This book could also be titled How to Destroy your Relationship in Two Weeks. But that's just my opinion.
The time period is the 1950’s and setting is off-season Cape May, New Jersey. Some of the appeal was the cover, the time period and subject of relationships.
It’s the tale of virginal newlyweds Henry and Effie slowly and shyly getting to know one another. Seemingly good people at heart, they cautiously learn about each other’s bodies and love. They talk about their future, having children, settling down in their small Georgia town. A few days into the honeymoon Effie wants to go home because Cape May during off-season isn’t as fun as remembered it. When she visited as a young girl it was the summer high season. So much was going on then. If only they had left when Effie first suggested it. But then we wouldn't have a story as it all revolves around the two week honeymoon. The holiday homes are empty and most stores are closed. One afternoon they notice cars at one home down the block. As they stop by to say hello, Effie is surprised to see a woman from her childhood. Clara was much older and used to tease Effie when she was a young girl, embarrassing her. Clara, who has the moral code of a cat in heat, is partying with her friends Max and Alma. Against Effie’s better judgement they are cajoled into staying longer and have dinner and drinks with Clara, Max and Alma.
Things start spiraling out of control soon afterwards. Gin and tonics are consumed by the bucketful. Eventually they break into the other homes, vacant holiday homes that won’t be visited until the following May. They walk through the houses on the block and look at the possessions as if they are in a museum. They try on clothes and play with homeowner's belongings. Creepy isn’t it?
Here come some spoilers
Henry is a complete piece of crap. While he cheats on his wife he also wonders how she could have gone off on a boat outing without him. He wouldn’t have gone anywhere without her, he muses.
Seriously, one of the worst examples of a husband Ever. Not that any of the other characters are sterling examples of virtue. None of them.
The last 15% of the book seems to be written by someone else. Almost the entire book focuses on the two week honeymoon period and the interactions with Clara and her group. Honestly, the best way I can categorize it is under the genre pornography. There are graphic sex scenes, very detailed, throughout the book. It was expected there would be passages about love and sex as the book is advertised as a plot of “marriage, love and sexuality and the lifelong repercussions a group of debauched cosmopolitans may have.” That’s an understatement.
Another unbelievable part is when Effie wonders if she is pregnant. OK, so.....she was a virgin and it's only been two weeks at the most and she thinks she's pregnant. I can suspend disbelief for many scenarios but this didn't qualify. Never mind the other "relationships" that formed, also unlikely but hey....maybe I'm naive.
The last bit of the story wraps up with the final 50 years of Henry and Effie’s respective lives. Bam, bam, bam you are given the life story in a fast forward mode.
If graphic sex scenes offend then skip this book. If you would like a snapshot of 1950’s depravity and a dose of double standards from our Henry, by all means pick this one up.
Netgalley kindly gave me a complimentary copy prior to it's publication on April 30, 2019. Opinions are mine and I was not compensated for my honest review.
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