5 stars
“…why should anyone ever have to hold in their happiness?”
Vivian Dunn, For the Love of Many
For the Love of Many is a period romance book based on the life of Joan Crawford (“Billie”).
Billie is a showgirl from Kansas City who fights her way from Detroit to a Broadway chorus in the mid-1920s. She meets a more experienced dancer, Nadine, and the two chorines are immediately drawn to each other.
One of the most masterfully written books I’ve read to date, Dunn’s descriptions effectively capture the heady buzz of working in show business in New York City and the tumult of new emotions Billie feels.
The relationship that develops between the two women forms the heart of the book. Dunn vividly captures the explosive feelings that develop and expertly expresses how each woman views herself in relation to the other.
Themes of sexual abuse, trauma, addiction, abortion, and even dealings with the mob are skillfully and subtly woven into this intense love story.
The book rhythmically moves along, paced like a musical with chaotic scenes balanced by slower ballads. There were a few times when the book felt a bit repetitive but this was a minor issue in the context of the story as a whole.
This book will appeal to readers interested in a glimpse of what it is like to be a young woman trying to make it in show biz in New York City in the roaring 20s.
Thank you the author and Booktasters for providing a free e-ARC of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
The book is available in multiple formats on Amazon.
