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Jalopy

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New Jersey, 1928.

All her life, Etta Wozniak has toiled on her family’s small farm, located on the outskirts of a lake resort town. After losing her mother and siblings to one misfortune or another, life has fallen into a rut of drudgery and predictability. That is, until the day she discovers something in an unlikely place; an old car. Energized by the prospects of a world beyond the one she knows, she decides to make this her last summer on the farm. However, disaster is not through with Etta yet, and there will be consequences for her upcoming departure.

Art Adams, a recent college man, arrives in town for a family reunion. After years of moving from one city to another and avoiding conflict whenever it tries to find him, he becomes enamored with the lake. However, there is another reason for Art’s visit. He is to marry a woman he has never met before; an arrangement that was made on his behalf and without his knowledge. More comfortable around numbers and machines than people, Art is reluctant to confront his parents on the matter. But if he decides to do nothing, he risks losing who and what he has come to love.

In a small town of farmers and firemen, musicians and moonshiners, bossy parents and barn parties, two people will come to understand what they must give up in order to have the chance to build something new.

487 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 21, 2021

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About the author

Wes Verde

4 books14 followers
Wes is an engineer by trade, a busybody by habit, and a lifelong Jersey boy.

Writing has been a hobby in one form or another since 2006 when he started drawing 3-panel comics. When he is not putting words down, he is picking them up; the “to-read" pile only seems to grow larger.

A fan of nature, he spends as much time outside as possible.

https://linktr.ee/wesverde

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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Bonnie DeMoss.
958 reviews188 followers
May 18, 2021
Etta and her father are all that are left of their once large and thriving family, as illness and tragedy have visited them often. It is 1928, and they are struggling to meet a huge tax burden on their failing farm. Etta goes into town to sell eggs every day, and on the way back she often walks to a secret, hidden place she has found. Resting in that place is an old, abandoned jalopy, and Etta often sits in the jalopy, opens a map she found in the car, and dreams of places she wants to go.

Art, even at over 6 feet, is in the smallest of all of his brothers, and they are towered over by their strict, controlling father. Art's father is a very successful and well-to-do salesman of refrigerator units. He spends his days on sales calls trying to convince business owners to switch from ice houses to electric refrigeration. Art's mother is controlling in her own way and has arranged a marriage for Art. Art is not enthusiastic about any of this, but has learned not to rock the boat. He is going along with everything, and spends his days on uncomfortable sales calls with his father. In his his free time, he is avoiding his new fiancee. Then a night out with his brothers ends with Art sleeping it off in Etta's barn.

This is a captivating novel that draws you into Etta's world immediately. The author does a good job of depicting the drudgery and fear involved in barely scraping by with the tax man looming. The class division in the town between the locals and the part-time, wealthy lakeside resort visitors is well portrayed. Etta is an endearing protagonist, and you will begin rooting for her immediately. Art's situation of being bullied in his own family is also well written, and I found myself wanting to knock some heads together on his behalf.

My only criticism is that the book ended rather abruptly, followed by an epilogue that was set five years later and basically explained everything that happened. I would rather have been shown what happened than told in an epilogue. That being said, this is a beautiful, endearing novel that will transport you to a time when life was hard, loss was prevalent, and love, if you could find it, was cherished.

This book is available on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free. I highly recommend you check it out.
Profile Image for Maja  - BibliophiliaDK ✨.
1,218 reviews996 followers
May 19, 2021
BEAUTIFUL AND REAL HISTORICAL FICTION

The first thing that caught my attention with this book was the realism. It's real, it's gritty at times and it's realistic - just the kind of thing to suck you in if you're a fan of historical fiction. America in the late 20's was a time of unimaginable lows and Verde does a perfect job of capturing the desperate atmosphere.

👍 What I Liked 👍

Art: Art is the kind of guy that you can easily fall in love with. He's awkward, quiet, nerdy and attentive. I enjoyed seeing him grow over the course of the story and become more his own person, get out from under his family's thumb. I enjoyed every scene he was in simply because he was so cute!

Etta: Etta is a character to admire. She is hard-working, dedicated and self-sacrificing. Even though she dreams of leaving home and going to the city, she stays to help her father. Early on I found myself wishing all the best for Etta.

Realism: The historical accuracy and realism of this book was such a great surprise. Usually historical realism can feel like just about any period, but I really felt the early depression era vibe. Very well done.

👎 What I Disliked 👎

Pace: For me, the pacing was a little off. It took a while to get going and the ending felt abrupt. Of course, that's just my taste.

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

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Profile Image for Connie Saunders.
1,901 reviews163 followers
September 24, 2021
Jalopy is set in 1928, as the Depression era is about to begin, and even though the setting of this book is New Jersey, it could easily have been my home state of Kentucky. I've heard my grandparents speak about the hard times during this period in our nation's history, and I imagine that there were times when they wished they were someplace other than the farm they lived on. Author Wes Verde paints a vivid portrait of two very different people, who aren't satisfied with the lives that they're living. Etta is a young woman who can't wait to leave her home and the life that she's come to resent, as she and her father struggle daily to save the family farm. She feels trapped, and her only comfort comes from slipping away to sit in an abandoned car, to dream of what it would be like to live in a big city. Etta's chance meeting with Art and their eventual friendship offers her a glimpse of what could be, and Art finds the elusive peace he's been searching for. Will they both realize that New Jersey is exactly where they need to be?

