Don’t Forget to Write
In 1960, rich and spoiled Marilyn Kleinman is caught making out with the rabbi’s son during services when they crash through the stained glass in full view of everyone. Scandal erupts, and the boy in question is soon on her doorstep, along with stern but anxious parents and a marriage proposal. After refusing to marry the young man, Marilyn is sent to stay with her Aunt Ada in Philadelphia. Aunt Ada is a matchmaker, and Marilyn becomes her temporary assistant, wooing young men to the business in order to match them with Ada’s endless list of female clients. Before long, Ada follows her clients to the Jersey Shore for the summer with Marilyn in tow.
This is a bright, humorous, and sometimes sad coming of age story that will keep the reader captivated. The characters absolutely spring to life. Marilyn begins as the epitome of a rich, naïve, self-involved young woman, but we soon see other sides to her. She does not want to be married off, wants more control over her own life, and wants to become a writer. Ada is the most intriguing and captivating character of all. She is strict, outspoken, sometimes hypocritical, and downright funny at times. Her unyielding façade sometimes slips to reveal a big heart, but she does not hesitate to make Marilyn face the truth about herself. Marilyn and Ada are surrounded by a strong cast of characters that includes controlling parents, old and new friends, and potential love interests. This is a funny but realistic look at the more restricted lives of women in the 1960s. It will instantly transport you to Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore, and to a time when a decade of change for women was just beginning.
