Hello friends! February's book is The Parting Glass by Gina Marie Guadagnino.
In the early 19th century high society New York, we follow Mary Ballard. She is a dutiful lady's maid to a wealthy, accomplished belle Charlotte Walden. On her nights off, Mary sheds her prim and proper persona she must keep to stay employed, to her true self--Maire O'Farren, an Irish exile. She finds release from her frustration in New York's gritty underworld, in the arms of a prostitute and as drinking companion to a motley crew consisting of members of a dangerous secret society.
Charlotte, though a member of high society, has a secret of her own. She's having an affair with the stable groom, who is actually Mary's brother. When the truth of both women's double lives begins to unravel, Mary is left to face consequences. Forced to choose between loyalty to her brother and loyalty to Charlotte, between true freedom and society's respect. Mary learns that her fate is in her own hands alone.
Trigger Warning!!! We would like to notify our readers that this book contains sexual content and adult language
Pre-Read Thoughts:
Jacilyn: Well, friends, we’re diving back into historical fiction to see if we get into it any better this time around. The Parting Glass takes place in Victorian New York and features a lesbian immigrant protagonist that leads a double life. Sexuality is clearly a theme in this book, but it doesn’t appear to be a romance novel. I think it will be interesting to read about a time period that I’m so unfamiliar with, particularly when it comes to the aspects of nationality, sexuality, and social class.
Michaela: As always I'm hesitant to read a historical fiction but I do actually love period TV shows and this book would fit into the type of story I usually like to watch. The Parting Glass takes place in Victorian New York, which I actually know a little about which makes me excited to read a story based in that time. The fact that this book deals with sexuality was a big sell for me. So often sexuality is only seen as a theme in books told in a modern day world, so I think it will be exciting to read about someone who is gay in a historic time period.
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