The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy


This book was really hard to put down. With exceptionally good writing and a wonderfully imaginative and believable story line, Laura Moriarty has crafted a wonderful story that will stick with the reader.



Cora Carlisle seems to have a perfect life, with her handsome and successful husband, her handsome and smart twin boys, getting ready to go off to college and her lovely Kansas home. So why is she up for the job of taking the rebellious and beautiful Louise Brooks to New York City for her summer dance classes? Sure Louise Brooks is an intriguing character, the gorgeous flapper star of the 1920's silent film era. But the real mystery here is Cora, who is quiet, unassuming and well mannered. She feels a real need to visit NYC. And that is where the interesting story of this chaperone really begins.


Ms. Moriarty does a masterful job of telling this story. This is a great summer read, but more solid and well told than chick lit. I'll admit to never having an interest in this author's work before in the past, as they did look like chick lit to me...not quite serious enough to really interest me, but I took a chance on this one, and it was well worth it. This is great historical fiction also, a wonderful portrait of New York City in the 1920's as well as rural America (Kansas) at a time when Americans were experiencing extreme upheaval (the Great Depression after the Stock Market Crash of 1929).  I still don't know if I'd be interested in Ms. Moriarty's other books, but I'll be on the lookout for her next one, for certain.


4 stars