Book Review: Out Of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Synopsis:

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. 

She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny

My Review:

   I found the premise of this book had me curious from the very beginning. I mean come on, a house full of prostitutes?! And as much as I found the plot to be interesting and -intriguing- I also found it a bit too odd and also, I wasn't quite sure of the time setting of this story, not until I reread th synopsis actually that I knew it was a historical fiction novel, set in the 1950s which did fit because there was no mention of any modern inventions.

   Nonetheless, the plot itself was different in some aspects and I liked the diversity. The events and the path of this story was one that I personally couldn't predicted, I didn't actually have the will to think or predict how this book will end.

   Josie. That girl killed it. As the main character, the story follows this girl through this life of hers. A life that was full of bad people and that included both criminals and prostitutes - prostitutes yes, but there wasn't anything that was extremely inappropriate or offensive, just the reference of it - suffering, hope and also good people, she actually had good people in her life and that was what got her through all of it. I loved Josie, despite everything that I was aganist her or the other characters and I thought that she was well written. actually, all the characters were well-written and it all went very good together; the characters and the ploy.

   The writing style was good and easy to follow. However, the ending was different, happy kind of different after all the darkness. And I liked it! I liked that such a relatively 'sad' book if I could say, had this ending and not only that, but Josie ended up with a cute and gad3 boyfriend.

   Overall, I did like this book. The idea of the story is not one that'd read about everyday and the author managed to make it appropriate enough, if you overlook the fact that this book revolves around a girl who is deeply infuriated with prostitutes but she herself wasn't one. And despite the oddness of the story, it did make an enjoyable and different book to an extent. It was a story about finding love, hope, safety, peace and happiness. And to be honest though, I can definitely see a lot of people hating this book. So if you are looking for a bit of an unconventional realistic fiction novel then, I would say that this book might spark your interest.

Title: Out of the Easy

Author: Ruta Sepetys

Series: Stand-alone

Source: Owned

Published: February 12th 2013 by Philomel Books
Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 3/5

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" Eleanor Roosevelt
xoxo, Mariam