Out of the Easy by, Ruta Sepetys

Summary:

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. (Via Goodreads.com)

Pages: 346

 

Release Date: February 12th 2013

 

Review: 

     I have been a big fan of Ruta Sepetys writing since her first novel, Between Shades of Gray.  Her novels got me into the historical fiction genre.   
        I felt like I could really relate to Josie and Patrick, with their book reading habits and just their overall love for reading. Like Will Herondale from the Infernal Devices once said, "We live and breathe words."
        I thought it was interesting that Josie's attachment to Mr. Hearne was because she imagined him as her father. Even though Cokie was like a father to her, hence the reason why she ended up changing her last name. I still believe that Cincinnati is Josie's father, after what he said to her mother about how Josie is so much like him. I never understood why Josie could not let her mother go, her mother never cared for her, plus she stole all her possessions. Willie was the closest person to be her mother and Josie did not seem to realize that until after Willie's death. 
        Charles' death was rather depressing since Charles was the one to take in Josie and the first to be a father figure to her. It was interesting to find out that one of the reasons that they think Charles was so messed up was because Cincinnati beat Charles near death when he came to rob Charles and Patrick's home. The incident was indirectly Josie's fault because Josie had told her mother some of the nice items they owned. 
        I was rather shocked when I discovered Patrick was gay. I knew right away when he told Josie he liked someone else, but Josie assumed it was Kitty, James's girlfriend. I knew right away that Patrick was in love with James. I liked Patrick but I kind of hated him when it was revealed that he had only kissed and kind of dated Josie to get over James. Josie deserved better than that after everything she had been through. But, I still want Patrick to be happy.
        I am proud that even though Josie was rejected to attend Smith she is still going to try. I thought it was cute Josie and Jesse were using Cokie's map to get to Smith!
        I am happy that even though Patrick did not work out with Josie, Jesse did. In the beginning and middle of the book I thought Patrick and Josie had more in common, but once I finished the book, Jesse and Josie actually have more in common. I think it was funny that both Josie and Jesse are named after people their parents hoped they would take after and neither of them will.
       I really wish Louise, Josie's mother, and Cincinnati would have been arrested for killing Mr. Hearne because he seemed like such a good man and he deserved justice. I wonder where Louise and Cincinnati will end up since they are still kind of being hunted by the mob.
       Overall, Out of the Easy was mysterious, bold, compelling, edgy, suspenseful, and emotional.  I thought Out of the Easy was great but if I had to chose my favorite Ruta Sepetys novel, it would have to be Between Shades of Gray. 
~Casey