Henry and Effie, newly-weds from Georgia, are thrilled to be spending
their honeymoon on Cape May. Effie remembers her childhood summers
and all the fun she had, but they arrive off-season, and it’s a
different, deserted place.
Henry and Effie are
inexperienced lovers. They hope the honeymoon will be a fulfilling
sensual experience, but they’re shy and the town is boring. They’re
ready to leave when they meet Clara, a socialite, her partner, Max,
and Alma, his sister. Effie’s not eager to meet up with Clara who
bullied where when they were children. However, the only excitement
in town is the parties thrown by Clara and Max. The parties turn into
gin soaked sex escapades. Not only do they drink, but they break into
empty houses and generally behave as if in an erotic dream.
Effie and,
particularly Henry, become caught up in the wild parties and casual
sex. It changes them and shows what can happen when innocents are
thrown into a decadent scene. There is a great deal of sex in the
book, and I found the parties rather repetitious. However, the ending
pulls the story together and gives it focus.
Henry’s experience
and how he changes form the major thrust of the story. Unfortunately,
I found Henry a rather uninteresting character. Effie is much in the
background. That leaves the wild parties as the main element of the
book. It’s an interesting look at 1950s society.
I received this book
from Net Galley for this review.
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