I think I need to start this review off with a confession.

This book was selected as the November book club selection and I usually read my book club books slowly. I read a set number of pages per day so that I can fully understand the story and have it fresh in my mind when it's time to discuss. I should have started this book on Tuesday and read 10 pages per day. But I picked it up last night (Thursday), planning to read only 30 pages to catch up. However, I couldn't stop reading and ended up reading the whole book straight through yesterday, staying up until 3:00 a.m. (which is not something I do often). Seriously, the book is that good. I even cried at the end.

So, let's get to it. Why was this book so great? Well, Preston herself says it best when she describes the way F. Scott Fitzgerald writes letters to Ginevra. She says, "This is what a true writer does, I decided. Makes real life better than it is." I've always had a bit of a crush on F. Scott Fitzgerald. Mostly because I knew that his books were somewhat semi-autobiographical and I thought he looked like a young Robert Redford who played Jay Gatsby in the movie adaptation of The Great Gatsby. But I had only read The Great Gatsby once in high school and wasn't really that interested. I liked the idea of Fitzgerald as a writer more than his actual writing. I have a copy of This Side of Paradise on my bookshelf that I've been meaning to read for a while but haven't gotten around to it. After reading Preston's book, I'm even more in love with this self-destructive author and I've decided to read the entire Fitzgerald bibliography within 12 months.

Here's how Preston does it. She takes well-known facts about the relationship between Fitzgerald and Ginevra King and stays faithful to them, only changing the timeline and some minor elements for pacing. She also adds one or two minor story lines to flesh out Ginevra's character. But she goes beyond just retelling the story to infuse it with the passion and sadness that is the essence of F. Scott Fitzgerald. It seems like she tries to romanticize Ginevra, making her feelings in later life more like Scott's. In reality, it seems that Ginevra didn't regret how she treated Fitzgerald.

There are some great themes in this book. One is that falling in love with the idea of a person is easier than accepting them for who they really are with all their faults. This is an irony because Preston creates such beautiful fictionalized versions of real people that you can't help but fall in love with them, often forgetting that they are human. The other theme is that rather than finding self-actualization through the successes and failures of others, one should find happiness in personal fulfillment. It's a great lesson and something I've been thinking about a lot lately.

I gave this book a B+ rating because of a couple of flaws. First, there are some really good characters in the book that don't get the treatment they deserve. For example, Ginevra's roommate Marie could have been a more central and influential character. Second, the only significant deviation from reality that Preston makes is creating an Oedipal complex between Ginevra's second son and Ginevra. But she never explains how this relationship was created. It just seems to come out of nowhere and makes me wonder about Preston's ability to develop plot.

However, all is not lost. As I said earlier, I cried at the end. The passage where F. Scott Fitzgerald's daughter explains why he would have had Ginevra's letters typed and bound together is so heart-breaking. I had invested so much in loving this misunderstood literary genius and was so saddened that he was still holding onto that experience 20 years later.

In conclusion, if you like anything by F. Scott Fitzgerald, you'll probably love this book. It's a great read and I highly recommend it.

When I picked up this book while browsing at the library, my initial thought was that it would be about Zelda Fitzgerald, the crazy and wild wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald. However, it is not. Instead, it is a fictionalized account of Fitzgerald's first love affair in the months leading up to WWI with Ginevra, a wealthy and privileged Chicago teenager, and the rest of Ginevra's life.

I have always been fascinated by Fitzgerald's world of flapper-era rich girls and poor boys who made good. This book provides a glimpse into the background of that world, which I found quite enjoyable.

The story takes us through Fitzgerald's early days with Ginevra, their courtship, and the events that followed. It shows the differences in their social classes and how it affected their relationship.

Overall, this book is a great read for anyone interested in Fitzgerald's life and works or in the history of the flapper era. It offers a unique perspective on a little-known aspect of Fitzgerald's life and is well-written and engaging.

RATING: 4 STARS

Ever since I read and thoroughly enjoyed The Great Gatsby, I have been utterly fascinated with the Jazz Age, Fitzgerald, and other writers of his era.

I discovered this book to be an extremely interesting one, regardless of whether you have a penchant for the Jazz Age or not.

Much like her first book, Jackie by Josie, I was completely hooked from the very first chapter.

Before Zelda, there was Ginerva - the girl upon whom Fitzgerald based Daisy in The Great Gatsby.

This novel beautifully narrates the story of Ginerva and, for me, it imparts even more heart and depth to The Great Gatsby.

It offers a unique perspective and a deeper exploration of the characters and the era, making it a captivating read that enriches one's understanding of Fitzgerald's masterpiece and the fascinating world in which it was set.

The author has done a remarkable job of bringing Ginerva's story to life and adding an extra layer of intrigue to the already beloved classic.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in literature, the Jazz Age, or simply enjoys a well-written and engaging story.

I'm extremely proud to be a die-hard Fitzgerald nut.

In high school, I voraciously devoured The Great Gatsby and then proceeded to read every single piece of work that was ever penned by him.

Not only that, I even delved into Zelda's fascinating novel and her letters to Scott. Whoa!

So, I eagerly gobbled up this fictionalized account of Ginerva, the girl who Scott loved and unfortunately lost during his college days.

Ginerva served as the inspiration for many of the fickle girls in his novels and short stories, and this account manages to make everything seem incredibly believable.

It's quite astonishing that Ginerva really did meet Zelda years later at the Chicago World's Fair, and Scott really did have all of Ginerva's letters bound so that he could preserve them. How weird is that?

I wholeheartedly recommend this to any Fitzgerald enthusiast, which essentially means any lover of the Jazz Age.

