As Black Tuesday triggers financial despondency, three young couples in New York City must trade their lives of luxury for poverty, tragedy, and setbacks. When Jonathan Garrett’s brokerage firm collapses on the day of the Stock Market Crash, he unites with his closest friends (and former business partners), Aryl and Caleb, to relocate, track down a low-paying job, and cultivate a new life. As … life.
As the three men toil in their laborious jobs, their wives, Ava, Arianna, and Claire, slowly adapt to life in a shabby, rundown apartment, learning to sew, cook, and clean. With the help of their former, outspoken, Irish maid, Maura, and a new, equally Irish friend, Shannon, the wives become even closer than before.
The couples’ rocky path leads to more turmoil, however, when a business rival, Victor Drayton, creates one disaster after another. From petty tricks to outright violence, Victor’s nefarious mind will stop at nothing to beat down Jonathan’s last glimmer of hope.
Despite everything, Jonathan and his friends are fixated on surviving.
Emotional and financial destruction nip at their heels, until finally, with a lucky twist of fate, they escape city life and begin anew in their hometown of Rockport, Massachusetts.
A story set in the past, 1929 is full of romance, drama, and humor. Vivid, expertly crafted characters make this novel more than memorable—1929 is unforgettable.
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Boring
I had trouble getting into this book and stopped reading it when I was half way done.
Loved it and the characters.
Wonderful read. I immediately bought the next in the series and have now read all the books in this series, the Purling Road serials and the extra side novellas. ML Gardener is a very talented storyteller and makes the years startng the depression believable and heartwarming as well as informative.
I loved this book. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author in this series.
This book really takes you back to 1929 and the devastation following the stock market crash it further allowed you to follow 3 families for 40 years. Interesting read
Lots of twists & turns
had a good time reading it
I loved this look at the personal impact of the stock market crash on a few young, affluent couples. Interesting take on how different personalities handle the same type of loss and how there are many things far more important than wealth.
This book although well written is very slow moving and the characters seem shallow it could have been so much more interesting.
Excellent start and character building. Realistic progression of adapting to a new life situation. Towards the end of book 1 a tendency to be soap opera story line. I will start book two and see how it goes.
Kept me reading the series
A good story about determined people making the best of their world after the financial crash
Wonderful series. Hooks you from page one.
I was tempted several times to put it down and give up on it. So many of the characters were so perfect, their relationships so idealized, that it often felt unrealistic. I also had trouble remembering which husband and wife belonged with each other, perhaps because they were all so “wonderful.” But I guess there were tragedies and challenges …
I believed I was gaining insight into how people dealt with the big crash and how they could find a way to survive and begin again.
Will read more of this series
Loved the story. Am reading the rest of the series.
I am not an avid fan of historical fiction, but I thoroughly connected to this book and I intend to read the rest in the series.
More real life than we like to think about
I’ve read several of these in the series. You get attached to the characters.