Vixen (Flappers, #1)

Dec 30, 2010 Bonnie at A Backwards Story added it

Shelves: debut-novel

With another new year—-and decade-—upon us, I thought it would be a good time to look at a new book that takes place close to a century ago, during the Roaring '20s. (Can you believe it? Another decade and we'll have our own version of the 20s!) Debut author Jillian Larkin has released the first in her Flappers trilogy, Vixen. Told in three alternating points of view, the novel is pure historical fiction: we learn not only about flappers, as the series title suggests, but get a peek at what life...more With another new year—-and decade-—upon us, I thought it would be a good time to look at a new book that takes place close to a century ago, during the Roaring '20s. (Can you believe it? Another decade and we'll have our own version of the 20s!) Debut author Jillian Larkin has released the first in her Flappers trilogy, Vixen. Told in three alternating points of view, the novel is pure historical fiction: we learn not only about flappers, as the series title suggests, but get a peek at what life during the Roaring '20s was like, from prohibition, speakeasies, and gangsters to fashionable clothing, hairstyles, and slang. There's a little bit of something for everyone, and Larkin paints a picture that makes it easy to picture the vibrant decade in the mind's eye. The book releases at a good time, too: HBO recently released aired the debut season of its latest TV hit, Boardwalk Empire, and fellow teen author Anna Godbersen (author of the popular historical series The Luxe) recently released a new book set in the same time period, Bright Young Things. There's also talk of a movie version of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone, which closed on Broadway about three years ago.

While I'm not normally a fan of novels with chapters that alternate POV, Larkin handles the shift well and such a break-up of the novel is necessary. The three main characters in the novel lead very different lives, and through each of them, we're able to flesh out different aspects of the decade. In fact, Clara steals the show despite the fact that her cousin Gloria is the "main character" of the novel. I found myself most eagerly looking forward to Clara's plotline as she tried to make a new, "regular" life for herself after previously being a flapper in one of the most notorious speakeasies. It is through Gloria and her friend, the scheming, back-biting Lorraine, that we experience teenagers going through rebellion as they try to grow up too fast and live glamorously--while, of course, hiding what they're doing from their parents and, in Gloria's case, fiancé. The novel ends with everything in flux, making it easy for readers to start looking forward to the release of 2011's Ingenue, coming out in August.

The Teen Section needs more historical fiction. So much of what's out there is war-based (and a lot of that revolves around the Holocaust). There is so much more that has happened and decades chock-full of stories waiting to be told. It's nice to see a niche forming for a decade that isn't heavily studied in school but still full of intrigue. I hope this trend continues and that period pieces are finally beginning to make their way back into fashion.

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Jul 08, 2012 faeriemyst rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-historical-fiction, young-adult-fiction, roaring-twenties, brain-candy, library-loan

3.75 stars
Once upon a time there were three beautiful girls who went to the best schools (and speakeasies), and they were each assigned booze and clothes that are the cat's meow. But the flapper lifestyle took them into different directions and now they work to find out who they are and what makes them truly happy. My name is Vixen.

And so you've been introduced to the first installment of The Flappers series Charlie's Angels' style (the best I was able to come up with anyway).

Meet our ~~Angels~~ Vi...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book started off slow for me. I loved the whole flappers era aspect and how Gloria, Clara and Lorraine's forays into this underground environment varied so widely. The way it affects each of them is not exactly what you would expect given each girl's personality.

The characters

Gloria was your typical rich girl who was spoiled growing up and feels the need to rebel before she submits to a marriage of convenience. The main problem I had with her was that as the story progresses she decides she...more This book started off slow for me. I loved the whole flappers era aspect and how Gloria, Clara and Lorraine's forays into this underground environment varied so widely. The way it affects each of them is not exactly what you would expect given each girl's personality.

The characters

Gloria was your typical rich girl who was spoiled growing up and feels the need to rebel before she submits to a marriage of convenience. The main problem I had with her was that as the story progresses she decides she wants to become a jazz singer and is even willing to run away with a forbidden man and try to make it big in New York. This sudden desire seemed to come out of the blue and thrown in there simply to facilitate the forbidden romance. I would have liked to see some build up as to why she would want to become a singer in the first place.

Clara was probably my favorite character. She has a somewhat sordid past that she is sent to Chicago to try and runaway from the results of her actions. She reinvents herself as "country Clara" in order to try and right her life and I loved seeing how parts of her act truly reflect her character and she must grapple with finding the happy medium between her rebellious side and her softer side.

The romance

Despite the whole singing career aspirations coming out of nowhere I did like the build up of Gloria's fascination with Jerome, an African American piano player in a speak easy. You are kept guessing if she is really willing to give up everything and face a life of recrimination if she were to pursue a romance with Jerome. For Jerome, he would also face a tough future as white people would distrust his presence with a white girl and his own family and friends would judge him for dating a white girl. Seeing if the two were really willing to make that huge leap was one of the things that kept me reading.

The story line

The story started off slow but the ending is what grabbed me. When Gloria and Jerome's romance is betrayed you are kept guessing who was the one who turned them in. Was it Clara? Lorraine? Someone else? The ending will leave you hanging and wanting to know what happens to each of the characters in the next book.(less)

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Apr 06, 2011 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well... I must say that the first half of the book was cute but only so-so. The end of the book was great though! All of a sudden the story really took off. I have to say it was kinda daring for the author to talk about an interracial relationship that took place in the 1920s. I will be curious in future books to see just how accurate to history the author stays. At first I wasn't going to read the sequel but now I am for sure! ! I gave it three stars only because the first half of the book was...more

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Apr 20, 2011 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-for-adults-challenge

Flappers are the bad girls of the 1920s and Vixen follows three of them while they make life altering changes. I would consider Vixen an historical novel because it uses language and dress from the 20s. I don't know the psyche of young women during this era, but the three main characters seemed very modern for their time. Clara was the most believable for me. Gloria and Lorraine were stereotypical for the most part, but then had flashes of a modern teen.