I also found the Chicago references in the book really interesting since I was able to recognize a significant number of the places that Ginerva visits.

The paperback copy of the book that I read conveniently included a reader's guide in the back, complete with thought-provoking discussion questions.

Inspired by the real life romance of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ginevra King, a captivating story unfolds. Ginevra, who was regarded as Fitzgerald's first love, held a special place in his heart.

This real-life romance served as a wellspring of inspiration for Fitzgerald's literary works. He drew upon the essence of their relationship to create many of his fictional characters.

The allure and charm of Ginevra seemed to have left an indelible mark on Fitzgerald's imagination. Her presence influenced the way he crafted his stories, adding depth and authenticity to the characters he brought to life on the pages.

Perhaps it was the intensity of their love or the unique qualities that Ginevra possessed that made her such a powerful muse for Fitzgerald. Through his writing, he was able to immortalize their romance and share a piece of their story with the world.

I actually really, really enjoyed this book!

At first, I was a bit wary about it for superficial reasons. Last summer, I'd gotten it for just three dollars in a Borders bargain bin. It seemed like a far-fetched idea, something that might not be all that great.

However, as I started reading, I found it quite smart and well-written. What I loved about it was that it was a story about a woman. It wasn't just a tale revolving around Scott Fitzgerald's former flame.

The way certain characters were obviously parallels with Fitzgerald's characters was really clever. For example, Millie was basically like Jordan from "The Great Gatsby". This added an interesting layer to the story and kept me highly interested throughout.

I would definitely recommend this book. Those who are familiar with Fitzgerald's work will appreciate it greatly. It is tasteful and very moving. Ginevra's story is one that you really remember and will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

Overall, it was a wonderful read that I'm glad I discovered, despite my initial doubts.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's first love is the subject of this fictionalized story. She ended up being the inspiration for many of his characters. The story mainly focuses on Ginevra, with only rare appearances by Fitzgerald himself.

After reading the notes at the end, I was impressed to see that the author had followed the known facts quite well and then simply embellished the rest. This added an extra layer of interest to the narrative.

However, it also made me question whether the author had truly captured the characters' true feelings and motivations. Since I don't often read historical fiction, this was a refreshing change of pace for me. It allowed me to explore a different era and get a sense of what life might have been like for Fitzgerald and his contemporaries.

Overall, I found the story to be an engaging and thought-provoking read that left me with a new appreciation for Fitzgerald's work and the inspiration behind it.

I read this book for a school project that was tangentially related to a book we read earlier this year. In the semester, we read The Great Gatsby, and my group chose to read Gatsby's Girl. At the beginning, I really liked it as it read very fast. However, towards the end, it started to become a bit predictable, and the female character seemed rather idiotic. For some reason, I have a hard time with female protagonists. It doesn't even matter if they are the main character; if they are related to the book in any way, I often don't like them. In this case, I felt that Ginerva was self-absorbed and almost mean, which the book makes a big deal of. As a side note, for those who may be misled (or non-synopsis-readers), this book has very little to do with the actual story of The Great Gatsby. It only comes up as a sort of side plot, not a main concern.

Just started

Life is a journey filled with countless beginnings. When we just start something new, whether it's a project, a relationship, or a personal endeavor, there is a sense of excitement and anticipation.

At the very beginning, everything seems fresh and full of possibilities. We are eager to explore, learn, and grow. However, starting also comes with its challenges. There may be uncertainties, fears, and self-doubts that try to hold us back.

But it is precisely in these moments of starting that we have the opportunity to define ourselves and shape our future. We can choose to embrace the unknown, face our fears head-on, and take those first steps with courage and determination.

Each new start is a chance to rewrite our story, to break free from the past, and to create something beautiful and meaningful. So, let's not be afraid of starting anew. Let's embrace the adventure and see where it takes us.

Remember, every great achievement begins with a single step. And when we just start, we are already on our way to something amazing.

I truly relished this book.

The book presents a historical fiction narrative about Ginevra Perry, a fictional character that is based on a real individual. Supposedly, she was the inspiration behind such renowned characters as Daisy Buchanan and Isabelle Borge, who are famous due to F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The book is filled with a wealth of excellent details. Given my fascination with anything related to F. Scott Fitzgerald, I adored this book.

It offered a unique perspective into the possible inspiration for some of Fitzgerald's most iconic characters, and the detailed account made it a truly engaging read.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Fitzgerald's works or in historical fiction that delves into the lives and inspirations of famous authors.

I actually finished this book very quickly.

Before reading it, I knew nothing about Fitzgerald having a first lost love and basing so many of his characters on her, most notably Daisy.

Even though this was a fictionalized account, it seems the author did her research thoroughly and was true to the natures of her subjects.

Reading this book had a profound impact on me. It made me want to go back and re-read some Fitzgerald works that I am already familiar with, such as "The Great Gatsby." At the same time, it also inspired me to seek out some of his other works that I have not yet read.

Furthermore, it sent me in search of more works by this author. I am eager to explore her other writings and see how she continues to bring Fitzgerald's life and works to light in her own unique way.

I am truly grateful to have come across this book, as it has opened up a new world of literature and inspiration for me.

I very much enjoyed this book.

It truly made me feel the ups and downs that Genevra Perry experienced.

The lives they ended up leading were tortured and lonesome.

It's astonishing to think about the hardships they endured.

This book has really made me deeply reflect on "what could have been".

It makes one wonder about the different paths that could have been taken and the consequences that might have followed.

The story of Genevra Perry is a powerful reminder of the choices we make in life and how they can shape our future.

It also shows the importance of perseverance and finding strength in the face of adversity.

Overall, this book has had a profound impact on me and has left me with a lot to think about.