Monday, July 9, 2012

Book Review: Diva, by Jillian Larkin

I love historical fiction, and the 20s are one of my favorite periods to read about. Diva provides more exposure to this time period, even if I was a little disappointed in some of the plot.

Diva is the third and final book in The Flappers series, and while it could be read as a stand-alone, I would recommend starting with the first book, Vixen, and reading them in order. I loved Vixen. Our three main characters, Clara, Gloria, and Lorraine, are in Chicago together, sneaking around, learning about being flappers, keeping secrets, and falling in love. They interact with each other the whole book.  The second book, Ingenue, takes place in New York. The girls are all living separate lives, and aren't in touch any more. Diva, the third book, takes place in New York also, and it is just more of the second book.

The central figure in Diva is Forrest Hamilton, a Broadway director, whose wealth is being investigated by the FBI, and Gloria is helping them in exchange for her freedom. Clara is devastated that Marcus is engaged to someone else. And Lorraine is trying to save Marcus from the suspected gold-digger. They all end up together at a huge party at Forrest's estate. They've all grown, and changed, and learned hard lessons, but still love to dress up for a party.

Diva is definitely a "Happily Ever After" novel, and that's OK, but the actual scenario at the end was a bit cheesy. I could picture this scene on the screen -- maybe in a dramatic comedy or something.

So, while I did enjoy the story, I didn't really feel the need for a distinct third book; to me it was much the same as Ingenue. I still recommend The Flappers series, especially if you enjoy the 20s, and of course, if you've read the first two you must read Diva. For teens who enjoy historical fashion and style, along with romance and lots of drama, Diva and the other books in the series are perfect.

Published by Delacorte, July 10, 2012
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
320 pages

Rating: 3/5




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