Amanda Brainerd Livres

In 1983, as David Bowie dominates the music scene, Justine and Eve navigate life at Griswold Academy, a Connecticut boarding school that feels worlds away from Justine's bohemian upbringing in New Haven and Eve's affluent Park Avenue background. While Justine yearns for Eve's privilege, Eve envies Justine's sexual confidence. Their contrasting lives forge a deep friendship as they confront challenges like drugs, alcohol, and predatory teachers. After a turbulent school year, they spend summer in New York City with Eve's childhood friend, India. Justine moves into India's Hell's Kitchen apartment, becoming immersed in their glamorous lifestyle. Eve, under her parents' scrutiny, interns at a SoHo art gallery, while India faces the advances of a renowned artist. The trio grapples with their sexual relationships with older men and the power dynamics at play, all while striving for independence. This captivating novel explores themes of friendship, sexuality, and the impact of parental influence, evoking the exhilarating freedom of teenage years.