Reviews with content warning for Rape - The Manhattan Girls: A Novel of Dorothy Parker and Her Friends

I've adored Dorothy Parker since I was a teen, and as soon as I read the blurb, I knew this book was a must-read. I loved this narrative of Dorothy and her pals—real women who made significant contributions to the arts scene in NYC in the 1920's, who will inspire readers to run to Google to learn more about them.

Paul has created a richly layered interpretation of their lives and friendships, which she weaves together with great skill; I couldn't put this one down, because I needed to know what would happen next in these women's fascinating lives. However, the author is careful to note the lines between fact and fiction, so as not to lead readers astray.

My only critique is that, at times, I felt Dorothy was portrayed not just as flawed and fragile, but rather tragic. Perhaps I just don't want to see her in that light, but it felt a tad overdone to me.

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ems_rxlibrary's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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micasreads's review against another edition

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4.0

Set in the 1920s, four women develop a friendship that will see them through some of their worst and best times. Dottie Parker is known for her sarcasm and biting wit and believes herself to be strong and untouchable but discovers that is not the case when her husband decides they need some time apart and she falls head over heels in love with a playboy. As her world falls apart, she depends on her friendships with Jane Grant, the first female journalist for the New York Times, Winifred Lenihan, a Broadway actress, and Peggy Leach, an award-winning novelist. During this story, each woman goes through their own traumas and achievements and learns that sometimes friends are the only people you can count on.

Gill Paul's books always take me on an adventure. They are nice slow burns for me because each character has their own detailed storyline. Dorothy Parker was the only one of the women in this book that I had heard of and I found her story to be extremely sad and heartbreaking. The other women I had not heard of looked forward to learning more about their stories. This book tells a beautiful story about life and the value of friendship.

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oceanwriter's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Let me start off by saying the atmosphere of the story is superb. Gill Paul illustrates the era well through witty writing. I've only heard of Dorothy Parker by name and I was completely unfamiliar with the other main characters (Winifred Lenihan, Jane Grant, and Peggy Leach). This was a good exploration of their world, especially the ups and downs of friendship.

My reason for giving two stars: Content. I can't articulate the exact reasons why without giving potential spoilers. People familiar with these women's lives will not be surprised, so that's on my end for being in the dark. I'll leave it by saying certain events and themes were upsetting to me. If I'd picked this up on my own I would have stopped reading. Because this is an ARC review, I wanted to follow through. Given some of the parts I didn't like weren't isolated (and told in detail), I ended up skimming the later part of the book. Under other circumstances, this would be a book I would enjoy. Although, I did not find myself particularly attached to any of the characters, but again, I was unfamiliar with them and sometimes that influences my taste when reading about real-life characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

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