Etta and Art are well-defined and likeable characters, but I was especially drawn to Etta. Back-breaking work and bouts of hunger may be her fate, but she doesn't give up her dreams of New York City, where music is ever present! I enjoyed seeing her friendship blossom with Art, and I could only hope that a deeper relationship might occur. Verde has a special way with words, and I recommend this intriguing story to all who enjoy historical fiction.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.
1 review
January 11, 2021
Jalopy was a pleasant surprise! I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I found myself back in 1928 seeing the world and the culture as the people of that time did. Ten years after WW1 ended, Herbert Hoover becomes president , the first all talking movie was shown in NY, the first U.S. flight to Australia and many other firsts, a time of great change and growth in America.

I watched as two people from two very different circumstances struggled through their individual situations on a path to finally meet and eventually fall in love. I found myself absorbed in the struggles they encountered and the way they individually created opportunity out of difficulty. I was so looking forward to seeing how it all would end and when it did I was disappointed to have finished.

I would highly recommend this book for everyone who would enjoy a realistic look to the past and see how much our culture has changed. For the better or worse, you can decide.

Please note, I received an advance copy of this book. I gave it an honest review.
Profile Image for  Bookoholiccafe.
700 reviews146 followers
October 2, 2021
Jalopy by Wes Verde is a rather big book, shy of 500 pages.

Set in 1928, a lake resort small town in New Jersey, we get to know Etta who has lost her mother and her siblings and since then, she’s been living a lonely and repetitive life of working on her family's small farm. She decides that she wants to explore other places and leave her family farm.
Then we get to learn about Art who is back in town to visit his family and is also there to go through an arranged marriage that was made without his knowledge.

The story starts slow and then moves to a better place, yet I found the ending unexcitedly abrupt. Our main characters are both loving, vividly portrayed and by the end of the book, they are well developed.
I liked the descriptive writing and how I could close my eyes and imagine the surrounding. A captivating novel that takes its readers to Etta’s world and her friendship with Art. This story was a beautiful and realistic look to history. if you enjoy historical realism then this is going to be the book for you.
Profile Image for Di.
776 reviews60 followers
December 13, 2021
This book starts slowly. Set in farm country, New Jersey in 1928. Etta lives on a farm with her father. Art is vacationing in the same area with his family. The book alternates chapters with these 2. Their paths don't actually cross until the 30% mark of the book.

Each of them leads difficult lives. Etta lives and farms with her father. The rest of her family (mother and siblings) have passed away. Etta works very hard. Art is the gentle, smart one in a group of rough, tough, bully brothers and extended Italian family,

Their relationship starts with a slow burn, neither one of them wise to the ways of the world. Both of them are a little shy and awkward.

I find the writing style in this book a bit wordy. While the descriptive passages of the area paint a vivid picture, I think the same thing could have been achieved with fewer words.

The characters and their evolvement are excellent. Etta's father is a hard working but sad man of few words. Etta's friend is self centred, lazy and pouty. Art's brothers are huge bullies with little respect for anyone else.

This is definitely a character-driven novel. But it seems to meander along. It could be called A Day in the Life of Etta. Or substitute Art., since the chapters alternate. The era seems to be depicted accurately.

There is much to like about this book. The premise is good, the characters are realistic. It was interesting watching Etta's and Art's relationship evolve. But, the pacing is off. The ending is abrupt, almost as if the author had enough. There is an Epilogue, but it seems like an afterthought.

Personally, I like a book that is a bit faster paced. But, this book would be perfect for someone who likes to relax within the setting of the book and stroll along with the characters

A notable quote from the book:
“it's not so much where you are, but who's there with you.”

Thank you to the author for providing me with a review copy.
Profile Image for Jennifer Guindon.
185 reviews
January 25, 2025
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book or what to expect, as I read it without reading the description.

However, I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the characters, their lives, and where they ended up.

The editing missed a lot, to the point of interfering with my pleasure of reading the story, but I'm not rating it less due to that. I do hope the author hires an editor and releases a cleaner version.
Profile Image for JoAnne.
3,224 reviews33 followers
September 28, 2021
Read my review on NovelsAlive.com by clicking the link below. It is also posted in full.

https://novelsalive.com/2021/09/28/4-...


Jalopy by Wes Verde is a historical fiction set in New Jersey and begins in 1928. It spans several years and has a satisfying conclusion, with the epilogue taking us back to where it all started five years later.

Jalopy is full of angst, hard work, poverty, too little to eat, moonshine and prohibition, unsavory characters, illegal activities, secrets, tears, tragedies, family and friends, romance, and love. There are very dysfunctional families who can’t seem to get out of their own way at times. Many characters display great perseverance—making the best of a bad situation—and knowing how to pinch a penny.