The author was successful in several areas...more

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Jan 15, 2011 ZaBeth rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: source-lib, r-fmiw, r-goodreads, series_not_finishing, 6-fromfictionstack

I like reading historical fiction because it is an interesting way to learn history and it teaches you that no matter the societal protocol of the time people are the same. That’s why we have the seven deadly sins after all. If you are a churchgoer you have accepted that people are sinners; that they are fallible. And yet we accept images of respectability for people in particular eras.
That’s what Jillian Larkin has created in her new series The Flappers. The first book, called “Vixen”, starts...more I like reading historical fiction because it is an interesting way to learn history and it teaches you that no matter the societal protocol of the time people are the same. That’s why we have the seven deadly sins after all. If you are a churchgoer you have accepted that people are sinners; that they are fallible. And yet we accept images of respectability for people in particular eras.
That’s what Jillian Larkin has created in her new series The Flappers. The first book, called “Vixen”, starts with the image of high society and young private school girls of incredible wealth. But all that prim and proper respectability has restrained the energy of romantic beautiful girls and, like little kids let loose at recess when the girls get a taste of freedom, they run fast. In 1923 that means finding the most hush-hush speakeasy in Chicago and pretending that they are no longer high school seniors but dames with worldly Flapper bobs. But speakeasies aren’t just popular for the illegal liquor they serve. They’re filled with dangerous gangsters, smooth jazz players, and venomous women jealous of another pretty face.
I picked up Vixen while browsing the local library and was actually surprised when I got home to discover this was a young adult book. The rather grown up Flapper on the cover never gave me a high school impression at all. But I had never read a novel set in the roaring 20’s and I thought this would be an exciting new period. The hard part was, I didn’t like any of the characters. They worked hard to not want anyone to like them either. It seems to be a theme of the 20’s to be verbally shallow and mean to other people. Maybe that’s a trait of the rich. Or maybe it’s the high school immaturity showing through. However, by the end of the novel, people were showing some warmth, and the mystery of the series started to show itself. But it all seemed to take too long.
The book centers on several women (and their associated men). Gloria is the perfect society daughter from a newly rich family about to marry one of Chicago’s most eligible bachelors, but she longs for something different, something more, something that will make her heart sing. Clara is Gloria’s cousin visiting Chicago to help with Gloria’s wedding, but really she is there to start a new life of respectability since she’s already a ruined woman back home. Gloria’s best friend’s parents are too busy living up the roaring 20’s to pay any attention to their daughter, Lorraine, so it is no wonder that Lorraine starts to panic when she realizes that once Gloria gets married she’ll be truly alone. And then there is Vera, the ultimate sexy Flapper working at the speakeasy who has nothing but contempt for Gloria the second they meet. They are four beautiful girls but darn if I can tell you which one is the vixen. Maybe they all are?
Like its female characters, I felt like Vixen was playing dress up but never really became the book that it had the potential to be. There were too many unanswered questions, too many stray characters walking through, too much life not yet lived which could not be expressed on its pages. Maybe the author needs the rest of the series to express it, but again it seems too long for these fast living girls to grow up.
I’d still like to read a book set in the 20’s, because I don’t think that the Flappers series is going to have me doing the Charleston anytime soon.
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Dec 29, 2010 Alanna (The Flashlight Reader) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Speakeasies. Forbidden romance. Betrayal. Jillian Larkin’s novel Vixen has all of these elements and more! Vixen is the first novel in the new The Flappers series. In this book, Gloria, the beautiful protagonist, is out to claim her identity before her marriage to the prestigious Sebastian Grey. After one night at the speakeasy the Green Mill, Gloria finds herself changed, but she doesn’t know to what extent. Suddenly, she is more outspoken and mysteriously drawn to Jazz. With her friends Marcus...more Speakeasies. Forbidden romance. Betrayal. Jillian Larkin’s novel Vixen has all of these elements and more! Vixen is the first novel in the new The Flappers series. In this book, Gloria, the beautiful protagonist, is out to claim her identity before her marriage to the prestigious Sebastian Grey. After one night at the speakeasy the Green Mill, Gloria finds herself changed, but she doesn’t know to what extent. Suddenly, she is more outspoken and mysteriously drawn to Jazz. With her friends Marcus and Lorraine, Gloria continues to frequent the Green Mill despite knowing that her fiancé and mother would be furious if they found out.

After several twists and turns (and sultry scenes) Gloria finds herself breaking every rule she has ever known. Her world is changing faster than she thought possible. Gloria starts sneaking out of her house to visit the forbidden speakeasy, protesting against the rules and her pretentious fiancé, and finds herself forming romantic feelings for the club’s taboo pianist, Jerome Johnson. Everything is working out for Gloria until someone betrays her. Could it be Lorraine, her insanely jealous, social-climbing best friend? Clara, her “sweeter than pie” cousin (with a dark secret) from Pennsylvania? Bastian, Gloria’s fiancé with a wicked alter-ego?

Larkin’s beautiful, descriptive language paints a beautiful setting of 1920s Chicago. Her writing style transports the reader to that fantastic era in American history. Capturing the allure of flappers, speakeasies and gangster-ruled Chicago is certainly one of Larkin’s writing strengths—along with the development of her characters. The passion between Gloria and Jerome is searing, and gives the reader goose bumps. But Jerome and Gloria aren’t the only characters shooting sparks. Readers can feel the passion between Marcus and Clara escalating.

The ending of Vixen will leave you with your mouth agape. Lies, scandal, murder, and shocking revelations leave Gloria racing towards a new chapter in her life, and embarking on a journey that no previous Chicago socialite has ever been a part of before. But Gloria isn’t the only character facing new adventures. Marcus and Clara have found the beginning of something wonderful, while Lorraine and Bastian are seething in the shadows of jealousy and revenge.

The next book in the series, Ingénue, (set to be published in August 2011) will surely be—as our young flappers would say—“totally Jake.”

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Feb 05, 2011 Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-the-pub, historical-fiction, young-adult

3.5 - 4 stars.

Let's just start out with-- hello, my name is Jamie and I am obsessed with the 1920's and flappers and I will read anything related to said obsessions. Seriously. I once was a flapper for Halloween. I just love the flapper fashion, the literature that arose from the 1920's, the jazz, the transition into the modern culture, the progress in woman's suffrage movement, the mobsters, the speakeasys..it is all just so exciting to me! I just love reading and watching movies set during thi...more 3.5 - 4 stars.

Let's just start out with-- hello, my name is Jamie and I am obsessed with the 1920's and flappers and I will read anything related to said obsessions. Seriously. I once was a flapper for Halloween. I just love the flapper fashion, the literature that arose from the 1920's, the jazz, the transition into the modern culture, the progress in woman's suffrage movement, the mobsters, the speakeasys..it is all just so exciting to me! I just love reading and watching movies set during this time. Anyways, once I saw this book I just KNEW I had to pick it up.

Vixen has it all -- romance, glitz and glamour, catty girls, mobsters, secrets, and suspense, -- and is set in one of those most interesting and alluring time periods in America. It also did deal with more substantial issues like friendship, loyalty, the suppression of women, racial and societal expectations, etc. In some ways this reminded me of Gossip Girl set in the 1920's with the high society, secrets, backstabbing and shocking public revelations. And I totally was picturing the episode of Gossip Girl where Chuck opened the speakeasy and they were all in flapper-like costumes. Larkin nailed it. At some points I felt like if I closed my eyes, I'd be transported into some dark speakeasy, filled with smoke and booze, dancing with glamorous flappers and gangsters with pin-striped suits. I could hear that jazz music playing and feel the excitement of being rebellious and sexy in my fringed dress, headband and bobbed hair cut.

There were some interesting characters in this book. Clara was my favorite -- she was smart, despite some obvious bad choices in her past, and I thought she was interesting and was the shining star for me. I did appreciate some of the dimensions we started to see in Gloria and I started to really appreciate her. At some times I felt like Gloria and Lorraine were a bit cliched and predictable but the storyline and the setting made up for what they were sometimes lacking for me. The storyline was well crafted and I kept wanting to find out what happened.

My one gripe with this book is that I felt like the author went a little bit overboard with the lingo of the time period and she didn't need to because she really had me convinced of the time period with how she built their world. All these phrases and slang were dropped into the story and it felt like a like a kid who learned a set of vocabulary words and tried to keep impressing people with packing them into sentences. It just didn't flow all the time and seemed awkward. The overuse of all the lingo was distracting and it was really unfortunate because she already set such an authentic scene for the reader.

I will note that this might be inappropriate for some younger readers -- lots of booze, smoking and it's pretty sexy. I thought it was tasteful but definitely a little more mature than some YA lit geared for younger readers.

My Final Thought: Vixen is a sexy and intriguing debut that captures the excitement of an era and an underground lifestyle that is full of glamour, grit and danger. It is edgy and provocative without being trashy. It is a promising primer, for older teens (and YA lovers of all ages), into a period of time that should be explored more in YA historical fiction. I cannot WAIT for the second book to come out as the ending was quite exciting and ends with quite the bang..literally. In the meantime, I'll be trying Bright Young Things which is also set in the 20's and seems to be about flappers.(less)

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Nov 10, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Really liked this one. I needed a book that was going to show me some action and not just talk about it. This book fit the bill. I've been reading some heavier content lately and was craving something fun and fast moving. Thank you Vixen for giving me back some of the fun!

Reasons this book shined :

1. Many flawed characters with secrets to hide
2. Taboo interracial relationship (for the time period that is - how scandalous!)
3. A good part of the time was spent in an undergound speakeasy - a den of...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Jules rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: youngadult, historical, did-not-finish

There should be a "couldn't finish it because it was so bad" shelf in addition to "read/to-read/currently-reading". As it is, I've made my own, but someone ask Goodreads to get on that, because I think making it one of the three default shelves would be a great addition!

This was...well, not terrible; it was certainly competently written, but it was just extremely dull. If you've read The Luxe or watched Gossip Girl (or, hell, read even one of the GG books) you know all the characters already. Wh...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Cynthia rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. It accurately captures the passion and confusion of teenagers as they try on different personas to understand who they are. It is the 1920s, when women are emerging from the stifling corsets of the old world and into an uncharted world of independence, sexuality, and choices. It is a transitional battle on many levels, and Ms. Larkin's three young Flappers are all the more challenged by it. Their decisions can bring them into an unimagined heaven or hell ... and the danger w...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Hannah Walker rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I grabbed this book as an "I forgot my actual book at home book" for SSR. I was intrigued by both the title and the cover of the book (I am a very visual person, so my initial attraction to a book is generally due to the cover page). I have always had a deep interest in the "flapper" era, so I gave it a try. I fell in love with it.

Gloria is a young woman raised in a high society family. She is privileged, elegant, beautiful, and every parents dream child. She is engaged, though the reader soo...more I grabbed this book as an "I forgot my actual book at home book" for SSR. I was intrigued by both the title and the cover of the book (I am a very visual person, so my initial attraction to a book is generally due to the cover page). I have always had a deep interest in the "flapper" era, so I gave it a try. I fell in love with it.

Gloria is a young woman raised in a high society family. She is privileged, elegant, beautiful, and every parents dream child. She is engaged, though the reader soon learns that it is a pre-arranged marriage (her fiance is extremely rich, whereas Gloria's family used to be but only has a good name left. Her mother and her will go poor should she fail to complete the arrangement.) Gloria is hesitant to go through with the wedding.

Soon, she finds herself in a speakeasy and decided that her "perfect child" lifestyle was not the only one she wanted. She became a regular at the speakeasy (behind the back of her pro-prohibition fiance), and grew interested in the piano player in the band--the black piano player. Disregarding all of the reasons she should stay away from the speakeasy and the piano player, she soon becomes the singer of the band. Gloria finds herself in difficult positions because of this, and the story escalates even further.

The beginning is a bit slow, but if you stick with it a wonderful plot filled with developed characters builds. Gloria is surrounded by many colorful characters that (and because the author tells the story from multiple points of view) the reader also grows fond of. There is far more to this story than just the story of Gloria. The book is also quite historical, as the setting is the 1920's (Larkin definitely did her research) and also addresses segregation and pushing the boundaries of it, as love between a high society white woman and a lowly black musician was unheard of. Larkin brings up many issues and elements that push boundaries, and I personally love that.

The book has a wonderful plot and very developed characters. It is not quite a 5-star book, but it is definitely enjoyable and anyone interested in the 1920's (and all that comes with it) or who just enjoys a good "love" story or books with dramatic twists will greatly enjoy it. (less)

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Jan 05, 2013 Renee rated it 4 of 5 stars

If I was in the this time era and I was living in Chicago with these people I have to say that I would be one of those gushing girls over Marcus. I loved him because he was the typical guy and I'm a sucker for those types (do they exist in real life even or am I waiting for a fictional boy to come to me?.
I've been reading more books in the 1920s and I have to say, it is definitely my favourite time period. I wish I was back in those times using their slang and dressing in those flapper dresses,...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Josie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

What a setting! 1920s Chicago, speakeasies, jazz, gangsters -- it's all there. Shame about the characters, though. They were all so one-dimensional that I couldn't bring myself to care about any of them. Clara was the most interesting, and I genuinely did love her backstory and was rooting for her the whole way through. But Gloria was bland and unlikeable, and as for Lorraine -- what a trainwreck. I can't understand why she and Gloria were ever friends. There was nothing to expain that. Oh, and...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Drea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Initially the only reason I picked this book up was because of my new craving for books set in the 20's era, this type of books isn't really my cup of tea. Besides the fact that this book was very much a drama educed book, just like I had suspected, I truly enjoyed the book
The ending truly left me with a smile in my face. I understand that what happened in the end not very logical and realistic, but I guess that truly was the beauty of the 20's. To enjoy life and do what at the moment felt right...more Initially the only reason I picked this book up was because of my new craving for books set in the 20's era, this type of books isn't really my cup of tea. Besides the fact that this book was very much a drama educed book, just like I had suspected, I truly enjoyed the book
The ending truly left me with a smile in my face. I understand that what happened in the end not very logical and realistic, but I guess that truly was the beauty of the 20's. To enjoy life and do what at the moment felt right. I really felt that I was there and I was in Chicago during the time of mobster, prohibition, flappers, and speakeasies. The author, Jillian Larkin truly transported me to the world of the roaring twenties.
Of course I had some issues with the book, which kept me from giving it five stars.
I felt like Gloria was truly just a spoiled brat that was out to spite her parents. Even when she claimed to have fallen in love with Jerome, a black pianist, I felt like she only did everything because it was forbidden. Also the fact that she wanted to be a singer came completely out of no where, there where no hidden dreams, but I guess that goes in the same category with the forbidden Jerome.
Lorraine, I didn't understand what fueled her to be an evil person. I felt like the author was just adding qualities to her personality to whatever suited the situation, she never truly made Lorraine a person I wanted to learn more about, she just seemed like a teenage girl that was trying to hard to be a flapper.
Clara was by far my favorite character, she was a strong women, who had already lived life, so she knew what these little girls wanted and she had already lived it.
In the end my only true problems with this book where the characters, they where not well thought out and simply had qualities stuck on them that where necessary. Besides that fact everything else was truly amazing. I don't know if I'll be reading the second one, I was left pretty satisfied with this one and wouldn't want to ruin it with more.(less)

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May 30, 2012 Petit-lips rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://lectures-petit-lips.blogspot.f...

- Gloria, 17 ans, va bientôt épouser Sebastian. Un soir elle découvre avec son ami Marcus l'ambiance du Green Mill, un bar clandestin de Chicago. Gloria craque pour le pianiste, un certain Jérôme Jonhson. Cette rencontre marque le début des ennuis.

- Dans « Cabaret » nous évoluons dans les États-Unis des années 1920. Les années folles sont un univers passionnant : la mafia et ses gangsters, la Prohibition, les garçonnes, les bars clandestins, le jazz...
Autr...more http://lectures-petit-lips.blogspot.f...

- Gloria, 17 ans, va bientôt épouser Sebastian. Un soir elle découvre avec son ami Marcus l'ambiance du Green Mill, un bar clandestin de Chicago. Gloria craque pour le pianiste, un certain Jérôme Jonhson. Cette rencontre marque le début des ennuis.

- Dans « Cabaret » nous évoluons dans les États-Unis des années 1920. Les années folles sont un univers passionnant : la mafia et ses gangsters, la Prohibition, les garçonnes, les bars clandestins, le jazz...
Autre point abordé : la ségrégation. Cependant l'auteure réussi à ne pas se borner au simple cliché et l'histoire entre Jerôme et Gloria ne tourne pas que autour de cet aspect.

- Les personnages de ce roman m'ont beaucoup plu. Gloria peut paraître écervelée de prime abord, mais c'est une jeune fille qui se cherche encore et n'a pas forcément envie de vivre la vie toute tracée qui l'attend.
Clara est la cousine de Gloria, et vient pour l'aider à préparer son mariage. Cependant elle a ses propres secrets et un passé bien rempli. Clara est sans doute le personnage qui m'a le plus séduite. Forte, rusée, rigolote et pleine de caractère.
J'ai détesté Lorraine dès que je l'ai "rencontrée". Elle est la meilleure amie de Gloria et vit dans son ombre. C'est une vraie peste prête à tout et je sens qu'elle va causer bien des ennuis dans le tome 2 !
Les jeunes hommes du roman ne sont pas en reste. Marcus, meilleur ami de Gloria, endosse le rôle du séducteur. Cependant il se révèle être un personnage très touchant. Au final on découvre très peu Jérôme et j'ai hâte de le connaître un peu plus dans le prochain tome.

- La narration s'effectue à la troisième personne et nous propose le point de vue de 3 personnages différents : Gloria, Clara et Lorraine. Cette alternance dans la narration est efficace, et donne toujours envie d'en savoir plus, de tourner les pages et de découvrir ce qui attend les héroïnes.
Autre point positif que j'ai envie de souligner : le livre est vraiment un très bel objet. La couverture est douce, la présentation des chapitres est soignée, les polices d'écritures sont très sympa.

- Pour moi, « Cabaret » est une nouvelle saga à découvrir et le premier tome tient toutes ses promesses.(less)

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Apr 25, 2012 Annette rated it 4 of 5 stars

Vixen is a very entertaining historical fiction about society life in the 1920s.

Gloria is a rich, society girl engaged to be married to a proper, rich gentleman.

Clara is Gloria's cousin, who arrives from Pennsylvania to help plan the wedding.

Lorraine is Gloria's best friend.

These teens have big secrets they are keeping from each other. There's deception after deception, backstabbing, jealousy, and devious plots ending up in what can only be described as a hot mess for all of them.

The males in th...more Vixen is a very entertaining historical fiction about society life in the 1920s.

Gloria is a rich, society girl engaged to be married to a proper, rich gentleman.

Clara is Gloria's cousin, who arrives from Pennsylvania to help plan the wedding.

Lorraine is Gloria's best friend.

These teens have big secrets they are keeping from each other. There's deception after deception, backstabbing, jealousy, and devious plots ending up in what can only be described as a hot mess for all of them.

The males in the story also add much color. Marcus is probably in love with Gloria, although they are more like brother and sister, and Lorraine is secretly head over heals for him. Sebastian is the fiancée, and he's a cad. Jerome is the forbidden love...especially since he's black.

The depiction of the 1920s was very interesting. Each of these girls are pushing the limits -- wanting more freedom to enjoy the flapper life with all the alcohol and gangsters that come along with it. It's prohibition, and proper girls don't cut their hair, drink alcohol, wear tight dresses with lots of make up, or visit speak-easies. Or do they?

Can you blame them? They are seventeen years old (sometimes I forgot they were that young) and they are being forced into engagements and boring, quiet lives where women are to be seen and not heard. It's not hard to imagine their wanting more from life.Oh, what a tangled and dangerous path they end up taking to get a taste of this unattainable life.

Larkin's pacing in Vixen is excellent. There is always something happening to one of these girls that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The multiple narrators work very well. I felt I got to know each of the girls very well via this technique. I learned some things about the roaring 20s, and really enjoyed being immersed in that time period. I had no idea that flappers wrapped their breasts to make them flat. I just thought it was the cut of the dresses that made them look that way -- but they worked for that flat-chested look!

Vixen ramped up the tension until the very end, where there was some resolution, but we're still left desperately wanting more. And thank goodness, I already have Ingenue, the next book. I also have an ARC of Diva, the third book in The Flappers series, so I'm hoping to read both of those soon.

Teen girls who love romantic adventure, even if they aren't into historical fiction, will love Vixen. This is a rollicking romp through a unique period in history as well. I thoroughly enjoyed Vixen, and will recommend it widely.(less)

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Apr 08, 2012 Elizabeth added it · review of another edition

I was sent this book for review for the Historical Novel Society and behaved myself professionally for them, and I’m not sure when their publication date is so I won’t repeat myself here; this is a kind of an addendum. This book reminds me of the French World War II aircraft-oriented graphic novels to which I am addicted. The background is effortlessly glorious in its attention to detail and historical accuracy, and so very, very beautiful — and yet the girls are all incredibly vapid and the sto...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Chev E rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love flapper dresses. And twenties bobs. But I did not love Vixen, even though it was filled with both. Vixen follows three girls in Prohibition era Chicago in a most unrealistic fashion. At the center of the story is Gloria, the ultimate good girl who longs for something more than her perfect little life. Lorraine, Gloria's best friend, is sick of being in Gloria's limelight and wants to be the center of everything. Clara is Gloria's cousin who comes to Chicago to help plan Gloria's wedding,...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: american-historical

I had a lot of trouble deciding what to rate this book. While I was reading, I was thinking it would be a two, for sure. Looking back on it, I think it's a little closer to a three. We'll call it 2.7 for now ;)

Gloria is a privileged debutante ("deb"), engaged to Bastian Somebody-or-Other (Gray, maybe? Not sure...) But she's a party girl at heart and doesn't really want to get married anymore (maybe. Her motives are cloudy, at best)

Clara was a flapper, but something bad happened in New York, she...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Lika rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen, dac-2011

The highlight of Vixen is the way the 20s comes alive (eg: Some Like It Hot, The Great Gatsby). There are mobsters who run the smoke filled speakeasies as well as glamorous flappers dancing to jazz music. The girls are also constantly using phrases that were popular during the 20s. Larkin has made an effort to keep within the time period, and it truly shows.

Each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the three girls which allows for the characters to develop somewhat independently. You c...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Kelli rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a great quick read.. IT was really well written and dove into the life of teenagers wanting to be flappers in Chicago in the 20's. The characters were able to gain your support and the story unfolded quickly and energetically. I loved the storyline, and it was just really hard to believe that the characters were seniors in high school and a year out of high school with all the grown up things they were doing, however, that also shows a little bit about the 20's if that is how they acts....more

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Dec 29, 2011 Cacey Hopper rated it 2 of 5 stars

I gave this one two stars, which was generous, believe me. The two stars are simply for the obvious research the author put into the twenties era. She goes to great lengths to describe everything, from the clothing, makeup, hairstyles, to the speakeasies. But, in my opinion, she should have spent an equal amount of time developing her characters. They are flat and one dimensional (if that). They change personalities from one chapter to the next. I suppose some people would say this is how charac...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Jamie N rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

This book is set in Chicago during the Roaring Twenties (1920s) and Prohibition Era. Gloria begins her senior year at a private high school while preparing for her wedding and the society requirements of her debutante ball and engagement party. She meets society's expectations of a demure lady while her best friend Lorraine seeks to break as many rules as possible, including drinking liquor at a time when it was illegal (Prohibition). Gloria's other best friend Marcus takes her to the Green Mill...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Shelby rated it 3 of 5 stars

I recently fell in love with this whole genre of flapper books, and Vixen was no exception. Though it started out a bit slow (and had more than a few slow moments beyond the beginning) I really enjoyed it. Beyond those few slow moments, there was an exciting world riddled with scandal, love, loss and betrayal; all cleverly interwoven throughout 3 completely different perspectives.

As for characters, let me start with Clara; I truly loved reading through her eyes. It was nice to have a girl who h...more I recently fell in love with this whole genre of flapper books, and Vixen was no exception. Though it started out a bit slow (and had more than a few slow moments beyond the beginning) I really enjoyed it. Beyond those few slow moments, there was an exciting world riddled with scandal, love, loss and betrayal; all cleverly interwoven throughout 3 completely different perspectives.

As for characters, let me start with Clara; I truly loved reading through her eyes. It was nice to have a girl who had lived, loved and lost as part of the story (3 spoiled little debutantes would have been too much) and her romance with Marcus was sweet (even though it didn't sweep me off my feet like Bella and Edward.) She grew with the story and contributed to the over all ending (which sets you up for the upcoming sequel)
Gloria; In the beginning, I really didn't like Gloria. She was annoyingly perfect and had all the signs of a spoiled little white girl trying to rebel against her mother and fiancè. But the worst part was she wasn't even rebelling well! Which drove me insane, because she was so obviously acting out and not getting caught! However, there was a turning point somewhere in the novel when Gloria started to grow up and become the protagonist i so desperatetly wanted her to be. It was during this point she finally opened up and became relatable! You were finally able to see her flaws and sympathize with her, as well as seeing some of her better qualities.
Lorraine; I tried to like Lorraine, I really did, but after seeing her through Clara's and Gloria's eyes, as well as through her own, it just wasn't possible. No matter who's perspective, she just came off as a whiny brat trying to be something she could never be; a flapper. Even worse, she could never face her problems. She simply took care of them with the help of some "liquid courage". And when trying to help people with their problems (which really was ridiculous, considering the fact she couldn't even admit she had any problems herself) she often suggested things that made everything much worse. But the thing I hated the most about Lorraine, was her obsession with Marcus. Even after he made it very obvious that he would never love her, she just kept digging herself into a deeper and deeper hole trying to get him. I mean, even in the '20's did women really rely on men that much? It was kinda disgusting. And when she finally got over him, she was so depressed she just started sleeping around with every guy she met, no matter how sleezy.

In conclusion, the story was great as well as the majority of the characters. (Really, if it weren't for Clara and Gloria, I wouldn't have been able to finish this book)(less)

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Oct 29, 2011 June rated it 3 of 5 stars

Vixen is a young adult book with a new edge. It's set in the Roaring Twenties when prohibition was in full swing and hidden speakeasies dotted the landscape; gangsters grew in prominence and teenagers had an exciting and pulse-pumping outlet to get into trouble.

The flapper lifestyle, the freedom and excitement of it, it is sure to draw in its share of young girls with the promise of something extraordinary. The three protagonists of this story get caught up in it with decidedly mixed results.

Glo...more Vixen is a young adult book with a new edge. It's set in the Roaring Twenties when prohibition was in full swing and hidden speakeasies dotted the landscape; gangsters grew in prominence and teenagers had an exciting and pulse-pumping outlet to get into trouble.

The flapper lifestyle, the freedom and excitement of it, it is sure to draw in its share of young girls with the promise of something extraordinary. The three protagonists of this story get caught up in it with decidedly mixed results.

Gloria Carmody, seventeen, is engaged to be married to the handsome, but boring stuffed shirt Sebastian Grey. They are both from prominent Chicago families and Gloria is hardly the sort of girl that would do anything to embarrass them--unless you count sneaking into illegal drinking establishments, teetering on the edge of an interracial affair and possibly making waves with the Jazz set.

When Gloria's cousin, Clara Knowles comes to town, her mission is to make herself useful. She's supposed ensure that Gloria stays on the straight and narrow path toward wedded bliss. There's just one problem. Clara may be a teenager herself, but she's been living a lifestyle that would turn Chicago high-society on it's ear and she has to keep it a secret at all costs.

Lorraine Dyer, Gloria's best friend is the wildcard in the bunch. She's rich, but neglected. Her most secure relationship--that as childhood friend of Gloria, is veering off track as Gloria pursues other interests. In spite of her best efforts, "Raine" just can't get what she wants. Her envy is about to cause catastrophic results.

There's a debate in the world of writing about the need for a prologue. Vixen has one, but it wasn't necessary. It had an important little clue, but because it was without context, one could not recognize it's importance and it was even forgotten as the story moved forward.

Initially and perhaps because of the eye-catching girl on the cover, it appears that the story is about one character, Gloria Carmody, but the reader soon realizes that it is the story of the three girls noted above in equal measure. Each girl is the focus of a chapter in chronological fashion and it was a good way to keep track of each character's story arc.

The story had a mature, film noir quality to it. It didn't have the common young adult sensibility. It's easy to forget you're reading about teenagers. The author seemed to realize this, as one would see a reference to the character's age or a mention of them as teenagers every now and again. Not a bad idea.

The story starts somewhat in media res and it took time to get oriented to what was happening, but once this was accomplished, things took off at breakneck speed. Vixen is an action-packed, exciting read. It is chocked full of adventure, intrigue and mystery. Larkin shows real skill in weaving the lives and conflicting goals of the characters into an engaging and page-turning story.
Vixen is the first book of a series. It concluded on a surprising twist that will not be expected. It leaves the reader anticipating the continuation of an exciting story in the next installment, Ingenue, released in the summer of 2011.
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Oct 09, 2011 Madison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned, ya-read

I've recently started having a little less fondness of the Young Adult section. I feel like some authors nowadays are recycling the same ideas over and over. It's getting quite repetitive and boring. Vixen, however, is a great change from all of the vampire and fairy books that have been hitting the shelves lately. I found myself quite enjoying the read. It's set in the Roaring 20's, which is an area that the YA section doesn't have much material on. The only thing I found a little odd was that...more I've recently started having a little less fondness of the Young Adult section. I feel like some authors nowadays are recycling the same ideas over and over. It's getting quite repetitive and boring. Vixen, however, is a great change from all of the vampire and fairy books that have been hitting the shelves lately. I found myself quite enjoying the read. It's set in the Roaring 20's, which is an area that the YA section doesn't have much material on. The only thing I found a little odd was that Vixen was released the same time as Anna Godbersen's Bright Young Things. I haven't read Bright Young Things yet (though, it is sitting on my bookshelf), so I can't compare the two or tell you which one's better. However, Vixen did leave me pleasantly surprised, and I applaud Jillian Larkin for making such a good debut novel.

Focusing more on the plot line now, Vixen is about three young women, who are essentially viewed as Flappers by the end of the story. You've got the main character, Gloria, a rich seventeen year old who is set to unwillingly marry Sebastian Grey, a high in society 23 year old. In my mind, Gloria was just okay. I struggled with liking and disliking her throughout the novel. In some parts, I supported her and found some of Gloria's actions to be interesting. In other parts, she started to get on my nerves. I feel like at times, she may be viewed as the stereotypical rebellious teenager. After finishing the book, I do feel that Gloria may be a bit deeper than that, but I still can't honestly say that she was my favorite character. Next we have Clara, Glo's older cousin. She moves in to help with the wedding and brings a pretty bad past along with her. Clara was definitely the one I liked the best throughout the entire novel. I found her to be the most unique character and the one I felt the most emotionally drawn to. I almost wish that Larkin had put even more emphasis on her than Gloria, only because she is much less predictable than her cousin. But, oh well, as long as Clara gets the same amount of focus in the sequel as she has now, then I'll be happy. Finally, you have Lorraine, Gloria's best friend for years, who always gets put on the back burner, and is sick of it. I'm not really sure what to think of Lorraine. Frankly, I usually like the villains of the story the best. But, there were some parts of Vixen where I found her to be very childish, which lost points in my book. Either way, Lorraine at least made the story more interesting, and I can't say that I hate her for it. Even at her worst points, she's still more interesting than Gloria, and I'm glad that the author is bringing her back in the second book.

All in all, I thought Vixen was a really good novel. It was thought provoking, had some twists along the way, and held my attention well. The main thing holding me back from giving it five stars was that the romantic parts of it were somewhat predictable and cliche. Though, I've never been a huge romantic, so it's natural that I didn't love this aspect of the book. If you, however, do enjoy reading love stories, then you'll probably find these parts better than I did. In the end, I still thought that they were a little amusing, and they certainly didn't hurt the book any. My only other complaint would be Gloria's predictable personality and naivety (for example- she falls in love with a different character after only meeting him face to face a few times- I found this a little hard to believe). There were many parts of this book that I loved too, though. The setting was awesome, the supporting characters (Marcus, Sebastian, Vera, Carlito, and even Jerome) were very well created , and the book itself was fairly easy to read through in a few days, despite it's length. The speakeasies were great and I loved the influence of the mob on the novel. Those parts alone made it worth the read. I'm usually a harsh book critic, but I very much liked Vixen. I can't wait to read the sequel, Ingenue. I would recommend this novel to anyone. Even if you just think that it looks a little interesting, I would go ahead and pick it up. It surprised me; hopefully it'll surprise you too.

Note: I also posted this review on Amazon.(less)

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Oct 03, 2011 Hylary Locsin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

Told in alternating voices, three beautiful seventeen-year-olds navigate the tumultuous world of speakeasies, flappers, gangsters and jazz in 1923 Chicago. Caught in an engagement she's not so sure about, Gloria Carmody can't get the handsome and charismatic piano player from the Green Mill, Chicago's most notorious speakeasy, off her mind. The problem with Jerome, however, is that he's black, and...more Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

Told in alternating voices, three beautiful seventeen-year-olds navigate the tumultuous world of speakeasies, flappers, gangsters and jazz in 1923 Chicago. Caught in an engagement she's not so sure about, Gloria Carmody can't get the handsome and charismatic piano player from the Green Mill, Chicago's most notorious speakeasy, off her mind. The problem with Jerome, however, is that he's black, and Gloria's upper-crust family, along with the rest of society, would never understand or accept her feelings for him. Lorraine Dyer, Gloria's best friend since childhood, is tired of being an afterthought in Gloria's perfect existence, and especially wishes Gloria's good friend, the dashing Marcus Eastman, would give her a moment's notice. When Gloria's cousin, Clara Knowles, arrives in town, Lorraine is even more concerned that Clara's goody-goody ways will rub off on Gloria, making her even less likely to join Lorraine in Chicago's speakeasy scene. What Gloria and Lorraine don't know is that Clara is far from the virginal and modest girl she pretends to be, and is, in fact, escaping a whirlwind, and at times dangerous, existence as a flapper in New York City. As Gloria, Lorraine and Clara's lives become more entwined, will they be able to survive in the world of gangsters, liquor and jazz?

This first installment in the Flappers series acts as a combination between a historical fiction and romance novel, resulting in a very engaging and pleasing plot and set of characters. It is obvious, as well as stated in her jacket bio, that the author is a very big fan of the 1920s. The attention to detail in describing the setting, clothing, hairstyles, society, and even the slang of the period really stands out. This is a setting not often used in young adult novels, and one that lends itself really well to creating an interesting story. Larkin also does an excellent job of creating interesting leading ladies in Gloria, Lorraine and Clara. There are certainly elements in each character that readers, especially teen girls, will be able to identify with. The method of telling the story, in alternating voices between the three, makes the novel very fresh and allows for different perspectives on the events of the story, as well as the time period. This is certainly a very promising start to a series with a great deal of potential. The recently released second installment, Ingenue, continues to stories of Gloria, Lorraine and Clara, and will, hopefully, prove to be just as enjoyable.

I am a very big fan of historical fiction, and Vixen had just the right mix of history and romance for me. The 1920s has never stood out as one of my favorite periods in history, but after reading this novel, I grew to like the world of flappers and speakeasies much more. One of my favorite parts of the novel was the alternating voices that Larkin used to tell the story. Each of the girls is very interesting, but switching between their perspectives kept the plot moving forward. I definitely look forward to reading Ingenue as soon as possible!

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Sep 20, 2011 Jillian Roth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Vixen by Jillian Larkin is about a group of young girls coming of age during prohibition, in Chicago. The protagonist, Gloria has always been a proper, wealthy, scholarly young girl. She is engaged to the powerful and handsome, Bastain Grey, whom she will marry once she graduates from high school. However this engagement is more of a business deal than a relationship. The marriage will maintain her family's reputation and wealth, but is bound to be loveless and boring. Gloria is seduced by the j...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Gilbert&Gomez rated it 4 of 5 stars

What can I say about Vixen besides its smoking. This title definitely speaks for the book because if I looked in the dictonary right now I'd probably see refer to Jillian Larkin's book. It was sultry and compelling, I just couldn't stop reading. The beginning was a bit slow for me, especially after reading that intriguing prologue, but it picked up as it continued.

Like always, the thing that draws me into a book is the dialect and how the author paints a picture with their words. Jillian has do...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Gloria, Lorraine, or Clara? Who would you rather be?	6	22	May 07, 2013 10:41am
Vixen and Ingenue synopsis please!?	1	2	May 07, 2013 10:22am
RE: Character chat	3	28	Mar 21, 2012 06:47pm
Young Adult Book ...: Part II -pg 355	7	27	Apr 27, 2011 09:26am
Young Adult Book ...: Final Thoughts	21	51	Apr 24, 2011 04:49pm

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Vixen (Flappers #1)

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