Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

For some reason I had a hard time getting into this book…which is not a great way to start a review about a book I LOVE.  I think it was more a reflection of my reading ADD that I have been experiencing lately and less about the book.  I am so glad I stuck with it – the story was fantastic.  I absolutely love Ruta Sepetys characters and Josie is my new favorite.   The setting is so interesting…you could almost feel like you were in New Orleans while reading.  I will be eagerly waiting for her next endeavor.  This is cataloged as a Young Adult book but it has HUGE adult appeal.

Book Description via Amazon

Release date: February 12, 2013

It's 1950 and the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie Moraine 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.