Etta and Art are the main characters, and we see life from their perspectives, written in alternating chapters. Their friendship evolves over time, especially when Art seems to always be there for Etta. Etta is also helpful in lending her support to Art or introducing him to others.

Art is the baby in a big family, and his older brothers treat him like a baby or a girl despite being a grown man who has graduated college and is trying to find his way in the family business and on his own. Etta and Art seem to want more, but life gets in the way—especially since they have trouble communicating and being all in. Art’s also harboring a secret that could easily destroy their relationship. We get to know several characters and see how some of their relationships evolve.

Set in a lake town, Mr. Verde beautifully depicts walking trails, the outdoors, and the scenery. He also describes farm life and living in a small town where people know each other and gossip abounds. There are also the outsiders who come to the lake to vacation and never seem to fit in. That’s not true of Art, who seems to make himself known even if he is shy.

Mr. Verde was able to weave several storylines together with hints along the way of what will transpire in the future. Ending the book with great closure along with some happily ever afters, Jalopy made for a satisfying ending.

I liked the vividness of the cover and the image of the jalopy, which is central to the story, especially as Etta dreams big and is featured prominently.

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Profile Image for Chelsie.
1,582 reviews
September 19, 2021
Leaving something behind, is sometimes what it takes to realize just how good thing were and that maybe that was home after all. This was a fun, lighthearted read about two people struggling through life in the late 1920’s and that what they want most in life is right in front of them, they just have to look with open eyes.

Etta and her dad are running on fumes trying to keep the farm going. But it is getting to be too much, and the tax collector has his hand out. There is not much more they can cut to save money and both are already running themselves all day long to make the most of their days and funds. Etta can’t wait to get out of this forsaken town. She sees death everywhere and dreams of the big cities she’d only just heard about. How much easier life must be in those places.

Art has always been the brother that was picked on, and his parents have now also set him up with an arranged marriage to some woman that will benefit his families name and standings. He can never seem to do anything well in his fathers eyes and now he is stuck with his whole family in the middle of nowhere while he is supposed to be courting some “matched” up woman who won’t hardly ever let him get a word in edge wise. This is not the life he pictured for himself, yet he doesn’t seem to have much choice.

Etta and Art meet under not the best of circumstances and the two find they are at ease with each other. Although what Etta want to run to, is where Art has just come from and often things can become awkward between them, but it’s a comfortable awkward. Etta is possibly having a change of mind about running off to a bit city and Art is falling into the quiet life in the country and happy for once until it’s found out that he is actually engaged.

Maybe Etta is meant for the big city after all, and Art is meant to take the path his parents have decided for him. But life has a funny way of always weaving them in and out of each others lives. I really enjoyed this light hearted read. Thank you to HFVBT for the invite, and the author for the free book. I really enjoyed Art and Etta’s storyline and reading about life in the 1920’s.
Profile Image for Heather Barksdale.
Author 2 books39 followers
March 2, 2022
“Jalopy” is told from two different points of view. Etta Wozniak is a young woman living on a small farm with her father, the last of her surviving family. Art Adams is a young man returning from college to visit his family and to come to terms with an arranged marriage with a woman he’s never even met before.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. There was something very sweet and honest about the tale and the two main characters. Etta was driven, headstrong, and hardworking. Art is a secretive dreamer determined to allow others to decide his future. She goes days without food while working physically all day long. He’s a college graduate trying to find his own voice. Etta’s proximity to tragedy is also a common thread throughout the story and provides a counterpoint to the sweeter side of the story. Find the rest of the review at heatherlbarksdale.com

I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Jean Holtof.
431 reviews4 followers
August 31, 2021
I loved the writing style that made me feel an integral part of this story. While it has quite somber aspects with the heartache that Etta has endured, the telling of the story is uplifting. The jalopy gives Etta a place to daydream about a future that is not so claustrophobic and work ridden. A beautiful setting that appeals to Art after living in big cities with the noise and clutter, the country offers him a quiet place to explore different parts of himself especially in relation to his family. An arranged marriage that he continues to avoid thinking about haunts his existence. A wonderful reading experience that I thoroughly enjoyed with the variety of characters and situations presented. An excellent first novel for Wes Verde. Well done.
Profile Image for Pam C..
246 reviews5 followers
August 28, 2021
The author does an amazing job of using picturesque language that draws you into the story as well as the setting. Great characters and storyline. You really get an insight into living in 1928 and the financial struggles of the time. If you like historical fiction, I highly recommend reading it!
9 reviews
July 2, 2021
Jalopy

This was a great story-sad at times. I read in one sitting!
Glad the 2 brothers got the right girls.
Also glad Art hung in there, & got the Jalopy for her & got it fixed.
441 reviews14 followers
August 21, 2021
This is a satisfying read. received as a complimentary review copy from the author via voracious readers only in return for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews