives in 1960s New Rochelle, three generations of women are forever changed.
Lost Souls at Neptune Inn is a family drama that spans decades. Three very different women, Mother, daughter and granddaughter find their way in the small town of New Rochelle. Dillard Fox, a witty and charismatic good-looking stranger finds his way into their town, and gains the attention of all 3 women, but for very different reasons. He is just what they need to bring all three of them back together. Emilia Mae is wanting a family of her own, Geraldine is wanting to feel beautiful and admired and Sweet Alice is looking for a father figure.
All though Dillard Fox is able to give all three women what they so desperately want, his own desires and needs are put on hold.
The author does a great job of not only creating such depth to these characters, but also she does an amazing job at creating empathy for them. I did feel a disconnect as none of the characters are like me, but I did feel deeply for each one.
I am so glad this book crossed my path, I find myself reflecting often on this book, the characters, and what I have learned from it. It seems to continue to simmer with me. I will definitely be recommending this book to many readers.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Book Group for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#LostSoulsattheNeptuneInn #BetsyCarter #NetGalley #grandcentralpublishing @grandcentralpub
Lost Souls at Neptune Inn is a family drama that spans decades. Three very different women, Mother, daughter and granddaughter find their way in the small town of New Rochelle. Dillard Fox, a witty and charismatic good-looking stranger finds his way into their town, and gains the attention of all 3 women, but for very different reasons. He is just what they need to bring all three of them back together. Emilia Mae is wanting a family of her own, Geraldine is wanting to feel beautiful and admired and Sweet Alice is looking for a father figure.
All though Dillard Fox is able to give all three women what they so desperately want, his own desires and needs are put on hold.
The author does a great job of not only creating such depth to these characters, but also she does an amazing job at creating empathy for them. I did feel a disconnect as none of the characters are like me, but I did feel deeply for each one.
I am so glad this book crossed my path, I find myself reflecting often on this book, the characters, and what I have learned from it. It seems to continue to simmer with me. I will definitely be recommending this book to many readers.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Book Group for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#LostSoulsattheNeptuneInn #BetsyCarter #NetGalley #grandcentralpublishing @grandcentralpub
October 1, 2020
I struggled to get into this story of three generations of women and how their relationships with each other and themselves influence their lives and relationships with others. Maybe my struggle came from the novel not being at all what expected based on the title and description, or perhaps it was the narrative style that kept me, despite the insight into the characters' feelings, at arm's length like the many secrets between the characters keep them distanced from each other, or maybe it is because I realized early on that the story would be filled with heartache and I tried to shield myself. It didn't work. In the end, I was heartbroken. It was a moving story and, toward the end, rather engaging about how so many things, our past, our expectations, losses, lies, and, of course, secrets affect our lives and relationships.
March 21, 2023
While I didn't hate Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn, I was disappointed in the ending, which I found cliched. I like the complicated relationships Betsy Carter set up, but I wished she'd been a little braver in portraying her characters in a less-than-saintly manner. I was relieved when Dillard came clean about being gay, as a part of me was concerned Carter would choose to have instead him change who he was in service of the story. The "bury your gays" stereotype at the end rubbed me the wrong way.
I'm probably being too harsh on this book; for what it was, it was enjoyable. I wish Carter would have maybe skipped the last few time jumps and instead, resolved the characters relationships in realtime, rather than jump ahead and tell us about divorces and children/relationships rather than showing them form.
I'm probably being too harsh on this book; for what it was, it was enjoyable. I wish Carter would have maybe skipped the last few time jumps and instead, resolved the characters relationships in realtime, rather than jump ahead and tell us about divorces and children/relationships rather than showing them form.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2020
A generational saga including teen pregnancy, gay characters, AIDS in the early 80s and regular life in between. I thought it was a lovely story and (aside from a few details) seemed quite possible and real. Dillard was the most likable and well developed character and I was really rooting for him to find a way to make life work for him. He was a hugely positive influence on Alice and Emilia Mae but in the end he had to be true to himself. What a brave choice. I was happy that the two main female characters reconciled after a challenging period but I never really connected with either one overly much.
June 28, 2022
BEACH READ #2: definitely not what I was expecting from this book or these characters. I was kinda expecting a “The Graduate” plot with three generations of women centered around the dynamic scenery of the Neptune Inn, but that definitely not the case here. I really wanted more character development from all four of the main characters and the Neptune Inn is barely a plot point the story.
August 31, 2020
My favorite types of books are those that have meaning and stay with you long after reading them. This was the complete opposite.
November 7, 2021
What started out as a book who's characters were "all over the place" turned out better than I first thought would happen. In the beginning I couldn't find a character that I really liked even a little which makes reading a story almost unbearable for me. As the characters started to meld together I got a better sense of who they each were and where they might end up. Each character had his/her own flaws that brought un-normalcy to the story but actually tied up pretty nicely in the end.
I had to keep reminding myself the time frame that this book was written for and how the characters acted and interacted due to that time frame - during and after the depression moving into the 60s. That gave the story more clarity also. I guess my favorite character had to be Alice as she was the glue that held everyone together and made the most reasonable decisions throughout.
I liked Carter's writing - simple and to the point although if you knew little about AIDS in the 60s, Dillards illness might have caught you lost in reading as Carter did not spell that out.
All in all this book fared better than I expected when I started to read it. Not sure I would read another of her books.
I had to keep reminding myself the time frame that this book was written for and how the characters acted and interacted due to that time frame - during and after the depression moving into the 60s. That gave the story more clarity also. I guess my favorite character had to be Alice as she was the glue that held everyone together and made the most reasonable decisions throughout.
I liked Carter's writing - simple and to the point although if you knew little about AIDS in the 60s, Dillards illness might have caught you lost in reading as Carter did not spell that out.
All in all this book fared better than I expected when I started to read it. Not sure I would read another of her books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2020
Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn is a family drama centered around the three Wingo women. Emilia Mae has never felt accepted by her mother Geraldine who has always believed her daughter has "the devil inside her." (You read that correctly, Geraldine is a special type of woman.) At nineteen, Emilia Mae becomes pregnant and gives birth to Alice, planning to raise her as a single mother, believing she will never be loved by anyone.
Then a handsome stranger named Dillard comes to town and changes the lives of all three women. Suddenly, Emilia Mae has a romantic partner, Alice has a stepfather, and Geraldine has someone to flirt with. However, Dillard has a past he'd rather keep hidden, and if the truth comes out, everyone's lives will be impacted.
Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn is a beautifully written novel. You can feel the pressure increase as secrets threaten to become exposed, and I couldn't put it down until I saw how everything was resolved. No character is perfect, but they are all fascinating and I found myself rooting for every single one. I highly recommend this beautiful and heart-wrenching novel!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Forever Reads for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Then a handsome stranger named Dillard comes to town and changes the lives of all three women. Suddenly, Emilia Mae has a romantic partner, Alice has a stepfather, and Geraldine has someone to flirt with. However, Dillard has a past he'd rather keep hidden, and if the truth comes out, everyone's lives will be impacted.
Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn is a beautifully written novel. You can feel the pressure increase as secrets threaten to become exposed, and I couldn't put it down until I saw how everything was resolved. No character is perfect, but they are all fascinating and I found myself rooting for every single one. I highly recommend this beautiful and heart-wrenching novel!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Forever Reads for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2024
This book turned out to be something very different than what I thought it would be.
The summary I read prior to starting the book stated that it was a story about 3 generations of women whose lives are changed when a mysterious stranger enters their lives. That, coupled with a rather light-hearted title and book cover (I know...you shouldn't judge a book by its cover), led me to think that this would be a light-hearted book.
While not perfect, this book does provide many strengths. I found the overall story moving. Individuals who love each other deeply still carry their own private stories, with different motivations. And when those private stories are revealed, the love still remained and carried the individuals through.
I especially liked the character of Dillard, who I feel was the most well-developed. The female characters at times seemed to carry too many stereotypes, but overall, I became invested in what happened to this family.
Looking forward to reading more from Betsy Carter.
The summary I read prior to starting the book stated that it was a story about 3 generations of women whose lives are changed when a mysterious stranger enters their lives. That, coupled with a rather light-hearted title and book cover (I know...you shouldn't judge a book by its cover), led me to think that this would be a light-hearted book.
While not perfect, this book does provide many strengths. I found the overall story moving. Individuals who love each other deeply still carry their own private stories, with different motivations. And when those private stories are revealed, the love still remained and carried the individuals through.
I especially liked the character of Dillard, who I feel was the most well-developed. The female characters at times seemed to carry too many stereotypes, but overall, I became invested in what happened to this family.
Looking forward to reading more from Betsy Carter.
August 6, 2020
Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn is a refreshing and engaging novel about three generations of women and their often complicated relationship.
The story is set in New Rochelle, outside New York City, starting in the 1920s when Geraldine Wingo is a young woman who makes men’s head turn. She gets pregnant, but she resents her new-born daughter, Emilia Mae, who she is convinced is the devil. As years pass, their relationship doesn’t improve, although the birth of Alice, Emilia Mae’s daughter, brings her back to live under the family roof.
Dillard Fox is a man with a talent for music looking for a bit of normalcy. When he arrives in New Rochelle, Geraldine, Emilia Mae, and Alice are all drawn to him, but could his refusal to talk about his past risk their chance to be a happy family?
I really enjoyed this novel. The characters are very likable and they feel authentic. Geraldine’s hope to be desired often alienates her from her family. All Emilia Mae wants is to be loved, but she often finds herself heartbroken. Alice looks for the father she never met. And Dillard is ready to sacrifice is true self to have a family and normal life. I loved these characters and I was completely drawn to their stories.
In Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn, Betsy Carter explores the complicated relationship between mother and daughter, people’s search for love, accepting one self, and the importance of family and close friends. It is a compelling, thought-provoking, immersive story with beautiful characters that come to life thanks to the author’s brilliant and addictive writing style and I couldn’t recommend this book enough, so please go and buy a copy!
The story is set in New Rochelle, outside New York City, starting in the 1920s when Geraldine Wingo is a young woman who makes men’s head turn. She gets pregnant, but she resents her new-born daughter, Emilia Mae, who she is convinced is the devil. As years pass, their relationship doesn’t improve, although the birth of Alice, Emilia Mae’s daughter, brings her back to live under the family roof.
Dillard Fox is a man with a talent for music looking for a bit of normalcy. When he arrives in New Rochelle, Geraldine, Emilia Mae, and Alice are all drawn to him, but could his refusal to talk about his past risk their chance to be a happy family?
I really enjoyed this novel. The characters are very likable and they feel authentic. Geraldine’s hope to be desired often alienates her from her family. All Emilia Mae wants is to be loved, but she often finds herself heartbroken. Alice looks for the father she never met. And Dillard is ready to sacrifice is true self to have a family and normal life. I loved these characters and I was completely drawn to their stories.
In Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn, Betsy Carter explores the complicated relationship between mother and daughter, people’s search for love, accepting one self, and the importance of family and close friends. It is a compelling, thought-provoking, immersive story with beautiful characters that come to life thanks to the author’s brilliant and addictive writing style and I couldn’t recommend this book enough, so please go and buy a copy!
December 17, 2020
The story of three women, Geraldine, Emilia Mae and Alice Wingo. Geraldine is a young beauty who marries and when she gives birth to Emilia Mae, feels that life has robbed her. Emilia Mae is the child who is searching for a mother's love and wondering why other children receive warm smiles at the bakery the family runs and she doesn't. Alice is the child of Emilia Mae, who bcame pregnant while living at the Neptune Inn where her Mother sent her to work and live at the age of 15. Alice is the wonder child and everyone loves her as she brings light and love wherever she goes. Dillard Fox is a young man who comes into town, escaping his own troubles. All three women fall in love with him. Geraldine flirts with him, Alice finds the father figure/friend that she never had and Emilia Mae finds the stable, loving man she has been looking for. Dillard enjoys his life with the Wingo women but there are secrets he cananot share and when they come to light, everyone's life changes.
July 18, 2023
The writing was good but the content left me feeling a bit let down. Just some of the stuff was too tropey. The title also made little sense when it comes down to it. The Neptune Inn was barely in the book.
After thinking on it for a good portion of the day, I downgraded my 3 stars to 2. I just can't stand what she did to all her gay characters. One dies of suicide, as soon as he may be found out, one goes into the closet for years, finally comes out and then has a miserable existence until he dies of AIDS, and the only one who seems to be ok is the one who is living his closeted life with his beard and his boys on the side. I just really think it would have been nice, if by the 80s, one of the gay characters could have at least one fulfilling gay relationship.
Oh yeah and the person who was heavily implied to be a lesbian, just kind of wasn't one anymore by the end of the book.
After thinking on it for a good portion of the day, I downgraded my 3 stars to 2. I just can't stand what she did to all her gay characters. One dies of suicide, as soon as he may be found out, one goes into the closet for years, finally comes out and then has a miserable existence until he dies of AIDS, and the only one who seems to be ok is the one who is living his closeted life with his beard and his boys on the side. I just really think it would have been nice, if by the 80s, one of the gay characters could have at least one fulfilling gay relationship.
Oh yeah and the person who was heavily implied to be a lesbian, just kind of wasn't one anymore by the end of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2020
Lost Souls at Neptune Inn is a decade-spanning family saga that centers around three generations of Wingo woman and the handsome stranger that comes into their lives.
The characters are all realistically imperfect, though sometimes their mood swings seemed a little abrupt. They all struggled with how to love their families and the expectations of society.
I loved the idea of finding both a family and a home in this book, and how it’s never too late to find love. I was surprised by the direction this story went with the characters’ secrets. The ending gave me all the feels. Three stars
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for a copy of this book!
The characters are all realistically imperfect, though sometimes their mood swings seemed a little abrupt. They all struggled with how to love their families and the expectations of society.
I loved the idea of finding both a family and a home in this book, and how it’s never too late to find love. I was surprised by the direction this story went with the characters’ secrets. The ending gave me all the feels. Three stars
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for a copy of this book!
April 23, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up.
It's hard to rate a book when you truly didn't like two of the characters as much as I disliked Geraldine and Emilia. Yes, they are important to the story and their evolution (if you can say they changed) was necessary to move the book forward but they were both highly unlikeable for me.
Dillard and Alice saved the day for sure and the struggles both went through hurt my heart and made me smile at times. This story approached a lot of topics that multigeneration families so entwined with each other experience and I appreciated it included topics that may make others feel uncomfortable.
It's hard to rate a book when you truly didn't like two of the characters as much as I disliked Geraldine and Emilia. Yes, they are important to the story and their evolution (if you can say they changed) was necessary to move the book forward but they were both highly unlikeable for me.
Dillard and Alice saved the day for sure and the struggles both went through hurt my heart and made me smile at times. This story approached a lot of topics that multigeneration families so entwined with each other experience and I appreciated it included topics that may make others feel uncomfortable.
July 16, 2022
y’all idek where to begin. literally 10/10 book, at first, in the first few chapters, i thought that this book was gonna be boring and historical and just not good because it was just the Wingos story, and then it added Dillards story and I got so confused, but after reading it more and more, I got so enthralled into the book that i finished it in the span of a week but actually over a few days (this week has been busy and hasn’t given me time to read), so essentially i finished this book in like 3-4 days. also i got it from dollar tree but i don’t even care bc its that great of a book also i cried like 6 times total, there’s too many deaths and attachments i love it
October 23, 2020
*I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.*
This was just not my type of read. All of the characters were just a little un-believeable to me. I mean, not every character has to be quirky. And none of these were very likeable either. I think the author is an excellent writer and the story elements, and the way things tie together is good. I just couldn't find a character that I could connect with and it just wasn't my cup of tea. But, I have read and will read more from Betsy Carter because her writing is excellent.
This was just not my type of read. All of the characters were just a little un-believeable to me. I mean, not every character has to be quirky. And none of these were very likeable either. I think the author is an excellent writer and the story elements, and the way things tie together is good. I just couldn't find a character that I could connect with and it just wasn't my cup of tea. But, I have read and will read more from Betsy Carter because her writing is excellent.
January 2, 2021
Lost Souls at the Neptune Inn by Betsy Carter follows three generations of the women of the Wingo family in their search for love and acceptance. When Dillard Fox comes to town he enchants all three ladies and they accept him into the family. But, Dillard holds secrets that will eventually be too hard to keep silent.
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This book was such a departure for me from the romance driven fiction I always read. It was a breath of fresh air. Deeply developed characters that I developed such empathy for along their journeys. Highly recommend.
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This book was such a departure for me from the romance driven fiction I always read. It was a breath of fresh air. Deeply developed characters that I developed such empathy for along their journeys. Highly recommend.
April 7, 2021
This book portrays many thing.. How people are shaped by the way they are raised. The lies we keep from hurting those we love. Life. Questioning ones sexuality in a time when it wasn't accepted . Loving unconditionally. This book frustrated me in the beginning and 2 out of the 3 main females I didn't care for but Dillard and Alice made this story worth readjng. Also I definitely spent the last chapter bawling like a baby. Yeah that's all you're for getting a review from me since my thoughts are all over the place with this one .
May 26, 2022
Wow, such a bittersweet tale of loss, despair, love & the families we need to create in order to feel whole.
This character driven storyline will leave you breathless & longing for more, for days after you finish reading it.
Betsy Carter writes with heart & grit as she truly understands the outsiders point of view as she delves into the mindset of our antihero, Dillard Fox. Such a sympathetic character that struggles with identity, sexuality & his need for family. He is only 1 of many endearing characters of this fabulous narrative.
A well deserved 4.5 stars as it left me gobsmacked!
This character driven storyline will leave you breathless & longing for more, for days after you finish reading it.
Betsy Carter writes with heart & grit as she truly understands the outsiders point of view as she delves into the mindset of our antihero, Dillard Fox. Such a sympathetic character that struggles with identity, sexuality & his need for family. He is only 1 of many endearing characters of this fabulous narrative.
A well deserved 4.5 stars as it left me gobsmacked!
September 6, 2025
I loved this book! Geraldine is the matriarch of her family after her husband Earle dies. She has a daughter Emilia Mae. Geraldine isn’t really enamored of motherhood. Then Emilia Mae has Alice. Alice is the light and the hope of the family. She also has the voice of a songbird. Dillard Fox arrives in town. He has secrets. He was in love with a man who died in the hotel room they shared. He marries Emilia Mae, but secrets become known. Relationships end, and new ones start. Alice becomes a mother of a boy and then a girl. New beginnings. Dillard ends up dying of Aids. Sad endings!
September 16, 2020
Full disclosure: Betsy is a friend but that doesn't mitigate my rating. I have always admired her ability to create memorable characters and once again, the cast here is fully and richly presented. This is a warm and satisfying story of relationships and families that is told without sentimentality and as with her other books, I find that the plot and people remain fresh and vivid long after I finish the book.
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